Bella ... Bound
I slept better after Diana and I talked. We had more in common than I realized. I didn't think we'd be entering any mother/daughter fashion shows anytime soon, but I didn't hate her anymore.
She woke Alice and I a little before eight in the morning. We all got dressed and got ready to say our goodbyes.
I led Alice down the stairs. I could hear Diana and Charlie murmuring to each other in the kitchen. I didn't know exactly what to say to Alice. We would be a part for a little while, but we had a pretty intense night ahead of us. She bit her lip, a little bit nervous and maybe a little bit excited.
"After tonight I'll be yours forever. Did you know that?" she said quietly.
I picked up her hand and slowly turned her engagement ring a bit to the left then back to the middle of her small finger. "I thought you were already mine," I teased.
"Yes, but tonight it will official," she leaned in a bit, that wicked smile spreading across her lips again. "And tonight will be fun."
"Fun?" My eyebrow arched.
"Yes. I thought you would be looking forward to the night after we are bound. Don't humans have a wedding night?" Alice was becoming a serious tease. I liked it, a lot.
"Right. That. I'm pretty sure you'll come up with a few ways to make it fun," I replied before kissing her softly on the lips. Even though we would only be away from each other for a little while I wasn't looking forward to it. I had grown seriously attached to Alice and I hated the thought of being away from each other.
I continued to kiss her, small pecks on her lips and her neck until Charlie and Diana came back into the living room. They were holding hands and I could see for the first time the genuine affection Diana had for him. She didn't want to leave him either.
"There are many things to do before this evening," Diana said. She hesitated for a moment looking at Alice before she continued. I think she was reading her mind. "I will - bring Alice to her quarters, but you two should meet me at the palace shortly after."
"Okay," I agreed. I turned to Alice for a quick, final goodbye and saw Diana do the same to Charlie. I was about to tell her I loved her, but the way Diana was touching my dad caught my attention. His eyes closed and she stood on her tiptoes so she was a little bit taller than him. Then kissed his forehead and both his cheeks. She was whispering in some form of ancient Greek and oddly, I could understand her. Another Amazonian perk I guess.
"Strength, for your body", she whispered as she kissed his left cheek. "Knowledge for your mind," she whispered again kissing his forehead. "And peace," she paused before kissing his right cheek, "- for your heart." Charlie sighed when the spell was broken and opened his eyes. She dropped back down on her heels and they stared at each other.
"Come back to me," he said quietly.
"You have my promise," she replied.
I looked away, letting them have their private moment. I picked up Alice's hand and slid off the ring I gave her.
"I wish I could keep it," she sighed.
"I know baby." We kissed one more time then she walked over to Diana.
"I -uh, I won't keep her too long," Charlie said gruffly.
"Take all the time you need," Diana told him. She wrapped her arms around Alice and they vanished.
My dad and I stood there for a moment, being just about as awkward as he and I ever had. But soon he cleared his throat and leaned against the mantel.
"Well I guess this is it, Bells."
"I guess so. You going to be okay, Dad? Honestly?"
"You know your old man. I'm tough. I'll be fine. You just take care of that Alice," A little smile tugged at his mouth.
"Here." I walked across the room and handed him Alice's ring. "I can't do anything with it. I just got it yesterday and I paid cash. Return it. Get yourself some new fishing gear."
"Ah, come on Bells. I'm not gonna do that." He twisted ring between his fingers, but looked at the floor.
"Well just hold on to it anyway." He took a deep breath and put it in his pocket. It was time. There really wasn't anything else to say. It was time for me to go. I took a step closer to him and wrapped my arms around his waist.
"I wish I could be there," he croaked. "Kinda stinks I can't give my only girl away."
"I know, Dad. I know." A few tears ran down my face, but I kept the sobs under control. "I love you."
"I love you too, Bella. And I'll always be here if you need me." After a few more seconds he released me with a strong pat on the back. Just like Charlie. "I don't really know how it works, but let me know if I ever have any grandkids - well granddaughters on the way."
"Will do," I laughed.
"Alright. Scram. I gotta get down to the station." He pitched himself off the brick molding and started walking towards the front door. I don't think he could handle seeing me literally vanish right before his eyes. I couldn't blame him.
"I'll try to come back and if not I will send messages or whatever with Diana. I promise."
"Sounds good," he nodded. "Take care of yourself, kiddo."
"You too, Dad." A few moments later the front door closed and the lock slid into place. He was gone.
I didn't give myself time to freak out or have a final look around the house, there was really no point. I literally had a whole other life waiting for me back on the island. Alice was waiting for me. There was no point in putting it off.
Remembering what Diana had said I took a deep breath and focused all of my concentration on Alice's sleep quarters. For a second all I could think about was the possibility of Alice waiting there for me - naked. I shook my head and refocused on my destination. Knowing my luck I'd mess around, think about Alice kissing me again and wind up with my arm stuck in a portal to a planet of flesh eating insects.
I could smell the island before I opened my eyes. The warm wind blowing off the ocean, fresh fruit hanging in the gardens. I blinked and I was back in Alice's sleep quarters and back in my white robe. Out of a brief moment of curiosity I checked out a handful of my hair. Still salon fresh.
But where was Alice. I turned a quick circle, double checking that the room was empty. She wasn't the type to play hide-n-seek or at least I didn't think she was. I walked outside and saw her pacing a few yards away, playing nervously with the cord around her waist. She looked as beautiful as ever. The bright green olive leaves were back in her hair and her robe hung right above her knees. I wondered how much time we had before Diana would come looking for us.
As soon as I stepped out into the sun her head perked up and a huge smile spread across her face. I couldn't play it cool. I ran to her just as she started running to me. This time we weren't crying. Thank god.
"I missed you," she breathed into my neck. It sent shivers down my back. I pulled back a little so I could see her face.
"How long was I gone?" I asked. I knew the who time situation was a little screwy.
"A few hours, but it felt like a whole week," she pouted. She ran her fingers across the fabric just above my right breast.
"How about I don't leave you again?" I offered. If I got to see Charlie again she was coming with me.
"I think I rather like that idea. I have another idea what you might like," Alice smiled at me. Her and I were on the exact same page, but just as I turned to drag her back into her sleep quarters a gigantic bald eagle came swooping down from the direction of the place.
Alice huffed, "That's Mika."
"I guess we have to go, huh?"
"Yes, but tonight..."
"Right," I smilled. "Tonight."
Mika followed Alice and I all the way to the palace as we walked quickly holding hands.
"I've never helped prepare for a Binding, but I know there is a lot of water involved in the ceremony itself," she told me.
"Like the Cleansing."
"Exactly, but for us both."
"Hmm," I nodded, trying to picture what our wedding would be like. I gripped Alice's hand a little tighter.
When we got there, Esme and Diana were waiting for us at the main entrance of the palace.
"Bella. Welcome home," Esme said kindly.
"Hi," I replied letting her hug me.
"Bella, you will come with me. Tia and Kebi are ready for you. Alice, Kate and Zafrina await your in your mother's quarters."
"Okay," I said before turning to my baby. "I'll see you soon?"
"Soon and remember. Fun. Forever," she giggled before she disappeared.
We began walking and I remembered something. "What did you do to Charlie?"
"In the livingroom? Oh," she laughed. "I calmed his nerves a bit and then I gave him all the knowledge he would need to cook for himself."
"That's good I guess." I was really going to miss taking care of him, but I had Alice now and that seemed just a bit better.
I followed Diana in silence, towards the large indoor pool room, where I had been cleansed. I thought that was we were headed, but we kept walking to a smaller room. Two women waited there for me. I couldn't help but stare at them.
They were physically identical in every way, except for their eyes. One had blue eyes and the other had green. They were both beautiful with deep olive skin and long black hair hanging straight down there back. If geography meant anything I would say they were definitely from some where in the middle east, but of course it didn't. Not here on the island.
From the way they were standing so close to one another I had the strange feeling they weren't related at all.
"Tia and Kebi are a perfect physical match," Diana said nodding towards the two. "They do not have the same mother. They are lovers who compliment each other fully."
"Oh," was all I could say.
"I will be right next door preparing for this evening. Let me know if you need me. They will answer any questions you may have."
"Okay," I muttered. Diana turned and started walking away. "Mom," I called after her suddenly. I don't know what came over me, but I got scared. Not about marrying Alice, but for some reason, I didn't want Diana to leave me.
She came back over to me and put her hand on my cheek. It felt nice. It felt natural. "Do not be afraid, sweetheart. I will be with you." I just swallowed and nodded, then entered the room.
The two women both greeted me warmly. Kebi turned out to be the one with the green eyes.
"I supposed I wouldn't be going through with this if it wasn't for you."
She smiled warmly back at me. "Our fate find us, Bella. No matter what we do." I guess she had a point.
We carried on with the small talk as the afternoon went on. They quickly undressed me, but took their time washing my body and my face and my hair. When I was squeaky clean my whole body was rubbed down with a light oil that smelled like honey, but wasn't at all sticky.
When I was completely oiled and my hair dried, three younger girls, around fourteen years old came into the room and oiled Tia and Kebi's bodies. The third girl set about styling my hair. She used this thing that was sort of like a curling iron, but it had no heat source. I have no idea how it worked, but when she was done big ringlets hang down my shoulders and back.
As they continued to work on me. I noticed the sun had set. I thought of Alice the whole time, wondering if she knew how much I missed her. And then I thought of what Diana had said about asking Tia and Kebi questions, but only one came to mind.
"Am I supposed to say anything? Like, are there any vows I am supposed to know?" I asked. The girl who was waiting on me looped a long gold chain around my waist, wrapping it around me twice. After, she put a smaller gold chain on each of my wrists.
"When the binding begins the words will come to you," Tia said softly. I figured I'd just wait and see about the rest.
Finally when I was ready, Tia and Kebi led me towards the door. I was naked except for the gold accents. Tia and Kebi were also completely naked. The only thing they wore were a crown of green olive leaves.
I followed them to the front of the palace where Diana was waiting for us. She was naked, of course, wearing a crown of gold leaves and a golden cuff on each wrist. I should have been a little weirded out come face to face with my naked mom, but for some reason I was relieved. She didn't say anything, but smiled and fell in step in front of me.
So this is it, I thought to myself. I'm off to get married - bound. We walked for a long time in silence down a path through the forest that Alice had not shown me before. The moon was full and I could see in the distance what looked like the glowing light of some torches. When we finally reached the clearing I saw that I was standing on the edge of a massive lagoon. In the middle stood Senna. On either side of her were stone pedestals coming out of the water. On top of each one was a crown. The closest one to me was silver and the other one was gold.
Diana stopped in front of me and then did a complete about-face. She took the few steps back to me and placed her hands on my neck, the way she had done to Charlie earlier that morning. She whispered against my forehead right as my eyes slid closed. "She waits, my gift to you. Open your heart and mind fully and you shall be one, completely." She spoked in the same foreign language as well.
When I opened my eyes, I knew exactly what to do. I looked passed Diana's shoulder and saw Alice on the other side of the lagoon. There were tons of other women there, naked with olive leaves in their hair, but all I saw was Alice. Esme dropped her fingers from Alice's neck and stepped to the side at the same moment that Diana moved away from me.
Like I was under hypnosis, my body took control, guiding me into the water. Alice stepped into the lagoon at the same time and we met in the middle, in front of Senna. My baby looked amazing. The torchlight turned her oiled skin a gorgeous shade of bronze, her brown nipples teasing me. The silver chains around her wrists and the one doubled around her waist shimmered against her body.
Surprisingly, before Senna or Alice, I spoke first. I was supposed to. I twisted to my left and picked up the silver crown, holding it gently in both my hands. I turned back to Alice and looked deep into her hazel eyes as I spoke...in the language of my new homeland.
"I present myself to you, to be bound to you, my heart to yours, my mind to yours, my life to yours." I don't know where the words came from, but they were right.
Alice replied, "I accept you, bound to me. You honor me with your desire to be my match." She leaned forward slightly and I placed the silver wreath on her head. When it was in place Alice turned, but Senna interrupted her movement holding her hand out to me.
"It is the wish of your mothers that Alice should wear this where ever in this universe she may be, so that all who encounter her may know she is yours and yours alone."
Senna handed me Alice's engagement ring.
A small gasp came out of her sweet lips. I took her hand and slid the ring back into place. I knew I had my mother and my father to thank for this.
With a nod from Senna, Alice picked up the golden crown beside her and repeated the words I said to her. I accepted her pledge in return. When the crown was placed on top of my hand Senna spoke again."My princesses, embrace your match," Senna told us quietly.
I pulled Alice to me and our arms wrapped around each other, our chins tucked into each other shoulders, our nipples pressed together. I wanted to kiss her skin, but something in the back of my head told me to wait. I felt Senna's hand move the chain around my waist. When she stepped back, I looked down and saw that my chain was now wrapped around Alice and I both and her silver one also held us close together.
"My princesses, show your match the love you have for her." We pulled each other close again and finally our lips touched. At that very moment, Alice and I were surrounded by a large pillar of water that was seemingly shooting up from the bottom of the lagoon. My hair whipped around us in the water and the wind and I could have sworn I heard birds chirping, making sweet light sounds. Our lips continued to caress each other, our tongues softly touching and then Alice opened her mind to me.
"I love you, my sweetest Angel, my sweetest Isabella" she told me. "I am yours... forever." I wanted to respond, but I couldn't. There were no words to describe the way I felt. So instead I cried. Salty tears ran down my cheeks, over my lips and hers.