Character roundup:
I'll do a round up every other chapter to help you all out as I appreciate you're reading this chapter to chapter with update gaps ️
· (DR) Isabella (Bella) Swan – species 'other'
· Orion – Isabella's friend who shares her soul, an ancient being from another world
· Rosalie Hale – Vampire
· Victoria – Vampire
· Cecile – blood witch
· Agatha/High Priestess – witch and leader of Cecile's family coven
· Surrey Coven – most powerful, largest reaching coven in Europe
· Jeremy – blood witch
· Katrina Denali – vampire / ex-lover
· Tatyana Denali – vampire – coven leader of the Denali Coven
~
Chapter 12:
Witch business: Part 3
1 month after…
~ Isabella ~
"Three have gone missing from our Surrey Coven and two from Paris," the softly spoken woman repeated, the edge of sadness and confusion that seemed to constantly linger in her eyes – eyes that matched her daughters – seemed to shimmer with the barely controlled emotions.
"What business does she have abducting witches from her own coven? And then a random coven in France?" Kate puzzled aloud.
"They are our cousins, don't forget that the reach of this Coven is wide, we remain the oldest, largest and most powerful in Europe" the witch responded proudly, Kate merely nodded. Honestly, it was a wonder Isabella had managed to get the two supernatural species to be reasonably professional with one another.
"Cecile is targeting our own family first it would seem, and of them she is taking the most vulnerable to her prejudices and archaic ideologies. Not to mention they are young, untrained and powerful." Isabella winced, and even felt Orion's concern at the observation form the High Priestess "She always could be so convincing, but I never thought she'd be involved in" she waved uselessly "- let alone leading such a terrible attack on our family and our way of life" the woman's soft voice broke and Isabella briefly felt her pain before it was skilfully shut down.
"I'm sorry High Priestess, we appreciate that this is a difficult situation for you" Isabella offered, her eyes softening as the woman – dressed in blue jeans and a nice white shirt, a clear attempt at masking her true activities from her coven – bobbed her head in acknowledgment.
"Cecile was always so opinionated but she kept her hatred and anger well hidden. Honestly, we had no idea she was so…"
"Lost?" Isabella added and The High Priestess nodded regretfully, her lips pressed together forming a thin line.
She looked like her daughter, Isabella noted, perhaps more regal in her posture and general presence, and her energy felt more open and friendly. Isabella should've known Cecile was not quite right, given her energy always contained a level of darkness that clung to the edges.
"Thankfully, she's not been killing anyone since last month…as far as we can see. In fact, they seem to have hidden themselves away. To what end I don't know, but it is curious" Isabella said her brows scrunched together in confusion.
"I think you scared the ever living shit out of them personally" Kate added unhelpfully and Isabella scoffed before shoving her slightly. Kate grinned and shrugged half heartedly.
"Doubtful. But she does have some sort of a long term plan, I just can't figure out what it is"
"The vampire may have a point. But I do think that she's recruiting to her cause, whatever her plans are I don't really know" the High Priestess interrupted.
"Mhm," she grumbled, before steeling herself for her next statement "I don't think you should keep this from your coven any longer. And I think you should extend the knowledge to any nearby kin. Prioritise those who she may think to target first" Isabella advised and waited for the fall out, even Kate stepped closer to her.
"I-I know. Cecile's involvement and their nefarious actions cannot be covered any longer" she slumped down onto the wooden bench in the park they conversed in "I should warn you, this may have consequences, the council will likely call into question my suitability as High Priestess for one." a title Agatha had worked incredibly hard to achieve, and worked even harder to maintain favour amongst her people. This would surly crush the woman, life is full of cruelties , Isabella noted regretfully and Orion gently 'hugged' her.
"I'm sorry, Agatha. You have my support, however much good that will do." Isabella said, as she placed a hand to the woman's slumped shoulders and sat next to her. They sat there quietly for several long moments, watching the birds singing and soaring in the trees, and the golden sun sink lower in the blue sky.
"I'm sorry you got dragged into this mess Isabella, this all goes far beyond what you initially agreed" the witch commented, without facing away from the untamed nature that was before her, "I suspect it might be a long fight, given we've not faced the likes of this situation for many centuries, unfortunately, I'd understand if you wish to step aside," she sighed, "either of you really" she added quietly.
"I made a promise to stop Jeremy, and not only that, but we have a contract and that includes my aid should the lives of your coven or the surrounding humans and other supernaturals lives should they be in danger. I will help your coven resolve this Agatha, and I do not blame you for the actions of your daughter, I'm only sorry you are forced to experience this betrayal" Agatha met her kind eyes and she saw in them the gratitude she knew the proud woman would never voice.
"Okay. Let's set up the meeting with the council, I'll make some calls to our kin too. We can start putting in contingencies in case I am removed as High Priestess, they will not refuse my general help, I know Cecile better than anyone," Agatha said, like a woman on a mission, "I do think this is going to take some time, we are battling both warped ideologies and powerful magic. Be prepared for a long fight." Agatha finished making eye contact with both vampire and Isabella.
"Okay, I'll need to update the King, make sure he's still happy for us to remain involved" Kate replied, before muttering "I doubt he'll pull me now that this is turning interesting"
"Let's do this" Isabella said with a small smile and the small group dispersed the little secluded park.
~
2 years later…
Isabella stirred from her slumber (and long talk and training session with Orion), slowly becoming reacquainted with her surroundings, she stretched her leg out and noted form the chill against her skin that the comforter must've slipped from her body at some point so her upper half was bare.
It was when she finally noticed long fingers softly stroked up and down Isabella's bare back in slow languid motions that she remembered whose bed she'd fallen into. Again. She smiled inwardly as the feather light caress brought goosebumps to the touched flesh.
"I know you're awake, anjel [angel]" Isabella groaned into her pillow at the sweet sultry voice.
"Some of us need our beauty rest" she mumbled into her pillow.
"Then you must sleep far too much, anjel because you are príliš krásne [too beautiful]" Isabella rolled her eyes recognising the Slovakian words, and a reluctant smile spread on her lips. Her traitorous mouth only widened as she felt a lingering kiss press against her bare shoulder. She turned in the large bed and placed a chaste kiss to Kate's lips.
"Good morning" she smiled warmly, and Kate grinned as she playfully flicked her lightly freckled nose "You're a flatterer, Katrina Denali" she smiled seductively, "and you needn't bother" with a breathy laugh, she kissed her surprised parted lips and Kate's eyes involuntarily fluttered closed as she whispered against them, "I'm already in your bed" she smirked.
"Not quite" Kate grumbled, a touch of sadness in her quiet tone.
"Kate," Isabella warned her smile swiftly wiped from her face, "please don't. Can't we enjoy our morning together without any…unpleasantness?" She asked as she pulled the sheet upward, effectively covering her chest. Kate pulled away and sighed miserably. Isabella inhaled deeply, preparing herself for the same argument and secretly, selfishly, hoping this would not be the final time she'd hear it. She was under no illusion that Katrina was growing wary of their arrangement and the thought of Kate leaving… it did unspeakable things to her chest.
"I know, there's no use anyway right?" Kate said bitterly, her gold eyes hard – trying desperately to cover the hurt she felt. "You'll finish your meeting about Cecile and how we still can't find her, and then make up some bullshit excuse to leave for several weeks?"
"That's not fair and you know it, Kate" she defended.
"If you're referring to the fact that on the one hand you allowed us to get close while we worked on this case yet on the other hand you insisted on keeping me at arms length, then yes Isabella, you're quite right, it isn't fair " Kate folded her arms over her bare chest defensively and Isabella tried very hard not to channel the emotions Kate was unknowingly projecting.
Hurt. Regret. Longing. Self loathing. Frustration. And something else, something that tasted bitter sweet – Isabella wasn't sure what it was exactly. But it made her feel slightly sick with dread for some strange reason.
She shoved it all down, down, down and locked it away. If she didn't hate him for what he did to her – she'd pity Jasper Hale for his gift, she could at least dial it down to next to non-existent. Though she couldn't control it all that well yet if she were to be candid.
"We've talked about this, Kate" she said quietly, defeated, before adding "I can't keep having this conversation with you." She grumbled followed by a long sigh as her eyes searched the room for her discarded clothes, not being familiar with this particular 'family cabin' of Kate's. It was not their usual place to meet after all, being just outside of Denali – something to do with a wayward cousin who was staying with the family and she was according to Kate, 'a real grumpy Bitch'. Not that Isabella minded the privacy, in fact she insisted on it.
"We keep talking about it because you won't tell me anything? Not really! Like why can't we date, make a proper go of it?" she asked desperately, as she made to reach toward Isabella but stopped herself mid way "and don't give me the same shit about someone who hurt you or you're not emotionally stable enough to date me. Tell me who hurt you, what did they do? Who are you when you leave Denali and disappear for weeks? I don't even know why I catch you mumbling weird things in your sleep, like you're talking to someone. Or- or like, what kind of supernatural creature you are, cos' you're something right, you have to be?" She paused and her eyes softened briefly as she added, her voice lowered as though she were talking someone from the edge "What happened to you?" Isabella shook her head sharply.
Kate stood suddenly, naked as the day she was born, fury and frustration blazed in her golden orbs. Isabella swallowed uncomfortably, "you won't even meet my sisters" she added angrily.
"I've met Tanya" Isabella feebly countered, "and all those points remain valid. You don't know me Kate, I cant-". She stopped herself with a long exhale.
"You talked to her on a video feed a few times for fuck sake, and only ever about the case, I'd hardly count that as meeting her," Kate tapped her foot uselessly on the wooden floor. "And I hate to contradict you Isabella, I might not know all the other crap but I do know you, " she prodded her chest, "I know you like pepperoni on your pizza with peppers and the crust has to be very well done and crispy" Isabella held her breath, "you don't sleep long but when you do, your nose twitches like a bunny and it's adorable. You prefer walking to the car but not over using your bike, which you have a strange attachment to, not that I know why! I know you're insanely curious, about everything, and you could talk for hours and hours about folklore and other stuff – stuff I find unbelievable and that you probably shouldn't know, but you do somehow. I know how to make you laugh and when you get sad you avoid all eye contact and leave the room – except when you let me hold you. I've seen you at your angriest, and most uncontrolled and I've seen you laugh so hard water squirted from your nose" Kate was practically vibrating with her barely controlled emotions, "I- môj Bože [my god] I know how you make me feel Isabella, and I wish you could be a little brave and let me in, so that you could maybe one day love me too" she finished passionately and Isabella pointedly ignored the terrifying implications of that last statement. She exhaled a shaky breath.
"I- I'm sorry, but I can't do this Kate," Isabella's eyelids closed given how close she was to tears, she felt the water welling in her eyes and yet she fortified herself as always. She would not break down now.
"Do what , Isabella? Meet me to discuss this shitty ridiculous case? Find excuses to spend time with me? Fuck me repeatedly, then run away? Which bit are you sorry for exactly?" A furious blush crept into her cheeks before she whirled on the vampire, her eyes flashing green. Kate stood taller, unfazed by Isabella's brief loss of control, like the stubborn fool she was.
"I'm finishing my doctorate, and yes I've got Cecile and her merry band of crazies to find, because that is still my responsibility" and the rest , she thought bitterly as she furiously ran her fingers through her loose wavy locks "and like I said before …" she waved nonchalantly at the bed, and the crumpled sheets, "before we were intimate that I couldn't give you anything more than this" she grit her teeth and held the vampires stubborn eyes, even as Kate's orbs reflected her inner turmoil.
"That was months and months ago," Kate rolled her eyes in frustration "I just, I guess I hoped you'd…" Kate quickly pulled on an oversized shirt and slumped against the bed, her head hung as she exhaled shakily. There was that word Isabella didn't want Kate to feel regarding their situation. Hope. It may seem harsh or cruel, but if Kate had hope that Isabella could change her heart, it would only worsen the vampires heartache when she realised she would not – could not – do so. This, seemingly was written on Isabella's face as Kate muttered, "Never mind." As sheloosed a breathy laugh, devoid of any true humour.
Isabella hated the sight, the vampire warrior slumped on the edge of the bed, dejected and sad. This was a vulnerability Kate only allowed a select few to see, and Isabella was both awed and saddened she was considered part of that short list.
Isabella pulled Kate's grey shirt over her body, knowing it was longer than her own, and came to her knees. Before she tentatively perched on the edge of the bed beside the vampire and bumped her shoulder against Kate's own. She shifted the mussed long near-white blonde hair from Kate's face and smiled softly at the beautiful woman.
"I wish I could give you more, truly, but I can't Katrina, I'm so fucking sorry," she gently tickled along Kate's shoulder back and forth in a comforting motion "and I can't promise I will be able to anytime soon or at all really, to be honest." Kate stiffened at her words and she suspended the habitual ministrations, "please believe me when I say I care about you so fucking much" she choked out a breathy laugh, "I care deeply about you, but if that's not enough, and I understand if it's not, then…" she trailed off, her tongue suddenly stuck to the roof of her dry mouth as she briefly looked at the door, she was so dreading this conversation. Kate's sad golden eyes raised and met her own.
"You won't ever let yourself love me, will you?" She concluded sadly, and the dejected tone alone cut Isabella's heart up into tiny pieces.
"It's, um complicated " She shook her head, "I don't want to get into it but, just know, this is for the best, it mightn't feel like it now, but I hope in time you'll understand" Isabella sighed quietly, "but I get that you want to find someone who can give you the thing that I cannot, the thing you so deserve, Kate." Neither woman needed to say the word, they both knew how to read between the lines of what was said and not said:
Love .
Or more accurately, the ability to fall in love.
It was best to let Katrina Denali go, even if it hurt her heart to do so. She could give the vampire this gift of freedom, the freedom to find what she so craves. To love and be loved with the reckless abandonment they show in movies and books. Perhaps she'd even eventually find her true mate. Isabella hoped she would, even if that too stung her a bit.
A sad silence surrounded the scared lovers for a long minute. And Isabella let the emotions flow through her in crashing waves, as fat tears brimmed her eyes and cascaded down her cheeks. Because somehow she knew this was the end of this repeated conversation, she felt it as it finally sank into Kate's mind. Felt her emotions morph from hope and frustration to resigned grief.
The moment Katrina finally accepted that Isabella could not give her the love she wanted, she was going to leave her. It's for the best, she tries telling herself, maybe so, but it hurts all the same. Isabella tried her hardest to brace herself for the inevitable, for the sad, awkward goodbye, and to shield her heart for the pain once Kate finished processing her feelings in the coming minutes.
Seconds.
"I think," Kate swallowed her sorrow and she turned to face Isabella and Isabella held her breath, so painfully slowly, as she brushed a feather light kiss to Isabella's forehead, "I think I-I should go" Isabella's heart lurched and she felt physically sick, but what she said next, certifiably broke her heart. "I can't do this anymore, I'm sorry" Isabella choked on a sob as Kate finally pulled away.
She hated herself for causing this pain and to someone she cared for. While she could hide in the knowledge that she warned Kate multiple times during her initial advances, not long after they returned to the States, that they could only ever be friends with benefits – it didn't matter really because it still pained her to see the proud warrior reduced to this sad depressed shell, for Katrina Denali was usually filled with such life and laughter. And Isabella knew that vampires felt their emotions amplified ten fold – it was this knowledge that only increased the guilt she felt.
And yet, here she was, shoulders slumped and sad quivering smile on her face, tears streaming down her face, as she allowed herself to feel the vampires energy. While it radiated Kate's pain and heartache, Isabella allowed herself to nearly drown in it. It's what she felt she deserved after all.
"Tanya will fill in for me with the witch business, I'll call her" Kate offered, and Isabella desperately gripped the hand that still rested on the beds surface beside her.
Her eyes pleaded to the warrior, portraying all the words she couldn't say, words that Kate so deserved to hear. She opened her mouth, trying desperately to make a sound, to try, to do something, anything other than sit there with tears falling uselessly from her eyes, her heart pounding, as she clung like a scared little girl to the vampires hand, the vampire who'd meant – means – so much to her.
Isabella's cell of course took that particular moment to begin obnoxiously screeching with an incoming call. She pointedly ignored it. Kate however, nodded solemnly.
"Kate, I –" The pathetic apology got stuck on her dry tongue as Kate simply shook her head, and gently squeezed her hand.
Once.
Twice.
"I know, anjel. Just, give me some time okay?" she whispered and she kissed the back of her hand before slowly letting it go.
And it all felt so god damn finite . This feeling was punctuated by the sad smile and single bloody tear that rolled freely down Kate's gorgeous pale face, a face that belonged to someone who was usually so vibrant and fun and alive . Who'd made Isabella choke on her own laughter countless times, and honed her ability to fight with her daggers and begin to see the fun in the mundane things like showering, eating or taking a walk. Who'd unknowingly helped her begin to heal …
A long and tedious process Isabella had avoided for a long time, yet, Kate and her general openness and willingness to listen and compromise – sharing her own life stories and pain – had unknowingly to Isabella at the time, kick started her own long healing journey.
She'd likely be forever grateful to the brave woman beside her, in more ways she knew how to articulate given her present stunned and sad present state of being.
Isabella couldn't bare to watch as Kate silently gathered her few personal items, nor as she slowly walked towards the door, and certainly not as the blonde left the cabin without ever looking back.
~
3 years later…
"For fuck sake, can't I get any fucking peace?" She shouted as she slammed her book down and plucked her ringing cell from the charging port.
"Dr. Swan?" She greeted cordially despite her heightened irritability.
"I have news concerning the witches" a feminine authoritative voice said, "I sent you an email just now, did you get it?" Isabella grumbled as she clicked on the aforementioned email, "Follow the link and watch the video" the voice instructed and Isabella bristled at the order.
"Tanya is that you?" She asked dumbfounded, before finally clicking play on the video.
A news anchor appeared on the screen in the little blue box, a pretty plump woman in a light blue suit and white shirt with an oversized protruding and plunging neckline collar greeted her on the screen.
"Tanya, I am finalising my classes and I have to call the shifters after this – I don't have ti-"
"Listen to the report Isabella, it's important" The Denali coven leader interrupted and Isabella grit her teeth and focused on the reporter. Tanya was always so formal and curt with her, not that she could blame the woman, given she'd broken her sisters heart. And Tatyana Denali was a sister before any of the other roles she performed.
"- Katrina, put that down this instant, that is a priceless item from my personal collection, as you well know!" Tanya hissed her tone deadly and pleasantly accented, "children, both of them" the vampire muttered, and Isabella ignored the painful throbbing in her chest at Kate's responding giggles.
How had it been 3 years since there that incident in the cabin? She'd hardly seen Kate since…the vampire having given her sister and coven leader the responsibility of vampire liaison almost immediately after... Not that she blamed her, they met a couple times, though always with others present as buffers and they were cordial, even friendly, but their banter and comfortability was absent. Isabella missed it, and Orion was incredibly sad and disappointed at their friend, even after she agreed to complete another painful memory transfer not so long ago.
"…the man, said to be in his mid thirties and was found dead near his hometown in Surrey, police have not yet released a formal statement but sources confirm this is being treat as a murder investigation.
He is reported to have little to no blood in his body, and has sustained serious physical injuries to his person. Police are urging people to call the dedicated helpline below if they have any information concerning this ongoing investigation"
"Stars, what's this now?" She whispered as dread filled her stomach. This case was getting more and more complicated as the months and years went on. With each lead and development, they got closer to capturing and stopping the blood witches – who only grew in their numbers – even but they'd slip away at the last minute. It was so irritating. Even those they stopped or captured, they made little to no difference to the overall goal – stopping Cecile, who was both brilliant and cunning.
" Jeremy yes, I'm afraid, a vampire coven we know in the area confirmed it for us" Tanya said gravely.
"What? She killed her lover? That doesn't make sense?" She was flabbergasted at the unusual development. Tanya merely hummed, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her blurted out thoughts.
"…Police are particularly interested in a woman, fair skilled and said to be in her late twenties to early thirties, this woman was allegedly seen nearby…she is believed to be of a smaller build, with curly long red hair and very dark eyes" the news anchor went on.
And the noise of the rest of the report and Tanya's worried questions were all but ignored as Isabella dropped her cell and crawled under her large oak desk.
"It can't be. After so many years…" she whispered, trepidation punching her in her gut. But she could think of only one person who could even remotely be connected to this complex case and to the supernatural world. The same someone who could easily evade and manipulate the human authorities.
Someone who knew how to be seen just enough to recognise some of her key features. Because this person would want Isabella specifically, to hear the report, to hear the description. And to know that she is now well aware Isabella didn't in fact, die in New York after she stabbed herself in the heart and her body mysteriously disappeared over a decade ago.
Tanya's muffled voice from the discarded and forgotten device that lay at her feet was ignored. Isabella sat under her desk for what felt like hours, days even as the same sentence was furiously running through her frozen mind:
Victoria was coming for her once more.
Victoria was coming for her once more.
Victoria was coming for her once more.
Victoria was coming for her once more.
Victoria was coming…
…And Isabella was not ready to face her.
~
AN: Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed? We're basically caught up to Isabella's present, give or take a couple years. Hopefully some eagle eyed people noticed that once again, Isabella and Rosalie were very close geographically again.
This chapter is all I will share of her few years with Kate, for obvious reasons. But from feedback on the last chapters, I decided to not delve too deeply into this chapter of her life. Hopefully you see what Kate offered her, which is much of the foundation to begin to build her own life and emotions on to. People have also asked about the Cullen's – in short, they will be in this story and there will be a confrontation – or several – but that's not a focal point of this story, I merely acknowledge that Isabella cannot heal and be accepting of Rosalie until she accepts and confronts her sad past. They won't be this big feature I don't think.
I may still need to dip into Bella's past a bit so you can see her working on other relationships with other supernatural creatures and of course the shifters in La Push will also make an appearance. But it won't be 'whole chapter' things and if they are they'll be small.
For Rose, I'll be dipping in still to her past because she fascinates me and her story has many elements I want to explore as part of the wider story to link with her present day and immediate future with Bella.
Please let me know your thoughts, theories and ideas about anything you think is coming or scenes you'd like to see (besides the obvious). I genuinely read all the comments and they truly brighten my day.