A/N- I've spent a great deal of time thinking about the feedback that I received for the last chapter. Initially, I was going to do either an epilogue or a sequel. However, after reading through everything, I decided that I can't just do one or the other. That being said, I've decided to include a shorter than usual epilogue now but do fully intend on doing a sequel at a later date. I do have some other smaller projects that I am going to do first but I promise that I will return to this story in a handful of months. Please note for this chapter, there is a time skip of only a month. Reasons? You will have to wait and see as the reasons for such will be what sets the groundwork for the sequel.
Today was indeed a special day within the world of vampires and shifters alike, a very special day indeed. I, the only remaining royal heir of the Volturi was to be married, to none other than the Olympic Coven's Jasper Hale. Initially, I had wanted to try and keep this event lowkey but I should have known that would have been an impossible task the moment that I offered Alice the spot as my Maid of Honor. She was notorious for holding extravagant parties for even the smallest gathering. I should have known that there was no way that something as significant as my wedding would have gone by as a small and intimate event. That being said, I knew that invites had gone out to several covens, including the Denalis, the Amazon, and the Irish.
Seemingly as fast as I could blink, the whole vampire world was soon buzzing with excitement as they all made their way to my sacred island, where the ceremony was to take place. What made this such a special event was multifold. This was the first time in history that the Volturi would be unifying themselves to another coven. It was well known that now the Olympic Coven was a direct extension of the Volturi, and one that I hoped that would officially become part of our official ranks. This was not something that I had discussed yet with the Cullens however. I had wanted to wait for us all to recover from the initial fight and trauma that had been caused before I asked anything else of them that could cause an additional emotional weight to be dropped onto them. Still, I hoped that they would accept my formal offer. I wasn't quite sure what I would do. I knew that I had to eventually return to Volterra and the thought of leaving the Cullens behind was more than I could stomach. However, I could not turn my back on my other family either, not now when they were looking to me for guidance and direction in the absence of my father, mother, aunt and uncles.
The other component that made this marriage such a significant event was because of Seth and Alice being a couple. The alliance that I had created with Jacob and the other pack members had happened in absolute secrecy. However, Alice and Seth did little to try and hide their blossoming love, something that I was actually rather happy about. In turn though, everyone knew that as the Cullens were now going to be part of the Volturi, even if by extension, so would the shifters as one was connected with one of the Olympic Coven members. Needless to say, there was quite the crowd below waiting for me to grace them quite literally with my presence and I had sought out a few moments of solitude before the ceremony would begin.
I watched out the window with unblinking eyes as I leaned against a nearby wall of my personal study which was presently littered with letters and other items that had been recovered from the vault of Volterra as I waited patiently for Alice to find me and work her magic. After seventy five years, the day that I never anticipated coming was upon me and I was excited as much as I was anxious. In a matter of mere moments, I was going to walk down the steps of my vacation home in Greenland and was going to say my vows to my other half of my heart.
My fingers drummed against the wooden surface of my bookcase as I slowly became lost in thought. It had been only a single month since the threat of the newborn army, Maria and Nero had been handled. I never thought that I would have found myself dealing with such a whirlwind of events that the mission I had accepted had presented. I had accepted the mission going into it as a protection assignment only, but things simply could never go the way that I expected them to.
Upon arriving, I had learned fairly quickly on that it wasn't just newborns that I was dealing with but rather an organized and highly trained army, focused on taking out the Cullens, the shifters, the town and the nearby covens one by one. I had informed Aro of the new information and knew that it would have generally changed the scope of my mission. I had not been wrong with my assessment and he had tried to persuade me to return home but that was one thing that I was not willing to do. I knew by that point that there were bonds that still somehow existed that connected me to the Cullens and those bonds, coupled with my desire to prevent any further innocent children from falling at the hands of Nero, caused me to rebel against my late adoptive father's wishes.
Everything after that point had only caused those once questionable bonds with the Cullens to solidify, including the mate bond that was created between Jasper and I. The mission itself had forced me to grow in areas that I did not realize that I still had potential to do so in. I had thought for sure that I had reached the peak of my emotional and mental strength and maturity. However, I soon realized that I was wrong. I still had room to grow in these areas and was quite literally forced to realize as much. I had realized after my encounter with Dante that my gifts were not quite as infallible as I had thought they were. He had found a loophole and had exploited it, something that nearly had cost me my very life.
However, I had never been as thankful for such a string of outcomes to occur that had because if that event, as horrific as it was, did not occur I never would have come to realize just how desperate I was to solidify my mate bond with Jasper, something that up to that point I had done all I could to try and avoid, believing that it would only cause a distraction to the mission, something that I could not afford to happen. I realized though that the bonds that I had been fighting tooth and nail against acknowledging was something that could rather provide me the strength that I needed to fulfill the mission at hand.
In the end, those very bonds are what proved to be our saving grace. It was because of how I acted when those bonds were threatened that allowed a handful of the newborns to see reason and switch sides. It had given us the upper hand in the battle, which is what allowed us to do so well and allow Jasper the time he needed to get in the right state of mind that he needed to reach so that he could finally destroy the one ghost of his past that still haunted over him, the very same thing that I had been able to do by ending Nero.
The battle of course did not come without a significant cost, one that my adoptive family in Volterra ended up paying in the end. My father, mother, uncles, aunt, and some brothers and sisters had forfeited their lives after some of Maria's newborns had separated themselves and had attacked Volterra. Without me being there to assist, they unfortunately were not able to defend themselves as well as they should have and I had to make the difficult and emotionally shattering decision to blow up my home in order to take down the newborns and prevent them from wiping out the entire town of Volterra. I had to do what was best for everyone, including the humans that resided in the area.
However, that decision had been what saved the rest of my family in the long run. My kingdom still lay as rubble beneath the streets but would be rebuilt. For obvious reasons, we could not erect the castle as it once stood without having humans wonder how it was rebuilt so quickly. It was decided that we would create a larger underground empire, digging deeper and spreading out. It would allow us to be more secretive of our base and perhaps would prevent it from being as easily targeted in the future if something like this would ever occur again, though I was hopeful that it never would.
What would I do if that would to occur? I knew that I was in line to be crowned as one of the new queens for the Volturi but was that what I truly wanted? I was presently rather happy with being the captain of the guard and the freedom that the position granted. If I became queen, I would be forced to remain in the castle, the very same as my mother had been as the Volturi could never risk the royal family being actively put in danger. My role would become entirely political and I would be tasked with assigning missions the same that Aro had been and the amount of responsibility that came with such a position was not something that I was sure I wanted. I worked best alone and I was not sure if I was ready to be responsible for an entire coven. Granted, I had learned how to be more of a team player during my last mission with the Cullens but it still went against my very nature. I could decline the position of being queen if I chose but that begged the question of if that would be what my father and mother would have wanted or expected of me?
I sighed. I had not allowed myself to ponder too long on my fallen parents since learning of their passing. Oh, how I longed for them to be here with me in this moment. I never thought that this moment would happen but I wanted my parents to be present for this life changing occurrence. I longed for Aro to be the one to walk be down the aisle and to give me away to Jasper. I desired Sulpicia to be standing at the altar, her eyes shimmering with tears that could never fall as she looked at me with happiness, knowing that I finally was able to experience the wonders of a mate bond. What I wouldn't have given for this wish to be an actual reality.
Away from the crowds and in my personal study, my eyes moved to look at a portrait of Aro and Sulpicia, looking deep into their painted eyes. I moved to the side and carefully lit a candle and placed it on the top of the nearby table under the portrait. I fell to my knees and brought my hands together. I was not one to pray, after all, what God could possibly hear a being of my kind's prayer? Still, it seemed like something that I should do and I found myself compelled to do so beyond my ability to reason.
My thoughts were broken as I heard the door to my study open. Alice paused for a moment or two in the doorway before walking in slowly.
"Alice, it's okay. You don't have to pretend that you're not there. We both know that I can sense your presence." I laughed lightly, my eyes still closed.
"I was walking in here to scold you for not getting ready but now I understand." She breathed out and I nodded, my eyes opening as she placed gentle hands on the tops of my shoulders.
"What are you doing, Bella?" She asked, as she sat down cross-legged to my side.
"Today is an important day for our worlds and for myself. I was just spending some time looking at this painting, and reflecting. I wonder, how did Sulpicia feel when she was about to marry Aro? I wish she was here with me right now, just so she could be present for one of the most important days of my life," I smiled, "Of course I know that she lives in me, so it's not like she's not here with me right now, but I wish she could be here in the tangible world." I finished as I blew out the candle and stood to face my maid of honor.
"For your benefit, I wish that she was with us too, so very much," She paused as she ran her cool fingers over my face, "But I am here for you. And I am more than thankful to be here for you on this special day." She broke off quickly and I felt her tense slightly, causing me to study her face intently as she nibbled on her lower lip in thought.
"Go on and finish your thought." I said softly and she nodded.
"I don't mean for this to sound incredibly coldhearted but we know that the future is significantly susceptible to decisions made. While I am sorry to know of your loss, if things had turned out differently, there would be no guarantee that you and I would be where we are right now. Every situation in life has led to this beautiful and new beginning, and as horribly selfish as this makes me sound, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I just hope that you do not have too many regrets." She eventually finished, causing me to reach out and wrap my arms around her gently.
"You are right as always. I don't mean to come across that I am not thankful for how everything worked out, not just for me, but for everyone involved. Things, as unfortunate as they were had to happen the way that they did so that we could be where we are right now. I am so thankful to have you in my life Alice, and there is no one else I would have as my maid of honor, than you." I breathed out as she let out a sigh of relief at my words.
"Then come, we need to get your dress on, and your hair and makeup fixed. The ceremony will be starting in a matter of just a few moments." she smiled and I nodded, and quickly led her out of the study and to my room, where my ornate wedding gown was waiting patiently for me.
I removed the white satin robe that I was wearing and laid it across my bed before gripping at the satin fabric and pulled the gown over my head, Alice immediately running her hands down my sides to smooth out the fabric as I adjusted the long sleeves to fit better against my skin.
I let out a deep sigh and moved to sit on the padded stool in front of my vanity, where all my makeup and hairbrush were waiting.
"Given everything, how are you feeling, Bella?" She asked as she twisted my hair gracefully and secured it into place with hair ties and other pins. I watched her movements, remembering my time spent in Nero's temple and noticed that she was styling my hair in the exact way that I had already seen. Did she see this specific part of my experience and decided to mirror it or had I been gifted with a premonition of sorts? This still remained in large a mystery to me but was not something that I desired to find the answer to, at least, not at the current moment.
"I am doing well. A little anxious but I suppose that is to be expected. This is my first wedding after all. I do not understand why Rosalie has chosen to endure this on multiple occasions by doing a renewal of their vows every few decades. One wedding seems like more than enough." I mused and she nodded, her fingertips arranging my bangs to frame my face to perfection.
"Everything is going to go perfectly! Trust me, I've seen it all." She chirped and I nodded my head, a small smile spreading out against my face.
I wanted to believe her, I truly did. Alice had never been wrong before about her premonitions but there was still something that was eating away at me. I had a feeling that something was up, something rather significant. I had no reason to feel this way and only hoped that it was because of my nerves. Rarely was I wrong when I experienced this type of emotion but I hoped that for once, I was.
"I know better than to ever bet against you, Alice." I replied, causing her to let out an airy laugh as she began to focus on doing my makeup to accent my new golden colored orbs.
I had made the decision to switch to animal blood mostly because there was no current threat to myself or to my family. I actually found that I enjoyed not having to expand my shield the way that I had for nearly a century. I knew that if it came down to it, I could switch back to consuming human blood from the donated blood bags. However, for now, I enjoyed the peace that came from not having to constantly push my abilities to their max.
I closed my eyes as I watched her pick up a makeup brush and allowed her to coat my eyelids, opening them after a few moments after she placed the brush back down on the counter of the vanity.
I had to give it to her. As a vampire, I did not have the ability to blush but that didn't seem to matter. She had still managed to turn me into a blushing bride and I looked into her through my reflection as she leaned down to wrap her arms around my shoulders, her nose running affectionately against my neck, her eyes closed in bliss.
"You look positively beautiful!" she smiled against my neck and pulled back just long enough to place a gentle kiss on my cheek, before I moved to stand.
"Thank you. You have no idea how thankful I am for not just this, but for you overseeing the entire wedding. I doubt that I would even have been able to pull off all the miracles that you did in such a short amount of time." I praised and she smiled almost sheepishly.
"I'd do anything for you, Bella." She whispered and I nodded at her words, knowing just how true her statement was.
I moved away from my stool and gracefully slipped on a pair of heels that completed my outfit as Alice secured a vail over my head and allowed the sheer fabric to fall over my eyes.
We moved out of my bedroom and walked to the top of the wooden stairs, my left hand immediately going to the top of the wood as Demetri walked up and met me, his crimson orbs shining with happiness.
"I'll take it from here, Alice. I promise to deliver her in one piece." He smiled, causing Alice to roll her eyes at his playful banter.
"I'll see you at the altar, Bella." She smiled and began the descent down the stairs and opened the door that would lead me to where I knew Jasper and the rest of the vampire world was waiting for me.
"Are you ready, Izza?" He asked as he held out his arm and I nodded, my right arm locking with his own as we began the descent and stopped outside of the doors, waiting for the music to begin to initiate our cue.
It was when the music began to change, from the flutes to a symphony of organs and chorus members, did I feel my heart give out phantom beats to the point where I knew that if it could, it would have threatened to burst right out of my very chest. Demetri, who was dressed in a black suit, with a deep red satin shirt, opened the door, and walked under a decorated arch, and led me down the petal-lined walkway.
I moved my eyes down to my feet and clenched at Demetri's arm harder as I heard the rustle of fabric and knew that everyone in the audience had moved to stand as I began my walk down the aisle. I felt as he moved his free hand to run a comforting hold down my bicep, causing me to lift my eyes and to look at him as he only smiled.
"You really should take a look at your future, Izza. He seems rather anxious too." He breathed out so lowly that I was the only one who could hear him and nodded.
My golden orbs moved and I caught Jasper's stare and suddenly the only thing keeping me from running forward was Demetri's strong hold on my arm, forcing me to walk in tempo with the music. My eyes seemed to be desperate to absorb as much of this moment as I could so that it was burned into my memory from now until forever. I never wanted to forget the way his eyes shimmered with happiness, clearly lost in contentment and awe as he watched me make my way to him.
Time seemed to freeze as I moved to the front of the ceremony, my eyes breaking their gaze from Jasper just so I could look at Alice, who smiled encouragingly, and mouthed the words, " I love you." As excess trails of venom ran down her face.
As Demetri and I reached where Jasper stood, he pulled me into a loving embrace, kissing the top of my head, and departed from my side, to take his seat in the front row. Carlisle stood up from the podium, as the choir and orchestra finished playing, and spoke clear into the large and vast crowd of vampires and shifters alike, impatiently waiting for the ceremony to officially start.
" I would like to welcome everyone on this gorgeous day. It's because of all of you, because of this strong family that Bella and Jasper's relationship has strengthened and grown and led them to this very moment. We would also like to recognize those who cannot be here with us today due to unfortunate events that preceded this ceremony. We know they are all with us in spirit and are sending you both love and support today!" He spoke as his golden eyes sparkled with bliss. After a few moments of silence, he nodded, and continued on.
"I would like to set the tone for today's ceremony with a reading from 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Bella and Jasper, you fell in love by chance, but you're here today because you're making a choice. You both are choosing each other. You've chosen to be with someone who enhances you, who makes you think, makes you smile, and makes every day brighter. Romance is fun, but true love is something far more and it is the desire to love each other for life that brings us here today to celebrate your love. We're here to hope with you, to support you, to be proud of you, and to remind you that love isn't happily ever after, love is the experience of writing your story. So, let's add another chapter." He finished as he looked between Jasper and I and then to the crowd.
"Two people in love do not live in isolation. Their love is a source of strength with which they may nourish not only each other but also the world around them. And in turn, we, their community family, have a responsibility to this couple. By our steadfast care, respect, and love, we can support their marriage and the new family they are creating today. Will you who are present here today, surround Bella and Jasper in love, and support them in their marriage?" He asked and the crowd murmured out their response before Carlisle nodded and continued on.
"Jasper, do you vow to be there for Bella, through the pain, the joy, and the trials that life may throw at you? To love her, cherish her, and uphold the strict contract to only be faithful to her, from now until forever?" Carlisle spoke as he looked at Jasper, who looked from Carlisle to meet my own gaze, smiling.
"I do." Jasper spoke loudly and clear, causing my bottom lip to tremble lightly.
"Do you Bella take Jasper to be your partner in the adventure that lies ahead? Do you promise to walk by his side to the ends of the earth? To love, encourage, and support him in his every endeavor? Do you commit to opening yourself up completely to him and share with him your entire being? Do you take him as your husband for now until the end of time?" He asked and I let out a light sigh and kept my eyes locked deep with Jasper's.
"I do." I spoke softly, but strong, as I rested my hand over Jasper's.
"The rings, if you would so please." Carlisle smiled, as Alice and Edward placed the rings into the waiting palm of Carlisle's hand.
"Rings are a symbol of the never-ending circle of love. Love has no beginning and no end, no giver, and no receiver, for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May your rings always remind you of your vows. With the placement of these rings, remember the vow that you both are making here today. The vow that you both will always keep the other as your favorite person, to laugh with, go on adventures with, support through life's tough moments, be proud of, and find new reasons to love you every day."
Jasper and I nodded in unison as we picked up each other's rings and slid them gently onto the ring finger of our left hands.
Carlisle then took our hands and intertwined our fingers.
"Jasper, you may now kiss the bride." Carlisle smiled and Jasper nodded.
He looked up from our interlaced fingers and gently and slowly lifted the soft veil from my face, catching his unneeded breath as he looked into my beautiful and loving gaze.
"Bella, thank you for being my own personal angel, sent to rescue me from my once lonely world." He breathed out causing my eyes to widen in surprise.
His gentle hand cradled the side of my face, and he leaned in and placed his soft and gentle lips upon my own, smiling against my lips as I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back, venom streaks of happiness wetting his battle worn cheeks from my own eyes.
The cheers of all of the current guests could have been heard all the way to Forks or even to Volterra but to me, it was nothing but a whisper. I was lost in the taste of his lips on my own, his emotions of happiness and completion flooding into my own, sending me into a euphoric state.
We eventually pulled back from each other and faced the crowd who let out a round of applause as we walked down the stairs, ready to mingle. After about an hour or so, I politely excused myself and made my way to my study to grab a gift for the Denali Coven for their assistance with the initial mission but froze when I noticed the window to my study was open, causing the curtains to blow gently in the breeze.
I walked in cautiously, sensing absolutely no one. I closed the window and felt my eyebrows furrow. There was no reason at all for the window to have been opened. This meant that someone had been in my study and we had not noticed during the ceremony. I felt my skin crawl at the thought and moved to grab the gift quickly but stilled as I noticed a sealed envelope on the top of my desk, one that had not been there when I had been in the room earlier.
I reached out and picked up the letter, breaking the wax seal and opened the letter, my hands carefully unfolding the parchment. Little did I know that the contents would be more than I was prepared to handle.
"Isabella,
If you are reading this letter then that means that I have unfortunately met my untimely end. I am sure that you are hurting and I hope that in time the wounds that are inflicted on your heart become no more. Please know that I am looking over you, always.
The reason for this letter is simple and complicated at the same time. I could not keep this information within the walls of the castle as not even your father or uncles know of this development. However, as the threat of war now hangs over our heads, I am entrusting one of my secret connections to deliver this letter to you in the event that I do not survive. The information this letter contains cannot die with me and there is no one but you that I trust to share it with.
I received intel that there is a group of vampires who are kidnapping women in South America. These women are always found with their stomachs ripped open and dead. What is interesting though is that all of them show signs of recently being pregnant.
I know that it may be a lot to ask of you, my darling, but I ask that you carry out my will and look into this. I do not understand the reasoning behind their deaths but there has been an alarming number of casualties and my worry is what is happening to the babies who are seemingly left without their mother. For some reason, these babies are being stolen as well and I can't help but worry that they are being used for something horrific. It's possible that these babies are being created as immortal children, though I do not understand the reasoning behind it all. They could pose a threat to our world or could the ones in danger. In any event though, the person or persons behind these premediated attacks must be stopped.
I entrust this particular mission to you. It will be my last wish to know that this particular series of events does not have a chance to continue to unfold. I know that if anyone has the heart to handle this matter, it is you, my darling. After you read this, please destroy the contents. I wish I could explain more but I simply do not have the time, nor more information to provide. I know that it is not a lot to go off of but when you are ready, you should seek out a vampire named Juliana. She tends to be rather nomadic so I am not sure where she will be stationed but I know one of her safe houses is located within the Amazon Forest.
With love,
Your mother."
I wrinkled the letter in my hand and moved to the fire place, quickly starting a fire and threw the letter inside, watching as the paper turned black until it finally became nothing but ash. My mind was currently reeling. This must have been the reason for my unexplained feelings of anxiety. Somehow, I knew this was coming but how that could be, I did not know. What this meant though was that in order for me to take on this mission, I could not become the queen. At least, not yet. This was the very last mission I would need to take on and I only hoped that whatever I discovered, would not be too much to handle. I would certainly need to inform my family about this information, but today was not the day.
At this point, only three things were I positive of. One, there was more to my adoptive mother than had originally met the eye. She clearly led some type of secretive life apart from the coven, one that not even Aro was privy to know about. Two, these mysterious kidnappings had not been something that had got the attention of my father or uncles but seemed to be rather significant, and something that for whatever reason my mother did not trust them to know about. And third, there was no better way for me to honor her memory than to succeed in fulfilling her dying wish.
And succeeding is exactly what I planned to do.