ɪᴍᴘʀɪɴᴛ ─── ᴇᴍᴍᴇᴛᴛ ᴄᴜʟʟᴇɴ ¹

~ Epilogue ~

     Charlotte listened intently as Bella revealed the date of her wedding: August thirteenth. Surprise flickered across her features at the proximity of the date, but then a sense of reassurance settled over her. After all, with Alice on the case, she knew the day would be nothing short of spectacular.

Charlotte eagerly shared with Bella the exciting news about her and Emmett, revealing that they were finally together and it was official. She explained how all the Cullens knew, which somehow made it feel even more real. Later that day, she also confided in her Grandma, officially confirming the news. Her Grams showered her with love and support, wholeheartedly backing her in the relationship.

Charlotte recounted the events of the battle to her grandmother, describing each spell she cast and how she felt herself growing stronger with every incantation. She explained how she summoned massive vines that erupted from the earth to aid in the fight, detailing the surge of power that coursed through her. Her grandmother listened intently, her eyes wide with fascination and curiosity. In her youth, she had never been able to perform feats of such magnitude, and she was deeply intrigued by her granddaughter's abilities. But she didn't voice her concern.

Things were brightening up for both of them. Bella was preparing for her wedding and her impending transformation into a vampire. Meanwhile, Charlotte and Emmett were enjoying their newfound relationship, indulging in typical couple activities. Emmett's romantic nature was endearing to Charlotte, and she cherished that aspect of him. Despite his occasional childish behaviour, she found herself loving him even more for it.

"Can't I see the book?" Charlotte's voice cut through the air, her curiosity about the family Grimoire evident. It had piqued her interest for weeks, ever since her Grams had mentioned it. She simply wanted to lay eyes on it, to uncover its secrets and learn what lay within its pages.

"On your eighteenth birthday," her Grams responded, observing her granddaughter seated across from her at the rounded kitchen table. "Just five months to go," she quipped, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips.

"I'm not sure I have that kind of patience," Charlotte replied with a playful chuckle.

"Unless you can summon it, you'll have to wait," her Grams remarked casually, taking a sip of her tea. Charlotte's interest was instantly piqued by her grandmother's words.

"Summon?" Charlotte's perfectly arched brow lifted in curiosity.

"Honey," her grandmother's tone was gentle as she set her cup down. "You can't just summon it to appear in front of you if that's what you're thinking," she chuckled, her laughter blending with her words. "Patience, my dear. You'll have it soon," Charlotte's curiosity about the Grimoire only intensified. Its value, its lineage—it all intrigued her. Yet, her grandmother remained tight-lipped about its contents, adding to the mystery.

"How are you and Emmett?" she asked, breaking the brief silence, her eyes fixed on her granddaughter.

"It's only been a few days," Charlotte replied, though to her, they had been the best days of her life.

"Is that why you're grinning like the Cheshire Cat?" her grandmother teased, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Charlotte was indeed grinning like the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland; she couldn't help it. For once, she was truly happy.

"I don't have to hide. I can be myself around him," Charlotte said, her smile unwavering as the words left her lips. Her grandmother chuckled softly, clearly pleased to see her so happy.

"Do I need to give you the birds and the bees talk?" Grams teased, smiling as she lifted her cup to her lips. Charlotte shot her a pointed look in response.

"Ew, no," she responded swiftly, chuckling at the idea. "He's a gentleman," she added, shooting her Grams a look. It was the truth—Emmett was a perfect gentleman for her.

But it did make Charlotte wonder what it would be like. Would they even be able to? Emmett had immense strength and could kill her with a single movement, just like Edward could with Bella. These thoughts made her curious, but they also made her blush immensely...

Meanwhile, at the Cullens residence, Alice was a whirlwind of excitement, eager to take charge of planning her future sister-in-law's wedding. With boundless enthusiasm, she already had a plethora of ideas swirling in her mind – from Bella's wedding dress to seating arrangements and everything in between. Jasper, her ever-supportive partner, diligently jotted down her rapid-fire suggestions, struggling to keep pace with her overflowing creativity. Together, they orchestrated the perfect celebration for Bella and Edward.

As Alice was immersed in her wedding planning frenzy, she suddenly froze in her tracks, a vision overtaking her consciousness. Her eyes widened as she witnessed a chilling scene unfold in her mind's eye. She saw a pair of arms sprawled out on the ground, encased in sinister black veins snaking their way up the limbs. Despite her acute visions, the figure's identity remained shrouded in mystery. The lack of clarity unsettled her, as her visions were usually more precise.

Abruptly, the vision dissipated, leaving Alice with a sense of unease and no further insights. Jasper, sensing her distress, looked up from his notepad, concern etched on his features as he took in Alice's shocked expression.

"What's wrong?" He asked anxiously, tossing the notepad and pen onto the sofa before leaping to his feet and positioning himself in front of Alice.

"I... I'm not sure," she stammered, fear evident in her voice. The uncertainty of the vision's timing unsettled her deeply—it could unfold in years or in the blink of an eye, which heightened her anxiety even more.

"What did you see?" Jasper's concern deepened as he awaited her response.

"I saw... arms, with black veins creeping up them," Alice replied, her voice quivering with the weight of her revelation. The uncertainty of the vision's clarity and timing left her shaken to her core, desperately hoping it wouldn't materialise or perhaps change altogether.

"It will be alright. It could be anything, or it might never happen," Jasper reassured her, enfolding her in his arms for comfort. Alice nodded slightly, finding solace in his embrace. He pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek, but she couldn't shake the feeling that the vision held significance. Deep down, she knew it wouldn't be easily forgotten.

Yet, the looming questions remained: Would her vision come true? And who was the mysterious figure with the black veins?

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