EPOV

Blood of my blood.

I'm related to her? This woman isn't a human being. Is there a part of me too that isn't human?

My heart was hammering so fast that I was getting dizzy. How I wasn't twitching on the grass in a frenzy was beyond me. The princess' green eyes shot to the right and took in her husband still kneeling on the grass. She gave him a darkly amused look.

"What is this? You, kneeling? I have lived too long, it would seem." Her husband raised his laughing eyes to hers, and her lips twitched in amusement. "Truly, Phan. You are a devil. Do not mock these two young ones." Phan stood, and the princess' face softened as they looked at one another. I supposed this very human display of affection should have eased some of my concerns, but it was all I could do to keep the terror at bay.

The woman turned back to me, a look of concern on her face.

"Do not fear," she said kindly. "You and your consort are safe here. I will not harm you, and neither will Phan." Something happened with her eyes for a split second, something vaguely familiar. Then it was gone. "It is true that I am a different type of creature than you are. But the blood that runs in your veins is entirely human, child. The part of me that lives on in you is the human part of me."

"So it is true then … the story that Bella's grandfather told us," I said. "The Sight in my family – it came from you?"

"Yes. It was my own." She gestured to her eyes. "I gave it willingly in exchange for the protection and love I was given by your family. But come. Let us sit, and I will answer all your questions." We walked a little bit along to find a comfortable spot in the springy grass. As we walked, something caught the princess' eye, and she suddenly took my wrist in her hand. I flinched a little away at her touch, then realized it was as gentle and warm as a human woman's.

She touched my bracelet. "Do you mourn?" she asked. I was amazed that she recognized the bracelet's symbolism.

"I … I did mourn," I said. "But now, no longer." The princess looked over at Bella and eyed her long brown hair, then she turned back to me with a smile.

"Indeed, you do not. So you no longer require this item. May I remove it?" I thought about this for a moment, and nodded. I tried not to panic when I heard the zinging sound of the long blade at her waist being drawn. But before I feel any more fear or even see the movement involved, the bracelet of hair lay at my feet in the grass. She re-sheathed the sword.

We settled down on the ground, the woman sinking effortlessly to the grass, her legs folded beneath her. Phan squatted nearby. I shot a nervous glance over to where Shra lay, not far away. Its glowing eyes were fixed on the princess.

"Please," said Bella, speaking to her for the first time. "Will you tell us your name? I am Bella and this is Edward."

"My name is difficult…"

"… yes, difficult to pronounce in our language. We've been hearing that a lot lately." The princess grinned; it showed her teeth, which had an unsettling effect.

"Indeed. When I lived in the human world, my family called me Kris. But I will tell you my true name and you may even call me that instead, if you prefer." She spoke it then. It seemed to go on for an inordinately long time, and I wasn't even sure I could replicate some of the sounds she created. Somewhere in there, a syllable that sounded somewhat like "Kris" came out.

"Okay, let's stick with Kris then," I said hurriedly. The princess looked amused. I gestured around us. "Is this your home? Your … world?"

"A very small portion of it," she said. "But it is part that is forbidden to enter for my people. Because of the portal, you see." Kris pointed to the mirror we had entered through. "This was crafted by my brother, who was a powerful wizard. It was his greatest act of magic, to form a corridor between two worlds separated by distance and time. It was also his last, as he paid for it with his life. This happened when I was very young, maybe 30 of your years past. He created the portal because it was foreseen that our enemies were seeking my death.

"You have heard the chronicle of how I was sheltered by your family," she said, nodding at me, "and met my love in your world." Here she nodded to Phan very gracefully, and he grinned back. "And in exchange for their kindness, I gifted both families. To Phan's family, I gave wisdom and strength of character, as well as good fortune. And for my foster mother, who was very dear to me, I used my magic to give her the babe she longed for. A girl child, the first of many generations who would inherit my Sight. With eyes of two different colors – as mine were before I gave my Sight."

Kris traced a pattern in the air with her hands. "Our two families have moved like twin streams thusly through time. Coming together in marriage, then moving apart for a few generations to ensure the health and stability of the lines. Then joining in marriage once again. There have been three marriages in 12 generations between our two families, the last one being four generations ago.

"Hang on a second," said Bella, interrupting. "Doesn't this mean that Edward and I are … related … somehow? Distantly?"

"Yes," said the princess readily. "But understand it is a very distant kinship, separated now by more than 100 years of your own time. There is no danger to your offspring of any kind."

"Remind me to keep this quiet the next time my mother picks up her genealogy hobby," Bella murmured, and I winced.

"Now … where was I?" The princess thought a moment. "Ah yes. The last marriage was four generations ago. Now this itself is unusual – in regular times, the coming together occurs every second or third generation without fail. Your grandparents would have been the next joining of the lines. But the terrible war in your world disrupted this pattern, and the gifts began to degrade." The princess turned to look at me. "In your family, the Sight failed to manifest in your mother. Indeed, I believe that it was only through great courage and strength that your grandmother was able to channel her Sight into your sister as she was birthed."

"My Gran died that night," I said in a small voice as I digested what I had just heard. It cost Gran her life to ensure Alice got the Sight.

"Yes," said the princess, looking at me with compassion in her exotic eyes. "She was an extraordinary woman. I share your sorrow."

She turned to Bella next. "And for you, my dear, the consequences were even more painful for you did not have a large and loving family around you. Your mother was born an only child, after generations of large families. She was born into lowly status and has remained so for all her days. She married a man of lesser character who treated his wife and child shamefully, and then abandoned them. But while you were not blessed with the good fortune you so richly deserved, you still had your family gift of wisdom and love."

"So you can see what goes on in our world, then?" Bella asked.

"Assuredly," said the princess. "Having spent several years of my own life there, I make it my business to maintain a watch on your home." She continued on.

"It was recognized that if the gifts were to be fully recovered, it was essential that two children of the newest generation must meet and marry. Since Bella was also an only child, that mean either you or your brother had to mate with her. As your brother was but a babe at the time, you were chosen." Kris smiled at me as if she had conferred a very great honor, but her face fell when she saw the horror in my expression.

"Are you saying Bella and I are together because of some … magic spell?" I whispered. "Not because we really love each other?" I knew it was all too good to be true! Of course she doesn't really love me…

Kris shot me an astounded look. "Nay. We are believers of destiny, not arranged marriages. No magic – no matter how powerful – can create a love match where no love exists. We selected this place where the two of you could safely meet and become acquainted with one another. We showed you pieces of the old stories to attract your attention and perhaps awaken buried memories in you. And finally, I caused the portal between our worlds to be re-opened, and split it into two – one to each family."

Bella looked off past the meadow, toward the towering forest in the distance. "Does everyone in your world live … over there?"

"Yes. But it was felt best that you be left strictly to yourselves, with no risk of you stumbling into one of our cities. So we put in place a mental barrier to prevent you from wandering out of this space. And we laid down certain charms on the mirror to keep you … safe … in the event that your pairing was unsuccessful."

"And this is why we were unable to speak of our families, or take things in and out of the mirror?" I asked.

"Yes. Had the portal not been destroyed prematurely in your world, the mirror's restrictions would have gradually been lifted as you grew older, allowing you to know one another more fully." She looked distressed. "Please know that it was never our intention to cause you this painful separation. My only wish was to bring you together in the hopes that you might find happiness as man and woman, and continue a great legacy. Which it appears you have – but I fear that both of you have paid a great price for this."

We all sat in silence for several minutes as Bella and I digested this information. It was a frightening amount to take in. Kris and Phan didn't say anything or seem to be in a rush. They sat beside us in comfortable silence as the second moon rose up overhead.

"So …what happens now?" asked Bella.

"You return to your own world. Marry, have children, grow old together. And live in the knowledge that you have preserved a tradition spanning a dozen generations and hundreds of years. A tradition that will bring happiness and good fortune to your own offspring." Kris cocked an eyebrow at us. "Is this not sufficient?"

"It is more than sufficient," I said softly. "I don't know if things can ever be that simple in our world anymore, but to have that life with Bella would be … more than I had ever dreamed for myself." I couldn't – just couldn't – explain my mental problems to the princess and Phan, so I changed the subject. "You speak of children a great deal. Do you have kids?" It was a good choice of topics – both of them swelled with pride.

"Of course," said Phan. "We have seven, three boys and four girls." Bella and I gaped at them for a moment. "It is no longer customary then, in my world, to have many children?" he asked.

"No. At least, not in our society. Most families have two children, maybe three."

"Ah. This is unfortunate," observed Phan. Kris brightened.

"Perhaps you would wish to spend the rest of the night here? We would be gladly withdraw and grant you privacy. I have power enough to ensure a fruitful union tonight – you could be holding your first babe before this year has drawn to a close."

Bella's eyes nearly fell out of her head, and mine weren't far behind. Trying not to sputter, she declined the princess' offer as graciously as possible. Even still, my mind was suddenly lost in a fantasy of Bella, her stomach round and full with my child. Kris shot me an indulgent smile that made me wonder – for the first time – if she could read my every thought. I pulled myself back to the moment.

"I wouldn't mind spending the rest of the night here," I said. "It has been a long time since we were last here, and I am not ready to leave yet." I paused. "Do you think … we could come back again?" Kris looked surprised.

"If you desire, it could be made possible. I admit that I did not envision that you would wish to return now that you have found one another." She eyed me thoughtfully. "Do you like it here that much? Perhaps you would wish to return for a more … lengthy visit?" I tried not to show my alarm, but she picked up on it anyway. "Perhaps not then. Never mind."

Live in the mirror world?

I'd lying if it didn't hold some appeal.

We talked for another hour or so. Phan was greatly interested in the day-to-day goings on in the world he had left behind. The princess wanted to know about my family, especially Alice with her Sight. Finally, we got to our feet and stood together. I was aware that it was time for Kris and Phan to leave, but I didn't want them to go.

"Will we ever see each other again?" I asked. She smiled sadly.

"I do not believe so, my child. Not on this side of night. It was strange fortune that allowed this meeting in the first place." Her face was filled with a terrible sadness, and I suddenly realized I wasn't afraid of her anymore. "But it is not natural for our worlds to mix in this fashion. You are young and need to move on with your own lives, in your own world. Perhaps I have held on to you too long in order to indulge my own sentiment." She smiled, and I was surprised to see tears in her deep green eyes. "I am so grateful for this chance." Then she turned to Bella.

"My child, I would give you my blessing. Will you accept it? It is a traditional blessing – for long life, good health, a pleasurable marriage bed." Phan winked at me, and I blushed deep red, as did Bella. "For strong, happy children – when you desire them, of course. Although why you would wait so long is beyond my understanding. I was 16 when I led my people into battle, and 18 when I gave birth to my first daughter. You should not wait, you know … babies are meant to be birthed while the mother is yet young."

"Our world is different than yours," said Bella tactfully. "And I would willingly accept your blessing, Majesty." Bella closed her eyes as Kris placed her hand on top of Bella's head. The princess' eyes took on that faraway look again, and I realized it was the same look that Alice had when she was having a vision. There was a long silence from both of them. Finally, Kris took her hand away and looked at Bella soberly.

"You have suffered in our cause, young one. Your father has been a selfish and unworthy sire. Do you wish vengeance upon him?"

"Vengeance?" repeated Bella faintly. "What kind of vengeance did you have in mind?"

"Ill-fortune. Poor health. Death, perhaps." Kris suggested, and Bella blanched.

"Er … no thanks. This is not our way. And although he is a poor father, he's the only one I have. And despite all the pain he has caused me, I still love him."

"So I can see," Kris said. She looked over at me for a moment. "You also worry terribly for your love's health. I can assure you that both of you will live many decades, a long and healthy life. So have no more fear." Bella shot me a look but didn't say anything. How could we explain to them that my sickness was invisible and lay inside my mind?

Suddenly Bella stiffened and made a little sound of fear. One of the princess' red braids had come down off the back of her head and had coiled around Bella's long brown braid. "Your hair is similar to mine, although it lives not," Kris asked. "Why have you chosen to wear it this long? I understood that this is not the fashion in your world." Bella smiled, although her eyes never came off Kris' hair, which was still nosing around of its own accord.

"It was my way of remembering Edward during our time apart." My jaw dropped at this sudden confession, and I felt my throat tighten up. All these years. "Tell me," Bella said nervously, "are you making your hair do that through magic?"

"Do … what? Move in this fashion? No, my hair is living. Like an appendage, an arm or a leg. Its ability is limited, but it can come in handy when you have seven children. Or during a fight when picking up a sword from the battlefield."

"We used to watch you fight when we were children," I said suddenly. Kris turned to me with a pleased smile on her face. "This battle that we would see through the mirror … was this your war of liberation with the invaders?"

"Yes. It was my life's purpose to win that battle. It was what I was bred and born to do." She gestured to her body. "All of these things you find so curious and repellent about me … my body is designed to fight and survive beyond the capacity of any other member of my species."

"We always used to wonder why …" I lowered my voice and cast an uneasy look over to Shra. "… why you didn't kill the black monster at the end." Shra looked up in great interest. So much for being subtle.

"There is no life without death, Edward. Shra is part of the natural order of this world. It comes to all of us in the end. One day, Shra will come for me."

"A day I look forward to eagerly, Majesty," it said. I paled at that.

"It certainly seems to … enjoy its work," I said tentatively. Kris and Phan chuckled.

"Shra is bound to me; this is why it is so resentful of me and those closest to me," Kris said. "Shra is forever bound to the leader of my people – it is a binding passed down through millennia. It lives in hope that one day, the bond will be broken prematurely, and it will be free to roam this world and others to feed. Until that day, it must serve me by preserving the natural order of life and death. Shra may only take those whose time has come – no more, no less."

I looked at the black monster doubtfully. "What would happen if you killed it?" I asked.

"The sun would go black," she said. "The world would end." She repeated her words from earlier. "There is no life without death."

"One day I will come for you, Teddy Cullen," Shra suddenly hissed.

"Oh, shut up," I said, much to Bella's alarm.

"Tiresome bugger, isn't it?" said Phan brightly. "Imagine living with it croaking doom at you, century upon century."

"If you are quite finished," said the princess with a smile. "I would bless my descendent." And she stepped forward, placing her hand gently on my head. For a moment, her fingers stroked my hair. "You very nearly inherited my hair as well as my eyes," she murmured. Then her eyes went blank, and I could feel the brush of her mind upon mine.

But a brush was all I felt, and she stopped. Adjusted the placement of her hands and began again. And stopped. This went on for several tries. Her expression went from puzzled to frustrated to anger. I backed up a couple of steps at the sight of her fury.

"What has been done to you?" she whispered. "What is this … this stain upon your mind? Shra, is this your work?"

"Nay, Majesty," said Shra in a bored voice. "It is a mark of their world and its incessant desire for sameness. It is also the scar of the mirror's destruction. His damage is not my doing." Its mouth widened in a strange, mirthless grin. "In a way, Majesty, it is your doing. Payment, perhaps, for continuing to meddle in the lives of a lesser species."

I opened my mouth to argue against this, but Kris silenced me with a look. "Kneel, my son," she said, and I did. "I cannot remove it all, but I will attempt to take away what I can. It will not hurt but it may feel odd. Please do not move away. Do you understand?" I looked at Bella a little wildly, and she stared back at me, clearly at a loss.

"You would … take away … the damage in my mind," I said disbelievingly.

"I would," she said. "If you will allow." I knelt, looking up at her. 'Cure' me? Did I even want that? Could I separate myself from the illness anymore, or had it defined me forever? Would I be lost forever if she took my illness away? What if she damaged me further in the process?

Surely irrelevant since it was not possible. And in response, the voice inside my mind – the voice of my 13-year-old self who had, to all intents and purposes, died in the earthquake 10 years ago – spoke.

Maybe in this place tonight, anything is possible.

You deserve more, Edward.

"I will allow it," I said and closed my eyes. We stayed this way a long time. I could feel her strain, hear her murmuring in her own strange tongue. It felt like someone was pushing inside my skull at one point. This went on for many minutes … maybe hours. Then it stopped, and she once again laid her hands lightly on my head. I could feel her mind touching my own in a different way as she blessed me.

When she signaled for me to get up, Kris was swiping at her hands with a look of disgust on her face. I could see nothing out of the ordinary on her fingers though. Nor did I feel any different – neither better nor worse. But I didn't allow this to show on my face. She may be an advanced species, but PTSD is a complex disease that couldn't be magicked away. Even I knew that.

"Perhaps," the princess said unexpectedly. Her husband came over and wrapped his arm around her waist. The time had come for us to part. Phan looked at us, his bright smile muted. He took Bella's hand and kissed it.

"Goodbye, dear heart. I am glad we met, if only briefly. Promise me you won't forget me."

"I won't," said Bella, her voice trembling a little. "How could I?" Phan clasped my hand tightly and made me promise to look after Bella for all my days. The princess kissed Bella goodbye and murmured into her ear for a moment. Bella's eyes went wide and she blushed. Kris pulled back and looked at her, and Bella nodded. I wasn't too sure I wanted to know what had just passed between them. Then Kris turned to me.

"Goodbye, my son," she said softly, leaning over to kiss me first on one cheek and then the other. "Remember me."

"I will. Always." She stepped away and raised her voice. "Shra! You will leave with us now. These young people do not need the company of death while they consecrate their love." Shra made a disgusted face and bounded away in an instant. But I noticed that it only went as far as the meadow below us, where it waited.

"Majesty," I said, and Kris looked at me. "It was not your doing … what happened to me. And even if it were, I would endure it again, many times over, to have Bella's love. I owe you nothing but gratitude for the joy you have given me. Given us. Thank you. For this." I gestured around me at the magical world of our childhood. "And for her." And I put my arm around Bella.

The princess looked at the two of us together.

"May the gods grant you happiness beyond measure," she said softly. And together, she and Phan left us. When they reached the bottom of the hill, Shra was sitting beside their horses, rising only as the princess approached. They looked at one another, then bowed briefly. Shra quickly vanished into the forest. Kris and Phan raised their hands in farewell, mounted, and rode away.

And Bella and I were left alone in the mirror world, under the two moons for the first time in a decade. For a long time, we didn't say anything.

"Do you really think she was able to … make you well?" asked Bella finally in a low voice.

"Not really," I replied. "You can't just fix someone's brain like that. But even still…" I trailed off, and Bella nodded. "I had no idea that you kept your hair long for me all these years. Why did you do that?" She blushed.

"Because you told me once when we were 12 or 13 that you liked my hair long. I never forgot that. So I kept growing it. I always felt prettier with long hair … I guess because you made me feel that way." I pulled her tighter against me and felt the warmth of her slim figure. In spite of everything that had happened – or maybe because of it – I could feel my own body responding.

I thought about what the princess had said earlier.

"Bella," I said shyly. "Would you lie with me here tonight? And make love with me?"

"Yes," she replied after a moment. "I think the princess wanted us to. That's why she took Shra away with her."

We walked back to the spot where we had all been sitting earlier. By the light of the moons, I carefully, reverently undressed Bella. With a little smile, I undid her locket and put it down beside my old bracelet on the ground. I stripped off my own clothes, finding myself more than ready for her, and her for me. Then I laid her down in the grass and loved her. Again and again, throughout that long night.

At the end, we lay together, absolutely spent. And for the very first time, we watched dawn break in the mirror world, our arms wrapped around one another. At the first sight of that alien sun, we drifted off to sleep.

We would awaken, several hours later, in Bella's bed, still wrapped in each other's arms.

~~ - ~~

And in the mirror world, the sun rose into the sky. Its rays reached out to touch two objects nestled in the grass.

A silver locket.

And a bracelet made of hair.

~~ - ~~

A/N: A epilogue will follow shortly.