Autumn's Beginning, Autumn's Breeze

*Short post warning. Ok, editing now and adding more. I just had to make lunch*

Nathaniel
---------------

Nathaniel stepped away from Bella a few paces. He shook his head angirly. "Bella, i told you, it doesnt matter!"

Bella assumed a hurt look but Nat had already turned away and began pacing, staying as far away from everyone as possible.

Gerard
-----------------

Bella turned to Gerard, her eyes prying.

"What happened with him?" she asked. Gerard glanced over at Nat, who was scowling and staring at the floor as he paced. Gerard sighed.

"It's not for me to say. He'll have to tell you." he said.

Alise shifted her weight, struggling to sit up. Gerard laid a restraning handon her shoulder.

Alise watched as Bella went over to talk to Nat, she stayed a couple feet away from him so he could keep pacing. She tried to sit up again but Gerard wouldn't let her. She looked up into his eyes and realized just how pitiful his eyes were.

"Gerard," she caressed his cheek, "whats wrong?"

"The demon was right, losing you is my greatest fear, and...he almost did it."

"You won't lose me," she assured him, "I won't leave, and I won't let you leave either."

"Why would I leave?"

"You're mortal."

Gerard's eyes widened, "you're going to change me?"

Alise shook her head, "not unless you want me to."

"Nat, you're doing it again!" Bella snapped, pacing in the opposite direction as him, and trying to clear her mind at least slightly.

"Doing what?" Nat asked, still pacing.

"Not telling me things. I don't know if you're trying to protect me or what, but I don't need protecting. I can take care of myself!"

"Bella, I almost lost you. I'm not worried about me!"

"Yes you are, if you weren't you wouldn't be pacing."

"What? That makes absolutly no sense!"

"Yes it does. When you're worried, you pace. I've always noticed these things. Tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can help!"

"That stone; when you touch it, given that you are more powerful than the last person who touched it, it puts your worst fears into reality." Bella gasped...suddenly realizing why everything had just happened to her. "Yours were...?" he prompted.

"Unimaginable torture...and the thought of never seeing you again..." she had stopped pacing, and was standing stiffly.

"As I thought. Mine were quite selfish. Losing you was one of them, and the other was losing my magic."

"So your magic is gone...?"

"Yes." Bella smiled slightly. "Why are you smiling? It's not at all funny!"

"Actually, I find it rather amusing. I can share my magic with you, you know."

"Can you?" Nat asked, stopping beside her.

"Yes. It would leave us both less powerful than we normally would be, but I could do it."

"I wouldn't ask that of you," Nat decided, turning away. Bella took his face gently between her hands and made him look her directly in the eyes.

"I wouldn't offer if I didn't want to do this. Please, let me do this. Let me know that I have done something in my life that has actually helped you..."

Nathaniel
--------------

Nat quickly pulled away from Bella. "No."

"But Nat-"

"Bella, i said no. I'll find a way to get MY magic back."

"But i want to help you!" she persisted.

"Then help me look for a way to get my magic back!" he said, throwing up his arms in exasperation. He turned away and began pacing again, muttering under his breath.

"Nat," Bella began again. Nat continued pacing, digging his heels into the tunnel floor as he put his foot down.

"Let me just give you a tiny part of my magic, just until you get yours back."

Nat stopped but did not look at her. "Bella. I'm not trying to be stubborn. If it seems that way-"

"It does."

"If it seems that way, I'm sorry. I cannot take any of your magic. You dont understand. If i did, and somehow i found my magic again before you could take yours back, even if it was the tiniest bit, i would die. The magic would kill me."

"Then I'd take mine back before you found yours." She said, shrugging as if it were no big deal.

"No, bella. Magic is an unpredictable thing. What would happen if you gave me a bit of your magic then i found mine when you weren't there? Or something like that? Bella, the magic would KILL me."


Gerard
------------

Gerard shook his head. "Not right now. I couldn't do that to Nat."

"That's fine. Just say when." Alise said, smiling. Gerard nodded and looked over to where Nat and Bella were arguing. He had a strange urge to root Bella on. It was not often Nat lost a fight between anyone. It would be amusing to see him lose this one.

But Nat said something that made Bella cringe; her shoulders slumped in defeat. Gerard faintly heard the word 'Kill', and though he didnt know what his twin had said, he was sure he had put up a good argument.

Gerard sighed.


*Ok guys. I dont know how often I'll be on this week. I have a half an hour after school, but thats for Homework, too. I have an hour before school and that's when i can assure you I'll be on. So...expect a post once a day from me. Hopefully more but i dont know.*

"I wonder what they're argueing about," Alise said, no longer trying to sit up, "I can't hear them..." Her eyes turned alarmed, "I shoud be able to hear them!"

"Maybe you haven't compleatly healed yet?"

Alise rubbed her head to find it still tender, "yeah thats probably the problem." Once again she tried to sit up, and once again Gerard pushed her down.

"You've just confirmed that you're still hurt, no."

"I won't stand up, Just let me sit up, I'll lean against the wall or something."

"Kill you?" Bella asked weakly, leaning against the wall for support. She was suddenly very dizzy.

"Yes, kill me," Nat replied, his tone still slightly harsh, but his voice lowered a little bit.

"In that case, I swear right now, until the very second you get your magic back, to protect you with every ounce of magic I have."

"Bella, you don't have to-"

"I know I don't have to. But I want to." Nat was avoiding looking her in the eye. She walked over and placed a few fingers under his chin, pushing his eyes up so that he was looking at her. "Please."

"Fine. Why do you care so much?"

"Because...I feel like through this whole trip you've been trying to help me. You've always looked out for me, and I've never been able to do the same for you," Bella was the one avoiding eye contact now, facing the wall and hugging herself tightly. "I've always felt so...helpless, compared to you. You'd probably be better off without me half of the time..."

Nathaniel
---------------

Nat sighed. "You know thats not true, Bella."

She didnt look at him, but instead continued hugging herself and staring at the wall.

Nat sighed again and took a step forward, his arms outstretched. "Bella, truth be told, i dont think i could live without you."


Gerard
--------------

"Fine, but you're not allowed to get up. Got it?" Gerard asked, helping Alise into a sitting position and leaning her, half against the wall, half against himself.

"Ok," she said.


*Sorry. I dont have much*

"Really?" Bella asked, looking up at Nat hesitantly.

"Yes, really," he answered, kissing her lightly. She smiled, feeling quite a bit happier.

"So...where are we goign next?" she asked.

***I don't know what to write...***

*fine me and Silvin *

"Why am I not allowed to get up?"

"Because you're still not healed, and the worst thing for anybody is to stand up when they have a concussion."

"Oh okay," She settled herself back against him, "where's Ara and Silvin? Are they still fighting the demons?"

"If they were under mind control they would have been free by now," Nat spoke up.

"But demons-much like bloodthirsty vindictive vampires, not like the cute and sweet Alise you all know and love-wouldn't care. They love carnage."

Nathaniel
----------------

"We should go find Ara and Silvin. Who knows what sort of trouble they could've gotten themselves into." Bella said. Everyone agreed.


*Sorry. I cant think of ANYTHING! I'll get on again in the morning and post something better*

((Ok, the demons that attacked their group are all dead cause Ara is out of the drive. ))

Ara woke up laying on the cold ground next to a sleeping Silvin. He was in a sitting postion against the wall. Ara's head hurt, but she pushed it aside as she sat up. She looked around and sighed, the drive was gone. She was free of it for now. Her first thought went to the others. Where were they. Silvin yawned and sat up.

"Your awake." he muttered, she laughed,

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" She asked,

"And you talk, you were.... acting a little weird after the demons attacked." He said,

"Its a long story." She replied with a smile


((All I got))

Moving the Story along...

Gerard
------------

"Alright," Gerard said, standing and cautiously helping Alise to her feet. "Lets go."

They traveled the dark tunnels for some time. Bella lit a small glowing orb that hovered over them so they would have light. Nat lapsed into another of his brooding silences.

After about a half an hour they came to an abrupt turn in the tunnel. As they rounded the corner that almost tripped over Ara and Silvin.


*Hope this helps.*

SOMEONE POST!!!!! please?

*I can't think of anything ^.^*