Lake of Sorrows

To Be Mine is to Accept Instant Death

Marcus POV

 Max is still waiting for me in my room, but I am not quite ready to leave Bella alone. I want to make sure it is in a deep sleep, so I don't have to worry about her waking while I am gone. I turn to head to where Max is. “Sir, what happened?” Max was pissed you could tell. “She is fine Max, she just run into her aunt. It shook her up quite a bit. I don't think she was ready to face her. The anger stirred up in Isabella was actually terrifying. I haven't ever seen a human able to project the pain that she was feeling at that moment. You could physically feel it omitting off her Max. Looking at her, you would have thought she was going to tear her aunt limb from limb. The amount of strength she had was equally concerning, I was lucky to get her away from her aunt and back home. 

“What can I do to help, sir?” Max was quick to reply. “Max, I honestly just need you to stay here. She doesn't need to be left alone. You can watch a movie. I don't care, I just need you to listen out for Isabella in case she wakes up. I don't think she wants to be alone and I need to speak to my parents.” I get lost in my thoughts once again, trying to figure out how to help Isabella. Keeping her locked up in my room isn't the solution. I'm honestly just hoping my parents have a solution. “Of course sir, I won't let anything happen to her, you know you can trust me.”

 Max has been with my family since he was a pup. He is honestly my oldest, well really my only friend. “I won't be gone long Max, just keep her out of trouble. I don't have cameras in there yet, and can't just leave her unattended.”

Luckily the elevator ride to my parent's floor isn't a long one with them being only a few floors below mine. When the doors opened I noticed my father's guards standing in front of his office on full alert. As I approached they let out growls, I forgot I was still covered in Isabella's scent but right at this moment I didn't care to deal with it. I grabbed the closes guard to me and slung him down the hall. Did they seriously think they could show disrespect to me? My began eyes glowing the darkest shade of red my anger showing to the last guard before me. Fear registering in his eyes knowing he messed up. He wasn't expecting my hand to wrap around his throat “Get control of yourselves before I snap your neck.” I drop him on his a** before he blacked out not caring if he catches his breath or not. It takes little strength to sling my Father's office door open. A cracking noise can be heard as it slams into the wall.

 Father simply looks up from his computer, amused at my actions. My mother on the other hand who was sitting on the couch looked up from her book with worry written all over her face. “What is it son is everything ok with Isabella?” Mother spoke. I let out a sigh. “She's fine mother. Well, not fine, she's doing the best she can in this situation. I'm just frustrated for her, she hasn't had it easy since she moved here. From her parent's death to an aunt who didn't want her, who then turned around and sold her to us. In what world does that girl deserve all the damage done to her. There is no way her karma is that bad!”

With each word I can feel myself losing control of my emotions. The rage growing inside me as each second passed, the pain becoming even more unbearable. My mother approached me, placing a hand on my face. ” Son if you want to talk fine but only if you can get control of yourself, I will not get hurt just because you choose to lose control over your pet. Do you hear me?" 

I take a deep breath, trying my hardest to just relax. “ Mother, it is unbearable watching her at night. Watching the nightmares she has is heartbreaking, every day it’s the same thing. She dreams if it will be the last day she lives. Father there has to be something we can do for her, Isabella is paying debt off that was never hers are we the monsters the world makes it out to be to enslave a woman who had nothing to do with this situation. Father sits back in his office chair, “son you are right she had nothing to do with this, I gave her to you. What happens in the end to her is your choice, but know if you let her leave, Margret still has to pay for her debt.” I don't know why, but the thought of her leaving set me off again. 

“She's not going anywhere, she is mine, I f*****g love her. She can't go anywhere, she's mine.” The word slipped out before I even realized what I had yelled out. My parents sat there staring at me, trying to process that I just admitted to loving Isabella. My father was the first to break the silence. "Son, you are aware that it is impossible for you to love her and you know it. A royal can only be mated to another supernatural Royal.

“The last I checked, Isabella is still human and far from a royal. To declare your love for someone other than your destined mate is wishing death to them. Are you willing to put your pet through that? Do you want to lose Isabella, son? I mean are you sure she's your mate? It would be more believable that you are just sexually attracted to that pet of yours. If that’s it so be it, use her in every way you can. Or she could have been born a witch, did she trick you into drinking anything or whisper anything around you. Because that's more believable than her being your mate." 

 My mother had sat there listening to my father and me go back and forth before she spoke up, “Very well you believe that she is your mate Son finer than. We will give her the first test tonight. You are not to discuss this with her, you know the laws, we need to find out what she wants with you anyway. Marcus, if she can pass the first task at dinner tonight then we will consider that she could be your mate and continue with the trials from there.” My mother sounded like she was getting bored with the conversation and goes back to reading.

“If she comes tonight will she be protected, I can't have the whole dining hall trying to drain her before we even make it to the main course? Mother chuckles at my outburst, "Just bring her son no harm will come to her by our clan, but you need to make sure you are prepared to find out the truth that she's been using you.” ” I'll be there Mother.”

As I walk into my room, I am welcomed by the sight of Isabella curled up under my blankets. I stand in my doorway, just staring at her for a few extra moments. “Max when did she do that, I didn't think I was gone that long.” Max jumps off the couch, surprised I was back. “As soon as you left Sir that pet of yours came through y’alls like she was in a trace, she most likely was sleepwalking. She went right to your bed, crawled under the covers, and got comfortable amount those pillows. I would say she was a little attached to you, Sir.” I'm glad Max at least can find the humor in all this. “How did the meeting go tonight, Sir?” 

“To be honest, I am not sure. My parents want us to attend dinner tonight.” An instant growl came from Max, his alpha side showing just for a moment. “It is ok Max, my mother said that no harm would come to her, but just to be safe do you mind attending with us? It would make me more comfortable knowing I had someone else on my side.” “Well of course sir, I don't mind one-bit helping escort Isabella to dinner. I will get ready and be back within the hour, have fun trying to wake her, “Max chuckled as he left the room.

 “My Isabella I need you to wake up my dear, we got to get ready for dinner.” She crawled further under my covers to let me know it wasn't happening anytime soon. “Isabella, my parents need to talk to us tonight in the dining hall. We need to hurry if you want to make sure you are ready correctly.” Isabella's head popped up from under the blanket in pure anger,” You can seriously be asking that of me. That is wrong on so many levels if you truly expect me to go back to that place.” I sat next to Isabella and lifted her on my lap, hoping that it would comfort her. Her mind was truly racing over the what-ifs and who just might accidentally get killed tonight. Bella my Love Mother has promised no harm will come to you tonight. Both of my parents want you to feel safe. If it helps, Max will be in his wolf form to bring more comfort to you ok? She stayed silent and nodded, “Good now go get ready.” I stood up to place her on the floor, swatting her butt in the process to get her to speed up so I could get ready to. Isabella let out a yelp but scampered off to get ready.

 Max comes walking into my room right as I pull my jacket on and joins me on the couch.” Are we almost ready to go, sir?" Max asks. “Yeah, Isabella should be out in just a moment.” As I spoke, her door slowly opens and she steps into my room. Isabella had me speechless. She was dressed in pure white from the bow on her head that matched her dress, her collar looked to be a piece of lace but it fit her perfectly. It was elegant I was stunned, “Well let us go, Bella stays close to me and Max just to be safe. Mother said nothing would happen, but we can never be too careful. Do you understand Love?” Isabella keeps a straight face wiped of all emotions,” Yes Sir” is all she spoke.

We made it to our table without anything eventful happening, Bella's grip on my hand loosening under the table as she realizes the warriors have better control tonight. With everyone avoiding making eye contact. Max was in his wolf form sitting directly behind Isabella's chair growling if anyone dared to get too close, the fur on the back of his neck standing up not trusting anyone who walks by. It seems to bring Isabella comfort as she turns in her chair to pet his neck to calm him, “Max, I won't be able to focus or calm down if you are behind me growling all night.” She smiles as he huffs and noticeably calms down. She turns back to sit correctly when my father clears his throat, causing her to look down at her hands in her lap. My father stands, hitting the side of his glass. “Can I have everyone's attention, I have an announcement?” 

Everyone pauses and stares at him.  “It has been brought to our attention that Prince Marcus has found his mate, which should be exciting news. Sadly not in this case, by law if there is any confusion or if said person is the mate to a royal task are given out to find out if there is truth in the matter.” The hall erupts in conversation and laughter, vampires confused who I could be mated to. Isabella's thoughts suddenly go dark, she fears if there is someone else that she would be sent away or worse killed. I quickly shook my head while bending down to kiss her forehead, trying to ease her mind. “ My Bella love, don’t fret, there's only you if you will have me.” The smile appears like the sun on her face to give me a reply. 

My father gets everyone silent again, “The child Isabella if she accepts to prove her worth must complete three tasks. She will visit the labyrinth, once inside she must be able to prove she has the willpower to resist any temptation that is put in front of her. Isabella will then visit the Lake of sorrow where unspeakable monsters hide in the depths of the water, it will be left up to her to find her way back to Prince Marcus.” 

He turns to Isabella, reaching his hand out to her. “Come here child, I wish you no harm,” I nod to let her know to go to him. Max follows closely behind her, still unsure if he should trust the situation. “Isabella, my son confessed his love for you today, I would be lying if I didn’t admit I was thrown off by it, but the final choice in the matter is left to you. Do you understand child? My family is truly saddened by the pain you have been through, and no longer wishes to cause further damage. If you wish to fight for my son, the first task before you is to simply drink from this goblet. In doing so you will be to enter into a contract. The contract states that you understand what is being asked of you and in attempting to complete tasks could cause your death. Would you like to proceed to child at becoming his mate, or would you prefer to stay his pet?”

 Isabella didn't even think twice, my pet lifted the goblet and drank every drop. “Sir if I may speak freely I just realized you only spoke of two tasks, what is the third.” My father's face turned to Isabella's, fear suddenly set in and I stood up, understanding what the silence meant. “Isabella my dear you just began the first task, to be my son’s true mate you must be able to heal yourself. In the goblet you just drank from, it contained a poison that only the person who was poisoned can heal themselves. I'm sorry to say from this moment on you are on your own.” Isabella started to sway, grabbing onto Max’s fur to keep herself upright. I rushed to her to sweep her off her feet before she could hit the floor. “I'm sorry Marcus, I didn't know” she whispered before her eyes closed.