AN: Hello my lovely readers! Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.
You've been waiting long enough, so let's get straight into this chapter. Enjoy XOXO.
Previously…
"I'm sorry, little flower," Qetsiyah said gently, moving to stand before Bella. "But it's time for us to go…"
"Go? Go where?" Bella frowned as Qetsiyah moved forward to gently brush her fingers across Bella's temple.
Bella felt something warm wash over her as her eyes rolled back into her head and the world around her went dark. The last thing she heard was a roar so loud she was sure the windows had rattled.
Now...
When Bella opened her eyes, she was standing on a dark street. The full moon was luminescent and shimmering like a pearl. In front of her was a movie theater. On the marquee above the doors, it read 'NOW PLAYING: THE PAST LIFE OF ISABELLE WHITLOCK' in big black letters.
Curious, she walked into the theater. As soon as she passed through the double doors, she felt a wave of warmth flow through her.
Looking down at herself, she found she was no longer pregnant, and somehow, magically, she was wearing a silver strapless dress. It was gorgeous. The sequins and beads sparkled in the low light. The skirt flared out above her knee. Silver heels adorned her feet. Her hair flowed down her back in thick, bouncy curls.
"You look beautiful, little flower."
Bella spun around to see Qetsiyah smiling back at her. Instead of her usual old-fashioned blue dress, she wore a deep green, floor-length, one-shoulder gown that clung to her like a second skin. She looked exquisite.
Bella smiled, looking down at the dress. "Thank you. It's lovely."
"I thought it was time to get you out of all that blue…"
Bella sighed.
"You had so much more style before your move to Forks."
"I had a lot of things before I moved to Forks."
"What changed?"
"Edward. He didn't want a mate with style or a personality. He wanted a girl he perceived as weak, who he could manipulate and mold into his idea of the perfect mate. Renee may not have been a good mother, but at least I had a modicum of freedom with her…"
Qetsiyah's smile was tense as she wrapped her arm around Bella's shoulders and gently pulled her closer. "You know," her dark eyes twinkled with mischief, "your hex worked…"
"My hex?"
Qetsiyah nodded. "Mm. You wished for Edward to bark each time he thought about playing his piano or creating music. For him to have a face full of puss-filled pimples, a beer belly, large man bosoms, and," she laughed softly, "boils on his penis…"
Bella's eyes widened in shock. "And it worked?" She asked. "Somewhere in the world Edward Thinks-He's-So-Perfect Cullen is walking around with man boobs and boils on his dick?"
Qetsiyah nodded.
Bella squealed in delight, her eyes bright and wide with excitement. "That's so awesome!"
Qetsiyah smiled, relishing the young witch's enthusiasm. "Your power is exceptional, little flower. However, be careful, particularly when your emotions are intense. Magic can sometimes be quite literal. I wouldn't want you to say something in the heat of an argument and later regret it."
Bella nodded. "Understood. I'll be careful," she agreed. "I didn't even know I could do that … hex someone, I mean."
"What you did—hexing someone at such an extreme distance—is not typical. Your power is much greater than the average witch…"
The young girl nodded. "That's what Nan keeps saying." She sighed and looked up at Qetsiyah with wide eyes and a cute pout. "Do I have to fix Edward?"
Qetsiyah laughed. "No, my little flower. Believe me, that cold one deserves to suffer a lot more. I only wish for you to be cautious around those you care about."
"Firstborn witches, like yourself, possess devastating power," Qetsiyah continued explaining. "But you are not just a witch. You are also a wolf. Because of this pregnancy, we've blocked that side of you and most of your magic…"
"Wait. Wait. Wait." Bella held up her hands. "Are you saying I'm going to get more powerful?"
"Oh yes," Qetsiyah nodded. "What you feel now is just a taste of your true power. We were unsure what this parasite could do or if it could influence you while still in the womb. So, we took steps to prevent that from happening."
Bella nodded.
"Once we remove the parasite, our protective spells will break, and your magic will return," Qetsiyah finished. "Which is why I'm cautioning you to be careful in the future…"
Bella frowned. "Because I'm not a normal witch…"
"Exactly," Qetsiyah nodded. "Werewolves are aggressive. Leading up to the full moon, your temper will be harder to control. Couple that aggression with your extraordinary magic and, should you lose control, you have the potential to level an entire town with a wave of your hand…"
Bella paled as her heart began to race. "I…" she shook her head. "I…I…"
"Shh." Qetsiyah wrapped the young witch up in her arms. "I do not tell you this to scare you, my little flower. With the proper training, you will be fine. You have your grandmother and great-grandmother. Kol knows more about magic than anyone I've ever met. If you move to Mystic Falls, you'll meet Shiela Bennett and her granddaughter Bonnie. And you have me. You are not alone. We will be with you every step of the way."
Bella took a deep breath.
Qetsiyah was right. She wasn't alone. In the last two days, she gained a strong support system. Not just the witches and her mates, but her father, too. As well as Damon, Stefan, Angela, Jacob, and Seth. And, if her visions were anything to go by, their little family was going to continue growing.
Qetsiyah was also right about her temper. She'd already seen how easy it was for her to blow something up when her emotions got the best of her. That was just a coffee table. She couldn't imagine destroying an entire town. Instinctually, she knew she could do it. She could feel the power flowing through her veins, ready to lash out at any moment. And that was just a sample of her true power. Once the parasite was gone, she'd become more powerful.
That was a daunting thought…
If she didn't learn to control her magic, it could hurt someone she loved. And that was not an option.
Feeling calmer, she looked up at Qetsiyah. She decided it was time to change the subject. She was here for a reason and she wasn't leaving until she had a few answers to some important questions.
"Do you know a lot about Edward?"
"I do."
"Do you," Bella sighed, "do you know if it's Edward's demon baby I'm carrying?"
"No, sweetheart. Edward isn't the father…"
Bella's heart sank.
If it wasn't Edward, that only left two options. Carlisle and Emmett. Peter had already told her it couldn't be Jasper, as he wasn't a cold one. She didn't relish the thought of it being Carlisle or Emmett. She couldn't see either of them doing this to her.
Then again, she didn't know the Cullen's all that well, did she?
"Do you know which of the Cullen's it is?"
"It is none of the Cullens," Qetsiyah answered gently.
Bella's dark eyes grew impossibly larger. "Then who the hell is it?"
"Eleazar Denali."
Eleazar Denali…
"As in the Denali coven? The Cullen's cousins?"
Qetsiyah nodded. "Yes. Eleazar is not who he says he is. Neither is his mate Carmen or their biological son … Edward…"
"Biological…" Bella frowned. "How does that … wait, so they had him before…" Her eyes drifted down to her flat stomach as the pieces came together in her head. "Edward is a hybrid, like the parasite I'm carrying…"
"Yes. Eleazar was a vampire when he met Carmen. He impregnated her and then turned her immediately after Edward's birth…"
Bella nodded, taking in the new information.
It was … a lot.
Edward wasn't a cold one.
He's a hybrid.
Just like the parasite she's carrying…
He sure as hell hid that well!
Bella wondered if the Cullens knew the truth. Then decided they probably didn't. From what she knows, Carlisle thinks he sired Edward.
Unless that's a lie… maybe everything they told me is a lie! How am I ever going to know?
"Do Carlisle and Esme know?" She asked, looking at Qetsiyah.
Qetsiyah hesitated. "How about we talk about this later?"
Bella narrowed her eyes. "Qetsiyah."
She sighed. "Edward has a gift…"
Bella nodded. "Telepathy."
"Yes, he can read minds," Qetsiyah nodded. "But his gift is a bit more powerful than he let on…"
"How much more powerful?"
"His mental prowess is quite extraordinary. He can enter dreams to manipulate those who sleep. Manipulate memories. He's a skilled hypnotist and able to augment or negate the abilities of other cold ones. He's well adept at psychic torture and can cause his prey great mental pain. He's also been known to brainwash those who cross him. I once saw him restart the neurological motor functions of a dead woman so she could torment her young children…"
Bella felt sick. Her stomach clenched with each new information.
"I believe he's also proficient in suggestion…"
"Suggestion. That's like a traditional vampire's compulsion?"
"Yes." Qetsiyah nodded. "Hybrids can be exceptionally powerful if they possess a gift. But they are also incredibly dangerous and it is against Volturi law to allow a hybrid to live. To keep himself and his parents safe, Edward uses his powers of suggestion. He would have used this power on Carlisle and Esme—and anyone else who's crossed his path—to ensure they believe he's a full cold one, not a hybrid."
Bella nodded. "Could he use his suggestive powers on a traditional vampire or an Original?"
"No. The gifts of cold ones and hybrids like Edward do not work on traditional vampires, Originals, triggered werewolves, shifters, or witches. However, he can use his gift on untriggered werewolves and untapped witches, as they are essentially human."
"Which means he could've done god only knows what to my mind while we were together…"
"Not necessarily," Qetsiyah answered. "We're lucky in a way. Your mother's paranoia rivals that of Niklaus. She's put a dozen spells on your mind to keep you safe over the years. However, Edward does not rely solely on his telepathy. He is a master manipulator, with or without the extra boost his gift offers."
Bella nodded, taking in all the new information.
She was starting to see Edward as a more formidable enemy. Everything she knew about him was a lie. He was vastly more powerful than she imagined. And she had no idea why he'd targeted her.
"Why me?"
"That isn't a question I can answer right now, my little flower. But soon, you'll know everything I know," she promised.
Bella nodded.
All this talk about Edward made her feel uneasy.
"How about we finish this conversation later?" Qetsiyah suggested. "We have a lot to get through today."
Bella nodded. She needed a little time to process what she'd learned. She couldn't imagine what else Qetsiyah knew or how worse it could get.
"So," she frowned, looking around, "where are we?"
Qetsiyah smiled. "This is your mind, little flower."
"We're inside my head?" Bella questioned. "Cool. I guess that explains why I'm not pregnant in here…"
Qetsiyah nodded. "C'mon, there's a lot for you to see and not a lot of time…"
･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.
Bella followed Qetsiyah to an auditorium. It was empty, with the lights dimmed. They took their seats in the middle of the theater. As soon as they sat, the dark red curtains parted to reveal a massive screen.
"How is all of this happening inside my head?" Bella wondered. "I mean, if it's in my head, shouldn't I know it's there?"
Qetsiyah laughed softly. "It's magic, little flower. The theater is a product of your mind. It's somewhere warm, where you feel safe and in control…"
Bella smiled. "I have always enjoyed going to the movies. It wasn't something I got to do with Renee. But Charlie took Jake and me to see the first Harry Potter movie when it came out and it was fantastic!"
Qetsiyah smiled. "I remember. I watched the whole movie with you."
Bella grinned. "Then you know, the movie-going experience is not complete without popco—" She trailed off as a large bucket of popcorn appeared in her lap. "Okay. That was awesome!" She smiled and looked back at Qetsiyah. "Is this edible or is it imaginary popcorn?"
"Try it," Qetsiyah encouraged.
Bella did as she was told and plucked a piece of popcorn from the top of the bucket and popped it into her mouth. "Mm. Wow. I make really good popcorn in my head!"
"Shall I go on?"
"Oh yes, please do!" Bella encouraged, sensing there was a lot more she needed to know.
"You are very special, Bella. Not only because of your power and your unique species, but because you have a previous life. You were reincarnated."
"Now," Qetsiyah continued before Bella could ask more questions, "reincarnations don't happen often. It is incredibly rare for someone to be reborn, and it takes a great deal of power to make it happen. We'll get into that later. For today, I want to tell you about your first life…"
Bella wasn't sure what to say. She certainly hadn't been expecting to learn she'd been reborn. It was … well, frankly, a little hard for her to wrap her mind around.
"Tell me everything."
Qetsiyah smiled. "You were born in eighteen forty-six. Your name was Isabelle Mary Hildegard, and you grew up in the beautiful village of Castle Combe, in the Cotswolds."
"I've always wanted to go to England…"
"You came from a wealthy family," Qetsiyah continued. "You had a twin sister named Nora. Your family were members of the Gemini Coven and you and Nora were next in line to be their leader. But, for that to happen, you and Nora were meant to Merge on your twenty-second birthday."
"Merge?" Bella frowned. "What's that?"
"It is an asinine ritual performed by the Gemini coven," Qetsiyah spat. "When Gemini twins turn twenty-two, the Merge determines who will lead the coven. Only one twin survives. The stronger twin absorbs the weaker twin, merging their consciousness and strengths. Their own magic and the magic of their twin empowers the surviving twin."
"That's horrible!"
Qetsiyah nodded in agreement. "It is."
"Did Nora and I do that … merge, I mean?"
"No, you didn't." Qetsiyah sighed. "You had a wonderful childhood. You and Nora were close with your mother. Your father was a lawyer. Your mother took care of the home and family estate. Both of your parents were members of the Gemini coven. Your father was the coven's leader. You had several younger brothers and sisters."
"This sounds too good to be true…"
"Everything changed when Nora discovered she was a siphon, not a regular witch like you. Your parents turned their backs on Nora. The coven wanted to kill her. So, the two of you ran away…"
"I didn't hate her for being a siphon?"
"No," Qetsiyah shook her head. "You and Nora shared an exceptional bond. That didn't change when she became a siphoner. If anything, your bond only grew stronger. All you wanted was to protect your sister. And you did. You ensured she always had a steady flow of magic by creating a magical pendant that would hold magic within it. You allowed her to siphon you when she needed more magic. The two of you were fiercely protective of one another."
"What happened to her?"
"Patients, little flower," Qetsiyah smiled, kindly. "We'll get there. But first, we must start from the beginning."
Bella nodded.
"You and Nora left England and found your way, first to New York, and then you traveled down to Houston, Texas, where you met Jasper Whitlock. You probably know him better by another name; Jasper Hale."
"Jasper…"
Qetsiyah tilted her head toward the screen as the lights began to dim.
Bella watched as a version of herself appeared on the screen. They were identical in appearance. With identical smooth, flawless alabaster skin, wide dark eyes, surrounded by thick lashes, and the same long dark hair. The only difference Bella could see was their clothes. Her past self was wearing a beautiful blue ball gown with gold embroidery across the bodice and skirt.
To Bella's complete shock, as the Bella on-screen climbed out of a horse-drawn carriage, a familiar face followed her.
"Oh, my god! That's Uncle Mason's girlfriend. Kathy!"
Qetsiyah nodded. "She's known by a few names. Kathy is the latest. There's also Katherine. Kat, as you call her. Or … Katerina Petrova…"
With wide eyes, Bella looked over at Qetsiyah. "Uh-oh," she whispered. "That's Katerina Petrova?"
Qetsiyah nodded.
"The same Katerina Petrova who seduced Elijah?"
Again, Qetsiyah nodded.
"The same girl Nik wanted to sacrifice because she's a doppelgänger and was the key to breaking his curse? But she found out about Nik's plans, ran away, turned herself into a vampire, caused all kinds of chaos, stole the moonstone, and has been on the run for the last five hundred years?"
"That would be the one. She's also Damon and Stefan's sire…"
"Oh, for heaven's sake!" Bella whispered, exasperated. Did they all have a connection to her? "And I knew her in my past life?"
"Watch," Qetsiyah urged. "You'll see."
Bella turned her attention back to the screen, watching as another young woman stepped out of the carriage behind Isabelle. She was beautiful. Long, dark hair. Vibrant green eyes, full of excitement and mischief.
"That's Nora," Qetsiyah told her.
"She's beautiful…"
On the screen, Katherine turned to Isabelle and Nora with a dazzling smile on her beautiful face.
･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.
"Is this necessary? We're supposed to be keeping a low profile…"
Behind Nora, another young woman stepped out of the carriage. She was blonde, blue-eyed, and gorgeous. She went straight to Nora, standing tall beside the brunette.
"You worry far too much." Katherine took Isabelle's hands in hers. "We must keep up the appearance that we are regular humans." She squeezed Isabelle's hands. "I know you're scared your coven will find you. But you are my family, Isabelle. I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."
Isabelle took a deep breath and nodded.
"Now, let's see what this drab little town offers in the way of eligible suitors."
With a bright smile, Katherine turned towards the Whitlock estate where the party they were attending was being held.
The home was spectacular. Massive trees lined the long pathway, arching overhead to create a tunnel-like effect. Grand pillars adorned the front of the house. There were candles set in every window.
The four young women walked up the front steps to meet the butler at the door. Katherine didn't seem to have any trouble entering the home. Isabelle wasn't new to the supernatural world or vampires. She'd never met one before Katherine. But she'd learned about them from her studies, and she knew they needed an invitation into a human's home.
"Have you been here before?"
"I have. After securing our invitations to tonight's festivities, Mrs. Whitlock invited me to tea. It was only proper to accept. Malcolm accompanied me, playing the part of my older brother."
Isabelle nodded.
The inside of the home was just as beautiful. Katherine led the girls into the ballroom, where guests were already mingling and dancing with one another.
･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.
"The house is beautiful," Bella whispered, taking in everything as she watched her past life play out like a movie."
"Jasper still owns his family home and all the land. Oh, look! This is my favourite part!"
･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.
Isabelle was never one for parties. She found the whole thing completely flummoxing. She couldn't dance and didn't know how to stand or talk to the other guests. It was her personal nightmare.
At some point, she found herself at the back of the ballroom, watching the other guests dance. They all seemed so happy and carefree. After everything she and Nora had been through, Isabelle couldn't risk letting her guard down.
She watched as Katherine danced with one male suitor after the next. The vampire was far more outgoing and confident than Isabelle ever felt.
Nora and Mary-Louise were also dancing with the gentleman who asked, though they had eyes only for each other. Nobody needed to know that.
"Ma'am?"
Isabelle looked up and turned to face the most stunning man she'd ever laid eyes on. He was gorgeous. The first thing she noticed about him was his intense, cerulean blue eyes. They were beautiful. A dark blue with hints of green around the pupil and a hard line of dark azure around the outermost edge of his iris. He was tall with broad shoulders, his arms sculpted with taut muscle, but he wasn't overly bulky. He was lean. With dark, honey-blonde hair that was tied back in a ponytail at the nape of his neck.
He held out his hand toward her. "Would you honor me with a dance?"
From the corner of her eye, she saw Katherine and Nora watching as she placed her hand in his much larger one, allowing him to whisk her off to the dance floor.
As soon as her hand was in his, the world seemed to stand still. Nothing existed except the man stood before her, his intense eyes gazing back into hers. A warmth like nothing she'd ever felt spread through her body. She wasn't sure what it meant, but she knew, deep in her heart, nothing would ever be the same again. He was her heart. Her soul. Her forever.
･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.
Bella rubbed her chest and shifted in her seat. "Is this normal?" She asked, looking up at Qetsiyah. "It's like," she frowned, "I can feel what she's feeling…"
It was a strange sensation, like some long-forgotten part of her heart and soul was finally waking. All the emotions Isabelle felt that night surged through Bella, filling her with a sense of warmth, happiness, and love. It was just as strong as what she felt the first time she'd laid eyes on Nik and Kol. And she imagined it would be the same when she met Elijah and Finn. It was a sense of knowing, without a doubt, that he was hers. It didn't matter how much time had passed or how much time they'd lost; he was still hers. He'd always been hers.
"I believe so, yes. You and Isabelle aren't two separate people. She is you. You are her."
"Is that why I've always felt drawn to Jasper? Because of her?" She tilted her head toward the screen where Isabelle and Jasper were twirling on the dance floor.
Qetsiyah nodded. "I imagine so, yes."
Bella's eyes moved back to the screen. She watched as Jasper and Isabelle laughed together.
"Why does he look so much like Nik?"
It was hard not to notice their similarities. They had the same eyes, the same shaped nose and mouth, and the same hair color. But Jasper was taller than Nik and his shoulders were a little broader.
"And how is it we're mated? Jasper isn't a Mikaelson."
"Actually, little flower, he is," Qetsiyah answered. "Jasper is the reincarnation of Henrik Mikaelson."
Bella's eyes widened. "How?"
"When Henrik died, The Fates intervened and placed him on The Other Side, even though he hadn't triggered his wolf curse. They always knew, even a thousand years ago, that all five Mikaelson brothers would find their soulmate in the same female. Until she was born, Henrik—or Jasper as you know him—remained on The Other Side waiting for you."
Bella nodded her head slowly, taking in all the new information. "So," she realized, "Nik and Henrik have the same father."
"Ansel is the father of Niklaus and Henrik, and they both carry the wolf gene."
"But only Nik's wolf is bound by the curse?"
Qetsiyah shook her head. "Esther cursed both Niklaus and Henrik. Klaus was cursed before her death. But Henrik was cursed while Esther was on The Other Side."
"Now, see, I don't get that. She's dead. Her life ended. And yet, she can still do magic on The Other Side and interfere in the lives of those still living. How is that possible?"
"It's a design flaw, I'll admit," Qetsiyah sighed. "I don't know what Esther's plans are, but I know she wanted Henrik completely under her control. That's why she bound his wolf, to ensure she could control him."
"Can we break his curse?"
"Yes. This is where Esther miscalculated. She bound Klaus and Henrik, so essentially, they're tethered to one another. Esther believed Klaus would never break his curse, that Nature would never allow him to break it and therefore Henrik's curse would remain bound as well."
Bella smiled. "But she was wrong…"
"Yes, she was, little flower. Mother Nature is not on Esther's side. She wants Klaus and Henrik to break their curse. She wants hybrids to join her Order. If she didn't want vampires to exist in her world, the spell to create them wouldn't have worked."
It made sense to Bella. Mother Nature had a hand in building the world. If she didn't want something to exist—like vampires, werewolves, and hybrids—she wouldn't allow it to come to fruition. It was all part of the balance of Nature. Both good and evil must exist.
"I'm still not entirely sure where I come into all of this…"
"In time, little flower, you will know everything," Qetsiyah assured her. "For now, watch and learn…"
･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.
"Do you love him?" Nora asked as she and Isabelle walked through the sprawling gardens of the Whitlock Estate hand in hand.
Ahead of them, they could see Jasper and his brother George tending to the horses with their father.
Isabelle felt her cheeks warm as she smiled. "I loved him the moment I saw him."
"In that case, I'll have to have a talk with him to find out what his intentions are regarding my sister..." Nora said, eyes sparkling with mischief.
Isabelle's eyes widened. "Don't you dare!"
Nora's smile widened as she let go of Isabelle's hand and ran toward the three men. "Oh, Jasper!" She called, laughing.
Isabelle followed. "Nora!"
Nora giggled happily, stopping when she felt her sister beside her. "Sooooo," she smirked, dragging the word out, "when are you going to tell him the big secret?"
･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.
"This here is Miss. Dolly, Darlin'," Jasper said, holding onto Isabelle's hand as he led her toward the beautiful chestnut horse. "She's sweet as pie and will take good care of ya."
Isabelle's eyes widened. "What? Oh, no, you're not getting me on that beast!"
Jasper grinned and wrapped a solid arm around her tiny waist, pulling her into him.
She squeaked as their chests collided. One hand gripped his bicep, the other rested on his chest. Her cheeks flushed with the feeling of his body pressed intimately against her own.
"Now, Miss. Belle, you know I ain't gonna let anythin' happen to ya," he drawled, his fingers sweeping a lock of hair behind her ear. Softly, his lips brushed against hers in a sweet, teasing kiss that promised much more. "I'll always keep you safe, my Belle."
"Promise?" she whispered.
"I promise. Always and forever."
･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.
As his seventeenth birthday approached, Jasper spent hours talking to his father and older brothers about the war between the North and South.
He knew the dangers of enlisting but wanted to fight for and stand beside those who believed in freedom and deserved it.
It was no surprise to his family when he enlisted in the Union Army. Despite living in Texas, Jasper Whitlock would not fight for the Confederacy.
The Whitlocks did not own slaves. They handsomely compensated and generously provided for all their employees, regardless of race or gender, and considered them family. Beatrice Whitlock would not have it any other way.
･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ
"Are you sure this is what you want, Issy?" Nora asked, standing before her sister.
Isabelle smiled. "You've asked me that a dozen times today."
"It doesn't hurt to be absolutely sure," Nora said, fiddling with her gown. "We can always tell Katherine you've changed your mind and she'll compel all the guests…"
Isabelle took her sister's hands in hers. "I'm sure," she said. Her voice was steady, not even a wobble. "I've never loved anyone the way I love Jasper. I want to be his wife."
"But if he's…"
Isabelle shook her head. "Whether for a day, a week, a month, or a thousand years, I want to be his wife. He's my soulmate."
Nora smiled and took a deep breath. "A thousand years is a long time…"
Isabelle laughed softly and shook her head. "A thousand years isn't nearly enough."
･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.
The wedding passed in a blur. The Whitlock Estate looked stunning.
Jasper and Isabelle would say their vows beneath the old oak tree where they shared their first kiss. Jasper's father had agreed to officiate and his mother made a beautiful cake.
Isabelle's dress was stunning. Nora helped her design and make it herself.
Jasper looked incredibly handsome in his uniform. Despite her worry and fear, not even Isabelle could talk him out of joining the army and fighting for his family and home. He wanted to help those in need, and nothing would stop him.
Isabelle had never been prouder.
Nora walked her sister down the aisle and, one last time, asked if she was sure this was what she wanted. It was. There was no doubt in Isabelle's mind. She wanted to be Jasper's wife. She wanted to spend the rest of her life, however long that would be, with this wonderful man.
･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.
"I, Jasper Henry Michael Whitlock, take you, Isabelle Mary Hildegard, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, I promise to love and cherish you always and forever."
･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.
"I, Isabelle Mary Hildegard, take you, Jasper Henry Michael Whitlock, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and health, I promise to love and cherish you always and forever."
･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.
With a bright smile on his handsome face, Jasper slipped the ring on Isabelle's finger. When it was her turn, she took the ring from George, Jasper's brother, and slipped it onto his finger.
Jasper's father gazed at the two. His smile couldn't have been any wider. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride, son."
With a grin, Jasper gently pulled Isabelle into him and pressed his lips to hers in a fierce, heated kiss. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her as if she were the most precious gift he'd ever received.
"I love you, my Belle," he whispered against her lips.
She smiled. "I love you too, Jasper."
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my great honor to introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock."
･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.
"Promise," Isabella insisted, holding onto her husband as if her life depended on it. "Promise me you'll come home."
"I promise you, my Belle. I will never leave you."
She shook her head. "You don't know the things I've seen. The death. The bloodshed."
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Your visions have been wrong before, Darlin'."
"And if I'm right?" She countered stubbornly.
He smiled. "There is no force on this earth powerful enough to keep me from you, my Belle. You are my heart. My soul. No matter how much time passes, my love for you will never fade."
Again, she shook her head. "It's too soon. It's not fair. We've only just found one another."
Gently, he pulled her into his arms and held her against his chest. "I know, my love. I know."
Despite his words and assurances, Isabelle knew, deep in her heart, that her visions were true. She'd had them all her life and, apart from a few small things, they'd always come true. So, she knew as soon as he left their home, she would never see her husband again.
She wasn't sure what fate would befall him. She had never seen his death. But she knew he would not return to Houston. To her.
"We have tonight, my Belle," he whispered in her ear. "Let me remind you how much I love you."
With a smile, she tilted her head up and moaned as his lips met hers in a passionate kiss that she hoped would never end.
AN: So, there it is. The first chapter of Bella's past life viewing. There is more to come, and we'll also see some things from Jasper's perspective as well.
I've decided to do something different with the Heretics. Instead of Lily finding and turning them, Katherine is the one who turns them all. In my head, it made sense. We'll see more on that in part 2, which will be up soon. XOXO