The feeling hit Bella like a wave. She wanted him. She needed him,

Her other half.

He was her Ethan, Marco and Kyle. She was his Gabbie, Anna and Mary. He was the doctor who saved her from cancer, the boy with green eyes who supported her, and the man she married for 65 years.

Her Sultan.
He was saying something to his subjects, but she couldn't listen. The memories flew by her like fast moving notes in a musical composition.

They were honeymooning in Alaska. They were riding bicycles in France. They were opening a bakery together. They had children, dogs, cats and even lizards. They killed a horde of innocents together, hey killed each other and killed for each other. They were burned, shot, stabbed…

As children, they loved to play with matryoshkas.

Bella felt faint from all of the knowledge that was being forced into her. Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her waist, keeping her from floating away, or rather, drowning in the sea of memory.

"Don't worry, my sweet, everything will get easier in a few moment's time."

He was correct. The memories still came, but she did not feel as though she was being stuffed full of gravy. The Sultan turned away and raised one arm.

"Let the celebrations begin!"

The vampires raised goblets full of red liquid. A quiet uproar of glee went through the crowd, causing loud conversation between the attendees. All attention was on Sultan, while no one really cared about him. They all cared for themselves, greedy things.

Bella came to a quiet understanding. Pretty maidens in this world were nothing but cows. Cows do not get spared. Nothing would change that for a long time.

Jasper led Bella to the throne at the other end of the ballroom. A second chair had been annexed, although, not as beautiful as the master's.

Bella held her head high, nothing but sadness settling in the spoon of her chest. Anger was a pointless thing when one was headed down this path. There was nothing left to do but grieve.

She felt sad. She let herself feel sad. Of course, not without the guilty relief. After all, it was she, of all the beautiful maidens out there, who had survived. She should have perished long ago.

It was a damned relief.

The Sultan sat her down and quickly sat down himself.

Bella did not want to stare at him.

She stared. The Sultan did not even glance at her. His eyes were glued to the crowd, red eyes reflecting fabric, lights and blood. Bella wondered if this time he would be one those "tortured soul" types. He was never any fun at those. It always resulted in her crying (and worrying her guts out), him getting into some serious shit and either leaving her (and sometimes pregnant with a child) or getting himself (or both of them) killed.

God, how many lives had she lived.?

Desperately, Bella tried to count. She got up to twenty before the memories started blurring together.

Suddenly, his ivory lips turned up. His eyes still never quite reached hers, but Bella was awash in happiness. She had no idea where this burst of feeling came from, but it was there and enough to make her look around the room with a smile.

She was safe.

Safe at last.

That is, until a huge-ass needle was stabbed into her neck.

.

.

.

"Of course she knows what an Xbox is, you dildo!"

"Rose, c'mon, she was in the camp for years. Who knows what she forgot. I bet you we can teach her to kick ass at GTA."

"Alice, then be the gentleman you are and ask her. But not now. She was just fucking betrothed to Jas. Betrothed. She has a fiance and a life to think about. You and your silly games can go to the other side of the Valkries and shove contact with her up your ass."

"But. Rose."

"Alice. Mark my words or I will do it."

"Fuck you."

"Gladly."

.

.

.

"How is she reacting to the procedure, Dr. Cullen?"

"Splendidly, your majesty. Your charl is a beautiful little thing with everything intact."

"Thank you."

.

.

.

"Alice. What the fuck you want now?"

"Just to chat."

"Chat."

"Hey, Bella, I know you can hear me, and that you will remember this conversation for the rest of your life. I just want you to know that Halo is the dope and you will be great at it. Nevermind Rose. She's just bitchin' cause she was afraid for your life and all that."

"Alice."

"I know, Rose. Anyways, B, you got potential to kill some alien motherfuckers."

.

.

.

"Your Majesty, I am so sorry. The hitch in the procedure was unforeseen and has been smoothed over."

"What are the side effects of this hitch?"

"..."

"Well?"

"She won't be vampyre when she wakes up. "

"What?"

"She will be immortal, I assure you of that, but she will look and smell human."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, your majesty."

.

.

.

"Hey B? I just want you to know not to be scared. When you wake up, you will wake up to people who care for you. Give them time and they will love you."

…

It was the thirst that woke her up, as it always did. The struggle to open her crusted eyes was as painful as realizing that all of this was real.

When they finally slid open, she screamed. Well, internally screamed as her throat was in no state to obey any such order.

Her "fiance" was resting his head on her stomach and seemingly sleeping. Vampyres didn't sleep.

A soft moan escaped her mouth.

She had vowed to herself she that when she fell in love, she would think of him (or her) as an equal only.

He was just so darn pretty.

Tentatively, she reached out to touch his hair. Wonder was a hard thing to combat. She wondered what his hair felt like, and there it was.

As soon as her fingers touched his scalp, he jolted as though an electric shock had been sent through him. Bella yelped when she had the same sensation. Something inside had shifted, as though, into place.

He sat up, a smile so huge that it dazzled Bella's eyes out.

"Hello," she whispered through a dry throat. She felt like a deer in headlights, brain not doing anything but freezing and staring.

"My charl," he breathed.

Bella was taken aback by the rough emotion in his voice. What did charl even mean?

"I'm sorry," Bella licked her lip. "But I didn't catch your name back there."

Bella's first kiss was short.

The Sultan leaned in, and gently touched his lips to hers. Her senses went into hyperdrive. Her lips tingled like crazy and the tips of her ears tinged pink.

When they were done, Bella realized that it hadn't been a kiss after all. She knew how he kissed.

This was no ordinary kiss.

This was a promise.

Thanks for reading (and reviewing)! Thank you so much for 100 in only seven chapters. This is like a dream come true. At this rate, it will be 200 in 14 *screams on inside*.

Anyways...

Anything publicly recognizable is not mine.

Huge thanks to 4MeJasper for beta'ing this.

and to my friend Unicorn for kinda pre-reading it and finding it okay.

Until next time, my friends,

Cvaboda