Autumn's Beginning, Autumn's Breeze [2]

Ariana

I hiked up my skirts a bit and kicked the door.

One kick...nothing.

Two kicks...nothing

Three kicks...I slip and end up on the floor.

I sit up and put my hands on the floor supporting me. Why why why? Why did he lock me in here? He had to know that it was driving me mad not knowing what was going on. If everything went well I'd tell aunt Belle that he was too exausted to do anything and still went and fought. She'd kick his ass for that one. I grinned smugly and crossed my arms over my chest and glared at the door.

**Ok, Alice says I can just post as the battle with the demon, so I hope this is okay. If not, just let me know and I'll get rid of it, or whatever**

Isabella~

I ran with the group, toward the demon. We were attacking with everything we had. Magic flew left and right, and I was right in the middle of it.

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Val~

I ran straight at the demon, jumping at it. It threw me back with a great amount of force.

I hit a tree, and jumped to my feet, running again.

Pushing off the ground with all my strenth, I jumped at the demon again, aiming for it's neck.

Natan-

I trail after my father who allows the blind Riley to lean on his arm as he stumbles. The avian's wings are tucked tightly against his back, his hands trailing lightly against the wall.

The sounds of battle grow ever closer. A few of the doors on the side of the hallway open and the heads of the mages that reside there look around curiously. Their eyes examine us curiously but i pay them no heed.

After a few moments, we reach a balcony that overlooks the main hall of the tower. Leaning over the side, i see the rest of our small goups (save Ariana) fighting a massive creature that stood at least head and shoulder above the rest of the people in the room. A few of the braver mages had also grouped together and were launching an attack at the demon that seemed immune to all attempts to stop it.

My father stops, talking to Riley in hushed tones. After a moment the avian nods and my father leaves him standing at the balcony. I quickly follow him as he begins to descend the stairs that seem to never end.

Finally we reach the bottom. I glance back up the way we came.

"Couldn't we just have teleported?" i ask.

My father turns to me slowly, a sheepish grin stretching over his face. "Oops."

I heave an irritated sigh and roll my eyes. Then i enter the fray just in time to see Valentina leap at the demon. My eyes widen in horror...

Val~

I pounced at the demon, my fangs unsheathed.

Just as I was about to make impact, the demon disappeared.

"Where'd it go?" one of the others asked, while Natan ran to help me to my feet.

"It knew I was gonna kill it, so it ran!" I said, grinning through the pain in my arm. The shoulder had been pulled out of place, and was hanging at a rather odd angle.

"Are you all right?" Natan asked.

"Yeah, but this is going to hurt like hell," I replied before snapping my shoulder back into place with a sickening snap. Everyone around me cringed with me.

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Isabella~

I watched as the others gathered around Val. I was distracted by a noise in the trees behind me. I turned to see what was there.

Natan-

I cringe as Val snaps her shoulder back into place.

"You know i could've healed that a lot easier and less painful."

She shrugs. I open my mouth to say something else but my attention is caught by a figure entering the main hall from within the shadows cloaked in a black robe, burgundy hair falling about her face in elegant ringlets. I cannot help but stare, feeling my jaw go slack.

"Best close your mouth, for fear of the local sparrows taking up residence in it." my father's cool voice says in my ear. I blink and snap my mouth shut, looking back at the girl.

Val follows my gaze and i see, out of the corner of my eye, her eyes harden and her jaws clench. Her hands curl into fists.

But before either of us could act, the girl catches sight of us, blushes, and disappears into the ever-growing group of people.

Isabella~

"Did you see that girl?" I ask, turning to look at the others. Natan nodded silently, and Val glared after where the girl had disappeared to.

"I wonder who she was," Natan commented, looking around. He caught sight of her, and ran to meet her.

Natan-

I see the girl again, in the midist of the large group of people now huddling around where the demon disappeared.

I catch her easily, grabbing her arm before she can turn away.

"Who are you?" i ask softly

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Real Name: Heidiannalie
Name she goes by: Zalia
Age: 90+ (Looks only 20)
Race: Demon (In disguise)
Gender: Female/Male (See 'Other' for clarification)
Appearance: Since she is in disguise, she doesn't look anything like a demon. She is tall and slim with pale skin and rich burgundy hair that she keeps pulled up, letting a few ringlets fall about her face. Her facial features are sharp, her eyes a wild, feral green. She wears a slim-fitting black dress and a long black cape. She has a slim, graceful build and carries herself with an air of dignity and confidence. She also has wings, though rarely uses them or shows them.
Personality: She seems incredibly charming and mysterious. She has a good sense of humor and is a good comfort-giver. She is understanding, trust-worthy, intelligent, and loyal. Or at least she seems so. In reality, she's a manipulative, bitter, impatient, trickster that will do anything to further her own gains.
Abilities: She is, or was, a powerful mage who had the knack for altering emotions. She has an incredible voice and can be incredibly manipulative. She isn't as powerful as Natan magic-wise, but she makes up for that with her fake charm and persuasive nature.
Weapons: Magic, a dagger, and her voice.
History: She grew up in the tower and was taken over by the demon who is after Ariana when the demon disappeared. The demon has almost completely taken over and has a strong hold over the original owner of the body.
Other: She is...or WAS a mage in the tower, taken over by the demon. Now he lives inside her and controls her as Natan and the others were controlled. He is striving to make chaos unfold between the group. He hopes to get to Ariana through Natan.
Pic: http://amihedgehog.deviantart.com/art/f ... l-23472872

*She is an all-around character, controlled by all of us.*

Zalia~

Hmm...the boy was following me. That was expected though. I had caught his eye...there was nothing more to it.

"Who are you?" he asked quietly, catching my arm. I grinned back.

"Zalia," I answered, blinking my green eyes enticingly.
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Valentina~

Angrilly, I watched Natan run after the girl, leaving me standing alone.

Natan-

Zalia. I turned the name around in my head.

"Zalia, that's a pretty name." i say, smiling. She smiled back, batting her eyelashes.

I glance back at Val, whose beauty seems dull and bland compared to the girl standing in front of me. Not to mention that the girl in front of me was powerful...

I wave Val over before turning back to Zalia, getting lost in her deep green eyes.

*Excuse the cheesy-ness*

Val--

Natan was waving for me to join him and that...girl. Ugh, why did I have to bend to his wim so easily. Truthfully, I did not want to be anywhere near her, but it was him waving me over.

"Yes?" I asked, standing next to him and making to take his arm as I usually would. He moved away, toward her.

"Val, meet Zalia. Zalia, Val," He gestured while introducing, his eyes leaving hers only once. I smiled.

"Hello Zalia," I said, showing my fangs purpously.
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Isabella--

I watched Val walk toward Natan and Zalia, the scorn in her eyes all too obvious. What was my brother playing at, messing around with this girl? I knew he cared about Val...but perhaps it really was as nothing more than friends?

Ariana

I wrack my brain trying to figure out someway to fix all this, some way to help them. Maybe he could still hear my thoughts!

Can you hear me?

No, it wasn't the demon's voice in my head, it was uncle Natan's.

Oh come on Uncle Natan! I have to do something!

Yes you have to stay there and be a good little girl.

Something else! I have to help!

You are helping.

No I'm not! I'm sitting up here locked in a closet! I know if he was there he'd be patting my head and giving me a condesending look.

We can handle this, just be a good little girl and stay put.

Unless I come to get her. Now the demon was in my head.


Max~

I stood back from all this, my eyes fixed on the girl. She was beautiful, but that made me suspicious of her. What was going on through her head? I tore my eyes away for a bit to stare at Isabella, she had seen me staring at her and looked heartbroken. I slowly strode up to her as she leaned against a wall. I leaned into her, supporting myself with my hand on the wall.

She opened her mouth to speak, but I was already kissing her.

Nathaniel-

I cursed. The demon was still here, somewhere in the tower.

I looked around, trying to see anyone or anything unusual. Nothing seemed amiss, though my son seemed to be taking quite an interest in one of the other mages. A closer look told me that it was Zalia, one of the more unique, powerful mages. I shrugged and teleported back up to where Riley was standing, quietly listening to what was going on.

"Riley, Ariana is still in danger. The demon disappeared, but i fear it is still somewhere in the tower and it has gone to find Ariana."

His head turned in my direction, his eyes unfocused. "Then what do we do? Can we not gather the rest of our group and go after it, or at least keep Ariana with us at all times so we know she is safe?"

I sighed. "Yes, i was thinking that too but we still need to find the demon. And Natan and Val don't seem like they're going to be helping."

Riley raised an eyebrow but did not comment. I allowed him to take my arm again and we started up to where i had left Ariana.

Natan-

I didn't notice when Val showed her fangs when she smiled. I was too busy staring at Zalia to take notice. Her beauty seemed unreal.

Who was there to tell me that later i would be looking back on those words with a bitter smile?

Isabella--

I kissed Max back, even through my concern for my brother and new found friend.

"Are you all right?" Max asked, tipping my face so i was looking up at him. I shook my head.

"No, I'm worried about Natan. There's something horribly wrong with that girl...or perhaps there's something horribly wrong with the way she affects Natan. Or perhaps it's all perfectly right, and I just don't like seeing Valentina look that upset," Max covered my mouth to stop my rambling.

"Calm down, love. Let it work itself out for now, okay?" he said. I nodded.

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Val--

After a few minutes, Natan and Zalia started talking and I ended up feeling awkward. I stalked back to the others, keeping my gaze lowered.

Ariana

I couldn't feel anything. Nothing got through the mental filter my uncle must have put up. He was really good. I laid back, I'd rather stare at the dark ceiling than at the door.

Suddenly feeling came rushing back and I could feel something sharp poking my arm, nearly drawing blood and I quickly moved it away.

You're mean uncle Nat

It's not your uncle the demon's voice was now female. Scary. You know its me don't you?

Yes, how did you take my uncle's wards down?

I'm twice as powerful as your uncle.

Just go away!

Ariana! Now my uncle was in my head, geesh, but with the extra mind came the extra pain.

I felt the wards go up again and light shown through the door. I saw my uncle there and Riley. Nathan pulled me to my feet and into Riley's arms. I was so glad to be out of the closet and back in Riley's arms. It felt so much safer here.

Riley-

I felt someone pushed into my arms and smelled the familiar scent that lingered on Ariana's body. I held her close.

"I'm glad your safe." i whispered in her ear.

"Ariana," Nathaniel's voice cut in. "Why were my wards down? The wards i put around your mind so that no one other than myself could get in or take them down? Where did they go!?"

I turn my head in his direction, worried by the panic in his voice.

"I...The demon took them down." Ariana muttered.

Nathaniel cursed. "How!?"

"He...he said he was stronger than you..."

He cursed again. "Alright, for now you're not leaving my side. Got that?"