Nicodemus shook violently in the underbrush. This wasn't real, it wasn't happening. He glanced up, and yet there she was, glowing faintly, still wearing her old ratty Watford scarf.
"WH-why are you here?" he asked, voice shaking violently. It, she, Ebb, leaned forward slightly and placed a hand on his back. He shuddered slightly and looked back up. Suddenly he wasn't scared anymore. Her hand was her hand, her face was her face, and her eyes were her eyes. Kind and warm, but now seeming just a bit drained, empty. The tingle of magic that once surrounded her was gone. Finally, she opened her mouth and spoke. Her voice wasn't as gruff as it used to be. It was more musical, like a wind chime. Yet it was so familiar, tears rose to Nicodemus's eyes.
"Nikky. What a mess you've made. Why would you do those things? Try to kill the girl? Try to turn Simon? I don't what that. I chose to go back into the chapel that day. I knew I would die, but I had lived a good life, peaceful and happy. She didn't do anything. Please, give up this childish revenge"
Her hand shifted to the top of his head and gently patted. She grabbed his hands and yanked him up, almost causing him to lose his balance. She gave him a tight hug and whispered into his ear.
"Help them"
And in the blink of an eye, she was gone.
0-0-0
Penny tripped over a tree root and fell into a large clearing. A small shack was in the middle, a single light glowing in the window. Her heart was pumping out of her chest. She was terrified. What had happened? Where were the others? Were they hurt? Were they dead? She took a shuddering breath. She had felt it. The magic. It scorched and burned, just like it had used to. Simon had gone off somewhere. A twig snapped behind her and she whirled, hands raised defensively, already muttering under her breath.
"Oh calm down. I broke that twig on purpose so I wouldn't scare you to death. We both know I can be much quieter" came Baz's voice from behind the trees. He took a step forward, moonlight illuminating his features. Penny sighed and lowered herself to the forest floor, tears finally breaking free. Baz walked forward and crouched in front of her, giving her a tight hug.
"So you felt it too?"
Penny nodded, not trusting her voice. Her stress and worry felt like a black hole in her stomach.
"He might not come back. You know that, right?"
Penny shook harder, but nodded anyways. It was the inevitable truth. They all knew it. And it hurt.
"I know it hurts" he said, as if reading her thoughts. "I love him more than I should, and know him better than anyone. So trust me when I say; He'll do anything he can just to be a pain in my ass for a little bit longer." Penny chuckled lightly, wiping at her cheek. Baz leaned back and smiled as softly as Penny had ever seen him. He stood and offered her his hand, which she accepted. Baz crossed back over to the tree line and sat on a long rock. Penny walked over, sitting next to him. For a while they sat, staring into the darkness.
"What do we do now?"
Baz sighed and leaned back against a tree, trying to calm the itchy black void that had settled in the pit of his stomach. He was scared. He was tired. But most of all, he was worried. Worried for him; for Simon. He breathed out slowly through his nose and sucked on his fangs.
"Now? We wait."
0-0-0
Red. It was all Simon could see. It was all he could feel. His senses returned slowly. He smelled the smoke, saw red, and felt pain. He could taste blood from a jagged hole in the side of his mouth. He groaned, feeling his wings unfold. One hit something soft and warm, which staggered backwards. Simon sat up quickly, heart beating erratically. Someone groaned beside him.
"Yeesh. You try to do something nice, and get beaten up by a fucking wing. Well, that's just life, isn't it?" grumbled Nicodemus. Simon narrowed his eyes. He slowly remembered all that had happened. He felt around his midsection, and found it tightly bandaged. He looked back at Nicodemus.
"What did you do?" he growled. Nicodemus scoffed, faking hurt.
"I found you in a clearing, bleeding out, and instead of leaving you, I healed you and bandaged your wounds"
Simon gritted his teeth, climbing carefully to his feet. "Why? Why did you help me?"
Nicodemus sneered, fangs glistening. "Now Snow, is that how you were taught to thank someone?"
Simon burned red, anger flaring up inside of him. "Thank you" he forced out. Nicodemus laughed.
"Well, let's just say I've had a change of heart" he said dismissively. Simon snorted and stretched. After a moment, he walked towards the break in the trees, tail dragging in the dirt.
"H-hey! Wait up!" called Nicodemus behind him. He didn't stop, continuing to stroll down the narrow path. Nicodemus leaped forward, tugging on Simon's scaly wing. He whipped around, slapping Nicodemus hard across the face. It probably wouldn't have been as hard if it weren't charged with magic.
"Don't touch me." He growled. Anger felt like it would swallow him whole and he felt ready to go off again. "I'm grateful that you saved my life. But I swear to god if I see you again I will kill you where you stand" and he turned back, walking along the path. This time, no body followed him.
0-0-0
Simon crossed the tree line and saw a small shack in its center. He heard a gargled cry from his left and turned just as Penny wrapped her arms around him. She was crying, but this time out of joy. She finally released him and sniffled slightly.
"Where's Baz?" he asked, looking over Penny's shoulder.
"Right behind you" he smirked, watching Simon whip around. Baz took a step forward and went to hug Snow, who flinched back, crossing his arms.
"Simon?" he asked, hurt ringing out clearly in his voice. Simon looked away, still remembering the words that the other Baz had said. He knew it was stupid and idiotic, but it was keeping him from embracing Baz as he so wanted to do. Penny coughed, and Baz tsked.
"Well, now that we're all here," said Baz, coldness in his voice. "I guess we should go in"
A/N: I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, and I hope it's better than the last one. Thanks for all the support and I'll try to get the next chapter out soon. Please review!
