A/N:

After nearly three years, I've decided to return to New Horizon. I apologize profusely for the horribly unfair wait I put everyone through, but I figured it was time I pushed past my writer's block and finished my story.

This chapter has not yet been edited by my beta reader, so please excuse any grammatical errors for the time being. I will hopefully have an edited version up soon.

Enjoy and please review :)

Elizabeth

The pathway that lay behind the mirror in the kitchen was pitch black. My hands reached out instinctively to find a hard surface, only to find nothing. As I stumbled blindly forward, my feet landed in a stagnant pool of icy water. I could hear Erik's deep breathing a few inches in front of me and made my way quickly to where I thought he was. As I sloshed through the chilly water I could feel a wild hysteria rising in my chest, threatening to beat its way out of me. What if it's too late? She could be dying! Oh Madeline, please hang on for another few minutes!

"I know it's dark Lizzy, but you're going to have move faster then this. I can't carry both of you." Erik's voice murmured, close to my ear. I nodded my assent, knowing full well that he would be able to see the minute movement.

"Just keep your ears open. You can hear the water rushing faster if it's leading to a hole." With that I could hear his feet turn to walk further down the dark labyrinth. I followed as fast as I possibly could, but even with his advice fresh in my mind I still managed to slip and slide every few feet.

As I tried to regain my fragile balance, my foot found a shallow sinkhole and slipped painfully into it. I whimpered as quietly as I could as I fell roughly into the water, my entire being shaking with pain and anxiety.

But despite my efforts to remain as calm as possible, everything about that jarring fall made my fears rise to the surface. Hot tears began to stream down my face and to my utter dismay I let out a sharp sob. I couldn't make it. I could feel my body beginning to shut down. Madeline was dying.

Erik

I heard Elizabeth stumbling about in the waters behind me but all my energy was focused on the small child in my arms. Her skin felt like fire and she seemed to have great difficulty breathing. I had seen these symptoms before and if my guess was correct then this small girl didn't have a prayer.

But my thoughts snapped quickly back to Elizabeth when I heard her let out a small cry of pain. I turned to see her lying in the freezing water, her ankle twisted at an odd angle to her side. She tried to rise but her foot was badly snagged. As I began to walk back towards her she let out a mournful sob, her entire body trembling.

I halted abruptly, causing the girl in my arms to cough violently. I had never seen Elizabeth completely and utterly give up.

Tears began to fall softly from her face and my heart stirred slightly at the sight. Elizabeth.

I'd watched heartlessly as Cabartte and DePerix's dratted nephew had circled her like two ravenous dogs, only interfering when it was nearly too late for her to dash off. But when Jean DePerix spoke to her I'd noticed a slight change in her demeanor. She was still wary, but part of her seemed to relax. My blood boiled when he saved her from Cabarette's next advance and she'd gazed at him gratefully.

Never before had I seen her eyes soften so, the green turning to a light hazel, and her lips parting softly. My breathing became erratic as my temper rose sharply. You belong to me Lizzy! No one else! But I'd quickly regained myself. She was not mine. She was not Christine, she was not what I wanted; what I needed.

I'd followed her as she wound her way down to the warm kitchens, trying to prove to myself that she was nothing. Perhaps if I threatened her with Cabarette then she would be less inclined to gaze so warmly after DePerix's nephew. Yes, that would work quite well.

She'd been talking to her younger stepsister while my thoughts whirled around me, but her sharp shout had brought me sharply from my reverie.

Now here she was, this small girl who had caused me so much trouble, weeping uncontrollably near my feet. Elizabeth. Once more I felt the slight pounding in my heart, but this time I shoved it back down.

Elizabeth

"Get up Lizzy." His voice hit my ears roughly and I didn't dare disobey him. I pulled my shivering self up gingerly, unsuccessfully trying to halt my tears.

"We're nearly there. All you're doing is making the situation worse. If you fall again I won't stop." Erik's deep voice came over me like a winter's chill. I knew he fully meant what he said. This time I didn't even bother to nod to him.

An entire age seemed to stretch by before I heard the tell-tale sound of a mirror or wall sliding back. Erik ushered me quickly into Madeline's dark room and I gladly stepped onto the hard wooden surface. I heard a quick scrape, then winced my eyes away from the match Erik had lit.

"Take her." He said quietly to me, his eyes flashing from blue to gold. Not daring to speak I pulled my beloved Madeline out of his strong grasp. Her body was covered with a fine sheen of sweat, and her skin was terribly warm. I clutched her to me while Erik lit several candles on her dresser.

"Oh my darling." I whispered into her hair. I looked over to Erik and met his unfathomable gaze. His eyes seemed to drift from color to color, his mood shifting along with the change. After a moment I gathered my courage.

"What's wrong with her? She's..." I was cut off by his abrupt reply.

"You need to lay her down. Prop her up so air can come easily to her."

I placed Madeline gingerly down on her small bed, tenderly wrapping blankets around her small frame. Her shallow breaths seemed to come a little easier, and with a final cough, she slipped into sleep. I collapsed into a nearby chair burying my face in my hands.

"Tell me Erik. I know you know what's wrong with her. Don't bother to shield me or honey-coat it." I said wearily. I raised my gaze to meet his and sucked in a quick breath. His eyes had become the purest blue I'd ever seen and a deep sense of...compassion radiated from him. He stepped closer to where I sat, his eyes never leaving mine. Despite everything, my heart began to pound with something that I knew wasn't fear.

"I've seen this condition several times in my life. If it is what I believe it to be...then she is not long for this world."

Then everything seemed to fall apart.