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"What's a Soulmate?" Ten-year-old Ellory Hope asked her mother as she tucked her daughter into her bed. "A soulmate is your best friend," Elizabeth answered her daughter, a fond smile on her face. "Just a best friend?" Ellory asked further making Elizabeth laugh softly. "Okay... A long, long time ago, a woman named Athaca was vain, she loved herself more than the world. She believed herself to be more precious than all the jewels and gold in the world. But it wasn't a sweet love of confidence to be a better version of herself but a hungry type of love believing she was perfect and the world was not," Elizabeth told her daughter, combing through her hair.

"And so, Aphrodite and Persephone -- an unexpected duo -- decided that the woman was too vain to love herself and not the world," Elizabeth used Ellory's dolls to tell the story, "They then split the woman in two with a bolt of Zeus' lightning. Her soul went from one to two." Ellory's eyes were wide in wonder as she listened to her mother's story, "And then they sent them apart. And when Athaca asked the Goddesses why they did such a thing, Aphrodite told her; You must love the world before you love yourself. And Persephone said; You must then love who you are without another. And together the goddesses said; Then you shall love your other half split from you."

Ellory was confused, "But she did love herself?! That's why they did it?!" Elizabeth laughed at her daughter's response, "Your grandfather used to say the same thing to your grandmother when she told me the story. So my grandfather made one of his own." Ellory grinned, "I get two stories tonight?!" Elizabeth nodded before getting cozy with her daughter in her lap, she smiled fondly. "Athaca was alone in the world, she had no one to call her own and every night, she looked to the evening star and made a single wish; I wish to fall in love, just once. He doesn't need to be perfect, the flaws make him a constellation. But I'd want him to be just right," Elizabeth spoke whimsically.

"Aphrodite, Persephone and Apollo admired the young woman and the three unlikely deities agreed to help the woman," Elizabeth smiled down at her daughter, "And so, Aphrodite took her beauty and split it in half. Persephone took her passion and split it in half, and Apollo split her spirit in half. And under the bright full moon during the time of Yule, they split half of her soul using a bolt of Zeus' lightning; from the seas of Poseidon, they formed the body of water; from Hades' eternal flame, they formed a spark of life and then, they asked the fates for a thin golden string," Elizabeth looked out the window at the starry night sky, "And then they asked Hecate to combine it all and finally, Hermes formed the final part; a mark on his new soul."

"Then what happened?" Ellory asked. "The Gods and Goddesses sent their new creation to the world below, he stumbled and fumbled like a baby deer until they saw each other. And with a single look, they knew they were half of the other. They got married, had kids and then grew old," Elizabeth grinned at the happy look in her daughter's eyes as she finished off, "And Athaca thanked the deities who blessed her every day, they gave her a love that conquered all; a Soulmate." Ellory gasped, giggling in joy, "Is that why we thank the stars, mama? We are that bloodline, aren't we?" Elizabeth grinned, "We all are. Everyone has a Soulmate, my dear. But yes, we thank them for that reason."

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Ellory opened her eyes, the view of Greece still left her in awe even after spending three months there. She had kept in touch with Nicola every day, sending photos and videos including the reveal of her identity to the pack; which didn't go over well but they had grown to accept her ─ from a distance. After around two months, Ellory reached out to Carlisle to let him know that she was okay and travelling; he had been relieved to hear from her. Jasper and Emmett had practically demanded that she stay in touch with them otherwise they would hunt her down and knowing them, they would succeed in doing that. And so, Ellory kept in touch.

Through that, she learned that Bella was angry with Edward, who had lied to her about Ellory leaving only to learn the truth from Rosalie and Alice. Ellory was proud of Bella who had practically shunned Edward for a whole month before she caved in and let him back in ─ not for him, but for herself. But Ellory was okay with that, she understood how mate bonds can work and she didn't want Bella to suffer through that kind of pain. Ellory had also been reminded that Bella's birthday was coming up so she sent a few different gifts from different places back to not give away where she was staying; though Carlisle knew.

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Meanwhile, back in Forks, Edward was taking Bella to the Cullen residence for her eighteenth birthday celebration. "The Volturi are a very old, very powerful family..." Edward told Bella as they approached an eighteenth-century oil painting within the Cullen home. The artwork depicted Grecian figures in swirling robes writhing among pillars and balconies. On a high balcony, four calm figures look down upon the bacchanal; two black-haired, one snowy white, and one golden-haired man. "The closest thing my world has to royalty..." Edward continued as Bella studied the image.

"Francesco Solimena painted this; he often depicted the Volutri as Gods," Edward informed Bella who was examining the golden-haired 'God'. "Is that... Carlisle?" Bella asked him. "Yes," Edward answered her causing her to look at him in shock as he continued, "He lived with them for a few decades. He describes them as very refined -- for killers. The Volturi are also what you might call enforcers." Bella tilted her head at that, "Of what?" Edward sighed, "The only rule they have: To keep secret the existence of our kind." Bella's eyes focused on the leader, Aro.

"We don't make spectacles of ourselves, or kill conspicuously unless we want to die," Edward continued remembering the stories he had heard. "Don't even -- talk about that," Bella told Edward with worry in her eyes, "You can't let anyone hurt you. The Volturi or anyone else." She couldn't lose him, she wouldn't know what to do with her life if she did. "Who else would hurt me?" Edward asked once he noticed her worries. "You said there were more dangerous things out there than you. And I know you may have at least one enemy--" Bella cut herself off as she remembered Victoria.

"You said she'd come after Ellory for killing her mate," Bella reminded Edward with a certain look in her eyes. "Victoria? Yes, someday she will. But Alice -- maybe even Ellory -- will see her coming. And she won't win," Edward reassured Bella. "I hate that I can't protect you," Bella told Edward with a pained expression, Edward laughed amused by her words. "That was me being serious," Bella scolded her boyfriend. "I know. But you do protect me..." Edward told her as he kissed her forehead, "From boredom... And loneliness..." He kissed her lips lightly, "You give me a reason to stay... undead. But it's... my job; to protect you."

Edward freezes for a moment, seemingly distracted before smiling, "From everyone but my sister." The door bursts open and Alice dances in, "It's time, it's time, it's time!" Alice tugs Bella and Edward to the top of the landing, then she skips down the stairs. The couple look down into the living room, hundreds of pink candles and rose-filled crystal bowls are scattered around the room. Rosalie, Emmett, Esme, Carlisle, Jasper and Alice look up at her, all of them stunningly beautiful. Bella awkwardly smiles as Edward leads her down the stairs to the living room where Esme and Carlisle hug Bella warmly.

"Sorry about all this. We tried to rein Alice in," Carlisle informed Bella who smiled up at him as Esme spoke, "Like that's even possible. Happy birthday, Bella. Ellory wanted to be here but she..." Bella nodded in understanding as she glanced at Edward before focusing back on the others as Alice snapped a picture of Bella with them. "Found it in your bag. Mind?" Alice asked about the camera she now held in her hands. Emmett moves to Edward's side and nudges him, "Dating an older woman, hot!" Bella caught the words and Edward elbowed his brother sharply to shut up.

Rosalie stepped up next and shoved a silver package at Bella, "It's a necklace. Alice picked it out." She then walked away, bored but Bella had a smile on her face. She sees Jasper across the room, they wave to each other respecting Jasper's struggles. "Show me the love!" Alice exclaimed as Edward pulled Bella into an embrace, they looked deeply into one another's eyes. "For your scrapbook!" Alice told Bella, "Now open your presents!" Alice dragged Bella over to a table piled with elaborately wrapped gifts, a huge cake and a tall stack of china plates.

"Alice, I'm the only one who even eats cake. That thing could feed fifty," Bella told her best friend. "Hope you're hungry!" Alice exclaimed before picking up a gift, "Here, this one's from Emmett." The family crowd in closer except for Jasper whose control had gotten more difficult since Ellory left. Bella, not a fan of being the center of attention, opens the gift to find an empty car radio box, "Um... thanks?" Emmett grinned, "Already installed it in your truck. Finally, a decent sound system in that piece of--" Bella glared, "No hating on the truck. Thank you, Emmett."

"Open Ellory's!" Alice hands her an envelope. Bella starts to open it, but she cuts herself on the paper. A single drop of deep red blood appears, the scent wafting through the air piling the hunger from each vampire onto Jasper like a tsunami causing a growl to leave his lips. Jasper lunges toward her, teeth bared, eyes beyond reason. Edward flings Bella behind his own body causing her to crash into the table, glass shattering as Jasper slams into Edward; sounds like boulders colliding. And like the glass, everything at that moment shattered; Edward had a choice to make.

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Rosemary Speaks

The story of Athaca is simply my way of linking mates. I feel like the concept of split souls makes the idea of soulmates less forced; at least to me. Also had to write in the scenes without Ellory otherwise this act will be too short and I wanna make y'all wait a bit (though it won't be long) to see Alec.

Thoughts on the story of Athaca?
It's inspired by a story my great-grandmother used to tell me.

Any thoughts, questions or suggestions?

See you in the next chapter!