8 Isabella re-discovers power; switching Talia

The next full moon found Apollo, Lobo, Hugh, Matthias, Andrea, Julius, and Tatin together. They'd plan their next move.

There were fireworks that night as they warmed up their powers and when they had to run, they'd change into their wolf form. People who lived around the place were looking at the fireworks, finding the occurrences becoming frequent.

xxxxxx

Talia had invited the Lee's and the See's. It was Sean's 30th anniversary in the company where he worked. There was a "little celebration" according to Talia. Isabella was happy to hear about Talia and Sean. She owed her a lot. Talia was instrumental in the Lee family's being whole again. Were it not for that night, she and Aaron would have separated. She returned her respondez s'il vous plait envelope with a confirmation of her attendance and her family's, but first, she called Talia. She was happy to hear her voice after a few long months that they had moved to another town and she had not heard from her. Talia told her that she had also invited Amalia and the rest of their friends, she said.

Unknown to Talia, she was Jezebel's next target of mimicry. She had dressed like Talia and prepared for the big party.

Talia was busy entertaining guests at the party. The whole gang was present—Victoria, Camilla, Lily, Stella, Bella, Aurora, Lucy—even Natasha who had just separated from the "Romeo" of the group (William)— and they were enjoying the program. Sean was the happiest person that night. His perseverance paid off, he thought, and it was a good thing to share Talia and his blessings to friends. He could finally travel again with his wife. They were, unfortunately, not blessed with children. They had entertained the idea of adoption although they hadn't done it yet. In a little while came Isabella and family, along with the See's. Talia and Isabella kissed cheek-to-cheek as they usually did. Talia said she was happy to see them, and asked them how they were doing in their new house. Aaron and Sean were talking in one corner and seemed to be enjoying their conversation. There were many guests that time so that Talia kept coming in and out of the patio where they held the party. Jezebel took note of the coming in and out of people.

She was looking in the direction of the Lee's. What did Tatin like with Isabella? She asked herself. She was ordinary, she thought. She thought herself prettier, and smarter. But, Jezebel didn't ask what herself thought about love. Tatin paid him a handsome amount for their divorce, for that was what she had wanted from the start of their relationship and nothing more, she hated to admit. What she didn't expect was her pride being pricked by what she felt was a rejection. She could not take another rejection in her life. The guests were enjoying the music "Can't Help Falling in Love with You" played with a violin. Aaron went to his wife and danced with her. Yuri was looking at Suzy. He finally decided to dance with her. Amalia was dancing with Alfred. Mr. See was dancing with Mrs. See. James joined his wife, Sophia, and was dancing with her, too. Josh was happy to talk with Jan and Fr. Robert. Talia left. She would supervise the maid's serving of the foods.

Entered the witch. She passed on a plateful of finger foods to the guests at the party. Then, she went near Isabella who enjoyed dancing and was exchanging sweet nothings that time with her husband. Aaron had become sweeter since they both came together. The two were surprised.

"Oops, I'm sorry," the witch said, excusing herself for interrupting the dance.

Isabella looked at the plate and saw that it was full of dead frogs. Aaron did not see what she saw, but Isabella, she almost threw up; fainted. Instinctively, she steadily gazed at the plate, then, was surprised to see the plate being eaten by fire.

The wicked Jezebel walked away from the crowd as if nothing happened. Isabella looked around, but she had gone away. The guests covered their noses to rid of the unpleasant smell; they moved away from the patio.

Isabella didn't tell Aaron what she saw because she did not want to spoil that occasion; it was an embarrassment. Meanwhile, Talia had just come back from the kitchen. Isabella saw her and thought that she knew what happened because the same occurrence happened lately. There was switching going on. Then, she remembered having looked at the plate. Nevertheless, she smiled as she discovered that she had a hidden power. Where it came from, she did not know. She decided that she could handle Jezebel

"What happened?" Sophia asked; she and James were the nearest couple to Isabella and Aaron when they were dancing.

But Isabella did not want people to know.

"Are you all right?" asked Talia.

"Yes," she nodded her head.

"What was that?" She smelled the stink.

"I don't know." Talia asked her maids to open all the windows to allow the smell to go out.

Aaron held Isabella by her elbow and escorted her away from the guests. Josh, Suzy, Evan, and Yuri followed them.

"Mom is all right, don't worry," Aaron was reassuring the kids. They left, then Aaron talked with Isabella in whisper. "What caused the smell?"

"Have you seen it?" she asked, "I mean, her?"

"What do you mean her?"

"Talia."

"What?"

"She served a plateful of dead frogs to me. That's where the smell came from. Then, she walked away."

"She passed on finger foods."

"No. It was dead frogs. That's where the stink came from. Anyway, I do not believe it was Talia. It was somebody else. Do you remember what happened in the cinema? But let us pretend that nothing happened because people might freak out." Aaron, still, could not completely believe Isabella because he saw nothing. People saw nothing except for the atrocious smell.

The guests were talking about the foul smell where it came from; no one saw the theory about the false Talia; only Isabella knew.

Jan and Josh also asked Isabella. She wanted to tell, but something was stopping her. Not yet. At the right time, I will tell, she thought.

Jezebel grinned ear to ear.