A/N – Now and again writers struggle with certain chapters, and for me this one decided it didn't want to play ball! I therefore extend my thanks, once more to my best chum Jezikial. Without her, I would still be scratching my head and muttering at the screen! She, herself, has loaded another chapter to her amazing story "Rush" - check it out!
Thanks also to Aussie Royal for the lending of her name! Much appreciated.
And as always, thank you for your amazing reviews, they make me grin and want to eat a banana sandwich even though its nearly midnight :p
Chapter 78 – Destiny
Alice's POV
The wind was blowing softly as the sky above and the shades of autumn turned into a pale amethyst. Mist gently descended throughout the forest as tiny pin pricks of light appeared from far above; their pull magnetic as my eyes rested on the constellations, and the afterglow of the day.
As we walked hand in hand back towards the house, I realised Bella was a gift… a gift that had been bestowed upon me, one that I would treasure for a lifetime and thereafter. Before Bella my life had almost become mundane, living my day to day existence without thought or feeling, without cause or effect.
And then I had seen her, that day in the school canteen. That day I truly caught a glimpse of what could be possible… what was possible…
As we continued to walk in silence I could feel her thumb gently caress the back of my hand.
Yes, Bella was my gift, my destiny. Before her I was negative, destructive even… and lonely. But she was with me now, and together we would embrace a new beginning. With Bella, I felt complete and secure for the very first time. Her smile brought energy, her kiss happiness, her touch optimism. Never before had I felt this way about anyone or anything.
I was still amazed at Bella's reserve whilst hunting. Her primal and instinctive desire had been tempered with so much self discipline, as if she had been a vampire for years not merely days. I expected confusion and hesitation, instead she had displayed co-ordination and sincere compassion when she had realised what she had done. I saw it reflected in her eyes.
And the emotional connection… our emotional connection as the thunder roared and the lightening forked across the sky… it was as if her life, her very core was connected with mine, that our paths were now merged. As we hunted together for the first time I finally knew…
The threads of fate, our fate, we now linked. Everything that had happened up until that very moment were catalytic events. Events that had led us to the here and now.
To the start of a new journey.
Carlisle had always maintained that I had a soul but I was always hesitant and uncertain about his claim. I remembered his words not so long ago before I'd had my first vision about Bella…
"Alice, one day you will meet someone who will lift that heavy soul of yours"
"I have no soul Carlisle… how can I? How can we? You know what we are…"
"We cannot help what we became, but the way we continue to be… that is within our control, and one day you will find the light… it will come to you"
"How long? How long must I wait? I'm so lonely at times…"
"Soon you will see clearly what is currently hidden from you. Soon it will reveal itself…"
And reveal itself it had.
I had never known in what form the light would appear. My life, and my journey through life, had always been a solitary one. I couldn't recall how I had become what I was now… I couldn't remember if my path had intersected with others… I wasn't even conscious of forming any relationships, until that day I had met Jasper.
Jasper.
My brother, confidant and best friend.
How he had struggled, as I had done… it was only natural that we would become friends, the very best of friends… seemingly understanding one another with a mere look, smile or gesture… our lives had ran parallel before and then we had met and formed a bond that was unbreakable.
And then I had a vision… Carlisle, Esme, Edward, Rosalie and Emmet…
And I knew our destiny was somehow tied into theirs. I recalled my vision, so clear and precise…the piercing white light that had covered my eyes and then a smiling face… Esme's smiling face…
"Alice, what is it? What can you see?"
"Stability, Jasper… I see… stability"
"I don't understand"
"We're stalling, Jasper, on this path. There are so many lessons we have yet to learn you and I…"
"Lessons, Alice?"
"I know where we need to go… we need respite, we need perspective… we need a family…"
And we had found that respite and the perspective we both needed with the Cullen's…
Yet something was still missing.
My light…
Bella.
I never imagine I would find her. For so long I had been alone. I had almost become dependent on it… dependent on the dark… yet deep down I knew my life was missing something. I was out of sync… imbalanced… craving the illumination Carlisle had mentioned. I needed someone, or something to calm my restless mind.
How many times had I gone to Woodland Fathom to think and examine my life?
I knew I was on the right track when I had finally met the Cullen's. I felt so fulfilled the day they embraced and welcomed us into their family, but I knew there was more to come…more I needed…
How many times had I reassessed this path? How many times had I willed a vision to appear, one that would show me the way forward… one that would show me my destiny… my soul mate…
The one who would heal a broken soul.
My broken soul.
The soul that was encrusted in frozen ice.
The soul that longed to be bathed by the sunlight.
The soul that wanted a companion.
Bella had brought light into my dark soul.
As we neared the house, we stopped in unison. I turned to face my gift, my light, my companion…
My soul mate.
She was gazing at the moon, her hair blowing slightly in the warm breeze.
I felt alive. I felt reborn. I knew now that whatever paths I had chosen were pre determined. From the moment of my birth, until the moment I had been turned… from the moment I had become a vampire, to now…
Bella was always my fate. I had passed through death and rebirth, and finally I had found her. Slowly she turned and smiled; her coral orbs now a light honey colour. I felt the warmth and the light absorb into my cold skin.
"I love you" I whispered as she smiled at me.
I love you…
Three simple words. They could never explain how deeply I felt…
"Bella you've… healed my broken soul. I owe you so much…."
Bella brought her hands to my face, cupping my cheek with her long and firm fingers.
I felt myself lean into her touch as she smiled again, placing soft lips against my own. I could still taste the remnants of animal blood as her kiss deepened. Darkness enveloped us both save the glow of her embrace as my finger tips brushed against her soft cheek. Slowly the clouds above parted as the beams of moonlight chased away the shadows from our faces. Gently her fingers copied my own as they ran down the side of my face as the mist of her sweet breath moved towards my ear.
Soft, sweet whispers stirred my emotions as she kissed my ear lobe. Sparks of passion lit somewhere deep within me as I turned my face to claim her lips with mine once more.
Together the moon illuminated us, two souls linked and united and we continued to share silver kisses. Past and present, life and death… everything was joined with a single kiss…everything was joined at this moment in time and made whole.
I was finally whole…
As the stars shimmered, so too did Bella's face as the passion pulled us closer together. I could detect her scent as her lips crashed deeper, bodies now entwined so only one silhouette was cast beneath the moons radiant glow. I was engulfed by her, by her essence, by her light as if she was a burning flame, flickering with merriment.
Tasting…
Feeling…
Needing…
Wanting…
I was under a spell only Bella could cast as the realms of ecstasy beckoned me to explore further. With lust and raw emotion I felt myself growl as my tongue now pushed forward, exploring the sweetness of Bella's lips. Consumed with desire, I heard her growl in response as her tongue now thrashed against my own.
Minutes of tranquillity passed before Bella broke the kiss, tilting her head slightly.
She looked… wild.
She looked beautiful.
"We are now one Alice" she whispered, as I felt myself sigh.
We are now one…
"And I love you, more than words could ever express" she finished, as I felt myself smile.
And then I saw her….
Tall, with ebony shoulder length hair surrounding a pale face with high cheekbones and a narrow nose…
Her coral eyes were gleaming as she kissed Jasper on the cheek with full ruby red lips…
"She's on her way" I whispered, as Bella turned to look at the house.
The vision made me remember why she was coming, made me think back to Reuben… and all of those terrifying things hidden deep within my subconscious mind…
I thought back to the moment before we left the house, to hunt together for the very first time.
"Are you ready Bella… we can wait a few more days, I don't want you to feel pressured" I had asked a little hesitantly.
The smile she had given had rendered me speechless.
"I shall be with you" she had answered softly, adding "with you I never feel pressure"
And then she had walked across the room to me, taking my hand in hers. Slowly her lips descended as she kissed the tip of my thumb.
"As each day passes Alice, my feelings for you grow stronger" she had whispered, before kissing the tip of my next finger.
"When I was human you were the first thing I thought about each morning when I opened my eyes" she had steadily continued, as she kissed the tip of my next finger.
"Each night, when I closed my eyes, it was always you I saw"
I had held a breath I didn't need as she moved past my next finger onto the tip of my small finger.
"You are in my mind, all of the time" she had continued, before moving back to my ring finger, this time kissing my knuckle.
"I want to prove to you how much I love you, and one day I will" she had finished, looking deeply into my eyes.
"You've filled a void in my heart Alice. I can't imagine existing without you. My life has so much meaning now, all because if you"
All because of me…
I'd placed a single solitary kiss on her ring finger before moving my lips to her ear.
And softly I had whispered…
"You saw into my soul, and looked behind my eyes Bella… with you I didn't have to disguise what I was. I love you, and I won't let anything happen to you… ever"
Bella had placed her fingers in my tousled hair, her smile faltering slightly as she frowned a little.
"Bella?" I had asked gently, as Bella continued to stroke my locks.
"I can't lose you Alice… not ever" she had whispered, as I now frowned.
"You won't ever lose me" I had replied, hoping the sincerity in my voice was enough to relieve her distress.
"Reuben… I don't want you to take him on alone" she had responded, as she edged a little closer.
"I may be a vampire, but if I lost you I would cry a thousand tears…"
My hands had found there way into her hair as I slowly soothed her.
"I'm not going anywhere Bella… I shall never leave you"
Bella had looked into my eyes then.
"I shall never leave you" I repeated, as Bella slowly nodded.
And I never would…
My mind snapped back into the present as Bella's soft voice broke into my thoughts.
"Have you met her before?" Bella asked lightly, as I glanced back at her.
"No" I replied softly, as Bella took my hand in hers again.
"Is she… does she…." Her voice trailed off as I found myself shrugging.
"I honestly don't know… I asked Jasper before, and he said she… experiments… but tends to stick to the same diet as we do" my voice trailed off as I tried to make sense of those very words myself.
Experiments…
"If Jasper trusts her, then so do I" Bella finished, as I squeezed her hand.
"Yes, if Jasper thinks she can help you understand your gifts… help us understand them… if she can empathise…." I continued as Bella smiled, pulling at my hand.
"Lets go and meet her" she replied, as I smiled.
Yes, it was time to meet her.
It was time to meet Antara.