DISCLAIMER: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters that can be found within the pages of Twilight or any of the subsequent books in the series. Stephenie Meyer dreamed up these wonderful characters and has so graciously lent them to us, the readers, to daydream about and enjoy.
Author's Note: I wanted to send a special thanks to my wonderful friend and Beta, AndrewsAmy. She is beyond brilliant and has helped make this story what it is. Thank you!
Author's Note Part II: Thank you everyone who has commented on Origins and really pushed me into getting Destinies done. I am sorry for the long wait, but the wait is over. I have written several chapters and continue to write as we speak. Hopefully, I will be able to update once a week.
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RECAP
(This is just a quick recap from Bella's point of view of what happened in the prequel to this story, Origins. Feel free to read Origins to get more details, though it isn't necessary to read that in order to enjoy this story.)
For the past month, I have felt utterly lost. I once knew who I was: Isabella "Bella" Marie Swan, age 17. Born September 13, 1987 to Renee and Charlie Swan. It was all a lie, though.
My birth name was McKenna Fiaira. I don't know when my real birthday is, but I was born to Elizabeth McHenry and Finton Fiaira. I murdered my mother in birth and was abandoned by my father as a baby.
I grew up believing the lie that I was just a plain human who didn't fit in, until I met them, the Cullens. My whole life changed the day I first saw them in the Forks High School cafeteria.
What happened after that was a blur of impossibilities. I met Fin, my biological father, and Niamh, my aunt. Then, I was whisked away to another world called Faery, where magical beings called Elementals lived. Elementals were like Fairies, but not anything like the Disney portrayal. There are four types: Drakes - fire elementals, Sylphs - air elementals, Nymphs - water elementals, and Dryads - earth elementals. My father is a Drake and my mother was a Sylph, which left me completely, physically inhuman.
While in Faery, I met others: David – a Royal Dryad who has become a friend and confidant – and Felicia – David's little sister who died saving my life. In Felicia's death, a war began between the Dryads and Drakes. Hatred and death haunted the world that I had once thought too beautiful to exist.
I was in Faery for two days, but gone from Earth for eight months.
Before leaving Faery, David brought me to an ancient seer, a Nymph that went by Lady Arianna. She showed me images – nightmares – of my past and what was to come. They were images that stuck with me across the void of realms, back to Earth.
When I returned home, my life as Bella officially ended. Charlie was gone – died of a heart attack – taking with him what little humanity I tried to cling to in denial. I couldn't function. Sometimes, it was just hard to breathe. I was tormented by memories of Faery and of visions yet to happen. I was haunted by the guilt of my last words to Charlie.
Through my torment, Edward provided the only solace I could find. While in his arms, the raging flames within my body calmed, but never truly dissipated. On the outside, I was functional. On the inside, I no longer knew who I was.
Slowly, I accepted Charlie's death, but then came face to face with the stark reality that someone else I cared about was dying. Jacob, whom I found out was a werewolf, had been bitten several months ago by a vampire that went by the name of McAlister. Despite Carlisle's attempts to help, Jacob was slowly dying.
I can't lose Jacob. I couldn't lose anyone else in my life whether they are human, mythical creature or a figment of my imagination.
"I will find a way." Determination and sadness both quarreled with one another to take dominance of Edward's eyes. Grief radiated through me at seeing the pain that seemed to have become a permanent fixture on his pristine face. I wasn't sure what to believe anymore. Edward had lied to me by omission that Jacob was dying. I knew he didn't do it to hurt me, but it did. Regardless of how messed up I was – and I knew I was pretty messed up right now – he should have told me. I hated being in the dark. It made me wonder if there was anything else that he wasn't telling me.
Guilt pulsated painfully through my heart at my mistrust. Edward wouldn't do anything to hurt me. There was no reason for me to distrust him. He loves me. I can trust him and take him at his word. He meant what he said – he would find a way to save Jacob.
In that simple decision, I came to the conclusion that I had forgiven Edward. It no longer mattered that he lied or withheld information. He was being honest and open with me now.
"Okay."
~d~e~s~t~i~n~i~e~s~
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Next Update: April 11th