Bella was adopted by Thorvid Kelm at a young age, and while her father’s world of crime and power surrounded her, she always sensed she didn’t fully belong. Thorvid rarely spoke of the circumstances of her adoption, and Bella knows little to nothing about her real parents. All she has is a vague memory of a woman’s face and a lullaby she sometimes hums when alone, but even that could be a figment of her imagination.

Thorvid, despite his ruthless reputation, doted on Bella and provided her with every comfort he could. However, as she grew older, she noticed that his affection was always tempered by a distance, as if he, too, was unsure of his role in her life. This uncertainty never overshadowed her love for him, and she tried to prove her worth by being the daughter he deserved—strong, independent, and unwilling to surrender to her illness.

The mysterious affliction that began in her early teens was a cruel twist of fate, especially after all Thorvid had done to care for her. He left no stone unturned in seeking a cure, but when even his vast network of criminal contacts failed to find answers, Bella decided to take matters into her own hands. She turned to research, driven by the desire not only to heal herself but to gain some sense of control over the unknown forces shaping her life, both her illness and her origins.

Though she knows little of her birth family, Bella sometimes wonders if her illness is tied to them—a curse, a genetic defect, or perhaps something more magical. Yet she remains focused on the present, working at her father’s antique shop and helping those around her while pursuing her research into medicinal and mystical healing. Her illness has not diminished her resolve, and though her time may be limited, Bella refuses to let it define her.

FIRST APPEARANCE

Bella first appears in The Nullification Engine (The Alchemancer Book Two).