𝐈𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 || 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐱 𝐭𝐯𝐝

𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞

One by one, people dropped into a strange, dimly lit room, each appearing from thin air as if summoned. Every one of them had been going about their own lives mere moments ago, wholly unprepared for this sudden gathering. The room itself was an imposing space—grand and shadowed, with old-world architecture hinting at an ancient magic holding them there.

Yet, the true shock was not in the room itself but in the others present. The first arrivals included the three Volturi kings and the entire Cullen clan, faces both bewildered and guarded as they took in their surroundings—and one another.

"What is the meaning of this?" Caius's voice rang out, cold and laced with irritation. He looked ready to strike, his narrowed gaze sweeping across the Cullens with open suspicion. Before he could take another step forward, however, Aro raised a hand, halting him with a measured glance. "Brother," Aro murmured, his tone deceptively calm, "I am certain they can explain themselves, no?"

Carlisle, ever the diplomat, stepped forward with hands raised, his voice steady. "Aro, please. We know as little about this as you do. We were simply—"

"Nonsense!" Caius cut him off with a sneer, but before the argument could escalate, a new voice, calm and commanding, interrupted the brewing storm.

"Good. I see you all have found your way here."

The assembled group turned, surprised, to face the speaker. Standing at the far end of the room was a woman with an aura of quiet power, a composed smile gracing her lips. Rosalie was the first to break the silence, her expression sharp and suspicious. "And who might you be?"

The woman inclined her head gracefully. "My name is Esther. I am a witch—and the reason you are all here." Her voice was smooth, as if she were accustomed to addressing gatherings of powerful beings.

Marcus, with his ever-calm disposition, looked at her intently. "Would you care to explain why you've brought us here?"

"Certainly," Esther replied with a small, knowing smile. "You are here because of a shared connection—one that involves your mate." She paused, her gaze traveling between the Volturi kings and the Cullen men. "The mate of all three Volturi kings... and the Cullen men."

Emmett let out a surprised laugh, breaking the shocked silence that followed. "Hold on—mate? As in... all of us, for one person?" He looked incredulous, eyebrows raised, but Esther only nodded.

"That would be correct," she said simply, as though such an unusual bond were entirely ordinary.

Stunned silence settled over the room. Esther's eyes softened, and she continued, "The true reason I brought you here is to show you her life—all the events that have shaped her into who she is. You must understand what she has endured, the life she has led, and the trials she has faced."

Edward spoke up, his tone skeptical yet curious. "Why? Why would you want us to watch her life in this way?"

Esther's face grew serious, a faint sadness flickering in her gaze. "Because her life has been marked by both beauty and hardship—a life that you, as her mates, need to understand. She has been through more than most, and it is vital that you see what she has carried alone."

Carlisle tilted his head, studying Esther. "And you? Why would you be so invested in this?"

Esther's calm exterior softened, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through. "Because she was my daughter, over a thousand years ago," she said, voice quiet but steady. "When she died, I cast a spell to ensure her rebirth—a second chance at life."

The room fell silent as her words sank in, and for a moment, even the most stoic among them appeared moved.

Esther's expression shifted, turning back to practicality as she glanced around. "I still have a few more guests to bring here," she announced, and with a wave of her hand, another group of people appeared.

The newcomers looked as startled as the first group, taking in the strange gathering around them. They included the entire Mikaelson family—Mikael, Freya, and Finn included.

Chaos erupted instantly.

"What the bloody hell is going on here?" Klaus's voice was a low growl, his eyes flashing with suspicion.

"If you don't explain yourself, I'll tear apart every last soul here," Mikael hissed, his stance ready for battle.

Esther stepped forward, her voice calm yet commanding. "Enough. I am the one who brought you here." Her tone was sharp enough to quiet even Klaus and Mikael, and she quickly recounted the situation, easing their initial shock.

Kol, ever the skeptic, surveyed the room and then looked at Esther with a raised eyebrow. "If this is about Ophelia, then where is she?"

Aro leaned forward, a glint of excitement in his gaze. "Yes, where is she?"

Esther shook her head. "She won't be joining us right now," she said softly. "I do not wish for her to relive the painful events of her past. The memories you are about to witness are difficult, and I cannot burden her with them once more." Her gaze shifted between them, and a hint of sorrow crossed her features. "Only when we reach the future will I bring her here. For now, you must see her journey through your own eyes."

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