Disclaimer: Same as last chapter. No profit, etc.

Author: J.A.K

Rating: PG-15

Summary: What would you do if your sister's rapist turned out to be your soulmate? This is the story of a girl who had to answer that question.

Author's Notes: I'm sorry for taking so long, but somehow the words didn't flow as easily as they did when I wrote the first half of this chapter the first time. I have to mention, once again, that this story is PG-15; that's just for anyone who missed the rating all twelve times I've written it. A big shout-out and thank you goes to amber-rules for being my 100th reviewer. The next chapter will NOT, N-O-T, take this long. I hope you enjoy!

MerlinHalliwell: Thanks for liking my story. I really appreciate the review and I'm sorry for taking so long. I hope you like this chapter.

Risrana: Thank you for the review. I do aim to please and if you're pleased, well so am I.

Sharmeen: Yes she was gonna say that. My inbox was and still is full. I'll try to clear it up so I can make room for important emails like yours. Thanks for reviewing as always and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Thea101: I hope things make even more sense after you read this chapter. Thanks for the review.

Crowdove: I know…I wanted to right more with the two of them, but always seems to be an interruption or ulterior motive on Kailand's part that stops that from happening. Ah well—thanks for the review.

Terriah: The rating won't go up, but it can in your mind *smile*. Anywayz, thanks for responding to my fic and I hope you enjoy what you're about to read.

iReYn: A lot of people have been liking this chapter a lot. Is it b/c Kailand and Alexandra are finally getting somewhere romantically? You don't have to respond, b/c I know 'yes' is the answer. Thanks for the review.

gr8fizz: You like my story progression? You appreciate the suspense? Wow, all I can say is thanks. Hope you like this chapter.

Redaura: I know you're gonna love this chapter. Hope you enjoy what you're about to read.

Sharmeen: Again, gotta get the whole email thing fixed, but I saw your update. Good shite. Also thanks for sympathizing about my computer crashing. That was a real heartbreaker.

amber-rules: First I have to say that I really appreciated your review. Second I must say that while Alexandra is a strong person, she's still a person who can only take so much. It's called being caught up in the moment. I don't really like the word whore, for the simple fact that it's very degrading, and b/c it is thrown about far too casually by society. I didn't think that what she said was "whore-ish," but I certainly did think that I stayed within the rating perimeter of this story, which is PG-15. Anywayz, I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion, b/c that's one of the things that make's the world go round. Thanks again for this review and your last one where you became my 100th reviewer!!! Enjoy the chapter.

Laney1: Thanks for the awesome review. I tried to hurry out with this chapter, but I got thwarted by my own computer. Anywayz, here's the update.

Winter: I'm glad that you came back, and thanks for being honest. In my own opinion, my earlier chapter's sucked, but I got better. I'm like three years older (cause I started writing this fic on paper long before I posted it on FF.net) so that's a major help. Thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

WoLfePaWs: Thanks for the review and sympathizing about my crashed computer. I have a feeling you might like this chapter even better than the last.

Arrylle Gamere: Thanks as always for the review (AKA Seanna *grin*). Hope you like this chapter!!!

Julieanna: I don't think two people having sex is porn unless it's written in a really crude way. Have no fear though, I can't right scenes like that anyway. Thanks for the review, and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Yavanna and Sunstar: I love Kailand myself. I really appreciated the review and I hope you appreciate this chapter.

Irene: Sorry again that I haven't updated in so long. I hope you're satisfied by what you read and enjoy this update.

Pandie Katteken: You're right about the dark coloring thing for Alexandra…that's how I pictured her too. I appreciate the advice about saving stories on both disk and computer, and I really hope you enjoy this chapter.

Lauara: Sorry about the lack of detail in some places. I hope you enjoy this update though and I guarantee that the next chapter is not gonna take so long.

Enough of my blabbering...on with the story!

#Chapter Twelve#

Thierry

His face was cold as he stared at me from across the confines of the room. I noticed that his clothes were slightly rumpled and his hair, which—admittedly—was normally messy, looked as if fingers had been drawn through their strands. A feeling of satisfaction rippled through me as I abruptly understood what the cause behind his callous appearance was about. Brushing that bit of information aside for the moment, I braced myself for his response to what I had to tell him.

"Aradia's been captured."

I put my interlaced fingers on top of the desk that I was sitting behind and waited, knowing that that information was only half of this perplexing story. 

His demeanor changed as he processed the words that he'd heard. Instead of lounging in his chair he now sat stock still.

"What do you mean Aradia's been captured."

Knowing that she was one of the only people that had ever cared for Kailand in all of his long life, and knowing that she—in turn—was one of the only people he had ever cared for, forced me to place extra care in the way I delivered the upsetting news to him.

I sat up.

"It's been reported by all the communication centers in the country that Aradia has been captured by an unknown enemy three hours ago." There was hint of something I couldn't quite identify that lay hidden behind his eyes. Then his face hardened.

His pose relaxed once again as he crossed his feet at the ankle.

"Why does this information concern me?"

I gave him a measured glance before lifting my head to stare at the ceiling and leaning back in my chair.

"It has also recently come to my attention that the maiden has abilities that exceed what I or anyone—excluding those that are closest to her—has ever thought them to be."

As I glanced at him out of my periphery vision I noticed that he'd rolled his eyes at my statement.

"Is there a response that you'd like me to have? One that has me clapping my hands in anticipation and asking: What are they? or…OOOhhhh, tell me Thierry please, I can't wait any longer." A grin plastered itself on his face and I knew that he was trying to test my patience, as he always did.

I stared at him again, not caring how he'd react.

"It is said that she can force dreams inside of anyone's mind." I watched, a little smug, as grim realization overcame his features. "She can also cast visions that foretell the future." I took the answering silence as a queue to continue. "She can even posses someone's body and speak through their mouths, if need be."

His face took on the dispassion that I was used to seeing whenever things became too emotionally charged, and he shrugged his shoulders.

"Forgetting the fact that I've never told you that Alexandra has had bothersome dreams in the past," he retained his position, "are you trying to tell me that Aradia is working for this so-called enemy?"

I shrugged my own shoulders, negating and unfazed by the first half of his response.

"I'm not trying to tell you anything Kailand." I glanced at the plants that stood by the magazine rack next to the doorway. "All I'm saying is that she fits the description of this mysterious dream weaver, and she also fits the description of a woman who was hooded and cloaked and was seen in the vicinity of the bar that both you and your soulmate attended not too long ago."

A hue of intangible relief clouted his now fully relaxed figure as he rested his elbow on the arm of the chair.

"Alexandra did mention something about a woman who told her that her fortune would be saved if she waited a few minutes longer before leaving the bar." His fingers drummed along the hem of his loose fitting jeans. "If she had left when she originally intended too, she would have been in the center of all the confusion," he focused on his splayed fingernails in a move that I knew he thought would seem noncommittal "she would have most likely been killed."

I shook my head in agreement.

"Which leads me to believe that Aradia has not betrayed our cause." I folded my arms across my chest. "And in that case, anything that she has sent us thus far, via Alexandra, is important and valuable information." I waited patiently and let my eyes do the speaking. I knew he would eventually catch on. My cousin knew me for far too long to not know that there had to be a reason behind the deliberation that laced my words.

His eyes narrowed and a frown settled on his lips.

"If you're about to ask me something to what I know you must already know the answer to because you're such a persistent eavesdropper, I'll save the world some valuable oxygen, and tell you no matter how you phrase the question the answer is and will always be no."

With that, he pushed himself out of his chair and turned as if to leave. I stood up too, and with a speed that was induced by my abilities, stepped in his path, effectively blocking his exit. His face was as aggravated as I had ever known it to look, and I knew that I had to show him how detrimental this decision was.

"She has to keep herself exposed to Aradia's power." He opened his mouth to answer, but I cut him off. "What if she's trying to contact us right now, but can't because you've blocked her."

He shrugged his shoulders for the second time that night.

"I really don't care. I'm not removing the—"

Knowing that I shouldn't, but unable to prevent my anger from getting the better of me, I used my previous knowledge of my new findings to cut him off.

"I know that you're thinking with your other head," my words were harsher and less understanding than they should have been "but that still doesn't give you the authority to screw humanity over just because you want to fuck your soulmate."

The air around me began to compress against my body, as if a wall were squeezing me together on both sides. His mouth opened and I knew from the fire that was smoldering beneath the depths of his irises, that I would regret my words; but fortunately, whatever he had been about to say was cut off by an earsplitting scream that rang throughout the mansion.

With a final hard glare at me, he shoved past me, and headed out the door. Without a moment's hesitation, I was on his tail and following him towards the room Alexandra had been sleeping in.

***********************

Kailand

Her screams became louder and more coherent as we approached my room.

I was still extremely upset by what Thierry had just said, which only further incensed my powers. With a force that almost took the wooden object off of its hinges, I pushed the door open and hurriedly made my way to her bedside. As I sat down, I noticed, with some consternation that her eyes had a fine layer of white covering them.

"Kailand," a voice which was most obviously not Alexandra's, spoke.

Suspicion swept over my tongue.

"Who are you," I asked with narrowed eyes. Anger was still the most forthcoming sentiment that coursed through my veins as I waited for a reply.

Screaming seemed to be a thing of a bygone time as she very quietly responded to my words.

"I think that you already know who I am."

Immediately recognition flooded my senses as summer's long past leapt into my head of a soft voice which was wise beyond her years and had the strength to lead an army.

I glanced at Thierry out of the corner of my eye. He appeared to be just as confused as I was.

I took a deep breath before turning again to watch my possessed soulmate.

"Aradia why have you been making this girl suffer for so long," I paused, unsure if this was actually Aradia I was speaking to. "How did you breech the walls I put around her mind?" 

The second half of my question went unanswered. She simply stared at me while bewilderment mingled with sadness swept over Alexandra's features. "I meant only to help her…to help you. I never meant to cause her so much pain." There was a moment's hesitation before she spoke again. "I thought that I was showing her the way."

A sigh involuntarily rose from my lips at the amount of regret that laced her delicate words.

"What way would that be Aradia?" I sat back, relaxed but still on edge by the prospect of receiving a more baffling mystery than Aradia's presence had induced.

"You, Kailand, are humanity's last hope." Even though her pupils were covered, I knew for a fact that had they been visible they would be searching my face for a reaction. "So far, you only know of Alexandra's importance in the upcoming battle, but what you do not know is that she—we will not win if she does not have your strength to lean on."

I looked at her with cool eyes.

"Why should I give two shits about humanity and their cause?" I glanced at my cousin again. "Where are the wild powers and their followers?"

Again there was a slight pause. "The wild powers cannot hope to win against this new evil. This evil is a threat to humans and Night People alike. So far the Night World believes that this is just the conclusion of the human rule pushed back to a new date…but it is not." Fear surfaced on Alexandra's face. "There is no end to the destruction that will cover this earth if Chaos is allowed to rule."

I tried to speak, but words were not forthcoming as an onslaught of thoughts ran through my mind.

"You two must stay together. He is cunning and he will use every means to pull the both of you apart…but you cannot let that happen." Lines swept over the smooth plains of her forehead. "The truth lies within the both of you and you must not allow interlopers to—"

Suddenly, Alexandra's body began to tremble with a force that almost pushed me off of the bed. Her breathing became irregular, and her teeth chattered as if it the temperature had plunged rapidly inside of the room.

"I have stayed too long again, but this time I do not think she can handle a meltdown such as the one she had when I last inhabited her body."

A thought occurred to me as she spoke.

"Does that mean she's going to die?"

Instead of answering me, she told me to do what I must to insure that we stayed together, and then she, like Thierry had only moments ago, disappeared.

The white film vanished, and for the first time since we last saw each other, it was truly Alexandra staring at me from behind confused and scared eyes. The sound of her heart skipping a beat brought me back to the current situation.

The familiar sensation of her presence fading from my mind combined with Aradia's words told me that the link that we shared would be unable to do what it did last time and pull her back from death.

At that thought a new one abruptly occurred to me.

Giving no reflection to what I was about to do, I slit my wrist with my fingernail and put my hand to her mouth. Her teeth were chattering so badly, however, that any attempt to make the blood stay in her mouth was denied.

I saw only one other option, and in my haste to overcome the obstacle at hand, I didn't have time to think about how debasing this move would be.

Drawing as much blood as my mouth would hold, I leaned over her form, and transferred the liquid into her mouth. I held her lips firmly together so that she had no other choice but to swallow. As I repeated the action several more times her body became more placid and her breathing was almost back to its normal pace.

When rational thought finally regained control of my mind, I became acutely aware of how I was positioned above her. Her arms were trapped between my elbows, and my face was only a breath away from hers. Her eyes, which were very glassy, watched me unwaveringly for countless seconds. Her lips, which still had traces of red walking along its lining, were parted in an 'O' shape. My gaze stayed—of their own accord—with her lips, and could only think of how blood tasted when it wasn't being drawn from someone's vein.

My tongue ran along the edges of her mouth before settling over the object of its desire and staying there to kiss it…again and again and again. These kisses, I noticed, were different than any other we had ever shared. They weren't rushed or bruising, but simple and fascinating in the way that they elicited feelings that pushed the blood south of my head. And even as we lay there, kissing each other, her eyes still refused to leave mine. Finally, when the kisses had become a little to deep in their capacity, I pulled away from her.

"No," she said. Her hand pushed out from under my chest and her fingers tried to grab the collar of my shirt.

I resisted her, with much effort, and instead told her it would be better if she went to sleep. Panic flared up for the briefest moment in her eyes, but she controlled it.

As I pulled back and sat up, the same dose of panic reclaimed her senses and she put a staying hand on my arm.

"Don't leave," the inflection in her words told me that she was asking rather than stating.

I watched her carefully again, my own face as stoic as it had ever been. Lines of wariness traveled along the plains of her features, and the contentment which had been there when I had last left her was replaced with subtle waves of apprehension.

"I wasn't going to," I told her. I moved again to unbutton my shirt and pants. After I took off my shoes and placed them on the foot of the bed, I went under the covers and lay next to her. Awkwardness was a fleeting thing, and soon her body was pressed firmly against mine. As her breathing became more even, and as her head relaxed against my arm, I couldn't help but think that things would never again be the same.

AN2: Reviews are greatly appreciated and muchly adored!