Author's note: I apologize, but this will probably be the last chapter for the evening, as I'm going to visit the in-laws for dinner. But I hope you enjoy!

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As she approached the cafe, Bella took the time to truly look around, take in everything that she'd missed on her first walk here. There were people on the beach already, playing and laying and just...being people. It struck her, somehow. They were all people. Some may have been sparkling, but it didn't matter - there were no lines of demarcation here. She realized that, in this escape club for vegetarian vampires, everyone really was equal. The thought made her warm and fuzzy, and she resolved to come back to Anti Paxos as often as possible. She was within a few yards of the cafe by then and could make out Caralla sitting with deceptive elegance at a side table. The vampire stood as she approached.

"Bella, darling! I was wondering if he planned to keep you all day, or if he was going to relinquish you long enough to get some breakfast."

"Well, I think this time I was to blame." They shared a laugh as they sat down, the other woman motioning to the waiter who disappeared inside the building.

"I hope you don't mind, I took the liberty of ordering food for you."

"Not at all. I am starving!"

"Well, with the way you're walking today, and the marks on your neck, I'm not in the least surprised." Caralla chuckled at Bella's blush. "You've been here with Carlisle for days now and you can still blush? Bella moaned.

"I know, I know. I just...can't seem to control it. It's really a pain."

"But so beautiful, my dear! Don't try and change that. Those marvelous pink hues will be gone after you are turned, so enjoy it while you can." They made small talk while Bella ate, Caralla enlightening her on things as trivial as climate, as in depth as the local politics. Bella found herself soaking up every word. Finally, however, her plates were clean, her coffee cup empty. Caralla stood, extending her hand.

"It's such a beautiful day, I thought we'd walk and talk." She grinned. "Give you a chance to stretch those muscles with some other form of physiacl exertion." Bella chuckled and stood, taking the black-haired goddess' hand and walking with her. They were quiet for a while, simply walking down the beach like old friends. Finally, however, they reached a shady overhand and Caralla paused, looking at Bella with intensity.

"So, tell me, Bella. Are you in love with Carlisle?"

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To watch the look on her face, that flush returning, the expression in her eyes...Caralla could tell she hadn't even considered the question before. She had to give Bella credit, though. The girl thought hard about her answer before she opened her mouth.

"No, not really. It's not like that." Caralla sat on a rock, expressing by her demeanor her willingness to listen. Bella, on the other hand, began to pace.

"It's different somehow. I am so in love with Edward. He's practically all I think about. Even when I'm..." she trailed off, and Caralla just sat there silently, allowing her the time she needed to gather her obviously rampant thoughts. "Even when I'm in bed with Carlisle, a part of me still cries out for Edward. That sounds horrible, I know, almost like I'm just using Carlisle. but that couldn't be further from the truth. I think...I think this experience has taught me the difference between loving someone and being in love with them.

"I love Carlisle dearly. He's kind, considerate, a perfect gentleman. Witty and -" she took a deep breath, "- unbelievably gorgeous and he does things to me that I couldn't even have imagined. I love his sense of humor, the way he laughs at my clumsiness. The way he holds me whenever we've finished making love. But when I think of my future, the only arms I can see around myself are Edward's. And I'm absolutely thrilled with that. Am I making any sense? It's so hard to describe..." she trailed off.

"I believe I understand, Bella." She patted the rock beside her, coaxing Bella to sit down and lean against her shoulder. She stroked Bella's mahogany hair as she spoke. "Edward is your life. You can't imagine living without him - you con't imagine wanting to. But you will always treasure this time on my island with Carlisle, and the bond between the two of you is precious to you in ways you know you may never fathom." Bella sat up, her face a perfect image of shock. "Yes, I can sense your bond. Honestly it doesn't surprise me in the least. And once Edward sees that it isn't a mark of Carlisle taking you away, he's going to be very relieved that someone else has the ability to care for you as well."

"You think so?"

"I know it. Edward may be rash and impulsive, even jealous, especially when it comes to those he cares for. But he is one of the most loving people I have ever met, and you are so precious to him that whatever makes you happy will aid in making him happy."

"I hope you're right, Caralla." Bella sighed again. "I just...I can't imagine regretting this at all."

"Do you feel better now, having finally heard yourself say all of this out loud?" Bella nodded. "Then, is there anything you wish to ask me? I promise to answer honestly, and if I do not know an answer I have no problems admitting it."

"Well, I was wondering...shat is soul compulsion?" Caralla laughed richly.

"Oh, Isabella, you are quite a woman. You jump right past the typical questions to delve into a subject older than I am, and that's saying a lot."

"I just...Carlisle mentioned it this morning. He seems a bit worried about this entire situation."

"Can I ask a question first? Then I will answer yours as well as I am able."

"Shoot."

"Why did you let him taste your blood?"

"Well...it was more like...okay, honestly, I tricked him into it." Caralla raised an eyebrow, chuckling at Bella's sheepishness. "See, Carlisle's always been a bit of an obsession of mine, since we met. I thought he was possibly the most beautiful man I'd ever seen, and this was before I knew the Cullens were vampires. I'm...a bit accident-prone, you could say. I'd just nearly been squashed by a car. Edward had saved me, then taken off, and at that point I wasn't sure why he did because it seemed that he hated me. That's another story, though. Anyway, I was sitting in the hospital and Carlisle walked in and I almost passed out."

"He does have that effect on people, doesn't he?" said Caralla a bit wistfully, motioning Bella to continue.

"After I found out that he was a vampire, I began to wonder exactly how hard it was for him to be a doctor. Being around human blood all day...until he mentioned that he doesn't even smell it any more. He was stitching up a cut on my arm...another long story...but even though he seemed fine with it, I could swear that his nostrils flared a bit. I never got a chance to ask. Never had the courage, actually. I didn't think about it again until the ball last night. I don't know what possessed me to bite his neck - but whenever he told me the significance of what I'd done suddenly I wanted...I don't know. It was like I wanted him to have a part of me no one else would. So, when we were back at the villa, when we..." She trailed off, completely flustered, but Caralla said nothing, instead giving her a chance to get herself back in order. "I bit my lip too hard and tasted blood. And I knew then that I wanted him to, too. So I kissed him." Caralla grinned, a conspiratorial smile woman to woman.

"And how was it then?" Bella looked down at her hands for a moment before responding.

"It was un-fucking-believable." They looked at one another, then both began to laugh, a shared amusement between two women who usually don't have a chance to be so open with anyone. Once the mirth had died down, Caralla spoke.

"Well, I have to give you credit, my dear. In the nearly four hundred years since he was born to this life, no one - and I mean, no one - has ever managed to break down that solid will he's cloaked himself in. You are very very special, Bella, and you mean the world to him. And regardless of what happens today, tomorrow, a hundred years from now, you will always have that connection to remind you of one another.

"To answer your question, soul compulsion is...I suppose one might refer to it as mind control, though it really isn't anything of the sort. Let me ask you - is there anything you wouldn't do for Edward?" Once more Caralla was impressed by the fact that Bella didn't snap an answer off like so many would have. She thought about it, whirling her mind around her response before setting it free.

"Only one thing. I won't stay human for him. I want to become a vampire for him, but if he doesn't want me when I'm like him, I won't regret changing. I'll miss him painfully, and I know from experience that it will tear my heart out. But I would hate myself for staying human just because he wished it. Does that make sense?"

"Absolutely. Now, to apply that to soul compulsion...if you and Edward bonded, and he sent his wish for you to remain as you are through that bond, not only would you remain human, but it would never occur to you to change. Do you understand?" Bella looked thoughtful.

"So it's not so much forcing a person to go against their own desires. It's more like shaping their desires to match what you want them to be in such a way as to cause no animosity."

"Precisely. You would never remember your strong desire to be anything but human. You would remain as you are now, and you would never miss the opportunity not taken simply because it would never cross your mind that the opportunity existed. It's a bit confusing, I admit."

"No, no, I think I get it. That's...a bit scary."

"Are you scared of Carlisle now? Of the fact that he - through your actions - has that control over you?"

"No! Not even remotely. I trust him." Caralla could tell that Bella had spoken the truth by the complete lack of hesitation in her eyes. "But...I don't think I'm going to bring up this subject with Edward. I know he would use it for what he would consider my own good. But the last time he did something 'for my own good,' it nearly killed me, him, and the rest of the family." Caralla simply looked at her, a question in her eyes. "Edward left to keep me safe, but due to a mixed vision that Alice had and Rosalie jumping the gun and telling Edward, he thought I'd committed suicide, so he went to the Volturi to kill himself." Caralla gasped.

"I never...no one told me that." Bella shook her head.

"No reason to. It all worked out for the best. Although they did have to promise to turn me - which I don't object to, but Edward still doesn't want to consider." Caralla decided a subject change was in order. Bella had the answer to one question - it was time to see what else the prettu brunette had floating around in her mind unanswered.

"Well, that is the core of soul compulsion. What else can I tell you?"

"Um...I was wondering...okay, vegetarians have golden eyes. Those who feed from humans have red eyes." She paused. "So why are yours both?"

"Ahh, you noticed."

"Kind of difficult not to."

"Well, it's simple really. I sustain myself through animal blood. But I indulge myself by drinking from humans. Never enough to kill them, and never from the same one so frequently as to cause problems. But it is a rare treat, and it brings them pleasure as well, so every once in a while I reward myself and one of my servants."

"Pleasure? How is that possible? Doesn't the venom hurt?"

"Oh, excruciatingly. But I never inject venom when I feed for fun." Bella looked astounded, and Caralla smiled inwardly. "I heard about your run-in with the rogue, James. Edward sucked the venom from your bloodstream, correct?" Bella nodded. "And when your blood was clean he had a hard time stopping, also correct?" Another nod. "In those few moments after the venom had been removed, but before he stopped...what were you feeling?" She saw Bella's eyes widen with dawning understanding.

"It felt...good. Like, physically..."

"Sexually enjoyable, correct?" Bella's blush answered for her. "If he'd have continued, you could have easily climaxed, am I right? And all from him drinking from your wrist. Now," Caralla said, shifting and leaning back against the rock, "imagine if he was making love to you. Take away the moments of agony while he removed the venom from your blood, and focus only on those few seconds of pleasure. Do you see what I'm getting at?"

"Oh god."

"Exactly. When done properly, the bite of a vampire doesn't have to fill the wound with venom. It takes years of practice, but it is entirely possible to learn to not turn everyone you feed from." Caralla laughed again. "Otherwise there would be far fewer humans living on Anti Paxos."

"So you...from them..?" Caralla nodded.

"I love the humans that choose to live here. They are always free to go - but few ever do. They have everything they wish for." Bella thought about it. "You can't mean to tell me that you haven't wondered why a vampire resort, as it were, serves such amazing food and drink for the living?"

"I had wondered that, actually."

"It is because of the humans here. Firstly, Greeks are passionate about many things. Love, family...and food. This civilization prides itself on the preparation and consumption of some of the most amazing delicacies known to the human world. Secondly, you won't find a Greek cook who is willing to make less than their best meals to serve to others. It's a sign of respect, of friendship, and of acknowledgement of the recipient as a worthy person in their own right. Even a simple cup of coffee is a mark of pride."

"That's amazing." Bella chuckled. "I could enjoy that attitude quite easily."

"It is splendid. So they cook and create wonderful food. And the rare human who visits reaps the rewards." Caralla was smiling. "Speaking of food, we've been here for a long protion of the morning. Would you like to wander back to the cafe? Jhiros - he's the cook today - is making his mouth-watering lamb stew for lunch." Bella nodded, smiling, and the two began their trip back to the cafe, enjoying the sun and the sand and the company of a new friend.