– Forks, Washington –

– Thursday 22 December 2005 –

The sounds of giggling girls filled the Swan home, making Charlie smile. It had been a long time since he heard his daughter laugh like that.

With a sigh, he leaned back in his recliner. Ever since she met that damn Edwin, life hadn't been the same. And then, after his breakup, everything turned to shit! Charlie knew she'd start dating one day. She wasn't his little girl anymore. He could accept that she was growing up, though he wasn't thrilled when she brought that Cullen boy home. He'd heard good things about Carlisle over the years, but that boy of his was a piece of work! Charlie couldn't stand him or his freaky pipsqueak sister. The way they treated his beautiful girl was atrocious.

And she let him!

That baffled him more than anything. His intelligent, fiery, confident girl allowed an asshat of a boy to treat her that way! His girl was strong, she was independent; she wasn't someone who'd stand for being pushed around … and yet, Edmund Cullen ripped away her self-esteem in a matter of months.

Charlie sighed and closed his eyes.

It wasn't Bella's fault. She became the prey to a monster of the grizzliest kind. Vampires are territorial and selfish by nature, especially the young ones. Edturd Cullen knew how to manipulate her and get his way. He knew how to lure her in and toy with her.

Charlie hadn't wanted to interfere in her love life, but had their relationship gone on much longer. He would have talked to her ... hopefully reasoned with her or made her see sense. It wasn't right! How that boy and his sister manipulated her, bullied her, and squashed any part of her personality they deemed unworthy of their precious coven! They were suffocating her!

Thankfully, it only lasted a few months…

He wasn't proud that he'd allowed it to go on as long as it had. He should have intervened sooner. That was clear to him. But … in the back of his mind, he knew his daughter. She was in love. And she could be as stubborn as a mule when she wanted something. Had he done anything, there was the chance he'd push her away. His only hope was when she turned eighteen and they unlocked her magic, she'd see Edgar for who he was rather than the pretty mask he wore.

Long ago, he and Renee ensured their daughter's mind was secure from telepathic intrusion or psychic interference. When she moved in with him, Charlie reinforced those spells and added more protection against a vampire dazzle to ensure Turd Boy couldn't lure her in that way. He wouldn't put it past the boy to use all the power in his arsenal. But there wasn't much Charlie could do to protect his teenage daughter's heart from a boy who claimed to love her.

After her magic was bound, they'd also placed tracking spells on her in case someone kidnapped her again or she wandered off. Those helped keep his mind at ease when she went off with Edbert or the psychotic pipsqueak. Now that she was eighteen and an adult, the spells ensuring her safety had broken automatically. But they'd been a safety measure when she was a child and liked to run off to play or chase dragons.

The only good things to come out of Bella befriending the Cullens were discovering his mate bond with Esme, and Bella finding loyal friends in Lauren, Jessica, and Angela. Those girls would be good for his Bells and he had a feeling they'd be together for a long, long time.

Lauren was the only daughter of Serena and Murphy, who came from the Mermaid pod living on the edge of town. He wasn't sure if Lauren knew she'd become a mermaid upon her twenty-third birthday or if her parents were waiting to tell her. Either way, eventually, she'd become immortal.

The Stanleys were a family of faeries who lived deep within the forests surrounding the town of Forks. Forks has been their home for centuries, and they weren't happy with the Cullen's vegetarian diet. Now that she's eighteen, Jessica's mother, Olivia, will begin teaching her daughter about their traditions and power so that one day, she can join her family in the care of this town's forests and land.

The Webbers were a coven of witches. Charlie has met with the Webbers a few times over the years and knew their coven was powerful. They kept to themselves mostly. Angela's father preferred to preach the word of God rather than practice magic. But Cynthia Webber devoted herself to her craft and had already begun teaching Angela about her power.

They were a good family and a strong coven. He enjoyed their company and found Cynthia and Hank to be more accepting of his nature than other folks in town.

Despite what the mortals of the town believed, Forks is a mecca for supernatural beings. With the mermaids in the ocean, shifters on the reservation, faeries in the forest, witches, vampires, and a dozen other creatures roaming the streets, they easily outnumber the mortals. But it's the mortals of the town who need to be policed.

That was Charlie's job.

Many centuries ago, Mother Nature appointed him to be the guardian of this town's supernatural element. Typically, supernatural beings didn't need to be policed, but they sometimes required protection from ignorant, closed-minded mortals. So, while his brothers dealt with the vampire world in Volterra, Charlie protected the rest of the supernatural world.

It was a job he loved and one that, one day, he would pass on to his daughter. Given the power she wielded at only four years old, he knew she was destined for this job.

But that would come later. Much, much later. For now, she needed to grow and learn about herself, her magic, and the world.

Charlie had planned to tell Bella about her place in the supernatural world on her birthday, but that had all gone to shit with Edwin's brilliant breakup!

I swear when I get my hands on that boy…

A hiss came from the fireplace. Abraxas grumbled under his breath as he warmed himself, his shimmering scales turning bright red. To a mortal and the girls upstairs, he was invisible, but as he was Charlie's familiar, there was nothing that could separate the two. Not even invisibility spells.

"Isabella will need to be told soon, Charlie," the small dragon—about the size of a beagle—spoke.

Charlie nodded in agreement.

"We can't keep our mate away much longer, either," the dragon continued. "I don't like it. She's suffered enough…"

Again, Charlie nodded.

After the breakup, he asked Esme to keep her distance to allow Bella time to grieve. Thinking back on it now, he wasn't sure that was the right decision. At the time—when Bella was practically catatonic—it felt like the right thing to do. Bella was devastated, and he was angry, though his anger did not extend to his sweet Esme.

Sighing, Charlie ran a hand through his hair.

Before he could think any more on the subject, a stampede of teenage girls raced down his stairs.

"Bye, Chief!" Jessica called as she pulled on her winter coat. "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, Jessica," Charlie smiled.

Lauren poked her head around the corner, smiling kindly. "Merry Christmas, Chief. See you after the holidays."

"Merry Christmas, Lauren. Tell your mom I said hi."

"Can do!" She called as she and Jessica headed out.

Once the two girls had left, Angela stepped into the room. "Mom told me," she blurted out, then sighed and took a deep breath. "Sorry. I meant that to come out better."

Charlie smiled. "It's okay, Kiddo. Cynthia and I spoke this afternoon." His eyes shifted toward the stairs. "Does she know?"

"About me?" Angela shook her head. "No. I haven't told them, but it would be nice to tell my best friends…"

Charlie nodded.

"But," Angela said gently, "I think it would be best if you told her sooner rather than later…"

Charlie frowned. "Why?"

"Because," Angela sighed, "she thinks she's losing her mind. "The other day, she swears she heard Atticus speak and then yesterday she thought she saw a dragon in the garden…"

Charlie's narrowed eyes shifted to Abraxas.

"Don't look at me. You know how excited Teddy's been. Keeping the youngling away from her has been a nightmare!"

Charlie sighed and nodded his head. "I'll tell her tonight…"

Angela smiled kindly. "If you want me to be there or if she needs someone to talk to afterward, tell her to call me. I'll be home all night."

With that, Angela threw her arms around Charlie and hugged him tightly. "Don't worry, Chief. She'll be fine. But, you know, sooner would be better … So that she knows she's not losing her marbles. After Edward," she sighed, "she's worried about her mental health…"

Charlie nodded.

Angela was a good friend. After he talked to Bells, he would call her tonight to let her know how their talk went.

୨୧

Bella sat in the living room, watching her father pace back and forth in front of the fireplace. Atticus was sitting at her feet, his enormous head resting on her knee. Max, the fluffy orange Siberian cat, was sitting beside her. Dooley—the newest addition to her growing menagerie, a beige and dark brown ragdoll Kitten—was curled up on her lap in a fluffy ball. On her other side was Lola, a gorgeous white Persian.

Strangely, Atticus, Max, and Lola watched Charlie pace, each with intrigue and excitement shining in their eyes.

As much as she loved her animals, there'd always been something strange about them. They were almost humanly vigilant. They seemed to understand what she was saying, more so than any regular house pet. And talk about protective! None of them had liked Edward or Alice. On the few occasions they saw him, they barely tolerated Carlisle. But they adored Esme, Emmett, and even Rosalie.

Thinking back on it now, she wished she'd listened to her animals and stayed clear of Edward and Alice. Except for her parents and Nan, no one was more protective than her sweet Atticus. If he didn't like someone, it was a clear indication that she needed to be wary, too.

She shook those thoughts away. Now wasn't the time to reminisce and berate herself for stupid decisions. She fell into Edward's grasp and allowed him to dictate her life. She allowed Alice to manipulate her with visions of eternal life and exquisite beauty. Anything they didn't like about her personality, wardrobe, or opinions, they altered to fit in with their perfect visions!

It still baffled her.

How had she let it happen?

How did she not see how toxic they were?

She was thankful her family never tried to convince her to see things differently. There was no way she would have listened to them. She was in love! Edward was the perfect boyfriend. And Alice was the best friend she'd ever had.

It wasn't until he dumped her ass in the forest that she could finally see him for who he was! A lying, controlling, two-faced rat bastard.

Thanks to her new friends, things were much clearer these days. Once Edward and Alice entered her life, she'd forgotten what was important to her. Well, she wouldn't make that mistake again!

"Daddy," she called, "is there something wrong?"

He looked over at her with wide eyes. "Uh. No. Not wrong, just … uh…" he trailed off and went back to his pacing. He ran a hand over his face, feeling as tired today as he had when they were on the run. "There's, uh, something I need to tell you…"

She smiled. "I'm all ears."

"It's, uh, difficult…"

Her eyes widened as a dozen scenarios ran through her mind, none of them good. "Are you sick, Daddy?" She whispered. "Are—Are you…" her breathing sped as fear spread through her. "Are you dying?"

Charlie stilled, sensing the fear coming from his child. He darted over to her, crouching in front of her. "No. No, baby. I'm not sick," he assured her.

"Then what's wrong?" She demanded. "Is it mom? Or Nan? Or Phil?"

"No. No. Nothing like that. We're all healthy and happy. Nothing is going to take us away from you, Princess…"

Tears welled up in her eyes. She wasn't sure she believed him. She wanted to, but right now, she couldn't handle anyone else leaving her, especially not her parents or Nan.

"Then what's—"

"CHARLIE SWAN!" Renee's voice suddenly echoed around the room, despite her not being in the room. When Bella last spoke to her mother—this morning—she was in Florida with Phil.

"Mom?"

"Tell her already!" Renee insisted.

Bella looked around, expecting to see her mother. "Mom? Where are you?" She frowned. "I knew I was losing my mind…"

"Silly ladybug," Renee laughed and then sighed. "Oh. This is ridiculous…" Suddenly the air swirled around them and Renee appeared in the Swan living room.

Bella's eyes widened. "Holy shit…"

Renee smiled brightly. "Hello, ladybug."

"Renee," Charlie sighed, exasperated, as he got to his feet. "I was getting to it … you can't just teleport in here and scare her like this…"

"Te-Teleport…" Bella whispered, her eyes darting between her parents. "M-Mom can teleport?"

Renee smiled and patted Charlie's arm. "I know, love. But you were taking too long. I've been waiting for this day—very impatiently, I might add—since she was five! Excuse me for being excited!"

Again, Charlie sighed.

"Would one of you please tell me what the hell is going on?" Bella yelled. "Since when can mom teleport?"

Renee and Charlie looked over at their daughter.

"Since she was seven," Nan's voice echoed through the room.

Again, the air in the room shifted and swirled to reveal Bella's grandmother. Her twinkling blue eyes landed on Bella. Her smile was warm and bright.

"Your mother's always been a free spirit," Nan continued with an airy laugh and a loving smile toward her daughter. "It was all your grandpa and I could do to keep her in the house!"

Renee rolled her eyes. "I wasn't that bad," she grumbled.

"Now," Marie stated, sweeping through the room. She came to sit beside Bella, lifting Lola and setting the white cat on her lap. "I think it's time we have a chat."

"About mom suddenly being able to teleport?"

"Mm." Nan's eyes shifted to Renee and Charlie, then back to her granddaughter. "We're witches, dear…"

A hysterical-sounding laugh burst from Bella's lips. "Right. You're all witches," she nodded. "Sure. And I'm the tooth fairy…"

"A common misconception, actually. The tooth fairies who collect teeth are typically male, the sons of the Queen tooth fairy. She is the one who distributes the sleep dust so they can make their quota without being seen."

Bella's eyes widened in shock. "Huh?"

Nan laughed softly and pulled her granddaughter into a hug. "I'll tell you all about it later," she promised. "You, my darling little moon, are a very special young lady. Part witch and part vampire. A hybrid…"

"A born hybrid," Renee corrected.

Nan nodded. "The first and only one of your kind."

Bella shook her head. "Witches aren't real…"

Renee cocked an eyebrow. "You believe in vampires—vegetarian ones at that—but you don't believe in witches?"

"You … You … You know…?" Bella blinked in utter shock.

"We know everything, Princess." Charlie nodded. "Let's start from the beginning. The Higginbothams are a powerful bloodline of witches. I am a turned hybrid. I was born a witch, and then a vampire turned my brother and me."

"You have a brother?"

Charlie nodded. "I do."

"Is he a witch, too?" She asked. It wasn't the most important question, but right now, it was the easiest.

"No," Charlie sighed. "I tapped into my power and awoke my magic. He didn't," Charlie shrugged. "Sometimes it happens that way."

Bella nodded. "And you're a …" she frowned, "a vampire?"

He didn't look like a vampire. His skin was warm. His heart beat. He had blood in his veins. She'd seen him blush! He eats regular food and sleeps … she'd heard him snoring!

"Part vampire. A hybrid."

"But your brother is a full vampire?"

"Yes."

Slowly, Bella nodded as she tried to process all this new information. "And I'm a born hybrid … what does that mean?"

Renee moved to sit beside her daughter, lifting Max to sit him in her lap. "It means you were born, not created. You are part of me and part of your father. A witch-vampire hybrid."

Bella shook her head. "But I'm not," she insisted. "I've never done anything witchy and I think Edward or one of the Cullen's would've noticed if I displayed any vampire traits…"

Renee looked back at Charlie.

Nan took Bella's hand in hers. "When you were a little girl…"

"Just a few months after your fifth birthday…" Renee said sadly. "Around Christmas time…"

Nan nodded. "Your mother, father, and I bound your magic, concealed your vampire nature, and blocked your memories of anything supernatural…"

Bella stared at her parents and Nan in shock.

They know about the supernatural world … Bella thought … about vampires and the tooth fairy … holy crap! The tooth fairy is real? I live in a world where the tooth fairy is real … and male! The tooth fairy is male! That's really weird. Though maybe not as weird as my mom and Nan being witches! And Daddy is a hybrid witch-vampire … OMG, my dad is a vampire! How did the Cullen's not know? Or did they know? No, there's no way Edward could keep that quiet. He's a total blabbermouth! Stupid, no-good, two-faced, scum bucket … no, no, focus. Mom, Dad, and Nan are witches … and apparently so am I … and they blocked my magic … and my memories …

"Why?" She whispered.

"To protect you, little moon," Nan whispered.

Charlie sat on the coffee table in front of Bella. With a deep breath, he began the story. She needed to know everything. They couldn't keep secrets from her anymore. She deserved to know the truth about her life and the dangers of their world. She needed to understand why they did what they did…

୨୧

Bella sat in shock as she took in everything her parents and Nan had just told her.

It was … mindboggling.

She was a witch-vampire hybrid.

Born, not created.

Apparently, in the supernatural world, that was a big deal. She was the only one of her kind. From the moment of her miraculous birth, a dozen different supernatural beings had hunted her. They spent the first five years of her life running across the US and dodging attacks from all directions.

Her father told her everything. No detail was left out. He even shared a few memories with her, showing her a few battles they'd fought to keep her safe. She had never seen anything like it. The Cullen's were cute, fuzzy kittens compared to the vampires Charlie and Renee had fought to protect their child.

As terrifying as it was to see … it was also fascinating. She'd never seen her sweet, nature-loving mother so vicious! Watching her fight and use her magic was a spectacular sight! And Charlie! On the battlefield, he was an entirely different man from the father she knew and loved. He was a warrior. She watched in amazement as he took out his enemies with swift brutality.

"That was both terrifying and exhilarating," she admitted. "You guys kicked ass…"

Renee smiled.

Charlie smirked. "We'd do anything to keep you safe, Bells."

"I see that…"

When she was four, there'd been another awful battle. But this time, she'd been kidnapped by a vampire and taken to a woman named Maria. Bella learned all about Maria's past in the Southern Wars. None of it was pleasant. The woman was the worst kind of monster, and she hoped she never came face-to-face with her!

"Wait, go back…" Bella frowned, seeing something in her father's memory that was familiar to her. "There! I know that vampire…"

"The blonde?"

Bella nodded. "His name is James. He's mated to a woman named Victoria. They were traveling with another male named Laurent."

"Tell me everything you know about these three, Bella," Charlie demanded.

She told them about the baseball game with the Cullens and how the three nomads had interrupted their game. Then James had caught her scent and started hunting her. She told them about running away to Phoenix with Alice and Emmett and how James found her and tricked her into meeting him in the ballet studio.

"Was he killed?" Nan asked.

"No," Bella shook her head. "While Edward was sucking the venom out of me, Emmett and Alice fought James. I'm a little fuzzy on the details after that. I was a bit more focused on Edward sucking the venom out of my arm and then draining me. But. When I was in the hospital, Edward told me James ran away when Emmett ripped off one of his arms and threw it into the fire Alice had started."

A low growl came from Charlie. "So he's still out there…"

Bella nodded. "With his mate, Victoria. Edward and Alice were convinced they wouldn't attack again because Emmett is so strong."

Charlie growled. "To a sadistic vampire like James, Emmett's strength would likely be seen as a challenge, not a deterrent."

Bella frowned.

"Meaning," Nan said gently, "James and Victoria were likely hired to get to you and haven't returned because they've been ordered not to…"

"Oh," Bella nodded. "You think that Maria woman knows where I am and sent James and Victoria to capture me again …" Frowning, she shook her head. "But if that were the case, why split up?"

"What do you mean, ladybug?"

"If they wanted me, wouldn't it have been better if James and Victoria were together in the ballet studio? James attacked me. He beat the crap out of me and broke my leg. He filmed it for Edward! Why do any of that if their goal was to capture me?"

Renee nodded in agreement.

"We need more information on James and Victoria," Charlie stated. "Are you sure they left town, Bells?"

She shrugged. "All I know is what Edward and Alice told me."

Charlie nodded.

"I'll put the covens on alert," Nan stated. "If either of them passes through, we'll know."

"Abraxas and I will patrol the area tonight," Charlie told them. "And I'll warn Billy. If nomads pass through the area, more of their boys will probably start phasing again."

Bella frowned. "Phasing?"

Charlie looked back at his daughter. "There's a lot more you need to know, Princess. Do you want me to tell you now or after you've had time to digest what you already know?"

She thought about it for a minute. "Now," she decided.

With a nod, Charlie continued telling Bella about her past.

After binding her magic and concealing her vampiric nature, they blocked her memories because she was so young and wouldn't have understood.

Charlie then explained about the shifters on the reservation, as well as the other various supernatural species that had made Forks their home. Mermaids, witches, shapeshifters, faeries … they were all real and living peacefully in the small town!

…

…

…

It was … unbelievable…

She'd been a witch … she'd known all about magic … and was exceptionally powerful to boot!

It was … unexpected … crazy … mindboggling … and completely nuts … and yet she believed every word her parents spoke.

"How did the Cullen's not know any of this?" She wondered aloud. "I mean, I get how they didn't know about me with all the spells keeping me safe, but how did they not know about Daddy? You're part vampire! How did they miss that?"

Nan leaned into Bella, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "We're witches, dear. There isn't a lot we can't do…"

"Witches and vampires," Renee added, "rarely mix well, so we've found ways … spells mostly … to keep ourselves hidden."

"And your father is exceptionally powerful," Nan smiled. "If he doesn't want someone to know what he is or who, believe me, they won't know."

Charlie chuckled. "Shielding spells and a few well-placed illusions," he explained. "I wasn't sure I could trust the Cullen's, so as far as they knew, I was nothing more than an ordinary human. Only those I trust know who I am…"

"And you don't trust the Cullen's…" Bella realized.

"Some of them I trust," Charlie nodded, "but not all of them, and that's why I ensured they wouldn't be able to tell who I am until I wanted them to know."

That made sense to Bella. Whatever he'd done had worked. Edward and Alice thought Charlie was a small-town cop who could barely take care of himself and struggled to pay his bills every month. They had no idea who he was, and Bella found she really liked that. She wasn't sure why, but every instinct she had told her that Edward and Alice shouldn't know how powerful her father was or how wealthy he was.

"So," she said softly, "what happens now?"

"That depends on you, little moon," Nan answered. "If you'd like, we can unbind your magic…"

Bella wasn't sure how she felt about that.

Charlie had planned to unbind her magic on her eighteenth birthday, but Edward's breakup had ruined his plans. With her almost catatonic and heartbroken, they'd waited to give her time to heal.

"What about my memories? Will I ever get those back?"

Charlie nodded. "Slowly, your memories will return if your magic is restored."

Bella nodded.

Renee squeezed Bella's hand. "Are you angry with us, ladybug?"

She thought about that for a moment. Was she angry?

She wasn't sure.

Perhaps angry wasn't the right word…

Shocked.

Overwhelmed.

Confused.

Those seemed to fit the bill better than angry.

She looked over at her mother and shook her head. "No," she answered without hesitation. "I get it." She nodded. "After seeing Daddy's memories, I understand why you did this. You kept me safe. You've always kept me safe. I'm shocked, I suppose. I thought I was losing my mind…"

Charlie chuckled. "Angela told me you thought you heard Atticus speak the other day and then…"

Bella nodded. "Saw a dragon in the garden," she finished. "It looked like he was trying to be sneaky by hiding behind one of the plant pots, but he was bigger than the pot…"

Charlie sighed. "That would be Teddy. You two used to play when you were younger…"

"A dragon named Teddy?" Bella cocked an eyebrow. "Wait, hold up, dragons are real, too?"

"Of course we are!" A deep, ancient-sounding voice rumbled through the room as a dragon appeared beside the fireplace. It wasn't as big as Bella expected. About the size of a Basset Hound. Its deep umber scales shimmered against the fire.

"Holy crap," Bella whispered. "That's …" she shook her head, "…that's not the one I saw in the garden…"

The dragon huffed. "Teddy is a mere child…"

Unsure how she should act—it's not every day a dragon talks to you—Bella leaned into her grandmother. "Can you hear the dragon, Nan?"

Nan, Charlie, and Renee laughed.

"Don't worry about him…"

Bella jumped and looked over at Max, the orange Siberian, her eyes wide.

"Abraxas is old and grumpy…"

"But he won't hurt you," Dooley's voice was quieter, younger, with a playful edge. "He's a good dragon."

"Uh … mom…"

"Boys," Atticus barked, eyeing the two cats. "You're scaring Bella…"

"Christmas on a cracker," she whispered, staring between all the animals, "do they all talk?" She looked over at her mother, and then at her father. "Can you hear them, too? Or have I just completely lost the plot?"

"Relax, ladybug," Renee soothed, wrapping a comforting arm around her daughter. "Abraxas is your father's familiar," she explained. "Just like Nova is mine, Agatha is your Nans, and Atticus is yours."

"A witch's familiar is sacred," Nan told her. "Every witch has one. When we're born, they appear and take on the shape of various types of animals. Familiars are the physical manifestation of our power…"

"Some witches believe they're the physical manifestation of our souls," Renee added. "I can't say for sure if that's true, but I believe it is. Our bond with our Familiar is unyielding. In times of need, they're there to guide us, protect us, and aid in our magic. They are our most trusted companions."

Bella looked at Atticus. "Is that why I can't bear the thought of losing him?"

"Yes, little moon," Nan nodded. "But that isn't something you need to worry about. Atticus is not a regular canine and doesn't have the lifespan of a mortal animal."

"Atticus' life is bound to yours. You're linked. If one dies, the other will also die," Charlie explained.

"That means," Renee said gently, "if someone kills Atticus, you will also die."

"But," Nan added, "the chances of that happening are exceedingly rare. Atticus … all familiars … have their own magic and abilities. As we said, familiars are not ordinary animals, and they are exceptionally hard to kill."

Atticus sat up a little straighter and gave a firm nod. "You have nothing to fear, Bella. I have been with you since your birth, and you and I have a long life to live."

Bella nodded. That was a relief. "But what about Max, Dooley, and Lola?" She worried. "I can't lose them! Will they age and die like regular mortal cats?"

Renee sighed. "As it is right now," she said gently, "yes. Though completely loyal to you, Max, Dooley, and Lola are regular cats. Eventually, they will age and die…"

"But," Nan took over, "if you choose to have your magic unbound, that's a different story…"

"Is it that way for all witches, or am I just a special case?"

Renee chuckled. "Your Nan and I are what's known as Nature Witches…"

"Or green witches," Nan added.

"That means we use nature's energy to fuel our power. We are adept at healing spells, nature spells, and potion making."

"But that's not to say our magic can't cause harm and destruction," Nan added. "We can perform powerful feats of magic. It just means we connect more deeply with nature and seek the harmony and peace it provides."

Bella nodded.

"It also means we're more deeply connected to animals," Renee continued. "And those animals who are loyal to a nature witch can be bound to her, much like our familiars."

"So, if you unbind my magic, the cats can stay with me forever?"

"Yes, little moon," Nan smiled happily. "I have a few at home who've been with me for decades."

Renee smiled. "And I have Thadeus and Pip!"

Bella smiled. She adored her mother's lovebirds. They were so cute!

She felt better knowing her animals would never age and die. Well, not if she had her magic unbound. The question was, did she want to be a witch?

୨୧

– Saturday 24 December 2005 –

Bella lay in her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Soft paws prodded at her as little Dooley climbed onto her stomach and made himself comfortable.

"What's taking so long?" He wondered, nudging her arm with his nose. "Don't you want to be magic?"

"I don't know," she admitted.

Witches, as she'd recently learned, were immortal.

If she became a witch, she'd stop aging. She wasn't sure exactly how that worked. Charlie became a hybrid in his late thirties. Though, as that was over three thousand years ago, he couldn't remember his exact age.

Three thousand years…

It was unthinkable!

She couldn't wrap her mind around it.

Three thousand years!

The things he must've seen and done … the stories he could tell … it was baffling.

Her mother was younger. Much, much younger. She was born in 1800 and stopped aging in 1827.

Nan, much like Charlie, was old. She was born in the 10th century and has lived for over a thousand years. She stopped aging at 50, unlike most people who preferred to be young forever. Nan wanted to be older. She told Bella that, as hard as her life had been, she'd enjoyed the aging process. She found it exhilarating and fulfilling and had no regrets waiting to stop her aging.

If Bella had her magic unbound, she would have to decide when to stop aging. But she would also have to accept that she'd live for eternity. And she wasn't sure how she felt about that anymore.

Had she known about this when Edward and the Cullens were around, she would have stopped aging before her eighteenth birthday. But now … the idea of growing up and becoming a mature adult was appealing, more so than it had ever been.

She knew one thing: she did not want to be an eternal teenager.

"I like magic," Dooley told her. "Nan made the flowers in the garden pretty, and she said she knew a spell that would keep my paws dry and warm even in the rain!"

Bella smiled. His excitement was infectious.

The ability to hear and communicate with her animals was bizarre, yet the most amazing gift she could have received. Dooley was so sweet and innocent. Max and Lola were more mature and wiser. Talking to Atticus was entirely different. He was her first and oldest friend. She couldn't describe the bond between them. It was essential. He was part of her soul.

She didn't like the idea of losing any of them, but if she remained mortal, she would. Her mother explained that communicating with her animals was only temporary. She and Nan cast a spell so that she'd be able to hear them, but that wouldn't last much longer. If she lived a mortal life, all her memories of magic would fade over the next few days.

"I don't want you to forget me, momma," Dooley said softly with a long, drawn-out yowl as he cuddled into her.

Bella wrapped her arms around the little kitten, holding him tightly to her chest. "Oh, my little doodlebug. Don't be sad, my love."

He snuffled and cuddled into her embrace. "I love you too much, momma."

Bella held him a little tighter. From the corner of her eye, she could see Max and Lola in the doorway, watching.

She sighed. "I have a feeling I'm being manipulated … by cats!"

Max huffed. "Well, it was worth a try." He sauntered into the bedroom and jumped up onto her bed. Lola made herself comfortable on the pillow set on the rocking chair.

"I told you it wouldn't work," Atticus grumbled, following the cats. "Bella is too smart to be manipulated into something like this…"

Dooley shook his head. "I wasn't faking it, momma. I really do love you and want you to be with me forever and ever and ever and ever…"

"We all want that, Dooley," Atticus said wisely. "But it must be Isabella's decision. She can either have a life with us … full of magic, beauty, and all the excitement and wonder the supernatural world has to offer … or she could have a boring life where she'll get old and wither away in a handful of years…"

Bella looked down at the large dog sitting beside her bed. "Way to stay neutral, Atty…"

He huffed.

Lola looked up from licking her paws. "It's simple, really. Why would you want to be normal … to be mortal … when you could be extraordinary?"

Bella sighed. "But, what If I'm not…"

"Not what?"

"Extraordinary…" She frowned. "Everyone seems to think I'm this all-time powerful wonder witch … what if it turns out I'm … I'm just me … just Bella…"

"You won't be!" Max shook his head.

"Max is correct," Atticus nodded. "It's rare for children to tap into their magic at such an early age, but you did! You were levitating your toys when you were six months old. You could teleport before you could walk! At two, you were conjuring items … non-verbally, I might add. At three, you were healing injured animals in the garden. And when you were four years old, your telepathy was so powerful you already had a range of four miles … a feat that even Edward Cullen—a hundred-year-old vampire—could not achieve! You were brilliant then, and you will be again, Isabella."

"Wow," she whispered. "I could teleport?"

Atticus nodded. "Well, back then, you couldn't go far. Teleporting takes time and practice. Once you reach your maturity, it'll be much easier and take far less energy. But before that happens, you'll need to be careful how far you go."

"But eventually, it would mean we could travel wherever we want without going on a plane…"

Now, that was a thrilling prospect! Bella loved to travel, but she hated flying. And she really didn't like the idea of leaving her animals in the cargo hold.

"Are there drawbacks to being a witch and living for eternity?"

"There are positives and negatives to everything in life," Atticus answered wisely. "You're a born hybrid. There's never been another like you, so I can't say how magic will affect you. For regular witches, magic can be taxing on the body. Charlie doesn't suffer those side effects … though that could be because of his age and experience more than his species…"

"Will I need to drink blood?"

"I don't know," Atticus answered. "I don't think anyone can know what will happen because there's never been someone like you…"

"You just have to take the plunge," Max added. "Let your parents guide you and take life one step at a time…"

"No matter what happens," Lola purred, her deep blue eyes meeting Bella's, "you'll always have us."

Max nodded. "And the Chief, mama Renee, and Nan. We'll be together forever! All of us, a family."

Bella smiled at that thought. Maybe immortality wouldn't be such a bad thing. Despite the Cullen's abandonment and the pain it caused her, she still had her family and her animals. With Edward leaving, she gained real friends she could depend on and was starting to regain her life and health. For the first time since she moved to Forks, she felt good … she felt like herself again.

Well, partially.

She'd always felt like something was missing, but she'd never been able to pinpoint the reason. Perhaps it was the loss of herself … her species … her identity … her very being … that left her feeling as if she didn't belong in the world.

She knew her parents and Nan didn't do this maliciously, and she wasn't upset with them. She saw what they went through when Charlie shared his memories with her. They bound her magic to protect her. That's what parents do. They protect their children.

Now she had the chance to regain the missing parts of herself. She could take back her life and become whoever she was destined to be.

Thinking about it like that … it didn't sound so bad.