Out of the Darkness Update

Out of the Darkness Epilogue on FicPad

Out of the Darkness Epilogue on Stars

Out of the Darkness Epilogue on AO3

Out of the Darkness Epilogue on FFn

Out of the Darkness Epilogue on Wattpad

EPOV

Thirty Years Later

“Race you back to the castle,” Bella giggled as she spread her wings, making her look so unbelievably beautiful.

“You never win, pretty Bella,” I teased. “I’m faster than you.” We were leaving from our monthly meeting with the arch angels. We’d occasionally race, but sometimes we’d find a cloud to christen. Suffice it to say, we were insatiable for each other, but we always made love and I showered her with my affection, as she did to me, too.

And making love on a cloud is … heavenly.

Yes, that was cheesy, but funny, right? Get it? GET IT? Anyhow, I’m losing focus. My mate, my wife is talking.

“We’ll see,” she snickered, spreading her wings wider and walking to the edge of the all-white, open-aired space. “Come on, baby! I want to beat you. Just one time. ONCE!”

“Oh, you’re on, Mrs. Cullen,” I laughed as I followed her. Her laughter filtered up to me as she was in a free fall from heaven. Her wings were tucked in and she rode the currents like a pro. I was on her heels when I felt something hold me back. “No fair, Isabella. Using your shield?”

“I said I want to win,” she snickered, shooting me a look and spreading her shield so I couldn’t even touch her. I growled, trying to go around it, but she kept spreading it with a mischievous chuckle.

“So, you resort to cheating?” I teased. Bella turned, abruptly stopping and hovered in front of me, using her wings gracefully. “Bella?”

“It’s not cheating,” she said, her hands on her hips, a twinkle in her eyes. “I’m using my resources.”

“Really?” I deadpanned. She winked and stuck out her tongue before using her shield to push me back as she dive bombed through the sky. I followed her, determined to at least catch up with her. We danced among the clouds like an angelic game of cat and mouse. However, as we got closer, I felt the call in my chest. Bella’s shield dropped and I knew she felt it, too. Our game came to an end and we made our way back to the castle. Landing softly in the courtyard, we saw Esme. She was wringing her hands, her face clearly distressed. “What is it?”

“It’s Colton,” she whispered.

“Is he going to be changed?” Bella asked.

“Sooner than we anticipated,” Esme replied. “Alice contacted me. She was working in Oklahoma, guiding her humans when she felt the impact. He was in a terrible car accident. A drunk driver hit his car and it’s a mess. From her garbled message, she said something about Colton being internally decapitated?”

“Oh, shit,” I hissed. “His transformation … it might not take. Those are serious injuries.”

Heaven

Colton Pearson, Alice's Mate and Jasper Reincarnated

Seth

Felicity, Emmett reincarnated and Seth's mate

Dr. Thomas Jameson, Carlisle reincarnated and Esme's mate

Out of the Darkness Teaser

Thirty Years Later

“Race you back to the castle,” Bella giggled as she spread her wings, making her look so unbelievably beautiful.

“You never win, pretty Bella,” I teased. “I’m faster than you.” We were leaving from our monthly meeting with the arch angels. We’d occasionally race, but sometimes we’d find a cloud to christen. Suffice it to say, we were insatiable for each other, but we always made love and I showered her with my affection, as she did to me, too.

And making love on a cloud is … heavenly.

Yes, that was cheesy, but funny, right? Get it? GET IT? Anyhow, I’m losing focus. My mate, my wife is talking.

“We’ll see,” she snickered, spreading her wings wider and walking to the edge of the all-white, open-aired space. “Come on, baby! I want to beat you. Just one time. ONCE!”

“Oh, you’re on, Mrs. Cullen,” I laughed as I followed her. Her laughter filtered up to me as she was in a free fall from heaven. Her wings were tucked in and she rode the currents like a pro. I was on her heels when I felt something hold me back. “No fair, Isabella. Using your shield?”

“I said I want to win,” she snickered, shooting me a look and spreading her shield so I couldn’t even touch her. I growled, trying to go around it, but she kept spreading it with a mischievous chuckle.

“So, you resort to cheating?” I teased. Bella turned, abruptly stopping and hovered in front of me, using her wings gracefully. “Bella?”

“It’s not cheating,” she said, her hands on her hips, a twinkle in her eyes. “I’m using my resources.”

“Really?” I deadpanned. She winked and stuck out her tongue before using her shield to push me back as she dive bombed through the sky. I followed her, determined to at least catch up with her. We danced among the clouds like an angelic game of cat and mouse. However, as we got closer, I felt the call in my chest. Bella’s shield dropped and I knew she felt it, too. Our game came to an end and we made our way back to the castle. Landing softly in the courtyard, we saw Esme. She was wringing her hands, her face clearly distressed. “What is it?”

“It’s Colton,” she whispered.

“Is he going to be changed?” Bella asked.

“Sooner than we anticipated,” Esme replied. “Alice contacted me. She was working in Oklahoma, guiding her humans when she felt the impact. He was in a terrible car accident. A drunk driver hit his car and it’s a mess. From her garbled message, she said something about Colton being internally decapitated?”

“Oh, shit,” I hissed. “His transformation … it might not take. Those are serious injuries.”

Out of the Darkness Teaser

We’d been in Scotland for a month. Bella was taking to her new life as a Dominion Lordship with ease. Though, having me train along with her, made things much more comfortable for both of us. She was also healing, laughing and finally putting her human life, tragedies, fear and insecurities, behind her. Her final few paychecks from the school district were donated Child Protective Services, along with a hefty donation from one of my many off-shore accounts.

When we weren’t training and strengthening Bella’s angelic powers, mainly her shield, Bella and I were walking the grounds of the gorgeous castle that Esme had gifted to me, per Carlisle’s instructions from his letter. It was put under my name. I didn’t want to accept it because I’d already taken his Lordship position. It seemed wrong for me to take his castle. But, Esme was adamant. It would appear that there was going to be some restructuring of the legion. Since I was in training, I wasn’t privy to the information.

Not yet.

According to Esme, I’d be ready soon. Bella, however, was probably going to train under me for at least a year, honing her skills and growing as an angel, healing as a woman. Esme talked with her when they had their flying lessons. I could see my mate, my love, blossom under her love and finally find her strength.

Now, while we were enjoying our time in Scotland, I let Bella take control of our relationship. Yes, we were mates. No, we hadn’t formalized the bond as angels, but I was planning on doing that soon, using both angelic customs and human traditions. I was going to ask her to be my wife. I wanted to give her a ring and give her the human wedding she’d always dreamed of, with Charlie giving her away and seeing her in a white dress, walking down the aisle to me. I’d purchased a ring for her and was waiting for the perfect time to propose.

Alice and Esme didn’t understand why I wanted to do this, but living among humans for so long, I realized how big a deal having a wedding could be. Charlie backed me up. I remembered her dreams when she was human. Some were nightmarish memories from her childhood, but the few good dreams were of weddings. Specifically, our wedding. I wasn’t going to deny her, even if she was an angel and we were mated for life. I wanted to give her a wedding, a ring and a promise of forever.

Truly forever. Not a human forever, but angelic. All eternity.

Bella and Alice were in town, indulging in some much-needed shopping and girly pampering, while I was reading and relaxing with Felix. His head was on my lap while I gently scratched behind his ears. His tail thumped and I looked up. Esme came walking into the library, sitting down across from me. She scrubbed Felix’s belly. “Everything okay?” I asked, closing my book after marking my spot.

“Good,” she nodded. “I just spoke with Gabriel. He feels that you’re almost ready to take over. How do you feel?”

“I’m not as overwhelmed, but I’m anxious to propose to Bella. What if she says no?” I whispered.

“She won’t,” Esme snickered. “He thinks that once you’ve finalized your mating bond, you’ll be ready for your new position.”

“Position? I don’t understand. I thought I was a Dominion,” I said.

“You are, but since you’ve spent so much time on earth, you know so much more about human customs than most of us,” Esme said. “You are a Dominion Lordship, but you and Bella will be the liaisons to earth. Angels, like Alice and anyone else stationed down here, will come to you for guidance and training if they haven’t been down to the surface in a long time. This castle will be your home base.”

“This is the restructuring?” I asked.

“Yes. With Bella’s previous situation with Heidi, we need more angels down here and not watching from above, taking a more active role in guarding their humans. They need to be able to blend in with the population. Your job is to help them do that. You will be responsible for a part of the legion, but it will be those who are living on the planet,” Esme said. “We’re planning on having about two thousand angels down here, all over the world.”

“That’s a lot of angels,” I said, my eyes wide.

“Compared to the humans that need their guidance, it’s a pittance. If we need to add more, we will. That’s why Bella will help you. She’s closer to her human side than you are because she was just turned. Though your time down here during your exile has helped, inadvertently,” Esme replied, giving me a wry smile. “Both of you will need to report in once a month, but you will stay here in Scotland.” She crossed her legs daintily and looked at me intently. “What do you think?”

“I think that it’s a brilliant idea. Why wasn’t it proposed before?” I asked.

“Humanity, even without Lucifer’s influence, is at an all-time low. War is everywhere, hatred, greed … it needs to come to an end. We need to raise up everyone and show them that goodness is desired, not instant gratification, prejudice or hate,” Esme said. “We need a more powerful presence on the surface. That’s you. That’s Bella. It will be the two thousand angels that will be assigned here. We will make this place what it should be.” A sweet smile spread over her face as she clapped her hands. “Do you have it?”

Out of the Darkness Teaser

Shortly before the bell rang, Mrs. Cope wished the kids a great summer and that she couldn’t wait until next year. I could hear the tremor in her voice. She also asked for me, Lauren and Jessica to come to the office to discuss the situation after we’d sent the kids home. Twenty minutes later, I walked into the office, trying not to lose my temper. Lauren and Jessica were bitching about how Swan’s disappearance was cutting into their summer vacation.

“Lauren!” Mrs. Cope snapped. “You’re going to meet with Chief Hamilton from the Port Angeles PD in my office. Jessica, you’re going to work with Detective Omari in Ms. Whittier’s office. Edward, you’ll be talking to Chief Burke from Forks PD. They’re going to help with the search.”

“Where are we meeting?” I asked.

“Conference room,” she said, following Lauren into her office.

I turned on my heel and went to the conference room, across the hall from the main office. Charlie was inside, pacing the length of the tiny room and his face was ashen. He turned when I closed the door and he pulled me into his arms. We both cried, scared for Bella. I was worried about the fragile psyche of my mate and he was obviously terrified for his daughter. He took my face in his hands and he narrowed his eyes. “Show me. From the moment …”

I nodded, closing my eyes and allowing my memories to filter to his. He felt the same dread I experienced when Bella went into the forest. The emptiness I experienced when she was taken was passed through our connection. The wavering darkness was apparent in my thoughts and memories. “We have to find her, Charlie,” I whispered. “If we don’t, she’ll be lost forever.”

Charlie nodded solemnly. “I just got her back. I can’t lose her again,” he choked out. “Now, that wavering sense of evil … what do you think about that?”

“I don’t know, but there was something familiar about that signature,” I muttered. “It’s corrupted by darkness, but they haven’t given completely over to the evil. They still have some control …” I trailed off. “Come with me.” We got up and left the school, making our way back to where Bella had been taken. I knelt down, putting my hand on the muddy ground. I allowed the signature to penetrate me. “I know who took her.”

“Who?” Charlie asked. “Someone I can arrest? Shoot? I want to use this fucker.” He took out his gun and glowered at it.

“It won’t hurt him. Not now,” I answered. “Prior to working here at the school, I did rehab work for a guy. His name is Emmett McCarty. He was the project manager. He started dating Bella’s boss/landlady Rosalie Hale.”

Charlie took out his notebook, flipping through some notes. “Both of them were reported missing by loved ones. Rose, you know about, but Emmett, his disappearance was more recent. He vanished, without a trace, about a week ago. He still went work, went home and hung out with his friends up until then.”

“Who reported him missing?” I asked.

“One of his workers. Tyler Crowley,” Charlie answered. “Hamilton told me that when we met up in the office. Do you suspect those two harpies?”

“They’re harmless and fucking lazy,” I snapped. “They sat on the bench, looking at their cell phones while Bella ran the kickball station on her own. And did you hear their thoughts?”

“Yes, I did,” Charlie growled. “They’re bitching about my child. I’m sorry that their lazy asses couldn’t …” He held up his hand, disgusted by the two of them. “And Lauren was revolted that you were told the student that you were Bella’s boyfriend. Bella is not worthy of you.”

“It’s the other way around,” I whispered. “I’m not worthy of her.” Charlie cupped my cheek and smiled softly.