Chapter 27 – No Sound but the Wind
We can never go home
We no longer have one
"He's a werewolf! Why would –?" Bella questioned aloud, certain there had to be a reason for a species designed specifically for slaying vampires to be present – alive – in the company of the mighty Volturi. She recalled Dominic admitting to having a hand in her abduction, but the details of that conversation were lost in her transition.
Then the answer rang clear in her head: "the loophole" Aro had referred to when he explained how she came to be in Volterra. "You keep him close to me, involved to block me from Alice's sight." Her voice was surprisingly calm and cool until Bella connected the dots, "Does Edward even know I'm here?"
She scrutinized Aro's face looking for the truth in his reaction, but he was unreadable. Was she truly part of a deal to spare the Cullens for their insubordination or had she been stolen away and hidden behind the camouflage of Dominic's connection to her? Or did the Volturi's goal transcend punishment? Was her abduction meant to shake the Cullens' confidence by taking one of their own from under their noses? Though suspect, this theory was doubtful - the repercussions for Bella remaining human had already been issued and the proper course of action should have been her immediate death – no second chances.
Yet, here she was … alive as well. Sort of.
Fueled by suspicion, her head snapped in Dominic's direction. Was Dominic a willing participant, aware of his effect on Alice or was he also a victim of Volturi deception? Were there others with wolf ancestry besides the Quileutes or was he somehow related to the Tribe? Either way, Aro had not only gained knowledge of the wolves, but he must have gone through considerable effort to use one to take her. Could her kidnapping be a "practice run"? An experiment to see if the Volturi could use the blocking ability of the wolves to launch a sneak attack on the Cullens, thereby her capture serving as a punishment as well as an experiment?
Bella strained her enhanced thought processes trying to compute out the multitude of possibilities and motives of all involved parties. All the pieces were in front of her, she just couldn't make them form a cohesive picture - and the damn mind-sucking thirst wouldn't relent for moment!
Then the pieces began to click with the tipping point coming from Aro's own words spoken moments ago: "You possess the power of shielding, Isabella. It is the reason no one can enter your mind."
Bella had foolishly believed her gift was positive - to be used for protecting those she loved - however, looking at Jane and Felix in their well-earned dark cloaks, she understood. Only when she saw through true devilish eyes could she comprehend her gift could somehow be exploited for Volturi benefit. This piece fit snuggly into the jumbled puzzle.
Devastation flooded her system as she realized her worth had only ever been in her usefulness as a pawn in games controlled by others. The raping of her humanity was for sport and personal gain! Bella felt the walls closing in, smothering and trapping her in their cold, colorless embrace. Overwhelmed, Bella spun in an all-out dash for the main doors. Immediately sensing Felix and Jane hot on her heels, she turned to fight as would a vicious animal being cornered by hunters. Anger and fear melded, and Bella responded with classic newborn aggression.
Calculating Jane was the easier target, as she rarely used physical force during confrontations preferring to hide behind her gift like a glorified bully, Bella charged straight for her. The surprise tactic worked, catching Jane completely off guard. But before they collided, Bella jerked to a stop, reached out, and grabbed Jane by her cloak and shirt lapels. Using Jane's momentum in her favor, Bella whipped Jane around and threw her like a vampire discus directly into Felix's path. When the two guards crashed into each other, their stone-hard bodies ricocheted in opposite directions, neither able to absorb the force of the impact.
By this time, Bella had burst through the unguarded chamber doors. Careening down the corridors, her destination was unknown - she just had to get away. Seconds into the hallway, she was spotted by another male member of the guard. Already moving at breakneck speed, Bella was an unstoppable force. The guard instead gave chase.
Bella's keen nose sought the smell of fresh air through the labyrinth of tunnels. When she was fairly certain her senses had set her on the correct course to freedom, Aro called out evenly from behind, "How many will die, Isabella? Can you handle the consequences of leaving here?"
Edward, Alice, all the Cullens, her parents, even Dominic – their faces flashed through her brain in the wake of Aro's words. Would they die at Volturi trained hands for her defection? Her stride faltered. Within view of sunlight leaking around the cracks of a concealed passage, Aro again reminded her of her new reality, "Will you massacre the whole town, newborn?"
Strangled by the lingering threads of her humanity, Bella stopped and turned to face Aro, who now stood behind her, flanked by other members of the guard. How had he come to predict her responses so well?
"You have no control over your bloodlust. Once you start, you won't stop. Newborns are almost insatiable. How you managed to only drain one human in that cell was a fluke. You know what will happen if you leave." His tone was matter-of-fact.
"I am a monster," Bella admitted, "but you lied."
"About what? I told you it would become clear as to the purpose of the shape-shifter. However, youngling, you misinterpreted. Yes, he blocks the future-seer's sight as we both know, but I arranged this out of compassion. It is best for the Cullens not to dwell on your presence here. Remember, Isabella, our kind is easily distracted and with you gone and out of Alice's sight, they can move on. Don't you wish that for them? A chance for them to go on with their lives and take advantage of the sacrifice you have made to protect their safety? Not to mention protecting Edward from his tendency to be self-destructive."
Defeat washed over, yet speaking just above a whisper, Bella spoke the painful truth, "You are using me to punish them and will twist my gift to benefit the Volturi."
"Not to benefit the Volturi, my dear, but to benefit all vampire kind," was his simple, resonant answer. "See, Isabella, no lies. The ones who have truly wronged you, who repeatedly lied, were the Cullens. They ultimately bear the blame for your presence here. But now that a deal has been made, remember your purpose: remain with us, master your useful gift, and everyone you care about –human and vampire—go about their lives. So you, my dear, need to work on acceptance."
"Accept that I am a prisoner?"
"It may feel that way now, however, would a human parent not contain a young child for its own protection? Likewise, we must contain the newborn we have created, in fact, vampire law requires it. You have much to learn and as you master your skills, your outlook will change. I am confident you will come to embrace your awaiting position when you're ready." A smile formed across his thin lips. "Now, let's get you fed so you can focus. Your training has only just begun."
With conflicted feelings, Bella returned to her "holding cell." She was relieved to be away from the pressure of "performing", yet no matter how finely it had been furnished, it was still a prison. The broken furniture had been removed and replaced with new. To her surprise, the bed still remained. It only served as a bitter reminder that she'd never sleep again.
Bella stood statue-still, attempting to reconcile the life she thought she would have with the one now set before her. In the silence of the dungeon, Bella could easily hear the heartbeats and murmurings of the remaining nine humans - and their precious blood.
Her throat raged.
"Why do I have to stay down here?" she asked Aro as he turned to leave.
"This area is well-controlled. Off limits to most, as I'm sure you can understand why. You can drink safely here."
Bella wrapped her arms around her body protectively wondering which one of the deluded vampire-wannabes she would pick off this time.
"Don't concern yourself. In your absence, your room has been stocked." Aro gestured to a cabinet. "I'll leave you to refresh yourself." She watched as Aro departed, the other guards following him down the corridor.
And then she was alone.
Uncertain as to what to do next, Bella drifted to the bed and perched uneasily on the edge. Her arms were still wrapped securely around her.
She tried to concentrate on her review of all that had transpired since she had reawakened. There was no doubt in her mind either before or after her change that Aro was very clever. She doubted she could beat him at his own game, but the more she could understand about his ways – about the ways of the Volturi – the better. She was not as breakable as she was before, and not without abilities if she could only master her gift…
Looking across the room at the redecorated sitting area, she remembered her late night conversation with Marcus. How he shared with her his sad story about his cherished mate forever lost to him. He had hinted at his willingness to share more, and Bella planned to take him up on his offer at her first opportunity.
Cautiously, Bella checked the scents in the air in effort to discern if she was truly alone, and if Dominic had been returned to his cell. Instead, the smell of blood stabbed her in the throat from the hallway. This time though, there was more to the experience than just thirst. There wasn't just pain, but also … longing. Before she had fed, her instincts were "edgy" and her throat ached for quenching. Now, there was something in her brain that compounded the pain and jitteriness. Her brain knewwhat was needed. It obsessed over the desire to have it. It reminded her of the pleasure, the confidence, and strength that coursed through her when she drank.
Bella started to shake.
Her eyes wandered to the cabinet Aro had motioned to. Curiosity moved her to the innocuous piece of wood furniture. Opening the doors, Bella was greeted by several sealed glass containers filled with dark, crimson-colored liquid.
Bella slammed the doors shut and fled to the opposite side of the room. "Oh, crap," she mumbled staring at the vampire version of a mini-bar. Venom pooled in her mouth and she swallowed hard grappling with her will to resist. She needed a distraction for her obsessive thoughts about blood.
"Dominic?" Bella called out, desperate for a distraction. "Anyone?"
She gritted her teeth, and then they began to grind. It was the only sound besides the hissing of the torches and rhythm of several heartbeats not far from her location.
Her eyes trailed to her open cell door. They were so, so close… Lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub.
With each beat, their hearts mocked and teased her like Edgar Allen-Poe's relentless tell-tale heart, driving her closer and closer to breaking – to insanity.
Just as fast as she had escaped the cabinet, she was once again upon it. Ripping the left door off its hinges, Bella grabbed the center container of blood – it went down so quickly and easily, it wasn't even a thought for her to reach for another… and another …
Until they were all empty. At least they were containers and not people she consoled her questioning conscience.
She tried not to let it register in her mind, but she had begun to discern the various scents of blood, how she could tell that each container held blood from a different donor – some holding more appeal than others. Overall, the drink served its purpose – focus had returned. At that point, Felix and Santiago appeared in her doorway. She knew why they were there.
"No. No more," Bella's voice waivered, reliving each scream released from Dominic or Gianna's parched lips, only serving to remind her of her incompetence. She had been forced into this vampire existence because she was supposedly gifted! But all Bella knew was she had been powerless to stop Jane – just as she had been the first time she was escorted through those chamber doors as a human and watched Edward crumple to the floor in agony. Nothing had changed for her sacrifice.
However, this was her world now. She could see from the purposefulness of their stances, she had little choice. Wordlessly, Bella dropped her head and allowed them to escort her back to the main chamber. The scene was the same, and so was the exercise. Jane tortured, Gianna screamed, and Bella strained unsuccessfully to make it stop.
When Gianna inevitably passed out from exhaustion, Bella would be re-escorted to her cell where she would find a fresh, though minimal, supply of blood waiting for her. Resisting its siren call became harder and harder, until she found it was easier to shut off the part of her mind that tried to convince her it was wrong. Focus would return. And then the whole cycle would repeat.
Over and over.
Sometimes all three brothers sat in audience, sometimes just Aro. Most often Gianna was Jane's victim, but occasionally it would be Dominic. This happened when Gianna lingered in unconsciousness for too long. When Dominic was present, his foul scent worked to quell her appetite for Gianna's blood, as well as provide additional motivation for her to succeed quickly as his eyes pleaded for Bella to protect her as he sat trembling, caught between his instinct to change and his need keep alive for Gianna's sake.
Eventually the exercise took on a nightmarish quality, and Bella forced her mind to retreat from her emotions in order to protect her psyche from a total melt down.
Through the hellish training, Bella had become convinced of Dominic's ignorance of the Voturi's plan as he would never call out for Bella's protection, instead he would remain as quiet as possible, attempting to take away their victory and release her from the guilt of his pain. Dominic's strong spirit reminded her of Jacob, and in her mind, she also became convinced the two men were somehow related. However, more than emotionally connecting Dominic to her best friend, Bella feared the gruesome possibility. If Dominic were to phase, he'd die instantly, and that forced her to try to master her shield. But no matter how hard she willed it to work, nothing broke Jane's crucifying spell of mind control.
"I can't!" Bella eventually called out in desperation. Dominic fell to his knees just feet before her, sweat running down his face. The vessels in his forehead and neck had plumped up under the strain, reminding her unmercifully of her aching thirst. "I can't do it! You were wrong about my ability! Stop torturing them! I am of no use," she sobbed tearlessly.
"Then rest, Isabella," Caius remarked from his position in the back of the chamber. Though his concern was foreign, she was grateful to be dismissed, longing for the seclusion and liquid comfort awaiting her in her room. Bella left willingly with Felix and Santiago.
Once the chamber was cleared, Caius raised an eyebrow. "I didn't think you had it in you, but you did it. You broke her."
Aro steepled his fingers, but didn't respond. Caius took his seat next to his brother. "Glad I could teach everything I know so easily; it's interesting that the same ancient military training tactics continue to be so effective, isn't it? Obviously the human brain doesn't evolve at all."
Aro remained locked in deep thought.
"Do you doubt her abilities, brother?" Caius questioned.
"No. They will develop. Now that we have broken her down, it is time to build her up. She must come to see herself as powerful, something I don't think she has ever experienced. Once that is accomplished, her gift will blossom. And once she has felt the might and control of her talent, there will be no going back for her. Actually, I do believe Marcus is on his way to visit her now in order to assist with improving her ... self-image."
Caius nodded remembering how intoxicating power had been in his youth. Once he had begun climbing the military ranks, the more driven he became to achieve and conquer. To dominate. Becoming a vampire had seemed like his true destiny.
"I have to admit, though," Aro sighed, "without the benefit of Chelsea and Corin's effects, we will have to rely on more traditional methods to bind Isabella to us. It's a thin line we have to walk keeping her motivated to remain here, believing she is protecting the Cullens, yet driving a big enough wedge between her and the traitor coven that she doesn't have the desire be reunited with them. A very delicate balance, indeed." Aro paused to rearrange the pieces on the game board in his mind before moving on. "But on to other business, how go the experiments on our furry friend?" Aro asked before relaxing into his chair.
"Educational. No doubt his kind is a threat. The ability to shift appears to be genetic and can be passed on. Best to exterminate them soon before they proliferate."
"From what you have told me, their healing powers are supernatural. What would be the most effective way of eliminating them?"
"Once you determine Isabella is no longer a flight risk, I can take my experimentation with the wolf to another level, and then you will have your answer." Caius grinned. He so loved his life's work.
In her cell, Bella stared wistfully at her bed. If only she could sleep. She decided sleep was what she was going to miss most; a chance to escape and just for a few fleeting hours, let her subconscious take her to wherever and on whatever adventure it conjured up.
Feeling lonely and isolated, she lingered on memories of her parents. The thought of forgetting them frightened her and painstakingly, she plucked every memory she could recall and made sure they were safely locked away her newly created mental failsafe mental archive. However, it didn't take too long for her to begin worrying. What had the Cullens told them about her disappearance? Seemed like as soon as she got involved with the Cullen family, all she did was cause her own family pain.
Regrets. Never to be forgotten.
And yet, Edward was allowed to "move on" without her? Would that mean finding someone to replace her while she existed here with the purpose of protecting him when he was the reason she was living this nightmare in the first place?
Bella's fists balled at her sides as something new consumed her. It burned deep in the pit of her stomach, demanding attention ... until the distinct scent of Dominic distracted her.
Why had it taken so long for them to return him to his cell? Intently, she listened as the sound of metal heralded his return to the cell next door. She heard a thud followed by silence. Cautiously, Bella went to his cell door and peered in. Dominic was lying on a pile of straw in the far corner. His somewhat even rhythm of breathing led Bella to believe he had fallen into an exhausted sleep. She wanted to rouse him and ask where he had been, what they had done to him ... and tell him that she was very sorry. The sound of footfalls lightly echoing in the hallway behind her altered her plan, and she scurried for the familiarity of her bed. Within milliseconds, Marcus appeared in her doorway.
"May I?" he asked.
Bella nodded.
After disappearing briefly back into the hall, he entered carrying a full-length mirror. "I don't believe you have had the opportunity to admire my handiwork." He set the mirror down and held a hand out toward Bella. When she hesitated, he went to her, again reaching his hand out.
"Come, see. I believe you will be pleasantly surprised."
She took his hand, touching another vampire's skin for the first time since she involuntarily joined the immortal race.
"You're not cold," Bella murmured astonished by her discovery.
"No. We are the same temperature."
Though she knew she'd feel a pang for showing weakness, her emotions seemed to have a will of their own, and she blurted out the main concern plaguing her mind, "If I can't do what is expected of me - this shield … will I end up like Logan? Will Gianna and Dominic die?"
"Logan made a poor choice ... but do not fret, you will find your power, little one. You are still becoming familiar with your new life." He motioned with his other hand toward the mirror. "This may help. Come see how lovely you are. You may find inspiration in the reflection."
Bella gazed at the mirror as if it was a snake about to strike. She feared being crippled by her certain displeasure. While Esme, Rosalie, and Alice were very stunning, as well as the Denali sisters, she assumed they most likely had been so in their human forms. But for her, could venom change her straight, dreary hair, narrow jaw, and pointy chin? Not to mention her lips had always been out of proportion – almost as if her bottom lip should have been the top and vice versa. The gap between her front teeth annoyed her, too. And that was just the beginning of the list of her imperfections …. Bella knew venom repaired damage, but how much could it change any of these characteristics?
Her new appearance would last for eternity – what if it turned out to be another disappointment? She never quite fit in as a human, would she stand out forever as the most unremarkable vampire?
Marcus gave her hand a tug, and slowly Bella inched forward.
With her eyes downcast, Bella first observed her feet. They were bare, and the hem of her gown just grazed the tops. Immediately, she took notice of her skin. It was pale, but unlike her plain human paleness, her skin seemed luminescent, even against the sheen of her silk dress. Encouraged, she let her eyes move upward. Her form was flawless, each soft curve accented by the fitted garment she wore. When at last she dared raise her eyes to view her face, she was shocked. Her eyes were not so large and widely spaced anymore, her brows arched perfectly, and her face had become rounder, softer in its shape. Perfectly framing her face was waist-length, lustrous auburn hair. She was captured by the image she also couldn't believe was her own – until she stared into the flaming red eyes. Frightened by their intensity, she looked away.
"Eyes of a monster. A killer," she whispered. Even with her newly fashioned beauty, her appearance would certainly frighten her parents. And Edward, how he had hated himself for what he was – what she had now become because she wasn't strong enough to resist the call of blood. Had Edward refused to change her because he knew all along that she wouldn't be strong enough to handle the desire for human blood? After what she had done to that woman ... he would be so ashamed of her now. "Aro was right – I don't have a home anymore."
"You have one here," Marcus said as his reflection appeared behind her. "Personally, I am glad for your presence."
"Why?" Bella cringed when she heard the hint of need in her voice.
"You are quite unconventional. When you first came here, you were a human who was willing to sacrifice for a vampire. Now, as a vampire, you almost seem willing to sacrifice for humans. In fact, you feel responsible for Dominic, and to a lesser degree, Gianna, too," Marcus stated. It wasn't phrased as a question, reminding Bella of Marcus's ability to detect relationships. "Even after Gianna and Dominic's part in your removal, you want to protect them. It doesn't seem like you are as much of a 'monster' as you may think. My child, though it ceases to beat, there is no mistaking the strength of your heart." Then almost as an afterthought, he added, "Too bad it will be a disservice to you here."
Bella couldn't make sense of the warmth or honesty coming from her sire. Unlike his cold, calculating brethren, Marcus used words of such deep emotion, yet appeared to be entombed in the body of a zombie. She couldn't make sense of this vampire who fell in this gray area. Was it something about their sire-newborn connection? Could she use it to her advantage to learn how to manage the hierarchy of the inner Volturi circle? Now was as good as time as any to test the boundaries of this alien bond with Marcus, and she wanted to know what he meant when he had said she amused him. Was she just the Volturi's shiny new toy?
"So, is that why I amuse you? Even though I have been changed, I choose not to behave like a typical vampire?"
Marcus gave a slight shrug. "Had you been 'typical', you wouldn't care about their fates, though that would have complicated your training ..." Bella grimaced at the fact that Gianna and Dominic were being tortured because Aro knew she wanted to protect them – of course Aro must have gotten that information from Marcus in the first place.
Drifting off in thought for a moment, Marcus considered how different Bella's training would have been had she not retained her human compassion. "I believe your gift will be equally non-conventional."
"Or non-existent," Bella lamented.
"Where is your focus when you are trying to project your shield?"
"On stopping Jane, of course."
Marcus shook his head. "Try focusing inward instead of outward. Your gift comes from within. What gives you inner strength?"
Immediately, and without thought, Edward wormed his way to the forefront of her mind, but she pushed him away. Those feelings were now mixed, becoming more a source of confusion and anger than strength. Instead, she pictured the gaze exchanged between Dominic and Gianna as they both lie spent on the stone floor. The way they reached out to each other...
"They love each other." Bella's razor-sharp teeth bit into her bottom lip, surprised the human habit was still with her, and sought the answer she never got during the time she had alone with Marcus, "Was the bond between Edward and me similar to what Dominic and Gianna have?"
Marcus seemed to choose his words carefully before speaking. "Yes, but different, too."
"Different?"
"Their bond is powerful and rare, as was the bond shared by you and Edward – the way Didyme and I were - but I sense the bond is not equally reciprocated between Dominic and Gianna. His connection to her is stronger. This is something unique to me. Specific to their species is my guess. For him, it feels as though being separated from her would be akin to death."
Bella's mind spun in recognition. "He imprinted on her?"
In response to Marcus's puzzled looking, Bella clarified, "Is it like nothing matters more than her and he'd be or do anything for her?"
"Yes." Again, Marcus seemed to drift away to somewhere in his mind. Bella imagined it would take a while to sort through several millennia of memories if someone so ancient was looking for something specific—like a needle in the proverbial haystack. But it was more than that. It was more like he found an escape of sorts in his mind, as though he wished he could be anywhere else but here. Then it suddenly struck her: maybe he did. And maybe her shield wasn't the only gift she brought with her to this existence. Could her heightened perceptiveness have accompanied her too?
She attempted to put her hypothesis to the test. "I remember our conversation that night you first came to me. You spoke about leaving Volterra with Didyme. Why did you choose to stay in Volterra after her death? Wouldn't the memories here be too painful?" Bella's instincts told her she should fear addressing her sire and a Volturi member in such a frank way, however, her experience told her Marcus was not a man of blind aggression. After all, hadn't she learned that the night he came to her looking for a feeling he desired? There was something vulnerable buried under his powerful monarch exterior.
"I have not sired another vampire in a long time, child."
Bella tried to hide her quizzical expression. His thought processes were definitely not linear and he seemed uncertain. If it wasn't for Aro's sharp wit and Caius's shrewdness, Bella would have questioned whether an ancient vampire mind could become addled. "Do you wish to be here, Master?"
Her surprising show of respect caught Marcus off-guard. "You may address me in private as Marcus. And … no. My vision of the future was destroyed when Didyme was lost. But my desires are inconsequential. Aro and Caius thought it best I remain with the Volturi to serve the greater good, so I do, however, it is Chelsea's powers that keep me focused on that noble endeavor."
"What exactly does Chelsea do to you?"
"Her gift is to strengthen… or weaken… emotional ties between individuals. She bends and contorts relationships. We can be quite a team with my ability to sense relationships and her ability to alter loyalties. We have been the deciding factor in many a battle. In my case, she assures I am bound to my brothers and their quest – it's just not strong enough to create enthusiasm toward my duties."
Bella wondered if her blood eyes conveyed the sympathy she felt in her heart for the man who, like her, had lost the true motivating force in his life. His behavior now made complete sense to Bella: Chelsea squelched his passion by creating a tether to a life he no longer wanted, leaving a zombie-like shell in the wake of her effect.
"But, I digress" Marcus again shifted gears. "Back to our discussion about Dominic's connection to my Gianna. Is this uneven bond typical in relationships for his kind? You see, I have never encountered a shape-shifter before."
"Shape-shifter?" Bella inquired, almost relieved for the change in subject. "Not a werewolf?"
"No. Their shifting has no connection to the cycle of the moon. It also appears they are born with the ability to change versus the change being initiated by an outside event such as a bite. But there is still the mystery as to why the form they shift into is that of a wolf. Do you have any more insight to their nature, little one?"
Bella didn't miss Marcus's use of the plural word "they," not singular in reference to Dominic only. There was no doubt the Volturi knew about the existence of the Quileutes, probably stolen from Edward or Alice's mind during their collective "visit" to Volterra. But thankfully, they didn't know everything about the wolves. For the first time, Bella recognized the importance and power of her gift. She could keep hidden vital information that could put her, Dominic or anyone she cared for, at risk. No matter how incredible other vampire gifts were, her mind was an impenetrable vault. Chelsea would not make a zombie out of her. Jane would never bring her to her knees. And maybe, one day, she could even free Marcus...
Bella could feel her mouth twitching upward at the edges as she shook her head. "No. I don't have the answers to any of your questions."
Marcus gave a slight, knowing nod. "Then now you must drink to improve your strength. A strong gift depends on an appropriate vampire diet. More training awaits."
Marcus led and Bella followed him to the main chamber of the turret, wondering why they had left the cabinet behind without her getting a chance to drink...
A/N: Your thoughts? I'd love to hear them.
Next chapter - very key.
Thanks so much to my dearest friends: RowanMoon, Ashling92, and RosaBella75 as well as those wonderful readers who stick with this story and share their thoughts - what a gift you are!
