A/N Sorry, I haven't updated in ages! I really hope you like this chapter. (:

Chapter 10: Resolution

Pyro's POV

I stared at the photograph intently; my knuckles gripped the table tightly. A bead of sweat rolled across my forehead.

Sasha had been gone for over a week now, and I hadn't heard a word from her. What the hell had happened?

I didn't want to fear the worst, but I had warned her...

A sharp ra-ta-ta sounded to my right, and I looked up expectantly. Izzie stared at me from the doorway, a stack of files clutched to her chest.

She narrowed her eyes for a long beat, "what're you doing?"

I dropped the photo, allowing it to slip beneath the desk. My gaze fell onto her face, "what is it, Izzie?"

She studied me for a moment longer, before shrugging it off, "I have nothing to do."

I glanced at her files, raising my eyebrow.

Izzie sighed, "Okay, I have nothing interesting to do."

"So?"

She bounced on her heels, "what were you really doing?"

I ran a hand through my already messy hair, "same old, same old."

She frowned, "don't give me that. You look like something the cat dragged in."

I forced a smile, "gee, thanks, Izzie. I feel much better now."

Her frown deepened, and I regretted my word choice.

"Listen, I'm absolutely fine. Don't you have some vampires to bust?"

She smiled slightly, "its ghosts you bust, Pyro."

I slapped a hand to my forehead, "I knew I was missing something."

After lingering for a moment longer, Izzie turned away, a sad smile pasted to her lips, "if you decide you do want to share, let me know?"

I nodded tersely, "of course."

She backed out the room, holding my gaze. Once she was gone, I sighed heavily, returning my focus to the sheets of paper which lay in front of me.

Sasha.

Why hadn't she listened to me? Why had she gone off on her own?

Because you let her. The snide voice was persistent at the back of my mind.

I shook my head vigorously, irritated that I was allowing this to affect me. I had known Santa Carla was dangerous; I myself had spent a period of time there. I had believed Sasha was ready. Evidently, I had been wrong.

Abruptly, I stood up, the sudden movement rocked my chair, and it swung beneath, teetered dangerously on the edge, and eventually collapsed.

I made no move to catch it, although I could have prevented the fall. The connection of the chair hitting the floor rang through my ears, and I waited for the inevitable visit from whoever had overheard.

"Pyro?"

I looked up slowly. Nesta stood by the door, tentatively tracing the doorframe. Her beauty was enough to catch any man's breath, but Nesta was hard work. She and I had briefly been together, but it hadn't worked – she still remained one of my closest friends, however.

Wearily, I repeated my earlier words spoken to Izzie.

"I'm fine."

Just like Izzie had, she appeared unconvinced. Unlike Izzie, she didn't give up as easily.

"Heard anything from her?" She looked ill at ease, her small frame slightly hunched.

I looked at my hands, afraid she'd believe I was favouring Sasha over the others, it wasn't right for me to harbour so much concern over only one of them. I knew this, yet I still did it.

"Who?"

She laughed uneasily, "Sasha, of course."

"Nothing." I didn't enjoy lying, but it was necessary.

"Oh, I see. What're you going to do?" Nesta moved forward, stepping over the threshold.

I hesitated, wondering what her motives were; it was no secret she and Sasha did not get along.

"Nothing. Why do you ask?" I winced, my voice sounded accusing and demanding – not what I had intended.

She twisted her hands, "I was just asking. I mean, I didn't know if you were going to go after her, or what."

Her words reminded me of the fact that I didn't have a clue as to what I was going to do, "or what, indeed."

Nesta moved closer, pulling out a chair beside me, settling into it, "so, you don't have a plan?" her volume had increased slightly, amused by the situation. Nesta really didn't like Sasha. I'd never understood the reason behind their mutual abhorrence for one another.

It bugged me to see this division between us, it didn't help anyone when there was hatred around us, and they ought to save it for the vampires. Plus, I didn't like the fact she was questioning my ability, "of course I do." A blatant lie if there ever was one.

"So?" Rightfully so, Nesta wasn't convinced.

"So, I don't have to tell you." I lifted up random sheets of paper, feigning busyness.

Nesta sniffed, "I never said you did. I was just concerned about her." Hmmmm, seems as though lying is becoming an innate part of us all. As if I needed further proof, her tone was as insincere as I'd ever heard it.

I narrowed my eyes, "is there anything else?"

"Well, no...I just wanted to know..." She lowered her gaze, and I sighed, feeling bad for snapping at her. I was on the edge and she wasn't helping.

"Sorry for snapping, Nesta. Today hasn't been so great." I forced myself to smile at her.

She smiled in return, only I was pretty certain hers was much more genuine, "Aw, tell me. I'm here for you." A slight sense of mollification gripped me.

"Nothing to tell, I'm supposed to keep you all safe, and I haven't done that."

I'd barely had time to register her proximity, when she had her hand on my shoulder, "you've tried your best. We couldn't have asked for a better leader."

I smiled, remembering the last time Sasha had said something along those lines, after my last vampire kill...another hunter had got caught in the cross-fire...

Without thinking, I placed my hand atop hers, imagining Sasha's face. "I'm lucky you lot are so understanding."

"I'll always understand." Nesta leaned closer, but I still saw Sasha's face behind my lids. This was where I should have stopped. But I didn't.

"I hope so..." I felt tired, heavy.

She gripped my shoulder tighter, and still, ever still, I saw Sasha, "I knew you'd understand."

"I'm here for you, whatever you need."

I refocused a little, "Nesta, what're you thinking about?"

"Hmmm?" She shook her head, "oh, nothing important." She smiled widely, showing her teeth.

"Is there anything else you'd like to say?" I took pains to ensure my voice was gentle this time.

"Only that I'm always here for you." If I'd been in the right state of mind, I'd have laughed at the soppiness of that statement, only neither us of seemed quite on top of things.

"I know that." I returned her blinding smile, feeling slightly apprehensive.

"Good." She seemed to gather herself, before leaning forward, her lips pressing against my cheek, her hair falling forward to caress my jaw.

And then, it was Sasha I saw, Sasha I felt, and I wanted more. I pulled Nesta closer.

"Pyro, I-" I silenced the voice which was oh so obviously not Sasha's with a kiss. Her lips were so soft and sweet, that I never wanted to pull back, "Sasha."

And then I awoke, as Nesta stared at me with wide eyes, "Wh- what?"

I was a classic idiot. "I uh...I meant-"

Nesta glared at me, swinging her hair away from her eyes, "you meant what?"

I scrambled to salvage the situation; this wouldn't help anything, "Nesta. I meant Nesta." My voice sounded false even to my own ears.

"You..you bloody liar! You wanted her the whole time!"

I winced at her accusations, she was right...

But I couldn't tell her that, "I didn't. I implore you to believe me."

"How can I? You just kissed me and then called me Sasha! What the hell was going on inside your head?"

Good question.

"It was a mistake! You know that I'm worried, and it was playing inside my mind."

Nesta tossed her hair, sat up, and moved away, "hmph, fine." She rolled her eyes as means of a parting shot.

"Wait! Could you send Izzie in?"

In a split second decision, I decided that I had to do something, I had to talk to someone, and Izzie was the ideal candidate.

Nesta, clearly still irritated, continued to stalk away, tossing a "yeah, whatever," over her shoulder.

I waited impatiently, tapping my fingers against the hardwood, wondering what I could say to her.

"Hey, what's up?" Izzie entered the room at a saunter; most likely pleased I was confiding in her, after our exchange just about fifteen minutes ago.

"Did you hear about Sasha? Or rather lack of, in this case." Izzie was Sasha's friend, she deserved to know, I knew that much.

"No?" Izzie appeared bemused, but I could detect a slight tightening in her eyes, waiting for the inevitable bad news concerning our mutual friend.

"Well that's exactly it. I haven't heard a word since she left." I felt a surge of annoyance, and begun muttering to myself, forgetting Izzie's presence in the room, "even though she promised. Every day she said. Every day."

She tried to be reassuring, "maybe she just forgot?" I caught the doubtful connotations.

I looked at her, "Sasha, supposedly, doesn't forget."

Izzie softened her expression, and tone, "Pyro? You're never usually this bothered."

I shrugged her concerns off; I wasn't that bothered, right? Right.

"Santa Carla is a seriously dangerous place, and I told her so. I was stupid enough to let her go alone."

"It's only been a few days, I wouldn't jump to conclusions." She walked further into room, pushing the door shut behind her, "and what did you do to Nesta? She's in a right state."

I raised an eyebrow, "That's between us."

Izzie frowned, "Pyro, I can only help you, if you let me in."

"Why does everyone keep saying that to me? I can handle it you know." I had thought that I wanted to tell Izzie, but I was becoming less and less certain.

"You can handle what, exactly?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Everything. I wish people would just get off my case." I could feel my previous agitation returning.

Izzie clicked her tongue, "Whoa, calm down, Pyro. Sasha's my friend too."

I sighed, "Sorry. You're probably just as worried about her as I am."

She nodded, "Yes, I am. So what's going on?"

I weighed up my options, tell the truth; tell her a lie; mix a lie with the truth. I settled on the latter.

"I haven't heard from her, and now I'm practically going out of my mind."

She leant in closer, and said, quietly, "but why, Pyro? Why are you going out of your mind?"

I looked away for a minute, unsure of how to respond, how could I possibly explain to her, what I didn't fully understand myself?

"Because I...I care about what happens to her."

Her voice remained soft, "I care too, but Pyro, why is this getting to you so much?"

I felt just so frustrated, that I said something I'd never consciously thought about,

"Because...because, I love her, okay?"

Izzie appeared taken-aback by my outburst, but she recovered, awarding me an ear-splitting smile,

"I know."

She knew? How the hell did she know? Especially when I didn't even know!

I gaped at her, shocked, "You...you know?"

"Of course I know! You're not very hard to read, Pyro. You just needed to admit it to yourself." Her expression was one of self-satisfaction.

I looked away, thinking for a moment, all those illusions, and anxieties about her, maybe...maybe I did need to admit it to myself?

"Maybe...I guess I...I did need to."

She leant forward, placing her elbows on desk, she knew I hated that. I frowned but let it slide.

"So, what're you going to do about it?"

I shook my head, "I don't know." And how could I?

She sighed, disappointed by my limited enthusiasm, "You have to do something! Before it's too late."

I nodded, thinking it over, "yeah, you're right. I'm gonna go get her."

"And what're you going to say?" She laughed, "Don't mess this up."

As if I would! Ahem...

I laughed, intending to lighten the atmosphere, "You might have to help me with that."

Izzie smiled mischievously, an expression which had always worried me, but then she replaced it just as quickly with a frown, "I think I should find her first."

I was, to put it bluntly, flummoxed. I too frowned, copying her expression, "How come?"

Her features rearranged into something suitably uncomfortable, "I think I should prepare her a bit."

I quirked an eyebrow, "For what, exactly?

"For, well, you." She laughed, although it sounded forced.

"Hmmm, I'm not very comfortable with you going to Santa Carla, it's really dangerous."

I was eager to locate Sasha, but I couldn't risk Izzie too.

"I know that, Pyro, but I'll be fine. Sasha has probably got them all anyway."

I shook my head, all tones of humour vanishing, "If she had, she'd be back here."

"Maybe not, maybe she just likes it there." I knew she didn't really believe that.

"Even if she did, don't you think she'd contact us?" Obviously something had to be wrong.

"Lost her phone?" Izzie's voice was verging on desperation.

I moved closer to her, "You're clutching at straws. You know Sasha. You know she'd find a way."

"Perhaps she's just enjoying a sense of freedom." She shrugged in an off-hand manner, but her eyes reflected the true concern she had for Sasha's whereabouts, despite her increasingly lackadaisical attitude.

I shook my head, hoping to pull her out of this odd, static state she was currently in, "Izzie stop. We both know she's not like that."

She laughed, shrugging it off, "you're so cagey." Her expression grew more serious, "anyway, I'll go, and let you know."

I gripped her shoulders, wincing when I remembered Nesta's identical actions less than a hour ago, "I'm not losing someone else, no way. I'm coming too."

Izzie's expression was difficult to read, but I settled on uneasy, "well, I want to talk to her first."

"Fine, fine, whatever. You two can have your girl time, but I'm not letting you go alone." It was decided.

She sighed, giving in, "fine. When can we leave?"

"Tomorrow. Before anything does happen."

I felt my stomach muscles tighten momentarily, but I couldn't tell if it was due to the anticipation of reaching Santa Carla, for the fear of what I might find, or something else entirely.

A/N I hope it was okay! (: Not written anything in awhile, so it's not quite as good as I hoped for. But anyhow, hopefully you all liked it. Thanks for reading! And if you have any suggestions for the plot or anything, I'm all ears!