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

Natan-

I bit my lip, thinking of all the family i would leave behind if we ever did manage to make me stop aging. My father, mother, sisters...

Sensing my father's conscious presence hovering near mine, i shoved it away, sending out the strong mental message: Keep to yourself.

He withdrew with a huff. I looked down at Val.

"Whichever makes you happier." i said finally.

Val--

I saw the worry in Natan's eyes. I knew how much he cared for his family.

"We should find a way to make me start aging then," I answered, looking up at him. He seemed slightly surprised. "Natan, I know how much you love these people," I guestured to the others in the room. "And I know you wouldn't want to just leave them all behind. I have no one to leave behind but you, yet I care about all of these people as well. So we'll just have to grow old with them. Unless, of course, you have a reason to stop your aging process?"

Natan-

I smiled, kissing the top of her head. "You have no idea how much i love you."

She wrapped her arms around me, burying her face in my chest. "And I you."

My eyes flickered over to my father, daring him to speak out. He shrugged, crossed his arms, and lowered his head to his chest, lost in thought. I smiled inwardly.

"So any ideas on how to make you start aging, love?" i asked softly.

Val--

"No, not really. There's bound to be something...I just don't nkow what...I was hoping you'd have a thought?" I suggested, looking up at him.

"Well...you could always become human, like my aunt and uncle." My eyes grew wide of their own accord. "But we'll attempt to avoid that option." he added, hugging me tightly.

Natan-

"Perhaps the mages know something. I should think that it wouldn't be so hard to make a vampire start aging without changing them back." i said thoughtfully.

She nodded. "Do you think you could do it?"

I shrugged. "I'd have to get the spell from one of the mages that would know it, but i don't see why not..."

Val--

"Do you want to go now, or shall we wait for a while?" I asked, looking up at him.




>.< eep writers block!!

Natan-

I shrugged. "It is up to you. After all, it is you that will be changed. I would understand if you wanted to wait for a little while."


*Stabs writers block with a pen and her arrow cursor*

Val--

"I think it would be better if we waited for the others to wake up. Granted, your father worries me a bit..." Natan nodded his agreement. "Would we have to do the spell here?"

"If I know how to do it, then no. Why?"

"I'd rather wait until we were back home...if that's all right?"

"of course, if that is waht you wish."
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Isabella--

I moaned, sitting straight up before Max could stop me. I already felt him working his way into my mind again.

"Don't!" I snapped, kissing him on teh forehead. "I dont' wanna sleep anymore!"

Natan-

I hugged her. "Of course you can wait until we're home. I can see why you'd want to do that, and i don't blame you."

She hugged me back. "Thank you."

"You're more than welcome."

Ariana

I felt gooseflesh rise on my arms and legs under my dress.

"Cold?" he asked.

"Only slightly."

"Ready to go back?"

"Not yet."

Riley-

I stood with Ariana on the mountain, watching the moon sink from the sky and the rise. The colors were breathtaking and vivid. I heard Ariana inhale sharply.

"It's beautiful." she murmured.

"Not more than you." i said into her hair, kissing her softly.

She shifted against me. "Ready?" she asked.

I nodded, and lifted her in my arms again, heading back to the tower. I touched down on the balcony of the room and opened it, allowing Ariana to step inside before me. Everyone seemed to be either asleep or talking quietly. I went over to a bed, pulled Ariana down with me, and lay there contentedly.

Val--

It took a few days for everyone to get back to their normal selves. Even longer to get on a normal sleeping schedule. Finally, after at least three days, we were all awake at the same time.

Natan and I sat on one bed, me leaning against he and his arms around my waist. Isabella and Max sat on the same bed, beside us, both against the wall. Max's arm was around Isabella protectively.

Arianna and Riley lay in the bed across the room from us, awake but still lying. Velna and Davnix were out on the balcony talking, and Trent was alone against another wall.

Natan-

I looked over at Val, smiling. "I'll be right back, i have to get that spell before we leave."

She nodded, though i saw a trace of nervousness pass across her face. I smiled.

"Relax, it'll all be fine."

She nodded again and i got up, teleporting to the room that housed the one mage that i knew could help.

"Natan! Good lord, my boy, is that you?"

I turned and smiled. "Hello, Kash."

The old wizard made his way over to me, eying me from head to toe. "My my, you've grown." he remarked. "Last time i saw you you were this big." he held his hand up against his hip and grinned at me.

"It does seem like quite a while," i agreed.

"Well, what do you need? I see an unpleasant look in your eye which can't bode well for me. Come on, out with it."

There was no hiding things from Kash. "I need a spell. I was hoping you could help me."

"What kind of spell?"

"One to make a vampire start aging."

He pursed his lips. "Alright, let me guess. You fell in love with a vampire but she, being a vampire, can't age and so she has to watch you get older and older, like me." he tapped his chest. "and so now you're looking for a way to fix that?"

I smiled. "Dead on."

He chuckled. "Alright, i think i've got just the thing here..." he rummaged around before returning and handing me a scroll. "This is the spell and the components you'll need."

I sighed in relief. "Thank you, Kash."

He waved my thanks away. "Think nothing of it."

I nodded. "It was nice to see you again, Kash."

"And you. Just don't get much bigger, you hear."

I laughed. "Alright. So long, friend." and with that i teleported back to the room with the others, still smiling. Seeing Kash was always a welcome experience.

Val--

Natan reentered the room, carrying a scroll in one hand. I raised an eyebrow curiously as he tucked the scroll away in his robes. He grinned, hugging me so tightly I could hardly breath (not that I needed to).

"This has everything we need," he told me, patting the spot in his robes where the scroll had been hidden. "We'll be able to do it whenever you're ready."

"Really?" I asked, hoping he was serious.

"Would I lie about something like this?" I shook my head. "Exactly." Grinning, I hugged him back until he began flailing for me to let go. Sometimes I forgot my own strength...

"Well, I'm sure we're all just as peachy as ever," Nathaniel said bitterly from where stood. Natan and I turned to face him. I was hit with a force that sent me back into the wall behind us, and Natan immediately went into defensive mode.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Isabella--

I looked up from where I sat, with Max holding me close. Val had been thrown against the wall, and was trying unnsuccessfuly to move. I jumped to my feet, Max a few paces behind me.

"Father, what are you doing?!" I exclaimed, running forward.

"Taking care of my problems once and for all," he replied, flinging Max against the wall so he was stuck right next to Val. "I'm sick to death of Vampires. They are disgusting, filthy, bloodsuckers that should be dead!"

Natan-

I stared wide-eyed at Val before angrily rounding on my dad.

"Father, NO!"

He ignored me, a grim smile etched onto his face. I knew i had to act quickly or i would lose at least one person i cared most about in the world. Summoning all my strength, i rammed by body against my father. We tumbled to the ground and he lost his concentration on his spell, dropping Val and Max to the ground.

"Isabella and Max, get everyone out of here, NOW!" i yelled, wrestling with my father. Every once in a while one of us would shoot a spell that would miss by a mile but only narrowly miss the others.

"How dare you..." my father hissed, thrusting his palm against my face. A blast of magic hit me, making me cry out loudly in pain. I heard Val call my name, but the searing pain dimmed her words. But i still had the sense to wave my hand in their direction, screaming words of magic. They disappeared to, hopefully, outside the tower.

"You will regret that." Nathaniel hissed, extracting himself from my weak hold. He stood and pointed a finger at me. I waited for the pain to come, to wipe away my senses.

When the pain did come, it did not offer me the solace of unconsciousness. Instead, it left me in bitter, tormented agony, withering on the floor in agony. I clenched my teeth and closed my eyes tightly.

"Father...please...stop..." i moaned. Finally the darkness crept up on me, swallowing me into it's chilling embrace.


Nathaniel-

"Father...please...stop..."

Those words, spoken from slightly parted lips, brought me slowly back to my senses. Natan let out a small sigh and lay still on the ground, hardly breathing. I blinked and looked down at him, tears welling up in my eyes.

"What have i done?" i whispered in horror, sinking down to my knees next to my son's body.

"Who am i to stop love?" i asked the air bitterly. Again looking down at Natan, i murmured, "Forgive, me, my son. I have committed deeds today I will regret for the rest of my life. I will understand if you hate me..."

A memory of Natan's youth sprung to mind, brining more tears to my eyes, making them spill over. Bare feet running through the trees, followed closely by larger, booted feet... startled squeals of happiness...

I smiled softly through my tears. "Yes, son, i will not blame me if you hate me...i would hate me, too, if i were you..."