Everything Changes
Chapter Two
Bella didn't really know what to expect after she and her Grandma had left Charlie's and Forks but Swan House certainly wasn't what she expected. To be fair, you couldn't really call it a house. It was a massive Manor that sat on the outskirts of the town of Mystic Falls surrounded by large gates and a winding drive.
Standing outside the house with her bags beside her, she continued to stare at her new home as her Grandma laughed. ''Swan House is the oldest building in the entire town. We Swans were the first settlers here and brought the others here after our home was already built. That's one of the reasons why we're further away from town then the rest of these so-called Founding families,'' she informed, glancing round then smiling.
Bella felt her eyes widen even further as she listened to her Grandma's words. ''So in reality we're the Founding family instead of all these other families? How did I never know this? And my ancestors were okay with not being classed as a Founder?'' she questioned, her mind attempting to process all this new information. On the drive through town, she'd seen various monuments and plaques to the so-called 'Founding Families' scattered throughout the town.
Belle Swan simply laughed at her granddaughters words before replying'' There are things about this town that you need to know and it's much easier to stay alive when people don't know your family is a founding family. These so-called Founding family members have a habit of dying early or in mysterious ways. Now before you head into town, let's get settled in then head for some food at the Mystic Grill. And I can point out the family members of these Founders for you.''
On that final note, Belle placed her hand on her granddaughter's elbow and nudged her towards the house. Bella picked up her bags and made her way to the door, watching as her Grandma retrieved a key from around her neck and unlocked the door before closing it behind them.
After a few tour of the house and having made quick work of settling into her new room, Belle ushered her granddaughter into a room she had purposedly not pointed out on the tour. ''What is this room?'' Bella whispered, gazing around the old room in wonder and amazement. The room was very old-fashioned and didn't seem to fit with the theme of the rest of the house. Two walls were covered by large oak bookcases which housed what appeared to be thousands of books while another wall was full of rows and rows of drawers.
''Grandma?'' Bella asked, looking over her shoulder at her Grandma who sent her a sad smile.
''This is our legacy, my dear Bells. Each Founding Family has their own collection of artifacts and this is ours. Without a doubt, ours is the largest of all but that shouldn't surprise you. We were here first after all. The bookcases are full of records, documenting this entire town's existence plus going much further back in time. Of course there is much more then what is just here but we Swans aren't as silly as to have every single artifact we own in the same place. Each of the Swan homes house a collection of artifacts amongst two rooms. The second room is below us but you need not see that at this moment'' Belle explained, glancing around the dusty room which had once been regularly maintained before her husband's death.
''A legacy of what? Dad has never said anything about a legacy. To be honest, if he could get away with not mentioning anything about Mystic Falls, he'd probably do just that,'' Bella questioned, walking over to glance at a ledger on the book case labelled 1889.
''You're not a stupid girl, Bella and you always believed in my 'stories' as your father called them. Our legacy is to record and occasionally intervene when needed'' Belle answered, raising an eyebrow at the younger girl. Whether her son wanted to admit it or not, it had only taken a phone call to Billy to reveal what was really going on with her granddaughter. Belle could do nothing but shake her head at her son's continued ignorance of the supernatural around him. For someone who had grown up knowing all the stories were true, that the supernatural was very much alive and active, he'd done his best to turn his back on his heritage.
She didn't blame him for wanting things to be normal. But normal they had never been. Charles had turned his back on Mystic Falls and being an observer of the supernatural after his sister and father's deaths at the hands of a vampire. It had been hard for her too but she had sworn an oath until death did her part.
She had given up her powers as a witch in order to be impartial and support her husband and children in their destiny. And yes, that destiny might have gotten her husband and daughter killed but it was in their blood. It had been in the Swan family's bloodline since the very start of their lineage.
Of course she knew full well that Bella wasn't meant to be just an observer like those before her. Her beloved grandchild was a witch just like her Aunt Amelia and Grandma before her. The line of witches which she herself descended was full of strong witches and Bella would be no exception. Of course Charles had insisted she bind the young girl's powers which she had refused to do but which he had guilted his sister into doing. Had Amelia lived, the binding spell would have had to be consistently re-applied except in her dying breaths, Amelia had bound the spell until Bella's 18th birthday by passing on her powers to her niece.
It had taken her many years to forgive Charles for doing that to his daughter. She wanted to protect Bella as much as he did but binding the very essence of her into her body for 18 years was not the way to do that. How was she to help her granddaughter understand these powers and to learn control over them when Amelia's binding spell would eventually fade and unleash these powers?
And she would be strong for her Aunt's powers merely increased Bella's own potent magic which had laid dormant and gotten even stronger with the passing of the years. In some ways, Belle regretted that she had agreed to Bella returning to Mystic Falls with her even through deep own she knew it was the right choice for Bella's sake.
''So it's all true? Vampires and werewolves?'' Bella asked, staring incredulously at her Grandma who laughed and nodded.
''I don't know why you are acting so surprised, missy. After all, haven't you been hanging out with Cold Ones for the last few months? And I know you know about the Quileute shapeshifters. All the stories are true. Witches, Vampires, Shifters, Cold Ones included,'' Belle pointed out as Bella blushed and turned away from her.
''And Dad has always known?'' Bella questioned, looking back at her Grandma who nodded then sighed heavily.
'' He knows but he's chosen to ignore it. After your Aunt and Grandfather were killed, he turned his back on Mystic Falls and all of this. Packed up and took you to Forks where he proposed nothing would happen. How wrong he was there,'' Belle explained, knowing that even hinting at Amelia was raising more questions then answers for Bella.
''Aunt.. Amelia is it? I heard Mom mention her once to a friend but I never dared ask Charlie about her. This is a lot to process, Grandma. Why has he hidden this from me my entire life?'' Bella wondered, just as a photo on the wall caught her eye. Walking over to it, her eyes were immediately drawn to the two people that she had never met or remembered meeting.
Belle walked over and looked sadly upon the photo as she said'' That was our last family photo taken. Amelia and Matthew were killed days later by a vampire. Charles thought he was doing what was best for you and himself by taking you away from Mystic Falls. Grief has a way of driving people mad and it made your father paranoid that he would lose you too if he stayed and raised you here. I never agreed with his decision but I understood his intentions and what he was trying to do. He never hid this from you to hurt you, Bella. I truly believe that. He just didn't want to be constantly reminded of what took his sister and father away from us all.''
Bella quietly nodded as she continued to look at the photo. Bella was being held by her grandfather Matthew as a smiling Amelia held her niece's hand, not looking at the camera. Ch-Dad was stood watching the two of them with an amused face while he had his arm around a much younger looking Belle.
''Amelia was so taken with you from the moment you were born. She took one look at you and announced you should be a Bella, not that different from my own name. Charles loved that and named you Isabella but known as Bella'' Belle reminisced.