A/N: It's not mine. I'm just borrowing the players.

Thank you for your reviews. They go a long way to encouraging me to keep writing.

I'm sorry this update has taken so long. I have been dealing with both my mother's illness and some family issues. I really haven't had the time I need to dedicate to this and my other story. Hopefully, things will settle down, and I can get back into my writing.

I still don't have a beta, but I am working on finding one. If anyone is interested, let me know.

This chapter was pre-read and co-written by Watermelonsmellinfellon. Her help has been monumental in getting this update out.

Chapter 18

EPOV

I hated the fact that we had to wait until school was over, in order to find out what was going on with Bella's dreams. My impatience was starting to get the better of me. Try as I might, I was unable to make myself relax. Bella is my mate. That fact alone, makes me very protective towards her. However, knowing that there might be something wrong, is causing my natural vampire tendencies to go haywire. In short, I was going out of my mind.

Bella, for her part, was doing her best to try to act as normal as possible. I suspect that she was doing it for my sake. I know for a fact that she knew the importance of the meeting with Carlisle. Alice was only able to assure us that Carlisle would be able to help us, but she was unable to give us any details. Alice could only predict that there would be a meeting but not the outcome. In short, not knowing what was going to come about had me on edge.

When the final bell rang, it took all of my self-control to not grab Bella up into my arms and run her out to my car. As fast as humanly possible, we made it to the Volvo. Against Bella's wishes, I sped down the road at break neck speed. We arrived at my home in record time. So caught up in my haste, I forgot Alice. Luckily, she saw it coming and raced ahead of us. She stood in the doorway, tapping her Jimmy Choo's at a staccato beat, with a murderous glare. " Forget something?" she asked me.

I gave her a mischievous smile. "Nope, everything seems to be here," I teased.

Alice glared at me. "You owe me," she quipped.

We walked into the dining room to find everyone already there and seated . Carlisle greeted us with his usual composed voice. " Alice informed me that we needed to have a family meeting. She mentioned something about Bella's dreams. Can you clarify for us exactly what this pertains to?" Carlisle asked.

"I had one of my dreams last night. This one was different than any other dream I have ever had, and it has me worried," Bella replied. Before she could even get another word out, Rosalie jumped in and started to yell at her.

"Oh, well boo hoo . The princess is scared. What? Life isn't perfect for you anymore? You think you're worried? What about the worry you cause this family by just being here? Have you ever considered that?" Rosalie snarled.

Oh, hell no! My wife did not just go down that road again. "Rosalie Lillian Hale, I have had enough of your spoiled pompous attitude. All you do is deliberately antagonize Bella, but you're only making yourself look foolish. You rant on and on about unimportant details and don't take enough time to look in the mirror more often than you do and see the truth. You're exactly what you describe Bella to be, and in my opinion, she deserves to be part of this family more than you do," Emmett raged.

Embarrassed by what Emmett pointed out so publicly, Rosalie bowed her head in shame.

Carlisle clears his throat in an attempt to dissipate the uncomfortable silence. "Bella, would you please continue with what you were telling us."

Bella took a deep breath and began to describe her dream. " I am in Edward's meadow when this woman appears. I did not recognize her. She was dressed in period clothing. For some odd reason, she seemed to glow from within. She told me that she had been waiting for me for a long time. She claimed to know me and said that I now knew how to come to her in my dream state. She also said that now that I have found my other half, my destiny is now set in motion, and I would see her again. That is when I woke up."

I watched Carlisle's eyes grow wider while Bella spoke. His thoughts were jumbled and difficult to make out.

"Bella, can you describe this woman for me?" Carlisle asked.

"Yes, she was tall. She had very long, sun-kissed blond hair. Her eyes were the deepest shade of cerulean blue. She had a very regal air about her," Bella replied.

Not only did Carlisle's eye light up, but Jasper's did as well. Both of them seem to recognize something that Bella described. They each darted out of the room, both returning seconds later, holding a book. They gave each other a questioning look.

Carlisle began flipping through pages until he came across what he was looking for. "What you described sounds like a prophecy I read once." He turned to a page and laid the book on the table. " Every millenia, a young girl is chosen from the family line of the eldest immortal sorceress in history. She appears in a dream to guide the girl through her destiny. Part of the guide's responsibility is to help with the transformation from mortal to immortal and to teach the girl the knowledge and responsibility of her inexhaustible powers." He points to the page and on it is a picture of an ethereal woman.

"That's her!," Bella exclaimed.

"This sketch is a rendering of Isis. She is the oldest recorded supernatural being that we know of. She is older than the Volturi, and she has unlimited power," Carlisle explained.

Everyone sat in silence, letting the information that Carlisle shared with us sink in. If he was correct, then the implications would be far reaching.

Jasper stood with book in hand. "It seems that we have the same person in mind. This book is 'Their Craft of War'. In it it speaks of the prophecy, but more importantly, it goes into great depth about the immortal sorceress's power and how she is a great warrior of legend."

Carlisle takes a look at it and shakes his head. "This is the other half to my book. A friend of mine a few centuries ago wrote a set of books called The Accompaniments to Supernatural Lore. Book one is The Idols of Lore and book two is Their Craft of War. My friend personally met Isis, and she helped him write the books."

"Wait a minute. What the two of you are saying is that the woman in Bella's dream is Isis. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if that is the case, then that would mean that Bella is chosen to be an immortal sorceress?" I asked them both, trying my best not to sound skeptical.

Carlisle nodded his head. "I know it seems like a lot to take in, but everything points to the prophecy. We also have to keep in mind that Bella is precognitive. Frankly, considering what we have just learned, that no longer surprises me."

"Wow," Bella said softly. "So I really am a freak?"

"No, Bella, you most certainly are not a freak. You are unique." Esme hugged her gently.

"I have a question. In Bella's dream, Isis told her that since she has found her other half, her destiny is now in motion. I assume that she was referring to Edward. What does Edward have to do with all of this? " Emmett asked.

"That's a good question, Emmett. I can only surmise that since Edward and Bella are soul mates, and he is her other half, she could not make this journey until she was whole. Edward was the catalyst needed to begin this stage in her existence," Carlisle explained.

"Excuse me, Carlisle. You mentioned a transformation from a mortal into an immortal. Is that anything like what we went through, or is it completely different?" Alice asked.

Carlisle looked at Bella and then at me. Son, the information regarding the transformation is quite explicit. Do you think Bella can handle it? I nodded to him to continue. "The book does give an in depth description of the transformation. There are some similarities. For instance, every immortal sorceress has an underdeveloped gift before their change, much like some of our kind. The transformation itself is excruciatingly painful. However, theirs is even more so. Their bodies do change. Since they are immortal and have inexhaustible power, that power can not be housed in an imperfect body. There is only one true way to destroy an immortal sorceress. No one knows how. It happened once, and Isis was not pleased. Now for the differences: Instead of feeling like they are on fire throughout the transformation, they feel as if they are being eaten away in a vat of acid. The process itself takes nearly a week to complete. During that period, Isis begins teaching and imparting her wisdom. The soon to be sorceress must learn to get through the pain to accomplish her goals."

Everyone was quiet. Even their thoughts were silent. I turned to Bella. She had paled a great deal during Carlisle's speech, and I was concerned. Before I could ask her how she was doing, she stood silently and left the room.

Edward, let me go. She's feeling a great deal of fear as well as worry. This was a lot for her to take in, Jasper asked me silently.

I was unsure of whether or not I should let him go. Jasper felt my doubt and responded to it. Edward, out of us all, I have more experience with pain. Emotions are hard to deal with alone. I believe I can help her.

JPOV

I found Bella outside, sitting on a rock near the river. Her emotions were a mess. Fear, doubt, anger, confusion, and a great deal of self doubt were the most prevalent ones.

"Bella," I called out quietly. She glanced over at me. It was then that I noticed the unshed tears in her eyes.

"Why me, Jasper? I'm not special. I'm just an average girl. Why would I be chosen?" she asked me.

"Sometimes, the choices are not up to us, and we have to make do with what we have. It's not about what you have, it's about what you do with what you have. I know you are frightened. I can feel it, but I also know that you are strong. You too have an inner light that shines outward, and I believe that it is that light that proved that you were worthy. You're not an average girl, Bella. You don't try to blend in with everyone else. You are content with who you are," I informed her.

Bella gave me a shy smile. "Thank you, Jasper. I was feeling so over-whelmed."

"It's understandable, Bella. Just don't forget that you, not only, have a mate who will always stand by your side, but all of us will be here for you. We love you, and you are our family now." I kissed the top of her head. I escorted Bella back into the house and into Edward's waiting arms.

We learned a great deal tonight, and we now know what we will be dealing with in regards to Bella. I was just a bit curious as to what could be lurking around the corner. Great power tends to draw negative attention.

A/N: I'm sorry this is shorter than my usual chapters. We worked on this chapter for a long time and did a great deal of research. It was important to lay a stable foundation for further chapters. We hope you liked it.

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