Autumn's Beginning, Autumn's Breeze

Ariana

I couldn't decide instantly about that one, it would be cool. A new way to spend forever with him without being a vampire. Something my familly hated. And being able to control where I flew. I'd be a lot less helpless.

"That would be cool," I said shyly, "but I wouldn't want to live forever leaving my family behind."

Riley-

I chuckled. "Ariana, whatever you've been told of of us avians is probably mostly false. Here's the scoop: We are not fallen angels. We are not born with our wings. We become avians by means of magic or as a reward of being honorable, noble, and purely unselfish. We do NOT, i repeat, do NOT live forever. We have the same life spans of humans. I am twenty one right now. I was born twenty one years ago. I received my wings twenty years ago."

I smiled at her. "Does that ease your fears?"

Ariana

A broad smile spread across my face and I snuggled closer to him, "all of them. Except the flying part..."

"Which you've said you'll get over soon."

I rested my head on his arm, "I suppose." And then I yawned.

He yawned.

I yawned again.

"I love you," he whispered in my ear.

"I love you too," I replied and drifted off to sleep.

Riley-

As i felt Ariana's body relax against me, i stared into the dancing flames, wondering what i was doing.

Am i really going to change her? i asked myself mentally.

You're not, but others can.

But do i really want to change her? I really don't remember much of it, but i do remember that it hurt. Would i condemn her to that? Do i want her changed?

Hell, yes.

I sighed and glanced back at Natan to see if he'd regained consciousness. He had. His eyes bore a hole straight through me, though he didn't seem to be moving from his spot sitting against the back wall anytime soon. I smiled at him and turned away, letting myself drift into sleep.

Ariana

As I slept, of course I dreamed.

"Ariana" the sweet melodolical voice woke me. It was him again. Why couldn't he just leave me alone?

"Go away!" I screamed at him. He simply grabbed my hair and pulled me away from Riley. I thrashed and kicked at him. But he was too powerful. Soon he had me hovering over the fire, if he let go, I would fall in and die.

"I will get you soon, you belong to me."

"I belong to no one, least of all you."

"You do, and so will your friends, if you don't come to me." He let go.

I awoke in a cold sweat clinging to Riley. I knew that the demon was right, if I didn't go to him, he would come for her, and take everyone along. As soon as she knew them to be safe, she would leave and seak him out, save them.

**I really don't know what to put, but I don't want y'all thinkin I'm outta it. I'll add on to the anger thing kinda, sorta, oh you'll see. **

Velna-

Velna looked around her. She was sitting down against the wall in the cave. But she didn't have control of herself. She could get control back and no matter how hard she tried to get in contact with Trent or Crest she couldn't. She was stuck.

Everything suddenly went black and she saw someone that looked almost exactly like her walking over. But the eyes were the same as the demons.

'Who are you?' Velna demanded,

'I'm the one making sure not one nice word comes out of your mouth. You see, we can't have your little group going very much farther, and what other way to prevent that then posses a few of you. We can't figure out who that guy got free, but he did. You wont, I'm stronger then my brothers and no matter what your friends try you aren't going to be getting out. You'll just have to sit and watch in torment.' The demon girl laughed.

'I'll get out, and I'll kill you if I have to.' Velna hissed back walking towards the girl.

'Oh, but you have nothing in this rehelm to help you. Just your fists, and I have magic and anything else I need.' The girl laughed as a big cloudy black hand shot from her own and wrapped around Velna's neck slowly choking her. 'Don't try anything or I'll have to kill you which will leave me with out a host body and I hate my demon body.' She dropped Velna then turned around and disappeared.

Isabella~

I walked toward Natan, keeping my eyes lowered, but blocking his view of the others. He seemed pretty angry...I hoped he wasn't as bad as earlier.

"Natan?" I asked quietly, sitting next to him.

"What?" he shot back, his eyes flamign as he turned to me. I resisted the odd urge to shrink away from him.

"Are you all right?"

"Why do people keeping asking that?! I'm fine! Perhaps I just want to be left alone for while? Ever thought of that?" Natan snapped, getting to his feet. I did not try to stop him as he stalked out of the cave into the dark.
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Val~

I watched Natan leave the cave, looking quite angry. Silent and unnoticed,I slipped out to follow him.

Riley-

I felt something clutching my chest. Still half-asleep, i tried to roll away. The grip tightened and i felt something wet smother into me. I blinked my eyes open and saw Ariana, her sobs stifled, holding onto me.

I wrapped my wings comfortingly around her, burying my face in her hair, letting her cry against me.

"Another nightmare?" i muttered into her hair.

Natan-

I stalked outside into the dark night, passing Davnix standing near a boulder. He glanced at me dully as i walked past but never made a move to stop me.

I continued walking for who knows how long. My only thought was to get away from the camp.

No, go back to the camp...

Leave...me...alone! i shrieked mentally, fighting whatever held me. I gripped my head, not even conscious of my actions, and collapsed to the wet ground.

Why would I? You and your friends are playing right into our hands. Why stop now? a sneering, whispering voice answered, the words curling around in my head, taunting and mocking me.

Leave me alone! i screamed again, not aware that the words had not just been spoken in my mind, but from my mouth, too. Get out!

I felt a hesitant presence at my side, felt cool hands grab my own feverish flesh. My eyes flared open and I stared without recognition at the face hovering before my own. Her eyes were worried. Her lips moved, though i heard no sound. I shook my head violently.

Get out... I whimpered.

Val~

"Natan, Natan are you okay!?" I said loudly, kneeling next to him and looking into his face. He was on the floor, writhing and whimpering.

"Get out..." the words were barely audible, but I caught them.

"Natan, what's wrong?" he was still writhing, but had stopped talking. His eyes were closed in obvious pain.

Natan-

I clutched at my head. Whatever was inside me seemingly enjoyed torturing me. I clenched my teeth in pain.

Get out! I screamed mentally, forcing the thing back. I didn't feel any change except for the pain fading, but the presence was still there.

Sorry, but i can't let you go that easily. Not until you bring the others to us. the voice whispered. So don't even bother trying to kick me out. It won't happen.

I struggled again but felt the pain return. After a moment i gave up and lay on the cold, wet grass. I whimpered and clutched my head again, curling up into a ball.

I felt cool arms encircle me and heard someone saying something into my ear. I opened my eyes and sat up slowly, seeing Val sitting next to me. Her eyes look concerned.

"I-" i began to say, but then the being inside of me takes over, forcing me to shove her away.

"Leave me alone," I said coldly, standing up and turning away. I wrestled with whatever was controlling me, forcing out a broken sentence before it takes control again. "Please! I don't want you to get hurt."

Ariana

I nodded, I knew looking at his face would make me lose the little self control and ball and explain it all to him. Why did he do that to me? I couldn't hold anything back from him like I did from the rest of the world!

Val~

I listened to Natan's cold words, followed by something that sounded at least slightly human. He was walking away again though, and we needed to keep him close. I ran after him, not even slightly worried about me getting hurt.

"Me? Hurt?" I scoffed, easily keeping pace with him. He turned on me quickly, grabbing my shoulders roughly. He seemed stronger than usual, even for a mage. His eyes locked with mine. They held a deep, angry fire...

Natan-

"Valentina, please!"

Yes Valentina,please! The voice mocked. At least it had given me back control of my words...for now.

"Please, just go back! Leave me alone!"

She shook her head stubbornly. "Not until you tell me what's going on."

I'd get her away if i were you...who knows what could happen... the voice said as i felt my hand raise a fraction, magic rushing to my palm. It began to glow dimly.

"Please!" i begged again. "I'll explain later, just go!"

Finally she sensed the urgency in my voice and saw the desperation in my eyes. She turned hesitantly and started off down the path. When she was almost out of view, i called after her, "Find some way to get me to the tower, no matter what I might say!"

Magic pulsed from my hand, but Val was already out of view. After that, the world went dark again.

You will regret that... the voice hissed.

Riley-

I embraced Ariana and held her close. "So what was the nightmare of this time?" i asked softly.

Ariana

I shuddered, "he just was there. Showing what will happen when he finds me again."

He stroked my hair, "we won't let him touch you. We're gonna get him first."

If only that were true I thought as I snuggled closer into his warmth.

Val~

I ran back to the cave.

"Help!" I cried, finding Isabella and Max. They would be most capable at helping, I was sure. "Natan is being strange...like his body has been overtaken by something. Please, we must do something."

"What do you suggest?" Isabella said, getting to her feet. Max was right behind her. I led them out of the cave as I spoke.

"I don't know. The last thing he said while still acting like himself was that we needed to get him to the tower, no matter what he might say. Then he started building up magic, and told me to run. So I ran..." I fell silent.

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Isabella~

I followed Val, knowing Max would follow me (I think as long as we were close the anger wouldn't show).

"Natan!" I cried out, seeing my brother standing at the top of the hill. His face was dark, holding some amount of anger I had never seen before. Val grabbed my arm before I could run toward him -- I had forgotten how much stronger she was than most girls.

"Don't. He's been overtaken. We need to approach him calmly, and sort it out from there," she said in a hushed voice. I nodded my agreement, and we began the walk up the hill.