Autumn's Beginning, Autumn's Breeze

***Someone leave me an opening for Isabella please...I'm not quite sure what's happening. I'm going to throw in my other character though.***

Valentina~

I rapped on Natan's door, hoping he was home. For such a small town, there seemed to be quite a bit going on tonight. Bella, Natan's mother, answered hte door.

"Good evening Val, how goes it?"

"It goes well, thank you. Is Natan about?"

"No, I believe he went to his cousin's house," Bella replied, her smile never faultering as Nathaniels would have. I knew Nathaniel didn't like me for soem reason, although I could never figure out why. He always tried to hide it, but my cursed vampire abilities allowed me to read him like an open book...grr.

"Okay, thank you then. Good night," I smiled, walking toward Arianna's house.

Natan-

I yawned, losing interest in the whole situation. My father and uncle and aunt continued questioning the vampire pinned up against the wall. I leaned against the door frame and let my eyelids droop.

A soft giggle sounded next to me. "Tired, Natan?"

"You wish," i muttered, folding my arms against my chest. Isabella snickered.

"What do you find so funny?" i asked irritably, looking at her through one eye. She shrugged and glanced to my right purposefully.

I sighed and looked. Davnix stood to my other side, his sword poised above his head as if the bring it down upon mine. A huge grin broke across his face and he dropped his sword laughing. The sharp instrument narrowly avoiding my hand.

"Ah ha, yes, hilarious." i rolled my eyes.

The Avain turned to look at us curiously. I saw him and beckoned him over.

"What is your name?" i asked.

"Riley."

"Ah."

"And you're Natan."

"Correct. I assume my cousins have told you about me?"

"Bits and pieces."

I turned back to Isabella. "This is my oldest sister, Isabella. The older mage in there is our father, Nathaniel. We have a younger sister back at home. Lucky for her, she wasn't pulled along on this little outing. I'm about to fall asleep."

The avian laughed and looked at my sister. "Hello, I'm Riley."


*Alice, you can continue with the questioning of Max if you want.*

Isabella~~

I turned from the others, watching Max. He was...interesting. Something about him held my attention, and I hoped he would stay for a while, even after this fiasco.

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Valentina~~

I knocked on the door, which was open by Davnix. He grinned, letting me into the house. One of the great things about living in a small town--we all knew each other so well that we could nearly walk into another house without knocking.

Nat was sitting right inside the door, and smiled slightly when I walked in.

"Good evening, Val," he said kindly, pulling me into a quick hug. I knew it wouldn't last long, but it was enough to make me feel warm and tingly inside **my gawd that was a lame line!**

"Hello Natan," I replied, hugging him back.

Natan-

I quickly pulled away from Val and went back to leaning against the wall.

"What are you doing here?" i asked curiously.

Valentina-

"I wondered what was going on," I replied, trying not to lead on that I simply wanted to see him. "Everyone I normally hang out with was...gone, to put it simply. Everyone else said you were here. Hence, I came here."

"I see," he nodded.

"So what exactly is goign on here?" I asked, hoping to get some information.

Natan-

"Oh, who knows." I sighed. "Something to do with a vampire."

I yawned again; i couldn't help it. The healing had taken a lot out of me, not to mention my excessive lack of sleep. Within the past week, I'd gotten about 10 hours of sleep in total, having to help my father or just lay awake restlessly.

Isabella came to stand at my side and lay her head on my shoulder. Oddly, Isabella was one of the very few people whom i trusted and tolerated. She was pretty down to earth, but fun to be around. A good sister, to put it simply.

I smiled inwardly.

Isabella~

I was tired. Max was certainly intriguing, but the questioning was getting quite boring. I leaned my head against Natan. wondering what he was thinking. I was pretty sure he liked Val, but not quite positive.

*Nat!* I used our mind bond again.

*Yes Bella?* he sounded tired, but that was expected.

*Haha...we sound like our parents*

*That we do. What do you want?*

*What do you think of Val?*

*In what terms* I rolled my eyes mentally, so that he would see it.

*You know what terms I mean, brother.*

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Valentina~

Vampire...the word rolled around in my mind, and I looked toward the man. He was indeed a vampire, and a very strong one. He must've noticed me too, because he was glaring at me. I prayed that he wouldn't tell anyone my secret...I knew how Nathaniel would react, and had the feeling that might make Natan unhappy as well.

"Would you guys like to come back to my house for while?" I offered. "I could make you something to eat, or we could just relax. It'd be better than sitting here."

** I am soooo lost where are my people in all of this. I was busy all day and missed it all. **

Natan-

I snorted mentally. *I don't really feel like discussing my love life with my little sister, thank you.*

*So you do like her!*

*I never said that. You assume things too fast, Bella.*

*Sure, uh-huh.* she rolled her eyes again.

"Would you guys like to come back to my house for while? I could make you something to eat, or we could just relax. It'd be better than sitting here." Val offered.

I shrugged. "I suppose so. Come on, we'll all go. You don't mind, right, Val?"

She shook her head and smiled, clearly pleased. About what, i didn't know. Was it the company, or simply the fact that i was coming over?

*Oo, someone likes you!*

*Shut it, Bella. I'll send you back to the house.*

*You cant!*

I caused a small flicker of flame to ignite on the end of my finger. *You forget, i am a mage. I can teleport you back and lock the door before you could say 'No'.*

I didn't get a response from that. I smiled.

I walked into the room where my father stood, watching my aunt and uncle question the now frightened vampire. He was pleading something, but i didn't pay it any attention.

"We're all going over to Val's house. We'll be taking the Avian, too. See you back at the house when this is all over."

My father merely nodded, staring intently at the Vampire. I realized that he was trying to read the creatures mind, and i quickly exited the room.

"Ok, let's go."

Isabella~

I smirked, letting Natan think he had one. Finally, I shot back through my mind.

*I'm a mage too, dear brother.* Nat rolled his eyes. *Did you see her face when you said yes? She was so happy!*

*Shut up!* Natan shot back.

*Just tell me then, do you like her?!* Natan didn't reply immediatly...I took that to mean he was thinking.

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Valentina~

Yes, Nat had just accepted an invitation to MY house! I was so excited I was practically shaking. We walked down the street, me keeping pace with Natan, and Isabella walking a few feet behind. She chuckled every now and again, but I wasn't sure why.

I got to the door, unlocking it and holding it open for Natan and Isabella.

"Cursed candles..." I murmured, wishing they would've stayed lit.

"That's not a problem," Natan replied, snapping his fingers. The candles flickered to life. I smiled...he was cute and brilliant!!

"Thank you," I said. "Feel free to have a seat. Can I get you anything?"

Natan-

*I only like her as a friend. She's one of my best friends, but no, i don't love her.*

*Yet.* was all Isabella said back. I rolled my eyes.

"Feel free to have a seat. Can i get you anything?" Val asked.

"No, I'm fine, thanks. And, since you seem to be lacking the seats for all of us, seeing as there are so many, I'll simply hover-sit."

I snapped my fingers and slowly raised about two feet off the ground. I sat down on my cushion of air and smiled, seeing mostly everyone looking at me as if i was crazy. I was used to it, by now.

Maximum

"I was following the Avian because I could sense that he was going to lead me to you!" I begged Alise with my eyes to understand how much I still wanted her.

"Why were you still looking for me?" The evil glare in Alise's eyes told me that she wasn't at all afraid of killing me if she needed to.

"Because I still want you!" I practically shouted, resisting the urge to reach out to her because I knew both of them would use their weapons.

"How did you know the Avian would lead you to us?"

"I didn't!"




Ariana

I grabbed ahold of Davnix's hand and Riley's and dragged them past our mentally squabbeling cousins and outside.

"There has to be a reason he was following you," I said harshly, "what was it?"

Riley looked panicked, "I have no clue!"

"Where are you going?"

"Anywhere warm."

"Ariana, it is cold out here, can't we just take this into my room?"

"Why you room?"

"My room has less weapons."

The Avians eyes widened in horror. "I'm only kidding!"

I ignored Davnix, "there's something wrong with all of this, cooidences aren't always this bi-" I was interupted by a loud explosion in the street, knocking all of us backwards and at leas me unconcious.

Isabella~

Smiling, and realizing that there were very few seats, I followed Natan's lead. He rolled his eyes. I knew he hataed hwen I copied him, but I found it quite enjoyable.

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Valentina~

After everyone had made themselves comfortable, I looked at the Avian curiously, not knowing exactly what he was. I had heard the word Avian being thrown around, but that was is.

"What's an Avian?" I asked, sitting on the stool next to Natan. Riley looked up at me, and I noticed the scar on his eyes.

"An Avian is a type of angel," he answered softly. I tilted my head, examining him. "What of you?"

"What do you mean?" i asked, shifting my eyes.

"You're certainly not human."

"So?"

Isabella~

Smiling, and realizing that there were very few seats, I followed Natan's lead. He rolled his eyes. I knew he hataed hwen I copied him, but I found it quite enjoyable.

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Valentina~

After everyone had made themselves comfortable, I looked at the Avian curiously, not knowing exactly what he was. I had heard the word Avian being thrown around, but that was is.

"What's an Avian?" I asked, sitting on the stool next to Natan. Riley looked up at me, and I noticed the scar on his eyes.

"An Avian is a type of angel," he answered softly. I tilted my head, examining him. "What of you?"

"What do you mean?" i asked, shifting my eyes.

"You're certainly not human."

"So?"

*Major skills required here. This may take a bit* *Alzz, i had to ignore two lines of your dialouge in order to make this work. Hope you don't mind. *

Davnix-

I sighed, beginning to grow wary of this Avian. He just seemed too suspicious. And what of that part of him knowing something of Val not being human? I had known Val almost my whole life!

I used my mental bond between my sister and I. *Come on, i want to question the Avian, outside.*

I got up and went to stand next to the young man. He couldn't been any older than me.

"Will you come with me, please?" i asked bending down and gently taking his arm in my hand and raising him to his feet. My touch was as gentle as i could make it, so not to cause alarm. I led the man outside, past Natan and Isabella who were mentally arguing.

As i passed Val, i saw a swift look of relief pass over her face before she turned her head away from me. That puzzled me even more.

Ariana followed me and Riley outside. Once the door was shut, she turned to the avian.

"There has to be a reason he was following you," She said harshly, "what was it?"

Riley looked panicked, "I have no clue!"

"Where are you going?"

"Anywhere warm." he pleaded, beginning to shiver. Maybe coming outside wasn't such a good idea.

Before i could say anything else, a loud bang sounded down the road, coming from alarmingly close to where my house was. I was blasted off my feet and into the air, landing hard a few feet from where i had started. I raised my head weakly to see the dust clearing...


Natan-

Val was just about to engage me in conversation, i could tell, when a loud band sounded outside. I momentarily lost my concentration and fell to the floor with a soft thud. I groaned softly.

"What now?" i muttered, getting shakily to my feet. I went to the door and opened it, ignoring everyone else behind me momentarily. Outside, a great cloud of dust and dirt was settling to earth, allowing me to be able to see Davnix laying on the ground, staring off in the direction of his house. Ariana and Riley lay near him, both unconscious.

"What happened?" I called, going to help. Isabella followed me quickly and went to kneel beside Ariana.

"I dunno!" Davnix called hoarsely. A moment later Ariana began to cough and sputter, spitting out dust. Isabella moved from her to Riley, using magic to revive them.

"Come on, we have to go find out!" Val and I said at the same time. I glanced back at her sharply and saw her blush and lower her head. I smiled secretly to myself.

*See, it works, doesn't it? *bows**