Adventures In An Alternate Dimension Book 2

Chapter 5 - From Burnt popcorn to Guarded Hearts

Bella's POV

The aroma of burnt popcorn hung heavy in the air, a testament to Jasper's ever-optimistic attempts at popcorn and a movie night. Curled up on the overstuffed sofa, I watched Irissa perched on the armrest, her long colored hair cascading down her back like a curtain. At fifteen, she was already a head taller than me, her human side evident in her looks and height, but her gray eyes and fair white skin were almost identical to my pale cold vampire skin.

"Ugh, Mom, this is terrible," Irissa whined, swatting playfully at a stray kernel that landed in her hair. "Can't we just watch something else?"

"Give it a chance, love," I replied, trying not to smile. Her teenage angst was both endearing and exhausting.

The flickering light from the television illuminated the worried crease between Ashlynn's brows. My adoptive sister, now a coven leader herself, had taken a particular interest in Irissa, ever since the young witch had accidentally set the school library on fire during a particularly stressful potions class. Ashlynn, ever the responsible one, had been tasked with keeping an eye on Irissa's burgeoning magical abilities.

"So, Irissa," Ashlynn cut in, her voice gentle, "tell us more about this Daniel."

At the mention of Daniel, Irissa's cheeks flushed a bright rosy pink. "He's, uh, in my Potions class. He's really good at it, actually. Helped me figure out the antidote for that whole... gillyweed incident."

"Ah yes," Ashlynn chuckled, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips, "the gillyweed fiasco. Quite the spectacle."

Irissa mumbled something about overzealous experimentation, her foot tapping a nervous rhythm against the armrest.

"Is he a witch?" I asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from Irissa's potential pyromaniac tendencies.

"Yeah," she mumbled, barely audible.

"What's he like?" Ashlynn prodded further.

Irissa finally met our gaze, her gray eyes sparkling with a mixture of defiance and something else, something unfamiliar that tugged at my heart. "He's funny," she said, her voice barely a whisper, "and kind of cute."

A warm feeling bloomed in my chest, a mixture of amusement and protectiveness. My little girl, all grown up and talking about boys. It felt like just yesterday I was cradling her in my arms, the weight of her mortality a not so terrifying burden in my experienced hands. Now, she was blossoming into a beautiful young woman, with a coven leader for an aunt and a coven of her own brewing.

"So, when are we going to meet this Daniel?" Ashlynn asked, a twinkle in her eye.

Irissa's eyes widened in alarm. "Oh no, you don't have to meet him! It's not like that."

But the blush creeping up her neck told a different story. A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Perhaps movie night wasn't a complete disaster after all Jasper, bless his heart, finally gave up on the popcorn. A plume of smoke rose from the burnt offering, causing Emmett to snort with laughter from his position on the floor.

"Maybe we should order pizza?" Edward suggested, ever the voice of reason.

The suggestion received a chorus of agreement, and I took a moment to truly look at Irissa. The worry in her eyes mirrored the protectiveness I felt. This boy, Daniel, was an unknown variable in our carefully constructed world. He was human, yes, but did he know about our secret? More importantly, was he kind? Would he treat Irissa with the respect she deserved?

As if sensing my thoughts, Ashlynn placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, Bella," she murmured. "We'll keep an eye on things. But," she added with a playful wink, "it wouldn't hurt to meet this mystery boy, would it?"