AN: Thanks for those who keep reading and commenting this story. In this chapter you'll find no answers but rather more questions... heading to the end... maybe.
D: Law and order svu and all its characters are not mine.
CH 46. SO WILL SHE
So Olivia finds herself driving to the north side of the state once again. But this time she is not following Stephen, this time she is going to get her stuff back and, yes, to spend a lonely Christmas Eve up there. She even decides to stop in a little town to get a bottle of red wine wondering how it will taste now. Could she get drunk? She smiles at the idea as she gets back up her car. Before she starts driving again her cellphone ringing makes her stop, she takes it and smiles as she sees Elliot's name on the screen.
"Hey." She answers letting the phone rest on the passenger sit in speaker mode.
"Are you really going to the Adirondacks?" He immediately asks with evident concern in his voice.
"Are you really going to spend Christmas Eve at the precinct?" Olivia answers him with a question of herself. She can perfectly listen to the sound surrounding Elliot and she perfectly recognizes it.
"Well… my family decided to go spent Christmas Eve with Kathy's family." Elliot answers. "Are you really driving to the Adirondacks by yourself?" And he repeats his own question.
"Yes." Olivia answers starting the car engine. "I'm half way there."
"Already?! How fast are you driving?" Elliot asks knowing the drive to the region would take at least 4 hours and he just saw her leaving 45 minutes ago. Olivia regrets her words immediately. As if he didn't have too much information already.
"Oh, it's just an expression." She tries to fix it already getting in the highway again.
"Right." Elliot expresses not believing a word of hers.
"Why didn't you tell me you were spending Christmas Eve alone?" Olivia asks feeling somehow sad for him. Sad and kind of worried, now that she thinks it better she should be the one taking care of him and not the other way around.
"You didn't give me a chance." He answers with nothing but the truth. Olivia stays in silent as she looks at one return signal informing her of a near exit to go back to Manhattan. She debates for a second if she should go back but a voice at the back of the other side of the line stops her thoughts.
"Ell, Is Chinese food ok? Or do you prefer Pizza?" Detective Evans voice letting her know he is not exactly spending Christmas Eve alone. "Sorry, I didn't notice you were busy."
Olivia steps harder in the accelerator letting the return behind. She can't stop the feeling. She knows it. She recognizes the damn feeling quite well, but she hasn't have it since her time back from Oregon. Since Dany Beck. She is jealous.
"I see you are not exactly alone." She can't help but let this words out.
"You know how this is." Elliot says as he points towards the Chinese food brochure to let Detective Evans know his answer. "Can I know where exactly are you planning to stay? I am really concern Liv." He confesses.
"I don't know yet." She answers trying to remember some random hotel name. "I'll let you know as soon as I decide."
"Maybe I can catch up with you later." He says regretting not having stopped her earlier. Detective Evans looks at him with doubt and evident disappointment in her eyes at the idea of spending the rest of the time alone in the precinct.
"Ahm… I don't…" Olivia is tempted with the offer. She would love to spend a whole night away from the city with him. She had dream about something like that happening for so long. But now everything is different. Now, spending a whole night alone with him in the middle of a lonely hotel in the woods doesn't seem as romantic as it should. To her it sounds more as the beginning of a horror movie. A movie where she is the monster, she and a pack of angry wolves. "I really want to spend some time alone." She decides to tell him, instantly hearing a sigh from him. "We will see each other as soon as I'm back. I promise." She dares to promise.
"Sure." Is all he can say. "Even though, please let me know where you are."
"I will." She assures him as she looks at the time in her radio. She may have enough time to get into the forest to find her stuff and get back to some little hotel.
"Liv." Elliot says with his tone evidently much more lower. But she can hear him perfectly. "Please be careful."
"Always." She answers letting out a sigh herself. "You too. And enjoy your fast food." She says already guessing he will have Chinese food that night. Oh how much she would love to be able to enjoy junk food. Well to enjoy any food.
"Take it easy with the wine." He jokes making her laugh.
"Don't control me, Stabler."
"Wouldn't even dare." He says before saying their goodbyes. He looks at the woman sit in front of him as she still is debating between pizza and Chinese food for herself. Olivia would have already made the call. He smiles but doesn't say a word.
: ETERNITY:
Olivia is almost at her destination while she has been keeping her mind occupied in the recent events. The more she thinks about it the more she is thinking on getting back to the city. What if whoever has been messing with her is actually not following her right now. What if Elliot is left alone and in danger? She parks her car in the little town she did last time and decides to get out of it not caring on the snow that is falling from the sky. Her phone starts ringing again taking her out of her thoughts and stopping her actions. She takes it and smiles at the person who appears in the screen.
"Hey!" She answers it.
"Where are you?" Megane's concern voice is heard in the other side of the line.
"Ahm... Hello Megane, how are you? Fine thank you and you, Olivia?" Olivia decides to answer immediately disliking the sudden hurry to know where she is.
"Why aren't you home?" Megane keeps going with her interrogation.
"What's wrong Meg?" Olivia asks getting worried at the vampire's tone.
"What's wrong? We spent hours rushing through airports in order to be able to be back just to find an empty apartment, and you ask what is wrong?" The blonde vampire cries explaining the situation.
"Are you in Manhattan?!" Olivia asks with evident surprise.
"Aren't you?!" Megane asks with an even higher pitch.
"No. I'm… not." She decides not to tell her where she is yet.
"Oh god!" Megane expresses. "She is not even in the city!" She is heard announcing the situation to her beloved one who just stands beside her outside Olivia's building.
"I can hear her through the phone." Mario let's her know there is no need for her to shout at him.
"What are you doing back guys?" Olivia asks wanting to know if there is a reason she should be worried about.
"I didn't want you to spend Christmas Eve alone." Megane explains with a tone of voice as if it was an obvious answer.
"Oh." Olivia expresses feeling a nice warm in her frozen heart. "You didn't have to." She says the phrase she has repeated a thousand times during the years. "I… I didn't know you were… you should have told me."
"It was supposed to be a surprise." Megane says and Olivia can perfectly imagine the young woman's annoyed expression.
"Where are you?" Mario decides to ask knowing she will be able to listen to him.
"In the Adirondacks." Olivia says not having much of a choice.
"What?! Why? What are you doing there?" And Megane keeps shouting.
"I just wanted to come rescue some of my stuff." Olivia answers with half the truth.
"Fabulous." Megane is heard as she gives the phone to Mario.
"We can catch up with you in a few hours." He takes the lead of the conversation earning an infuriating gaze from his beloved.
"There is no way I'm getting back in to a slow car." She expresses letting them know she is sick of been acting human for hours by now in airports, airplanes and taxis. "She comes back or she spends the night alone."
Olivia can't help but laugh at the tantrum the blonde is making.
"We are staying in the city." Mario takes the lead again. "I'll take care of my beautiful wife." He says earning a smile from his lover. "Are you coming back soon?" He decides to ask not wanting to make her feel controlled even though he is worried she is there alone.
"Yes. Tomorrow. We can spend Christmas together." She says hopping Megane is listening. "And I will make it up to her." She says.
"Oh of course you will." Megane exclaims already planning her way to make Olivia make it up to her. "It will cost you big!"
"Can imagine." Olivia expresses as she decides to keep with her actions again taking the big coat so she can be as comfortable as she can. "Mario." She calls the vampire in a lower voice.
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you a favor?" She keeps whispering not wanting Megane to listen, but the petit woman is already besides the phone as she noticed the lower tone. "Can you keep an eye on Elliot?" The ohne is soon at Megane's control again.
"Are you serious?!" She says without lowering her tone. "You get to spend the night out free running and I have to babysit Elliot?" Mario laughs earning a punch on the arm.
"I wouldn't ask you this if I wasn't concern about his safety." Olivia tries to explain without wanting to say all the reason behind it.
"If you were concern you would be here!"
"Meg, you are overreacting now." Mario dares to say. "She didn't know we were coming."
"Fine. You babysit." She says with evident annoyance. "And you young lady." She says to Olivia by the phone. "You better be here by morning." Olivia can't help but smile at the vampire little scold.
"I haven't been cold young lady in a long time." Olivia lets her know.
"Well, don't forget that I'm way older than you." Megane says starting to feel less frustrated. "Young lady."
"I'll be there Meg. I just have to grab some things."
"Fine."
"Gotta run." Olivia announces as she is ready to get into the woods without witnesses. "Thank you Meg." She makes sure to let the vampire know she really appreciates her gesture. "I'm really sorry."
"You'll make it up to me." Megane remembers her as she says goodbye.
"Do you know where to find Elliot?" Megane asks Mario as she give up on her plans for the evening. Mario shakes her head and takes her by the hand. "Great."
"The police station is a good place to start with." Mario smiles at her and starts walking down the street.
::Eternity::
Olivia runs inside the forest loving the feeling of the snow down her bare foot. The temperature of her skin makes it feel almost warm and so soft. The snowflakes crashes against her face breaking into million tiny pieces making a beautiful crystal sound. She takes in her surroundings noticing how the winter has already claim almost all of the area. The nature melody has changed with it. The snow falling on the white snow blanket combined with the soft wind full filling the absence of some creatures that are all inside their refugees is lovely. She decides to slow her pace as she is near to the cabin. She lets the wind fill her lungs and she notices the aroma has change as well. Cold and nice. She walks towards the cabin and as she gets closer the smell changes. She hurries inside the place and keeps her listening aware in case there is someone or something inside. But the only thing she can listen to is the snow falling. She gets inside the middle-rock room just to find that everything is just as they left it. A little bit dusty but quite as it was left. She walks around reaching the piano and remembering the beautiful melodies Stephen can take out of it. She smiles at the memory of him. At the memory of their moments together in that piano. And she flee away from one special memory that appears in her mind. Her piano lessons. She looks around just to find herself in the big ballet mirror on the wall across the room. She is all cover in snow. She jumps to get near her reflection and shakes her head letting the snow fall from her hair. She looks at herself noticing how the full moon in the sky enters through the only window straight to light her face. She remembers the first time she faced herself in that same mirror and she feels the melancholy attack her. She can't assimilate the fact that months have already passed since that day. Since the day she died. She's been a vampire for months now but she can't believe it yet. She doubts she will fully assimilate it ever.
She decides to keep on with her task moving to the second floor just to find everything untouched. She walks to the window that faces her little tree house and opens it with ease. She looks straight to the entrance and in one clean jump she reaches it. She takes a look to the inside of the wooden place and it seems frozen. The lack of crystal in the windows have let the snow enter the place. The last time she was there it was all covered by snowflakes but this time it all is cover in a light white blanket of snow. She lets out a sigh and decides to get inside pushing the snow apart with her barefoot. She reaches the wood table and looks for her books under it.
"Right where I left you." She expresses taking them in her hands removing the snow from the covers. "All ruined." She says as she feels how wet they are. She decides to go for her jewelry box hoping it is not as ruined as the books but something catches her eyes making her stop her movements. "I didn't leave you there." She expresses to the white queen who is positioned right in the middle of the all-covered-by snow-chessboard. No snow on top of the white piece. It was put there not a long time ago. There has been someone in there. But there is no trace of it at all. Just the white motionless queen. She fears for her belongings so she hurries to take the jewelry box and opens it. She looks inside and moves the few jewels with her fingers making sure everything is in there. A pair of earrings, three rings and a delicate necklace. They are all in there. Whoever was there wasn't interested in them. She sighs and decides to look through the windows in case she isn't alone but the forest seems calm and lonely. Whoever was in there is now gone. She decides to stay the night in there in case he or she tries to come back. She takes the jewels on her hand and decides to put them on surprised to notice her fingers are a little slimmer than they used to be. The rings are not tight enough. She decides to take them off and put them back in the box and goes for the necklace instead. She looks at it and smiles at the memory of her grandmother using it before her mother. The blurry memory of the day her mother passed it on her. It is a gold delicate chain which holds a silver hoop that embrace a little rock that simulates a moon. She has always loved it. So much she decided to never wear it. She has used it in only two occasions; the day her mother gave it to her and the day she buried her mother. After that time she decided to leave it in the jewelry box, part because she feared on losing it but mostly because it makes her melancholic. She thought the next time she would use it would be at her own funeral. She even told Elliot once to make sure she got buried with it. The irony is laughing hard at her right now. She takes it and decides to put it on. She puts her hair aside and manages to secure it to her neck. To her surprise the little moon-shaped-rock feels cold against her collarbone.
"I'm kind of dead now." She expresses as she looks down at the necklace. "You better stay in your place." She orders the object not wanting to lose it as she lost the fearlessness one.
She takes her time taking the snow out of the tree house and decides to cover the three windows with the wooden boards Stephen had left there. She takes the bottle of wine out of the backpack she carried and opens it enjoying the smell it brings to the place. She doesn't have a cup with her but then there is no reason to be elegant. She takes the bottle to her mouth and decides to give it a try. The alcohol is soon touching her tongue bringing a strong taste with it. She can recognize the flavor but it feels stronger and way more alcoholic. She keeps it in her mouth trying to get used to the taste and she decides to swallow slowly. The beverage runs straight to her throat making the burn awake and the wine disappear. She kind of likes the sensation so she gives it another try. She takes the white queen in her free hand and decides to look at it with determination. It is perfectly carved in a solely piece of wood. The whole chess board has been handmade by Stephen and it is a real piece of art. She is glad to have it complete again. She gives the little white queen a sniff trying to get to know where it has been all this time, and who is behind its disappearance. She remembers Megane explaining the wolves have a strange awful smell but the tiny wood piece doesn't smell at anything else but delicious pinewood. She is getting tired of not been able to deduce who is behind it all. She used to be a great detective but now she feels completely useless. She did notice Zal's presence at the city but then maybe the wolf didn't exactly want to be unnoticed. Maybe whoever is behind it all is not exactly following her, after all it seemed that he or she has always been one step ahead of her. She would for whoever it is to come and face her.
She goes for a third sip of wine when something disturbs the forest melody. Howls. She remembers those howls from her last time in there. The wolves are still in the area. And it is the perfect time to face them. They already know she exists so she wants to confront them. If they are behind all of this they will need to come clean once and for all. She listens to their paws crashing in the snow as they get closer. She leaves the queen back in her place and takes a last sip of wine before deciding to get out the hose to reach them but as soon as she puts a feet out the tree is already surrounded by the wolves' pack. She looks down and around to count at least ten wolves looking up to her position. They stop there staring at her as their voices start to sound heavily inside her mind.
"Who is she?"
"What is she doing here?"
"Why does the magic bring us here?"
"It is a trap!"
"Is she the newborn?"
"Are you sure this is the place?!"
"Is the cursed free one?"
"They broke the rules!"
"She is dangerous!"
"Zal! Is she the one?" A male voice gets Olivia's attention as he is calling for Zal. She looks at all of them trying to guess which one Zal is until she spots the silver one. She recognizes her from Stephen's memories.
"I'm not here to hurt you." Olivia decides to speak getting all the wolves attention at her again.
"It's a trap!"
"She is lying!"
"Get her!"
"No! Let's listen to her first." Zal's inner voice is easily recognized by Olivia.
"I need you to be in your human form." Olivia asks looking the silver wolf in the eye. She doesn't want to give her gift away and she would be less threatened if they just turn into humans. Her muscles are all tensed up as her instinct is telling her to run away.
"No." Zal answers using her mind voice letting Olivia suspect she already knows about her gift. Olivia doubts so she decides not to answer aloud. "You don't have to speak either."
"Can she listen to our minds?" The male voice is heard again as one of the wolves move forward the tree looking at her with evident anger in its eyes. "This is a trap. She is one of them!"
"What are we waiting for?!"
"Get her!"
"They broke the deal!"
"She hasn't hurt anyone!" Zal tries to stop the evident fear the pack is having.
"Are we going to wait until she does?!" The male voice insists getting three other wolves to walk closer to Olivia and two other getting ready to jump. "If she is cursed free she is dangerous. You know that!"
"Did they broke the curse?!"
"This means war!"
"I don't want to harm anyone." Olivia tries once more but it is obvious for her they won't listen. The big black wolf in front of the tree looks at her intensely and she can foresee his decision. He is attacking her. So she doesn't think it twice. She gets inside the house again taking the jewelry box in her hands and breaking through the wood plank covering the back window she jumps to the forest. She manages to jump pass the unexpected wolves there and runs as fast as she can. She immediately listens the paws moving behind her dangerously reaching her. She tries to speed up as she tries to figure out a way to get rid of them. She dares to see over her shoulder just to find the big black wolf nearest than she expected.
"Shit." She expresses as she decides to change her path trying to reach a small road that crosses the area. She faces one lake and jumps as far as she can trying to reach the other side of it. She lands perfectly on the ground and turns to see if that can stop the wolf but for her surprise the animal doesn't tries to stop at all. It takes a big leap and flies through the air straight at her. Her senses act quick dodging the wolf's huge fangs. She doesn't stop and keeps running away from the beast. She thinks on the mountain and decides to run towards it. She hopes the beast can't actually jump that high. Other paws are soon hear near her diverting her from her path. They are trying to corner her. The voices are all distorted in her mind as they all keep shouting different things. She tries to just focus on the one behind her. She needs to foresee its actions. She is not planning on proving Mario's assumptions about wolf's bite been mortal for their kind.
"I have her!" The voice is clear in her head as she listens to the paws separating from the snow in one agile jump. She decides to jump herself and turns in the air to face the wolf's set of sharp teeth flying straight to her face.
"No!" She shouts as she handles to use both her hands against the animal's face to stop it from its target. Both creatures land strongly lifting a big wave of snow with them and making a couple of trees fall down after them. She tries to get up as she feels the weight of the animal against her. It is stronger than she expected. "Stop!" She cries feeling the beasts breathe against her face. Her hands fight against its snout as the animal keeps trying to bite her. She remembers her hours training with Stephen and hates the fact that this time she is not the faster or stronger one. She focuses on the animal's position and decides to use her whole body remembering a special move he and Megane taught her. She moves one hand away from its snout and slides down its body trying to reach the animals shoulder. She moves as quickly as she can and manages to push him with all her strength and weight to turn it to its back achieving a big crash from its bones followed by a terrifying cry. She puts her strength against the animal and, in an act of pure instinct, she nails her fangs deeply into the animal's throat. She tastes the blood in her mouth and sucks at it as hard as she can until she listens to other paws approaching behind her. She is quick to turn around and receive the second wolf with a strong push throwing it against the nearest tree. The other paws are heard farther and the black wolf is convulsing on the ground so she takes the chance to flee again leaving her jewelry box behind.
Soon the other wolves are surrounding the injured beast who is slowly convulsing back to its human form. Two of them decide to run after the flee vampire but there is not much to follow by now. Zal is soon in her human form kneeling beside her injured brother.
"Damn you Kiyiya!" She shouts as she takes him in her arms. "I told you to wait!"
"Zal." The man looks at her eyes with fear and anger. "It was a trap." He says as he moves his hand towards his neck. "She is poisonous. She is cursed free."
"I know she is but you had to trust me!" Zal is more than furious. "You have to trust our magic!" She shouts as her tears slowly roll down her face. "Now you are going to die!" She states as she looks at the now black injure.
"So will she." The man says with a cocky smile not caring of the pain. "I took a bite myself."
TO BE CONTINUED
AN: I DECIDED TO ADD SOME ADRENALINE AWAY FROM HUMANS IN THIS ONE. THANKS FOR READING AND LETING ME KNOW YOU OPINIONS AND GUESSES.
LETS BRING BACK STEPHEN... RIGHT?
