Another Point of View: Bella Swan Cullen
Isabella Marie Swan Cullen
September 13th, 1987-
October 31st, 2020
If I have my way, you will be the last of your family line. I will win. Your family line will be no more. My family will win. Just thought I would let you know that your days are numbered. All because my family was not good enough for yours to marry. Here is proof of what my family has been able to do.
While you are older than my family would have liked, you were hard to track down. Your hair-brained mother did not help me in my quest. But, you eventually came to your senses and came to your rightful home. Your rightful last stance.
Enjoy your last days, God Is My Oath.
Messenger of God
Isabel Maria Eala
September 13th, 1953
October 31st, 1971
Isabel Maria Eala.
Beloved daughter of Jeffrey and Henriette (Nee: Stewart) Eala. Her life, until her death was full of laughter, love, and happiness. The way of her death, no family should have to endure the murder of one of their loved ones. She will be remembered and loved. Honored for the light she was.
Isabelle Marie Cygne
September 13th, 1885-
October 31st, 1903
Miss Isabelle Cygne, the ungrateful daughter Raymond and Charlotte (Nee: Hart) Cygne, went to be with the Lord on October 31st, 1903. A life-long resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
It was there in the city of Trenton, New Jersey, that she met her early end. A party where she met someone who killed her.
Her family will hold a private service. No calling hours will be had. After this Obituary, no word shall be spoken of her.
Her name will be removed from the Family Bible.
May she rot in hell where she belongs.
Isabeau Marielle Cigno
September 13th, 1835-
October 31st, 1853
Isabeau Marielle Cigno, the late daughter of Beauford and Isadora (Nee: Henri) Cigno and a lifelong resident of Manchester, New Hampshire. She was murdered, after not listening to her parents and going to a heathens' party.
No services will be held. Her name is going to be removed from the family Bible.
May God do what He sees fit with her soul.
I am speechless. Looking at this package that was left on my front porch. I am not sure how long I sat here at the kitchen table, but I am startled by the sound of boots tromping through the house.
I want to hide this, but I can't move.
When the boots finally get to where I am, I can't hear the words that are said. I was pulled away from the table.
I think I hear the sound of sirens. Loud shouts don't even make me get out of my head. It's not until I hear my father's voice.
"Out of my way! Bells! What happened, baby? Jake, get Carlisle and Edward here!"
I am handed off to my dad, Charlie, and I break down.
"It's okay, Bells. Daddy's here. We are going to take care of you. Don't worry. I won't let you die as my sister did." Charlie sounds upset.
Words are spoken when I hear another voice that I need to hear and I am moved again.
"Love! What happened? I got her, Charlie. Oh, Love. I am sorry I was not here for you. When you can talk I am here. I love you."
My loving and selfless husband, Edward. I am grateful he is here. Several minutes later, I start to calm. Or at least calm as much as a person who was given a death threat that came with several obituaries. Most likely from my family tree.
"I don't want to die. I don't want to die, Daddy. Why did your sister die? Do you know anything about those other women? Are we really related to them?" I look up from Edward's chest and look into my daddy's eyes.
The fact that his eyes have tears in them tells me all I need to know.
"Bells, you know you are my world. I named you after my sister, not knowing the full extent of your name and what it would mean. My parents never told me that we had as many name changes in the family or why. I knew we went from Eala to Swan when we came from Ireland. Which happened a lot back in the day to make last names sound more American. It was not until Poppa was dying that I knew about how every single generation in the last two hundred years, a daughter has died by someone else's hand. We moved to Forks when I was little enough that people thought I was born around here. Most likely Seattle. Shortly after Isabel was killed. Normally, the family would pick a big city to live in. Harder to find. I am forever grateful that my parents chose Forks. It is a great place to grow up and raise a family. I regret you not being here for most of your childhood, but it might have saved your life more than likely, based on the letter."
Charlie takes a breath and I see several officers standing around. State Police, County Sheriffs, Forks Police, and FBI. Just standing and listening.
"What I know, is that there is one more woman who was killed in our family. Isabelline."
Charlie gets up and goes to the bookcase as though he was looking for something. He must find it since he takes out several books.
Very old books.
One I know is the Swan family Bible. It is huge. I thought that someday I would get the joy of having it.
Which it looks like I already do.
"This Bible here is old and came with our great-grandparents when they came here. Please don't ask how many because I am too much in shock to remember. This was given to Great-Grandma, whichever, on her wedding day. Her name was Siobhan Eala."
He shows me the old worn pages of the book and we get to the family page.
"Here it is. Can one of you hold this while...never mind. Jake, bring me the coffee table so I can set these down...thanks…"
Jake brings Charlie the coffee table and Charlie puts the Bible down then gets to work sorting through a bunch of old journals, that were hidden within plain sight.
The silence that surrounds the room is almost too much.
"Everyone that needs to take notes should be doing so. This is all possible evidence that I will gladly hand over when I am done here." Multiple people take out pens and notebooks, Jake has a video camera.
"Charlie, I am going to record this." He says and Charlie nods.
Charlie keeps looking through different old journals until he finds one that he needs. He had made several piles along the way.
"There is madness to the piles. The ones closest to Edward and Bella are most likely useless and should be gone through last." Charlie points at the pile. "The ones in front of Mac, they are to be gone through second. The two in front of me are the most important from what I am told. Here we are…" He grabs a pencil from the coffee table drawer and some Post-It notes. "Here is the first clue. Sadly, Siobhan Eala loved her riddles."
"Once there was a lass, fair, and pure of body and heart. She had a love who loved her back. His family disapproved of the union and was stripped of everything including his name."
'How terrible!' I thought to myself.
"He was to be married to another but never loved her. She was from a wealthy and powerful family. Who was never told no. Sadly, I fear it will cost us dearly down the road. We must leave here, so my child will have a chance." Charlie looked over to me with a sigh. "Imagine how hard that would have been, pregnant and traveling by boat. First, they went to England, then after they had Isabelline, they took the next boat to America. They ended up near Boston. They were happy. Having several children. Only two living to adulthood, which was not uncommon for the time. Life was hard and there was little medicine."
"According to this journal from Siobhan, Isa met someone new. A possible suitor. He was a good lad who came from a good family. His father was a lawyer and his mother raised six children into adulthood. Siobhan says that the two families got along well and her son was to marry one of the daughters and James' twin, Victoria. A shared wedding on November 1st, the twins' birthday was supposed to take place. Everything was all set. Until the murder of Isa. One of the bridesmaids insisted on taking her out. It sounds like Isa did not want this. A trip to Boston to get something last minute for the wedding. She was killed on the way home." I gasp. "The day before her wedding on Halloween."
"The thing is, the case is still unsolved. There were many theories. The one Siobhan thought most likely was the bridesmaid. Angelina. Angelina was never hurt. She somehow was lucky to have been asleep when the attack happened. The carriage driver had gone missing and turned up sometime later in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, or somewhere like that. He doesn't remember anything like that. He did not drive them home. His name was Alec. Sadly, no last names are given. It really would be helpful."
Charlie reads more and more before he starts to say anything else.
"What I find interesting is that, within the different murders, it seems that players have very similar names. But, never any last names. I find that odd." He continues to read through the journal he has.
"Bells. We will get to the bottom of this. You will not be the last of the Swan line." Charlie thinks for a minute and says. "Well, I guess you can say the Swan name dies with you now that you married Edward. But, you will live and you will have babies, watch them grow old and all that. Do you understand? Your obit will not be until you are nearly one hundred years old!"
I slowly start to feel better.
"Give me a journal. Let's get these read." I grab one of the ones in front of Edward and me even though they were deemed the least important. For some reason, I have a feeling that this pile will have the answers.
The one I am reading belongs to James Hunter. That is strange.
"Hey, Jake. Don't we know a 'James Hunter' from a long time ago?" I look over at Jake and he stops reading whatever he is reading and thinks.
"Honestly, we did. He liked you until your damn husband stormed onto the scene and stole you from the rest of us. Nobody had a chance once Edward came to town."
I laugh and look at my husband. Jake was right. As much as I may have had a crush on someone else, there was no way I could have married anyone else.
Edward smiles his crooked smile at me and kisses my forehead.
"Nobody else would have been more perfect of a wife for me than my beautiful Bella. I am the lucky one." Edward says lovingly. "Though, you would have been good for her, Jake."
"This journal is from James Hunter. I know both names are fairly common, but what are the odds that they are related somehow?" I ask anyone who is listening.
"Honestly, I am reading about a James Hunter here in the brother of Isabeau, Joseph's journal. He had a different view on the murder of his sister, Isabeau than his parents and brother, Raymond. Joseph thought that she was set up by someone who wanted her fiance, James Hunter. Is anyone else getting something like that?" I look around and see Charlie and Mac both nod. "So, either James Hunter is a popular name or maybe there is only one and he tried to marry the niece of his original fiancee? That seems strange. Especially the age gap."
"Love, I think they are not the same. See, yours is a junior. So, James must have married and had a son." Edward replies softly with a smile.
"I see another James Hunter. This one is a third." Mac replies.
"Damn it, this is connected. But that does not feel right. Like this is just a side trail." Charlie looks more into his journal.
"Dad, Joseph thinks a woman named Angelie was responsible."
"In my journal, Angelique," Jake says with a snort. "What are the odds that these women are all related and the men are too? What did your family do to get someone this pissed off."
"We are trying to figure that out. Dad, what was the original name of Siobhan's husband?" I asked and Charlie looked concerned.
"James Hunter." I think you could have heard a pin drop at Charlie's statement. "He changed his name to Liam Eala after they married. He was engaged to a woman named Angele."
Angele. Angelique. Angelina.
"They can't be related. Can they?" Edward looks stunned. "Love, we should get you to bed. I am sure you are exhausted."
"We need to figure this out. Halloween is two days away! And aren't we going to the Halloween party?" The looks on everyone's faces say it all. We have two days to figure it out. "Is there a guest list we can get?"
I look over at Charlie and he makes a call to Sherry Cope, the woman organizing the party. Within five minutes a rattled Sherry comes in the door, list in hand. Charlie mumbles his thanks and Sherry gives him a copy, giving several others a copy.
"I made copies or I would have been here sooner. I know time is ticking!" She says with a shaky breath.
"I knew you would come as soon as you could, Sher. I have no worries. Well, there are a lot of possibilities. What makes no sense, why they called themselves the Messenger of God. THAT makes no sense to me."
"What is the deal with the 'God is my Oath'? Maybe both are clues." Edward looks around the room, gets up to the bookcase.
"How is it that I have books in my bookcase I knew nothing about?" I say with a laugh.
"We got those journals from your Dad when we moved into the house, Love. We were busy and you most likely forgot. As for what I am looking for...AHAH! There is it!" Edward looks triumphant as he hands Charlie a baby name book. "Look at what Isabella means."
Charlie looks at him and shakes his head. "You would have this kind of book without actually trying for a kid."
I am confused and Charlie seems to find what he is looking for.
"Isabella means God of my Oath. I wonder if Messenger of God is the meaning of the name of who we are looking for…what does James mean?" He's off. "Nope. It means Supplanter. So it's not James. Should we take this Jamie Hunter off the list? Or keep him on it for now?" Charlie thinks out loud.
"There is no harm in keeping an eye on him. While he might not have sent this he may know who does. Is there a way we can look up what name Messenger of God might be? Cheat if you will?" Jake takes out his phone after his thought.
"I am all for cheating, Jake. Good thinking." I laugh and continue to read. Which gets me thinking. "Dad, why did our family have so many variations of our last name? Was it to hide from people you think?"
He thinks about it for a few minutes. "I am not sure Bells. That is a good possibility. I can't tell you yet." I am sure he would laugh had my life not been on the line. Sometimes, my impatience is very distracting.
I kept reading and I found a paragraph that looks promising in Joseph's journal regarding his niece.
Honestly, I have no idea the reason that a man like James Hunter was worthy of a woman of Isabeau's character. She would have made a fine wife for any man. But, instead, Mother and Father sold her to the highest bidder. A man who claimed he would love her was in love with another woman and had children with her.
The book drops from my hand. I am in shock.
"What did you find, Bells?" Jake looks up from his journal, putting his down and picking up mine. "Is this where you were?"
I look and nod at him. He reads quickly and hands it to Charlie.
"We have a motive. See if you can find a James Hunter and any children he had. Especially before he was married." Jake is on the phone and I look around. There are fewer people here than there was before. Makes it easier for me.
"Where is everyone?" I asked.
"Some are getting prints off the box, others are asking the neighbors if they noticed anything." I nod.
"Dad was there ever someone that growing up would ask you a lot of questions about me and our family that made no sense but did not raise a red flag since it is Forks."
He thinks about it and lightbulbs seem to go off.
"The Webers. They are always asking questions. But as the Pastor of the Church, it made sense that Aro wanted to know what he could. The wife's name is Angelica and the daughter's name is Angela. They have two sons, twins. Asher and Aaron. Biblical names. I always thought it was weird that Angela was named that with her mom's name being Angelica. She said it was a family tradition that the oldest girl had a name with Angel in it. That tradition goes back hundreds of years. And the woman's name is the family's last name. I just thought it was strange and new-age thinking." He calls someone and asks them to look into the Weber family.
"I need to get to the station Bells. Do you need me to stay?" I look at Charlie and he looks broken.
"Dad, I doubt they will let you do anything there related to this case. But, you have other jobs you can take from those who are working it. I am sure you have paperwork that needs to be done." He groans, hating paperwork. Which makes me laugh.
"Yeah, I should be an adult and actually do my job. If they let me in the building. Take care of our girl, Edward." Charlie says as he leaves the house.
Many things make me feel safe. Normally, being here in my home is the second safest place. First being my Edward's arms, wherever we are.
We got the house right out of high school when we got married. We always knew we wanted to end up back in Forks, and we couldn't afford not to buy it. It was my grandparents' home that Charlie had rented out until I was ready for it. The dark red, brick three bedrooms, two baths, a two-car garage, and a full basement ranch house that is two doors down from Charlie.
While part of me would love to have a home large and lavish like Edward lived in, I love the idea of being so close to my dad. And a hug with the promise of cooking twice a month was an amazing asking price. Needless to say, we cook for him several times a week when we are able.
Trying to calm myself, I look around the room, trying to remember the happy moments. Moments like when my grandparents, who I thought were Helen and Geoffrey Swan, would spoil me with affection. Teaching me to cook and bake. Sitting on the front porch, Grammy taught me to knit and crochet. The blankets I still have all over the house. Not that Edward minds. The bedroom I had decorated here in case I was too tired to go back to Charlie's. Because two doors down was too far of a ride home.
I guess I was spoiled.
I was their only grandchild.
Who looked very much like the daughter they missed dearly.
"Edward, can we go for a walk, please? I need to get out of the house."
"Of course, Love. Whatever you need. Let me get our coats." I nod at him with a smile and he kisses my cheek. He left and grabbed our coats.
While it is a warm day today, it is still a bit on the chilly side. He helped me put my coat on then he puts on his own. We made our way outside. Taking his hand in mine, we walked through our neighborhood in silence.
The sounds of children playing. A few families raking leaves, then making a mess again jumping in the piles. Giggles and laughter.
Pumpkins are everywhere. Some are painted, others are carved. Mums litter many flower beds with their rich and deep colors.
Fall is just a wonderful time of year.
I look over at Edward and smile. He takes his hand out of mine and put his arm around me, smiling back at me
"You know, we have been married for fifteen years. Can you believe that, my Love?" I think about our married life together and smile.
I look over at my husband and hold him closer to me. "I can barely believe it. Has it been everything you wanted it to be, Darling husband of mine."
A light chuckle exits his lips. "Everything and more. We have a wonderful family. Great home. Supportive family. Is there something that you want that we don't have?" I know where this is going.
We had agreed we would wait to have children until we were settled. Edward wanted to get his medical degree and get a job. We were lucky that Forks Community Hospital was looking for a pediatrician to join the team six months after he graduated. He already had the job lined up before he graduated. Not surprising since he was one of two who applied and Edward already had years of experience working at the hospital from his younger years.
I was happy to let him have the time off and he made much-needed improvements to our humble home. Not that he needed to. He just did not want to not do something.
He works with his father, Carlisle, and loves it.
I work at the middle school as an English teacher and have, since the September after I graduated college. So, we both got breaks from school before we joined the real world.
The only thing missing. Children.
"Tell you what. After we get through this trial of someone trying to kill me, let's start trying. I'll get my IUD removed and we can start trying the beginning of the new year?"
The smile on his face was blinding.
"I would love that, Love. Let's make an appointment for Monday." I nod.
"Hey. Isn't that one of Mark's kids?" Edward asks me as we pass the park.
I look over and see a child sitting on a bench by himself like he is crying. My heart breaks for this poor boy.
"I think so. Let's go see if he is okay." We walk towards the park and the boy, my heart is breaking as we get closer. He's not just crying. He is all-out sobbing.
"This can't be good." Edward looks at me. "I think we should call Charlie and have him meet us here. Or at least one of his deputies."
"Why would that even be necessary? I am sure that it is nothing…" When I look closer, I see blood on his hands. "OH. MY. GOD!"
I want to do something more than break down and do nothing. But I can't do this to this child.
I pull out my cell phone and call Charlie.
"I need you to send someone to the park who can handle one of the Mark's children. He is here with blood on his hands. NOW." I hang up and walk over to him.
Edward is in full doctor mode and trying to assess him without touching him.
"This is my wife, Bella. She called her dad, Police Chief Charlie Swan and he is going to send a friend of his to help you. Okay, Job?" Oh, how I wish I could smack Angela right now. She has two beautiful identical twin sons and she names them Job and Ichabod.
"Is her...sniff...Dad going...to...sniff...kill me? Mother...said he was...going to kill...sniff...us because of who...we are." The boy is saying in between sobs but makes himself calm down.
I see Charlie, Jake, and a few other officers are within hearing distance in shock. Job calms down enough to talk. "I did not think he would. He's a police officer. Chief of Police. He's always nice to me and Ichabod. Unlike Mother, Grandmother, and Grandfather. They hate us. We were supposed to be girls. We couldn't finish the plan. Only daughters are special. Sons are useless for the Weber name."
Jake and a state trooper came up behind me. "Hey, bud. What happened to your hands? Are you okay?" Jake asks, looking at him.
"Mother and I got into a fight. She wanted me and my brother to help kill someone who wronged our family. When my brother and I said that we wouldn't, she tried to kill us. I don't know where my brother is. I hope he is okay!" Job starts to get emotional.
"I'll put an Amber Alert out for him after we check the house. Hopefully, there is some evidence there we need." Jake says to Charlie. "Bells, why don't you and Edward go with him to the hospital so he has a somewhat familiar face." I nod in response and make my way to where the ambulance is waiting for Job.
He gets put on the stretcher and I sit next to him on the bench.
When we get to the hospital, there is a whirlwind of activity. Police taking his statement, getting all kinds of evidence from him. It was scary for me, I can't imagine him.
His mother and brother were found. His brother was barely alive with several gunshot wounds. Angela. Lucky for me, she was alive and well.
I was kind of hoping she would go to hell. Not this time.
Time marches on, even when you don't want it to.
The Weber house was a mess of evidence. Going back to the first murder. Everything was crazy. A girl that had known me most of my life and a preacher's daughter, was trying to get her sons to help murder me.
"If my five-year-old sons killed the bitch, they wouldn't go to jail. Just be taken away from me. I hate them. They should have been aborted so I could try again for the daughter that would have brought salvation to our family. They took my ability to have more children with their traumatic births! I am the victim!" Angela screamed.
When asked why she would be involved in something like that, she laughed an evil laugh.
"I was born for such a time as this. Mother used to quote Esther 4:14 to me all the time growing up. I was going to end the Swan line. I was going to bring the Webers family line peace. He took her husband! She was supposed to marry him. But he chose her instead! She was pure and beautiful and could give him better children! He lied to my great-grandmother. I can't even talk about it!"
She kept rambling about how unfair her life was. Everything would have been fine had Victoria and I died. Edward and James would have fought to have her affections. She would have both of them and their money.
The more I heard, the more I was sick.
She named her children Job and Ichabod because Job means to weep and Ichabod means departed glory. She never loved them. But she could not have aborted them or adopted them to another family. There were never any red flags against the family, until the last six months.
Or so the police thought.
Angela had not been living in town until about six months ago. The boys were homeschooled, so there was no file on them with Forks Elementary. Her husband, who she hated, but loved because she was able to stay away from Forks and her family, was in the Army and was killed while he was overseas. She and the boys were living in Pensacola, Florida.
That triggered her to go back to Forks and back living with her mother. Who reminded her of her duties as a Weber.
Depression easily sets in, going from a place that is sunny nearly year-round to a place where it rains year-round, would make someone go crazy.
One thing that Angela's family did right for the police and wrong for themselves, was kept meticulous records. Each woman they killed.
In total, they killed eighteen women who wronged them in one way or another.
I was to be nineteen.
Victoria Sutherland-Hunter was to be twenty.
Along with possibly five children.
I was grateful to not be a statistic of their sick and twisted games. And that the rest were safe.
Ichabod got out of PICU and into the main part of the hospital rather quickly. He and Job were put into foster care and it broke my heart that they could be adopted to someone else. Edward and I became foster parents and adopted the boys as soon as we were able, changing their names from Job and Ichabod to Isaac which means 'He will laugh' and Gabriel which means 'God is my strength'. They wanted happier names. We were happy to make that happen.
Angela and her parents are all living their lives behind bars. Angela is getting the help that she needs. Where she found God, for real this time.
Not that I judge.
Edward and I got pregnant and had twins, a son named Caleb Theodore and a daughter named Hannah Charlotte. The boys named them.
My family grew in love and even though my oldest boys were meant to murder me, they were strong in their conviction that it was wrong and helped to save me.
Strangely, I will forever be grateful to Angela and her family. Without them, I could not have my oldest boys. My family would be incomplete.
Without those boys, eighteen victims wouldn't have justice.
It became Charlie and my mission to get each of the victim's closure in the form of the truth. Through many of Charlie's contacts, we were able to find living relatives of each of them. Local police were given any needed evidence that would clear the victims of wrongdoing and the name of the murderer. Police visited each family member and told them of the recent findings. Each family was horrified that they were deceived in such a way that their family member's salvation or the possibility of eternal rest was at stake.
Each seemed to make necessary arrangements for their churches to make it right and were grateful for our involvement.
As for our four lost family members. We decided to ensure that each of them had a proper burial and good standing within the Church.
With the evidence that we had, it was rather easy to do thankfully.
Charlie and I went to each funeral starting with his sister, my aunt, Isabel. While my Aunt Isabel had a proper funeral and was buried in town with my grandparents, it seemed like a good idea to give her another one so she knew she was safe.
Charlie, Edward, and I all agreed that the boys were too little for this. They did not need to understand the full extent of what their family was capable of.
Going to each grave, there was tension, hurt, and anger. With each word that the local Priest said, you could feel the negative leave and calm follow.
Each time, I saw a vision of a woman dressed in period clothing that looked just like me.
We shared a name. A birthday. And four of them share a death date.
I smile as I think that my death date is yet to be determined. That I can live in honor of those who died before they had their chances.
After each funeral, I watched each woman smile and wave, then walk away. Towards their forever.
And as I walked away from the last funeral, Isabeau's, I realize that even though there are no more Swans with my marriage to Edward, our line will still be strong within the Cullens.
We are not dead. Just going a different path.