Chapter 13
Past Life and Getting Ready
Bella's Point of View
Jo and I got dressed quickly and headed downstairs to my car. Before we got in Rick stopped us, "Hey Bells I found out some more about that gala tonight; apparently it's an exhibit to show off some very old items from England, Greece, Ireland and some other places." he gave us a booklet and I opened it. There were pictures of the exhibits, "Jo these things have symbols of spells all over them. I'm thinking he is supposed to get something for the witch." She nodded grimly, "Should we call the others?" "Yea but text Sam and have him meet us at the library." She nodded and got in the car, "Thanks Rick for everything I really appreciate it." he just smiled and hugged me. I handed him the keys to my race car and hopped in my baby. "Sam is going to meet us there in ten minutes. He was already in the city." I nodded and started the car; this way Jo and Sam could find out what Lillith wanted and I could find out about my dream.
Sam's Point of View
I had decided to go into Seattle than stay at the Cullen's any longer; everything was tense especially after last night. Dean and Edward were trying to kill each other and I had had enough of trying to reason with them. My phone vibrated and I saw it was from Jo, Hey Sam meet B and me at the university campus library pronto we got some stuff to look up. I told her I would see them in ten minutes and headed over there. They arrived five minutes after I did, "Hey girls how was your night?" Jo got out and smirked at me, but Bella was a different story. I saw her ease out of the car and she was favoring her left side, "Ok before we go any further what happened last night?" Bella smiled and told me about Candice and getting shot. "You should have called me Bella." She smiled, "Yea I know, but come on Sam we both know you couldn't have gotten away from them without being followed." She had me there, "So what is the deal?" Jo spoke up, "Well Gordon is suppose to go to some exhibit tonight and we think he is suppose to get something for Lillith." I was kind of confused, but than Bella filled me in on what happed our first night here in Seattle, "You shouldn't have done that." She laughed, "Oh yeah Sam like you have never done something like that." Jo kept looking at Bella funny and I knew Bella hadn't given me the whole story, but I decided not to push my luck. "Well girls what is the plan?" "Sam you and Jo are going to take this booklet and research everything that's in it; look for something that Lillith might want. I'm gonna check up on something I heard Lillith talk about. Let's meet in the courtyard at 1; that will give us enough time to shop for everyone." Bella gave out orders and I asked, "Shop for everyone? What do you mean?" Jo laughed, "Well you don't think Bella and I are going to this thing alone now do you? Besides getting, Dean and Bobby in tuxes and my mom in a fancy dress is going to be fun." I shook my head; Dean was going to throw a fit, but hey I had to admit I wanted to him in what he called a monkey suit. "Wait what about the others?" I asked meaning the vamps and the pack. Bella sighed, "I got tickets for them too. Well Jo guess we are going to have to do a lot of shopping." and they both laughed.
Bella's Point of View
After I split from Jo and Sam I asked a librarian where I could find paintings and any information on the Tudors. She told me the fourth floor and I went up there. I knew the date which narrowed my search so I asked another librarian, "Excuse me miss where could I find books and paintings on the Tudor dynasty from April 21, 1509?" she looked at me, "You mean when Henry the VIII was crowned?" well there is one of my answers. I smiled at her, "Yes exactly." She motioned for me to follow her and she led me to the very back of the library and pointed to the section. I grabbed some books and started flipping through them; I came up with nothing. I was getting frustrated when I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I turned and saw Jason, "Jason what are you doing here?" he laughed, "Well Bella I actually go to school here. I decided to take a break from hunting for a while and try out college." I laughed, "Maybe you can help me; I need to find a painting from the day Henry the VIII was crowned king of England." He smiled, "Oh you want to go talk to Professor Hall; he has spent his entire life on Henry the VIII and I think he has the painting you're looking for." Jason offered to walk me to Prof. Hall's office since it was on his way to his next class. We stopped outside the door, "Well here you go B. Hey are you ok?" I laughed, "You know me Jason I'm fine." and he laughed right back at me, "You do know what fine stands for." We grinned at each other, "Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional." we said in unison. I hugged Jason goodbye and watched him go. I turned back towards the door and knocked.
Jo's Point of View
Sam and I hopped on the computer and started looking through everything in the booklet. "So what is really going on Jo? I know she is hiding something." I sighed I wanted to tell Sam what Bella had told me. I wanted to tell him about what happened to Bella this morning. I mean she was dead for fifteen minutes; I had tried CPR but it didn't work and than all of a sudden she just woke up. "Sam come on you know I am not going to say anything even if I knew something. So why ask?" he chuckled, "You're right. You two always stick together." We kept researching until Sam said, "Well looks like we have a winner. It's an athame; from the Celtic period. According to the legend the athame has the power to kill anything; angels, demons, and any mythical creature." Crap Bella is supposedly the Phoenix wonder it Lillith wants it to kill her; I thought to myself and Sam continued, "Oh listen to this, 'The true owner of the athame was believed to be the Phoenix. The Phoenix was entrusted with the athame by God to protect it from Lucifer. According to legend if Lucifer were to possess the athame than the earth would be destroyed, and there would be no chance of salvation, but with it entrusted to the Phoenix mankind would stand a chance. In the Phoenix's possession it would transform into a sword that could defend against anything, but the angels believed that they should keep the athame. You see when God created the Phoenix he gave her the gift of free will. He did this to show Heaven and Hell that mankind was worthy of salvation. The angels did not trust the Phoenix because of a prophesy that said she would tip the balance of power to Hell, but God still believed in her and gave it to her.' Looks like somewhere along the way she lost it." Sam laughed. If only he knew what B and I knew. "Let's go find Bella we need to get a plan and get the shopping done." I said to him hastily and she just shrugged. When he turned his back I grabbed the books and put them in my messenger bag. I had to get these to B and fast.
Bella's Point of View
The door opened and an elderly man stood in front of me, "May I help you miss?" the man asked me. I smiled, "Yes I'm looking for Professor Hall." "That would be me; how may I help you?" I needed to think quickly because I had forgotten to come up with a cover story, "Well sir I was wondering if you had time to help me. I am doing a paper on the Tudor history; mainly Henry the VIII and his life before his coronation. I was told you were the expert and I had hoped you could help me." he smiled at me and stepped aside to let me in. "Oh I would love to Miss…?" I said the first name that came to mind, "Isabella Cullen." Oh shit why had I said Cullen? I can't think about that now. He continued, "Miss Cullen nice to meet you. I must say it is very refreshing to have someone who is interested in Henry before his coronation, or his wives. Now how may I help you?" I smiled, "Well Prof. Hall I was wondering if you had a picture of portraits with him and a young woman in them. I'm pretty sure the girl was in his coronation portrait, but after that I know she was never seen again." His smile broadened, "Oh yes I know the girl you speak of; though I do not know her full name. Henry called her Isa; he wrote about her from the time he was ten until after his coronation."
He spoke to me as he looked through his many books, "Apparently he was madly in love with her and she with him. She had lost her family in the plague at the age of ten and that is when she met Henry. They spent every moment together even after he was betrothed to Catherine of Aragon after his brother had died. In his diaries he credits Isa with everything; what kind of man he was becoming, his beliefs, and his own individual self. Aha here is one portrait of them." He handed me the book and I saw her or I should say me. "You look somewhat like her." he commented and went back to talking as I starred at the book, "The records state that they attended every banquet and occasion together. Every record describes her as beautiful, kind, and wise. As you can see in that painting though they don't look directly at each other, their body language tells it all." He was right; I stood next to Henry and yet it was like two magnets drawn together. "The day of his coronation a page recalled that she came to his room and they had an intimate moment. He got down on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage. The page believed that if she had said yes than England and Henry would have been very different. In the end she declined but he page said it broke her heart to do it and he believed that she had a reason. Ah here is a picture of his portrait coronation; you can see there is sadness in both their eyes." I took the book and saw what he was talking about; I stood there by Henry and I was so sad. I kept looking at the portrait, "Do you know what happened to her?" I asked him. "Yes according to a maid Henry began to leave, but stopped at the door and gave her one more look. After he passed through those doors she collapsed and died. The maids and pages, people who worked for the king, believed she died of a broken heart. It wasn't until after his coronation party that Henry found out Isa was dead. That night in his diary her wrote, 'Today my heart died and I shall never love again like I loved Isa. She is and always will be my one true love.' Isa and Henry's love is like that of Romeo and Juliet I have always said. You can take that book if you like." I smiled at him, "I would greatly appreciate that and thank you for all you're help." and I left. The entire time he talked I kept having flashbacks of Henry and myself. I felt every touch and kiss, but most of all I felt the pain. Which made me start to wonder; how many other stories were like the one I just heard and experienced?
Sam's Point of View
We met Bella in the courtyard and she looked really shaken up, "Hey are you ok?" I asked and she quickly flipped into a different mood, "Oh yea Sam I'm fine. Let's go shopping." After five hours of picking out suits, dresses, shoes and accessories for everyone we finally went back to the Cullen's manor. I had to say I was glad Bells had good connections in Seattle because otherwise we wouldn't have been able to buy even one dress. When we pulled up everyone rushed out, but before they could say anything Bella started barking orders, "No time to talk people, we have a lot to do and little time so here's the rundown; Gordon is going to be at a gala tonight that features a ton of Celtic, Medieval, and Ancient Greek exhibits. We are pretty sure he is looking for an athame; Sam knows which one and will show you it. We took the liberty of going shopping for you guys for tonight, so each package has a name on it. You take that package and go get ready. We are going to arrive in different groups so at 7:30 Uncle Bobby, Ellen, Carlisle, Esme, Billy, there will be a limo here to take you into the city. Don't worry all the limo drivers are people I trust. Now if you will excuse me I need to show Jo to our room and we need to get ready." Jo and her grabbed Jo's bags and their packages. They pushed past everyone and went up stairs. Everyone turned to look at me and I just shrugged, "Hey I'm not going to try and fight with them; just do as they say." Everyone got their packages out of the cars and went to the living room. I couldn't wait to see the looks on their faces.
Jo's Point of View
I told Bella everything about the athame on our way to the Cullen's and she just said, "Well I better not hold it than." "B this isn't some joke; this is serious. What about your angel guy?" She shook her head, "Cas I trust it's that red head Angel, Anna, I don't. There is something about her that I don't trust." I scoffed, "B you just met her one time for about ten minutes; how do you know you can't trust her?" "Look Jo I just know. We have been taught to trust our instinct and mine are telling me there are certain things she doesn't need to know." I nodded. She told me about where she went and told me to get a book out of her bag. I reached in the back and grabbed it and turned to the page she told me to and I saw it. "Damn B this girl looks like you." She nodded, "I know because it is me or was me. The entire time that professor talked I kept having like flashbacks which is making me wonder who else I have been and what else I have been involved in." The worst part is when she said that she felt everything; the pain, the joy, love, and than when she died. "B…" but she cut me off, "Jo look it's going to be ok." I knew I wasn't going to when this argument. I decided to lighten the mood, "So you could have been Queen of England. I fear what would of happened if you had said yes." She laughed, "Yea my temper would have gotten the best of me and people would have been beheaded on a daily basis. Not to mention I can't stand a guy being in charge and telling me what to do." We both laughed. Finally we reached the Cullen manor and I gotta say I quit breathing. B had said it was huge, but I didn't think it was this big. We got out of the car and I saw people running out of the house, "Chill Jo that's them." I saw Dean was about to open is mouth but Bella got her words out first, "No time to talk people, we have a lot to do and little time so here's the rundown; Gordon is going to be at a gala tonight that features a ton of Celtic, Medieval, and Ancient Greek exhibits. We are pretty sure he is looking for an athame; Sam knows which one and will show you it. We took the liberty of going shopping for you guys for tonight, so each package has a name on it. You take that package and go get ready. We are going to arrive in different groups so at 7:30 Uncle Bobby, Ellen, Carlisle, Esme, Billy, there will be a limo here to take you into the city. Don't worry all the limo drivers are people I trust. Now if you will excuse me I need to show Jo to our room and we need to get ready." She grabbed one of my duffle bags and her package and I did the same. We pushed pass everyone and went inside. Turned out we were on the fourth floor and B's room was huge. I put my bags down and she showed me around. We went out on the balcony, "So B when am I ever going to get to meet this angel." She looked behind me, "How about now." I turned around and saw a man, "Cas this is Jo; Jo this is Cas." B introduced us. "Hello Jo it is nice to finally meet you. Bella I want you to be careful tonight." She scoffed, "I always am Cas. Hey where's Anna at? Did I scare her off?" he shook his head, "No she decided not to help." B smirked, "Good because I didn't get her anything. Oh by the way Cas catch." She tossed him a package, "This way you won't have to worry about me tonight. You're gonna come along for the ride." Than she turned back to me, "Let's go watch everyone open their packages I wanna see Dean's face." With that we walked downstairs
Bella's Point of View
We went downstairs and stood outside of the living room. They were starting to open their packages; there was only one face I really wanted to see, "OH HELL NO! THERE IS NO WAY I AM WEARING THIS MONKEY SUIT!" Jo and I busted out laughing at Dean and he turned to us, "Oh you two think this is really funny don't ya? Well I'm not gonna wear it." Jo kept laughing but I stopped and in half a second I was in front of him, "Listen to me you little prick, you're gonna wear it and you're not gonna complain. Do you understand me? I have had to dress in ridiculous stuff for you, remember the siren and the strip club. Now it's your turn, so march your ass to your room and get ready. Or I will make you." Dean got that smart ass smirk on his face, "Well I actually like the idea of you making me." I smirked right back, grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back, "I never said you would like me making you. Now if you don't do it I will get those pictures that I took about a year ago and put them on the internet." Dean got quiet, "You wouldn't dare." I smiled "You wanna try me Dean? Didn't think so, now go be a good boy and do as you're told." Everyone was staring at us and I just smiled sweetly, "What?" and gave them an innocent look. I went over to Cas, "Hey can you come with me for a minute I need to talk to you?" he nodded and followed me to my room. I shut the door and turned to him, "Now Cas I know you can't heal Billy and Emily permanently, but do you think for tonight you could?" He smiled, which is something he rarely did, "Yes I can. Before I go I'm under the impression that tonight we are going to be around, how does Dean say it, oh yes rich preppy snotty bitches. I'm pretty sure they won't like the two toned hair," and with that he touched my hair and it all became the same shade of blonde. "Thanks Cas. Now go get ready." He opened the door and went out. I grabbed a towel and headed for the shower.
Edward's Point of View
After Bella went upstairs I searched through Dean's memory and saw my angel pole dancing and getting grabbed by every filthy man in that strip club. I turned to Dean, "How could you allow her to exploit herself like that?" I growled at him. Before he could respond Sam spoke, "Ok look I agree with you Edward but it happened and there is no changing it. Now we don't have much time and we need to get ready so let's just get it done." I nodded; I would let it go…. for now. Alice squeaked in delight as she saw her dress, but blocked me, "No one open their packages in front of the boys!" she said and ran upstairs. They all ran upstairs except Emily; she was worried about going out with the scar on her face. Just than Castiel came down, "Billy, Emily would you please follow me?" he asked and they did. Sam (Uley) tensed up but Emily gave him a reassuring smile. Than it was just us guys; we already knew what was in our packages since Dean had opened his, "I'm with Dean why do we have to wear these?" Emmett whined. Carlisle had left to get ready as did Jasper, Jared, Paul, Embry, Quil, and Jake. I sighed, "Emmett we don't have a choice, either we do it or Bella will force us to." He pouted for a minute and than stomped upstairs, "Emmett stop it this instance." Esme yelled. I sighed and grabbed my package and went to go change.
Bella's Point of View
I hopped out of the shower and went back to the bedroom Jo already had her make up and hair done. She was pulling on her dress; she had chosen a very light pink, jeweled, silk chiffon dress. It looked amazing on her, "Wow Jo I didn't know you could look like a respectable high class lady." She smiled, "Well what look are you going for tonight?" I gave her a wicked grin, "You will just have to wait and see." I heard the first limo pull up, "Jo will you go and make sure everyone gets where they are going?" she nodded and went downstairs. I sat down in front of the vanity and took a deep breath; I started to get ready. Tonight was going to be a long night.
Jo's Point of View
When I looked over the railing I saw all the boys in their tuxedos, "Well don't you all look like perfect gentlemen. Too bad I know the truth." I laughed and walked down to them. Their eyes got wide and I did a little twirl, "What do you think?" no one said anything, "I take that as yes. Ok so are we just waiting on the girls?" they nodded. "Ladies and mom get your butts down here; we are on a tight time schedule." The first one down was my mom; she looked amazing. She had on a simple black silk dress with a wrap around her shoulders, her hair was spiral curled and in an up do. "Wow mom you look amazing." She blushed and walked over to Bobby who would be her date for the night. Next Esme came down; I had to admit I was worried about the dress B picked for her, but once again B knew best. It was a halter champagne colored silk dress with some lace long the neck line that wrapped around her waist and came down like a waterfall in the front. I looked over to Carlisle and his eyes never left Esme. She had naturally wavy hair so all she did was part it on the side. Carlisle met her at the bottom of the steps and took her hand; it was really sweet. "Ok Bobby, mom, Carlisle, Esme and Billy…. Wait where's Billy?" "Right here." I turned around and saw him walking towards us. We all stared in shock until Jake spoke, "How did…." Billy held up his hand, "Don't get too excited it's only temporary and you can thank Cas." Cas looked at us and nodded. I continued, "Ok ya'll go on; Cas why don't you join them. The rest of us will be behind you." They said goodbye and got into the limo and left.
The next limo arrived to take the pack, they were all waiting for Emily and I couldn't wait to see their faces. I heard heels and we all looked up and she smiled. Sam (Uley) quit breathing as she descended the stairs; there was no scar. I piped up, "Like Billy this is temporary." They all nodded but kept their eyes on Emily. She wore a sleeveless, wine colored silk crepe ruffle gown. Sam took her hand and kissed it. "Alright everyone in the limo now." They got in and left. Dean spoke up, "So it will be you, me, Sam, and Bella in our own limo right and the vamps in the other." I smiled, "Actually Dean we will be riding with the vamps and B will arrive by herself." He was about to protest, but than stopped; he knew he wouldn't win. Alice was the first to come down. She wore a gorgeous periwinkle blue halter silk draped gown. Jasper's eyes lit up and he rushed to her side and kissed her cheek. Last was Rosalie her dress was a silver sleeveless silk blend sequined gown. Emmett grinned widely and met her at the bottom step. Alice spoke up, "How did Bella afford these dresses? They are one of kind collections from very high priced designers." I laughed, "Alice if you haven't guessed by now B has a lot of connections so don't worry about that. Now we have work to do." I turned to Sam, "Shall we?" he offered me his arm and we walked out to the limo.
A/N: alright so let me know what you think. quick note i won't be posting chapter 14 until i am finished with 15. i like to stay al least one chapter ahead. song's for this chapter:
Nickleback- Far Away
Evanescence- Breathe
Lifehouse- Take Me Away
The Fray- Over My Head (Cable Car)
