Waiting For Your Essence - Part 3
Waiting For Your Essence
Prologue
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
The air was cool, the gardens dying as winter began to take hold. It was nearing dark, the day's promise of sun sliding away beyond the horizon, casting a hazy, golden glow that was fading fast.
She glanced down at the gravel crunching beneath her feet. She was wearing delicate leather shoes, just visible beneath the swish of her long, full skirts.
She wanted to pause, take in the surroundings, study things while there was a little light left, but she found herself moving forward, deeper into the gardens. The precise edging and trimmed hedges gave way to a wilder, more natural setting until she stood at the edge of a lake, staring at the odd ring of stones she'd seen from the bedroom window.
There was a hum in the air, a vibration that she could feel in her bones as she walked into the circle and swayed for a moment at the power that seemed to wash over her. She moved to the large, flat stone that lay in the center of the circle and found her lips moving in words that she couldn't comprehend as she knelt on the stone as though in supplication.
Although her eyes were closed, she could feel the breeze swirling around her, lifting tendrils of hair and teasingly plucking at the shawl draped around her arms. She felt enveloped and warm and content as she knelt there.
Then the breeze was gone and she opened her eyes to find that night had fallen. The moon had risen, reflecting on the surface of the water. She rose and made her way to the lake's edge, listening to the quiet lapping of the water.
She sensed his presence before she heard his footfalls, slipping from the edge of the woods.
“Did you have trouble getting away?”
He gave a low chuckle behind her as his hand traced up her neck, the touch familiar and welcome. He leaned closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “A bit, but I told you, mo chroí, that I would come, did I not? You and I were not meant to be parted.”
She leaned back against his broad chest as he encircled her waist, smiling as he swayed her slightly to the tune he hummed against her neck. She raised her hand, unfastening the buttons at the high collar and peeling them away.
“Drink me, love. I want to know you carry some of me with you,” she offered.
He stilled for a moment, the humming ceased. “Are you sure?”
She nodded, tilting her head again. “Please. I'm yours.”
She watched their reflection in the water, two barely discernible figures wrapped so closely together, as the initial pain of his invasion faded into the connection she never wanted to end.
\/ \/
Bella's eyes darted open and she lifted her head from the desk, bolting upright as she rubbed the crick in the back of her neck from the awkward position she'd slept in, half-inclined across the desk.
She shouldn't have read that book - it just put more stupid dreams in her head. She was going to have to go and talk with her grandmother again - this had to be some really bad hoax. These sorts of things just didn't happen.
This last dream hadn't been like the others though. She'd felt the connection that was always there, but the push and pull that made her feel as though she was being ripped apart was gone. Instead there had been a different emotion and energy, one that made her feel . . . loved.
The illuminated dial of her alarm clock displayed the late hour, and Bella stood up, stretching and feeling her heart rate slowing as she hastily changed into a t-shirt to sleep in and staggered towards the bed.
She paused at the window and glanced down into the parking lot, her body frozen motionless as she saw the figure standing below beneath a lamppost, gaze firmly fixed on her window.
It was him.
She gripped the edge of the windowsill, eyes locked with his as she felt the longing roll through her body, the sudden overwhelming desire to run to him. She watched as his perfect lips moved, mouthing one word.
"Soon."
She inhaled sharply, and closed her eyes. When she opened them, there was nothing below but a parking lot of empty cars. She rubbed her eyes, grabbed her blanket and pillow, and hurried back to the floor lounge to hide.
\/ \/
"Rough weekend, Bells?" Rose asked, as she dropped her bag on her bed. "You look like you've barely slept."
Bella glanced up from the textbook she had propped up in front of her that she'd been staring at blindly for hours. "It was alright. Just nervous about this exam coming up."
Rose pulled an item from her bag and turned around. "Well, I went shopping this weekend and found the perfect Halloween costume for you!" She held up a long flowing skirt and a brightly patterned scarf. "Gypsy! It'll look great with your dark hair, and it's easy. I got the same thing." She held up another skirt. "In fact, a whole group of us are going to dress the same and go out together on Saturday night - hit all the parties."
Bella glanced at the items and shrugged. "I don't know, Rose."
"C'mon, Bella. You need to take a night off. I know it's been a tough semester, but this might do you some good. You know it'll be fun," Rose pleaded. "Oh, and you have to come with us tomorrow - we all need to go out to that shop. You know, the one where you can get your palm read? We thought we'd get some crystals and stuff to go with our outfits. Somebody told me the fortune teller there is a real witch. Creepy, right?"
A real witch. Talk about your magic words. Bella closed her book. "Count me in."
\/ \/
The bell on the front door jangled, its harshness making Bella jump as she followed the others into the shop. From the outside it was unassuming, a tiny old house on the corner, dollhouse perfect with its white picket fence and window boxes of brightly blooming fall flowers.
The inside was more what she'd expected. The front room felt dark and heavy with its richly patterned drapes lining the walls and blocking out the sunlight. There were racks of charms, and the requisite crystals and palmistry charts displayed around the room.
She heard the giggles of the girl in front of her and looked up to see a gorgeous guy who looked to be in his mid-twenties, golden hair and blue eyes twinkling at them as he held out a hand to Jessica in front.
"Good afternoon. I'm Jasper, the proprietor of this fine shop. What can I help you lovely ladies with today?"
"You can help me with anything you want," murmured Lauren quietly, and Rose turned to frown at her.
"We have a wide array of mystical items to aid you - crystals for health, tarot cards, even a few love potions - not that any of you would need such a thing." He winked at them and the crowd gave a collective sigh. "But if it's your future you seek, Madame Mina is available for appointments this afternoon as well."
"Oh, we're just looking for a few things," Rose announced.
Bella stepped forward before she lost her nerve. "I'd like to see Madame Mina, please."
Ignoring the strange look from Rose, she waited patiently while Jasper left to go get the psychic. She watched the other girls mill about until she heard the sound of small heels clicking down the hallway from the rear.
"Good afternoon, and what can Madame Mina do for you today?"
The woman was tiny, her short, dark hair a cloud around her pale face, gold bangle earrings jingling slightly as she surveyed the room, then zeroed in on Bella.
"You. You require my assistance."
Bella nodded, and followed her silently down the hallway to a small room. Madame Mina opened the door to reveal more dark draperies blocking the light. There was a tiny table inside holding a crystal ball that was flanked with a few chairs.
Bella sat in the spot Mina gestured her to, clasping her hands nervously as the psychic took her own seat and held out her hand to her.
"Why don't we start by reading your palm?"
Bella nodded and placed her hand awkwardly on the table in front of her. Madame Mina leaned forward, her fingers starting to trace across the lines, when she suddenly jerked back with a jolt and stared up at Bella in disbelief.
"Why are you really here?"
Bella shook her head. "I don't know. I just need to know what's going to happen to me."
"Do you have any idea what kind of power is running through you?" Madame Mina shook her head. "You're not practicing, are you?"
"Practicing?" Bella asked.
"You're a witch, my dear. A hereditary one - the strongest kind. You do know that, don't you?" She paused, her head cocked to the side like a small bird as she leaned forward and grasped Bella's hand more firmly. "Oh my, you don't know. And something's looming. Your aura . . . it's disrupted."
"It's a vampire, I think," Bella choked out. "I know that sounds crazy, but my grandmother gave me this book, and I'm having these dreams, and I think he's coming for me."
The words began to tumble out before she could halt them, the dreams of the vampire, the terrible longing she felt, the book recording the experiences of so many women who'd been visited in the same way. She stopped finally, feeling drained and embarrassed at recounting such a ludicrous tale, yet somehow relieved.
Madame Mina leaned back, her eyes wide. "Bella, why don't we meet later, when we can really talk? Come back after we close, about six. My name's Alice, by the way."
"Alice?" Bella echoed.
She shrugged. "Jasper and I decided that Alice didn't sound very awe-inspiring for a psychic."
"And are you?" Bella asked. "Psychic?"
Alice nodded. "All my life. It's a blessing and a curse at times. I'm also a practicing witch, though I'm not hereditary, like you."
"What does that even mean?" Bella asked. "I don't understand any of this."
Alice glanced towards the door. "It's more than I can explain right now, but come back tonight and we'll talk more."
\/ \/
"So, is there a tall, dark, and handsome in your future?" Rose asked, after she emerged from the rear of the shop and joined the others.
"You could say that," Bella replied. "I'm just not sure he's my type."
"Ohh, Bella's gonna have a mystery man," Rose announced. "It's about time!"
Bella smiled tightly, glad when the attention shifted away from her and on to other topics about upcoming parties and costumes for Saturday night.
It was nearly five by the time they reached the dorm. Bella grabbed her bookbag and tossed a few books inside before carefully adding the wooden box. She picked up her car keys and slid them in her pocket.
"Rose, I'm going to go study in the library for a few hours. I've got a paper coming up I need to do research for. I may be a while though."
“You want me to come with?” Rose tossed the campus newspaper towards her. “Have you seen the latest headlines? They think that girl was kidnapped or something. The one that went missing - Amy Moore.” She shivered. “I hope she's alright, but you can't help but think the worst now. It's been a couple of weeks.”
Bella picked up the newspaper and skimmed the headline. No Leads on Student Disappearance. She'd been so preoccupied of late she'd barely paid attention to the story, though it seemed to be the main thing everyone on campus was talking about. “Rose, maybe she just needed to get away for a little while. This friend they interviewed says that she was seeing someone new. Maybe they just took a trip or something.”
“A new guy that the friend never met,” Rose responded “And this Amy was apparently not the type to hit the road with some guy she just started seeing. There's a girl in my Econ class who knew her. She said Amy was totally uptight, studied all the time because she was on scholarship and couldn't afford to lose it. She never even skipped class.”
Bella shrugged. “Well, I hope she's okay and this is all just a mistake. And I'll be fine, Rose. I'm just going to the library and back, and I don't have any mysterious new boyfriend.”
“You know you can call Emmett if you need him to walk you home, right? He won't mind.”
Rolling her eyes, Bella headed for the door. “I'll keep that in mind, Mom.” She stopped on her way out. “Thanks, Rose. For trying to take care of me.”
Rose snorted. “Yeah, I just don't want to find out if those urban myths about getting all As for the semester because your roommate dies are true. You know I hate getting things I don't earn.”
“Whatever,” Bella laughed. “See you later.”
She shut the door behind her, and walked out of the door, heading to her car as dusk began to gather. If Rose really knew where she was going, she'd probably drag her over to the hospital for a psych consult. A couple of weeks ago, she'd probably have agreed with her roommate. But what had happened today, the way Alice had known things before she'd ever told her, it had shaken her up. And tonight she was going to get some answers.
Bella stopped for coffee, watching the clock tick by until it was close enough to the appointed hour that she wouldn't appear too early. The drive back to the small shop was short, and she noted that the lights were off and a small closed sign hung in the window as she parked on the street. As Alice had directed, she made her way around to the back of the house.
The door opened at her knock, and Jasper smiled down at her.
"Bella, come and join us. Alice said you would be stopping by."
"Thanks," she replied, suddenly nervous.
"You came back!" Alice exclaimed, looking more relaxed in a fitted t-shirt and jeans, her jewelry now gone.
"I had to," Bella replied honestly. "I brought the box and the things my grandmother gave me." She sat down her bag and carefully pulled it out to sit on the table before them.
Alice reached out a finger and traced the design. "It's a Dara knot, isn't it Jasper?"
He leaned forward and studied it. "Yes. It's a symbol of power and destiny."
"What was the name of your ancestors, Bella?"
"The Morans. The girl in the journal, the first one, her name was Maeve. She never says what her mother's name is though, she just calls her Mamai."
"The Morans. Wait just a minute." Jasper snapped his fingers and left the room.
Alice smiled after him fondly. "He's something of a historian of the supernatural. He collects references, and he's written some articles on the side, though his advisor keeps trying to convince him to stop or at least use another name." She carefully opened the box lid and removed the talisman and book.
"His advisor?" Bella asked.
Alice nodded. "He's working on his doctorate in history."
Jasper returned with a battered volume. "I knew I recognized that name. There's a chapter in this history about the Morans. Aisling Moran was the leader of their coven at its height - towards the end of the 1700s. It was family lineage - did Alice explain that to you?"
Bella shook her head.
"There are two types of witches," Alice explained. "Most people who practice, like myself, learn to draw power from the earth. It requires rigor and devotion - but it doesn't come naturally."
"But I thought you said you were psychic?" Bella asked.
"I did," Alice replied patiently. "That's something different - it runs in my family the way witchcraft runs in yours. You're the second type, Bella. Some people are born with it in their blood. Blood is power - it come naturally. There's still a need to train and practice to learn to channel that energy, but it's innate."
"After Alice told me about your story, Bella, I did some research," Jasper said. "Blood witches are very rare, because despite their power, they're often a target - their blood is fuel for others as well."
"Like vampires," Bella breathed out.
"Exactly," Jasper agreed. "From what I was able to find - and of course you understand that most witches are very circumspect about practicing, so recorded history is limited and closely guarded - but your family, under your many times great-grandmother Aisling, had assembled a group of blood witches that had gathered for protection. She'd become very powerful, and very wealthy. She married an Englishman who owned a substantial estate in Ireland, and after his death, she managed to retain control of the property. She had two daughters - Maeve was the oldest, and then a younger daughter named Emma."
"So what happened to Maeve?" Bella asked.
Jasper shook his head. "It's not clear - Aisling is reported as dying in 1804, and the coven broke apart, although its power had been waning before that. One of my special interests is vampire lore, however, and there was a conflict between warring vampire clans during that time in Ireland as well - perhaps the leader was looking for a way to enhance his own power."
“In the book, Maeve writes that her mother's trying to make some kind of deal with this Cullen vampire, and she thinks he just wants her blood,” Bella said.
Jasper looked thoughtful. “That would fit.”
"Bella, we think that somehow the vampire used a thrall to try to persuade Aisling to make this match, and perhaps even to seduce Maeve in the end. Maybe they've been able to continue this with the women in your family through some means," Alice explained.
"A thrall? What does that mean?" Bella asked.
"It's a type of trance, a way of bending a person's mind to the will of the vampire. It takes years to perfect that skill though - if they were using a form of thrall, perhaps Aisling underestimated the vampire she was dealing with."
"So what do I do?" Bella asked.
Jasper and Alice exchanged glances. "We have an idea."Part 3
The air was cool, the gardens dying as winter began to take hold. It was nearing dark, the day's promise of sun sliding away beyond the horizon, casting a hazy, golden glow that was fading fast.
She glanced down at the gravel crunching beneath her feet. She was wearing delicate leather shoes, just visible beneath the swish of her long, full skirts.
She wanted to pause, take in the surroundings, study things while there was a little light left, but she found herself moving forward, deeper into the gardens. The precise edging and trimmed hedges gave way to a wilder, more natural setting until she stood at the edge of a lake, staring at the odd ring of stones she'd seen from the bedroom window.
There was a hum in the air, a vibration that she could feel in her bones as she walked into the circle and swayed for a moment at the power that seemed to wash over her. She moved to the large, flat stone that lay in the center of the circle and found her lips moving in words that she couldn't comprehend as she knelt on the stone as though in supplication.
Although her eyes were closed, she could feel the breeze swirling around her, lifting tendrils of hair and teasingly plucking at the shawl draped around her arms. She felt enveloped and warm and content as she knelt there.
Then the breeze was gone and she opened her eyes to find that night had fallen. The moon had risen, reflecting on the surface of the water. She rose and made her way to the lake's edge, listening to the quiet lapping of the water.
She sensed his presence before she heard his footfalls, slipping from the edge of the woods.
“Did you have trouble getting away?”
He gave a low chuckle behind her as his hand traced up her neck, the touch familiar and welcome. He leaned closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “A bit, but I told you, mo chroí, that I would come, did I not? You and I were not meant to be parted.”
She leaned back against his broad chest as he encircled her waist, smiling as he swayed her slightly to the tune he hummed against her neck. She raised her hand, unfastening the buttons at the high collar and peeling them away.
“Drink me, love. I want to know you carry some of me with you,” she offered.
He stilled for a moment, the humming ceased. “Are you sure?”
She nodded, tilting her head again. “Please. I'm yours.”
She watched their reflection in the water, two barely discernible figures wrapped so closely together, as the initial pain of his invasion faded into the connection she never wanted to end.
\/ \/
Bella's eyes darted open and she lifted her head from the desk, bolting upright as she rubbed the crick in the back of her neck from the awkward position she'd slept in, half-inclined across the desk.
She shouldn't have read that book - it just put more stupid dreams in her head. She was going to have to go and talk with her grandmother again - this had to be some really bad hoax. These sorts of things just didn't happen.
This last dream hadn't been like the others though. She'd felt the connection that was always there, but the push and pull that made her feel as though she was being ripped apart was gone. Instead there had been a different emotion and energy, one that made her feel . . . loved.
The illuminated dial of her alarm clock displayed the late hour, and Bella stood up, stretching and feeling her heart rate slowing as she hastily changed into a t-shirt to sleep in and staggered towards the bed.
She paused at the window and glanced down into the parking lot, her body frozen motionless as she saw the figure standing below beneath a lamppost, gaze firmly fixed on her window.
It was him.
She gripped the edge of the windowsill, eyes locked with his as she felt the longing roll through her body, the sudden overwhelming desire to run to him. She watched as his perfect lips moved, mouthing one word.
"Soon."
She inhaled sharply, and closed her eyes. When she opened them, there was nothing below but a parking lot of empty cars. She rubbed her eyes, grabbed her blanket and pillow, and hurried back to the floor lounge to hide.
\/ \/
"Rough weekend, Bells?" Rose asked, as she dropped her bag on her bed. "You look like you've barely slept."
Bella glanced up from the textbook she had propped up in front of her that she'd been staring at blindly for hours. "It was alright. Just nervous about this exam coming up."
Rose pulled an item from her bag and turned around. "Well, I went shopping this weekend and found the perfect Halloween costume for you!" She held up a long flowing skirt and a brightly patterned scarf. "Gypsy! It'll look great with your dark hair, and it's easy. I got the same thing." She held up another skirt. "In fact, a whole group of us are going to dress the same and go out together on Saturday night - hit all the parties."
Bella glanced at the items and shrugged. "I don't know, Rose."
"C'mon, Bella. You need to take a night off. I know it's been a tough semester, but this might do you some good. You know it'll be fun," Rose pleaded. "Oh, and you have to come with us tomorrow - we all need to go out to that shop. You know, the one where you can get your palm read? We thought we'd get some crystals and stuff to go with our outfits. Somebody told me the fortune teller there is a real witch. Creepy, right?"
A real witch. Talk about your magic words. Bella closed her book. "Count me in."
\/ \/
The bell on the front door jangled, its harshness making Bella jump as she followed the others into the shop. From the outside it was unassuming, a tiny old house on the corner, dollhouse perfect with its white picket fence and window boxes of brightly blooming fall flowers.
The inside was more what she'd expected. The front room felt dark and heavy with its richly patterned drapes lining the walls and blocking out the sunlight. There were racks of charms, and the requisite crystals and palmistry charts displayed around the room.
She heard the giggles of the girl in front of her and looked up to see a gorgeous guy who looked to be in his mid-twenties, golden hair and blue eyes twinkling at them as he held out a hand to Jessica in front.
"Good afternoon. I'm Jasper, the proprietor of this fine shop. What can I help you lovely ladies with today?"
"You can help me with anything you want," murmured Lauren quietly, and Rose turned to frown at her.
"We have a wide array of mystical items to aid you - crystals for health, tarot cards, even a few love potions - not that any of you would need such a thing." He winked at them and the crowd gave a collective sigh. "But if it's your future you seek, Madame Mina is available for appointments this afternoon as well."
"Oh, we're just looking for a few things," Rose announced.
Bella stepped forward before she lost her nerve. "I'd like to see Madame Mina, please."
Ignoring the strange look from Rose, she waited patiently while Jasper left to go get the psychic. She watched the other girls mill about until she heard the sound of small heels clicking down the hallway from the rear.
"Good afternoon, and what can Madame Mina do for you today?"
The woman was tiny, her short, dark hair a cloud around her pale face, gold bangle earrings jingling slightly as she surveyed the room, then zeroed in on Bella.
"You. You require my assistance."
Bella nodded, and followed her silently down the hallway to a small room. Madame Mina opened the door to reveal more dark draperies blocking the light. There was a tiny table inside holding a crystal ball that was flanked with a few chairs.
Bella sat in the spot Mina gestured her to, clasping her hands nervously as the psychic took her own seat and held out her hand to her.
"Why don't we start by reading your palm?"
Bella nodded and placed her hand awkwardly on the table in front of her. Madame Mina leaned forward, her fingers starting to trace across the lines, when she suddenly jerked back with a jolt and stared up at Bella in disbelief.
"Why are you really here?"
Bella shook her head. "I don't know. I just need to know what's going to happen to me."
"Do you have any idea what kind of power is running through you?" Madame Mina shook her head. "You're not practicing, are you?"
"Practicing?" Bella asked.
"You're a witch, my dear. A hereditary one - the strongest kind. You do know that, don't you?" She paused, her head cocked to the side like a small bird as she leaned forward and grasped Bella's hand more firmly. "Oh my, you don't know. And something's looming. Your aura . . . it's disrupted."
"It's a vampire, I think," Bella choked out. "I know that sounds crazy, but my grandmother gave me this book, and I'm having these dreams, and I think he's coming for me."
The words began to tumble out before she could halt them, the dreams of the vampire, the terrible longing she felt, the book recording the experiences of so many women who'd been visited in the same way. She stopped finally, feeling drained and embarrassed at recounting such a ludicrous tale, yet somehow relieved.
Madame Mina leaned back, her eyes wide. "Bella, why don't we meet later, when we can really talk? Come back after we close, about six. My name's Alice, by the way."
"Alice?" Bella echoed.
She shrugged. "Jasper and I decided that Alice didn't sound very awe-inspiring for a psychic."
"And are you?" Bella asked. "Psychic?"
Alice nodded. "All my life. It's a blessing and a curse at times. I'm also a practicing witch, though I'm not hereditary, like you."
"What does that even mean?" Bella asked. "I don't understand any of this."
Alice glanced towards the door. "It's more than I can explain right now, but come back tonight and we'll talk more."
\/ \/
"So, is there a tall, dark, and handsome in your future?" Rose asked, after she emerged from the rear of the shop and joined the others.
"You could say that," Bella replied. "I'm just not sure he's my type."
"Ohh, Bella's gonna have a mystery man," Rose announced. "It's about time!"
Bella smiled tightly, glad when the attention shifted away from her and on to other topics about upcoming parties and costumes for Saturday night.
It was nearly five by the time they reached the dorm. Bella grabbed her bookbag and tossed a few books inside before carefully adding the wooden box. She picked up her car keys and slid them in her pocket.
"Rose, I'm going to go study in the library for a few hours. I've got a paper coming up I need to do research for. I may be a while though."
“You want me to come with?” Rose tossed the campus newspaper towards her. “Have you seen the latest headlines? They think that girl was kidnapped or something. The one that went missing - Amy Moore.” She shivered. “I hope she's alright, but you can't help but think the worst now. It's been a couple of weeks.”
Bella picked up the newspaper and skimmed the headline. No Leads on Student Disappearance. She'd been so preoccupied of late she'd barely paid attention to the story, though it seemed to be the main thing everyone on campus was talking about. “Rose, maybe she just needed to get away for a little while. This friend they interviewed says that she was seeing someone new. Maybe they just took a trip or something.”
“A new guy that the friend never met,” Rose responded “And this Amy was apparently not the type to hit the road with some guy she just started seeing. There's a girl in my Econ class who knew her. She said Amy was totally uptight, studied all the time because she was on scholarship and couldn't afford to lose it. She never even skipped class.”
Bella shrugged. “Well, I hope she's okay and this is all just a mistake. And I'll be fine, Rose. I'm just going to the library and back, and I don't have any mysterious new boyfriend.”
“You know you can call Emmett if you need him to walk you home, right? He won't mind.”
Rolling her eyes, Bella headed for the door. “I'll keep that in mind, Mom.” She stopped on her way out. “Thanks, Rose. For trying to take care of me.”
Rose snorted. “Yeah, I just don't want to find out if those urban myths about getting all As for the semester because your roommate dies are true. You know I hate getting things I don't earn.”
“Whatever,” Bella laughed. “See you later.”
She shut the door behind her, and walked out of the door, heading to her car as dusk began to gather. If Rose really knew where she was going, she'd probably drag her over to the hospital for a psych consult. A couple of weeks ago, she'd probably have agreed with her roommate. But what had happened today, the way Alice had known things before she'd ever told her, it had shaken her up. And tonight she was going to get some answers.
Bella stopped for coffee, watching the clock tick by until it was close enough to the appointed hour that she wouldn't appear too early. The drive back to the small shop was short, and she noted that the lights were off and a small closed sign hung in the window as she parked on the street. As Alice had directed, she made her way around to the back of the house.
The door opened at her knock, and Jasper smiled down at her.
"Bella, come and join us. Alice said you would be stopping by."
"Thanks," she replied, suddenly nervous.
"You came back!" Alice exclaimed, looking more relaxed in a fitted t-shirt and jeans, her jewelry now gone.
"I had to," Bella replied honestly. "I brought the box and the things my grandmother gave me." She sat down her bag and carefully pulled it out to sit on the table before them.
Alice reached out a finger and traced the design. "It's a Dara knot, isn't it Jasper?"
He leaned forward and studied it. "Yes. It's a symbol of power and destiny."
"What was the name of your ancestors, Bella?"
"The Morans. The girl in the journal, the first one, her name was Maeve. She never says what her mother's name is though, she just calls her Mamai."
"The Morans. Wait just a minute." Jasper snapped his fingers and left the room.
Alice smiled after him fondly. "He's something of a historian of the supernatural. He collects references, and he's written some articles on the side, though his advisor keeps trying to convince him to stop or at least use another name." She carefully opened the box lid and removed the talisman and book.
"His advisor?" Bella asked.
Alice nodded. "He's working on his doctorate in history."
Jasper returned with a battered volume. "I knew I recognized that name. There's a chapter in this history about the Morans. Aisling Moran was the leader of their coven at its height - towards the end of the 1700s. It was family lineage - did Alice explain that to you?"
Bella shook her head.
"There are two types of witches," Alice explained. "Most people who practice, like myself, learn to draw power from the earth. It requires rigor and devotion - but it doesn't come naturally."
"But I thought you said you were psychic?" Bella asked.
"I did," Alice replied patiently. "That's something different - it runs in my family the way witchcraft runs in yours. You're the second type, Bella. Some people are born with it in their blood. Blood is power - it come naturally. There's still a need to train and practice to learn to channel that energy, but it's innate."
"After Alice told me about your story, Bella, I did some research," Jasper said. "Blood witches are very rare, because despite their power, they're often a target - their blood is fuel for others as well."
"Like vampires," Bella breathed out.
"Exactly," Jasper agreed. "From what I was able to find - and of course you understand that most witches are very circumspect about practicing, so recorded history is limited and closely guarded - but your family, under your many times great-grandmother Aisling, had assembled a group of blood witches that had gathered for protection. She'd become very powerful, and very wealthy. She married an Englishman who owned a substantial estate in Ireland, and after his death, she managed to retain control of the property. She had two daughters - Maeve was the oldest, and then a younger daughter named Emma."
"So what happened to Maeve?" Bella asked.
Jasper shook his head. "It's not clear - Aisling is reported as dying in 1804, and the coven broke apart, although its power had been waning before that. One of my special interests is vampire lore, however, and there was a conflict between warring vampire clans during that time in Ireland as well - perhaps the leader was looking for a way to enhance his own power."
“In the book, Maeve writes that her mother's trying to make some kind of deal with this Cullen vampire, and she thinks he just wants her blood,” Bella said.
Jasper looked thoughtful. “That would fit.”
"Bella, we think that somehow the vampire used a thrall to try to persuade Aisling to make this match, and perhaps even to seduce Maeve in the end. Maybe they've been able to continue this with the women in your family through some means," Alice explained.
"A thrall? What does that mean?" Bella asked.
"It's a type of trance, a way of bending a person's mind to the will of the vampire. It takes years to perfect that skill though - if they were using a form of thrall, perhaps Aisling underestimated the vampire she was dealing with."
"So what do I do?" Bella asked.
Jasper and Alice exchanged glances. "We have an idea."
Prologue
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
The air was cool, the gardens dying as winter began to take hold. It was nearing dark, the day's promise of sun sliding away beyond the horizon, casting a hazy, golden glow that was fading fast.
She glanced down at the gravel crunching beneath her feet. She was wearing delicate leather shoes, just visible beneath the swish of her long, full skirts.
She wanted to pause, take in the surroundings, study things while there was a little light left, but she found herself moving forward, deeper into the gardens. The precise edging and trimmed hedges gave way to a wilder, more natural setting until she stood at the edge of a lake, staring at the odd ring of stones she'd seen from the bedroom window.
There was a hum in the air, a vibration that she could feel in her bones as she walked into the circle and swayed for a moment at the power that seemed to wash over her. She moved to the large, flat stone that lay in the center of the circle and found her lips moving in words that she couldn't comprehend as she knelt on the stone as though in supplication.
Although her eyes were closed, she could feel the breeze swirling around her, lifting tendrils of hair and teasingly plucking at the shawl draped around her arms. She felt enveloped and warm and content as she knelt there.
Then the breeze was gone and she opened her eyes to find that night had fallen. The moon had risen, reflecting on the surface of the water. She rose and made her way to the lake's edge, listening to the quiet lapping of the water.
She sensed his presence before she heard his footfalls, slipping from the edge of the woods.
“Did you have trouble getting away?”
He gave a low chuckle behind her as his hand traced up her neck, the touch familiar and welcome. He leaned closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “A bit, but I told you, mo chroí, that I would come, did I not? You and I were not meant to be parted.”
She leaned back against his broad chest as he encircled her waist, smiling as he swayed her slightly to the tune he hummed against her neck. She raised her hand, unfastening the buttons at the high collar and peeling them away.
“Drink me, love. I want to know you carry some of me with you,” she offered.
He stilled for a moment, the humming ceased. “Are you sure?”
She nodded, tilting her head again. “Please. I'm yours.”
She watched their reflection in the water, two barely discernible figures wrapped so closely together, as the initial pain of his invasion faded into the connection she never wanted to end.
\/ \/
Bella's eyes darted open and she lifted her head from the desk, bolting upright as she rubbed the crick in the back of her neck from the awkward position she'd slept in, half-inclined across the desk.
She shouldn't have read that book - it just put more stupid dreams in her head. She was going to have to go and talk with her grandmother again - this had to be some really bad hoax. These sorts of things just didn't happen.
This last dream hadn't been like the others though. She'd felt the connection that was always there, but the push and pull that made her feel as though she was being ripped apart was gone. Instead there had been a different emotion and energy, one that made her feel . . . loved.
The illuminated dial of her alarm clock displayed the late hour, and Bella stood up, stretching and feeling her heart rate slowing as she hastily changed into a t-shirt to sleep in and staggered towards the bed.
She paused at the window and glanced down into the parking lot, her body frozen motionless as she saw the figure standing below beneath a lamppost, gaze firmly fixed on her window.
It was him.
She gripped the edge of the windowsill, eyes locked with his as she felt the longing roll through her body, the sudden overwhelming desire to run to him. She watched as his perfect lips moved, mouthing one word.
"Soon."
She inhaled sharply, and closed her eyes. When she opened them, there was nothing below but a parking lot of empty cars. She rubbed her eyes, grabbed her blanket and pillow, and hurried back to the floor lounge to hide.
\/ \/
"Rough weekend, Bells?" Rose asked, as she dropped her bag on her bed. "You look like you've barely slept."
Bella glanced up from the textbook she had propped up in front of her that she'd been staring at blindly for hours. "It was alright. Just nervous about this exam coming up."
Rose pulled an item from her bag and turned around. "Well, I went shopping this weekend and found the perfect Halloween costume for you!" She held up a long flowing skirt and a brightly patterned scarf. "Gypsy! It'll look great with your dark hair, and it's easy. I got the same thing." She held up another skirt. "In fact, a whole group of us are going to dress the same and go out together on Saturday night - hit all the parties."
Bella glanced at the items and shrugged. "I don't know, Rose."
"C'mon, Bella. You need to take a night off. I know it's been a tough semester, but this might do you some good. You know it'll be fun," Rose pleaded. "Oh, and you have to come with us tomorrow - we all need to go out to that shop. You know, the one where you can get your palm read? We thought we'd get some crystals and stuff to go with our outfits. Somebody told me the fortune teller there is a real witch. Creepy, right?"
A real witch. Talk about your magic words. Bella closed her book. "Count me in."
\/ \/
The bell on the front door jangled, its harshness making Bella jump as she followed the others into the shop. From the outside it was unassuming, a tiny old house on the corner, dollhouse perfect with its white picket fence and window boxes of brightly blooming fall flowers.
The inside was more what she'd expected. The front room felt dark and heavy with its richly patterned drapes lining the walls and blocking out the sunlight. There were racks of charms, and the requisite crystals and palmistry charts displayed around the room.
She heard the giggles of the girl in front of her and looked up to see a gorgeous guy who looked to be in his mid-twenties, golden hair and blue eyes twinkling at them as he held out a hand to Jessica in front.
"Good afternoon. I'm Jasper, the proprietor of this fine shop. What can I help you lovely ladies with today?"
"You can help me with anything you want," murmured Lauren quietly, and Rose turned to frown at her.
"We have a wide array of mystical items to aid you - crystals for health, tarot cards, even a few love potions - not that any of you would need such a thing." He winked at them and the crowd gave a collective sigh. "But if it's your future you seek, Madame Mina is available for appointments this afternoon as well."
"Oh, we're just looking for a few things," Rose announced.
Bella stepped forward before she lost her nerve. "I'd like to see Madame Mina, please."
Ignoring the strange look from Rose, she waited patiently while Jasper left to go get the psychic. She watched the other girls mill about until she heard the sound of small heels clicking down the hallway from the rear.
"Good afternoon, and what can Madame Mina do for you today?"
The woman was tiny, her short, dark hair a cloud around her pale face, gold bangle earrings jingling slightly as she surveyed the room, then zeroed in on Bella.
"You. You require my assistance."
Bella nodded, and followed her silently down the hallway to a small room. Madame Mina opened the door to reveal more dark draperies blocking the light. There was a tiny table inside holding a crystal ball that was flanked with a few chairs.
Bella sat in the spot Mina gestured her to, clasping her hands nervously as the psychic took her own seat and held out her hand to her.
"Why don't we start by reading your palm?"
Bella nodded and placed her hand awkwardly on the table in front of her. Madame Mina leaned forward, her fingers starting to trace across the lines, when she suddenly jerked back with a jolt and stared up at Bella in disbelief.
"Why are you really here?"
Bella shook her head. "I don't know. I just need to know what's going to happen to me."
"Do you have any idea what kind of power is running through you?" Madame Mina shook her head. "You're not practicing, are you?"
"Practicing?" Bella asked.
"You're a witch, my dear. A hereditary one - the strongest kind. You do know that, don't you?" She paused, her head cocked to the side like a small bird as she leaned forward and grasped Bella's hand more firmly. "Oh my, you don't know. And something's looming. Your aura . . . it's disrupted."
"It's a vampire, I think," Bella choked out. "I know that sounds crazy, but my grandmother gave me this book, and I'm having these dreams, and I think he's coming for me."
The words began to tumble out before she could halt them, the dreams of the vampire, the terrible longing she felt, the book recording the experiences of so many women who'd been visited in the same way. She stopped finally, feeling drained and embarrassed at recounting such a ludicrous tale, yet somehow relieved.
Madame Mina leaned back, her eyes wide. "Bella, why don't we meet later, when we can really talk? Come back after we close, about six. My name's Alice, by the way."
"Alice?" Bella echoed.
She shrugged. "Jasper and I decided that Alice didn't sound very awe-inspiring for a psychic."
"And are you?" Bella asked. "Psychic?"
Alice nodded. "All my life. It's a blessing and a curse at times. I'm also a practicing witch, though I'm not hereditary, like you."
"What does that even mean?" Bella asked. "I don't understand any of this."
Alice glanced towards the door. "It's more than I can explain right now, but come back tonight and we'll talk more."
\/ \/
"So, is there a tall, dark, and handsome in your future?" Rose asked, after she emerged from the rear of the shop and joined the others.
"You could say that," Bella replied. "I'm just not sure he's my type."
"Ohh, Bella's gonna have a mystery man," Rose announced. "It's about time!"
Bella smiled tightly, glad when the attention shifted away from her and on to other topics about upcoming parties and costumes for Saturday night.
It was nearly five by the time they reached the dorm. Bella grabbed her bookbag and tossed a few books inside before carefully adding the wooden box. She picked up her car keys and slid them in her pocket.
"Rose, I'm going to go study in the library for a few hours. I've got a paper coming up I need to do research for. I may be a while though."
“You want me to come with?” Rose tossed the campus newspaper towards her. “Have you seen the latest headlines? They think that girl was kidnapped or something. The one that went missing - Amy Moore.” She shivered. “I hope she's alright, but you can't help but think the worst now. It's been a couple of weeks.”
Bella picked up the newspaper and skimmed the headline. No Leads on Student Disappearance. She'd been so preoccupied of late she'd barely paid attention to the story, though it seemed to be the main thing everyone on campus was talking about. “Rose, maybe she just needed to get away for a little while. This friend they interviewed says that she was seeing someone new. Maybe they just took a trip or something.”
“A new guy that the friend never met,” Rose responded “And this Amy was apparently not the type to hit the road with some guy she just started seeing. There's a girl in my Econ class who knew her. She said Amy was totally uptight, studied all the time because she was on scholarship and couldn't afford to lose it. She never even skipped class.”
Bella shrugged. “Well, I hope she's okay and this is all just a mistake. And I'll be fine, Rose. I'm just going to the library and back, and I don't have any mysterious new boyfriend.”
“You know you can call Emmett if you need him to walk you home, right? He won't mind.”
Rolling her eyes, Bella headed for the door. “I'll keep that in mind, Mom.” She stopped on her way out. “Thanks, Rose. For trying to take care of me.”
Rose snorted. “Yeah, I just don't want to find out if those urban myths about getting all As for the semester because your roommate dies are true. You know I hate getting things I don't earn.”
“Whatever,” Bella laughed. “See you later.”
She shut the door behind her, and walked out of the door, heading to her car as dusk began to gather. If Rose really knew where she was going, she'd probably drag her over to the hospital for a psych consult. A couple of weeks ago, she'd probably have agreed with her roommate. But what had happened today, the way Alice had known things before she'd ever told her, it had shaken her up. And tonight she was going to get some answers.
Bella stopped for coffee, watching the clock tick by until it was close enough to the appointed hour that she wouldn't appear too early. The drive back to the small shop was short, and she noted that the lights were off and a small closed sign hung in the window as she parked on the street. As Alice had directed, she made her way around to the back of the house.
The door opened at her knock, and Jasper smiled down at her.
"Bella, come and join us. Alice said you would be stopping by."
"Thanks," she replied, suddenly nervous.
"You came back!" Alice exclaimed, looking more relaxed in a fitted t-shirt and jeans, her jewelry now gone.
"I had to," Bella replied honestly. "I brought the box and the things my grandmother gave me." She sat down her bag and carefully pulled it out to sit on the table before them.
Alice reached out a finger and traced the design. "It's a Dara knot, isn't it Jasper?"
He leaned forward and studied it. "Yes. It's a symbol of power and destiny."
"What was the name of your ancestors, Bella?"
"The Morans. The girl in the journal, the first one, her name was Maeve. She never says what her mother's name is though, she just calls her Mamai."
"The Morans. Wait just a minute." Jasper snapped his fingers and left the room.
Alice smiled after him fondly. "He's something of a historian of the supernatural. He collects references, and he's written some articles on the side, though his advisor keeps trying to convince him to stop or at least use another name." She carefully opened the box lid and removed the talisman and book.
"His advisor?" Bella asked.
Alice nodded. "He's working on his doctorate in history."
Jasper returned with a battered volume. "I knew I recognized that name. There's a chapter in this history about the Morans. Aisling Moran was the leader of their coven at its height - towards the end of the 1700s. It was family lineage - did Alice explain that to you?"
Bella shook her head.
"There are two types of witches," Alice explained. "Most people who practice, like myself, learn to draw power from the earth. It requires rigor and devotion - but it doesn't come naturally."
"But I thought you said you were psychic?" Bella asked.
"I did," Alice replied patiently. "That's something different - it runs in my family the way witchcraft runs in yours. You're the second type, Bella. Some people are born with it in their blood. Blood is power - it come naturally. There's still a need to train and practice to learn to channel that energy, but it's innate."
"After Alice told me about your story, Bella, I did some research," Jasper said. "Blood witches are very rare, because despite their power, they're often a target - their blood is fuel for others as well."
"Like vampires," Bella breathed out.
"Exactly," Jasper agreed. "From what I was able to find - and of course you understand that most witches are very circumspect about practicing, so recorded history is limited and closely guarded - but your family, under your many times great-grandmother Aisling, had assembled a group of blood witches that had gathered for protection. She'd become very powerful, and very wealthy. She married an Englishman who owned a substantial estate in Ireland, and after his death, she managed to retain control of the property. She had two daughters - Maeve was the oldest, and then a younger daughter named Emma."
"So what happened to Maeve?" Bella asked.
Jasper shook his head. "It's not clear - Aisling is reported as dying in 1804, and the coven broke apart, although its power had been waning before that. One of my special interests is vampire lore, however, and there was a conflict between warring vampire clans during that time in Ireland as well - perhaps the leader was looking for a way to enhance his own power."
“In the book, Maeve writes that her mother's trying to make some kind of deal with this Cullen vampire, and she thinks he just wants her blood,” Bella said.
Jasper looked thoughtful. “That would fit.”
"Bella, we think that somehow the vampire used a thrall to try to persuade Aisling to make this match, and perhaps even to seduce Maeve in the end. Maybe they've been able to continue this with the women in your family through some means," Alice explained.
"A thrall? What does that mean?" Bella asked.
"It's a type of trance, a way of bending a person's mind to the will of the vampire. It takes years to perfect that skill though - if they were using a form of thrall, perhaps Aisling underestimated the vampire she was dealing with."
"So what do I do?" Bella asked.
Jasper and Alice exchanged glances. "We have an idea."Part 3
The air was cool, the gardens dying as winter began to take hold. It was nearing dark, the day's promise of sun sliding away beyond the horizon, casting a hazy, golden glow that was fading fast.
She glanced down at the gravel crunching beneath her feet. She was wearing delicate leather shoes, just visible beneath the swish of her long, full skirts.
She wanted to pause, take in the surroundings, study things while there was a little light left, but she found herself moving forward, deeper into the gardens. The precise edging and trimmed hedges gave way to a wilder, more natural setting until she stood at the edge of a lake, staring at the odd ring of stones she'd seen from the bedroom window.
There was a hum in the air, a vibration that she could feel in her bones as she walked into the circle and swayed for a moment at the power that seemed to wash over her. She moved to the large, flat stone that lay in the center of the circle and found her lips moving in words that she couldn't comprehend as she knelt on the stone as though in supplication.
Although her eyes were closed, she could feel the breeze swirling around her, lifting tendrils of hair and teasingly plucking at the shawl draped around her arms. She felt enveloped and warm and content as she knelt there.
Then the breeze was gone and she opened her eyes to find that night had fallen. The moon had risen, reflecting on the surface of the water. She rose and made her way to the lake's edge, listening to the quiet lapping of the water.
She sensed his presence before she heard his footfalls, slipping from the edge of the woods.
“Did you have trouble getting away?”
He gave a low chuckle behind her as his hand traced up her neck, the touch familiar and welcome. He leaned closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “A bit, but I told you, mo chroí, that I would come, did I not? You and I were not meant to be parted.”
She leaned back against his broad chest as he encircled her waist, smiling as he swayed her slightly to the tune he hummed against her neck. She raised her hand, unfastening the buttons at the high collar and peeling them away.
“Drink me, love. I want to know you carry some of me with you,” she offered.
He stilled for a moment, the humming ceased. “Are you sure?”
She nodded, tilting her head again. “Please. I'm yours.”
She watched their reflection in the water, two barely discernible figures wrapped so closely together, as the initial pain of his invasion faded into the connection she never wanted to end.
\/ \/
Bella's eyes darted open and she lifted her head from the desk, bolting upright as she rubbed the crick in the back of her neck from the awkward position she'd slept in, half-inclined across the desk.
She shouldn't have read that book - it just put more stupid dreams in her head. She was going to have to go and talk with her grandmother again - this had to be some really bad hoax. These sorts of things just didn't happen.
This last dream hadn't been like the others though. She'd felt the connection that was always there, but the push and pull that made her feel as though she was being ripped apart was gone. Instead there had been a different emotion and energy, one that made her feel . . . loved.
The illuminated dial of her alarm clock displayed the late hour, and Bella stood up, stretching and feeling her heart rate slowing as she hastily changed into a t-shirt to sleep in and staggered towards the bed.
She paused at the window and glanced down into the parking lot, her body frozen motionless as she saw the figure standing below beneath a lamppost, gaze firmly fixed on her window.
It was him.
She gripped the edge of the windowsill, eyes locked with his as she felt the longing roll through her body, the sudden overwhelming desire to run to him. She watched as his perfect lips moved, mouthing one word.
"Soon."
She inhaled sharply, and closed her eyes. When she opened them, there was nothing below but a parking lot of empty cars. She rubbed her eyes, grabbed her blanket and pillow, and hurried back to the floor lounge to hide.
\/ \/
"Rough weekend, Bells?" Rose asked, as she dropped her bag on her bed. "You look like you've barely slept."
Bella glanced up from the textbook she had propped up in front of her that she'd been staring at blindly for hours. "It was alright. Just nervous about this exam coming up."
Rose pulled an item from her bag and turned around. "Well, I went shopping this weekend and found the perfect Halloween costume for you!" She held up a long flowing skirt and a brightly patterned scarf. "Gypsy! It'll look great with your dark hair, and it's easy. I got the same thing." She held up another skirt. "In fact, a whole group of us are going to dress the same and go out together on Saturday night - hit all the parties."
Bella glanced at the items and shrugged. "I don't know, Rose."
"C'mon, Bella. You need to take a night off. I know it's been a tough semester, but this might do you some good. You know it'll be fun," Rose pleaded. "Oh, and you have to come with us tomorrow - we all need to go out to that shop. You know, the one where you can get your palm read? We thought we'd get some crystals and stuff to go with our outfits. Somebody told me the fortune teller there is a real witch. Creepy, right?"
A real witch. Talk about your magic words. Bella closed her book. "Count me in."
\/ \/
The bell on the front door jangled, its harshness making Bella jump as she followed the others into the shop. From the outside it was unassuming, a tiny old house on the corner, dollhouse perfect with its white picket fence and window boxes of brightly blooming fall flowers.
The inside was more what she'd expected. The front room felt dark and heavy with its richly patterned drapes lining the walls and blocking out the sunlight. There were racks of charms, and the requisite crystals and palmistry charts displayed around the room.
She heard the giggles of the girl in front of her and looked up to see a gorgeous guy who looked to be in his mid-twenties, golden hair and blue eyes twinkling at them as he held out a hand to Jessica in front.
"Good afternoon. I'm Jasper, the proprietor of this fine shop. What can I help you lovely ladies with today?"
"You can help me with anything you want," murmured Lauren quietly, and Rose turned to frown at her.
"We have a wide array of mystical items to aid you - crystals for health, tarot cards, even a few love potions - not that any of you would need such a thing." He winked at them and the crowd gave a collective sigh. "But if it's your future you seek, Madame Mina is available for appointments this afternoon as well."
"Oh, we're just looking for a few things," Rose announced.
Bella stepped forward before she lost her nerve. "I'd like to see Madame Mina, please."
Ignoring the strange look from Rose, she waited patiently while Jasper left to go get the psychic. She watched the other girls mill about until she heard the sound of small heels clicking down the hallway from the rear.
"Good afternoon, and what can Madame Mina do for you today?"
The woman was tiny, her short, dark hair a cloud around her pale face, gold bangle earrings jingling slightly as she surveyed the room, then zeroed in on Bella.
"You. You require my assistance."
Bella nodded, and followed her silently down the hallway to a small room. Madame Mina opened the door to reveal more dark draperies blocking the light. There was a tiny table inside holding a crystal ball that was flanked with a few chairs.
Bella sat in the spot Mina gestured her to, clasping her hands nervously as the psychic took her own seat and held out her hand to her.
"Why don't we start by reading your palm?"
Bella nodded and placed her hand awkwardly on the table in front of her. Madame Mina leaned forward, her fingers starting to trace across the lines, when she suddenly jerked back with a jolt and stared up at Bella in disbelief.
"Why are you really here?"
Bella shook her head. "I don't know. I just need to know what's going to happen to me."
"Do you have any idea what kind of power is running through you?" Madame Mina shook her head. "You're not practicing, are you?"
"Practicing?" Bella asked.
"You're a witch, my dear. A hereditary one - the strongest kind. You do know that, don't you?" She paused, her head cocked to the side like a small bird as she leaned forward and grasped Bella's hand more firmly. "Oh my, you don't know. And something's looming. Your aura . . . it's disrupted."
"It's a vampire, I think," Bella choked out. "I know that sounds crazy, but my grandmother gave me this book, and I'm having these dreams, and I think he's coming for me."
The words began to tumble out before she could halt them, the dreams of the vampire, the terrible longing she felt, the book recording the experiences of so many women who'd been visited in the same way. She stopped finally, feeling drained and embarrassed at recounting such a ludicrous tale, yet somehow relieved.
Madame Mina leaned back, her eyes wide. "Bella, why don't we meet later, when we can really talk? Come back after we close, about six. My name's Alice, by the way."
"Alice?" Bella echoed.
She shrugged. "Jasper and I decided that Alice didn't sound very awe-inspiring for a psychic."
"And are you?" Bella asked. "Psychic?"
Alice nodded. "All my life. It's a blessing and a curse at times. I'm also a practicing witch, though I'm not hereditary, like you."
"What does that even mean?" Bella asked. "I don't understand any of this."
Alice glanced towards the door. "It's more than I can explain right now, but come back tonight and we'll talk more."
\/ \/
"So, is there a tall, dark, and handsome in your future?" Rose asked, after she emerged from the rear of the shop and joined the others.
"You could say that," Bella replied. "I'm just not sure he's my type."
"Ohh, Bella's gonna have a mystery man," Rose announced. "It's about time!"
Bella smiled tightly, glad when the attention shifted away from her and on to other topics about upcoming parties and costumes for Saturday night.
It was nearly five by the time they reached the dorm. Bella grabbed her bookbag and tossed a few books inside before carefully adding the wooden box. She picked up her car keys and slid them in her pocket.
"Rose, I'm going to go study in the library for a few hours. I've got a paper coming up I need to do research for. I may be a while though."
“You want me to come with?” Rose tossed the campus newspaper towards her. “Have you seen the latest headlines? They think that girl was kidnapped or something. The one that went missing - Amy Moore.” She shivered. “I hope she's alright, but you can't help but think the worst now. It's been a couple of weeks.”
Bella picked up the newspaper and skimmed the headline. No Leads on Student Disappearance. She'd been so preoccupied of late she'd barely paid attention to the story, though it seemed to be the main thing everyone on campus was talking about. “Rose, maybe she just needed to get away for a little while. This friend they interviewed says that she was seeing someone new. Maybe they just took a trip or something.”
“A new guy that the friend never met,” Rose responded “And this Amy was apparently not the type to hit the road with some guy she just started seeing. There's a girl in my Econ class who knew her. She said Amy was totally uptight, studied all the time because she was on scholarship and couldn't afford to lose it. She never even skipped class.”
Bella shrugged. “Well, I hope she's okay and this is all just a mistake. And I'll be fine, Rose. I'm just going to the library and back, and I don't have any mysterious new boyfriend.”
“You know you can call Emmett if you need him to walk you home, right? He won't mind.”
Rolling her eyes, Bella headed for the door. “I'll keep that in mind, Mom.” She stopped on her way out. “Thanks, Rose. For trying to take care of me.”
Rose snorted. “Yeah, I just don't want to find out if those urban myths about getting all As for the semester because your roommate dies are true. You know I hate getting things I don't earn.”
“Whatever,” Bella laughed. “See you later.”
She shut the door behind her, and walked out of the door, heading to her car as dusk began to gather. If Rose really knew where she was going, she'd probably drag her over to the hospital for a psych consult. A couple of weeks ago, she'd probably have agreed with her roommate. But what had happened today, the way Alice had known things before she'd ever told her, it had shaken her up. And tonight she was going to get some answers.
Bella stopped for coffee, watching the clock tick by until it was close enough to the appointed hour that she wouldn't appear too early. The drive back to the small shop was short, and she noted that the lights were off and a small closed sign hung in the window as she parked on the street. As Alice had directed, she made her way around to the back of the house.
The door opened at her knock, and Jasper smiled down at her.
"Bella, come and join us. Alice said you would be stopping by."
"Thanks," she replied, suddenly nervous.
"You came back!" Alice exclaimed, looking more relaxed in a fitted t-shirt and jeans, her jewelry now gone.
"I had to," Bella replied honestly. "I brought the box and the things my grandmother gave me." She sat down her bag and carefully pulled it out to sit on the table before them.
Alice reached out a finger and traced the design. "It's a Dara knot, isn't it Jasper?"
He leaned forward and studied it. "Yes. It's a symbol of power and destiny."
"What was the name of your ancestors, Bella?"
"The Morans. The girl in the journal, the first one, her name was Maeve. She never says what her mother's name is though, she just calls her Mamai."
"The Morans. Wait just a minute." Jasper snapped his fingers and left the room.
Alice smiled after him fondly. "He's something of a historian of the supernatural. He collects references, and he's written some articles on the side, though his advisor keeps trying to convince him to stop or at least use another name." She carefully opened the box lid and removed the talisman and book.
"His advisor?" Bella asked.
Alice nodded. "He's working on his doctorate in history."
Jasper returned with a battered volume. "I knew I recognized that name. There's a chapter in this history about the Morans. Aisling Moran was the leader of their coven at its height - towards the end of the 1700s. It was family lineage - did Alice explain that to you?"
Bella shook her head.
"There are two types of witches," Alice explained. "Most people who practice, like myself, learn to draw power from the earth. It requires rigor and devotion - but it doesn't come naturally."
"But I thought you said you were psychic?" Bella asked.
"I did," Alice replied patiently. "That's something different - it runs in my family the way witchcraft runs in yours. You're the second type, Bella. Some people are born with it in their blood. Blood is power - it come naturally. There's still a need to train and practice to learn to channel that energy, but it's innate."
"After Alice told me about your story, Bella, I did some research," Jasper said. "Blood witches are very rare, because despite their power, they're often a target - their blood is fuel for others as well."
"Like vampires," Bella breathed out.
"Exactly," Jasper agreed. "From what I was able to find - and of course you understand that most witches are very circumspect about practicing, so recorded history is limited and closely guarded - but your family, under your many times great-grandmother Aisling, had assembled a group of blood witches that had gathered for protection. She'd become very powerful, and very wealthy. She married an Englishman who owned a substantial estate in Ireland, and after his death, she managed to retain control of the property. She had two daughters - Maeve was the oldest, and then a younger daughter named Emma."
"So what happened to Maeve?" Bella asked.
Jasper shook his head. "It's not clear - Aisling is reported as dying in 1804, and the coven broke apart, although its power had been waning before that. One of my special interests is vampire lore, however, and there was a conflict between warring vampire clans during that time in Ireland as well - perhaps the leader was looking for a way to enhance his own power."
“In the book, Maeve writes that her mother's trying to make some kind of deal with this Cullen vampire, and she thinks he just wants her blood,” Bella said.
Jasper looked thoughtful. “That would fit.”
"Bella, we think that somehow the vampire used a thrall to try to persuade Aisling to make this match, and perhaps even to seduce Maeve in the end. Maybe they've been able to continue this with the women in your family through some means," Alice explained.
"A thrall? What does that mean?" Bella asked.
"It's a type of trance, a way of bending a person's mind to the will of the vampire. It takes years to perfect that skill though - if they were using a form of thrall, perhaps Aisling underestimated the vampire she was dealing with."
"So what do I do?" Bella asked.
Jasper and Alice exchanged glances. "We have an idea."