AN:I'm terribly sorry for the big delay, I've been really busy with finals. but I don't forget about fics. I hope I can write more now that I will be on vacations! Thank you for reading and for your patience!
Disclaimer: L&O svu and its characters are not mine.
Not without you.
Elliot looks at the necklace with an expression full of surprise and intrigue. Although he could recognize the object anywhere he saw it, he decides to take the small gold plate and flip it only to ensure that the necklace can only belong to one person. OLIVIA. The name is perfectly engraved on the gold plate. No doubt, it is her necklace. Megane carefully observes the scene waiting to see what will happen. She takes her eyes to the young woman who's standing in front of his father waiting for a reaction. Waiting to see if now Elliot will accept he believes her. But, to her disappointment, the only thing she gets from her father is a big sigh in frustration before turning around and leaving her alone and upset. Kathleen dropped sitting on the bed and covering her face with both hands beginning to mourn inconsolably.
Megane watches and can't help but feel like entering the room to comfort her, which obviously she can't do, but to her relief it is not long before a woman enters the room to embrace the girl.
Not being able to do anything else, Megane decides to leave. She ensures that no one is watching before going back to the ground landing lightly and noiselessly on the soft snow; she rushes to enter the security of the dark forest that surrounds the hotel. Her mind starts working on the newly obtained information trying to foresee all possible reactions that it could cause Olivia. She knows that Olivia will love hearing that she hadn't interfere in the death of the young girl, in fact, her death will be quiet ad in a long long time. But the other information, the one he didn't foresee, is what really worries her. She doesn't know exactly why but she would like to keep in secret what happened with the necklace; she has the feeling that this won't help Olivia to stay away. She wonders if there is any way to hide that part of the scene from her, if she can hide it in her mind to prevent Olivia seen it with her gift. They don't know exactly how it works; the only reliable information is that Olivia can "hear" their mental voices, because they had been able to communicate with her; they also know that she can "see" their memories for that is how she has discovered what happened to Stephen's wife; but from there on they have no more information regarding to her gift. They don't know how much into their minds it can slip away. Maybe not so much, or maybe it hasn't developed enough to do so.
'If I try to hide this part of the memory perhaps she can't see it.' Megane thinks to herself as she runs through the woods. Soon she reaches the frozen lake that announces that she is far away enough. So, instead of jumping through the frozen water, this time she keeps running letting her left boot to slip on the ice. And then she thinks on a great activity to keep Olivia's mind busy.
::::ETERNITY ::::
Meanwhile in the small cottage inside the woods Stephen has offered Olivia to teach her how to play the piano. She has accepted really excited but doubting her sense of music has improved.
"I was never a musical talented woman." She assures Stephen sitting beside him at the piano. "I ran away when my mother enrolled me in... ahm... classes." She fails to finish the thought striving to recall the information. It is a fuzzy memory. "... Ahm ... When I was a child she enrolled me in... classes of..."
"Whatever. I just hope this time you do not run away." Stephen decides to joke realizing the huge blackout in which Olivia finds herself lost. He knows what is happening and wants to avoid her a bad time.
"Whatever!? I have always told the story when anyone tries to join the music and now I can't remember it." Olivia complains with an obvious annoyed expression.
"Oh no." Stephen says with concern in his eyes. "Olivia, I think you got Alzheimer." The sudden look of fear in the vampire's face makes Stephen releases a huge laugh.
"What's so funny asshole!?" She asks and gets the answer immediately. The vampire is only joking with her. She feels as if to blush when she sees her own face in Stephen's mind; although physically the flushing never comes to her body, but she can't hide a huge smile full of shame. "Stop laughing!" She demands but seen Stephen can't stop laughing she starts laughing to. Soon their laughter fills the entire cabin.
"It would not surprise me you been the first vampire capable of developing mental illness." Stephen continues mocking her between laughs, earning a smack on the shoulder. "Hey! Watch your strength!" He says still laughing.
"Stop teasing me! Don't forget that I am still the strongest one!" Olivia replied watching him and then she realizes it's the first time she has really seen him laughing. Once or twice he had laughed but never so openly, it is usually only a small laugh. She likes to see him like that. 'You like him.' Her inner voice declares causing her laughter to stop; stunned by the sudden declaration of her subconscious.
Noticing the sudden seriousness of the vampire, Stephen stops laughing and looks at her doubtfully. 'What did I do?' He explains inferring that her sudden seriousness is due to her lack of memory. "When you were human you had not had your senses as acute as now. That's why you mind reproduces tem so blurred." He explains hoping that this will cause her some relief.
"Ahm ..." Olivia doesn't answer as she continues to discuss with her inner voice. She strives to get Stephen's words so she can answer back and hide the true about her concern. "Then I'll forget everything?" She asks with genuine curiosity and surprise.
"No." Stephen assures her. "You will not. Everything is recorded in your mind and it will stay there. You will remember several things at unexpected moments, especially those most significant. Others you might not remember if you do not make the effort to get them out of the warehouse where they are stored. Our mind is ... Complicated." He tries explaining his own theory. "Mario recalled more easily than me. Megane hardly remembers much of her human life, some things occasionally are reflected in her paintings, but perhaps she has blocked most of the time she spent in the nuthouse. It's different for each one of us."
"Sure, I view it as a huge room full of doors and gates which I'm afraid to open." Olivia explains to let him know that she understands the complexity he is talking about.
"Interesting." He says seeing her straight in the eyes really getting into the conversation. He tries to imagine the room full of doors. "And how you see other's minds?" He asks with genuine curiosity trying to decipher more of her gift. But instead of getting an answer he receives a caution look and immediately realizes his mistake. 'He was supposed to be gone by now.' He uses his mind to communicate with her.
"I suppose they are not like mine." Olivia answers the last question asked aloud trying to hide the words he has made in silence. "But I have enough with my own."
"Sure." Stephen takes look at the piano keys to start looking for the right song. Olivia observes his fingers cautiously waiting to hear the notes. "I just composed this one." He explains before starting the first notes. Immediately, along with the melody, a memory comes to his mind; a memory that Olivia can clearly see. 'An intense scarlet eyes watching cautiously with evident fear. A woman running through the woods in front of her. The woman with sorrowful expression. The dark night sky crammed with stars and the huge moon lighting the tops of the pines. The same woman standing on top of mountain with his scarlet eyes on the stars and an expression full of surprise.' Immersed in the music and the images that Stephen gives her she realizes that it is a memory of hers as well. From Stephen's view, just as he watched her that day; the day when she awoke to immortality; the day she saw the night sky for the first time with her new eyes; that day she promised to stay with them; the day he secretly decided to take care of her forever.
"Stephen?" Olivia takes her eyes seeking for his looking for the answer to a question she fears to make out loud. He observes her and gives her a slight smile.
"Olivia." He says her name carefully, as if it was something secret. And they stay there in silent as still as statues; until the silence is interrupted by quick steps that are accompanied by a pair of male laughter.
"I have to accept that it is a good game." Raymond is listened.
"Megane tends to invent good games." Followed by Mario talk. In less than a second the two vampires are already in the middle rock room. "I never got bored. "A couple of years ago she invented this game all around Manhattan; she took care to hide certain objects in inaccessible locations throughout the island, the tip of the Empire State or the Statue of Liberty's torch, and Stephen and I had to find them making sure humans would not notice us."
"That's risky." Raymond says with an expression full of surprise. "Next time I will join you."
"So, are you telling that you were climbing buildings and statues while I was a human?" Olivia says seeing in Mario's mind as he came up to the Statue's torch on a couple of jumps. Stephen smiles and nods while Mario just laughs. "I want to play that." Olivia says with evident emotion. She loves the idea of walking through Manhattan running and jumping like Spiderman.
"Sure! Once we're sure you will not end up with the population of the whole island." Mario tells her trying to joke earning an annoyed look from Stephen who doesn't thinks it is an appropriate thing to say.
"You will not have much problem with that." Raymond says watching Olivia with a knowing look. She immediately looks at him angrily fearing he reveal what happened. "I think you learn fast." He decides to explain his words before anyone performing unnecessary questions.
"Yes, you learn fast." Stephen seconded the words of the host. 'And you'll learn fast to play the piano.' He thinks knowing that Olivia will listen and, although she doesn't flip to see him, the slight smile on her face tells him that she has done so.
"Let's not assume anything." Mario asks with that preventive tone that represents him. 'There is so much to do with you yet.' And like Stephen, decides to use his mental voice to communicate with Olivia making sure Raymond doesn't obtain more information than necessary. "And we'll have time for more games. Sure Megane will return with a new game for the storm." He ensures, thinking Megane has disappeared to think new games. And, as if planned, the sound of thunder seconded his words. The storm is about to begin.
"It's a shame." Raymond says calling the attention of all. "I must go." He announces without much encouragement. "Remaining parked in one place is not my thing." He explains.
"We know that. And, judging by the tone of your eyes, you must hunt." Stephen says making everyone look to his dark eyes.
"That's right. I have decided to wait for the storm to ensure not running into humans. I do not want to cause you troubles."
"Thank you. Good idea, no human will dare to be out in the storm." Mario says with real gratitude. He wouldn't like him hunting near their temporary home making the forest to get full of police again.
"Try to hunt far from New York." Olivia tells him-but by her tone rather requires him-watching him with a seriousness look.
"Do not worry I'll wait to get to a more suitable area." Raymond ensures her giving her a smile.
"Well, thanks for the visit." Stephen decides to say hastening his departure. "And to keep our secret." He tells as a reminder to keep his mouth shut. Raymond nods but doesn't say anything about it. Olivia tries to read his thoughts and the first thing she finds is the Megane's face. Of course, he is thinking if he should wait for her return to say goodbye but soon decides it would be better not to.
"Thank you for the hospitality. I'll see you soon." Raymond approaches Mario offering his hand politely and then does the same with Stephen. After, he approaches Olivia who offers her hand immediately; Raymond smiles and accepts her hand but only to pull her to him and give her a big hug. Olivia remains motionless not answering back the gesture waiting for him to release her soon; she takes her look to Stephen immediately noticing the tension in his jaw.
"Goodbye." Olivia says forcing him to release her.
"See you soon. It was a great pleasure meeting you." Raymond says while losing his hold, without taking his eyes off hers. She responds only with an obviously forced smile.
Mario takes the vampire's attention and points him the way out nicely. Once outside, Raymond decides to start running disappearing in the forest under the snow that has begun to fall.
'Is everything all right?' Stephen asks Olivia using his mind to ask the question. Olivia turns to him and gives him a slight smile before nodding. 'I noticed you were uncomfortable. Has something happened with Raymond?' The smile immediately disappears from her face and she takes her gaze to another place avoiding any eye contact.
"He's gone! At last." Mario enters the middle-rock with obvious relief. "He's pretty weird." He says as he throws to the sofa in front of the huge mirror taking in hand a book.
'Olivia?' Stephen insists quietly wanting an answer, but Olivia moves to where Mario is, ignoring Stephen's thoughts. 'Is there something we should know?'
"Very very weird." Olivia answers to Mario's last words.
"Yes." Mario says turning to see the vampire who is now sit on the floor next to him. "But he will keep his promise." He ensures her trying to make her feel calm. "Raymond is not a big fan of the law system."
"Olivia." Tired of being ignored, Stephen decides to use his voice. Olivia turns to see him trying to sound calm. "Did Raymond did or said ... or thought ... something that upset you?"
"Killing little fairies is enough to bother anyone." Megane's sweet voice is heard outside combined with the strong wind sound and it's not long for the little vampire to enter the room completely covered with snow.
"Hey babe!" Mario gets up and in less than a second he's at her side removing her coat. "Where have you been?" He asks her looking for her gaze to steal her a tender kiss.
"I was looking for some new activities for us." Megane answers dropping the bag that's hanging from her shoulder to then remove the big coat completely; the floor soon covered in snow. "We hadn't tried in a while." Olivia rushes to her side feeling grateful to her convenient appearance. She has come to stop Stephens's interrogation.
"What do you have there, little snow monster?" Mario asks with a big smile on his face.
"It's a gift." Megane says bending down to take the contents of the backpack. Olivia waits patiently sensing that everything is just an alibi; and she decides to wait for the right time to ask Megane what she have saw. "We should use the ice, shouldn't we?" Megane continues removing the contents of the bag.
"From where did you steal those?" Stephen asks from his place next to the piano, with evident joy in his expression.
"I did not steal them, I borrowed them." Megane defended herself throwing him a pair of black skates through the air which he catches right from the sharp knife swiftly without causing any damage.
"Oh, we hadn't skate in decades!" Mario excited expresses taking the couple of skates Megane hands him.
"I know, right!?" Megane says with that big smile of hers while handing a pair of white skates to Olivia who grabs them cautiously not wanting to touch the sharp knives, causing Stephen to laugh. "You'll love it!" Megane ensures her showing her beautiful smile.
"I've done it before ... ahm ... As a human each year we used to sneak a few hours to skate in central park." Olivia says forcing herself not to think about the use of the plural in her words.
"Sure you do." Stephen whispers intensifying the teasing towards her. "Central park ... pfff." Olivia turns giving him a furious glare.
"Olivia, you had never skate as a vampire." Megane explains her trying to avoid an unnecessary fight.
"Nope I hadn't, but I am sure I can do it better than this airhead." Olivia says referring to Stephen who only reaction is to laugh. "Just as I am faster than him and a better mountain climber." Olivia continues making his laugh to disappear and Mario's to start.
"You and me to the lake NOW." Stephen demands taking Olivia's arm so that she follows him. Olivia just smiles glad to be able to challenge him again. Megane and Mario look at each other and can't help but be excited to see this challenge so they are quick to follow them.
Soon they are at one of the largest lakes in the Adirondacks' region; which is completely frozen under the snow storm. Olivia observes it with obvious surprise, compared to this huge place central park's skate rink is nothing. Stephen turns to see her with a twisted smile making sure she can see her own expression in his mind. Olivia changes her expression to a serious one trying to hide her surprise.
"The storm makes it even more exciting." Mario expresses watching the snow dancing sharply with the strong wind.
"Come on, put your skates on." Stephen orders Olivia putting his owns without any difficulty. She let out a deep breath to his command but soon is dropped onto the snow to put them on.
Stephen hurries to slides gently on the thick ice pushing aside with the sharp knives the snow that has already covered the lake, and flips in search of Olivia's eyes to invite her to follow him. She makes sure to properly fasten the laces of the skate careful not to break them and then she stands up. The skates feet her perfectly but causes a strange feeling cause she can feel every detail of the material against her skin. She decides to take cautious steps leaving the blade sink deep into the soft snow making her feel a little insecure. Stephen looks at her and let out a soft sneer sure that she can hear it. Olivia ignores him knowing that his intention is to disturb her, so she decides to take a couple of confident steps approaching the frozen lake. She looks the thick layer of ice covered by that snow been able to see the frozen particles which seems to be beautiful crystal. Determined, she takes the final step to stand on the ice and at the moment the knife touches is a loud crack is heard as if it was thinner and fragile. And the mocking laughter continues.
"Control your weight." Mario advises the vampire who has remained stationary observing the crack in the ice. "Control your strength, as if you were walking on your fragile wooden house." Olivia strives to focus all her attention on her muscles. She hadn't noticed how she moves inside her little treehouse, actually she tries to be much lighter than when she is free in the forest.
"The ice is fragile." Megane explains approaching the lake to give a demonstration.
"But it's so thick." Olivia says with obvious surprise in her voice.
"Any false move and you'll destroy it." Stephen says trying to sound a bit more serious.
Olivia decides to take another step, this time with caution and lightness managing to put both feet on the ice without causing other damage.
"Ever played cops and robbers?" Megane asks with an exciting smile on her face.
"Not only I played it, but it was kind of my job." Olivia says vaguely remembering the countless times she had to run after a fugitive.
"Well. Theoretically, the rules are the same. One will be the police the other thieves."
"The rules are simple." Mario continues the instructions. "You can't get out of the ice unless you get caught, then you will be thrown out of it!"
"But we know who is the fastest." Olivia says with pride earning a mocking laugh from Stephen and even one from Megane.
"On the ice that's not an advantage. Among more speed less time to react, you can't just stop short if you go too fast, or turn right when you want." Mario explains.
"The more weight is equal to less agility." Megane says with pride knowing the smallest and most agile among them is her. "Careful and destroy out playroom again you big mastodon!" She warns Stephen with a false look of annoyance.
"The last time, trying to make a big show he ended up breaking the whole ice." Mario explains to Olivia letting her see the memory of that time in his mind. Olivia watches the scene looking how Stephen is in giving, not only spins, but also ropes in the air with extreme speed but falling without any lightness breaking the ice in thousands pieces.
"Do not worry; it won't be me who destroys it this time." Stephen says trying to intimidate Olivia. She lets out a breath and proudly, but cautiously, slides on the ice quickly reaching the center of the lake and then turns her attention to her now-snow-covered playmates.
"Light as a feather." She says hiding behind her smile the real effort she is making to keep all her weight on the ice. Everyone laughs at the scene and rushes to start the game. Stephen offers to be the policeman wanting to have the opportunity to have Olivia as an opponent. The vampire is placed in the center of the lake and gives them three seconds to start and disperse under the snow. And so it begins the chase. Determined to win, he waste no time and slides after Olivia. She knew that he would go after her and she doesn't really need to read his mind to know that; it is obvious he wouldn't lose the opportunity to leave her in ridiculous. She slips quickly but was surprised to see that the vampire doesn't get too close to her. Olivia dares to get in his mind to know what his plan is; he maintains a low speed behind her waiting for the right moment to move, and there are several strategies he have already think to give her hunting. Olivia was surprised to know that one of his strategies includes trashing the ice. But suddenly Megane appears surrounding Stephen and distracting him from his target for a few seconds.
"Come for me mastodon!" She challenges him sliding really close to him.
"Yes, I'll get you little thief but the worst crime is that one." Stephen says without taking his eyes off of Olivia who had stopped to face him. She watches the small Megane dancing around Stephen and then something clicked in her mind; she remembers that she has to tell her what she saw back in the hotel. She remembers that this was supposed to be just a distraction, and now she is wondering if it is a distraction for her. Maybe Megane has learned that Kathleen's death is near.
She saw as Stephen takes a decision and then she takes hers. She could slip on the same side that he has decided to move so she can turn the tables on his tactic, because she knows beforehand that he would move to the right and then to the left foreseeing she could read his mind and, thus making she think that this had been his principal plan, but the final decision would be the whole other thing. But Olivia has been able to read the whole plan in his mind and she can be able to change every move. She has been able to read deeper than his false plan. But what she really wants is to be free to slip into Megane's mind, so she decides to make him believe that he has achieved to distract her and moves to the side as the expected move.
"No!" She shouts with fake surprise when she sees the vampire jump straight to her. Both vampires fly in the air but, before crashing into the ice, Stephen takes her in his arms and in one swift movement manages to land lightly and he toss her gently on the side snow while letting out a victorious smile.
"You tried to read my mind, don't you? That should be cheating, but it has been my advantage." He explains with obvious pride. Olivia feigns a glare from her place in the snow. "Now watch as I catch that elusive little beast." He says as Megane appears gliding swiftly to his side and then disappears in the storm.
Stephen doesn't lose time and rushes after her leaving Olivia alone on the shore of the lake, so she fails to rise in search of Megane's mind. Although they are no longer within her view, it isn't hard to her to find Megane's voice and soon she gets to see everything the blonde is watching. She can't help but feel fascinated; witnessing what is happening a few feet away from her without moving is wonderful. But apart from that fascination she tries to go deeper into Megane's mind. She hadn't managed her gift and all she knows is that she can see what is on the surface of anyone's thoughts. But a couple of times she has already managed to look beyond the first surface; for example while playing chess with Raymond. So she strives to put aside the surfaced thoughts and looks for Megane's little trip to the hotel. She can't help but feel a little bad to do this without the blonde's consent, but she fears that she doesn't want to reveal her everything she witnessed.
Soon she finds what she wants. She sees everything as if she were doing it, but a little blurred and with skipped scenes; 'the crime scene, the hotel, the lobby filled with police officers and witnesses; she can see the scene with the man who tells her where the bathroom is, she hears the familiar voices, slides off the window and climbing up the building, looking into the window. She sees the girl crying in the bed and a man walking from one side to another. She can see Kathleen's distant and quiet death and feels a big relief but she keeps watching. Soon she recognizes the man and her interest becomes even bigger so she continues digging in the memory; she sees the fight, and recognizes Kathleen's frustration by feeling judge. She listens as Kathleen pronouncing her name, but this time not with fear as in the forest, but safely and with anger. Olivia tries to look at Elliot's expression but apparently Megane has focused more on the young woman and there is not much of his face in the memory, at least not until the necklace appears.' Olivia's hands immediately fly to her neck in search of the string that is no longer there. She can't remember where she lost it, but it was hanging from Kathleen's hand or at least that's what Megane's mind shows her. 'Then the surprised expression on Elliot's face is all there is in the memory until he gets out of the room with one clear decision in his face.' That expression she knows well.
"Oh no." The words come out of her mouth unconsciously. That's all she could say before deciding to act. In seconds she takes the skates off and without thinking twice, not caring if anyone notices or not, she runs into the storm towards the south.
She knows him perfectly well, she knows what he had decided from the moment his hand touched her necklace. His daughter wasn't lying and he went to look for her. He went out looking for her determined to find her.
Indeed, inside the forest, under the huge storm Elliot is walking all exhausted and nearly frozen but he doesn't surrender. He has been walking for almost two hours walking, screaming her name until his frozen lungs didn't allow him to do it anymore. But he continues walking with obvious effort and difficulty to breath.
"I know you're here." He whispers trying to avoid falling down. "I can feel you." He doesn't give up, because the image that has haunted his nightmares has become concrete. The hope that she is still alive at last has a chance to be true, but the storm threats loudly that if it is true, that if she is in the forest, it will handle to freeze her. "No."
Elliot decides to keep his mind working to avoid falling unconscious. He focuses on the dozens of possibilities in which, somehow, Olivia had survived the attack. Somehow she had been living in the area. But none of them includes vampires, fairies or immortality. Instead, there is a confused and helpless Olivia on the edge of death. Fatalistic chances. He can't think of any rational possibility where she is in perfect conditions. And, indeed, there are no rational explanations for it.
The wind blows through the trees moving the snow from side to side until it finally makes him to his knees. Elliot gives a last effort to stand up again, refusing to surrender, refusing to abandon hope. He gives a couple of steps but it seems that the wind is decided to throw him down, blowing even more strongly throwing him backwards down to the snow causing his head to strike into a huge tree trunk knocking him unconscious. The storm threatening to bury him in the snow.
He can hear the wind blowing hard and feel the frozen cold attack each of his muscles. He can't tell how much time has passed, could be minutes or hours. His head pounding hard and his lungs burning intensely with every breath. He tries to find strength in his being to rise again but his frozen muscles don't answer him back; only his pale lips move feebly whispering her name.
He opens his eyes slowly whom complain to feel the cold wind hit them. He tries to observe his surroundings but all he gets to see is snow fierce flying around. Refusing to die there he takes a deep breath of cold air and forces his muscles to move achieving his body to roll on the snow staying upside down lifting his torso with his arms. In a few more moves he does sit. He puts his survival skills on work and tries to remember the hotel's location. He turns around trying to recognize where he came walking before falling; but the snow continues to make it hard work. All he can see is some trunks of nearby trees and few large rocks hidden in the mist and snow dancing from side to side. Resigned to the disorientation, he remains observing slightly rotating his neck looking for some shelter; maybe a gap in the large trunks that can provide him roof. His gaze moves slowly from one side to another without much success until a flicker movement catches his eye and unconsciously turns on its route. 'Maybe an animal running for shelter.' He thinks to himself wanting to believe that at this time no animal would be thinking about hunting. He continues his search without achieving much until he hears a soft familiar voice.
"Elliot." His eyes follow the sweet sound up to the rocks. He keeps his eyes on place but sees no movement. He wonders if he has begun to hallucinate but before he assumes it is true he achieve to find a strange figure among the rocks; it is still and seems to be just one of the rocks but, as more carefully he watches over it starts to take the form of a human figure.
"Hello?" He says in a faint sigh, but the figure remains motionless. He takes a deep breath and crawls through the storm by an effort to come near to see it better; and then the figure gets closer to him but it doesn't seem to have made any movement. Soon it is less than a meter away from him. Elliot watches warily, and his eyes are filled with surprise in recognition. It's her. "Olivia." He calls her by name but do not get any response. No movement to indicate that she has heard. She just remains crouched in front of him, completely motionless and with a strange expression that mixes pain and concern. Elliot, concerned about his mental health, wondering whether the head injury was more serious than it appeared, tightly closes his eyes fearing that Olivia will disappear when opened. He had dreamed her so many times; he would not be surprised if she did. But this time, when he opened his eyes again, Olivia is still there. But it is not the Olivia of his nightmares. In his mind he has always displayed an emaciated and destroyed Olivia; but the Olivia in front of him doesn't seem weak at all. He repeats the action of closing and opening his eyes again but she doesn't disappear. He looks at her with caution and disbelief reviewing and recognizing each of her facial features up to her eyes; her bright golden eyes. His instinct reacts to them immediately. He feels his heart beat hard and fast trying to send blood to the muscles of his body in order to escape.
"Elliot." Olivia repeats his name but this time her voice is heard scratchy and annoying. Her throat burns and the juicy heartbeat sounds hard in her ears. "I will not hurt you." She tries to ensure him reading the fear in his eyes. "I will not hurt you." She repeats trying to reassure herself she won't. She tries to control herself as she had with Kathleen, but as much as she tries, she can't concentrate enough to read Elliot's mind.
"What's happening?" Elliot let out the question with warm cloud of breath.
"Ell, I will not hurt you." This time she strives to make her voice sound sweet and serene. "You must go back to the hotel."
"Olivia?" Elliot says her name in disbelief. "You're alive?" He takes advantage of the strength the fear has give him and tries to approach her, stretching his hand slowly trying to touch her cheek. He needs to touch her; he needs to know that it is not a dream, but she turns away from his touch. "I'm dead?"
"Go back to the hotel." She repeats. She can't dare to touch him. She has kept her breath from the moment she saw him fearing to end up doing what Stephen did. "You must go back." She wishes she could just carry him to a safety place but she doesn't trust in herself.
"No. .." Elliot tries to talk with evident difficulty.
"You must, your family needs you." Olivia tries to reason. "Go back."
"Not without you." Elliot tells her. "I'm not losing you again." Olivia feels the huge lump in her throat and that awful impotence of not being able to mourn attacks her. And, though it's not a pleasant feeling, it is better than the horrible burning, so she decides to focus on that.
"I'm fine." She ensures her standing up to force him to continue moving. "If you stay here you will die."
"With you."
"No! Elliot You must go back!" Fearing he is giving up, she shouts him managing to make the fear come back again and with it the terrible burning in her throat.
"I'm not leaving without you!" Elliot says standing up and walking towards her even though his body asks him to run in the opposite direction.
"Elliot no! Stay away!" she orders stepping backwards as her vision starts to turn red. She wants to run as she did with Kathleen but her muscles wouldn't respond. Her body wants to jump on him.
"Come back to me." Elliot asks stopping his movements but keeping his eyes on hers. "Come back to me." He repeats in a whisper she can clearly hear. "Please."
"I'll be back." Olivia tells with her raspy voice. "I promise." Elliot stretches his hand trying to touch her even once. But the slightest movement makes the low heat of his body reach Olivia's frozen skin and this is enough for her senses to turn against her. "No!" Struggling against her own instincts, Olivia gives a slight boost to Elliot returning him down to the ground.
"Olivia!" Stephen's voice is heard along with the wind and in less than a second the vampire appears at her side stopping her movements. "Go away!" He orders searching for her eyes. "Go!" She didn't think twice and taking advantage of the distraction runs in the opposite direction as fast as she can, disappearing down the storm.
Stephen turns to the man who can barely move in the snow and makes a quickly decision. He approaches Elliot and ensures to leave him unconscious without hurting him, before taking him in his arms.
AN: I wasn't sure how to write this. I hope you like it. reviews?