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

Ariana

I didn't really want to explain it all, so I simply answered, "the demon is getting in my head and driving me nuts. So I need a distraction. Want to practice?"

"Sure."

Davnix-

I spun my sword again and thrust it towards Ariana. She blocked it skillfully and parried, causing me to step back.

Back and forth we went for a while until we wore ourselves out. When we finished, sheathing our swords, only a few people lingered in the hall. Riley sat on the bench, his sightless eyes staring past us. Nathaniel had wandered off and i caught a glimpse of him talking with Val and Isabella.

"Shall we go and join in?" i asked, nodding in their general direction. Ariana nodded and let Riley take her arm. Together we walked over the the rest of them.

**Oi, I'm just going to bring my people over to where they are, ok.**


Trent-

Trent watched as Davinx and Ariana spared, Velna leaned against the wall next to him looking like she was in a daze, she had zoned out or something cause when the two stopped and he went to follow them she didn't even flinch. He gently tapped her shoulder and pulled her along with him to go see what everyone else was doing.


**Sorry for it's shortness**

Ariana

I sat back down on the bench next to Riley and rested my head on his shoulder. "That was more exausting than usual," I pointed out.

Uncle Nat looked like he had an explination.

Nathaniel-

I sighed. "Ariana, until we will be able to kill the demon, i fear that your strength will not return to its fullest. He will be casting spells on you to reduce your strength and stamina...but he can't do a lot at once. No mage can. Those spells are incredibly exhausting."

Ariana stared at me a second, taking in my words. Then she sighed.

"Will we ever be able to kill him? He's at large in some mages body somewhere in this tower are we're just sitting here!" she exclaimed, her voice rising. Isabella and Val came over to see what was going on.

"Ariana, believe me, I'm doing all i can, but there really isn't all that much. We mages don't go snooping around inside each other's heads much."

"Then how are we going to ever find him?" Val asked. I turned to regard her steadily for a moment before looking back at Ariana.

"I'll gather up some of the mages i know are not possessed and see if we can't find him. But don't worry Ariana, he won't get you again and he won't hurt any of us. If he did that he would be blowing his precious cover."

I felt the uneasy feeling of someone watching me. And i had the feeling that those eyes weren't friendly. Turning around in a circle, i tried to see if there really was anyone watching me. The only one i saw was Zalia, who quickly ducked her head and started talking to Natan again. I ignored them, particularly him, and shrugged off the feeling.

Ariana

"What do we do until he's found out?" I asked nervously, I didn't want to go back to him anymore than they wanted me to but being here all idol wasn't much better. If it wasn't worse.

"We keep you away from everyone else who could be helping him," NAt said.

Riley-

I nodded. "I don't want to lose you again." i said, pulling her into a tight hug. She hugged back, to my relief.

"So how do you plan on keeping me away from everyone, uncle?" Ariana asked.

"You'll be staying in a room up near the top of the tower. Very rarely does anyone go there anymore. Natan and i will alternate guarding you and looking for the demon." Nathaniel said matter-of-factly.

"And there is no way for Riley to get his sight back until the demon dies?"

Nathaniel sighed. "No," he said, though i detected a note of sadness and pity in his words that almost went undetected.

Ariana

I pressed myself closer to Riley, finding comfort in his presence. "Riley's going to stay with me," I said hoping it wouldn't be challenged, "I feel my safest with him."

*sorry its hard for me to come up with more than that!*

***I don't know what to post. Someone put my character in for me and keep them in please???***

Nathaniel-

I nodded. "Yes, Riley will stay with you. It'd be easiest that way."

I turned to Val and Isabella. "Isabella, go get your brother and tell him to stop flirting with Zalia. Meet us at the top of the tower. Val, you'll come with Riley, Ariana and I. You could help if the demon decides to jump us."

Isabella ran off. I looked over at Ariana again.

"We're going to be teleporting again. Try not to faint?"

Ariana

I smiled, "I'll try."

Riley heaved me to my feet and Nathaniel put his arm on both of us. With a swoosh we dissappeared and re-appeared in a different room. When Nat let go my feet wobbled but stayed beneath me, and I didn't faint.

I looked around the room, it looked a lot like our old one, except no closet. That was a happy thought.

Nathaniel-

I released the three of them once we were safely back in the room and stepped towards the window.

"Make yourselves comfortable, we might be staying here a while. I'll bring you food whenever you need it," i said before leaning on the wall next to the window and staring out into the night, waiting for the others to join us.

Ariana

"Ariana," Nat said solemly, "get some sleep."

"I'm fine."

"You'd be better with some sleep, both of you."

Knowning better than to argue with him I lay down on one of the beds and Riley joined me. Strangely as soon as my head hit the pillow, I started to fall asleep. And soon I was all the way there.

Nathaniel-

As the magic flowed from my body and into Ariana's in the form of a sleep spell i felt exhaustion grip me. I staggered and nearly fell, gripping the windowsill for support. Val walked over hesitantly.

"Are you alright?" she asked quietly.

I glanced at her. "I'm fine."

Val glanced back at the door. "What about those other two, Velna and Trent? And Davnix? The demon might try to get to them, too, if he knows they're close to Ariana."

I pulled myself back up into a standing position. Too much healing in one day was not good, and i had gone way over the mark. I just hoped i could last until Natan showed up.

"Lets hope that Isabella has the sense to bring them back with her." i muttered.

Max

"Come on," I said taking Isabella's hand, "lets get the others and go upstairs."

"Do you think we should?" she asked, "bring the others I mean."

"Probably be the best idea," I commented and pulled her along with me. "Davnix, Natan, Zaliah" I said, "come on with us up to the tower, if Nathan doesn't want us up there he can send us back himself."

"Alright."