Disclaimer: I own Anna and her bro's and sis's (besides Nicholas. Oh, btw, I gave
him the name, it's not in the book). Lynne Ewing owns the rest.
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"What're you doing out here?" someone asked from behind her.
She didn't react at all.
Mason sighed, rolling his eyes as he slipped an arm around her waist.
"You're no fun," he teased. "I can't ever startle you in the least little bit!"
The corner of Anna's mouth twitched.
"What are you doing out here, anyways?"
They stood side by side staring out over the edge of a cliff, looking down at Los
Angeles. Thousands of stars floated lazily overhead and the moon was just starting
to peak over the tops of the black mass of trees in the distance.
"Anna?" he prodded gently when she didn't respond.
"It tells me you're a danger to me," she whispered, voice barely audible over the
wind.
He looked at her, confused. Then his eyes fell to her hand, which was clutched
around the amulet she wore around her neck, just below her silver cross. She never
took either off.
"I don't know what's happened these past few years," he said finally. "You don't
talk much any more."
"You're the only person I've spoken to in two years," she replied softly. She
paused, then added, just as softly, "Well, except for Justin...But I suppose
that's unavoidable. You two are best friends."
Mason smiled, taking her hand and gently pulling it away from the moon pendant
around her neck. He kissed it softly, pulling her closer.
Anna turned slightly, meeting his lips with her own. She reached up and wrapped
her arms around his neck, enjoying their closeness.
Mason pulled back suddenly, concern in his eyes. "You're...crying..."
Anna threw herself forward, burying her face in Mason's shoulder, dissolved in
tears.
She felt his arms tightening around her, as though protecting her from all that
had gone so horribly wrong.
"Oh, Mason," she cried, "I can't do this!"
"Yes, you can!" he whispered firmly into her hair. "You have to."
"But I...I can't stand up to him again! He'll take me back and-"
"No," he interrupted. "No..." He sighed. "I swear...I'll never let anything hurt
you."
"You can't promise that," she contradicted. Then, she added, so softly that he
wouldn't hear, "You can't save me from yourself...let alone your master."
"Come on," he said finally, taking her hand again. He pulled her toward the edge
of the cliff.
Anna froze. Are you going to push me? She thought. Then she pushed that back,
shaking her head to clear it.
"Come on!" he urged, grinning. "This always cheers you up."
He held her to him and she closed her eyes as they disappeared, becoming nothing
more than shadow.
Just before they disappeared, another set of people came back into their solid
forms just behind them.
"Oh my God, Anna," Serena whispered. "What have you done?"
Anna heard Serena and turned, Mason going with her. She hovered next to Serena's
ear and said No more than you yourself have done.
Serena heard the voice floating on the air, just as her own moon charm began to
glow.