Autumn's Beginning, Autumn's Breeze

Ariana

if he was only having an apple so was I. I grabbed another one and a knife. I sliced it in half and handed the knife to him. "They taste better if you cut them in half," I commented and took a bite into one of the halves.

A strange silence hung in the air between us during which time I could hear my mother yelling, the vampire retaliating and my father threatening.

"This is intolerable!" I said and went out the back door into the cool night air, oblivious to the cold and started walking, I didn't even notice that the Avian was following me.

Max

I couldn't help but smile, she was just like a scientist, the simplest answer was the right one.

"Except that your aunt and uncle still want to kill me."

"They'll get over it," she said turning to them, "won't you?"

"No," Alise said stubbornly, "we won't."

"And you deserve better than me," I added, with a note of finality in my tone.

"I still owe you a kiss," Alise said smugly, knowing that getting close to her I would lose control and kiss her with fevered abondon.

"Keep it," I said, "I'd rather take it from Isabelle."

Natan-

I droned on for a few minutes until i realized Val was asleep, leaning against me. I sighed and smiled, and finally sleep overtook me.

Riley-

I followed the girl out of the house as she started walking. I kept close behind.

"Aren't you cold?" i asked after a minute, wrapping my wings around my tightly and shivering.

Ariana

"A little, but I'd rather not listen to that," I groaned the cold was catching up with me and I couldn't help but shiver too.

"You don't like yelling?" He asked coming up next to me, thats when I realized I stopped.

"I don't like people usually. I hate listening to them argue or even talk." I shut my mouth here, not wanting to explain why I was like this.

Isabella~

When Max said this, my heart sped up a bit. I looked up at him, ignoring my aunt and uncle. They were being ridiculous, and couldn't control my life liek this.

"What I deserve and what I want are not at all related. I want you," I added a note of finality to my voice as well, then leaned up and kissed Max full on teh lips.

Riley-

I wrapped my wings around her again. "Why not? I can understand you not wanting to listen to them argue, but talk, even?"

I waited to hear her response, anxious and curious at the same time. I didn't know why, but i was drawn to this girl. She was mysterious, independent, fierce, and beautiful. But what chance did i have with her when i was a nervous, sneaky, pessimistic coward?

I sighed and frowned at my own thoughts.

Max

I kissed Isabella back, and as I let the kiss end so she could breathe I realized something, I had promised to leave after this.

I looked over and glared at Alise who returned it with a smug grin, "go," she said simply.

I stood up and walked out leaving Isabella confused behind me.

Isabella~

I looked from my aunt and uncle to Max, who was walking otu the door.

"Wait!" I cried, jumping up and following Max. He paused for only a moment. "Please don't leave!" I begged. "Not again."

"I have to," he replied. "I made a promise."

"Then...take me with you!" I wasn't willing to lose Max...I didn't think I cuold handle it...

Ariana

"Its a long story," I offered, "I don't like to think about it much." I snuggled in against his warmth. What chance did I have with somebody as amazing as him? I never felt comfortable around people before, but with him, I couldn't make myself stay away for too long. He was able to penatrate the protective sheild I had formed around myself.

"Well I want to hear anyways." He inched us over to a tree and we settled down next to it, his wings and arms still around me.

"I was seven, and in the market with my mom. I went to go get some hard candies, the kind that me and Davnix loved..." I didn't want to tell anymore but I knew I had told too much already to just stop. So I stalled setteling myself closer to his chest. "I was confused as being lost, and picked up as a slave girl..."

I was crying now, and I couldn't say anymore.

Riley-

"Sold? As a slave?" i asked, horrified. "That's awful, especially at such a young age!"

She cried softly into my bare chest and i patted her softly with my free hand.

"It's alright, you don't have to go on if you don't want to. I won't force anything out of you."

Max

I closed my eyes against the haze that threatened to envelop them, I turned to her and gave her another kiss, "I am bound to my promises Isabella, and I doubt either of us would like the concequences of what would happen if I were to break them."

"Promise you'll stay!" she demanded.

"ONe promise won't cancel out another," Alise said.

"SHe's right," I said sadly.

"Promise to take me with you!"

"I can't," I said, "you stay with your family Isabella. But I promise you, I will return, someday, when you're old and gray, when I have one last chance to say good bye."

Ariana

"Thank you," I whispered against his skin, I didn't have the stregnth to stop crying, I could only let them flow. The dam that had been holding them back for 13 years broke and I couldn't hold back anymore.

I cried until I fell asleep again, more comfortable here than I would be in my bed. The only horror I had was that I would talk in my sleep, and he would hear what I thought of him.

**Two of the same...wow...**

Isabella~

I couldn't help it. I didn't want Max to see me this way...I didn't want him to see me as weak. Aunt Alise knew I was furious, and put a hand on my shoulder.

"You could make him stay," I pleaded. "You could tell him it dind't matter...that the old promise could be forgotten!"

"I cannot. I will not." Aunt Alise answered softly. I looked at Max, then at my aunt. Without saying another word, I ran.


I used my magic, going faster than I normally wuld be able to. I knew if Max really wanted to, he would be able to catch up to me. I hoped he would...but until then I ran as quickly as I could, toward what, I did not know.

Riley-

As Ariana's soft sobs died away and her breathing evened out, i realized she had fallen asleep. I smiled and hugged her body closer to mine so she wouldn't freeze in the near winter air.

She mumbled something incoherent, the sound muffled by my feathers. I smiled again.

Max

My first instinct was to chase after Isabella, but I knew I wouldn't be able to bring her back.

"If you ever want to see her again make me promise to stay, or come back sooner than I had promised."

"No!"

"Then I'll take her with me," I said selfishly and started after her.

"STOP!" Alise screamed and I froze and turned to her.

"Yes?"

"Promise to bring her back," Gerard demanded, "My brother would kill me if I let her run off with a vampire."

"I promise to bring her back, and stick around so she won't run off again."

I chased after her before they could object to the last part.