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

Ariana

I bit back a protest, I knew he was just trying to protect me. But I didn't like being ordered around. I was a big girl, I could take care of myself!

"I can take care of myself Uncle Nat."

"Not when dealing with this demon," he said, "his threat got to you."

"I don't want him to hurt you guys," I said.

"He won't get the chance."

Nathaniel-

"He won't get the chance," i respond, raising an eyebrow. "In case you haven't noticed, we're in a tower full of the most powerful mages in the world. Now it's only a matter of time, and the demon knows that. That's why he went into hiding."

She stared at me with a expression of horror and curiosity. "Hiding?"

"Yes, why?"

"It's just that...when he got past your protection, his voice sounded different. It sounded like a girl."

"Are you sure it wasn't just another mage?" i asked, though i already knew the answer.

She nodded. "I'm sure. It was him...or her."

I curse. This wasn't good. Now the demon had possession of one of the mages bodies, meaning he had complete control over their own abilities PLUS his own...

"He's taken over one of the mages and has their abilities plus his own, which, i am sorry to say, WOULD make him more powerful than me. As he was, he was nearly an even match. Ariana, i forbid you to leave my side until we have this figured out. It's for your own safety. Riley, you'd better stay with me too. This demon won't be afraid to try to get to Ariana through you especially now that you're even more vulnerable."

Natan-

I continue to talk with Zalia, completely entranced by her intelligence and beauty.

After a moment, Val walked off, an angry air radiating from her body. I turned and was about to go after her but Zalia caught me arm and forced me to stop.

"Don't go," she said in her silky voice. I cast one last glance at Val's disappearing figure before turning back to Zalia and smiling.

"Alright."

Val~

I heard how easily Natan gave in to Zalia's request to stay. My chest ached.

I hated her. Hated her with a passion. I wanted to kill her. I could kill her. Why didn't I?

Because Natan was happy.

If Natan was happy, there was nothing I would do to stop it.

Curses...

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**Sorry, that seemed rather choppy. I don't know what to type.

Ariana

Riley was being forced to stay too, I felt a little better. My uncle was powerful but when I was near Riley everything seemed right, better. Perfect.

"Alright," Riley said, "I have to protect Ariana after all."

"And I am your eyes," I added, hoping my tone wouldn't offend him.

Riley-

I turned my head in the direction Ariana's voice came from, a slight smile playing upon my lips. I pulled her into a hug.

"That you are."

"Come on, we need to get back to where there are a few more people..." Nathaniel muttered nervously, glancing around.

"Right,"i said, grasping Ariana's rm for guidance.

Ariana

"Can't you teleport us uncle Nat?" I asked.

He grasped my arm and Riley's and everything went black.

Nathaniel-

I brought us back to the balcony where i had left Riley during the fight and went to look over to see what was going on.

"Ariana?" Riley's voice sounded behind me.

There was no response. I spun and cursed, kneeling next to Ariana who lay still upon the ground.

"Nathaniel?"

"She's fine, Riley, just fainted."

"Are you sure...?"

I looked up briefly. "Positive."

I wished my words could quench my own fears. I really had no idea what was wrong with the girl. I couldn't detect anything odd using magic, but nevertheless i had an uneasy feeling in my gut.

Picking up Ariana, i turned to Riley again. "Hold onto my shoulder, i have to carry Ariana. We're going down stairs, so be careful."

He nodded, touched my shoulder lightly and lifted about an inch off the ground using his wings. I admired his quick-thinking and began down towards the rest of them.

Ariana

When I woke, I was moving, but not by my own accord. Panicked I opened my eyes and looked around wildly. When I realized it was Uncle Nathan carrying me I relaxed. "Alright," I said, "I can walk now."

Over his shoulder I saw Riley relax a little. Uncle Nathan sat me down on a bench and kneeled before me. I grabbed Riley's hand and lead him over to sit by me, feeling comfort in his presense.

"What happened?" Nat demanded

"I fainted, you've known that I've never been one for teleportation." But even as I spoke the words I tasted the bitter lies on my tongue.

Nathaniel-

"Bah, Rubbish. It is heights you don't like, we all know that. I took you teleporting all the time when you were little along with your brother and cousins. You never had a problem then."

She avoided looking into my eyes and instead examined the ceiling rather curiously.

"Ariana, what happened? Rarely does one just faint."

Ariana

I looked away from his eyes again, I couldn't lie worth a crap, especially to my uncle. "Nothing," I said again, "I just got a little stressed is all..."

You can't lie to him Ariana, tell him who I am. Where I am. See what I can do to them.

NO!

Yes. You failed to return to me last time.

You promised that my friends wouldn't be hurt if I came back! You hurt Riley! I won't hurt them if you come back willingly, without them.

Get out of her head demon!

Uncle Nathan! I screamed in my head, please this isn't helping. I think I'm going to faint again.

Everything and everybody left my head again, leaving me all alone in there. I shuddered and collapsed into Riley.

Nathaniel-

I rocked back on my heels, running my slender hand through my hair.

"Ariana, you're a rotten lier." i said, half-jokingly, half serious.

She looked up and frowned.

"Just stay close from now on and TELL me when the demon does that again. Alright?"

Ariana

I sighed and didn't respond. I knew that would be a promise I couldn't easily keep.

"Ariana," he said sternly, "promise me."

"Just as long as you promise to kick him out without getting into my head yourself. [i]That's[i] what made me faint uncle Nat. You've been doing that all day."

"Would you rather have the demon in your head?"

"Than having you two battle it out? Yes I'd rather have just the demon."

I felt Riley's hand stroke my hair, "couldn't you just teach her how to kick him out yourself?"

Nathaniel-

I smiled. "I could, but it requires a lot of time to teach and a lot of practice. And...a lot of patience. I don't think either have much of that last one. But i'll do what i can do keep it at bay without entering your mind, Ariana, but if it must be done then i will have no choice but to act."

I glanced over my shoulder and saw Davnix emerging out of the mass of people, two other people trailing after him that i recognized as Velna and Trent.

Turning back to Ariana, i crossed my arms and rocked back on my heels again, raising an eyebrow.

"So do we have a deal?"

Ariana

"I'll do my best," I said. Uncle Nat knew I'd never completely agree to anything. Especially something I was reluctant to agree to in the first place.

He leaned down and came face to face with me, "I'll be keeping my eye on you."

I nodded and looked at Davnix. Did he know what all was going on? I doubted he knew the full details. Just that we were having troubles with the demon. But then again I didn't know much about anything else anymore.

"Davnix," I said sitting up, "want to practice?"

Davnix-

I glanced up to see Ariana, Riley and Nathaniel all standing around next to the wall. I looked back at Velna and Trent quickly but they seemed content on talking to Val, Isabella and Max. I turned back to Ariana and shrugged, walking over.

"So what's going on?" i asked her as i drew my sword and spun it out of habit.