Unlike a normal human wedding, a witch one takes absolutely no preparation. You just say when and where and someone else casts a spell or two and there you have it. It's truly all an elaborate illusion, kind of a metaphor for life, really. The most important part is the joining of the two souls who are coming together at that time. The is no walking down the aisle as such, Charlie just removes Bella's cloak and everyone see's her in a diaphanous silver-grey gown.

The gown itself became a rendering of her powers, as she moves flames, lightning, waves of water and gusts of wind pass across its surface. The couple were barefoot as they walk forward holding hands tightly and Jasper is in a plain grey shirt and black pants. Romain waves a hand laconically and candles burst into light around them all, adding a warm glow to the evening light.

While Jasper and Bella step forward to stand within a ring of salt that wards off evil from their nuptials, Romain recites ancient words of marriage and bonding. They are hand-fasted as well as giving and receiving wedding bands. It's a blend of the old and the new, the past and the present. Timeless, but never standing still. Like magic it is fluid and ever-changing, there is no right or wrong, no set pattern.

Only the words of the coven's elder remain unchanged. But unlike any other witch wedding, the guests are not witches alone. This is the true power of Forks; all species are there to celebrate with their friends in the centre of the town. They may not understand the words, but they feel the heartfelt vows, they see the love between the two involved.

As the ceremony come to a close they all feel the power flowing from the ground, surrounding the couple. They all sense the greatness, the divine in the air as the gods of old and new bless the union of a witch and a vampire. The rightness of the event leaves them all feeling lighter, happier and more confident of the future for the supernatural world.

In the crowd Carlisle raises his eyes to the sky, this might not be his religion, but it surely is a Hallelujah moment. He feels the importance of the event and the three before him, Romain, Jasper and Bella. They will be the main protagonists, in whatever the future brings! He feels awed by his epiphany and catching Peter's eye, sees the other vampire nod at him.

Jasper had possibly seen hundreds of humans changing into vampires and knew roughly what to expect. No two were identical, but they all followed a similar routine, this was however totally different. After the wedding, they had spent a couple of hours celebrating with their friends and families. They eventually snuck away to be alone together and after a passionate joining Bella told him to change her.

"Are you sure darlin', we have time?" he asked concerned for his mate,

"No, the time is right. I feel it in my bones!" she replied holding him tightly, as if afraid he'd run from her.

So with a prayer on his lips he did as she asked and bit her neck, then to hopefully speed up the process he also bit her wrists and ankles. He was soon to find out they were not necessary and this would be a changing like none he'd ever seen before. Firstly her shield engaged, stopping him from touching her and then a show that could be nothing but magical began.

As she writhed on the bed silently, but most definitely in pain. Her powers started to roll over her body, not actually touching just hovering above. Lightning, wind, fire and water, repeating over and over. Every once in a while one flared more than the others and then back to the steady routine of lightning, wind, fire and water. It was mesmerising to watch, but he tried not to be distracted and kept talking to her as she changed.

Then after about twelve hours, it changed to each element filling the shield and obscuring her from his sight for a moment or two. It seemed longer to him as his fear picked up, but when the water filled the bubble around her he could see clearly that it wasn't actually touching her at all. Unable to resist Jasper laid his hands on her shield and tried to send her his love, finally resting his forehead against it and talking calmly to her.

Once more things changed and now the water moved around the shield sinuously until it reaches the place his head was and stopped, returned the other way and again on reaching him stopped. Likewise, the fire did the same, but he couldn't tell with the wind and lightning, but neither touched where his head was. This continued for several hours until it changed once again and now each element ran simultaneously towards him and back again, wrapping around Bella as it passed her.

Jasper could see that Bella was changing quickly within her shield, her hair was longer and had highlights of gold, silver, blue and green, in fact, every could of the rainbow was there. But they blended and were only seen as she moved her head. Later they would see when she used her powers the coordinating colour would glow slightly.

They had just reached the twenty-four hours mark when her eyes opened and she stared up at the ceiling. Jasper slid up her shield not breaking contact to look down on her, they were blue, ice blue with a ring of vibrant red! Then she blinked and they were golden orange, still with the red. He realised she was cycling though the colour of her powers with every blink until she stopped on pure red and moved her eyes to look at him.

"Hey darlin', I think you're almost done," he said smiling at her and she sighed and for the first time he heard it her heart racing, then silence.

Bella had closed her eyes again and arched off the bed when the final assault on her heart reached its peak and then collapsed back and released her shield, almost causing Jasper to fall on top of her. He caught himself just in time, not wanting to scare her. But she reached out for him and pulled him down to her lips, kissing him with fervour.

"How long?" she asked as they parted,

"Twenty-five hours! The shortest and strangest change I've ever seen" he said kissing her forehead.

TCHBTE

To say everyone was shocked the following day would be an understatement. No one expected her to change so quickly, well except Cah'mel and Peter. She had taken thirty-nine hours herself and he of course, just knew! Shelly Cope was waiting patiently for her when the news of her quick change arrived in town. As the head potion maker, she'd been supplying the Cullens with an alternative to even animal blood and for Bella, she had something a little more special.

It was the same blood substitute, but with added elemental energy. She had extracted it from several sources to enhance the potion for the new witch/vampire hybrid. This would feed both sides of her nature and until she could fully harness her own way of doing it. This was a great help to Bella and she was touched by the other witch's kindness.

The self-appointed leaders of the American witch council were angry! Armand Milfoil was a warmonger; his personal hatred of vampires was well known. But this was worse, he expected them to come all the way from America and die to save those in Europe. There were hundreds of witches living there, shouldn't they be in the front line to die for their homelands first.

So they declined saying they have vampires here too and they would defend here first and foremost! They were not the only ones to refuse the call, all-seeing the perceived insult and disliking it immensely. Armand was no leader, he had been Sebastian Le Sorcière's worse critic, but did not have the experience or length of age to back up his hastily thought out plans.

The intense hatred of vampire race was his only motivation and that made him a next to useless leader. So instead of organisation, began the infighting. Meanwhile, both sides started picking off each other in random attacks. There was no control, no leadership just chaos and the humans were starting to notice something strange was happening around them.

America was in an uproar and their own witch leadership called into questioning. Were they just trying to save their own skins at the cost of their brethren worldwide? It appears they could talk the talk, but obviously not walk the walk. The fighting hadn't even broken out here yet. It was with a heavy heart Romain called a new meeting of every species in Forks, he had come to a very hard decision.

"I was once the ruler of the European witch council, it was long, long ago and I retired with Alina to come here to America due to being sickened by the inequality around us. That was when we eventually stumbled upon the fledgeling community here in Forks. Here we made friends and broke down all the barriers the others refused to contemplate. We are all supernaturals, why then are we enemies? The greed of the few that's why!

Aro Volturi has been the vampire leader for too long and he has become power-crazed. Sebastian Le Sorcière became a weak ruler cow-towing to the other races. But their worst faults were not accepting the original Fae or the new ones. We are human-based and they all thought us superior, better! How wrong they were.

They can barely stand each other, yet the original Fae have integrated with all who have come to them for millennia. Bella, please check the archives, my dear. Tell me who the oldest living witch in America is?" he said with a powerful voice, Bella returned smiling,

"You Romain, you are!" she said smiling with an understanding of where he was going.

"Then I Romain Octaff, being the oldest living witch male or female in America take my rightful place as Supreme Wicche of America and all its dominions. Therefore as of now, my word is the new law!" he chanted a few indecipherable lines and the ground gently shook and everyone stared at him in awe.

In many parts of the USA, there were gasps of horror and some of relief as their supernatural indexes flew open at the page depicting the name of Romain Octaff. The ruling council dropped their heads in shame, knowing it had only been a matter of time before he took control due to their incompetence; their own laws enabled him to see everything they had done for all these years.

They could never find him; some had thought his end of days had come. But his name had never darkened in the books and they now knew he was not only alive but also in charge of them all. They scurried to rectify some of their wrongs but found themselves locked out of all the important documentation and books. The sacred relics and other powerful antiquities had disappeared, forever outwith their reach. To coin a phrase 'They were screwed!'

TCHBTE

Romain then took the unprecedented step of declaring amnesty on all witch/vampire hybrids; it hit the books around the land immediately. Feeling that it would be better to have them recognised he called on Bella and Cah'mel, telling them the witch council of America recognised them as a species apart from this day forth. They had the right to rule themselves and be free in the eyes of all witches.

But he was sure the WV hybrids would very wary and they would want a place of their own, somewhere safe from both sides when this was all over. It would be up to them where that was!Neither was sure that was the right thing, they didn't want to displace anyone. Just give them a sense of belonging to something bigger, but not necessarily a new home. When more hybrids came forward it could be discussed then.

Bella, much to her dislike, was named head of the new council of Witch Vampires until a conclave could be set up and these matters discussed. She took it a step further and asked the archive to instigate a new register of these hybrids, dead or alive which for now only she and Cah'mel could access. Not that she didn't trust her friends in Forks, but rather other witches further afield. Besides she needed to know which dealt in the dark arts, they would be the most dangerous.

Bella also wanted the Sirens and the Succubae to join; they too were Witch Vampires even though they couldn't practice magic. Her first call would be to Denali and the three sisters; they should be involved and afforded the same rights. Then if she could find Heidi Volturi, maybe she would like a safe place too. Just at a glance, there were hundreds of them, many with no witch training as they were turned before they were aware of their heritage.

But here at home first and worry about the rest of the world as they went along because she didn't even want to think about the infamous witch twins! As each one joined them, they to could access the register once their intentions were known. The reason for having deceased Witch Vampires in it was two-fold. One to recognise and honour them and two to see exactly who killed them, if that's how they died.

She was putting her money on the Volturi for most of them, Caius in particular! But the witch council would also have a tally no doubt. So to date, the Witches of America had a new leader, the Witch Vampires too; all that was left was the Vampires! That might be the most difficult problem, she knew who. But would he agree? How do you convince a vampire who doesn't want power, to take it for the good of everyone else?

TCHBTE

Romain was pacing back and forward, he had many decisions to make and his choices were slim. A full council needed to be called and the bad seeds removed. No way did he want them in Forks, so it would have to be Seattle but where. He was regaling Bella and Jasper with his thoughts, the getting of everyone there was easy. Kellogg Island would be the gateway. When Jasper offered him a place.

"I have a penthouse suite in Seattle; I used it as a getaway from Alice's attentions, as did Rose and Emmett to be out of Edward's hearin'! Would that suffice? Bella and I could transport there and air it out for you" he said and Romain nodded thanking him,

"Want to introduce Bella to them and as she can shield herself I see no problems. I presume you to would want to be there for her?" Romain asked, already knowing Jasper's answer.

"I'll be close as will Peter and Charlotte, just in case anyone gets the wrong idea and tries anything foolish!" Jasper informed him,

"Bell a tell your father to be ready, I'm training him to take my place one day. If the only way to make peace is to handpick the teams, then so be it!" Romain said sighing; he never wanted to be here again, but needs must and all that malarkey.

So the following day a summons was sent to the old council, they would be required to attend a meeting in Seattle the day after that. Bella, Jasper, Charlotte and Peter headed off to Seattle to make sure all was secure and safe at the penthouse. It wouldn't do for other vampires to stumble across the witches and cause trouble, but everything seemed okay.

They decided to stay over and have a night out before the proverbial shit hit the fan. Jasper had a feeling the council would not take kindly to Bella at all. She was a rare enough thing being a vampire who had powers and could still use her magic. They were more used to vampires who hadn't known they were witches first, therefore had powers yes, but no training in how to really use them. She would be there greatest fear.

The three vampires thought it was weird that before they had barely seen a witch, but since coming to Forks could spot them a mile away. Bella said vampires were less prevalent here too. But for some unknown reason, Seattle was crawling with both tonight, so the old witch council had a leak and a mole! They were either the same person or were both working for themselves and out to cause trouble for Romain.

They were just leaving a nightclub when they heard a fight breaking out in the alley beside it. A vampire and a witch were facing off, trading insults and looked ready to attack. Jasper moved in to stop the fight between them, telling them to get a grip they were not enemies. That the enemy was Caius Volturi and his brother Aro as they caused this chaos and nobody else.

The vampire wouldn't listen, asking Jasper who was in the shade,

"Who the hell are you? You can't interfere with my kill!" the arrogant obviously young vampire demanded,

"I'm your worst nightmare boy! Now back off before I make you" Jasper growled stepping into the light and showing off his scars to the immature fool,

"I'd listen to the Major son, he don't suffer fools gladly!" Peter said stepping up behind him and blocking his escape.

He glanced around wildly, before looking skyward and both he and the witch looked ready to bolt. Bella placed shields around both stopping them going anywhere. The witch tried in vain to teleport away but Bella's shield stopped him in his tracks.

"Who are you? What does it matter to you, if I kill one measly witch? You're all vampires!" the idiot shouted,

"I'm not! He has as much right to live as you do!" Bella replied and the witch male stared at her and gasped,

"Hybrid!"

"I prefer the term, Witch Vampire thanks all the same" Bella said smiling at them both.

"You two are comin' with us! Tomorrow as you both seem to be aware of, is the meetin' of the witch council. They can deal with you, and I will deal with you!" Jasper said looking from the witch first to the vampire and shaking his head.

Without further ado, Bella transported everyone to the penthouse and on the roof placed the two fools in cages of elemental fire to stop them from going anywhere. They would be safe as long as they didn't touch it she warned them. It was obvious to them now, that someone on the council wanted a war between the two sides here in America too. Why they would find out tomorrow hopefully. The two couples sat in companionable silence for the rest of the night waiting for the others to arrive at dawn.

TCHBTE

"Charlie, I want you to be head of security for now. There is a lot going on and corruption appears to be rife. We have to nip this all in the bud before war breaks out here too. It's a powder keg, just waiting to blow" Romain told the younger man,

Bella and her father went around the penthouse adding hexes and spells to stop any unauthorised entry or exit. When everyone was here Bella would place a shield over them too for added security. The two fighters were brought down and placed in separate rooms until needed. Everyone would appear on the roof and be led down by Charlie.

Any, who didn't show would be guilty by their own deeds. As the last council member was ushered in Bella who was waiting in the next room placed a shield over the place. No one would hear, see or interrupt the proceedings. The three vampires waited with Bella, she was nervous, but not scared. This was the start of a new dawn for the supernatural. The old and corrupt regime would be stripped of power and Romain would begin his rule with a clean house.

"Thank you all for coming, now tell me this! Why have you all spent the last few decades terrorising and degrading a few Witch Vampires? Instead of trying to broker peaceful treaties with the other more powerful supernaturals, you have wasted time and energy persecuting a few random witches turned vampire! Where is the benefit of this? What good has it done you?" Romain asked and they all bristled and muttered loudly,

"Travis, as the old leader of the council, what have you to say for yourself?" Romain asked pinning the man with a disgusted stare,

"They were becoming a menace" started to say more but Romain yelled,

"Liar! They are all mainly in hiding, both from you and Caius Volturi. For instance Camille Lahote, you've been hunting her for how long? She scared of the vampires and for that, you hounded her for eighty more years. You should have been thanking her for sending Caius scuttling back to Italy! You are a disgrace to Wicche kind!" he said angrily before sitting at the head of the table where they all sat.

"I want you all to understand, there will be no war here in the new world! Those fools walked into the lion's den and cried foul when they are eaten. Witches do not bow to the demands of vampires, why were they even there? We will not be following their example, but showing them a new one. With that said I'd like to introduce to you the new leader of the Witch Vampire council. Belladonna Mariette Swein was her witch name, she is now known as Isabella Whitlock!" he said before calling Bella through,

They all watched her with varying degrees of disgust, anger and hatred. Bella didn't flinch, but her eyes did cycle her powers and that made them all sit up and take notice,

"She was a practising witch?" Travis asked Romain and the old man snorted,

"She's before you! Being a vampire didn't addle her brain, it enhanced it, Travis! Unlike you obviously, she has manners and I demand you all give her respect,

"She's a child!" one of the others said,

"I may be young in years, yes, but I have had good guidance and teachings. My path may be arduous, but it is my path none the less" Bella said politely.

"Swein you said? A relation of yours Karlis?" another asked,

"It's Charlie and yes, Bella is my daughter and Romain's goddaughter. She was a skilled witch and had been a benefit to our community for many years as archivist and historian" Charlie said with pride and Bella winked at her father.

"You were an elemental witch young one?" someone now asked,

"Was and still am! My powers have not changed, but are more enhanced" Bella replied smoothly,

"Your sire?" asked another,

"My mate and husband, we married before my change," she said slowly knowing this would alarm them,

"The gods allowed this union?" Travis queried, Romain nodded smiling,

"They did and I myself performed the ritual," he said now.

"Your husband is who exactly?" came a slimy voice from the end of the table,

"Ah, Gerard! He is Jasper Whitlock" Charlie replied, not hiding his dislike, of the snake of a man,

"Major Whitlock? The God of War? The most reviled vampire in America?" the slimy voice said now, trying no doubt to cause trouble.

"Yes, he was once known by both of those names. Now his is just Jasper Whitlock of the Olympic Coven under the leadership of Carlisle Cullen" Bella said keeping her cool and not letting the slime-ball annoy her.

"The animal drinker? He is an animal drinker now?" asked a small petite witch who had said nothing so far until now.

Bella nodded and turned her head slightly, stretching her arm back with her hand open. Jasper stepped into the room and the council all gasped in fear.