A/N: This is the final chapter to my first story Isabelle. I know it leaves you hanging, sorry. But this was the best way to end the story knowing its 'to be continued'. I had to open a few doors. *winx* Plus I'm sure you would recognize a few parts where the first season of True Blood begins. I know I don't have to retell that story. Haha!

I do not own the rights to any of the characters of the Southern Vampire Mysteries or True Blood. Read, review, and enjoy! ^-^

Isabelle's POV:

Okay, I know Milly said to be ready by eight but I couldn't sleep. Believe me, I tried, but I just couldn't. I tossed and turned, going over the events in the past few weeks. So I gave up, instead, I stayed up until three in the morning, not really doing anything. So I packed up the rest of my things and took it down to my car.

"Isabelle, when I say eight, I do mean eight." she said, walking in past me the moment I opened the door.

I closed the door behind her as I rubbed my eyes, "Come on in."

"You're not even ready." she said, looking at my pajamas.

"Just give me an hour alright?" I grunted. "Good morning to you too by the way, grumpy." I shouted down the hall.

Just for the hell of it, I decided to take a shower, do my hair and makeup, and took my sweet ass time picking out my outfit.

Two hours later, I was now ready to leave, wearing my dark blue, hip hugger jeans, white tank, and my white K Swiss'.

"Took you long enough." Milly grumbled when I finally emerged from the room. "Can we go now?"

I smiled, "Since we're already late, I thought that I should say bye to Dawn."

"Oh no, I don't think so. We have a lot of road to cover. Save your goodbyes for when you return."

Fudge! Well, it was fun while it lasted.

We were driving down the main road when I realized something. "Milly, where's your jeep?"

"Took you long enough to notice." she sighed. "Lisa dropped me off."

"And she couldn't say hello?"

"She was late for work."

Yeah right. I thought to myself as I looked out the window.

I knew she had a slight grudge against me because her ex was a tad bit attracted to me, and vice versa of course (that is something I could never deny). It didn't help either, the fact that her sister could see the future and in that future, (the simplest way to put it is) we were fucking.

Bright future up ahead…what the…?

Up ahead, I saw Andy putting Jason in the backseat of his cop car.

"Pull over." I yelled.

"Why?" she asked, pulling into the shoulder lane.

"Because a friend of mine was just arrested. I think." I told her getting out of the car.

"Oh come on! We have to go!"

I ran across the street to Hoyt and Rene just as the car sped away. "What's going on? I just saw Jason in the backseat of Andy's car."

Hoyt kicked the dirt. "Yeah, well…Maudette's dead."

I didn't know Maudette very well. I mean, I saw her at the mini mart when we were passing through from Fangtasia, once or twice. Or she would stop by for a few drinks at Merlotte's. But we never had a real conversation.

Poor girl…

"Oh my god! Are you serious?"

He nodded. "Yeah, they think Jason might've did something. But I know him. He would never-"

I smiled as I placed my hand on Hoyt's arm, "Don't you worry about him. He's innocent and the sooner they find out the truth the better." I bit my lip as I glanced over to Rene.

'From what I heard, Maudette was a Fangbanger. Them bloodsuckers-'

"Isabelle! Would you hurry it up already?" Melanie yelled from across the street.

I turned toward her, "I'm coming! Jeez! Give me a minute!" I grunted. "Hoyt, I'm sorry baby, but I have to go. You be careful, you hear?"

He smiled. "I'm always careful Miss Isabelle."

I laughed. "Well, you give Jason a kiss for me alright?" I told him, kissing his cheek. "Tell him I won't believe for one minute what they're saying about him. I know he's innocent."

"Ugh, I think you should give it to him yourself. I don't-"

I squeezed his arm, "And give Dawn my love, will you?" I whispered in his ear as I gave him a big hug. "Bye Hoyt." then I quickly ran across the street. I wasn't too comfortable with Rene, there was just something not right with him. So instead, I yelled. "Bye Rene!" as I waved to them, jumping in the passenger's seat of the car.

Melanie literally burned rubber out of there. "Finally!" she said, clearly irritated.

"I take it you're not too much of a morning person."

"Isabelle, we have a long drive ahead. Can you zip your lips until we get to Arizona?"

"Arizo-" I half squealed.

"Isabelle, come, on!"

I had to laugh. "Fine, my lips are sealed." I told her, throwing away the invisible key. "I promise I won't even sing." I told her as I leaned back against the chair.

This is going to be a long drive.

The drive took us two days only because we had stopped to get some sleep at a motel along the way. I told her that I could drive but as stubborn as she is, she refused.

"Now, save your questions for later, alright?" Melanie told me. "This isn't the time or place to discuss the matters at hand."

"Ooh, will I get to meet the infamous Anita?" I asked, giving her a dramatic shiver.

"Anita, yes. Infamous, eventually. Now hush." she said, pulling into the driveway of a horse ranch. "We can't screw this up, understand? She has a lot riding on this, one mistake could cost her her family."

Family? I gulped. Why would she take a chance on me when her own family's lives are at stake?

"Then why is she helping us?" I said, little knowing my words came out as soft whispers.

"She's helping you. But she's confident enough in her sight to risk being seen with us here, today." she frowned. "That is why we were suppose to be on a schedule."

The way she said those words sounded as if she wants me to feel guilty if anything happens. And she's right, I should feel guilty. Oh hell, now I felt like a total douche bag for taking my sweet ass time. Because of my ignorance, I could've screwed up everything they had planned.

Fudge!

"Stay in the car." Melanie ordered when the car came to a sudden stop. She got out and walked up to the front door.

A moment later, the door opened. Although I couldn't see who had opened the door, I knew someone was standing there because Melanie was talking.

Then the door closed and Melanie walked back to the car trying her best to keep a straight face.

"What's going on?" I asked as soon as she got in the car.

"She'll meet us there."

"Where?"

"At the crossover. Now hush." she demanded as she drove away.

When I thought we were far enough away, I pressed her. "Okay what the fuck is going on?"

"Isabelle, will you please shut up?"

"No! I won't just shut up! You tell me right now or get the fuck out and you'll hitchhike your ass back to wherever the fuck you came from."

Melanie punched the steering wheel. "Fuck! This is so fucked up!"

"What?"

She glanced back to me. "Promise me that you won't ever trust Catalina."

Huh? Is she talking about the same woman I met? The penguin pajama wearing Amazon?

"Catalina? She's Dominic's friend. Thanks to her, she housed us until we could get away." I laughed at the sight her standing in the hall. She looked like a giant ten year old. "Why can't I trust her?"

"She is a traitor to her own people. Or at least that is what Anita believes. She thinks that she's a spy for the vamps and because she's like us, she can't see any visions of Catalina if vamps are in it."

"But I've touched her, I been around her, in her home. I never got a vision about her what so ever."

That made her think about everything. "Impossible. You would have gotten a vision from her." she paused, "When was the last time you saw her?"

I thought about it, "The morning of the last day in Los Angeles. She was the one who told us to meet Dominic at the diner."

"Did she know about you and Dominic?"

I laughed, "I didn't even know that is who we were meeting. Hell, I didn't even know the guy's name until that day." I couldn't believe Catalina would be associated with vampires. She didn't seem like the type. She seemed so innocent and yet so intimidating. "Why did Anita change her plans?"

"The future has changed."

"So someone changed the path they were on?"

I knew a little about this because I had the same gift as well. The future is always changing if the mind changes. And if I know women, we tend to change our minds more frequent than a model changes her clothes during a show.

"Anita has to make a tough choice, one that she is willing to risk her life for. She owes your family that much."

"What aren't you telling me? And who is this person you speak of who changed paths?"

She sighed, "Like I told you once before, her life isn't my story to tell. As for the 'who', she doesn't even know 'who' is. The eyes she sees through, are the eyes of the hunter. I'm pretty sure you can guess what happens next."

"They get to her family." I said barely above a whisper. All she could do is nod. "So this was my fault?"

"No. If anything, you might have saved us." she said as she continued driving. "I need to concentrate. Maybe I could get a reading somehow."

"You want me to drive?" I offered.

After a minute, she pulled over and we switched. For the next half hour, I drove with the directions from Milly, to a diner along side the road.

"We have at least three more hours until sunset." she told me, glancing down at her watch.

I took a sip of my water. "What are we going to do until then?" I asked.

"Stay alive."

"And then what?"

"And then we crossover." she told me getting out of the car.

Anita's POV:

I didn't like lying to Jacob but I knew I was doing what I had to. If he found out where I was really going, it would somehow get back to Catalina. It always does.

I'm not intimidated by her, not by a long shot. I have everything I could ever want, a loving husband and the most amazing family most long for. Its just that although their past relationship ended roughly, their friendship is still there, maybe stronger than ever. He tells her almost everything, well, except about my gifts, but in general, everything.

So having him believe that my cousins and I were having a small getaway for the weekend here at the ranch was the only lie I could come up with. Plus that was the safer way out, simply because that isn't a total lie. I just wish Sam and Lisa would have came as well. I haven't seen them in almost five years.

While making me coffee, I heard the doorbell ringing. I checked the time.

They're an hour early. I thought to myself as I opened the door.

"I know this was suppose to be your family weekend thing, but I really need to talk to you." Catalina said, standing right before me.

I was shocked and for a moment, I couldn't speak. How in the world did she know I was here? I thought about it and grunted to myself. Jacob. I cleared my throat and smiled. I didn't see this coming. "Sure, just come on in and have a seat in the living room." I told her, taking a step to the side.

As she walked into the living room, I quickly texted Melanie about the change of plans as I glanced outside, praying to God that they don't show up just yet.

"Is your cousins here yet?" she asked, peaking down the hall.

"No, not yet. I was just trying to see where they were and let them know to be expecting another guest for the weekend." I told her when I entered the living room.

She laughed, "Oh Anita, I'm not here to ruin your plans. I just needed to talk and it couldn't wait."

I took a seat across from her. "Well, what brings you here on such short notice?"

"Did Jacob tell you about my sister? Callie?" she asked, watching my expression carefully.

"No, I didn't know you had a sister."

"Well, she was murdered in the home of a vampire." she said in a matter of fact way.

I gasped. "How awful! Did you ever find the murderer?"

She shook her head. "I think Dominic might have been close and maybe that's what got him thrown into the gladiator prison."

"But why are you here? I can't help. I don't even know much about Dominic."

"Jacob could arrange a meeting with him to find out. But he won't listen to me. He thinks that idea is crazy and that I should just leave him alone already."

"Jacob isn't a fan of vampires himself. And the Palaestra is ran by vampires. Everyone knows that."

"If its money, I will give it to you. But please, I need to get in there, if not me then Jacob."

"Can't you just pay to get Dominic out?" I asked.

"He has a sentence to serve for killing those vampires. All the money in the world won't be enough to release him from the Palaestra." suddenly, she got down on her knees. "Please, I beg you."

"Catalina, get up. Don't-"

"Its always my fault. It was my fault that we were there in the first place. I begged her to let us go. It was my fault that Dominic was watching me instead of her. I haven't been able to rest since."

I watched her as she burst into tears. This woman was in pain, real pain, and for who knows how long. I may believe that she can be manipulating and very deceiving but at this very moment, she was being sincere. She really do want to find the one who murdered her sister and if I was her, I would never give up even if I died trying.

"Why can't you go and talk to him?"

"Because they won't allow me. I have a feeling Sophie-Anne had this arranged."

"If she remembers you then surely she remembers Jacob."

"I didn't know him that well back then. He could go without being noticed. In fact, they can't link us together on than through the Council, but as you well know, even the council is out of their reach."

I shook my head. "No, they would notice him. They will know who he is, what he is. They wouldn't allow a Sarpedon Warrior talking to another and if they find out he lied about knowing you, they will imprison him as well for perjury." I shivered at the thought. "You know that."

"Dominic fights in three days. What if he dies? I will never know the truth."

I couldn't help but feel as if that is all that she cared about, knowing the truth. She didn't seem to care whether or not her oldest friend might lose his life in the arena. Her main concern was getting answers before he dies with the unspoken certainty, before he takes that knowledge with him to the grave.

If she don't care about Dominic, she probably don't care what happens to Jacob either.

"I'll do it. You just set up a meeting for me with the vampires in two days."

"But your weekend-"

"I'll cut this weekend short. I can't risk Jacob being thrown in there too. He has a family."

She stood up and rushed over to me, embracing me into a hug. "Thank you! Thank you!"

If only she knew I wasn't doing this for her. No, she isn't that special to me. I'm doing this because I love my family and I especially love Jacob. I will not let him out his life on the line for his ex. Fuck that shit.

I knew some things about the gladiator underworld. I knew that anyone could purchase a gladiator and in return, the battles that are won, the owner will receive a percentage of the profit. Sick and twisted but in the underworld, that's entertainment.

"You're welcome." I told her the moment she released me, straightening out her clothes. "I will buy him. Drop off the money tomorrow evening."

"Not a problem." she said, smiling. "You won't regret this."

I hope not. I thought to myself as I watched her drive down the road.

The moment she left my property, it was like a veil was lifted. I only remember this happening once, when I was in the company of vampires and their humans.

Maybe that is why I never received visions from her, she surrounds herself by vampires.

But this vision I received was through the eyes of a hunter. And the reason why I say hunter is because the way this person sees the world is the way a hunter keeps watch of their prey. I could see Jacob fading into the background as the hands of this hunter wrapped around my children.

I collapsed to the ground, clutching my aching heart. "Not my babies." I bellowed. "Not my babies!"

I must've fallen asleep right where I had collapsed because I didn't wake until I heard the doorbell ringing once again. It took a moment for me to register that it was reality and not a dream.

I stood up and opened the door.

"What the hell happened to you?" Melanie asked. "You look like shit."

"I feel worse than I look."

"Please tell me you're not pregnant again."

I shook my head, "I'm not. I don't think I can handle another baby. Kyle just started sleeping through the night a few weeks ago." I told her, holding back a sniffle.

She blew out some air, "Well, Isabelle's in the car. Do you want us to wait-"

Then it registered. Someone could be watching right now!

Sweet Jesus.

"No, don't wait. I want you to go, get out of here. Catalina was just here." I paused.

So many thoughts ran through my mind at warped speed, it was making me dizzy. I didn't know whether or not what was about to come out was word vomit or actual, disgusting vomit.

"What if she's a spy? Maybe for vampires. That could be the reason why I can't see anything."

"Anne you're scaring me."

"I had a vision, it took most of my energy from me and knocked me out. But I can't leave with you guys. Its too dangerous. Someone might be watching and I can't let them take my kids okay?"

"Its alright. Really, your kids will be fine."

"No, you don't understand. My vision was through the eyes of a hunter himself. Their hands were wrapped around my children." I took a deep breath. "Milly, they will get my kids." I almost screamed.

"Anne, calm down, get a grip. It hasn't happened yet. So lets change paths, alright? We'll wait for the next crossover, we have to anyway since we missed it. And once we're in Alcaeus, everything will be okay."

Alcaeus.

"I'll meet you guys at the crossover. I have something to do first, alright?"

"At the crossover, are you sure?"

I nodded, confident in my decision more than ever. "Yes. I don't know why I didn't think of this before." I laughed, "Just go. I'll be there." I could see Melanie hesitating. "Don't worry. This is a good thing, okay?"

"Alright, but you better be there otherwise we're not leaving."

"Promise."

Isabelle's POV:

"If you end up getting car sick, use this." Melanie said, handing me a paper bag.

I grabbed it, taking a look around. "Why are we in the alley?"

She smiled, "You'll see."

Behind us was another car. The headlights flashed off and then on again. I'm guessing it was some sort of a witch SOS code.

"Guess Anita decided to take her own car this time."

I glanced behind through the rear view mirror and noticed that there were more than one person in the car with her. Melanie didn't tell me there was going to be others. In fact, she barely said much, its always 'you'll see'.

Before I could say anything, Melanie pressed hard on the gas, causing me to slam back against the seat. "What the fuck!"

She laughed, "Forward!" she screamed like a crazy woman as we began picking up speed.

I turned forward and saw that we were driving right into a small shop. "Melanie!" I screamed, covering my eyes.

Smart Bella, putting not only your life but your unborn daughter's life in the hands of fucking lunatics!

Then like as if we drove right into a time warp, the sound echoed as it came to a slow robotic stop. The sound itself was like, "Womp." but dragged to a very slow stop. I peaked through my fingers and noticed the car was slipping through what reminded me of a filmy Jell-O like wall of time and the people stuck on earth moved slower than the negatives of a motion picture coming to an end. Well everyone except us.

"What the hell is this?" I asked.

Melanie sighed, "This is the crossover." she laughed. "The first time you do it might make you sick."

I shrugged, "I don't feel sick."

"We're only half way through. Right now this worm hole we're in is putting our molecules back together so that we can better adapt ourselves to Alcaeus."

I gulped. "Are you serious?"

That got huge laugh out from her. "No! But did it sound like I knew what I was saying?" she asked, laughing as she threw her head back.

"Ha ha, funny." I said, ignoring the laughing monkey next to me in the driver's seat. I glanced behind us through the rear view mirror and saw the other car squeezing its way through this warp hole, slowly if I might add. "Are we there yet?"

Melanie's laugh calmed as she looked out ahead. "Yup. In about two seconds."

Oh thank…

I felt my stomach shift. I quickly reached for the paper bag on the dash board and emptied my stomach.

"Now we're in Alcaeus. Well, Boneyard Creek anyway."

I glanced up and out the wind shield and was in aw. I couldn't ask her why they named this beautiful place Boneyard Creek because I was too busy trying my best to keep whatever I had left down in the pit of my stomach. But when I get the chance, I will.

I took a look around as I stepped out. There were beautiful trees all around, and flowers, most I have never seen before, and the grass was greener than any grass I came across of. Even the dirt on the road where Melanie parked the car had a rich brown to it. Boneyard is far from what I imagined. This looked more like what I would've imagined the Garden of Eden would look like.

She got out and sniffed the air, "Home at last."

"So this is Alcaeus?"

She nodded. "Yup. I hope your luggage has wheels."

"Why?"

"I don't know if you haven't noticed but there isn't any paved roads. Therefore we have to go by foot."

"Or a horse carriage." a voice from beyond the shadows said.

We both turned in the direction the voice traveled from to see a small older woman, maybe sixty or so, climbing down from the horse carriage.

Why didn't I notice that there?

"Aunt Rose."

"So you're Isabelle." she said smiling as she took a few steps closer. "I've had many visions of you and never had I imagined you would be just as beautiful as Evelynn."

"You knew my grandmother?"

I knew I was a descendant from Alcaeus but I didn't know I was a direct descendent. My grandmother rarely spoke about my grandfather, let alone her own family. So what I knew about this place were facts from the text books Juliette had me study or from stories.

"Oh Isabelle, we have all the time in the world to dig into the past. I'm sure your mother would be surprised to-"

I looked down, "My mother is dead."

At that moment, I sensed walls being placed up to block me from within. Doubled, just in case. Something inside told me to break it down because I know for a fact they were hiding something. What it was, I could only guess because just when I was about to push the issue, Anita's timing couldn't be anymore perfect.

"Mother." Anita said softly as she approached the older woman.

I've never seen Anita until this very moment. Sure, I heard of her but never was I this close to her. She was a small woman, not much taller than her mother. She has brown curly hair with dark almond shaped eyes. She somehow reminded me of an older version of Dawn, older and much more petite.

"Daughter." Rose replied.

Awkward much?

The way they acknowledged each other seemed a bit too impersonal to me for a mother daughter type relationship. They simply nodded toward each other. I guess hugging is too emotional for the people of Alcaeus.

Or maybe that is only a greeting only us earth people use? I giggled mentally to myself.

"My children are in the car. I will wait here with them while you take Milly and Isabelle to your home."

"I'm sure there is enough room for all of us. They could sit up front with me." Rose told her, pointing to the horse and carriage she brought along with her.

"I'm sending them to the Blue Haven." she said. "They will be safe there."

"But Jacob will suspect-" Milly began before Anita cut her off.

"Jacob will understand." she said, barely holding back her emotions. "Its safer for all of us if he thought we were all dead."

Milly gasped, "No! You can't do that, not to him! You know what will happen!"

"So I should risk the lives of my children just to save him? I would die before I even think about saving myself." she turned back to her mother. "I love him with all my heart but my children are the future and this future is worth saving."

Ouch. I winced at how heartless she just sounded. How can someone do that to the person they love?

"I understand." Rose said softly. Although I highly doubt that she meant what she just said. "Very well then, I won't be long." Rose motioned us to get a move on. I had a feeling this wouldn't be the end of it.

Milly helped me grab our bags from the trunk of my car and loaded them on top of the carriage. Without another word to Anita, Milly climbed into the carriage and waited.

I hesitated before doing the same. It wasn't my place to put in my two cents so I figured I could just ride this one out. So I leaned back into the seat across of Milly and looked out the opposite window.

Despite the obvious escalated drama brewing between mother and daughter and possibly cousin, I knew Anita really did have the best interest at heart even if it meant hurting the ones you love. I couldn't help but agree with her at some point. I mean, here I was quite content with my choices just as long as I knew the ones I love were safe. Thankfully, I didn't have to choose.

Amy was safe from harms way in New York, making a life for herself. My dad was at home going on with his life, of course with the added protection I made sure I had provided. Even Ryan was safe, trapped in his own world that is set apart from mine.

At times I often wondered what it would've been like to be raising Ryan's child right along side him instead, to still have him apart of my life. But then I would remember how we got this far and those nice thoughts would burst causing me to return to my own reality.

What am I getting myself into? I thought to myself when the carriage began to move.

I took a deep breath. I couldn't help but smile because I knew that at this very moment, the road that I am taking is the road that will secure the safety for the future of my unborn daughter.

My daughter of destiny. I corrected myself as I placed my hand on my small baby bump. She is the future.

...to be continued...