Chapter 25
Once she'd gained control of panic, Bella tried to continue her research but the coverage she previously had was gone. She tried desperately to get it back by waking around the property, holding her phone up high. But there was nothing.
She tried to think what she could do to get more information, but came up blank. She didn't have books about Norse mythology or history and it wasn't like she could just stroll down to the library. It was too dangerous right now. Besides that, it was probably locked up tight.
But maybe Carlisle did, Bella hoped. He'd brought with him some very old looking texts. Maybe he would let her read them without making anything obvious. She wanted to be absolutely sure before she confronted them with what she suspected.
Eventually, Edward came over to Bella and told her they were finished unloading. She followed the men down the bunker stairs and into their new home.
It smelled like, Charlie, she realized, making her stop in her tracks.
"Are you okay?" Edward asked when he saw he pause.
"It smells like him." She told them.
Both men gave Bella a reassuring hug, trying to comfort her as best they could. When they broke apart, Carlisle showed Bella how they'd set up the sleeping area. He'd somehow managed to erect sheets, creating makeshift walls. For the three of them. That way they'd have some semblance of privacy. She appreciated the gesture and let them know.
"You know about our diet." Carlisle stated. "So, there's plenty of food for you. Eat whatever you want. Charlie has you well stocked. Years' worth I would say."
Bella nodded. She knew this. He even had a suggested eating schedule and how to ration out the food so that it would last the longest amount of time. Taking her few mementos, Bella walked towards the safe Charlie had bolted to the floor. She entered her birthday, assuming correctly that her father used it as he password. There wasn't much inside. Birth certificates, passports, and social security cards. Some financial information and Charlie's will which left Bella as the only beneficiary. There was also a photo album, which Bella quickly flicked through. It had photos of her parents and her grandparents to begin with. Then it had baby photos of Bella, all the way up to her last birthday.
Charlie had kept this in here because it was safer. He was a smart man, always thinking to the future and what possibilities may overcome them.
Carefully, she placed the photo album back, along with the treasures she'd found in the rubble of their house.
"They'll be safe in there." Carlisle said softly, agreeing with her choice.
"What would you like to do now?" Edward asked.
"Read, if that's okay?"
Edward nodded.
"Do either of you have some books I can look at. History maybe? Or mythology." She asked, trying to hold her eyes steady and not give anything away.
After a beat, Carlisle told her he had a few things she could choose from. She pursued the titles he had and decided on the history of magic. Carlisle warned that some of the translation might be off because it had been translated from old German to modern German, and then again into English.
Bella nodded in understanding, itching to get to her cot so that she could start reading.
"Come find me if something doesn't make sense." He offered as she slipped behind the makeshift curtain.
Bella started off by admiring the cover art. It was obviously a print of the original, but it was still incredible to admire. The boarder was trimmed with gold, layered onto of a royal blue background. The title, although faded read Norse Mythology: Magic, in elegant script. Turning the page carefully, she opened to the table of contents. It looked exactly like what she hoped for.
Starting at the beginning, Bella hunkered down and began reading about what magic was in Norse Mythology and how it was all connected. Magic meant 'great knowledge' in Norse and it is the art and science of causing change to something or someone's consciousness, in accordance with their will.
Magic used on humans was different to magic used on animals, plants, inadament objects, and the weather because these things didn't have a conscience but they did have a spirit. Humans had both though, so in order for magic to take effect on a person they had to have the will to accept it, in other words, they had to believe in it and its power.
Bella thought for a moment as to what it was saying. For something to be controlled by magic it had to have a spirit. Humans had to give permission, it seemed, for magic to work on them though because they has a consciousness as well. Nodding her head in understanding she read on.
Animals, plants, inadament objects, and the weather didn't have the will to stop magic from being acted upon them, unlike humans, because they only had a spirit and not conciseness. Bella had to read it a few times to wrap her head around what it was saying before she understood it.
It then went on to explain how magic and science were different. That neither could supersede the other as they both had a place in the universe. Magic worked with the undying workings of the cosmos, as science worked against it.
Elves and other magical beings in the cosmos used both science and magic in their endeavors because they worked towards a different end and used a different means to get there. This was why, it explained, the magically gifted didn't perform their craft in labs and scientists didn't chant, cast spells, or pray to an alter before conducting experiments.
Bella was intrigued. It was fascinating. The text was obviously written by someone who understood magic well and although some of the translations were off, she was able to understand most of it.
The book then went on to discuss more about common misconceptions regarding types of magic and how it related to the humans on Midgard. It explained that there was no good or bad magic, and no black and white magic either, which was a common human misconception.
Instead, like science, it was the intent of the magical being behind the magic that made the result positive or negative. Elves had a different set of moral standards to humans, so often their magic seemed to have negative effects. The elves that lived on Earth however tried to live by human standards because it was their home. But it led to many disagreements over the years, especially considering, at the time, elves lived for thousands of years, unlike humans.
Humans could only understand the linear cause and effect relationship of science and the laws it obeyed. They couldn't even being to comprehend magic all they could understand science, and science had no explanation for phenomenon of magic. They simply saw it as a gift from the gods.
Male and female elves alike were gifted with magical powers at birth. Some were more powerful than others, just as some humans are smarted than others. Elves worked hard to better their magical abilities. Some were natural healers. Others were fighters or connected to nature more naturally than others. Some were better at magic performed on animals and plants. And some controlled the weather with more accuracy. It just depended on the elf and the area of magic they were performing with.
The way they performed their magic was different too. Elves who were strong fighters were better at casting spells onto people and things. Those who controlled the weather used fire and water to cast their spells. Healers often used chants and ancient ruins and writings to perform their craft. To Bella, it seemed that magic was just as diverse as talents on Earth.
It was getting late by the time she handed Carlisle his book back.
"Did you learn anything interesting?" He asked.
"I did." She said with a nod.
"You're welcome to any of these volumes." He explained, placing the book back on the shelf with the others.
"Thank you, Carlisle. I'm going to go to bed now."
"Good night."
"Edward?" She called through the bunker.
"Back here." He called back.
Bella found him cutting an apple in the kitchen. She hugged him and told him she was heading to bed.
"Sleep well." He offered, giving her a kiss on her forehead.