Title: Gone and Away
Book Series: Night World
Author: Beloved Slayer
Rating: T
Summary: Ash realizes the possibility that Mary-Lynnette may be his soul mate while trekking through the forests of Briar Creek. How is he going to deal with the fact that it may break the laws of both the Night World and his playboy ways? One shot.
Author's Notes: I've been a long-time fan of L.J. Smith. Despite writing for this fan site for almost three years, this is my very first Night World fan fiction, so please be gentle, though almost all feedback is greatly welcome. This alternate story takes place during the scene in Daughters of Darkness where Ash and Mary-Lynnette were star gazing. Enjoy!
Chapter One
No, no, no, no, no. It can't be. It just can't. It wasn't even remotely possible. Out of all the things that had happened over the years, fate decided to reward him with a girl that might be on the brink of insanity; a girl that wasn't even a part of the Night World. His world. She was only a simple vermin who belonged to the world of the sunlight. A girl who was fascinated with the stars that blared in the darkness of the night.
A girl that had no interest in him whatsoever. And it damn well stung. Like a jellyfish.
Why, of all the things, had this had to happen to him? Was this his punishment for being reckless throughout his growing years? For being interested in only himself? For being selfish beyond measure?
The idea of soul mates petrified him beyond belief. He had seen it in his cousin James; he wasn't going to allow it to happen to him as well, no matter what the cost. He wasn't going to allow himself to be weak, to be vulnerable. He wasn't going to allow himself to feel any semblance of human emotion.
He wasn't going to become the next Redfern that would be mentioned amongst the members of the Joint Council; a wanted man by the likes of Hunter Redfern, his ancestor who detested the idea of the soul mate principle.
Somehow, in the back of his mind, he knew that coming to Briar Creek had been a terrible idea. Not because his sisters had escaped from the island, but from the general sense that coming here would somehow change his menial life forever.
The dreams he had had before coming here; he should have paid more attention to them, instead of chasing after a Circle Twilight witch.
He hated the confusion and the uncertainty that was coursing through him. It made him clench his teeth together in unison. Was it too late for him to go back, to tell Quinn that he couldn't handle the investigation? That he couldn't handle the idea of being around her any longer? For a second, the idea of leaving tempted him. He trotted through the remains of the woods, trying to find his way back. Maybe tonight, he would leave in silence, and no one, not even Quinn himself, would know where he would venture off to.
Maybe it was better if he cut off his involvement all together, and leave his sisters and her to deal with the potential consequences of their actions. Maybe it was better if he just took off while the night was still progressing. While there was still time.
It would be better than being here; better than being in a place where he was not wanted. At least not by her. Surprisingly, the thought of it stung at the center of his heart. Why did he care? Why should he care that he was hurt by her reaction?
After all, she was just a human, wasn't she? She was no one special. No one extraordinary. So why couldn't he stop thinking about her? She was nothing to him. Nothing at all.
In spite of his protests, he knew a part of him, the part that he had tried to kill so many years ago, was trying to accept the realization of something new. Something forbidden to his kind. Something that was terrifying him to the point that he wanted nothing more than to run far away.
He was in love with her. He knew it the first moment their eyes had met. Though at the time, he hadn't thought much of it.
At the same instance, he knew what he had to do.
He had no choice. He had to leave her behind.
As soon as he reached the convertible, he looked towards Aunt Opal's farm one last time, a solemn look of regret written on his expression. He wasn't going to speak to his sisters, nor to Mary-Lynnette herself. He didn't want to explain that he was changing, and not for the better.
He was going to let them be. He knew the conclusion was true. He was in love. No matter how hard he had tried, he couldn't deny it. He was certain of it.
He had now broken the laws of the Night World. It left him with only one choice.
To leave, and then to come back when the new person in him arises, when no one in the Night World would follow. Someday, he decided, he would return for her.
He would return, not as a mere vampire, but as a changed man.
Swinging his long legs into the passenger seat, he turned on the ignition, steering the wheel until it drove into the nearby dirt road, the cold wind hitting his flushed cheeks.
Tears streaked down his face, much to his chagrin. "I love you, Mary-Lynnette. To slay the dragon, I will be back."
And the stars above twinkled above the clear darkened sky, guiding him until he passed a sign.
It read in nondescript lettering: Now leaving Briar Creek.
For now, it was goodbye.