Author's Note: Here's an extra long chapter, the beginning of Taking Chances, the sequal to What If
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Holy Grail
Bella rolled over, snuggling closer into the cold.
"Edward" she lazily mumbled, burying her head into the stone of his shoulder.
"Yes love?" she heard him chuckle, kissing the top of her head.
"Will Charlie be angry…when he hears about…the engagement?"
Edward frowned "I can't really tell Bella. I'll have to ask Alice."
Bella nodded, lightly opening her eyes.
"I need a human minute" she spluttered before jumping from the bed, all too quickly. Her body instantly began to collapse to the floor before two steal hands gripped her hips and brought her up. Bella could barely catch her breath.
"Thanks" she winced. Her head felt extremely light headed suddenly. What is going on?
"Wooh," Edward muttered as he caught her before she collapsed again. "Bella, are you feeling alright?"
"Um…yea, I think. I just need a shower" she hurriedly stuttered before rushing, clutching to the walls before hitting the shower.
Bella tried to quickly go through the motions of her showering ritual- but her tender ribs, sprained wrist and dizziness were only making things slower. Before getting out of the shower, she wrapped the light blue towel about herself, staring at the edge of the tub.
You can do this Bella- her mind broke through the haze of reality about her.
But with her one breath, one step, she was tripping foreword, flying towards the hard tile ground. Shutting her eyes, she awaiting for the impact-
Her breathing came in shallow gasps, as she realized with horror that she was in a steal clutch. Peering up, topaz eyes were looking her over.
"Are you alright?" he asked with intense concern.
"Y-yes" she gulped. Edward helped her upright, but his hands never left her sides. His eyes only continued to stare into her face, occasionally peering at the light blue towel wrapped around her body. Her favorite crooked smile twitched upon his lips before he turned around.
"Here," he held out a pile of clothes. Bella stared in astonishment, unable to formulate any words.
"I can't leave you Bella Swan, for anything" he sighed, exasperated "I stood behind the door, knowing you would hurt yourself somehow." He chuckled. "And I can't leave now, you might trip or fall trying to put on your clothes."
Bella angrily ripped the clothes from his hand and furiously started to get changed.
Oh…my…God…I'm naked behind him, and he's being such a gentleman and not looking. Bella blushed profusely at the thought.
"Okay, I'm decent" she muttered stubbornly before brushing quickly past him and making her way to the stairs. As soon as she reached the landing, she gripped the handles on either side, steadying herself. The staircase seemed to be moving.
"Oh no you don't" Edward's hands were about her yet again.
"Ugh!" Bella, frustrated, succumbed to being carried swiftly down the stairs, and placed lightly in a chair.
"Can I fix you anything, love?"
Bella shook her head "I'm not really that hungry, just nauseous."
Edward wrinkled his nose "yes, you were saying something about that last night"
Bella's eyes flew open "what?!"
"In your sleep, you kept muttering something about not feeling well. It got me very worried, but I didn't want to wake you last night."
Bella nodded. "Can we go now?" she looked at the clock nervously, knowing Charlie would be back from fishing in two hours.
Edward smirked. "I guess so"
It didn't take long with Edward's maniacal driving to reach the Cullen residence. Bella was gripping at the door handle of his Volvo for dear life, all the while sending death-glares his direction.
"Edward" she growled.
"Alight, alright" he sighed, reasoning with 75 m.p.h.
Eventually they neared the beautiful white Victorian. Esme was outside, manicuring the lawn with Emmett- planting various flowers in the garden.
"Bella!" Emmett rushed to the car and quickly dragged her from the car into a huge bear hug. Edward sent him a glare. "Careful, Emmett. Don't break my future wife"
"Congratulations by the way" Emmett boomed in a laugh. Bella had missed her older brother…
"Bella!"
She only saw the flash of her short pixie hair before she was enveloped into another comforting embrace. Alice pulled away, her face glowing. "Congratulations Bella!! I can't wait till we are officially sisters" she took Bella's hand and guided her quickly into the house "I have so many plans-"
"Alice!" Bella grumbled, reluctantly following her into the house, Edward laughing in her wake.
"Hey Jasper" Bella greeted. Jasper nodded, smiling. "You have no idea how excited Alice has been all morning since she had the vision"
"I can only imagine" Bella rolled her eyes.
"I was thinking we could have the wedding at the beach up north- or something out-doors- and I'm getting Sylvia Weinstock in New York to make your cake – and oh- my-goodness I found the perfect store to shop for your wedding dress in New York, I am booking the flight this afternoon-"
"Alice!" Bella exclaimed, her head spinning. She let her head fall foreword into her hands. "Alice, please, don't do all of this- I, - I don't even know when we're having the wedding-"
"Oh, that's all arranged too. I have it scheduled for after graduation, two months about. I've already reserved a few places-"
"Alice" Edward chuckled "don't overwhelm poor Bella"
Alice scowled "she has to let me have a little fun here"
"You can plan the entire thing, I don't mind" Bella waved her hands. Alice perked up at her words. "But- please don't go overboard Alice, I already feel guilty as it is – and I need to pay for this somehow"
"Don't be ridiculous" Alice waved her hand nonchalantly "payment is already taken care of"
"Edward!" Bella screeched, turning to his sheepish face.
"It's covered Bella, don't worry"
"But-"
"Besides, you're going to have a hard enough time as it is getting Charlie to your wedding" Alice added, rubbing Bella's back comfortingly.
Oh shit…Bella let her head collapse in her hands folded upon the table. "I'm guessing you had a vision" Bella muttered. "and it wasn't exactly good…"
"Not exactly" Alice grimaced. "But don't worry Bella, I'm sure things will be alright in the end"
"Carlisle" Edward announced his entrance.
"Bella, Edward" Carlisle acknowledged with a knowing smile. "I take it you wanted to speak with me?"
"Yes, could we…um, go to your study?"
Carlisle nodded serenely "Of course"
"We'll talk about plans later" Alice winked before letting Edward take Bella by the hand.
Carlisle shut the door behind them.
"Now, how can I help you both?" Carlisle sat in his chair on the other side of the desk, motioning for Bella and Edward to also sit.
"Well, Bella told me some interesting news last night" Edward glanced warily over at Bella. She drew in a long breath.
"Carlisle, I was told…of something called an electa una."
Carlisle's calm frame stiffened immediately, his eyes furrowing. "Where did you hear of this Bella?"
"From…" Bella looked at Edward "A credible source. Trust me" she smiled up at Edward, not letting go of his eyes.
"Well then…" Carlisle straightened up "what did this source tell you about them?"
"She told me that…I was one"
There was pure, crisp silence in the room. Edward and Bella looked up at Carlisle's aghast expression.
"What's wrong Carlisle?" Edward sat on the edge of his seat, anxiously gripping onto the handles of the armchair.
"I think it's best if I explain to Bella- and you too, what an electa una is exactly."
Bella nodded, ready to listen.
"When vampires and werewolves first roamed this earth with the first humans, there was a group known as the Electa. They were also known as the 'chosen ones.'"
"Chosen ones?"
"The rumor was…that whatever entity out there had created this universe, put this special group of people on the earth with certain special powers to help mediate and keep the peace, between humans, and especially between the werewolves and vampires.
However, the Electa's were all but wiped out when Aro, Caius and Marcus –a powerful vampire clan stationed in Italy - wanted to gain complete control, without rules or boundaries. The several families that kept the secret, were completely destroyed…however,"
Carlisle's expression changed to wonderment.
"They say that a lone girl survived- had run away during the burnings of the royal families – her name was Aila Eleta, from the prominent Eleta royal family…her bloodline continued when she had a son out of wedlock, who carried the family name. Legend has it the few descendents moved to Alaska in the 18th century. Unfortunately a rumor took hold in Italy, that the Eleta clan still lived on- and Aro sent another powerful vampire, Jane, and her posse to Alaska, where she demolished the entire family yet again…
What they didn't know, was that a son of the member of the clan, had impregnated his lover right before his death. She bore a daughter at the turn of the twentieth century, christening her with the last name of Eleta.
"Tanya, another clan in Denali, and our family know of the truth, and have been searching for the lost child of the Eleta clan, and that child's descendents if any."
Edward looked at Bella in bewilderment. "Bella, are you alright?"
Bella shook her head, her face ghastly pale.
"M-my grandmother…" she muttered. Edward's expression froze. "Grandma Swan…she was an orphan after her mother died early on in her childhood, her maiden name was…"
Edward finished unsteadily "Eleta?"
Bella nodded.
"The only child they had, was Charlie- and then-"
"You" Edward finished, gazing at Bella in shock. Carlisle stared in shock.
"You're…the electa una, besides Charlie, you're one of the last of the Electa clan" he clarified.
"W-what does that…mean though?"
"They were supposed to keep the peace-" Carlisle cut his words off. Bella cupped her mouth.
Her best friend Jacob…the werewolves…Edward and his family…was it fate that she was meant to move to Forks? To keep peace between the two when Edward and his family had moved back to Forks? Was that why Charlie had always mediated between the Cullens and those in La Push- defending them when Billy would angrily badmouth Carlisle?
"I-I…" she couldn't finish it.
Edward mumbled something incoherently, and looked up at Carlisle.
Carlisle, what does this mean?
It means that if Aro, Caius, or Marcus found out that Bella is an Electa, one of the last of the Eleta clan, she would be killed.
"No!" Edward furiously pounded the table, causing a huge indentation in the mahogany wood.
"What? What is going on?" Bella touched Edward's cold bare arm, concerned by his pained expression.
"Bella, please do not disclose this information of your history to anyone." Carlisle clarified calmly. "It is very dangerous if anyone found out- especially if the wrong people should discover your secret."
"What's going to happen? Am I in danger?"
"I promise you Bella, with my entire being" Edward turned and held her hands tightly in his "I won't let anyone find you or take you from me"
Bella nodded, still confused. "Really, this means nothing to me so far. I don't even understand-"
"It's a big…enormous deal Bella" Carlisle interrupted "It's bigger than the Christians finally finding the holy grail after all these years"
Bella gulped. "So…I'm the holy grail?"
"You're more precious than any holy grail to our world. You could be the balance of power between all of us."
"But- I'm just a human!!"
"Isabella," something flashed upon Carlisle's face "do you know what you're name means?"
"No, not really. I never thought of it before-"
"It means 'devotion to God'" Carlisle clarified "your name runs deep in the clan. No doubt your grandmother had proposed the name." Bella nodded in reply.
Bella's eyes narrowed. "I don't care- I don't want to have a 'fate' or whatever you call it." She abruptly turned to Edward. "What does your name mean anyway?" she snapped.
Edward cocked his head "guardian, why do you ask?"
Bella grinned "so…you're the guardian and I'm the holy grail?"
Edward chuckled. "If that's how you want to look at it, but you're still my Bella…"
"That's good to know" she smiled as Edward bent foreword, both disregarding Carlisle's presence as he kissed her chastely.
"Edward" Carlisle addressed "I would like to speak with you later. And Bella," he turned with wonder in his eyes "I am still…amazed…that after all these years…that Edward and you should meet" he smiled "truly, it is fate that you have met. But we have to be safe, we don't want anyone discovering your secret."
"What will happen if they do?" Bella asked innocently. Carlisle's stare became hard.
"You just don't want them to find out Bella. They would take you away."
Bella gulped, and Edward tightened his grasp on her hand.
"They won't take her away" Edward spoke icily.
"So…when I become a…vampire…how will that effect what I am?"
Carlisle stared at Bella with interest "I have no idea Bella, but I'm sure you will develop some sort of ability beyond what Edward, Jasper, or Alice have. After all, we have no idea what you are capable of at the present."
Carlisle got up from his seat "I think we should all keep quiet about this. I will make sure the others know- but don't worry Bella" he sent a reassuring smile "I am sure that no harm will come to you, as long as we are around, and Edward" he smiled down at his son before leaving his study.
"Trust me Bella, Carlisle is right. Nothing will get you as long as we are here" Edward stared fearfully into her eyes, as if trying to convince himself of his words.
"I'm not worried" Bella truthfully replied "I'm just…confused"
Edward chuckled "I love you Bella Swan"
Bella wrinkled her nose "I hope you don't love me because I am related to some stupid god-forsaken clan"
Edward laughed "No Bella, I love you more than a thousand suns" he quoted "and by the way, we should definitely get you home..." there was certain glint in his eyes. "C'mon, I have something to give you" he traced his hand upon hers before guiding her to his room.