Autumn's Beginning, Autumn's Breeze

Ariana

I woke up outside on the tree, where I had fallen asleep. But Riley wasn't there...

"Riley?" I asked.

"Riley isn't here," A haunting voice said. I knew that voice. That voice owned me.

I stood up and stared frightened at the man in front of me. "Go away!" I screamed.

"No Ariana, you're coming back with me. I own you remember?"

"You're a demon!" I screamed turning away and ran towards my house.

"Ariana!" Riley's voice peirced my terror and I turned to see him standing right in front of me.

"Ariana!"

Isabella~

I didn't stop running until my legs gave way, which was a good distance into the forest that lined our town.

I fell to my knees, the tears over flowing again. I hated it. I felt weak, useless. What good were tears?!

Arms enveloped me, holding me close. I knew it was Max immediatly, as I had hoped. I tried to push away, knowing that this would just make his leaving more painful.

"Don't...you'll make it worse," I murmured half-heartedly.

"Make what worse?"

"When you leave..." I replied softly.

Max

"I'm not leaving yet," I assured her, "Your uncle seems terrified of your father."

I heard her chuckle, "but for how long?"

"As long as I can."

Easily I lifted her into my arms and started carrying her back, at a slow easy walking pace. "I promise that I'll stay as long as I can."

"What happens if you break a promise?"

"Unimaginable pain for me and the most important person in my life, which currently is you."

Riley-

"Ariana!" i said loudly, shaking her. Her body shuddered and soft moans and whimpers escaped her mouth, accompanied by an occasional scream.

"Ariana!" i called again.

She stopped moving and slowly opened her eyes, blinking. I hugged her softly.

"Are you alright?" i asked

Ariana

Violent shudders racked my whole body and I clutched to Riley, "bad memories," I said and closed my eyes.

"What's going on out here?" I heard my dad shout as he ran out here.

"Nothing, dad," I said, "I...just had another nightmare."

"Oh honey," my mother said while she brushed my hair back from my face. "You know we won't let him get you again."

"What happened?" Riley asked, "when she was seven."

I winced and clutched to him tighter.

Isabella~

I grinned.

"Unimaginable pain sounds pretty bad," I commented. Max chuckled.

"So I've been told," he agreed.

"Maybe...they'll grow to like you...?" I commented hopefully.
---------------

Valentina~

I woke up when Nat moved slightly.

"I should get home," he murmured quietly.

"Are you sure? I have the feelign your father is still in a rather unpleasant mood..." I replied quietly.

Max

I subtally sped up so we returned to Isabellas house faster than we had run away from Alise's.

"You might not want to go in there," she said, "my father really hates vampires."

"Maybe he'll grow to like me too," I said with intense scarcasm.

"He'll make you go."

"I've promised to stick around."

Riley-

Alise and Gerard exchanged glances and Ariana hugged me tighter. I had a feeling i would've been better off not asking, but once again my tongue had spoken before my mind.

"You'd best some inside. It's cold out here." Gerard murmured. I nodded and picked up Ariana, despite her protests. I carried her easily inside the house and laid her down on the couch, sitting down next to her.

"Well..." Alise began.


Natan-

I sighed. "You're probably right, but if i delay any longer i fear that i won't go home again."

She shifted slightly against me. "I'll come too."

I shook my head. "No, stay here. He'd flip if you came."

"Then let me hide outside until you get things sorted out. If worst comes to worst, i'll slip in through the window."

I laughed. "Alright, that seems fair enough."

Isabella~

Max knocked on the door to our house, and my mother opened it. My mother had always been accepting of everyone, no matter who or what they were.

"Isabella, what's going on?" she asked when she saw me in the arms of Max. She had noticed Max earlier, and knew the situation.

"Tis a long story, mother. WHere's father?"

"In his study."

"Max and I are going up to my room," I siad. "Is taht okay?"

"Does your father know?"

"No, and I hope he doesn't find out any time soon," I replied. "Aunt ALise and Uncle Gerard know, if that helps?" Mom nodded and let us in. Max carried me up the stairs to my bedroom, shutting the door behind him. He lay me down lightly on my bed, and lay next to me.

-----------------
Val~

Listening carefully to Natan's instruction, I moved to the window underneath Nathaniel's study, listening carefully to their discussion.

Natan-

I walked calmly into my house as Val slipped off into the shadows, hovering close to the wall. I smiled at her reassuringly before shutting the door and turning around. My mother stuck her head around the kitchen door and i caught a glimpse of Isabella and someone else climbing the stairs.

"Who else is here?" i asked curiously.

"Isabella's friend, Max. I wouldn't tell your father."

I arched an eyebrow and shrugged. "Speaking of father, where is he?"

"In his study. He seems to be upset over something, but he wouldn't talk about it. You don't happen to know what's bothering him, do you?"

"No," i lied quickly. "I have no idea. I'll go talk to him."

"Be careful," she warned. "He looks about ready to bite someone's head off." she laughed.

"Great," i muttered. I frowned and went to knock on the door to Nathaniel's study.

"Who is it?" he called from inside, his voice sounding very annoyed.

I opened the door and let myself in, keeping my head down.

He coughed. "Well, I didn't expect to see you again this soon."

"I didn't expect to be back this soon."

"What made you decide to come back?"

"Val persuaded me. She really is a good person, father. She doesn't hurt humans and hasn't in a very long time."

"How can you be sure?"

I looked up and glared fiercely at him. He stared back calmly.

"Because I trust her! She saved my life, and yours!"

He laughed harshly, but it turned into another cough. I was too angry to notice.

"Saved us? Natan, she nearly KILLED both of us!"

I shook my head stubbornly. "She didn't know about the madness. She couldn't have known. It wasn't her fault, and at least she killed the demon."

"We could've handled it."

"Yes, but how many innocents would've died if something had gone wrong with one of our spells? Or if the demon managed to kill or knock one of us out? I don't think either of us could've handled it by ourselves."

He coughed again, harshly this time, and I knew something was wrong. I took a step forward.

"Go," he commanded, waving my away. "I don't want to deal with you right now. Come see me again in the morning."

I nodded hesitantly and left, stopping by the kitchen on the way to my room.

"Watch him," i said softly, nodding in the direction of the study. "He doesn't seem well."

"Alright." she agreed. I left and went up to my room, opening my window. Val slid in moments later.

Ariana

I closed my eyes against Riley's chest and searched for a place where the memories couldn't find me. But I knew that whereever I hid I wouldn't be hidden enough. His face, his power, his voice, it all would find me.

As I tried to force the memories away they invaded on me and swallowed me whole.

I was the silly seven year old again running away from her mother and brother to buy sweets.

"Are you lost little one?"

"No ma'am."

"You're lost," she decided for me grabbing my arm and dragging me away. I tried to scream but couldn't, the sound was trapped in my throat. She dragged me for hours before she pushed me down. "Slave girl," she said simply tossing me down on the floor. I looked up and saw a demon.

Now I could scream. I screamed and screamed and tried to run away. But his hand came down on my head and knocked me out."

I opened my eyes and shuddered and clung even tighter to Riley.

Riley-

I held Ariana as she clung to me tightly, shaking every once in a while. I listened as Alise told me the horrific story. When she was done, i sat for a moment, soaking it all in.

Then i looked down at Ariana and hugged her tightly. "I am sorry," i whispered into her hair gently. "I understand why you did not want to tell me, and i apologize for pushing the subject back upon you. I can tell it brings you much grief. I too have memories i wish to forget, as do we all."

She shifted slightly against me.

"I just hope that you can forgive me." i said softly. I didn't have to worry about sounding cheesy around her and her parents had already left the room. I hugged her close and held her.

Ariana

I sniffled and looked up at him, "its okay, really," I added when he looked at me skepticly. "It'sprobably a good idea to let it out once in a while, I hadn't thought about it in 13 years before this."

He hugged me tighter.

"Would you help me with something?"

"What?"

"Would you help me find and kill the demon?"

Riley-

I blinked. She wanted me to help her find a demon? Me? Of all people...?

"Ah, well, I'd be MORE than happy to help, but i don't know what'd i be able to do, really. But i'll come none the same."

Ariana

I smiled against his chest.

"I heard that," Davnix said causing me to jump. I looked up as he went around the couch to face us, "and you've eaten those funny mushrooms again if you think that you're going-"

"Davnix please," I pleaded.

"Without me."

I sighed and smiled, "I guess we'll have to take Isabella and Natan won't we?"

"Yeah."

"Lets go round them up then, before mom and dad find out."