Authors Note: Okay guys, this is VERY IMPORTANT! From here on out, things are going to happen pretty fast. I've kind of decided to go in a new direction with story and hope to make a SEQUEL! WHOO HOO! there will be a few more chapters to this story and then the sequel will begin, I haven't decided on a name yet for that one, but I will keep ya'll updated, and let you know! Thanks again for all the amazing reviews! Love you guys! Hope yawl enjoy this chapter... =D

Venting

Chapter Twenty

This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening... I buried myself against Derek. He was holding me tight, and I knew he didn't want to let go, but we both knew that he would eventually have to. He was supposed to be meeting Kit in just a few hours, and his bus left in about thirty minutes.

Tears streamed down my face. Derek's hands fisted my hair as he held me tighter. If that was at all possible.

"Please..." I begged, sobbing into his shirt.

"Chloe..." He growled. I knew he was upset, frustrated, and even angry. He didn't want to leave and I knew I wasn't making it any easier for him. I pulled away slightly and looked up into his fierce green eyes.

"Dont. Please." He whispered. I had never seen him like this before. I could read every emotion across his face. And all it did was make me cry harder. He reached up and wiped my face with his fingers. "I't won't be long. I'll be back here... with you before you know it."

"Liar." I sobbed. I was trying to hold it together, believe it or not. But my emotions were already in a whirlwind as it was. Adding all this to my plate...I just knew my baby was gonna be a frazzled little thing when it was born.

"I promise. Chloe, look at me." Derek rumbled, forcing me to look him in the eyes. "I PROMISE."

All I could do was nod.

He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. It was fierce, it was incredibly wet due to tears, and it felt like it would be the last time...

Derek pulled away, closed his eyes and kissed my forehead before he headed for the door.

Everything happened so quickly. One minute he was there in the doorway, looking back at me, and the next, he was gone.

I stood there like an idiot, just starring at the door. My mind blank.

"Chloe?" My dad asked. He had given Derek and I some privacy to say goodbye, but he must have heard Derek leave...

"Derek..." I sobbed and ran to the windows. Searching the street I caught one last glimpse of him as he looked back up at the building, then turned the corner and disappeared.

I pounded my fist on the glass. No. This couldn't be happening.

"Chloe, Chloe, stop. Honey, please." My dad tried to pull me away from the window but I shoved him off of me. I couldn't...What was I doing? Why did I let him leave? I shouldn't have let him go.

"No..." I growled and ran towards the door. My dad reached out again and pulled me to him. "Chloe, it will all be okay, its just a few days at most."

I sobbed. deep down, I knew he was right. I knew I had to stay here. What if something happened and I lost the baby? I wouldn't be able to live with myself...but if something happened to Derek...I shook my head and collapsed against my father. Thoughts clouded my mind and I had no idea what to do, if anything...

Everything was fuzzy and my eyes felt so heavy. I forced them open and looked around the room, my hand reaching out towards Derek, to feel that his spot beside me was empty. Everything came rushing back. He was gone. He was really gone. He left. I'm here, in this bed by myself. My dad must have put me in here and I must have cried myself to sleep.

I chocked back a sob, taking in deep breaths, trying to calm myself. Derek and I hadn't been separated since we were fifteen...I turned and starred up at the ceiling.

"Chloe?" A voice called from the foot of the bed. I sat up to see Liz perched there looking at me with a worried expression across her face.

"He's alright you know. He made it to the others. He sent me to keep an eye on you." She smiled reassuringly.

"He's okay?" I asked. and Liz nodded. "Wait...he sent you?" I asked, now puzzled.

Liz laughed. "Tori and I have been communicating with this dry erase board she got. When Derek heard that I was there he asked me to come here and watch after you." She shook her head. "I forgot how bossy he can be."

I smiled slightly. That was Derek. Send someone to watch me sitting in an apartment. "He probably thinks I'm planning on crashing the fight."

Liz smirked. "We're all planning on it actually." she laughed, "Tori bet some pretty big bucks on it. She says not to let her down by the way."

"Liz, where are they?" I asked.

Liz sighed. "Chloe, you know I can't tell you that...If I tell you, you might..."

"Liz, I promise. I just want to know whats going on, what their plan is and where they are."

"Chloe?" My dad knocked at the door, and peeked his head in. "Who are you talking to?"

I pointed at Liz and then remembered...He can't see her.

"Oh...uh... dad I'm talking to my friend Liz...she's...a ghost."

My dad stepped into the room and looked around. I knew he was having a hard time with all of this, and wondered if he even believed me...

"Oh." He replied. He crossed his arms and sighed. "Do you want some breakfast soon?" he asked.

Okay. Not the reaction I expected. I mean, I know I had told him of my powers last night, but he hadn't seen it in action. Then again he wasn't really seeing anything...

"Uh... maybe in a little while, I'm not hungry right now." I replied.

He nodded. "Sure, but you need to eat something soon. You didn't eat last night, and we need to keep you nice and healthy." He smiled and left the room.

"You glad to see your dad?" Liz asked. She was now standing by the window, looking out onto the street.

I nodded. "Yeah, but the circumstances suck. But I am glad he's here."

"Chloe, will you make a deal with me?" Liz asked, turning to face me.

"What kind of deal?" I asked hesitantly.

"Its not like your making a deal with the devil, jeeze!" she laughed.

I nodded. "Whats the deal then?"

"I promise that I will keep you updated on everything that is going on with the others, as long as you promise me you won't do anything stupid to get you or that tiny baby inside of you, hurt. Deal?" She asked. It was odd talking to Liz. She was the exact same girl I remembered...It was like time hadn't passed at all.

I pulled myself from my thoughts and sighed. I knew she was right. I couldn't risk the baby...and that meant keeping myself out of harms way. And at least I would have a go between to know how the others were. Maybe it would help me feel less stir crazy.

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Deal."

Liz smiled. "Good. Then you go shower and eat. Your face is all puffy, and no offense, but you kind of smell." She pinched her nose for affect.

"Gee thanks." I smiled slightly "I didn't know you could smell?" I teased.

Liz rolled her eyes. "Trust me, I can smell you just by looking at you." She laughed. "Now go. I'm gonna go check in on the others and I'll be back soon to keep you updated." She winked and was gone, leaving me back in my empty room. Alone.

I felt the chill roll across me in my sleep and knew exactly what it meant. I sat bolt up in bed, thinking maybe Liz was back to check in. But it wasn't Liz standing by my window. It was an older man with long black hair, silver strands shining in the moonlight.

"Chelan?" I asked, crawling out from under the covers and across the bed to stand beside him.

"Child." He whispered. His golden eyes turned to me. The same eyes I remembered from the house in the mountains.

"Child." He sighed, his hand reaching out to me but before it made contact with my face it ran right through me, sending a chill up my spine.

He sighed and pulled his hand back. "So its true. The dreams..." He closed his eyes, and his whole body seemed to slump.

"Chelan...what? What dreams?"

His eyes remained shut as he spoke. "They came three nights after you all left my cabin. I was drinking a cup of tea, when the woman appeared. Her hands...it was like liquid fire running through me." He shuddered and shook his head.

"Where is your man?" He asked, looking around the room now for Derek.

"Chelan, they are preparing to fight the Cabal. They are going to end this whole thing." I replied. Liz had informed me before I had gone to bed that the others were alright, and that they planned to attack in the morning.

Chelan shook his head. "You need to protect him." He urged, his golden eyes glowing in the dark.

"Chelan, I can't... He'll be okay..." I replied, my hands resting on my stomach as I tried to convince both Chelan, and myself.

"Child, you don't understand. Your still so young. You don't know... You must find him. And go. Leave this place, take your man and run."

My heart was pounding in my chest. "Go?" I hissed. "Go where? They will find us no matter where we go!"

Chelan shook his head. "You will find a way. But this path you are on. It only leads to disaster." He shook his head and before I could ask another question, he was gone.

"Chelan?" I called, I closed my eyes and tried to pull him back but either my nerves or my frustration kept me from being able to pull him through. Or maybe he was really gone. That that was the only warning I would get.

I paced the room. This path we were on would lead to disaster. What did he mean by that?

"LIZ?" I called, quite loudly. I was becoming frantic.

"LIZ?" I called again, this time using a bit of my powers to pull her through.

"Whoa, Chloe, whats going on? I was just having a conversation with Tori and Simon when... Whats wrong?" She asked, sensing my panic attack.

"Go to Derek. Tell him to stop. DO NOT ATTACK TOMORROW." I growled.

Liz stared at me like I had finally lost my mind. "Chloe..." She sighed. "We've been over this..."

"Liz, LISTEN TO ME!" I hissed. "I just got a message from Chelan. Tell Derek that, He will know what it means. Tell Derek that Chelan came to me tonight, and said that this path leads to disaster. I don't know what it means entirely, but this attack...it can't happen Liz, not yet. TELL HIM."

Liz nodded. "Chelan?" She asked and I nodded. "Liz, hurry please!" I urged and she nodded and then disappeared with a pop.

I stood there for a moment. And then gathered the small amount of clothes I had and changed out of my pjs and into some jeans and a hoodie. The hoodie was a little big, but it would have to do. None of my other clothes fit anymore.

"Dad!" I called, walking into the living room.

"Chloe? Whats wrong?" My dad cried as he came stumbling out of his room into the living room, still groggy with sleep.

"Get dressed. We're leaving." I replied.

I had no idea what was happening, but I knew one thing. I WAS NOT going to sit idly by while my whole life came crumbling down.

I don't know what Chelan's warning meant, but I knew it was true. He had the gift of insight. And if he said this was the wrong path, then I believed him. I don't know if the others would. But either way, it didn't matter. I had made up my mind. I wasn't going to sit here sniveling and wondering if everyone was alright. I was part of this too. I looked down at my stomach. I would protect this baby, and I would protect my family, and my friends too. And it wasn't going to happen by sitting in this apartment waiting for news.