I'm baaack! And oh how I've missed this story! In fact, as I sat to write the epilogue I promised, I found I had missed these characters so much, I couldn't stop writing (and I took many months writing this piece). I just wanted to see how they managed their transition from the horrors of Volterra to a more normal life. Below is part 1 of the epilogue and it is written for those who truly like Future Imperfect. I say that because it is a leisurely flow, just me enjoying being with the characters and seeing how they have bonded and changed as well as exploring their continuing concerns and hopes for the future. I hope you enjoy it too – for I have missed you as well.
Epilogue Part 1 – Bittersweet
- 'Cause you always want what you're running from
One year later ** Denali, Alaska
Dominic pressed his forehead against frigid cold glass of the SUV's window. From his position in the backseat, he watched the Compound in the passenger-side mirror shrink with each passing second. Who calls their house a "compound" anyway? As the Cullen-supersized Land Rover rounded a bend in the snow-packed, two-lane road, the large home disappeared completely from view. He allowed himself a slow exhale of relief.
Next stop for the four of them: Forks, Washington.
It was the day after Christmas, marking a little over a full year since he, Gianna, Bella, and Edward were placed on "lockdown" at the "compound", and even Edward appeared practically giddy in the days prior to their departure. They were ready for new scenery … and a change of pace.
Anticipation quickly gave way to relief, and Dominic squeezed his lover's hand. In turn, she gave him a flash of her brilliantly white teeth and wink of understanding. Gianna's glow always brought a smile to his face, even though he felt a pang of regret knowing her deep green Italian eyes were never to be seen again. But gold was good. Like liquid butterscotch…
However, just as he began to settle contentedly into the supple leather of the backseat, the tension in the vehicle cranked up to almost palpable. The source of the unexpected change in mood: Bella. Her unnaturally straight and still posture was almost immediately mirrored by Edward's.
Shaking his head, Dominic surmised that although they had all been looking forward to this road trip – talking about it and planning for weeks - now that they were actually on their way, the apprehension of what lie at the end trip was gobbling down the anticipation of leaving Denali. No way did he wish to endure a long, stressful drive – forty-five hours to be exact - but taking two recently graduated newborns on a confined plane with humans was betting on disaster according to Edward and Dr. Cullen. In fact, Dr. Cullen had plenty of advice for the small group. He had even taken time from his work with the newly-formed vampire government to fly to Alaska to brief them!
During that time, Dominic realized Bella had a very close relationship with Dr. Cullen, and she openly voiced her reservations about returning home. After all, she hadn't been home since the ordeal in Italy – an unwanted trip that had made both him and Bella orphans. She spoke about her desire to see her dad, to know he was emotionally coping with her supposed demise in a fiery car wreck, one Charlie had found a way to blame Edward for as he had rebuffed all of Edward's attempts to communicate. And despite Jacob's reassuring phone calls that Charlie was doing well, even allegedly dating Sue Clearwater, Bella doubted Jake was a good judge of the emotional state of her father. Charlie was a very private man. She wanted to see him for herself.
Dominic completely understood where she was coming from. He wished he had someone to tell him how his mother was coping...
Though his demeanor softened, Dr. Cullen emphatically reminded Bella about her need to stay hidden; for all intents and purposes, she was dead. The Doctor Daddy had even suggested she stay behind, but Bella wouldn't have it. She told him she was looking forward to seeing Jacob, thanking him for the part he and pack played in her rescue attempt. But Dominic knew her better by now. Bella was resourceful, and somehow she'd find a way to get the answers she sought.
Dominic continued to watch Bella's demeanor as Edward gently and wordlessly stroked her cheek to calm her. He knew that no matter what reservations Bella had about returning home, and whatever excuses she fed to others for enduring the trip, Dominic understood Bella's heart and she had made it clear to him she wanted to be there for his first family reunion. One aspect he had learned about Bella was that she valued family. It was a trait they shared. And Dominic was to meet his extended family – and potential pack.
The Pack. The one and only true family for shape-shifters like him. And if he wasn't accepted…
Dominic shifted his weight, trying to rearrange his long legs behind Bella's seat. In doing so, he attempting to pass off his nervous tension as physical discomfort and distract himself as well.
He failed miserably.
Though he had tried to convince himself it didn't matter if he was accepted by the pack or not - and quite frankly, being the bastard pup of a wayward tribe member certainly wouldn't make acceptance easy - the truth was he wanted to belong. Considering all he had been through, his understanding of family had been transformed. Gianna, Edward, and Bella had become his family and if he couldn't have his mother, Trisha, back, at least he could possibly add a few brothers who understood his shape-shifting challenges.
Suddenly Bella, as if reading his uneasy mind, glanced back and gave Dominic a taut smile. It wasn't but a split second later, Edward's gold eyes were staring at him in the rearview mirror. Dominic scrubbed his face with his large hands. Bella's innate ability to understand others intuitively, in addition to her learning how to contain her shield at will, usually meant she was right on target and Edward was in on her thoughts. It left Dominic feeling his every thought was printed across his forehead. Out of necessity, he had become very adept at redirection.
"How about some music?" He grinned broadly.
Bella gave him a crooked smile and shook her head. She was on to him, no doubt, but had decided to indulge him nonetheless. "Maybe a road song?"
"Not Willy Nelson!" Edward interjected a bit too hastily. "If I ever have to hear 'On the Road Again', it will be too soon."
Dominic laughed at Edward's attempt to lighten the mood and decided to have a bit of fun. "Okay, Ed." (He loved to watch the old man roll his eyes at that name.) "Hmm." Dominic stroked his chin in over-exaggerated deliberation. "'County Roads' is out of the question," he said as the seemingly endless snow-covered scenery rolled by in a mono-color blur. White, white, and more white. Alaska in winter was blindingly colorless, especially at the high rate of speed they were traveling. Good thing he trusted vampire reflexes at this point.
Finally distracted, he began to wonder just how much time Edward could shave off the long trip…
"Well, what song do you suggest?" Bella asked Edward.
What about 'King of the Road'?" Dominic snapped back to reality, revealing the classic country roots instilled in him by his granddad.
While Edward nodded, Bella and Gianna crinkled their noses and looked at him quizzically.
"How about I sing instead," Gianna said with feigned frustration. "Play 'Come Away with Me'."
Dominic reached behind him to pull the guitar from the back of the SUV. He and Gianna exchanged knowing smiles as he strummed and tuned the instrument – the same one she had bought for him in Italy. Though they had left Italy quite hastily, Gianna was able make a plea to the sympathetic matriarch of the Cullen family, explaining the guitar had been a special gift and not something that would raise suspicion if missing from Dominic's apartment. Esme made sure the guitar found its way back to him before the rest of his belongings were shipped back to Trisha after the investigation of his "death" in the Swiss mountains.
As Dominic wrapped his fingers around the polished wooden neck of the instrument, he relished the almost warm feel of his dearest possession. For laughs, he played the first few chords of "On the Road Again."
Forgetting the quickness and ferocity of vampire movements, his fun earned him quick swats from both Gianna and Bella.
"Okay, okay!" he surrendered, raising his hands. "Just a little musical levity. Ease up, ladies. It's a long ride."
"Just play already!" Gianna insisted, "Or we will deny you any potty breaks!"
Dominic laughed. "You may want to reconsider the consequences of that decision," he threatened.
"Play."
"Yes, ma'am."
Dominic strummed and Gianna crooned the mellow Nora Jones tune perfectly. During the ample time Dominic and Gianna had to get to know each other while on forced sabbatical in Denali, she had confided in him that she had always dreamed of becoming a performer, a singer. Becoming a vampire gave Gianna the voice she had always dreamed of. To her, it was her special vampire power. It topped her list of "pros" and was a bright spot in the year of adjustment to their new lives – a year of counting their blessings and reconciling the damage done to their psyches by Aro and his lot.
Bella's list of pros and cons, however, had been very different from Gianna's. She had fought against Jasper's assigned counseling homework, and Dominic suspected she had done it to protect Edward. She didn't want him to see her disappointment and pain post-change. While her shield could keep Edward from knowing her more bitter thoughts, Jasper's talent was not as easily kept at bay.
Jasper could sense she was holding her back; keeping him from learning what trauma lay behind the emotions. Unfortunately that was a huge barrier to her and Edward's progress. But Jasper was tough on her, although the process was tough on Jasper as well. It was hard to convince Bella that in protecting Edward's feelings, she was actually hurting their relationship.
In the end, it was Dominic and Gianna who actually got Bella to see the light, explaining to her how keeping the truth hidden from each other had almost cost them everything, and in the end, the truth had actually brought them closer. No matter how hurtful the truth could seem, it was less damaging than the assumptions and lies that come with hiding it.
Eventually, she had taken the risk. Edward and Bella truly learned to communicate by putting everything on the table, in the open. From there, Bella found controlling her shield actually became much easier. She could share her thoughts at will. Interesting how a heart at peace can calm the mind…
Dominic's eyes roamed the vehicle as he played. Yes, the four of them had become very close. Bella and Gianna also bonded in their shared experience as newborns with the same sire, and Dominic had learned Edward was a knowledgeable and respectable guide in many things wolf. Edward, being of medical background, was fascinated by the shape-shifters of La Push, including their evolution and abilities. That curiosity resulted in him gathering as much information as possible – even if it was stolen from the Quileute's unsuspecting minds. Dominic was hopeful the knowledge would give him an edge once he met the pack.
As the song came close to the end, Dominic let the peacefulness of the melody wash over him. Yes, this trip was about him, but Gianna, Edward, and Bella were making the trip to support him. Even if the wolf pack didn't accept him, he did belong. At least for now – until their pseudo-family graduated to a normal life – that is, life outside of the compound.
"Dominico?" Gianna snickered at his far off gaze before whistling like she was calling to a dog. "Here, boy."
His moment of composed reverie shattered, Dominic sighed. "Thanks for that reference. Vampires, all bite and no bark. Such a pity…"
Gianna giggled and patted the back of his hand. "Just making sure you're not freaking out on me or something."
"Oh, he is," Edward responded dryly, his eyes again visible in the rearview mirror.
Dominic's lips pressed into a hard line. "And thanks for that too, buddy. Tell me you haven't thought about what you and Bella are going to do now that your daddy may set us free for good behavior?" Dominic's voice was full of defensive sarcasm. "Or are you going to sponge off of Cousin Kate forever?"
"Boys!" Bella imitated Esme's maternal tone perfectly, and Edward obediently moved his eyes back to the road. "Don't start." But she knew it was already too late. Let the manly pissing contest begin…
"I miss Emmett," Dominic said wistfully as he put his hands behind his head and leaned back. "He sure knew how to have a good time."
Bella rolled her eyes and Gianna's hand flew to her mouth to smother a smirk. The shit-grin on Dominic's lips expanded as he saw Edward grip the wheel tighter; the resin of the wheel creaked under the pressure.
"You know," Dominic continued, certain he had hooked Edward and just needed to reel him in, "I figured vampire skin was like Teflon, and therefore Emmett's idea would never work, but I never thought about what would happen to that fine mop you call hair!" Dominic broke out into a hearty laugh and threw in a mental visual of Edward with blue-tinted hair for full effect. "I guess the internet is the super highway to hell when it comes to finding prank ideas! Kool-Aid in the showerhead. Classic."
Emmett had chosen Berry Blue. Edward, however, had not been amused by the prank, which earned him the unfortunate yet apt nickname – Grumpy Smurf.
Gianna and Bella failed at subduing their giggles, and decided to just join Dominic in outright laughter.
Emmett and Rosalie had come to the compound six months into their stay in Denali to relieve Jasper and Alice. It was a welcome change of company. Emmett spent his time in Denali wrestling polar bears and plotting against Edward. And Dominic egged Emmett on. The two large men carried on more like mischievous children than of men in their mid- twenties. But it passed the time for all of them, and Dominic began to think adoption into the Cullen family might be a good option if his pack didn't accept him.
"But as much as I enjoyed Emmett's visit… Rose, well, she was-"
"More reserved," Gianna rushed to finish Dominic's sentence in a much kinder way than she believed Dominic would. Gianna knew Edward was probably reaching the end of his hospitable mood, and taking a stab at his sister was most likely not a good idea. She didn't exactly want to travel by foot the rest of the way to Forks.
"Er…yeah. I guess you could describe her that way." Dominic could hear Edward's teeth grinding and winced as Gianna's iron grip crushed his hand. He wisely decided to omit his comments about the haughty blond bombshell. "Sure makes me wonder how she and Emmett make it work. They seem so opposite."
At that, Bella spun around and looked pointedly at Dominic and then at Gianna. She raised an elegant eyebrow.
"Okay. Point taken," Dominic acquiesced. Bella was right. He was in no position to question Emmett and Rosalie's relationship. He was a shape-shifter who had imprinted on his natural enemy. According to Edward, it was supposed to be part of his DNA to detest vampires, so he was already breaking a pack Golden Rule. He wondered if it would make any difference to Jacob and the pack to know he imprinted on Gianna when she was still human?
Probably not.
Edward's subtle laughter disrupted Dominic's contemplation, his face scowling at the advantageous intrusion of his troubled thoughts. Damn mind reader. "Go ahead and laugh it up, Blue Boy," he retorted. "If the pack rejects me, guess who's moving in on a permanent basis."
"Taking in a stray?" Edward said, seizing his opportunity for payback. "Rosalie is pretty handy; bet she could install a doggy door."
"I'm going to strap both of you to the roof if you don't knock it off!" Bella's tone walked the thin line between seriousness and joking. This time the reflection of Edward's eyes in the mirror communicated the idea of a truce. For Bella, they nonverbally found common ground. Dominic gave Edward a quick nod of agreement.
For the next several hours Dominic played and Gianna sang. Sometimes Dominic joined Gianna in the few duets they both knew by heart. After that, Dominic played host and musician for a time-passing game of Name that Tune. No one was surprised when Edward won.
"I need a break," Dominic said, reaching behind him to exchange his guitar for a packed lunch.
As the Alaska Highway crossed into Canada, Bella flipped on the satellite radio and soon classical music was lulling Dominic into a heavy sleep.
The rest of the trip was a repeating cycle of sleep, eat (mostly out of boredom) and talk for Dominic. A hunting trip at the halfway point was a most welcome treat and he readily shape-shifted and ran as hard and as fast as he could. Stretching his limbs had never felt so good.
Back in the vehicle, he tried to suck it up as much as he could, understanding that vampires could sit in place for days or even weeks at a time. But for him, the trip made his muscles stiff, his joints ache, and his mind wander. And he hated being the only one who needed to stop for bathroom breaks – each time enduring Edward's comments about Dominic marking the trees.
When the tang of salty ocean air finally filled his nose, Dominic perked up with renewed anticipation. "Are we there yet?" he couldn't help but repeat the stereotypical childhood mantra reserved for long road trips.
"Almost home," Bella responded reflexively. However, the smile Dominic's words had prompted soon faded.
Edward reached out to take her left hand and bring it to his lips.
"I'm alright," she said, her eyes distant and focused on the road.
"I can't tell," Edward responded with concern, indicating Bella was keeping her mind closed to him. "We can't let ourselves fall into old habits. You have to either let me in or talk to me. Promise?"
Bella took a deep breath. "It will be strange being home. No matter how much it has changed or remained the same …I'm different. A stranger to my own town. Belonging yet not. It's a harsh reminder of what happened."
"I've timed our arrival so that we can slip in at night." Edward reassured her. "You'll feel better once we arrive at the house. The scents of the whole family will greet you."
At that, Bella turned her head to look at Edward. "You always know the right things to say."
From that point, Bella anticipated the final leg of their trip – the long, familiar Cullen driveway where her journey had begun a lifetime ago. She aggressively pushed away the image of her father's face that threatened to douse the light at the end of the darkening tunnel.
( ~ * ~ )
The large Cullen home eerily slid into view like a large ship cutting through the fog. "Nice place," Dominic commented as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Even in his human form, he had found his senses were amplified since he had begun shifting, and clearly this house was Cullen-sized as well.
"No," Edward replied to Dominic's thoughts, "We don't call it a compound. Just home. And remember, there were seven of us living here."
"Now eight," Bella corrected him kindly.
Dominic continued to focus on the house. "Are all vampires grossly wealthy?" The Volturi with their incalculable treasures, the Denali's with their sprawling compound, and now this! And the cars … He thought about his modest home and old pickup in Wakarusa. Something told him shape-shifters dwelled on the other side of the proverbial tracks.
Edward brought the vehicle to a stop and killed the headlights. "Alice is the key to our success," Edward answered. "And don't forget, my father has been earning a living as a doctor for about two centuries."
"Bet he has one hell of a 401k." Dominic absentmindedly scratched his head and exited the Land Rover as the back hatch chimed into action.
The men gathered the luggage; however, Bella was drawn to the front door, keys in hand. Stepping through the doorway, Bella grinned despite her sober mood. Edward had been right. She could discern each of their scents. Rosalie, light and fragrant. Alice, fresh and fruity. And of course, Esme. Her scent of cinnamon and spice was as comforting as her warm, constant presence. The Cullen men were there as well, each of their scents as unique as each of them. But there was something else … a scent faintly familiar yet out of place.
"Bella?" Edward's tentative voice from behind her reminded her that there were three others waiting to enter the house. "Are you alright?"
Shoving her reservations aside, she replied, "Yes. It's good to be … home."
She took several steps forward, gravitating toward the expansive living room. The room was darkened by the drawn lined curtains, and the furniture was alien draped in white sheets. Though she could hear Edward giving a virtual tour to Dominic and Gianna, his words didn't penetrate her mind. The room she had always felt safe and welcome was ghostly. Unalive. Altered. Just like her.
Bella swallowed thickly and wrapped her arms around her body as if to protect herself from the unpleasant analogy. It wasn't the same and she felt foolish for thinking it would be. It was a new life, but the isolation in Denali had let her avoid the truth. Until now.
As soft as a whisper, Bella felt Edward's hands slide around her waist. He gently pressed his body against hers. "You knew there would be challenges to returning home. But I'm here with you. I love you so much."
"Vampire emotions," Bella scoffed as her chin trembled almost imperceptibly. Where are Dominic and Gianna?" She spun around, surprised to see the other couple were no longer in the room.
"I sent them in the direction of Carlisle and Esme's room."
"Oh my. How will Esme ever get the smell of wolf out of her bed?"
Edward chuckled, yet wasn't entirely distracted by Bella's evasion. "I'm sure they will just buy a new one. Now, tell me what is really on your mind?"
"So much has changed, hasn't it? Come full circle."
Edward stepped back, narrowing his eyes at her posture and the way she clung to herself as if chilled. "Circles are endless." He shrugged then darted to the large wall of windows. "Let's see if this helps." The curtains parted like the Red Sea, allowing the diluted Washington sunrise to brighten the room. Again, at vampire speed, Edward stripped the furniture of their coverings, gathering them in his arms. "Better?"
Bella shook her head. "What did an ordinary, shy, displaced girl from Phoenix ever do to deserve you?"
Tossing the sheets in a pile on the floor, Edward's whole demeanor changed in a beat of a heart. He approached Bella from across the room, but not with speed, on the contrary, he approached her like a predator unseen by its prey. Focused intensity set his eyes aflame.
Her lips parted and all air left Bella's lungs as she was caught in his animal magnetism. He was a predator. A sleek, beautiful killer. And at this moment, she was an all too willing victim. Her knees weakened and she hoped he would make it too her before she lost her balance.
"What have you ever done?" he echoed her words back to her, his voice deep and sultry. As he closed the last several inches between them, he reached out and took her face in his hands, keeping her eyes locked with his. "You silently entered my heart, turned my darkness into light, and filled me with hope. You gave me new sight. With you by my side, I saw endless possibilities."
Even more affected by his words, Bella finally released herself to grasp on to Edward's waist for stability. "You have a beautiful soul." The words left her lips without thought.
"You make me believe in even that possibility."
The intensity had left his eyes, leaving smoldering embers behind. She inclined her head, unable to resist him any longer. With his hands still cradling her face, he guided her lips to his. The kiss began sweet and soft; Edward displaying his reassurance, his willingness to take it slow and support her during this stressful time of transition. Yet, the electricity that skittered over Bella's skin from the intimate contact with her lover ignited a different emotion – desire.
Slowly, Bella's hand slid under Edwards' T-shirt and up his back until her fingers came to rest over his shoulder blades, her nails digging with firm pressure into his flesh. He moaned low into her mouth.
All too soon, he pulled away, grimacing at the hurt look on Bella's face. "Our house guests are returning."
Bella's arms fell limply to her sides as the smell of wolf greeted her nose before Dominic's voice entered her ears.
"Are we interrupting something?" Dominic asked as he took in Bella and Edward's exasperated expressions.
"No, not at all," Bella rushed to put their guests at ease. "Edward was just straightening up a bit. You know…" Her voice trailed off and she bit her lip.
"Well, the place is just lovely, Edward," Gianna quickly filled the silence. "Is that the piano we've heard so much about?" Her eyes had drifted off to the only item left under a protective sheet.
Edward's long fingers twitched. There was no piano in Denali and never had so much time elapsed without him touching the keys. The last time he played had been the night before the fight that sent Bella speeding off in the Aston Martin … "Yes," was his simple response. If he was to be denied the pleasure of the feel of Bella's bare skin beneath his fingers, the piano keys would have to suffice.
"He plays divinely," Bella added. She moved to uncover the instrument. As she did, she noticed an object on the piano bench. A plain brown box.
"Edward, what is this?" Bella asked as she approached it. Had it been absently left behind during the move?
"I don't recognize it. Go ahead and open it."
The box was light, plain brown closed tightly with matching brown shipping tape, and about the size of a small toaster. Bella would swear it had been delivered by mail save for no address printed on the outside.
Carefully she pulled at the tape and opened the box. Inside, wrapped in brown shipping paper, was a book. She lifted it to read the title out loud, "The Collective Works of W. B. Yeats." The book was old, possibly a first print. Bella's curiosity was piqued. She raised her eyes to Edward's.
He shrugged. "Not mine."
Bella gently placed the book back in the box and pulled her cell phone from her jean's pocket. "I'll text Alice. Maybe she'll know who it belongs to."
"How about a bite to eat?" Dominic suggested wagging his eyebrows at Gianna.
"Never thought I'd miss the local cuisine – but I have. Follow me." Edward led the way out the back of the house, immediately breaking into a run toward the river. Bella and Gianna followed with Dominic catching up quickly after shifting.
The book lay forgotten until just after midmorning when Dominic and Gianna had retired to their guest room so Dominic could catch up on sleep.
Bella curled up on the couch, her belly full, while Edward made a fire in the fireplace. In the muted light of morning, a few snowflakes floated from the sky. She began to think longingly of hot chocolate…
Drifting over to the piano, Edward sat on the bench and lifted the cover from the keys. Bella's thoughts of hot chocolate and holidays with her family floated in his mind. "We will create our own memories, love. Christmases, birthdays, anniversaries." He began to play softly, but it wasn't a song Bella readily recognized.
As her thoughts drifted to fuzzy memories of Edward playing the lullaby he composed for her, the notes morphed until she recognized her song. Comforted by Edward's music, the one constant through all things tragic and blissful that they had gone through, she reached over to pick up the book left in the nondescript box on the coffee table.
Opening the cover, her eyes widened. Written on the inside, in fanciful script, were the words: For Isabella Marie Cullen.
Edward's music abruptly stopped and he flew to her side. "Let me see," he demanded, already hearing Bella's alarm at not being able to recognize the writing.
"Jacob?" Edward suggested. "I know he enjoyed giving you gifts."
"Oh, Edward. Let it go." Bella felt a bit of annoyance at Edward's lingering jealousy as she thumbed through the pages looking for any other clue to who might have entered the locked house to leave the book. And more importantly, why?
On her second, slower pass through the pages, Bella found a page slightly dog-eared. The title of the poem on the page: Leda and the Swan.
"Couldn't be," she breathed.
Viewing her memories with her, Edward watched as Bella recalled with vampire clarity the night she toured the Volturi gallery at Marcus's arm. The painting by Michelangelo by the same name, Marcus's words -
"Leda and the Swan," Marcus named the painting to the right by Michelangelo. "Leda had been taken intimately by the god Zeus after he took the form of a swan. As a result of that mating, she laid eggs which hatched into the human off-spring Clytemnestra and Castor, and the immortals Helen and Pollux." Marcus shook his head. "Ultimately, Zeus's desire to possess had set into motion the events that led to the Trojan War. When all was said and done, the war marked the end of the ancient mythological era and the birth of modern history. In essence, Zeus brought about his own demise."
"Marcus," Bella whispered, finally finding her voice. Her wide eyes met Edward's. "His description of the myth …. Did he know? Did he sense the fall of Aro – of the Volturi? That I would be the harbinger of that fall?" Her words tumbled in rapid-fire from her mouth.
So much of what Marcus had said to her was cryptic, and she had struggled, wondering if his mind was addled. But that was not possible for a vampire. No. Searching back through her difficult memories of Volterra, Marcus had actually been her guardian. Almost like an ally. The man she knew as tragic character –- had he possibly sought freedom through her?
"I don't know, Bella." Edward was scowling, shaking his head. "Above all, vampires seek self-preservation. You almost make it sound like Marcus allowed his demise."
Bella held up the book. "Is this proof his demise was a falsehood? Is this a message to me from my sire?"
Edward took several steps back as if retreating from her words. "A member of the Volturi still alive? Able to seek revenge!"
"No!" Bella rushed to calm Edward. She took his hands in hers. "Yes, Marcus participated in horrible crimes, but…," Bella struggled to find the words to explain what she came to understand as the true Marcus. "When Didyme was alive, he had a moral code. They chose to leave. But after her death, the pain of his loss and Chelsea's power … he was lost. Buried under a dead exterior. The easiest thing to do was the Volturi's bidding. But Chelsea never couldn't break the bond between him and Didyme. Even death can't break the bond between mates, right?"
Edward's eyes softened and Bella saw in them that he did indeed believe nothing could break the bond between Bella and him. He nodded.
"He wanted to be with her. Find his way back to love. Between learning the truth that Aro had murdered Didyme and Chelsea's defection…maybe it freed him from the life he was forced to lead. Alive or not, Marcus is not a threat anymore."
"Marcus is alive?"
In their heightened emotional state, Edward and Bella had failed to hear Gianna's approach. She stood ramrod straight at the bottom of the staircase.
"I don't know," Bella responded honestly. "But somehow - and I know this sounds strange - somehow I feel comforted by the thought that he is."
Gianna moved swiftly to embrace Bella. "Me, too, sister. Me, too."
A/N: Thank you so much for reading, and thank you to RowanMoon and RosaBella75 who helped make it the best it could be.
Epilogue Part 2 is 90% finished and should be posted in about 2 weeks (Dominic meets the pack!). Hope you come back for more. Comments are always appreciated.
