Chapter Nine

No one relaxed in the hour that we were waiting. Jasper, Emmett and Edward positioned themselves around the room, whilst Alice, Rosalie and Esme stood watch by the wide, gaping windows, shrouded in the grey-white plastic that fluttered across them. Carlisle and I stood near Edward, who was the closest to the entrance. I ran the blonde vampire through the plan, which essentially consisted off us waiting for them to come, and let them set off as many traps as possible, before we move out. We'll guide them towards any traps left, and whoever was left, on either side, would have to fight. Carlisle was visibly distressed at the thought of losing anyone, but his aura of calm authority never left, and when Rosalie finally hissed, "They're here," He knew what to do.

"Everybody, stay out of sight and don't go too close to the windows or doors. Morgana, tell us what to do when it needs doing. We'll all listen," He looked over the entire coven, pausing on Alice and Rosalie, who both looked hesitant at the idea of listening to me. Well, if they wanted to live then they'd have to suck it up. I slid over to stand beside one of the windows, out of sight. My bow was strung and over my back, and my quiver was hooked over my shoulder. Iris was sheathed at my belt, and I held the handle tightly in my right hand, which still wasn't at full-strength due to my recovering wrist. I tried not to pay it too much attention, but I knew that it was going to make me a lot less helpful than I usually would be. And in such a situation, I needed to be better than ever to have a chance of survival. I gritted my teeth; I was going to get myself killed for vampires. I knew it was the right thing to do, but I honestly never saw myself as the sort of person who'd back the underdog, just because it was righteous.

Suddenly the lighthouse sprung into life, and from my position I could see the white spotlight gliding across the black ocean in the distance. I couldn't tell how close it was exactly, as the cliff dropped off about four hundred yards away from the warehouse. I was beginning to wonder whether the traps had worked, when a crash and a muffled cry drifted up from below, towards my right. A hoped that more than one of them had fallen into the pit. After that, the traps were set off one by one as more crashes and cries were heard. I hoped that they hadn't figured it out yet, but there were only so many pits and rock slides and patches of poison ivy in your average abandoned warehouse. There was one trap in particular that I was waiting to go off, and that was the one that Jasper and Alice should have set up right at the entrance to let use know when they were here. When that went off, it was my job to slip into another room and let out a cry. The Cult would come to find me, and the others would start the chase. If we could split them up then we had a chance.

So once I cried out, there really was no turning back.

Everyone tensed up as the traps closer to us were set off, and the time between the last of the outside traps, and the first one inside, was measured in heartbeats. Before the telltale crash came from downstairs as the roof caved in above the entrance, I caught Jasper's eye from a few metres away. He was stood close to Alice, his body instinctively placed defensively in front of her. He nodded slightly, his eyes hardened through the intense focus that had gripped us all. I nodded back, and I knew that if we all survived this – by some miracle – then I had chosen to do the right thing by leaving. The crash made me leap into action. I slipped away from the window, but as I made from the door, I caught Edward's eye as he was stood beside it. His expression told me that he knew exactly what I'd been thinking. Exactly what had happened between Jasper and I. I looked away as I passed him, and hoped that either he withheld information, or he became another casualty today. I didn't have time for pity as I flitted as far away from the vampires as I could, before I screamed. Thankfully, there was a strong smell of vampire here, and I was sure that there must be a trap nearby. I looked around for it quickly. The last thing I wanted was to do was set off the trap myself. I found it finally, the trigger – a line strung between two metal supports stretching from the floor to the high stone ceiling - was only visible from certain angles, and I stood behind it, ready, as the shadows of the witches were cast outside of the door. They arose from the staircase like ghostly apparitions. Angels of Death. When they saw me, they immediately parted. Suspicion crept up on me, and I looked around for Nicholas, but he wasn't anywhere to be seen. Had he fell victim to one of the traps? Had they caught him for helping me?

I gulped slightly as they poured into the room, parting to let others in as they went. Finally, the last of them came in, and I felt his authority before I even saw his face. But when I did, I couldn't help but gasp.

"Father..."

...

So, what do you think? :D Please review and let me know! I may even throw in yet another R&R deal :)

I'll sort out music soon, but for now I think the perfect songs are:

Florence and the Machine – Landscape (I listened to this after writing most of the story and it is PERFECT. Listen out for the lighthouse ;) )

Thirty Seconds to Mars – The Kill (and possibly 'Hurricane' too )

Enjoy!