Chapter 34

A/N: hey guys! I'm sorry the story got kinda dark in there and probably a bit confusing. I promise though, everything will be explained. In time! You must be patient! (Don't worry it's not one of my strong suits either) pretty much all of it is necessary!

Eric POV

I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. Maxwell stood in front of the desk seeming unsure of what to do. "One week," I repeated.

"Maybe less."

"We need to gather those who are loyal. How many did Caleb say they'd turned?"

"At least 30."

I ground my teeth in annoyance, they wanted me gone that badly? What was Xavier telling them anyways? Probably some twisted truth about Elizabeth and Faith and how I'd stolen them from him. As if. "Who is there with him again?"

"Quinn. He's somewhat of a new recruit for us. He's been neutral about these kinds of politics but is very willing to join our cause and he has many who will listen to him."

"Why now? It's been more than two months since I first brought Faith here."

"I asked the same question but neither of them know."

I sighed, knowing Xavier strike at an unpredictable time to try and catch us off guard. His strategy was...interesting to say the least. He and his followers had been camped out a few miles away for almost a week without any signs of attacking. It was infuriating. He knew I couldn't attack him first. It would look unprovoked, so I was forced to wait. I had to get Faith out of here, as a precaution. "Maxwell, you and Marissa will accompany Faith to the safe house. Rally everyone you can, we need to prepare."

Faith POV

I was scared out of my mind. This couldn't be happening, but it had been much too long. I tried to take a deep breath and looked at myself in the mirror. I didn't look different. Well, not any different than I had the past month here. I sighed, how had so much happened in mere months? Sure, my life had completely changed in the first month when I had been kidnapped, but the past month had truly changed everything about me.

I looked up again, scrutinizing for any hints. There weren't any...yet. I was worried. Should I just wait for it to become obvious? Tell Marissa? Wouldn't she just go and tell Eric then? I was stuck, he was going to find out either way.

Maybe this was a false alarm? I mean I had no way of knowing for certain...but in my heart I knew it was empty comfort.

I don't know how but I was suddenly kneeling on the bathroom floor, sobbing uncontrollably into my sweater, rocking back and forth- trying in vain to muffle my sobs.

Help me, Lord...help me...

Maxwell POV

I found Faith pacing in front of Marissa's room in obvious distress. She looked paler and thinner than usual, her violet eyes were bright with anxiety.

"Faith?" I questioned quietly making her jump as I disturbed her concentration.

"Oh, um..hi Max," she said embarrassed. I knew she'd been avoiding me and everyone I guess for the last few weeks. It was understandable but I had still missed her company.

"Are you feeling okay? You look upset," I asked in concern.

"Oh...no I'm fine - just going to talk to Marissa...I think," she said sounding extremely preoccupied.

I frowned. Something was definitely wrong but as much as I wanted to plead with her to tell me I instead just nodded hesitantly.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was coming to say hello to Marissa as well but yours seems a bit more...pressing. I'll leave you two. Just tell her I'll be back later and...give her these," I said handing her the small bouquet of flowers and turning to leave.

"I will, Max," she said quietly and as I peeked back I saw the faintest shadow of a smile flit across her face.

Marissa POV

I heard a tentative knock on the door and went to open it and was surprised to find Faith outside it holding a small bouquet of flowers. "Hey, Faith," I said softly.

She stepped forward and held out the flowers, "They're from Max, he was going to deliver them in person but um...I was pacing outside the door and he has to go do something. So he wanted me to give them to you for him," she explained.

I was pleasantly surprised by the flowers, it was as if he knew...but he couldn't. I took them with a smile, starflowers, my favorite. I beckoned Faith to come into the room and put the flowers down. I turned to survey Faith. She looked pale and anxious and I was worried what about. "What's up?" I said gently sitting down on the edge of the bed with her.

She shifted uncomfortably and looked at me cautiously, "I'm worried about something. I was just hoping you might be able to help take my mind off it."

"What has you so worried? Faith, you look terrible to put it bluntly."

A smile graced her features briefly and disappeared, "Nothing you can fix, Rissa."

"Is Eric doing something?! Did he..."

"Rissa, I'd really rather not discuss anything that has to do with him."

I dropped it, I needed to cheer her up not bring her down with conversation on something she was obviously avoiding. I would take it up with Eric later.

We talked for a while about whatever came to mind, our teachers from the high school, her friends I'd come to know, Kira, Josie, and Jonathan. I couldn't help but be sorry for her when she told me of the rose she'd received from Jonathan. He'd obviously really liked her, I had seen it as soon as I'd joined the group but he wasn't brave enough to make a move.

That was the only thing that kept me from mentioning him to anyone. He was cautious and sweet and to be completely honest he and Faith would have made an adorable and well matched couple. It made me feel sad and guilty. Faith was the polar opposite of Eric unlike her and Jonathan. That's part of what made her such a good match for Eric though, she would balance him. She would be the light to counter his dark and the mercy to mitigate his wrath. That wouldn't change when she became a fledgling. She just had a ways to come and lots to learn; then again, so did Eric.

She decided to go maybe an hour later and I was left to sort out my thoughts. I wondered how this would all work out. While Eric was having trouble with Faith the others were gathering together and recruiting others to overthrow him. They would be here any day. I felt like they needed time. Faith and Eric couldn't resolve anything while they were forced together like this. They needed space but Eric wasn't willing to give her any. They didn't have time for it.

There was a knock a the door and I jumped as I was interrupted by Max coming in the door.

"Sorry, I can come back later if you..."

"No! No, you're just fine! Come in!" I invited him in with a smile.

He came and sat beside me on the bed where Faith had just vacated. "Was Faith okay?" He asked quietly.

I nodded, "I guess. She's upset. And rightly so."

"She seemed really agitated when I came by the first time."

"She's got a lot on her plate. Anyways, what are you doing here?" I said, changing the subject before Max decided to ask any further.

"We are both accompanying her to the safe house tomorrow," he said.

"Tomorrow?! So soon..."

"The master wants her away from the attacks, just as an extra measure."

"For how long?" I asked, how long of a battle was this supposed to be?

"The attacks shouldn't last more than a week."

I nodded, "Okay. I'll get everything ready," I said getting up. There was a small silence before I remembered what I wanted to ask him. "By the way, thank you for the flowers, what was the occasion?" I asked deciding we needed to change the subject.

He looked at me in surprise, "Rissa, I'm surprised at you! Did you really think I would forget your birthday?!"

I laughed, "I wasn't aware you knew it! When did I ever tell you?!"

He gave a mischievous smile, "You were a bit drunk so I doubt you would remember." He said.

I laughed again and thanked him but my mind turned back to Faith, I couldn't stop worrying about her and I still felt guilty about the part I'd played in her misery.

"It's Faith isn't it?" He asked gently.

"I'm sorry, Max, I can't get her off my mind. I just feel so guilty."

"Marissa, you know that you had to do it," he said getting up as well and coming to stand beside me. "Don't feel guilty about something that can't be helped."

"But I do, Max! I can't help it! She's so miserable and it's my fault!" I said tearing up as he put his arms around me comfortingly.

"Rissy, if it's anyone's fault that she's miserable it's Eric's," he said with a hard edge to his tone. He softened a little, "I miss her as much as you, but we can only try. We can only do so much."

There was a long silence as I tried to get my sniffles under control and stood up, wiping the few stray tears away. Ugh, I never got emotional. Pull yourself together, Marissa.

"I'm almost glad they're going to have some space for a week or two, they need it," I finally stated, breaking the silence.

Max nodded in agreement with me, "Things should be able to slow down after we pull through this rebellion. I just hope we come through victorious..."

Faith POV

I closed the door to Marissa's room and began walking down the hall. "You missed lunch again," I heard and I let out a surprised shriek as I found Eric around the corner. He gently put a hand over my mouth to cut off my scream and frowned, "You've been awful jumpy lately, Violet Eyes. No need to scare Marissa and Maxwell," He said removing his hand from my mouth. I stepped back from him and turned to leave but he merely started walking beside me and eventually grabbed my arm to lead me into the room I refused to call ours and closed the door. "Love, what's wrong? You've been acting strange ever since I took you to the forest."

"I've just been feeling a bit off, I don't know," I said trying to exude indifference, this conversation could get dangerous quickly.

"Off?" He repeated, unconvinced.

I didn't respond.

"Care to elaborate?" he said circling around me. "Is that supposed to explain why you're so jumpy all of the sudden? Or...why you've taken to wearing tracks into the floors from pacing? Or why you suddenly have no appetite? Is it supposed to somehow explain your more than obvious detours to avoid me?" his somewhat cynical tone softened suddenly as he stopped in front of me, "Should that explain why you were sobbing so terribly yesterday? Or why your personal upkeep is suffering so much? Should it explain any of this? You were feeling 'off'?"

"I'm feeling a bit better," I answered dully.

"Are you now?" he said, obviously incredulous, he paused, "Why don't I believe you, Faith?" his tone was surprisingly calm. He took my hand and led me over the the chairs by the fireplace and gently pulled me onto his lap so I was sitting perpendicular to him. "Talk to me, love," he said tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.

"About what? I already told you everything," I said carefully keeping my monotonous tone.

"Vi, you and I both know that's a lie." I said nothing. "It must be something important if you're so set on keeping it from me," he said with a sigh, "you're so distant," he said almost sadly as he tucked a stray strand of hand behind my ear. I continued to stare at the wall unwilling to acknowledge his conjecture.

"Faith," he said gently turning my face to meet his gaze, "I won't punish you."

"May I please go." I said quietly.

"No, you won't until you tell me what is wrong."

"Nothing."

"You would do well to stop lying to me, Faith," he said with a pejorative edge to his voice, "I won't punish you for whatever you confess, but I will be forced to reprimand you if you continue to be content with lying."

"Stop this, please," I said tears beginning to fall though I tried valiantly to reign them in.

"I want the truth, Faith, and you aren't leaving until I have it." he replied stonily.

"No..." I sobbed quietly as the tears continued to come and I tried to swipe them away but they continued to come.

"Faith?"

"NO!" I screamed, sobbing more heavily into my hands.

He seemed startled by this burst of unbidden emotion and I felt him pull me closer, stroke my hair and shush me. I felt so exhausted I couldn't rouse myself to fight him off.

"Faith, what is it? Please - What's plaguing you like this?" he said softly.

"No..no," I gasped for air, "I can't...I can't."

He sat me up and tried to catch my eye. He was frowning in...was that concern? Why was he being like this? Where had the threatening gone? Why couldn't he just leave me alone?

He said nothing but merely watched me carefully as I tried unsuccessfully to stop my tears. I couldn't - I just couldn't. How would he react? But he was going to find out somehow. "I...I'm.." I tried.

"I..."

"ERIC!" I was abruptly cut of by Max running in without knocking his glasses askew and his eyes full of worry.

Eric's attention snapped to Max immediately and he gently pushed me off his lap. "What is it, Maxwell?" he snapped as he stood up.

"They...they're gathering, they're moving closer."

He leapt into action immediately and hurried out of the room with a pained glanced back at me before he closed the door and I heard it lock. What?! Why was he locking me in here! Don't think about it...just be glad he left.

I began to pace in front of the bed for a while trying to calm myself, my hands shaking from fear. Good gracious, I was just overreacting, I needed to calm down. For now the knowledge was safe. How long it would stay safe I had no clue. What was he going to do when he found out? I couldn't take this. Don't think about it. Calm down. Breathe. I finally started taking full breaths and went over to the grab my book from my bedside table. Reading would be relaxing. I went and sat myself in my chair in front of the fire. I sat for a while reading, trying to distract my mind from everything that had transpired. I couldn't focus on the story though and found myself confused and rereading the same page over and over and over and...

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

I woke up with a start, book still open in my lap, the fire only glowing embers. How long had I been asleep? Then I heard something and perked up immediately. Another slight rustle. I wanted to call out but somehow knew that was unwise. I slowly closed my book and listened from the chair completely silent.

"Well now, what do we have here?" the silence suddenly broken.

I jumped out of my chair, the book clattering to the floor, and spun to face the unfamiliar voice. It was a man, taller than Eric with shaggy, dirty blonde hair. He was standing by the window hands clasped behind his back and a cruel-looking sneer on his face as he looked me over.

"Oh you look just how I remember, little girl, though a bit scrawnier," he hissed his malicious grin widening. Needless to say, I was not getting a good vibe from this man. "And you're all alone? How...convenient." I was alone, wasn't I... Was it strange that I was wishing fervently Eric was here? I started backing up slowly and banged into the other chair almost losing my balancing and falling into it. All the while, the stranger was advancing on me, his stride slow but purposeful, his face still set with a wicked grin and malevolent gaze.

RUN RUN RUN my gut screamed. Where?! my logic responded, The door's locked!

I took another tentative step backward putting another chair between us, "Wh-who...who are y-you?" I said, trying to form a coherent sentence.

His grin turned sadistic, "Why, I'm your mate, Faith, and you're about to become mine."