"What do you mean, he's alive?" Asked a shocked Dan. Adam had just come in and told him that Darien, who they thought was left dead in the cave, was, indeed, alive. Adam sighed.

"He's not dead. Look, I'll explain, but let's get everyone together first." It was here that they heard shouts of protest coming from Tris's room. Adam gave a questioning look to Dan, who smiled.

"I think Lark just told her how she brought you back from the dead."

"Really? How?" Adam asked. And why did it piss her off so much? He added silently. Dan just smiled broader and shook his head.

"Why don't you go and find out for yourself?" He asked him, mischievously, "After all, we do have to get her so you can fill us all in." He sighed, "Things are never easy for us are they?" Dan left the house to go find Daja, Briar, and Evvy.

"I don't know what you're talking about! Look, I respect your idea, it's a good theory, but I do not love A-" Tris paused as Adam came into her room. "Anyone." She amended. Turning to face him, she fixed him with a fierce glare. "What?" She demanded. He looked from Tris, who was furious, to Lark, who seemed totally worn down, and decided now may not be the best time to find out how exactly Tris revived him.

"I need to talk to everyone in the kitchen." He said. Tris sobered.

"Why do I have the feeling I'm not going to like this?" she asked as she pushed her way past him out the door.

When everyone was assembled, Adam made his announcement. Briar shook his head. "How come your announcements always seem to be life-threatening? Why can't you ever have an announcement where you tell us you bought a pony?" Adam glared at him.

"It's not my fault I always have to deliver the bad news." He answered mildly. "I just always seem to get it."

"Speaking of that," Dan said, "exactly how did you get it?" Adam sighed and gave a weak smile.

"Same way I got it last time." He replied, and tugged on his ear to indicate the gold earring inside of it, the same earring that had served as a connection between him and Jordan. Made with Jordan's own blood, the earring bound Adam and his magic to him. "First, I think there's something you should know about Darien. He's not another weird, random, guy hell-bent on our destruction." He paused, looking at the faces of those around him. "He's Jordan's only son." Again Adam paused, letting that statement sink in. He saw a fire light in Tris's eyes and continued again before she had the chance to say anything. "Jordan was teaching him the dark arts and training him to be his successor. To what I'm not totally sure, but if my eavesdropping gave me the right information, then he was trying to dominate the world. That was why he wanted to kill Liz and Dan. He found out that they were the only people who could-and would-stop him, when he got a vision while scrying. (A/N: I don't know if I gave a different reason for why he wanted to kill them in my last story, but if I did then I like this one better. I officially make this the reason)

Anyway, back to the topic at hand, Darien must be trying to avenge his father's death by killing us."

After a pause, Dan asked "This is all well and good, but what does your earring have to do with knowing Darien is alive?"

"The earring was made with Jordan's blood. It should have fallen out when he died but he had a son who shared his blood, so the earring lived on as well. As long as someone with Jordan's blood is alive, I'll keep the earring." He looked at them sheepishly. "I didn't say anything before because I didn't think Darien would do anything. Jordan may have been a great teacher, but he sucked as a father. I figured Darien would be glad to be rid of him. I'm sorry."

"You seem to be saying that a lot lately, don't you?" Evvy asked him with an edge to her voice. Adam looked down.

"Evvy, stop." Briar said tiredly.

"No, Pahan Briar. I will not stop. He's gotten us into more trouble than he's worth. If he told us about this Darien of his, then-"

"Then what?" Tris demanded sharply. "What would you have done if you knew Jordan had a son? Killed him? Guilty by association, is that it? I'd think after living on the streets you'd have a better idea of how justice shouldn't be doled out like that. Or haven't you ever been caught near a gang that got busted, and gotten into trouble yourself just because you were near them and looked like them?"

"That's different." Evvy protested. "And how dare you bring that up! My past is none of your business, so get your filthy neb out of it!"

"It's not different." Tris countered, apparently keeping her 'filthy neb' right where it was. "Just because Darien was Jordan's son wouldn't have necessarily meant he was evil. We couldn't have gone after him on such a flimsy motive."

Evvy looked down, clearly embarrassed as well as furious. Briar cleared his throat and elbowed her gently. She murmured an angry apology and left. Briar sighed and shook his head. "Skirts!" He said.

"Thanks." Adam whispered to Tris. She didn't look him in the eye, just glared at the table.

"No. She had no right. That was totally closed minded and out-of-line." She told him. True, she did honestly believe that, but she had been defending Adam. Why do I do that? She questioned herself. I don't love him. I really don't. But even she didn't believe it anymore.

"No! You can't! I…I forbid you to go!"

"You, what?" Daja asked a stuttering Kirel. She had just told him she was going to face Darien again. He hadn't taken it very well.

"Th-that's right." Kirel said, trying to be confident. "I-I for-b-bid you to go." Daja gave him a lopsided grin.

"Somehow, that doesn't sound so formidable when you stutter." She told him. Kirel's shoulder's sagged and he dropped his eyes.

"Please?" He pleaded. He looked up again at her face. "You've already done this once. Do you really have to do it again? I mean, Gods Daja! How many times are you going to risk your life before it's enough?"

"And if I don't?" She asked him softly, "What then? I'll tell you what." She said, not waiting for his reply, "Then Darien comes for me instead. For us. Then I really am dead. I won't stand a chance. At least this way we have the element of surprise." Kirel sighed and hugged Daja to his chest.

"Yet another fight I'll never win." He looked down at her, "Just for reference, will I ever win with you?"

She shook her head, making her many braids fly. "Not if I have anything to do with it." She said.

"Then it should make for an interesting battle." He told her, leaning in for a kiss.

*And I jump to a new scene before I get stuck writing kissing fluff!*

Tris sat on the edge of her bed, holding her head in her hands. She didn't notice Adam until he slipped his arm around her and pulled her to him. "Shhhh." He said, rubbing her back. Tris sniffed.

"How did you know I was crying?" She asked him.

"I felt it." He told her. She nodded, not questioning it.

"I meditated." She told him. "I tried to go out on the wind. I didn't mean to…it was automatic." She looked up at him. "It's gone." She said through tear-stained eyes. "My magic. It's gone."

"No." Adam countered sternly. "It is not gone. It's just a bit…misplaced." Tris gave a rueful laugh.

"And a lot of good it does me to be either." She told him.

"Look," He said, looking her in the eye, "if there was a way to get your magic away from you, then there's a way to get it back. We just have to find it. And we will." He added when she opened her mouth to protest. "We have Niko working on it right now." She just shook her head in disbelief and melted back into his form.

Author's Note: Okay, listen up. Darien COULDN'T DIE. He still has Tris's magic and it would have died with him if he had. I just CAN'T leave Tris without her magic. Now, does everyone understand? It's not me being soft this time (though I'm tempted to be…) I actually have to keep him alive. At least for a little while. *Joe smiles as he sharpens his knives and daggers and shoves the sword (which he finally found) back under the bed*

Joe: *putting away all sharp objects* Hey Alice. *wink* Happy "Day-After-Thanksgiving"

Me: I thought you boycotted all holidays cuz they brought happiness?

Joe: *looking at me fiercely* Shut-up! Can't you see I'm in the middle of something?

Me: *rolls eyes*