Chapter 10

(Fang's POV)

The next morning when I got up Max was still sitting in that chair. Last night she had told me to get some more rest after we'd hugged and talked a little. I tried to argue with her that I wasn't tired, but I really was. So I'd slept and I had assumed that she would go back to her room, but she hadn't.

I rubbed my eyes and sat up a little, "Have you been sitting there all night?" I asked quietly.

She smiled and nodded, "You look so peaceful when you sleep… it makes me wonder what's really going on in that brain of yours."

I sat up and stretched, "Many, many horrible nightmares," I answered honestly.

She stared at me then, "Really? So the Voice was right…." She said still staring at me.

I smiled and leaned forward. I kissed her, "About what?" I asked.

"It said you get these things called 'Silent Nightmares' where you have nightmares but you don't look like it on the outside. Are they really bad?" She asked placing a hand on my cheek.

"No, because I know they're just nightmares and they'll be over soon and then I get to see your pretty face," I said smiling. It dropped slightly, "I used to have this one though… where every lie I ever said turned into a cut on my skin… that one was always kind of weird and a little freaky," I told her. I looked down, "Actually that's the only one that ever scared me… which is why it shows up the most." I said and looked her. "It's why I didn't like to talk too much. It shows up every time I lie… and I didn't want to go back… so I just didn't talk…. It worked pretty well." I said and she kissed my cheek and hugged me tightly. I hugged her back, "I think I got over it though," I said with a smile.

"Good," She said and pulled back, she kissed my cheek and then my lips. "Come on, you should have something to eat." She pulled me up and I got up.

"Okay, let me just get changed," I said and she nodded. After I changed into new clothes and met up with Max in the hallway. I held her hand as I walked downstairs.

I heard someone drop something and it made a loud shattering sound. I assume it was Iggy, because right after I heard him curse softly. "Iggy, don't swear," I heard Lilith say.

"Sorry," Ig answered automatically.

"Dude, you look really tired. Did you get any sleep?" I heard Jim ask and I looked at Max in confusion. She just shook her head at me and put a finger to her lips.

"Ya, I don't know… I wasn't able to fall asleep that well," I heard Iggy said.

Max and I were now at the bottom of the stairs and I could see Lilith sitting in the kitchen. I saw her face light up and I smiled.

She immediately bolted from the kitchen and ran over to me. She launched herself into the air, knowing perfectly well I'd catch her, which I did. I picked her up, hugging her tightly and spun her around. "Hey Lili," I whispered, grinning. "I missed you so much," I said as she squeezed the daylights out of me.

"I missed you too Fang!" She yelled with her arms around me neck.

I heard Max laughed, "Lil, Fang's starting to go blue, I think you need to let go of his neck."

She let go and I took an exaggerated breath, "Sorry Fang," She said in her little five year old voice.

"It's fine, let's go see the others," I said and I looked up to see them actually right there. Iggy, Jim, Emeric and Gazzy stood there staring at me. "Hey guys," I said smiling.

Grins broke out on their faces. Gazzy suddenly punched the air, he cheered and said, "Yes, he's not all screwed up anymore!" Gazzy held out his hand for a high five and Iggy smiled as they slapped hands.

"Well I wouldn't go that far, Fang's still pretty screwed up I think," Emeric said with a smirk.

"Ha, ha, ha, you're hilarious," I said giving him a look. Just then most of the pack and Emeric's pack bound through the living room, some of them tackled me in hugs that felt like they were going to snap me in two, congratulating me on getting better.

Emeric introduced me to a few members of his pack. The one that stuck out the most was Kale. He was the youngest, and had dirty blond hair and bright blue eyes. I was first confused by his appearance, but then I realized, Emeric's pack wasn't made up of native people. Kale was 15 at the moment and, from what Emeric said, always in a good mood. He seemed okay, and he seemed fascinated by everything.

He was a talker, but not all the time. Sometimes he was very silent. His eyes would glaze over and he'd stare off into space. Emeric said that he was thinking about stuff when he got like that.

Angel and Nudge came down at around 11. When they saw me they ran at me and I cringed, closing my eyes, waiting for the moment they tackled me. It never came; I opened my eyes to see them watching me with amused expressions. I relaxed a little and everyone who'd been watching, which was everyone, laughed. I relaxed fully and they jumped at me. They pushed me right off the couch and we crashed to the floor.

Laughter erupted around us as Nudge and Angel all got up off me. Angel bounced off to the kitchen for something and Nudge looked around at us. Her eyes paused for a second before she actually blushed (not an easily noticeable thing for her) and spun around and followed Angel.

I looked around to see what she was looking at to see Kale staring at her with wide eyes. He suddenly was across the room and following the girls into the kitchen. Max chuckled beside me. Emeric snorted and his pack burst out laughing.

Alice danced into the room and ruffled my hair, "Jacob, we're free in August."

Jacob's face slowly darkened in disgust, "I should have known you'd see that," he muttered.

"See what?" I asked glancing at Alice. She'd seen a werewolf? Was that even possible?

"I saw my schedule disappear in August, so I'm assuming they're planning something." Alice said shrugging.

Jacob sighed and Alison grinned, "Awesome! That means the Cullens will be here for the big day!" She said happily.

Jacob sighed; I could tell he was unsure if that was a good thing, but was getting over it pretty quickly. "Ya, ya, everybody, we want to forewarn you that we're planning on getting married this August."

There were cheers and clapping and congratulations all around. I smiled and Max went over and hugged Alison.

Once all the Cullens had left to go visit their house in Forks and the pack went back to whichever houses they were staying at and the flock went up to bed I leaned against the kitchen counter flipping a knife in the air and catching it repeatedly. I was doing it absentmindedly, not at all thinking about what I was doing.

Suddenly a russet hand reached out and snatched the knife from the air, only then did I realize that it would have landed on my hand blade down. "Is it some sort of unwritten rule that you aren't allowed one day without causing yourself pain?" Jacob asked shaking his head as he put away the knife.

I chuckled, "No," was my short answer.

Jacob rolled his eyes. He glanced at me warily, "Is something on your mind or are you training to be a knife juggler?"

"No, sword swallower," I said sarcastically, "I hear they pay better."

Jacob rolled his eyes again, "Sure, sure, so if you're not planning on joining the circus what's up?" He asked.

I shrugging, "Nothing, just thinking," I answered.

Jacob chuckled; "Well don't stay up too late and don't juggle anymore knifes, goodnight." Jacob nodded and vanished up the stairs.

I sighed; I pushed off the counter and headed up to bed. I couldn't shake this feeling. It was like there was something deep in my head. I was throwing the knife to see if I could freak myself out. It didn't entirely work. I was wary, I knew if I cut my skin it would hurt, and I was a little cautious and worried because of it, but not really at the same time.

I sighed as I lay down, maybe things would be a little less muddled up in the morning.

In the morning I got up and went to Max's room. She was awake already and she was tying her hair up into a pony tail.

"Max?" I asked. She looked at me and took a deep breath. She was wearing jeans and a t-shirt. She had a jacket on over top of her shirt. She had her combat boots on and she looked like she was on her way out the door.

She walked over to me. She looked me in the eyes for a long time. She leaned forward and kissed my cheek gently. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I need to save the world now. I need to keep you safe."

I felt like every muscle in my body locked down and I was unable to move. "Max," I whispered back, "Don't go. Not without me."

She looked at me with pained eyes, "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I won't risk it. You've saved me and the flock so many times. You've knowingly gone off to your death. It's time for me to repay you."

I shook my head sharply. "Max, please, you do so much for the flock. Don't leave, let me help you," I begged. I needed her; I couldn't bear the thought of her going out there alone to do this.

She looked down, "I'm sorry, take care of the flock. I don't know when I'll be back, but I promise that I will be." She whispered and brushed past me.

I felt locked in place, unable to move for the longest moment. I heard her feet on the stairs and I couldn't stand it. I turned and ran after her. She was by the door when I got there.

"Max!" I called, unable to let her leave without me. She looked back, pushing the door open. I saw the pain in her eyes, but she was trying to hide it from me.

I moved to run after her, but I felt cold arms surround me, keeping me here, "Max! No, Max, please, you can't do this alone!" I yelled after her. I struggled against whoever was holding me.

I saw a tear escape her eyes, but she just walked away, shutting the door behind her. My body hurt as I continued to struggle against the stone arms.

Finally I went limp, tears in my eyes that I was trying to contain. "I'm sorry Fang, but Max needs to do this alone," Alice whispered in my ear.

"No," I said over and over again, "She needs help. She can't do this alone."

"Yes, Fang, she can and she will. Don't worry, she'll be fine. She'll be okay. She'll come back," Alice whispered.

I felt calm roll through me, but I didn't want it. Alice pulled me over to the couch and made me sit down. I closed my eyes and watched her. I didn't care how long she'd be away; I was going to watch her forever if I had to.

Alice's stone arms fell away and she said that she was going to get me breakfast. I heard someone sit down and it interrupted me from watching Max fly towards her doom.

"So… she's really gone," Iggy muttered.

"You knew didn't you," I said looking at him.

Iggy shook his head, "I knew the Voice was telling her to go and save the world. I knew that the Voice was using you as leverage to get her to leave, but I didn't know that she'd go alone like this."

I stared at him for a moment, "Using me as leverage? What do you mean?"

Iggy frowned, "She said that you had knowledge of this project, Careo Gaudium or something or other. Anyways, the Voice said that if she didn't end the project and destroy the school and stuff then they'd keep hunting you and they'd never leave you alone and when they got you they'd torture you and stuff. I guess she just finally gave in and is now just going to do it."

I shook my head, "If I have knowledge of the project that she needs then why wouldn't she bring me along?" I asked, as if Iggy knew everything going on in Max's head.

"She didn't want you to get caught," I heard Edward say and I looked up to see him standing against the wall. "This way she doesn't have to worry about you getting caught or anything. Now she can just do it and come back home."

I growled low in my throat, "It's never that easy."

Edward shook his head, "It's probably not, but she'd rather do this herself than get you mixed up in it again."

I shook my head, "It doesn't matter if I get mixed up in it again. I'd rather I get messed up in this than for Max to die fighting this."

Bella walked into the room and glanced at Edward, there was something in her eyes that I didn't understand. Edward glanced at her and I knew he knew that look. "Bella," Edward warned. Whatever she was up to he seemed to be very disapproving of it.

"What?" Bella asked him innocently.

"Hey, Fang, want to come to the store with me?" Alison asked and I looked up at her.

"Sure," I said instantly and got up.

Iggy gave me and a suspicious look, "Me too, I'm going as well."

"I'm going as well!" I heard Kari call as she ran down the stairs.

"Let's go, let's go," Alison said sounding rushed and we all rushed outside.

I watched Bella walk out the back door and we all piled into Alison's car. Bella climbed in the other side, "Go, go, go!" Bella whispered.

Alison took off down the road and I looked at them with a slight smile, "What are you guys up to?" I asked them.

"Okay, this is total crap, Max is totally going to get herself killed going by herself. So I'm going after her," Alison said. I saw her smiling in the rear-view mirror. "Anyone who wants to join me can," Alison added.

"I'm so going," I said and glanced at Bella.

"I'm going as well," Bella said. When I gave her a questioning look she said. "Look, I know what it's like to be left behind in a fight. It's much worse waiting around for it to be over than to help. You won't be able to function until it over. Plus it's not like I can't help defend you guys against pretty much everything."

Kari smiled, "I'm so helping," She said and Iggy looked disapproving, "Don't even start with me Iggy."

"I guess you know what I'm doing then," Iggy said with a smile. "What about the rest of the flock?" He asked.

"They should be fine with Jacob and the Cullens." I said, "Should we get them to come as well?"

Bella shook her head, "Knowing your great aunt she already saw this and she's rallying the forces as we speak. Step on it Alison." She said and Alison grinned as she turned on the speed.

"I suggest we ditch the van and go from there," Iggy added. "I'll carry Kari if you carry Alison Bella."

Bella nodded, "Let's go, Edward is going to be so mad anyways," she added.

"So is Jacob," Alison giggled, "Oh man, this is going to be so fun."

"You have no idea what you three have gotten into," I muttered as the car pulled over to stop. Iggy and I immediately jumped out and I threw myself into the air. Iggy picked up Kari and took off in a second. Bella scooped Alison up and took off running with her.

I flew hard, keeping tabs on the others. Bella and Alison were fine. Iggy and Kari were fine. Iggy was flying lower than normal but that I was to be expected. Alice, Edward, Emmett, Jasper, Jacob, Seth, a few others from Sam's pack, Emeric and his pack had all started to follow Bella but they were incredibly behind.

The flock was flying after us, and that caught my attention. I told Iggy to keep following the flight path and I flew back to get them.

They were flying above Alice and Edward and all of them. They were keeping with the flock, which is why they were behind, but they needed the flock to help them when they got to the school.

When they caught sight of me Gazzy, Angel and Nudge all waved and I could tell they were surprised to see me. I flew up to them, "Come on, Max is almost there and Iggy and the others are close behind her."

They nodded, "Edward wants to talk to you," Angel said and I sighed, "Tell him that he can kill me later, we've got to stop Max. She doesn't know what she's getting herself into."

They others nodded we flew faster. I kept with them, but they seemed to be matching whatever speed I set. I set my speed at their fast, which was more like my fast medium.

I could see Iggy on the horizon. "Shiitake, Iggy!" I yelled but he was too far off. "Hold on guys, I'm just going to try and catch up with him," I said and went my fastest.

I slowly caught up with him, "Iggy!" I yelled when I was close enough and he turned. "The others are close, what do you want to do?" I asked.

It was Kari who answered me, "Maybe we should see what they have to say? Maybe things have changed since we left."

I frowned, "Maybe," I said and checked up on Max.

She was near the school. I wasn't sure what her plan was but she looked kind of tense. It was like she was ready for whatever happened.

Suddenly she burst forward and ran towards the school, I heard bullets wiz by her and then I saw one contact her left shoulder and she spun slightly.

I felt like someone just stabbed me in the heart as she fell to the ground. She tried to get up, but then Randle was in front of her. "Well, well, well, looks like we have our bait," he said with a grin.

She glared at him and punched him right in the… groin area. Randle's face went purple and he slapped her. She was knocked unconscious.

When I was back I was screaming. I was falling. I could feel the wind around me, but I felt weak. I tried to beat my wings, but nothing worked.

Iggy was in front of me, diving, and he looked torn. He couldn't catch me while holding Kari. He was diving after me with her in his arms. "Kari, grab him!" He shouted. Her fingers reached for my shirt. "Shit," I heard Iggy say, he started to pull up.

I looked at the ground below me. All I saw was a vast space of blue, water. It was rushing towards me at an alarming rate. I closed my eyes and prayed that this wouldn't hurt that much. I had no such luck.