He looked up as David, his mother, and Mike came through the door. "I thought you said he couldn't hurt her!" he snapped.
"He'll be back," his mother said. "He has to come back."
"And if he doesn't?" Ethan demanded.
His mother's eyes filled with tears as her gaze met his.
"They say one can't live without the other," David said. "They go insane and have to be destroyed, or they kill themselves."
Ethan swallowed as his hand convulsed in Isabelle's hair. He’d never seen her look so bad. No matter how much sleep she got, there were still shadows under her eyes. She was so pale she was almost translucent, and he could see the tiny blue veins in her temples, eyelids, and neck. Her hair was lackluster, its natural shine gone. Her face was pinched, even in her sleep, and she had lost a good five pounds.
"She'll die," he admitted.
"Maybe, maybe not. We don't know how it all works. They may not have known each other long enough; they may not have formed a strong enough bond for it to end that way," Mike said hopefully.
"They formed a bond," Sera said. "Ian said it was Stefan who knew she was in trouble the other night, and he would have killed Ethan if David hadn't managed to get through to him. Their bond is strong already. Trust me, I know."
"Why would he leave then?" Ethan inquired.
"I don't know. Maybe he thought it would be for the best, but if Isabelle is going through this much distress, then so is he."
"And if he's not? If you're wrong about that, and he doesn't come back?"
"I don't know, Ethan!" she cried, tears streaking down her cheeks. "I don't know!"
Isabelle rested her chin on top of her drawn up knees. She wrapped her arms around them as she stared at the moonlight spilling across the lake. It took every bit of strength and energy she had to get out here, but her mother insisted on a walk, and was too tired to put up an argument. Her mother sat beside her, gazing out at the lake as she rocked the swing back and forth.
"I miss him," Isabelle mumbled.
"I know you do."
"I never wanted this," she whispered. "I never wanted to feel like this." Her voice broke on a sob; she paused to take a deep breath before she could go on. "I stayed away from everyone, stayed away from humans, just so this wouldn't happen."
Her mother looked at her questioningly. "So what wouldn't happen?"
"This! Look at me! I'm a mess!" she cried. "I hurt so bad I can barely breathe. I never wanted to be like you and dad. I didn't want it! Before he came, I hadn't cried since Ethan and Ian cut off my hair, and now I can't stop. I feel like I'm dying! I never wanted to feel this vulnerable because of another person!"
"Isabelle, hiding away from the world wasn't going to stop anything. What is meant to be is meant to be. You two are supposed to be together, no matter what you did, you weren't going to change that."
"No, we're not!" she yelled. "He wouldn't have left then! What is the matter with me?"
"Nothing," her mom assured her. "There is nothing wrong with you, Isabelle."
Isabelle hugged her legs tighter as she fought against the tremors racking her body. "Yes, there is. Abby and Vicky like every guy they meet. I've never felt anything, for anyone, until I met him."
Her mom’s hand curled around the back of Isabelle's head. "Because a part of you knew he was out there, that he would come for you. Vicky and Abby may not have that person."
"Why couldn't that be me? They want soul mates. I don't. I don't even know if he is or not. I don't know anything anymore." She leaned against her mother as she hugged her. "I never wanted my life, my existence, to hinge on someone else's. I know what you and dad have is special, but if he dies, then you die, and vice versa. I never wanted to be so vulnerable! Now... now..."
She broke off, unable to speak through her sobs. She buried her head in her mother's shoulder.
"It's a beautiful thing, Isabelle," she whispered. "It's frightening, and it's scary, but it is truly wonderful. What you discovered is something magical, something most people never find. Something your sisters, your brothers, and The Stooges may never find."
Isabelle shuddered as she felt Stefan's loss deep in her bones. "It doesn't matter, he's gone," she whispered.
Her mom’s hand stilled on her hair. "You could try and find him."
Isabelle shook her head. "He doesn't want me. Otherwise, he wouldn't have left."
"Do you love him?"
Isabelle closed her eyes as she contemplated her mother's question. "I don't know. I didn't even like him, but he made me feel things I've never felt before, made me feel complete, and whole, and safe, and so many other things," she finished shyly.
Her mom chuckled. "I understand.”
Isabelle knew she did, but it didn't help her. "Do you think he is my soul mate?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"You didn't see him when you were injured, Isabelle. He wanted to attack everyone who came near you, including your father. He did attack Ethan."
Isabelle shuddered at the thought of what could have happened to Ethan if David hadn't intervened. It would have killed her if Ethan was seriously hurt.
"He was losing control of himself,” her mom continued. “I think that's why he went away. It's a frightening thing. When your father went through it, he was confused, and angry, and scared he would kill everyone, including
