Isabella's POV:

In the last few hours alone, I had been the subject of several painstakingly long and meticulous tales of love, loss, wonder, pain and tragedy. For example, the Cullen's and their diet of animal blood; how this lifestyle diluted the enchanting ruby colour of their eyes to an unnatural, tedious gold because of said diet. The Shape-Shifters of the Quileute Tribe and their immoral treaty with the Cullen Coven to maintain peace throughout their lands. Then, of course, there was Edward and his doomed love for his Singer, Bella, and our shared invulnerability to mental offenses.

I had given enough thought to all I had heard up until the moment Edward walked through that door and handed me that photograph. I had believed there had to be some facet of the truth behind it all yet what I held in my hands had to be artifice; an illusion of the mind, trickery. There was absolutely no way that the girl in the photograph and I were one in the same.

"Bella?" It was Edward.

I scanned the photograph again, searching, pleading with myself to find something - anything - to free me from this confusion, to destroy the possibility that what they claimed was the honest to God truth. Yet I did not prevail. The human in the photograph was I, down to the land strand of hair as Edward had previously stated.

"Bella, can you hear me?" That stupid question again. He had begun to confess his concerns of my well being and silent state to the others. I sat there appearing frozen yet content on the outside whilst attempting to conquer an onslaught of blasphemous thoughts that threatened to shatter away the adamant existence I had forever rested against for support. Without that wall of security, I was nothing. Lost to the void.

Edward stood before me, speaking directly at me yet the words failed to make sense. Nothing made sense. Nothing needed to.

All I knew in that moment was that I had a singular goal: to escape.

I stood up and the silence returned. The words Edward spoke travelled through one ear and out the other, not even bothering to formulate into comprehensible thoughts. I no longer paid any mind to the words he spoke, or the others. I cared not for any of them, not even enough to take enjoyment in their demise.

"Bella?" I struck Edward so hard across the mouth that his entire jaw cracked; the sheer force of my punch lifted him clean off his feet and sent him soaring across the room. He crashed through the wall, cracking the brick and plaster― as well as his spine.

Edward cried out in pain and torment, attempting to stand yet his knees buckled beneath him, his face mangled into an expression of true hurt. Carlisle called out for his son, his voice a distant memory in the back of my mind, much like the small shred of respect I had held for him. Then Carlisle was there, knelt by his side and assuring him it was going to be alright. Minutes. Minutes were all it would take for Edward's broken spine to heal and for him to be on his feet once more, but all I needed was minutes.

I had to think logically. Escape was only possible if I fought, but to fight was useless if one of my enemies could foresee my advances. I had to take out the Seer- and she knew it. When I turned, Alice leapt backwards to escape the fatal swipe of my claws. She then stunned me by leaping not away from me but at me, one hand snatching mine out the air as the other went for my throat, her pleas for me to stop almost inaudible. I managed to pivot around her and turn the tables on her, using her own arm against her. The others were on their feet in less than a second, their bodies nothing but blurs as they shot around the furniture to assist their friends. Then they were all on me. All of them lunging in my direction with panic spread across their features.

I heard the others coming for me, yelling my name. One of them called out instead for Alice. Jasper. Just as he reached for me, I lashed out at him from behind, allowing my leg to arch up high, and my boot slammed hard into the centre of his chest. Esme flew forwards to catch him and to cushion his fall, yet he was taller than her and my kick took the two of them down in one.

I focused my attention by on the short seer and found myself grinning as I changed the angle of my blow in a fraction of a second and my hand tore through the marble that was her leg, separating it from just above the knee with a lingering, metallic screech that similarly matched her own. As her unbalanced body crumbled, I wasted no time and hoisted Alice's leg into the air, swinging it like a bat, I swatted Tanya away.

I was in the middle of three of them then: Rosalie, Emmett and Eleazar. Rose was the closest and the smallest so I went for her first. My fist slammed into her face, then I brought my elbow into Eleazar's throat behind me, I turned back to Rosalie and struck home again before spinning to face her brute of a mate. His right-hook took me off guard and I slammed face first into the wall. I used this opportunity to reach out, snatch up the giant wooden cross ornament and I smashed it against his gigantic form.

He fell back; shielding himself from another several of my punches - over his shoulder I took note of how Jasper lifted Alice into his arm and fleeing from the room with her. Rosalie's face blocked my view, so I lashed out and my claws tore apart her jacket and shirt. I raked my nails down her throat repeatedly, carving lines into her swan-like neck, listening to the sounds of her screams and allowing them to cheer me up.

Esme was there. Already she looked finished. Her shirt somehow managed to tear in the chaos, her once perfect hair now a mess atop of her head. "Bella, Bella please, Listen to reason-" She did not get to finish her plea as I grabbed a handful of her soft, caramel curls and I bounced her face off my knee then shoved her backwards. She scrambled away from me, arms up to protect herself from my final, life-taking swipe.

A giant ball of fur hit me hard and now it was my turn to go sprawling across the broken wood and glass. My head snapped up to find the giant russet coloured wolf standing before a broken Esme, his muzzle pulled back to reveal his many jagged canines. Jacob summoned a low growl from deep within, a warning. I chose to ignore it.

I could hear the panicked snarls and howls from the pack outside; too large to get in the house yet from the looks of it one of them was preparing to smash through the windows. Just as Sam went to phase as Jacob had done, I took my opportunity and leapt across the room. The furniture passed me by in a split second and before he knew it, I had knocked their Alpha out cold.

Carmen darted in front of me, her leg came up to my side yet as the top of her foot hit my waist, I caught it and clung to her leg firmly. Growling, I spun her on the spot and launched her into her husband; the two landed atop the coffee table, shattering the glass and splintering the wood. I turned back for the door but Emmett had returned to face me, blocking the doors entirely. It was at this moment I realized I was stood at the bottom of the grand staircase. With a wink, I kicked up off the ground and leapt high into the air, the sitting room vanishing below as I reached out and flipped over the banister onto the landing.

I could hear them, sprinting up the stairs, calling out my name - calling out her name. Bella. I did not listen. I stalked down the finely furnished hall until I saw it. The window. I set off running. Just as the others reached the landing, just as they thought they had me cornered, I ran and I leapt straight through the window at the end of the hall. My knees came up to meet my chest, my arms to shield my eyes from the glass even though I knew it would do me no real harm. The glass shattered around me, the shards raining down on me like sharp rain. My body soared high over the entrance to the Cullen home and I landed firmly on my feet across the lawn from them.

I straightened from my stance and glanced over my shoulder. Several of them stood by the broken window; others had opened the front door to face me. The wolves charged around either side of the house.

"Stop!" Carlisle called out to those that had decided to follow. "She's too far gone, leave her be!" At this, they dropped back and allowed me to escape without issue. The wisest decision they had made all day. I took one last second to memorize the look Edward - whose spine had healed enough to allow him to stand - gave me, the hurt, the sorrow, the loss, before I decided to flee and never return.

What the fuck had just happened to me? This was one of the hundreds of thoughts that raced through my head. With each step I took, another dozen thoughts crowded my mind; a thousand emotions tore through me at once. Only now, away from their nagging voices and judgmental faces, could I begin to think with words.

I did not understand. I did not want to understand it, not yet at least. All I wanted...was to go home.

I was half way out of Forks when I remembered my bag at the Bed and Breakfast. I contemplated leaving it, the clothes and books were expendable, the information Sebastian had gathered on Victoria was not. Therefore, with an infuriated groan, I altered my course and headed back towards town. As I stormed down the near empty streets, I caught Alice Cullen's scent. At first, I believed she had foreseen my return to the Bed and Breakfast and come to intercept me, although after stopping and pulling in a deep breath through my nose, I figured out the scent was faded. If she had seen my return, she had not acted on it. Most likely on Carlisle's demand.

Curious. They had been determined to keep me hostage yet now Alice could see where I would be, they chose to ignore it and leave me be? I chose not to dwell on such thoughts; I did not wish to think very much at all.

I did not bother with the facade as I had earlier than same morning; I hurried through the door and towards the stairs.

"I hadn't seen you leave?" The old woman behind the desk exclaimed as she spotted me. I barged by, ignoring her and I ascended the stairs as she patted down her flour covered hands on her apron. She had been baking. How very cliché "What's the matter with your eyes, dear?" she asked as she followed, patting. I had not bothered with lenses either. "Is something the matter?" she pondered. I knew how different I appeared to her. Earlier that morning I stood, cowering before her, appearing as a drowned rat, a girl in dire need of a bath and a warm bed. Now, I stood before her in my true form. Tall, dark, strong and terrifying.

I made my way to the bedroom she had given me and tried the door. I had forgotten I had locked it. I did not bother with the pleasantries such as asking for the spare key, instead I took a step back and kicked the door in. It snapped from its hinges, rocketing across the room and crashing into the china cabinet on the opposite side as it did so.

The old woman cried out at my action, staring at the door and the remnants of the china cabinet as she followed me in. Hand on her fragile, rapid heart. I reached for my jacket, slid it on then slid my bag over my shoulder.

"Y-You must pay for that!" She shrilled as she followed me down the hall and to the staircase. Just as I went to leave, she hurried so step in front of me and I came to an abrupt halt.

"Get out of my way." I summoned a deep growl from the bottom of my throat, the hollow sound echoing off the walls.

"Didn't you hear me girl?" I had seemingly angered her. "I told you to-" I gave her light shove - a tap, really - on the shoulder and the old woman rocketed backwards, tumbling down the stairwell to the entrance below.

I watched her body fold and bend, her elbows and knees crashing against the railing and the wall, her head hitting almost every step on the way down. Slowly, I followed her. I stepped over her body and stood still, tucking my hair behind my ears to listen. Besides the sounds of the world, the cars, the birds, the television in the other room, was the faint sound of her beating heart.

I left the Bed and Breakfast.

Once back at the hotel, I followed Sebastian's scent towards the hotel bar and found him inside. The bar, much like the hotel itself, was small and dimly lit. The only illumination came from the long hanging ceiling lights, the odd wall lamp here and there and the grey light of day peaking through the crack in the drawn curtains. Sebastian sat at the bar, alone in this entire room.

"Isabella," He greeted me as he sipped what appeared and smelt to be blood from a martini glass. I stiffened, gripping onto the bar so tightly that I caused the wooden frame to splinter beneath my fingertips. I did not require feeding for another week at least, although I still had to fight back the temptation to lunge across the room, tackle the white-heard man sat before me and end him if it meant being the one to consume the blood.

Speaking of blood, as I drew closer the scent of death hit me.

"Drinking blood and killing out in the open. Either you do not believe I will report this to Aro or you have a death wish." I tried to maintain my well-known careless, emotionless front, the picture of perfect I had always deemed myself to be, yet I found it a much more challenging task than I had presumed.

"Maybe I do." He commented. "But I was questioned this morning by two detectives here at the hotel investigating the brutal murder of a young couple preparing to go on their honeymoon; I am a little on edge." He teased me with a wink.

If my cheeks could burn, they would have. "Touché,"

He crushed the glass in his hand before flexing his fingers and the shards fell to the tiles below. He stood up and stepped over the body of the barman. I admired his work for a moment. From the way the human was killed, it appeared he had slipped and cracked his head open on the edge of the bar; Sebastian had simply held a glass to the gentleman's forehead and allowed the blood to flow. I followed him out into the lobby, then towards the elevator. Once the silver doors closed in front of us, he spoke. "Victoria?" He asked not daring to make a joke or remark now.

Her face flashed beneath my eyelids and my chest concaved within. I had allowed my actual goal to slip by. I took a noticeable second to think about my response. The word - her name - brought not only her face to mind but others too. The Cullen's, Jacob and the pack, Edward and - and Bella.

In that moment, I made the worst decision of my entire existence.

"Ash in the wind."

I had lied.

Thrilled with my answer, Sebastian had arranged a flight from Seattle - Tacoma international airport to our home country of Italy, to Pisa from which it would take us less than an hour to return to Volterra. I left Sebastian talking to himself in the hall and entered my room. I shot from the door to the bed where I sat with my legs crossed and my face in my hands, blocking out the lights from the city beyond the window, giving myself a moment in silent darkness.

It was at times like this I wished I were able to sleep. I envied this about the humans, their ability to lay their head and close their eyes and, for a while at least, leave the harsh realities of life behind. To distract myself form such self-harming thoughts, I decided to pack. I had several bags, mostly due to my shopping spree in New York and London, yet it all seemed to be for naught. What was the point of enjoying my expensive wardrobe when I was obliged to wear a cloak the majority of the time? Another setback of being stationed in Volterra.

I packed away the last of my belongings bathed to wash away the irritation the day had left on me. Afterwards, I changed into a dress I had bought whilst we were in London: an off-white, short-sleeved sweater dress I had simply adored in the shop yet felt nothing for it now. I slid on a pair of open-toed pumps and combed through my hair until it was dry and swaying by my waist. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I could not help but see Bella Swan. The human girl Edward obsessed over, the plaything of his and his siblings. Bella was nothing.

I was everything.

I lashed out and smashed the mirror, the reflective pieces of glass scattered across the tiles of the en suite, reflecting the harsh lights above. I stepped over them, grabbed my bags and left the hotel room behind.

Stepping out of the hotel, I opened my big grey umbrella and walked across the tarmac to where Sebastian stood by one of several black cars, waiting. Two of his men hurried forward to take my bags from me; a third took the umbrella and held it over my head as I approached. I was cautious as Sebastian held open the car door for me, worrisome as if he were going to strike me from behind. As he closed the door and got in the other side, I realized my cynicism of Sebastian and his men was displaced. They worked for me, and I worked for Aro. It was the way things were. If I showed my worry, they were sure to catch on that something was distracting me. I refused to be seen as weak.

Eventually we arrived at the airport and Sebastian's men lead the two of us across the empty runway to the same jet we had been using since the first flight. Although this time, I did not sit with Sebastian. I ignored his offer and made my way to the back of the jet where I took my seat alone and away from all of his men. I put down the umbrella and sat back with my handbag by my side. I reached down and took out my cell phone, clicked in my earphones and allowed soft music to take my thoughts away.

The music playing was a recording of the music composed by Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky. He had been a favourite of mine since his First Symphony, and my love for him had only grown. In the year 1873, Kai and I had been a part of a team sent across to Russia to protect Aro who was visiting a coven of immortals he once knew. Kai had been asked along so Aro could alter the memories of a Newborn in this coven whom he wanted as one of his men. I had been asked along to eradicate those that would attempt to keep him from us. Unfortunately, the Newborn had already been disposed off before our arrival, so Aro had me order my men to dispose of his 'Friends' anyway. During our free time in Russia, Kai had taken me to see Tchaikovsky perform and if I had been a human, I would have even shed a tear.

Instead, I mocked Kai for his futile attempt at courting me and made my way home. I felt a stab of guilt. That night was one of the best of my millennia and I had acted as if it was nothing more than a waste of time. I found myself itching to get back to him, back home. Home. The word flooded me with images of familiar sand coloured buildings, orange slate tiles, forests of the most vibrant greens. It brought back the faces and the voices of those I considered family. I did not care for very many of my men, for many in general, yet I did see Marcus' warm and welcoming smile, Corin's sniggering comments, Heidi's flirting eyes, even Alec's glare and Jane's threats as comfort in this time.

Of course, there was Aro and his soothing voice, the tingling sensation I felt when he ran his hand through my hair, and most of all his adoration for me. Then I thought of Kai and my ache in my chest lightened. Kai. When I thought of Aro I thought of him as my father, my friend but beneath it all it was a ruse, that in truth he was my master first and foremost but with Kai...he honestly loved me simply because of who I was. Not because I was a skilled warrior, or a shield. In fact, Kai wanted nothing more than my love in return, it was all he had wanted for a century, and I had yet to give him the time of day.

I felt the need to apologise to him more. However, whether I would or not was another matter altogether.

In spite of the security the word 'Home' brought to me, it also filled me with conflict. Conflict between the desire to return to the city that had been home to me and mine for almost ten centuries, and the dread at returning and being exposed as a liar. Knowing all too well that if my Masters - if anyone, honestly - discovered that I of all immortals had lied about tracking down my target and burning her to ash then it would be my turn to feel the sweet scorching release of death.

As if hearing my thoughts as Edward would have done, Sebastian rose from his seat and crossed the jet to speak to one of his men. He winked at me as he passed. I suppressed a sigh. One of the amazing results of our immortal selves was our unnatural agility and grace; our resilience to discomfort and boredom. I was capable of sitting on that plane, in that exact seat, as still and as cold as a statue made of stone, physically frozen in time, as to hide the troubles raging behind this facade, which threatened to expose my panic to Sebastian.

I contemplated slaughtering Sebastian to dispose of my secret quickly and fluently, though surely his men had assumed I had finished my hunt due to our flight back home, so I would have needed to destroy each of them too...Although I could inform my masters, tell them that we were attacked by the Cullen's. That possessing a mind reader, seer and army of werewolves at their disposal granted them the advantage and took us by surprise. At this, Aro perhaps would have allowed me to take an army of my own to Forks to destroy them all. I could have taken twice, thrice the amount of men the Cullen's could stand against. Wolves or no wolves, we could have destroyed them all and made it home in time for sundown.

Although I figured that would offer some speculation among the Guard. Why would the Cullen's have travelled all the way to Pisa to attack, why would they not launch their attack before we took our flight to make things easier for themselves? In addition, my being the only one to escape an attack of such magnitude intact could stir questionable thoughts from others. Of course, I could have just persuaded them that it was my wary demeanour, untapped skills and centuries of battle knowledge that kept me alive, yet against werewolves and two dozen immortals, it seemed near impossible to escape unscathed.

Or worse, they could believe that I fled the battle to ensure my own safety. No. That could not be the case. This scenario would result in more lies. Lies transitioned into secrets and secrets could be used as leverage.

The flight home was excruciatingly long. Time usually was no issue for me, seen as though time had become a background concept, yet even I was tempted to kick open the door and leap from the aircraft. I finished eight of the tomes I had packed and listened to every song on my cell phone three times over. It was a ten-hour flight, and a nine-hour time difference between Seattle and Pisa. Meaning that we left at nine Pm Seattle time and arrived at four Pm Pisa time. I take back what I said earlier. I was thankful I did not have to suffer through jet lag.

I was the first off the plane, although since it was still bright out - the first of the sun I had seen in days - I had to slide on a pair of elbow length white gloves and hold my umbrella above my head, shielding my face and chest from the sun - as did Sebastian and his men. We did not risk exposure, so we made our way indoors and underground to the purling lot as soon as possible.

I put away the umbrella and glanced over my shoulder to witness a Mercedes pull in by our side. I recognized it as the car my men would have sent to collect me upon receiving word I was returning home. The driver, however, was a young woman this time. I did not care enough to question what had happened to the last.

"So it would appear the moment we have been dreading has arrived, Isabella." Sebastian sauntered around me in circles, a mock sadness among his features. "I am afraid this is where we part ways. I return to the skies, to travel to far off lands and you...you return to our beloved home, to our malevolent yet merciful Father. I do hope you will-"

I did not hear the end of his sentence as by the time he had turned around I had already slid into the Mercedes and demanded the subjugate to drive.

The drive home passed in no time at all compared to the flight from Seattle. It was as if one moment we were on the road, flying past the rolling emerald sea and the next we were home, suddenly I was back within the tall, ancient walls of Volterra. It was still a few hours until nightfall but an idea came to mind and although I knew the risks, I could not refuse myself the gift. I sat forward and tapped the subjugate girl on the shoulder, causing her to jump and almost crash the car.

"Y-Yes, Ma'am?"

"Stop." The subjugate driver jumped at the sound of my voice, I had not even bothered to greet the human when she picked me up from the airport, the majority of my men did not deem the humans that worked for us worthy of being addressed as equals.

"Of course," she muttered and she pulled up to the side of one of the roads several blocks away from the courtyard.

"Take my things to my chambers, inform Jane of my return and assure her I will meet with Aro shortly."

"B-But ma'am, it's light out?"

I was tempted to kill her for stating the obvious, but then who would have returned my things? "I know that." I slid on the gloves, opened the car door, clicked up the umbrella and stepped out. It was light out, yet thankfully, the tall buildings around me cast enough shade to disguise the glow of my skin. To any human it would simply appear that the sun had caught me on the right angle.

I slammed the car door and took a single step back. The car sped off around the corner and left me alone in the street with only a few of the locals. I decided to take a long stroll home. After spending so long in countries whose nights and days were chill and damp, I found a strange urge to wonder the familiar streets of my home. The only sound was that of my heels against the slate tiles beneath, the few birds that chirped this late in the day, the chattering of the locals who met in the street with their children, markets stall vendors calling out the fruits and vegetables they had on sale; I savoured the sensation of the warm welcome.

I turned a corner onto another street and walked by a human girl with coppery skin and glossy black hair, similar to that of Jacob Black. She looked up at me, startled by the colour of my eyes and tugged on her mother's gown. By the time the mother turned to scold the child that had disrupted her conversation, I was another road away.

I took in the familiar scent of the plant life, and the sand like dust that coated almost everything. I ran my fingers along the smooth wall of one of the many sienna stone buildings and rubbed the tips of my fingers together. It felt strange, to be home again, almost as if I were here early.

In a way, I was. I had lied to Sebastian and told him I had destroyed Victoria when in fact, I had failed to even locate her. This was a lie that would consume me the longer it lived, yet how I was going to destroy it was still a complication. I figured that I would have to request a leave from Aro. Put on the charade that after leaving Volterra and travelling I became inspired and felt the tug of adventure. It was not a silly request and Aro, as angry as he was at times, would maybe be generous and grant me it. It would be during this leave that I would need to truly track down and obliterate Victoria. Only then would I be safe.

Eventually I found myself back in the centre of the courtyard, stood directly before the clock tower and the fountain it shadowed. As I walked by, I could feel the eyes of my men and woman on me, watching carefully from the shadows and oblivious to the many humans that walked idly on by. Unbeknownst to them, I pictured the Cullen's standing by my side - well, Alice and Edward, at least, and Bella. Edward preparing to expose himself after believing his mate dead, when in fact she was racing across these very stone flags to stop him from being the first to die.

Tragic. Dramatic. - And real. It was as if I could feel the memory surrounding me.

After another still moment, I decided that I did not want my men to question as to why their Overseer was stood staring at the clock tower like some tourist, so I headed in through the wooden doors.

Finally, I was home.

Asher's Note:

Hello everyone! Sorry for the wait but here is chapter 10: In this chapter, Isabella fights free of the Cullen's and returns home to Volterra. I have a question for my lovely, amazing readers! How many of you have read Life and Death: Twilight reimagined. For those who do not know what Life and Death is, upon the ten-year anniversary of Twilight's release, Stephanie Meyer released an alternate version of twilight. It was not Midnight Sun, as we all would have wished, but a version of twilight where the majority of the characters are Gender swapped. Bella is a boy called Beau, Edward is a girl called Edythe. I was wondering what your thoughts on the alternate story are and if she did continue this alternate story as a series, what alternate titles would you give to New Moon Eclipse and Breaking Dawn? Sorry for the questions, as I was just curious!

Responding to your reviews:

Warrof: I see. Yes, Isabella's lover is named Kai. As for his part to play in the alteration of her memories, the truth will be revealed in chapters to come.

LRJ: 'Not Bad' Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed.

Melis: Thank you, from here in England :}

Sharksaver23: Thank you :} As to whether or not she believes them, Isabella is still undecided. What would you believe? If some random strangers approached you and tried to convince you that your entire life is a lie?

Miss24fan: Thank you! I enjoyed writing it. I mean, as gentle and as boring as Bella was in the Saga, she was a teenager and the lack of actual teenage attitude in YA is something that annoys me. She is a teenager, teenagers curse - then again, this Isabella is a thousand year old immortal... or is she? ;)

Debbie Hicks: Um...I am so sorry. I have read your Review many times yet cannot seem to fathom what it is you are trying to say...Sorry. I do not know whether it is due to English not being your native language or if you were drunk, ha-ha. Either way, I am thrilled you reviewed and if it is because English is not your native language, then thank you for taking the time to attempt to write a review in my language. :}

Macey: That is alright and thank you so much :} Glad you enjoyed.

Guest: Well, aren't you a little evil ;) I joke. I do love Isabella with the Volturi. I always love it when a good guy goes bad.

LMB1: Good theories. We will see in due time.

Twilight- et - the - vampire: Je vous remercie. J'espère que vous apprécierez ce chapitre également. Pardonnez-moi, mon français est très mauvais et j'utilise l'Internet pour me aider à répondre.

Guest: Thank you :] I hope you enjoy.

Kristie: Thank you :] I wish I did too but unfortunately real life has to get in the way.

Alice: Thank you so much :} That is exactly what the end of last chapter was like. Although unfortunately for Isabella, she is more confused now than she has ever been. Thank you again, it means a lot.

Huntergatherer: Thank you :} We will see.

LG1998: I decided to save your review for last, simply because I could focus on it more. First of all, thank you for such a long and thought out review. I can tell clearly by the words you wrote that you took your time in reviewing, unlike so many others in the past on other stories. It means a lot to me when someone takes the time to not only review and tell me they enjoy the story but also point out what they enjoyed, how it made them feel and so on. It really means a lot to me. Thank you. As you can tell from this chapter, Isabella's memories have no yet returned. As of this moment, all she is trying to do is find solitude in the place she once called home to try to figure this entire thing out. As for your theories, they are all very good and we shall see which ones come to play in later chapters! Thank you, cannot wait to hear what you think of this chapter.

~Asher~