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

Val-

I bowed my head, feeling horrible for Riley. Sure I was depressed, but I wasn't the only one with problems.

"Riley, I have an idea," I said quietly, moving closer to them. "Vampire blood can cure things. It would probably be a little painful, but all it would take would be a little bit of blood on the wound, in this case your eyes."

"But...Nathaniel said it was impossible for the time being," Riley argued half-heartedly.

"Yes, so it may not work. But at the same time it might," I replied. Ariana said nothing, waiting for Riley's decision. "There aren't any real risks," I continued. "If it doesn't work, the blood will easily be flushed out of your system, and off of your skin."

Riley nodded twice. "Do it," he said.

So we laid him out on the balcony, and I pulled out my dagger, Carefully, I cut through my finger, so that it was dripping blood. I let a drop fall into each of Riley's eyes. Ariana looked away in disgust.

I put the cut finger into my mouth, taking care of the access blood in a productive way, while waiting to see what would happen.

Riley-

I winced as i felt the blood drop onto my eyes, crying out in pain. The sensation was not far from the feeling of someone holding a red hot piece of metal no more than millimeters away from my eyes.

But the feeling passed quickly, leaving only a numb stinging. I blinked a few times. Very very dim shadows swam slowly into focus in one eye.

"It helped, but barely, and i do not want to go through that again anytime soon, thank you." i said, sitting up quickly. I glanced around. The only things i saw were the silhouettes of Ariana and Val, simply dark smudges against a darkening sky. No details could be distinguished, nor colors.

"But thank you for trying." i said, the anger leaving.

Val-

"You're welcome," I replied softly, taking my finger out of my mouth. Already, the cut was completely healed. I heard someone chuckle from inside, and the door opened.

"Hey, looks like we have a bit of a party out here," Natan's voice was followed by his appearance in the doorway. He led Zalia out by her hand. "Mind if we come out?" he asked, not waiting for a response. I bit down hard on my tongue, allowing it to bleed. The blood kept me calm as the man who held my heart sat down and wrapped his arms around another woman.

Natan-

I wrapped my arms around Zalia and looked around. Everyone was staring at me with expressions from annoyance to nearly pure hatred to complete anguish. All except Zalia, of course.

"What's up with everyone tonight?" i asked teasingly.

"In case you haven't heard, we're all in danger of being killed by a demon. Especially Ariana." Riley mumbled. I noticed one eye held a slight focus on me.

"Getting your sight back, Riley?" i asked, trying to change the subject.

"Thanks to the girl you love," he muttered under his breath, but i still heard him. I glanced down at Zalia and smiled... then understood what Riley had meant and shifted my gaze to Val. She stared back, sorrow and anguish clear in her eyes.

Val-

My heart skipped a beat at the words Riley had said, purpously making them louder than he could have. Natan had heard them, and immediatly looked down at Zalia.

I cringed.

Then he looked at me, locking eyes with me. I let him see, let him know all the pain I was feeling. He said nothing. Either he didn't understand, or he truly didn't care.

I stood up.

"I'm going to bed," I murmured, walking back inside before anyone could reply. I imagined that Natan at least considered stopping me.

Natan-

"I'm going to bed," Val murmured, getting up swiftly. She opened the door and stepped inside.

"Excuse me for a moment." i said, standing and going after her. I caught her just as she was about to collapse to the bed.

"Val, wait." i said softly, catching her shoulder. "I'm sorry."


*Alzz, i hope you see the opening there...Ariana and the blind Riley left outside alone with the demon...*

Val-

I looked straight into his eyes.

"I'm sorry," he whispered again. He was sincere, I could smell it. (If he was lying, his scent would've been stronger).

"But...you..." I stammered, trying to put two and two together. Before I could speak again, Natan kissed me. I gasped.

"I love you," he whispered, holding me close. "I don't know what that girl does to me...but when she's around I dont' think I'm quite me anymore. But even with her there, I couldn't stand to see you like that." he kissed my forehead lightly. I tilted my head to the side, trying to make sense of everything.

Natan-

I help Val close, inhaling the smell of her hair.

"I'm sorry," i said again. "I'll try not to lose myself again, but if i do remember that i still love you, no matter what. I can't help it if i fall. That girl has something about her...it's like i'm not me anymore."

I trailed off, letting my voice die. I kissed Val's hair again, stroking it absently.

Val-

I pulled Natan toward the bed, wanting nothing more than to fall asleep in his arms. He allowed me to lay down next to him, and wrapped his arms around me.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," I whispered back. Sitting up, and grinning, I said quietly. "And don't you ever scare me like that again!"

Velna-

Velna watched the people on the blacony. She had leaned up against a wall in a dark shadow so she wouldn't be seen. She needed to think. Trent had long gone to bed and Crest had just returned from hunting, she watched as Val and Natan left the balcony and she saw a slight smile flicker across Zalia's lips. Velna shuddered, though she couldn't figure out why. She looked around to see if she could spot Davinx or any of the others.

Why is there somethign so wrong with that girl? She asked Crest.

I can't pin point it, she's so evil, yet not. It doesn't make sense. He replied,

Nothing will ever make sense. Someone else laughed in her head. Velna covered her ears quickly because the voice sounded high pitched and annoying. She quickly tried to block whoever it was, but for some reason couldn't. Don't try, I'm stronger.

Who are you and what do you want? She demanded trying to get Crest but he had been pushed from her mind.

Your worst nightmare, enjoy your time with your friends, you all don't have much longer. The voice left leaving Velna with a huge headache. She felt sick, her mind had never had to put up with such torcher and it wasn't taking it well.

Sit down, Velna, the pain will go away. A softer gentler voice said, it could've been Crests, she didn't know but she listened to it.



**Hope no one minds, I'll be gone until late sunday, so keep my people alive, please. **

Ariana

Something about the girl Zaliah petrified me and I came closer to Riley looking for comfort.

What is it that's bothering you girl? she asked in my head and I knew instantly who she was.

Why are you in my head?

I'm not technically in your head. I'm in Zaliahs head. If she hadn't been guarding the door, and if the only way out other than that was to throw myself over the edge and leave Riley alone with her, I would have fled.

But as it was, I was stuck there, my fear washing over me and causing me to shudder.

"Go away," I spoke the words aloud clinging to Riley. Both hiding and protecting him.

Riley-

I looked up and around, my sight gone again thanks to the near darkness.

"What? Who?"

Ariana clung to me tighter and i heard the soft rustle of cloth on stone. I drew my dagger out of self defense.

"Ariana, who is it?

Natan-

I smiled. "I'll try, love."

Ariana

"Its him," I whispered in a tone barely audiable.

"Who is?"

"Zaliah. He took over Zaliah!"

Riley-

I heard Ariana's words, but already my body had begun to grow numb. I didn't know if it was from the knowledge or from a spell the demon had cast upon me, but i couldn't move.

"Ariana," i murmured. "Run, inside. Quickly."

Ariana

I tried to move, tried to twitch my legs, but nothing would happen. "I can't," I said back.

"Yes you can."

"I can't, my feet won't move!"

I heard him murmer a curse.