Chapter 2:

Bella felt that the day had been longer than it needed to be. Sitting in the Cullen's living room almost felt surreal after what had been the disaster of her birthday. She hadn't been back since. Nothing was changed, and yet, everything really had. She was hurt, yes, but they were all there.

"I don't understand," she then said slowly. "There are rules about a soulmate bond?" She had felt a moment of triumph that it only proved that vampires had souls – in the midst of things – it at that moment really didn't matter so much for the topic, except that Edward had somehow messed with the bond between him and herself.

Lucas nodded, his eyes giving off an eerie shine. "Every creator leaves it in the blueprint, so to speak. And for the different species, there are also laws according to bonds. Never have I seen a male actively harming his own bond, it confuses me, and at the same time it gives me the right to sever it, to protect you, Bella."

"How will this protect me?" she asked, thinking of the hurt she had felt earlier in the woods and the pain that had started in her chest. She flinched and heard Jasper hiss.

"What is it?" Esme asked, concerned.

"Bella's pain," Jasper muttered with an apologetic smile towards her. He managed to refrain from projecting the same pain out.

Edward was torn, he had caused her that pain. He had not known she would suffer as he had started to himself when he decided to leave. He loved her. He had only wanted to protect her, and now he would lose her.

"When I sever your bond you won't feel anything. Your connection as a mate to Edward will be broken and you have a chance to find other loves or even another soulmate."

"And Edward?" She glanced at him.

"It's the same for him. The only difference is that he won't find another true mate in a very long time, if ever. He can still have lovers, but he won't have that same connection as he could have with you. He lost that chance when he harmed his own bond." At least he had never heard of someone finding that sort of happiness again in that same life.

Lucas could see how this was bothering Bella. She was gnawing on her bottom lip, thinking everything through of what he had said. He had already seen her kind soul and was not sure how he felt about her forgiving the male vampire. Many would portray her as too forgiving, but her forgiveness was in her nature. She would sacrifice her happiness to make others happy, it had been wired into her since she was a young girl. He could not sway her decision as it was up to her, though he wanted her to think it over, closely.

"You have a few months to decide," he then said, watching for any reactions. "In the meantime, I'll stick around and join you at your high school. I want you to understand that you do have the possibility to choose, and it should be only for your own happiness. What makes you happy. Not this family. Not Edward. Not your father. You. I will ask you again, and then I will expect an answer. Until then, I do not want to hear of it."

Bella was not sure how to feel. Her entire life turned and turned in directions she could not explain. Edward whom had been her constant and made her so immensely happy after coming to Forks – had also hurt her – beyond what she could have imagined. She loved the family, and did not want to lose them, nevertheless, she did understand Lucas' point.

Lucas shimmered then, brightly, and suddenly his wings were gone and he was dressed more `normal´. His hair was braided into one long braid. His face had taken on a younger appearance, but not by much. And no longer did his skin carry that ethereal glow of otherness.

Alice could finally see then, and she was overrun by several visions at once. "Ah, you'll stay here then!" she said happily. Her happiness in general came from staying, and that it made sense with all the other visions she had had prior to leaving as well. They were a family, and family stuck together.

"I do believe Edward should tell the family of what his plans were," Rosalie hissed, only low enough for vampire ears, though it seemed Lucas heard her clearly as he gave her a nod.

"Bella, will you walk with me?" Lucas asked.

Feeling jumbled she nodded and followed the angel out of the house, content to stay close to him. Perhaps that was an angel thing. She voiced her observation.

"Partly," Lucas responded. "It's natural that humans feel safe with us as we are their protectors. We can also choose how much of our protective field energy we project, and that can also play a part. Everything depends on the situation of course. For you though, I am honest when I say I'm not putting out more than what is my natural energy. It's actually less as I don't want to draw too many close while being here. Even the Cullens should be more comfortable in my presence as I am no threat to them."

"Why did you bring me out?" she wanted to know. After all, it would not be the first time she was excluded from a meeting there.

Noticing where her mind was wandering, Lucas stopped. "Do not go there. I noticed you needed a bit of time. And Rosalie wanted to make a dig at Edward. As the family have stayed much longer together it will not be without their fights, but this one is not yours. This is just a continuation of what started a few days ago, and they need to blow out their steam. I can protect you, but if walls start to fall, I can only do so much."

"Walls?" Bella squeaked, her blush filling her cheeks.

Lucas laughed. "Yeah, if worst comes to worst. But it's nothing lasting, and I doubt it'll go that far." He sat down on a tree that had fallen over, gesturing for her to sit on the large stone opposite him. She did. "Any other questions?"

"Why now? And why let me choose?"

"Because it is your choice according to our laws. Had you been the one hurting the bond on purpose, I would have given the choice to Edward, however, it is not how this fate played out. And why now is a good question indeed. I guess I could have approached you a long time ago, said hi, and gone again in my hunt. I haven't been watching all the time, so I cannot know everything that's been going on. But from what I saw I was certain that your bond was strong. Until it no longer was. When I saw what he was about to do…"

He did not like how much the woman in front of him affected him. Never had a female had any impact. However, it could be the simple fact that he had never directly been in this kind of situation before as it was quite rare. Only a few of his siblings had in previous times been witness to it happen and the consequences. It was a reason they had certain laws when it came to soulmates.

"My nature is to protect humanity against demons. Despite this, it is not only the vile creatures that lurk amongst you. It can also be someone that's been corrupted by darkness. I can lead a possible victim in the right direction as long as that possible fate is open. I can make sure that a darkened soul gets caught somehow, even if I cannot directly interfere. All beings that have been created are mostly so with a great amount of free will. Even angels. But there will be consequences if we interfere and that fate originally has been locked. Yours have many possibilities still. I cannot see all your paths, as I am not meant to. But you have many different trails you may walk according to your choices. One of them, where I came into the picture, only being a small part, but a possibility in your ever making tapestry of life."

She soaked up every word he said, listening to his comforting voice. He was honest and very very good. For a moment she let herself dream of being with someone kind as him, warm, completely honest. And then she wondered if that was realistic at all. Perhaps her young mind could not comprehend that there were so many possibilities. Her mind was still set on Edward. She wanted his cool embrace and his comforting presence. His whispers of love.

Lucas hadn't wanted to pry, but part of his skill was knowing what was going on. Her mind surprised him a bit as she went through so many things, but her heart still cried for the vampire. "It's alright you know, to love him, to want him. He is your soulmate still."

Surprise flickered over her face.

"I know what I'm supposed to know, I am not a mind-reader like Edward. And no, his vampiric allure is not what drew you to him. To be honest, that vampiric allure does not work very long unless you have an extra gift for that special skill. Everything between you has been real."

"I'm not sure I believe you about not reading my mind," Bella muttered a bit put off.

"Yeah, well, it's more that I know your mind without having to read it or feel for it, and that I know your heart. I know what I'm supposed to know according to fate and this path we are on right now."

"That sounds a bit confusing."

He shrugged. "I don't have a good way of explaining it."

"No, I imagine not. How come you can somehow get a read on me, but Edward with his mindreading cannot?"

"Ah, that's different. Remember, I'm a guardian. I was created early on in this world; vampires and a few other myths came later. For a vampire – your skill would be a natural mental shield. If you meet fae or one of the merpeople, they will have blocks in place against any vampire or other myths that can in theory penetrate the mind. Vampires were created to be humans' natural predator, and the process has been a bit try and fail on that creator's part. So far, the best version's the ones you know. By example, if a merman were to be your mate, he would neither be able to get into your mind, not unless you fully mated with him, truly connected your souls, and so similarly with elves. If a fairy were to be your mate, nothing would be connected to the mind like this, or even a centaur. Physical gifts are of course a bit different again. Jasper has a physical gift, just as Alice, but neither of them will see or feel other myths that they do not know of, or if they have their own strong magical barriers. Many myths have skills that goes to the more physical or it directly affects nature around, but they cannot use them to harm others, most of the time."

"Can a human and angel be together?" Bella wondered, her mind still trying to wrap around it being so many different creatures.

"If another angel were to be your destined soulmate, the angel would give up their wings for a human life with the soulmate. And in your case if your happiness is with another human, you would not have the strength of a soulmate bond between you as with myths, but it would be close enough. If you truly do find your other half as human you will stick together until death do you part. Your life will be filled with love and happiness either way. Whether it be human or a mythical creature. Considering where your current bond is, it is safe to say you are on the line of mythical bonds no matter what you choose."

"Thank you, for sharing all of this." Bella truly meant it. Even if it was a lot to wrap her head around, she still preferred to know. To hold the cards visible in the game that was called life. She never had been a fan of secrets and surprises, and she wasn't going to change that now. Lucas' honesty meant a lot.

Lucas could not put his finger on what she triggered in him. His protective side was more dominant now, true, but something about her and her unseen paths drew him towards her. He wanted to be there for her, and it was an odd feeling. Something he was not used to. The open trust she put in him warmed his heart and he admired her kindness. And it was not the usual warmth humans brought out in him.

"I believe it's safe to return now," he then said and stood, holding out his hand towards her. She took it with a smile. So trusting, he mused again while helping her up, steadying her as she seemed to stumble over air, her face flushing.

"Are they fine?" Bella wanted to know as she walked beside him.

"They will be. For now, they have said what was needed to be said." His eyes stopped glowing when he turned off his powers again that connected him such. "Nothing big was destroyed, though Esme is not too happy about a few furniture pieces that suffered."

Bella's laughter rang through the woods.