Bella finished feeding on the man, compelled him to forget, and sent him on his way. As she was wiping her mouth her phone rang;
"Hello," Bella said.
"He did as you thought he would," a female voice said.
"What did Arthur offer them?" Bella asked tensing.
"The pack he offered them their lives and protection. The Cullen's a potion to turn them human." The woman replied.
"They took the offer didn't they," Bella said sadly.
"I'm sorry," the woman replied, "They betrayed you."
"They are surviving," Bella replied, "Billy has to protect his family they are really the only defense against the cold ones. As for the Cullen's I don't blame them for taking the opportunity to become human."
"What do you want me to do?" the woman replied. "They will be at the ball."
"Stay with them I'll call you tomorrow." Bella replied and hung up.
"What's going on?" Damon asked from behind Bella.
"Arthur has convinced the pack and the Cullen's to help kill me." Bella said, "No doubt my brothers and sister have had a visit from Armand."
"They turned on you," Damon said disgusted.
"They are doing what they believe is in their best interest." Bella replied, "Surviving is not a crime Damon."
"Doesn't excuse what they are doing." Damon replied growling.
"We should probably head back," Bella said ignoring his mood.
"How can you take this so easily," Damon asked in disbelief as they walked to the car, "You cared about them, trusted them, protected them and they are betraying you and you act like there's nothing wrong with it."
"Because I knew what was going to happen all along," Bella said angrily, "I know never to fully trust anyone; I'm not as naïve as Armand, or Arthur or anyone else thinks. Do you know how I stay ahead Damon? I expect the worst Damon and prepare for it. I was ready for this and I am ready is going to come."
"You know you talk about trusting and living yet you don't practice it," Damon said.
"I never say do as I do Damon, I merely said do as I say and for the record I do live I just never let my guard down." Bella replied.
"Why don't you?" Damon asked as they drove.
"The same question could be asked of you," Bella said, "Katerina tricked you, she caused you to be hardened, but she was only part of the reason you are the way you are."
"Then tell me what is another reason?" Damon questioned.
"There are only four," Bella replied speeding down the highway. "All of it began with your father; he was strict you were the oldest therefore in your time you were supposed to be the pride and joy. But you Damon were a free spirit and in your time that was seen as a stain on a family's name so your father belittled you, nagged you. The next to take the reins in your downward spiral was Katerina; she played you like a violin having you bend to her every whim. Then she left you for over a hundred years, she betrayed you. Then of course we can't forget Sage."
"Sage" Damon said surprised that Bella knew of her.
"Please Sage and I have known one another since we were human. Finn turned her. She gave your mask to hide behind. She helped you form this egotistical persona." Bella said.
"That's three," Damon said as they pulled up to the plantation, "What's the final one?"
"You," Bella said, "That's the biggest problem of all the reasons. You don't believe in yourself, you don't give yourself credit. You believed the lies of those around you that you were nothing more than collateral damage, a disgrace, a toy. You allowed them to walk all over you because it was easier to succumb to the lies then to rise up and fight against them."
"You don't know anything," Damon growled angrily.
"Actually I know exactly what I'm talking about," Bella said and turned to face him, "I was in your position a very long time ago; I had a choice be weak or fight like hell. I chose to fight so now Damon you must choose either you can continue to be the weak one allowing people's opinions mold you or you tell everyone to go to hell and make your own life. No one can put you down unless you allow them to."
.*.*.*.*.*.
"Bella," Rebecca said running out of the house, "Armand,"
"I know," Bella said stepping out of the car, "I was already informed Arthur visited the Cullen's and pack."
"Who are the Cullen's and the pack?" Finn asked coming outside.
"Oh just some people that broke our dear sister's heart; cold ones and shape shifting wolves," Klaus said. "What did Arthur do?"
"He offered the Cullen's humanity and the wolves survival," Damon said getting out and leaning against Bella's car, "Your sister isn't too upset about it."
"They will die for their treachery," Elijah said solemnly.
"No they will not," Bella said sternly.
"You can't be serious," Kol said shocked.
"I am," Bella replied, "They are trying to survive like us. Tell me would you not give anything to be human?"
All of Bella's siblings were quiet;
"I thought so," Bella continued, "They are not to be harmed; they did not choose to be part of this war they have been forced into it. The ball is in three days and Armand will be coming. I suggest we all get some sleep and regroup in the morning."
"As you wish," Elijah said. "Goodnight Damon." He said and offered Bella his arm.
"I will be in shortly," Bella said declining his offer. Her siblings narrowed their eyes, "Damon and I were in the middle of a very important discussion and we are going to finish it."
"Alright," Rebecca said her eyes narrowing at Damon some more, "Don't be long though."
"I won't," Bella said and watched her sibling go into the house; "Shall we go to the garden where they can't hear?"
"Actually I think I'm going to go," Damon said, "I've had enough lecturing for one night."
"Does the truth make you uncomfortable Damon?" Bella asked.
"Yes," Damon replied.
"Then that means you're actually listening," Bella replied and stepped close to Damon, "You have been hurt, broken, torn apart, but somewhere buried deep inside your soul is the good man you once were. Think about that please; you don't deserve to go through life miserable."
Bella gave Damon and soft kiss on the cheek and walked into the house. Damon got into his car and drove to his house thinking about what Bella had said. Was that good man still in him somewhere? He always thought he deserved to be treated the way he was, but now he was beginning to think otherwise and all because of some stranger. He knew very little about Bella yet there was something familiar about her. Had they met before…no he would have remembered.
Damon shook his head as he pulled up to the boarding house. Why did this Bella girl get into his head so much? How was she able to strip away all the bullshit he exuded? It was like he was glass and she was looking right through him and everything to her was crystal clear. He didn't like it yet at the same time he found it comforting and relieving knowing that someone understood the hidden part of him.
"Damon," Stefan said interrupting his thoughts, "Are you alright?"
"Things have just become more complicated." Damon said pouring himself a drink, "Armand visited his children and Arthur visited the Cullen's; they are coming to help kill Bella."
"Does she seem familiar to you?" Stefan asked pouring himself a drink as well, "Bella I mean."
"You too?" Damon said smiling.
"I feel like I've met her before." Stefan said.
"Perhaps you did in your ripper days," Damon suggested.
"How do you think you know her?" Stefan asked.
"I don't know there just seems to be something very familiar about her." Damon replied, "Where's Elena?"
"Asleep at her place," Stefan answered, "It's safer there since no originals can get in."
Damon nodded and the two brothers looked into the fire in silence.
.*.*.*.*.*.
A light tap on Bella's door pulled her from her thoughts;
"Come in Kol," Bella said and he entered.
"Are you alright?" Kol asked his sister gently.
"I'm fine," Bella said looking out the window.
"Why didn't you make any mention to him?" Kol asked coming to stand next to her.
"Please Kol not tonight," Bella said sighing.
"I remember you know," Kol continued, "He recognized me Isabella and I know he recognizes you."
"Please I'm begging you," Bella said starting to walk away.
Kol grabbed her arm, "Isabella for too long I have watched you be in pain. I know you never truly loved Arthur not like you love him and don't deny it."
"What is there to say Kol?" Bella asked becoming angry, "He has no memory of me and he never will that is what I wish."
"No you don't," Kol countered, "You were scared; scared of actually letting someone in."
"That's not it Kol," Bella replied, "Armand found us; you allowed yourself to be captured so I could escape. I couldn't allow another life to be ruined because of my stupidity."
"You weren't stupid Izzy," Kol said and pulled his sister to him, "I let Armand capture me because I knew he wouldn't kill me. I have never been strong enough to go against him, but you always have. Why didn't you take him with you when you ran?"
"How could I ask him to leave?" Bella asked, "Our lives were taken from us I refused to do that to him."
"Well obviously it was only a matter of time." Kol murmured. "You are keeping a distance."
"As I should," Bella replied, "It can never be Kol you know that. You know the reasons. This discussion is over I'm tired."
Kol kissed his sister's forehead and left her alone. Bella looked out the window and a single tear fell from her eye;
.*.*.*.*.*.*.
1864 Mystic Falls;
"So much has changed," Bella said as she and Kol walked through the market place.
"Agreed," Kol said and tipped his hat, "You look happy."
"Well Klaus is over in Europe and Armand is now where near and I have you why wouldn't I be happy?" Bella replied laughing.
"Will you be alright for a moment?" Kol asked, "I need to talk to the mayor."
"Do they still suspect us?" Bella asked fearful.
"No little dove," Kol said smiling, "Why don't you go and see Pearl?"
Bella walked into Pearl's shop and embraced her friend;
"You have made quite the impact here," Bella said looking around her shop, "Everyone in town is raving about this store."
"Thank you," Pearl replied, "Where is Kol?"
"Speaking with the Mayor," Bella said noticing the look on Pearl's face she quickly added, "We are safe my friend."
"I received a letter from Katerina," Pearl said solemnly, "She wishes to come here."
"What did you tell her?" Bella asked tensely.
"That now is not the time," Pearl replied, "She seems to agree."
"Good," Bella said.
The door chimed alerting Pearl to another customer;
"Mr. Salvatore how are you?" Pearl asked going over to the man.
"I'm very good Miss Pearl," the man replied, "And please it's Damon."
"Isabella," Pearl said calling her over, "Have you met Damon Salvatore? Damon this is Isabella Mikelson."
"Mr. Salvatore," Bella said and curtsied.
"Miss Mikelson," Damon replied and bowed kissing her hand.
Bella was captivated by his ice blue eyes;
"Isabella is Kol's younger sister." Pearl continued smiling as she looked between the two.
"Ah," Damon said his smiled growing wider, "So you are the sister he raves about to my father."
Bella casted her eyes downward, "I wish he didn't speak about me so much."
"Isabella," Kol said coming into the store, "I see you've met Damon."
"Kol," Damon said shaking his hand, "I must say your description of your sister did not do her justice."
"Damon," Mr. Salvatore said coming into the store he bowed, "Miss Pearl how are you?"
"Very good and you Mr. Salvatore," Pearl asked curtseying.
"It's Giuseppe," He replied, "Kol how are you and who is this lovely girl with you?"
"Giuseppe Salvatore this is my sister Isabella Mikelson." Kol said introducing Bella.
"Mr. Salvatore," Bella said and curtsied.
"Miss Mikelson," Giuseppe replied, "Kol it's no wonder you keep her away from all of us men; beauty such as this must be protected."
"Mr. Salvatore you flatter me too much," Bella replied.
"Kol you and your sister must come to the house tomorrow for the ball." Giuseppe said.
"Thank you for the invitation," Kol replied, "If you will excuse us my sister and I must be on our way. Miss Pearl."
"Pearl," Bella said then turned to Giuseppe and curtsied, "Mr. Salvatore." She walked towards the front and stopped in front of Damon, "Mr. Salvatore," she said curtsying again.
Damon bowed and took her hand, "Please call me Damon."
Present Day Mystic Falls
Bella sighed deeply and walked away from the window. That was another lifetime ago, things had changed, she had changed, but most importantly he had changed.
A/N: Uh oh seems like Bella just has a ton of secrets. Hey guys sorry for the long wait been really busy, but things have finally slowed down and I'm hoping to be able to update more. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and that it was worth the wait.
I'm not gonna go on and on it is late and I am one tired puppy, but before I say goodnight I want to say something;
Thank you to everyone that favorites and alerts this story, any of my other stories or me in general. I am very happy to know that you enjoy my work and I hope I can continue to write stories that you all enjoy. Also thank you to everyone that reviews I really enjoy hearing your feedback and knowing exactly what you think about the story.
Until next time my dears…review.