Alice's hands were gentle as she wove the feathers into my hair, shaping an elegant bun at the nape of my neck. She had flitted around me like a hummingbird for over an hour, fussing over every detail while Angela curled her hair tightly.

"Perfect," she finally declared after smoothing down some flyaway hairs as she stepped back to admire her work. "You make a stunning Odette, Bella."

I could not help but smile at my mirror-self.

The white dress I had bought on the shopping trip to Seattle flowed down to my calves, a light shimmer of eyeshadow accentuated my features and Alice had put me into white ballet shoes to complete the costume.

"Thank you for your help, Alice." I turned away from the mirror to give her a grateful smile.

She grinned back and nodded satisfied. "Now, you only need your handsome Siegfried."

"You look stunning." Angela commented from her place in front of the wide mirror in my bedroom. "This costume is perfect for you."

"Thank you, Angela."

"Almost as if she was born a Swan, huh?" Alice giggled and bumped her shoulder against mine.

I rolled my eyes at her antics but grinned with her.

Angelas eyes flickered between us as she drew her brows together.

"Now, Angela," Alice turned to her next project. "Your hair looks great. Will you put on your dress and then we will decide what to do about your makeup?"

Angela nodded and walked over to her bag to pull out the long black dress covered in sparkles. "It is quite daring, isn't it?" She said nervously, holding it up to her body. "I'm not sure what I was thinking when I bought it. It doesn't really fit my style."

"Nonsense." Alice tried to cheer her up. "We'll just make a whole new Angela out of you for the night. That's the beauty of Halloween costumes."

"Alright." Angela said, reluctantly pulling on the dress.

"You will bewitch them all. Ben will not know what has hit him when he sees you after I am done with you." Alice promised her as she pulled her to the arrangement of makeup products scattered across my desk.

"Do you think so?" Angela blushed.

Alice threw her a stern look. "I know so."

"I still don't know how I got so lucky that he asked me to go with him. He could have asked anyone." Angela smiled. "I'm so glad he did though."

It wasn't luck that Ben had asked her. Even though they liked each other they were both too shy and reluctant to ask the other out, according to Edward. After Angela had told us of her crush Edward had made it his personal mission to bring the two of them together. It had taken a few locker room talks for him to convince Ben to take the risk and ask Angela to the dance. Obviously she had accepted.

Alice drew on a smokey eye look and burgundy lipstick before placing the witch hat on Angelas wild hair. "There, now you can cast some spells!" Alice declared when she was finished with her.

Angela stepped over to the mirror to inspect before she enthusiastically threw her arms around Alice. She stiffened for a moment before gently patting Angela on the back.

"Well, I will just have to change into my costume now. Edward and Jasper should be here any second." Alice told us when Angela had let go of her. "Angela, you will meet Ben at the school, right?"

I listened for approaching cars and could not help but smile when I recognised the familiar pur of Edwards car. I would be back in his arms shortly.

"Yes." Angela nodded excitedly. "That's the plan."

Edward chose that moment to ring the bell and I skipped down the stairs to open the door for him. My eyes traced over his appearance. Taking in the perfection of his face, his high cheekbones and the soft curve of his mouth, and the beautiful costume for the dance. He wore the traditional tunic white tunic with puffed sleeves, ballet slippers and light pants, reminiscent of the ballet attire. The crown on his head featured a swan motif and was adorned with white feathers.

He was breathtaking.

I reached for his hand and smiled when I felt the familiar tingle run through my fingers.

"You look absolutely enchanting, my Odette." He smiled at me.

"And you are the perfect Siegfried."

The dance committee had decorated the gym. Fake spider webs hung from the walls, and pumpkins of various sizes were scattered around the room. Alice was less than impressed. "This decoration is simply dreadful," she complained, stomping her foot. "No creativity and imagination whatsoever."

Jasper wound his arm around her. "It's just high school." He was dressed in a green ensemble that was, even without Alice as Tinker Bell by his side, unmistakably Peter Pan.

"And we are here to dance, no?" I said. "The decoration is irrelevant."

Alice sighed dramatically. "At least our costumes are fabulous."

And they truly were.

Angela was gone as soon as she spotted Ben in the crowd so Edward led me onto the dance floor. Rosalie and Emmett were twirling around. The humans kept their distance. Whether it was because of their intimidating grace or the inherent fear humans had of us I did not know.

My body seemed to melt into his as we began dancing in a slow waltz. Our eyes were locked. And I wished for time to stop at that exact moment. It was perfect. My head was empty for once. No stray thoughts of Irina and Laurent and no worries about the gossiping townsfolk of Forks.

There was only Edward.

My own personal Siegfried, whom I would gladly follow into the lake. Into death. Where we would be forever united in love.

The next day, after school, all of us eagerly awaited the arrival of Carmen and Eleazar. Alice had seen their arrival and we tried to patiently wait in the living room. I was snuggled against Edwards chest and fidgeted nervously.

Esme stood to greet them at the door when we could hear their car coming down the drive.

Carmen was a strikingly beautiful woman with olive skin and long, dark hair. Eleazar had similar coloring and kind eyes. He was a thoughtful looking man.

"Esme, my dear friend! It is so good to see you." Carmen pulled Esme into a warm embrace. "It's been far too long."

Esme returned the hug. "It's wonderful to see you. Please, do come in."

"Esme, you have created another beautiful home." Eleazar complimented her before greeting Dr. Cullen with a pat on the shoulder.

"Thank you," Esme replied with a bright smile.

Edwards' siblings stepped closer to greet the two visitors and he pulled me up from the loveseat to do the same.

"Carmen, Eleazar, this is Isabella," Esme said, gesturing towards me. "Our most recent addition."

They both studied me for a moment before Carmen offered me a warm smile. "Isabella, it's a pleasure to meet you. Welcome to the family."

"The pleasure is all mine. But, please, call me Bella." I told them. "We are family after all."

Edward extended his hand to Eleazar, who still had not stopped inspecting me, and greeted Carmen with a warm hug.

As we sat back down and engaged in various conversations Eleazar's eyes followed me relentlessly. It seemed as though he was scrutinizing my every move as I listened to the discussions around me. I nervously pulled at the sweater I had stolen from Edwards drawers.

"Edward," I whispered into his ear so that only he would hear, "Why does Eleazar keep staring at me like that?"

Edward's brow furrowed and he tightened his hold on me in reassurance. "Eleazar has a unique ability to see and understand the talents of other vampires. But he's having trouble reading you."

"Why? What's different about me?"

"Your gift, Bella." He explained. "It appears he can't see past your shield just as I can not read your thoughts."

I nodded slowly.

"Eleazar is intrigued by your ability. It's like you're hiding behind an impenetrable wall, and he can't see beyond it."

"Should I try to remove the shield?" I asked him. "I promised you to try anyway, should I try that now? Maybe he can read my ability if the shield is pushed aside?"

Edward pierced his lips and thought. "No. He would know exactly how your gift would work. Every strength and every weakness. I no longer trust any of the Denalis enough to entrust them with that kind of knowledge about you." He shook his head. "And Eleazar was a member of the Volturi. As far as I know he is still in close contact with them and I do not want Aro to know about your gift and covet you. Carlisle suspects he already has his eyes on both Alice and I."

Carmen joined me and Edward after exploring the garden with Esme. "So, Bella, how did this happen?" She pointed at Edwards and mine entwined hands. "Conquering the heart of the hundred-year-old bachelor must have been quite a challenge."

"I suppose it would have been quite a feat." I smile at Edward. "Fortunately he had only been one for sixteen years." I turned to look at Carmen. "We were married as humans and separated by circumstances until recently." I recounted our story to her. From the first time we saw each other to the time fate pulled both of us into the cafeteria of Forks High where we met again.

Carmen listened intently, nodding at various points.

"Were you Isabella Marie Swan?" Eleazar spoke for the first time all evening.

I nodded slowly, confused by him knowing my full birth name and the confusing question and turned to ask Edward for an explanation but he could do nothing but shrug. Eleazar seemed to have blocked his thoughts.

"And you are Edward Anthony Masen?" He asked Edward.

"Yes."

Eleazar's eyes flickered between us and Alice. "Mary Alice Brandon?" he asked her.

"That was my name. It's the only thing I remembered when I woke up."

Eleazar suddenly broke out in laughter.

I exchanged confused glances with all the Cullens. Until one of Alice's visions explained his actions to both her and Edward. They both stiffened in their seats. Edward pulled me closer, as if he was afraid I would vanish if he would not hold me tight enough.

"Carlisle," Eleazar almost had his mad laughter under control. "I didn't know you were collecting the humans from Aro's breeding program. First you change Edward Masen from the mind bloodline, then you get first Mary Brandon from the psychic bloodline and second Isabella Swan from the shield bloodline. Did Aro ask you to collect the remnants of his failure?"

Dr. Cullen stared at him for a moment before blinking rapidly. "What breeding program?"