~Chapter Seven~



On the way back to the tree house, Marguerite kept coming in and out of consciousness.

By the time Roxton had gotten her into the tree house and to her bed, his shirt on her wound was drenched in blood. He knew he wouldn't be wearing that shirt again.

Marguerite's face was turning whiter with every minute that passed. She was clutching Roxton's hand, while Challenger tried to stop the bleeding.

Roxton placed his free hand on Marguerite's face. He could feel the sweat and heat on her delicate skin. He suddenly knew how Malone had been feeling the past few days. He had the urge to rid the plateau of all the cannibal tribes, but he wanted to stay with Marguerite until he knew she was going to be okay.

The needle that Challenger was pushing through Marguerite's skin around the wound was hurting her by the look on her face, but it was already stopping the blood from leaving her body.

"Don't worry Roxton. I'll…be fine. Challenger has it all under control." Assured Marguerite squeezing Roxton's hand. "Go help Malone."

Roxton looked slightly hurt that she wanted him to leave. "I need to be here with you."

Marguerite rolled her eyes. "Stop being stubborn and go. I'll be here when you get back." She said letting go of his hand.

He kissed her on the forehead. Then he grabbed his gun and left the room hesitantly.

***

The cave was spinning as Veronica opened her eyes. The face starring down at her was slowly coming into focus. She saw that it was Malone.

At first, Veronica went to hug Malone, but she soon remembered that she was in the cave with the doubles. She got to her feet quickly and pushed him away.

Malone's double grabbed Veronica's arm and pulled her close to him. He held her tightly and looked into her eyes. "Why don't you just give this fight up?"

Veronica pushed against him, but she felt him holding her tightly.

He leaned towards her and kissed her. He felt her pull away from him again, but he backed her against the wall of the cave.

She hadn't felt this violated since Assai's father, Jacoba, had tried to force her to marry him. Of course, back then she didn't know half the things she knew now.

Hands were slowly beginning to search her body. She could put up with the kiss but not this. She brought up her knee hard into the double's groin.

He let go of her and fell to the ground in pain.

Veronica ran around him and headed for the exit of the cave. She slid to a stop when her double appeared in front of her. Her double struck her across the face hard. Veronica's head snapped around, and she crumbled to the ground.

As she started to get back up, her double threw a swift kick into her stomach, sending Veronica onto her back.

Her double grabbed Veronica by her hair and pulled her up with a jolt. She swung her fist, nailing Veronica in the midsection. Then she pushed Veronica's head down and brought her knee up quickly, smashing it into Veronica's face.

Veronica rolled over and opened her eyes slightly. She could see blood dripping onto the dirt, and she put her hand to her face. She could tell the blood was coming from her nose.

The hand that Veronica was using to hold her up had suddenly been kicked out from under her. Her other arm was pulled behind her, as she hit the ground. From the impact of the group, Veronica let out a loud groan of pain.

Veronica's double was sitting on top of Veronica holding her arm firmly behind her back. She pulled slightly, bringing Veronica's head up with a yell.

Veronica spun her head around to look at her double, but she felt her double's fist across her face again. Her head fell back down, and she felt her other arm being pulled behind her.

Rope was quickly and tightly tied around Veronica's wrists. She tired to pull the binds off, but her double put her knee on her wrists and pulled Veronica's head back by her hair. Veronica's yell echoed throughout the cave.

Her double wrapped her arm around Veronica's neck, with her knee still pressed on Veronica's wrists and back. She pulled back hard and listened to Veronica's yell. She pulled Veronica back even further, so her mouth was next to Veronica's ear. "Now, stay off of my Malone, or I might have to kill you right now." She warned angrily.

Veronica swallowed hard and began to speak, although it was hard with the pressure on her back and throat. "I'm not the one…you should…worry about." She managed to say.

"What do you mean?" Her double asked pulling back a bit more.

Veronica had opened her mouth to respond, but Malone kicked her across the face. Although her face was stinging, she felt relieved because her back and neck were now out of pain. She just lied on the ground, the blood now running from her nose, lip, and a cut by her eye.

Her double was looking at the Malone double, after making sure Veronica wasn't moving since she let her go. "Now, what was all that about?" She asked him.

He cleared his throat. "She, uh, tried to get me to let her go. She tried to kiss me, but I had to push her away. It would have worked if she hadn't, um, had her back to the wall." He lied.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Veronica get to her knees. Then Veronica worked her way to her feet. She spun around and swept Veronica off of her feet.

Veronica's feet flew up and she dropped solidly on her side. She felt her left arm snap and tried to let out a loud scream. She only held it in because her double's food was placed against her throat.

Suddenly, the real Malone dived over Veronica and tackled Veronica's double. He struck her across the face, knocking her unconscious.

Malone's double came running and pulled Malone off of Veronica's double. He began to kick and punch Malone, but Malone drug him to the ground and began to punch him fiercely in the face.

As fast as Malone had started winning, he began to lose. He was kicked off by his double, who was now stumbling backwards. He wiped the blood from his face and began towards Malone again. He pulled a large knife from behind him and looked at Malone with a smirk.

Veronica, still lying on the ground, was trying to break her binds. She didn't want to be tied down when her double regained consciousness. Taking a moment to search for Malone, she saw his double charging him with a large knife.

Malone had barely made it out of the way before the knife would pierce his chest. He punched his double across the face then shoved him into the wall.

The knife fell to the ground, but he didn't care. He just spun around and kicked Malone in his gut. Malone fought back, but his double blocked every strike with ease. He, finally, knocked Malone off his feet and smirked as he kicked him stiffly in the stomach.

Malone rolled over clutching his stomach in pain. He looked around for Veronica, but he couldn't find her. 'Maybe she made it out.' He thought to himself.

Turning to pick up his knife, Malone's double smiled to himself. He was going to finish off Malone for good. The only problem was, he didn't see the knife where he had dropped it. Anger raised in him quickly. He turned to beat Malone to death with his bare hands, knowing Malone had done something with his knife.

Just as Malone's double had turned around, he met the face of Veronica. Although she was still bleeding, Malone's double grabbed her and kissed her once again.

The time, Veronica kissed him back with passion, but she only meant to distract him. With in a few seconds, Veronica pulled out the knife and plunged it deep into the double's gut.

The kiss stopped suddenly, and Malone's double stumbled backwards. He saw the blood running down the knife handle and his body. He fell to the ground on his back looking up with fear filled eyes. He knew he was going to die and regretted coming to this world. He thought about his regrets until finally his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he let his head fall to one side.

Veronica had fallen to her knees after she had stabbed him. She felt pain running through her body as she fell farther to the ground, now on her back.

Malone stumbled towards Veronica and fell to his knees next to her. Slowly he pulled her limp body into his arms. She gazed up at him with the same loving eyes he had first seen his second night on the plateau, when he and the others had saved Veronica from marrying Jacoba, in the Zanga village. He wiped some of the, still damp, blood from her face and kissed her forehead.

"I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come." She said weakly as she touched his face gently.

He smiled at her. "I would never leave you. I love you too much. I refuse to lose you." He replied holding back his tears. He leaned down to kiss her again but saw some sort of urgency in her eyes.

"Look out!" She yelled pulling him down to her.

Suddenly, a shot rang out, which made Malone turn and look. He saw Veronica's double standing a few feet away with a knife raised. There was a blank look on her face that suddenly faded away, as she dropped the knife and collapsed to the ground.

Roxton stood at the entrance to the cave, his rifle still smoking from firing. He looked at Malone and Veronica seeing them let out a sigh of relief before they embraced tightly, ignoring their pains. "This is no time for romance. Lets go!"

***

Two days later, Veronica sat next to Malone at the table with her hand firmly in his. Her left arm was in a sling, but other than that and a few minor cuts and bruises, she was fine. She even smiled at Challenger, who was preparing some tea in the kitchen.

"Take it easy!" Roxton yelled from Marguerite's room. There was a sudden thump, and then a loud crash rang out through the tree house. Marguerite then emerged from her room followed almost instantly by Roxton. "Just because you feel better doesn't mean you can just get up and go."

Marguerite turned and looked at him. "Why, Lord Roxton, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you wanted to continue taking care of me." She said crossing her arms. "I'm not helpless, you know."

Glancing at Veronica and Malone, Roxton rolled his eyes. "Marguerite, I just want you to stay better so I won't have to sit in that room with you so much." He replied storming toward the elevator.

Stunned, Marguerite raced to him and threw herself into the elevator.

Roxton caught her and looked into her eyes. The elevator was descending slowly, and just before they were out of site, Veronica and Malone saw them kiss.

Challenger looked at Veronica when she laughed. "What was all that about?" He asked walking to the table with three cups of fresh hot tea.

"You know Marguerite and Roxton, always arguing about something." Said Veronica with another laugh.

Malone passed her tea to her and gave her a serious look. "Can we tell him now?" Malone asked eagerly.

Challenger looked a bit confused as he sipped his tea. "What is this about?" He asked after another small sip.

With a blush, Veronica put her hand on Malone's lips to quiet him. "Well, it's not really serious or anything. Just Malone and I…we're uh…" She began feeling quite nervous all of the sudden. She glanced over to Malone and took a deep breath. "We're going to go down to the lake for a while, maybe a few days to, um, spend some time together."

"That is, after her arm is better." Malone added quickly noticing the slight smirk forming across Challenger's face.

Challenger stood almost laughing. "Well, her arm should be fine in a week or two. I hope that both of you enjoy your vacation…together." He slowly walked from the table smirking the whole time.

***

That same night, Marguerite, Roxton, and Challenger sat around the table talking about Malone and Veronica's vacation.

"And we're letting them go?" Asked Marguerite playfully. "They've been a little more affectionate towards each other lately."

Roxton looked at her. "Do you think they'll do something you would? Then again, you may be afraid of them doing something you 'wouldn't' do." He teased.

Marguerite just rolled her eyes and looked down to clean a few of her jewels.

***

The first night in the past week they were truly happy, was now. Veronica lied in Malone's arms by the railing examining the glowing night sky. Veronica was remembering that the last time she was out under the moonlight, she was with Challenger thinking about being with Malone. Now, she was finally with Malone, and it felt better than she had ever imagined.

Malone leaned his head down and looked at Veronica's extremely beautiful smile. He kissed her lightly on the cheek.

Veronica sat up strait and looked at Malone. She could feel his hand rest against her cheek lovingly. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around Malone's neck and continued to look into his beautiful eyes.

Every second that passed inched them closer together. Until finally, their lips met, and they fell deep into the passion of the first real kiss they shared.



THE END