AN: Yay! A new chapter. Thank you all so much for your patience. All your wonderful reviews, likes, and favourites mean the world to me.

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Forks, Washington –

Bella was sitting on her bed, leaning against her pillows with her legs stretched out. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

It had been a long day. Too long. She needed a moment to digest everything she'd learned in the last few days.

Well, more like the last few hours.

Despite everything that was thrown at her in such a short time, she felt like she was handling all the new information and the situation she'd been thrust into very well. But then Isabella Swan has always been good with weird. Why would finding out she's a witch-wolf hybrid be any different?

She'd always known she was different. She didn't know how or why. She didn't understand why she felt that way or what made her different from all the other girls at her school. It was just something that she sensed deep inside of her. This feeling that she didn't belong. For years those thoughts lingered in the back of her mind.

Then she moved to an insignificant, little town that just happened to be a mecca for supernatural beings. She met Edward and his family and finally, finally she felt like she belonged.

But had it all been a lie?

For the first time since she met the Cullens, she was questioning everything they'd done and said. And frankly, she didn't like what she saw now the rose-tinted glasses had been removed.

With another sigh, she opened her eyes and grabbed her sketchbook. Sometimes it was easier to think when she had a pencil or paintbrush in her hand. Right now, she couldn't stand at her easel but she could sketch.

It felt wonderful to draw again. For some reason—a reason Bella couldn't fathom—Edward demanded she stop drawing and painting. At the time, she'd thought nothing of it. She'd allowed him to take away her art supplies and burn her work.

Why did I let him do that?

The fog in her mind made it difficult to remember why she'd allowed such a thing. Those were her drawings. Her musings. Her . . .

The realization came to her quickly, as if a little voice was whispering in her ear. The pictures Edward had so callously burnt weren't just her drawings. They were her visions!

When she sketched or painted, the images in her mind would flow out of her. It had always been that way. It wasn't something she needed to practice or concentrate on; it just came to her and made its way onto the paper or canvas. Until now—armed with the knowledge she's a witch—she'd never put two and two together and come up with psychic! But, what if, it had always been a part of her? Nan keeps saying how special she is. What if she'd been seeing and drawing the future longer than she realized?

That would mean, there's a possibility Edward had seen something he'd recognized as a future event and destroyed it, along with all her other pieces and sketchbooks, before she could make the connection.

Question is, what did I see that freaked him out so much that he destroyed my artwork and somehow stopped me from drawing?

Unfortunately, with her artwork gone, she might never know the answer to that question. Unless there was some magical way to restore what was lost. She'd have to ask Nan later.

Her drawing wasn't the only thing Edward put a stop to. She wasn't allowed to eat the foods she loved, sing her favourite songs, or dance. Granted, she's not a formal, ballroom dancer, but she knows how to move on the dancefloor. She'd done it plenty of times in Phoenix with her friends at school dances and a couple of times when she'd snuck into a nightclub. She hadn't spoken to any of her friends in Phoenix since she started dating Edward. She'd even been forced to abandon the few friends she'd made in Forks. Angela was such a sweet, kind girl. Bella loved her company but Edward was jealous of their relationship. It was easier to give in to his demands than fight him.

Why hadn't I seen this before? Was I so starved for affection that I let him get away with this shit?

She shook her head. That wasn't it. She'd fought back. She could clearly remember wanting to break things off with Edward and then . . . and then . . .

The baseball game!

Esme had begged her to come and spend the afternoon with the family. She didn't care about baseball—playing or watching—but Esme had been so insistent that she felt she couldn't say no.

It was only after the baseball game, after the fight in the ballet studio with James, that Bella no longer fought Edward.

Why was that?

Absently, she scratched at her wrist. Every time she thought anything negative toward Edward her wrist—where James had bitten her—would itch like crazy. It felt like something was crawling just beneath her skin. If she continued to think badly of Edward, the itch would become a burning sensation.

Her eyes swept down to her wrist, to the bitemark that James had left when he'd bitten her.

What if Edward did something?

Carlisle had inspected the wound while she was in the hospital. He promised her the venom was out of her system and she'd heal but likely have a scar.

At the time she'd believed him.

But now, she wasn't sure what to think.

If one of them was willing to impregnate her and, most likely, kill her, would they think twice about a bitemark? Maybe Carlisle had lied and there was still venom in the wound. The mark was icy cold, just like their skin. On more than one occasion it still burned. Edward and Carlisle had insisted that it was all in her imagination. Now she was thinking clearer, she wasn't so sure.

What if there was still venom in the wound? Something was causing her pain. Something was making her itch when she thought bad things about Edward.

What else could it be?

Later, when she was ready to face them, she'd ask Nik and Kol if Edward had done something when he sucked out James' venom.

At the thought of the two Mikaelsons, Bella's mind went back to the conversation she'd had with the brothers. A conversation that had, yet again, completely changed her life.

Bella hadn't heard Nik come in. But the moment he spoke, her heart began to race and a smile lit her face as she turned to the doorway to see him standing there, his dark expression lingering on his brother's arm wrapped around her shoulders.

She wasn't sure why he was staring at her with such a . . . murderous look . . . but she didn't much care, either. Perhaps she should've worried. But she was too excited about his return. A part of her—a bigger part than she liked to admit—feared he wouldn't come back. That he'd seen her and decided she wasn't worth the time and effort.

But he was there.

He'd come home to her.

As soon as she heard his voice, the pain in her chest vanished. She knew, in that moment—as she stared into his dark eyes—it didn't matter what he'd done in his past—as horrible as it might be—he was hers.

She might not know him or his history. And she wasn't in love with him yet. But there was hope in her heart. She had a sense that, maybe one day, she would love him. And, maybe, maybe he would love her, too.

There were things she needed to know, though. Questions that she needed answered. Like, the strange pull she felt toward Kol and the electricity that surged through her whenever they touched. Why was that happening?

Bella looked between the two Mikaelson brothers as she crossed her arms over her chest.

They seemed to be having a silent conversation. She really hated it when the Cullen's purposefully excluded her from the conversation, especially if it involved her. They seemed to think she was too stupid or too human to understand whatever they were talking about as if their intelligence was far beyond her tiny, uncultured mind. Of course, the normal, human girl couldn't possibly comprehend the inner workings of a cold one's significantly smarter mind. She might be young, but that didn't mean she was stupid.

"You know, it's rude to whisper," she huffed. "If you insist on keeping secrets from me then you can take the high-pitched vamp chatter out of my house."

They both looked at her with wide, surprised eyes.

She stared back at them, her eyes narrowed. "I may not have known about traditional vampires but I've been around the supernatural a while now. I know when things are being kept from me. Lord knows Edward kept a tight lid on all his secrets." Her eyes shifted to Nik. "I won't go back to that way of life. If you can't accept me, not only as your mate but as your partner, your equal, then this is never going to work. I won't settle for anything less, Niklaus."

Both men were still staring at her, looking taken back by what she'd said. They didn't seem to know what to say as they stared at her, unblinking.

"I don't care what you've done in your past or how you've treated the females in your life. I am not some pathetic damsel in distress you can lock in a golden tower and visit whenever you damn well please. You either treat me the way I deserve to be treated and stop hiding things from me or you go. Your choice."

Bella wasn't sure where her confidence had come from. Perhaps the knowledge that she could blow things up with the wave of her hand was going to her head. Maybe it was pregnancy hormones making her emotional. She wasn't sure. All she knew was that she was not going to let Nik treat her the way Edward had.

It helped that Damon was hovering in the doorway, his eyes ping-ponging from Kol to Nik as she spoke. And Nan was pottering around the kitchen. If she needed it, she had backup. She was safe. Not that she believed for one moment Nik or Kol would harm her. Still, it was nice to feel protected.

"Granted," she huffed, "I am a little damsel-ish right now." She glared down at her bloated belly. She was sure it had grown since Nik left and he'd only been gone four hours!

"You are no such thing, my angel," Kol insisted, taking her hand in his. "You're a powerful witch . . ."

She huffed. "Who's greatest feat of magic so far is blowing up dad's coffee table . . ."

"Don't knock that ability, love. Regular vampires and cold ones are highly flammable."

Kol gave her hand a little squeeze. "I'm sorry you felt Nik and I were keeping things from you. It wasn't our intention. We were just . . ." He trailed off, sighing.

"Deciding how to tell you something important . . ." Nik finished, joining Bella and Kol on the sofa. Sitting beside her, he took her free hand in his.

"It's nothing bad," Kol added quickly. "It's just . . . unexpected and, well, frankly, angel, it's unheard of. I've been studying magic and learning about the rarest bonds our kind can form with one another my entire life and I've never heard of such a thing . . ."

Bella frowned. "I don't understand."

Gently, Nik squeezed Bella's hand, getting her attention. "I was," he cleared his throat, "uh, wrong . . ."

"Bloody hell!" Kol's eyes widened. "I've never heard him say that before . . ." he whispered.

"Wrong?" Bella asked, ignoring Kol. "A-About what?" Her heart felt like it was about to burst out of her chest. Her mind went blank except for the one thought, the one horrible thought that he was wrong about being her mate.

"It would seem," Nik continued, stumbling over his words nervously, "you can, uh, have more than one soulmate."

Every doubt and fear tumbling through Bella suddenly came to a crashing halt. She felt for sure her heart was about to give out.

"I'm sorry, what now?" She breathed, blinking her eyes as if that would somehow restart her brain.

"When we touch, angel, do you feel the electricity charging through our bodies? Do you feel a pull to me like you do with Nik? Do you feel the same attraction to me as you do my brother?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"It's because we're mated. You're our soulmate, Isabella."

She shook her head. "No. That can't be . . ." She turned to look at Nik. "You said . . ."

"I know, little love. I'm sorry. I didn't know you could have more than one soulmate. Before I met you, I didn't even believe in soulmates!"

Her eyes widened. "You didn't believe in soulmates?"

"No. I didn't think I was worthy of such a rare bond. It never occurred to me that I would find a woman who genuinely wanted me."

She sighed and leaned into him. "Because of your past?"

With a chuckle, he leaned into her, nuzzling her temple. "I'm not exactly known to be the warm, cuddly type, love. There are quite a few women in my past that can attest to that . . ."

Bella huffed.

It was Kol who spoke next, soothing his mate's irritation as he nuzzled her temple. "Those other women in our pasts don't matter, angel. Nobody matters to us but you, Isabella. This is meant to be. You complete us. In every possible way."

"And we complete you," Nik added. "I know you feel that, love. Our bond. And your bond with Kol. In time, it'll get stronger."

"We've been waiting a thousand years to find you. Please, angel, don't reject us because you're scared . . ."

She looked over at him and then down at their joined hands. She did feel it. Even now, as he held her hand, she could feel the electricity flowing up her arm and spreading through her body. She felt the same thing with Nik.

"So, we're . . ."

"Mated," Kol finished with a grin. "I've never felt anything like it. I've waited so long to find you. Nik kept me in that bloody box for so long, I thought for sure I would never find my mate but, here you are. All mine."

Beside her, Nik cleared his throat. "Ours, brother. She is ours."

Bella had felt so overwhelmed by what they'd told her, she asked the boys for a little space. She needed time to digest the information and figure out what this meant for her life. For her family. And for her future.

She was the mate of two of the oldest, most powerful men in the supernatural world.

One Original she might've been able to handle, but two?

What would she do with two men?

I suppose the same thing I'd do with one except twice as much . . .

Perhaps it would've been better if the brothers liked each other or had a close relationship, but she got the distinct impression they didn't. Not that she can blame Kol. His brother did keep him in a box for ninety-five years. If she'd been kept daggered in a box she'd be pissed off, too.

Would mating with her help to repair the brother's broken relationship? They had something in common now. Their mating bond could bring them together.

On the other hand, it could just make their hostile relationship worse.

Would she be stuck in the middle of two warring brothers for the rest of eternity?

Her life seemed to be getting more and more complicated by the hour.

Wanting to think about something else, she looked back at her sketchbook. While she was thinking she'd absently drawn a necklace on the neck of a headless girl. Well, not headless, headless. Bella just hadn't drawn the head yet. The picture was of a neck, chest, and cleavage. The girl, whoever she was, wore a red, low-cut T-shirt. Adorned on her neck was a silver necklace with a small red jewel at the top and an intricate design. It looked like a locket. As Bella finished the drawing a scent she'd never smelt before filled her senses. Rose, maybe. Or some kind of herb.

It meant something; the locket and the scent, but she didn't know what and she still wasn't ready to leave her bedroom to ask someone.

As she turned to a new page, she paused on the sketch she'd done of an unfamiliar man dressed in an impeccable suit. The other things she'd seen and drawn didn't seem all that important right now. It was this man and the one lying in a coffin with a silver knife in his chest that called to her. She wasn't sure who they were but she felt they were somehow connected to Nik and Kol. Why else would she be having visions of two random men?

Of course, you could say the same thing about the headless girl with the locket. Though she probably ties in with them, too. All of this started when they showed up, it must be connected . . .

The only way she would find out who these men were and why she was drawn to them was to ask.

But that would require leaving the safety of my bedroom and facing them and I don't think I'm ready for that yet . . .

She felt stupid for retreating to her bedroom and hiding but as soon as Nik and Kol told her . . . what they told her . . . it was just too much. Everything in her demanded she flee. So, she did.

It was still hard to accept. She was mated. She had two soulmates. Who were both a thousand years old. What on earth could two ancient vampires want with her? She's just barely eighteen. Her life isn't exactly glamorous. She was dumped by an adonis because she wasn't good enough for him. Now she's knocked up with God only knows what kind of demon monster baby. And . . . honestly, the prospect of true love, of soulmates, terrified her.

What if I'm not good enough for them? What if I mess up or I'm not enough?

It was at times like this when she wished she had some girlfriends to talk to. Usually, she'd talk to Alice but that wasn't an option anymore.

As Alice's face flashed across Bella's memory, she was once again back to thinking about the Cullens and wondering what they were up to. Was Alice involved? She hoped not. There was something so sweet and innocent about the tiny girl. She was almost childlike.

"What would Alice tell me to do?" She asked herself.

"She'd tell you it's destiny."

Startled by the voice, Bella jumped. Her head snapped up at the sound and her eyes widened when they landed on a woman dressed in a floor-length, long-sleeved dark blue dress.

"Who the hell are you?" She demanded, straightening at the sight of the woman. She was oddly familiar, but Bella couldn't place her.

The woman's eyes widened in surprise. "You can see me?"

Whoever this woman was, she was a stunning beauty; with dark skin and long black hair that trailed down to her waist in delicate waves. Her eyes were as dark as her hair, full of warmth and happiness.

"Oh, my beautiful little flower, how I have missed you!"

"Okay, lady, I don't know who the hell you are but . . ." Bella frowned. "Wait a minute, how did you get in here?"

The woman's shoulders slumped. "You don't remember me," she whispered, her smile turning into a frown. "That wretched woman!"

Unsure what to do, Bella did the only thing she knew she could do. "Nan!" She yelled. "Nan! Help!"

─── 。゚: *. .* :. ───

Kol paced the length of the Swan living room occasionally growling under his breath. "We should be up there with her!"

Klaus looked over at his brother as he sipped the bourbon Damon had offered. He wanted to agree with Kol. Everything in him demanded he race up the stairs and barge into his mate's bedroom. But she had asked for space and time alone and—for some bloody reason—he couldn't deny her anything!

So, now he was sitting in a tiny living with Kol—who was glaring at the stairs like they had personally offended him—three vampires, a werewolf, and a baby shifter who was far too comfortable surrounded by those he should consider his mortal enemy!

"No, you shouldn't," Marie stated, entering the living room with an old, ancient-looking grimoire tucked under her arm. "She'll come down when she's ready."

Charlie nodded. "Give her time, son. She's been through a lot recently. This was bound to happen at some point. I know my daughter. She just needs time to process and wrap her mind around everything she's recently learned."

"Why did it have to be now?" Kol demanded. "Shouldn't finding out she's mated to me be a good thing?"

Before Charlie could answer, Bella screamed. "Nan! Nan! Help!"

Without a thought, Kol and Nik shot out of the living room and raced up the stairs to their distressed mate. Her bedroom door was thrown open as the two Originals burst into her room.

"What's wrong, love? Are you hurt?"

"What's happened? Are you hurt?" Kol demanded, eyes flying across the empty bedroom.

"Are you in pain?" Nik asked.

"No, I'm not okay!" Isabella yelled. "Would you be okay if some strange woman suddenly appeared in your bedroom? I thought Nan put up cones or roadblocks or something!"

As Marie entered the bedroom, with Charlie on her heels, Nik and Kol turned to where Bella was staring but saw nothing.

"Ah, Qetsiyah," Marie smiled happily at the window. "How wonderful, you can finally communicate with Bella again! Oh, this is a blessed day."

"Nan, you know this woman?"

"What woman?" Nik growled, annoyed that he was being left out of the conversation. "Why don't I see anyone?"

"You won't, dear. Qetsiyah is a spirit from the Other Side," Marie explained, giving his arm a gentle pat. "You can't see her because you're a vampire. Only Bella and I can see her because we're witches."

"Ghosts," Isabella sighed, looking warn out. "Of course. Why didn't I think of that?"

"C'mon boys, nothing for us to do here. Let's leave Marie to deal with the ghost in my daughter's bedroom . . ." Charlie shook his head. "Never thought I'd say that that . . ." He muttered as he left the room.

"You'll be okay, little love?" Nik worried, his eyes still searching for the ghost in his mate's bedroom.

She smiled. "I'll be fine," she promised.

Resigned, the two Originals left their mate with her grandmother and the unknown ghost.

Nik wasn't pleased. Who was this ghost? What did they want? Could they be trusted? There were too many unknowns, too many dangers surrounding his mate. He wanted to grab her and run from this godforsaken little town and keep her safe. But he knew that wasn't an option right now. As much as he loathed to admit it, he needed Kol, Peter, and Marie. They had the best chance of keeping Isabella alive and losing her was not an option. Not now. Not ever.

─── 。゚: *. .* :. ───

"You don't remember me," Qetsiyah said softly, turning toward the window to watch the raindrops land on the pavement below.

She knew there was a chance Bella wouldn't remember her. A big chance. But she hoped she was wrong. She thought when they saw each other again, the memories would return to her little flower. It seems now that was just wishful thinking on her part. She should've known better. The type of magic that had been used to alter Bella's memories wouldn't be undone easily. After all, the spells had come from one of Qetsiyah's descendants.

"I'm sorry, I don't," Bella said softly. "Should I?"

Qetsiyah turned away from the window to face Bella. "I've been watching over you your whole life. When you were born," she smiled longingly, "you were so small; just this tiny, pink bundle with rosy cheeks and such dark, mesmerizing eyes."

Her own dark eyes shifted to the pink bunny tucked under Bella's arm and she laughed softly. "You know, when you were a little girl, you could never say my name. Qetsiyah sounds so ancient-timey, don't you think? So, you decided to call me Tessa."

Bella's eyes shifted to her bunny and then back to Qetsiyah. "I could see you back then, too?"

"Oh yes, my little flower! We were wonderful friends. But," she sighed, her warm smile faltering, "when you were seven, Renee discovered you were communicating with me. She took you to a powerful witch in Mystic Falls. Shiela Bennett. She's one of my descendants. From what Renee told her, Shiela believed you were being attacked by an angry spirit."

"I tried to reach out to her," Qetsiyah sighed, "but before I could make contact and warn her, it was too late. She thought she was protecting you. She didn't realize Renee had been lying to her." With a soft, sad smile, Qetsiyah brushed her fingers across the pink bunny's plush fur. "I watched you cry for weeks afterward. You didn't know why you were upset but the pain you felt was real. You held onto your little bunny and all I could do was watch you mourn for someone you couldn't remember. After a while, I drifted away, hoping that my absence would allow you to heal and move on. But I couldn't resist watching over you now and then. The first time I returned, I discovered you'd named your bunny Tessa. After me."

─── 。゚: *. .* :. ───

Bella stared at the ghost standing before her, trying to remember the friendship they'd shared when she was just a girl but her mind was blank. There was something familiar about the woman but Bella couldn't place her at all.

"Why did Renee take me to this Shiela Bennet woman and not Nan?" She wondered.

"Because I never would've banished Qetsiyah."

Bella frowned. "Is Sheila a bad witch?"

"No, my darling. Shiela is a very good witch. She and I have been friends for years. She's part of my knitting club. Her granddaughter Bonnie is just coming into her powers, too. The Bennett line is a very powerful family of witches."

Qetsiyah nodded. "I've been watching their line for centuries. They're a little misguided on certain things but I hope to right those wrongs now that Bella has awakened her powers."

"What do I have to do with it?" Bella wondered. "And why would Renee erase you from my memory and stop me from talking to you?"

Qetsiyah sighed. "There's so much to tell you . . . and I don't have long . . ." she looked behind her, scanning the front yard for something. "Renee lied," she began. "She never removed her magic. She went to Sheila because she knew she could manipulate her, whereas Marie would put up more of a fight."

"Renee is using dark magic, Marie. Some of the worst I've seen," Qetsiyah stated, her eyes on Nan. "I've been watching her from a distance. The last time I saw her, she was researching Expression. I believe, if she is not stopped, she will go down a path she will not return from."

With a frown, Nan nodded.

"What's Expression?"

Before Qetsiyah could reply, Nan held up a hand. "Later, my darling. I promise." She turned her blue eyes back to the spirit. "What else can you tell us, Qetsiyah?"

"I'm not the only one watching Renee. There's another powerful witch here on the other side. She's very dangerous. I believe she's been causing trouble both here and on your side."

Qetsiyah turned back to the window, her body going ridged as she sprang from the bed. "I don't have much longer," she said quickly. "Bella, my little flower, you must trust your visions. You are far more powerful than you know. Trust your mates. You need to find—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Qetsiyah was gone. Bella wasn't sure where she'd gone or what she'd done but something had yanked her back or, possibly, interfered with their connection. Right now, it was a little outside Bella's wheelhouse. She barely understood what had just happened!

One thing she knew for sure, though, she really needed to start learning about magic!


AN: So, Bella's overwhelmed, Qetsiyah made a surprise visit, and Renee is up to no good!

On the bright side, Bella knows she's mated to Nik and Kol. And Nan can see Qetsiyah, too.

Don't worry, we will get back to Nik and Kol in the next chapter. I promise!