Author's Note: Well seeing as today is my birthday I thought I would reward my Constant Readers with a double update. Judging from the recent increase in reviews I'm hoping that everyone enjoyed Blurred Lines thus far. These next few chapters are where this story begins to earn the romance credit. So a little less fightin' and a little more lovin'.


Chapter 15

The next morning came way too soon for my liking. Everything that could have stiffened up did. My ankle was now nice and swollen, my head was throbbing, my throat hurt, my wrist was sore. I stretched out on the couch, trying to find a clock. I vaguely remembered the night before. Well everything before being thrown against a tree is crystal clear, after I passed out is a whole other story. This is going to throw off my: find-the-warlock-before-he/she-breaks-a-law plan, that I cleverly codenamed: find-the-warlock-before-he/she-breaks-a-law. I know; it's called a metaphor.

I slowly sat up. Thank god, no throbbing, just a dull ache. The only clock in the room was an old VCR that of course was blinking twelve. Someone should learn how to set one of those things. Of course around me it would be lucky to just be blinking twelve.

Fuck! What happened to my stuff! I passed out before I had a chance to make sure I put it back. I jumped up from the couch, ignoring the pain in my ankle. My head stayed relatively pain free. I went straight for my suitcases. Maybe someone left a note, explaining everything that happened. Strike one. The room was picked up when I woke up last night. The kitchen wasn't torn up the way I left it. The living room was neat and organized. My sword bag was leaning where I normally kept it. Déjà vu. I know I had this thought last night. I should remember it, but the haze of sleep is keeping my memories just out of reach.

I opened the top of the leather bag and peered inside. Sure enough my sword was resting inside alongside my staff. Wrapped around the handle was a small piece of paper secured by a rubber band. The handwriting was perfectly neat, perfectly uniform, way too perfect.

Your sword is cleaned and oiled. A thank you, for last night.

--Sparkles

Apparently Edward did have a sense of humor, who knew? Or maybe he thought I didn't know his real name? Never mind, clearly not important right now. Well there's one mystery solved. Too bad when one mystery surrounding me gets solved at least three others spring up to take its place. The only other damning evidence I had to worry about was a pistol about the size of Rhode Island. Maybe Alice grabbed it last night. I have the absolute vaguest of memories that I saw her clutching something shiny tightly against her chest. She was adamant about getting her hands on it, and she was just crazy enough to go after it in her condition.

I padded my way into the kitchen finally seeing a real clock. It was past almost ten-thirty. Well at least I got out of school. I went to the window, the cruiser was gone, and the rust bucket was still here. Now doubt Bella had a nasty cold. That tends to happen when someone forces you to sit in a small circle made of salt while you're dripping wet, and just outside your window is a homicidal vampire who wants you dead. But what do I know?

I played a mental game of rock paper scissors to see who I would talk to first. Bella; or Ramirez. Since rock doesn't beat paper, looks like I would have to face Bella first. I limped my way to the stairs. Fortunately my ankle didn't feel sprained or broken, just like a car door slammed on it. I walked up the stairs much better than I did the last night.

Her door was closed yet again. I'm beginning to notice a pattern. I knocked gently. Nothing. Another pattern is quickly forming. I knocked again, this time a little louder. That elicited a moan of frustration.

No! Not that kind of moan. The kind of moan that says two things: first, 'that I'm sick in bed; and two, that getting out of bed is below pulling out my finger nails. I wasn't sure that was an invitation, but I figured it was worth a chance. I quietly opened the door and poked my head in. "Can I come in?" I questioned in a tone that hinted at apology.

She gave another moan, this one a little lighter in tone. I took that as a yes and walked in. I picked up her desk chair, turning it so that it faced her bed. I sat down sighing. "Are you ok?"

She struggled underneath the three extra blankets and the two extra comforters. "Yes." She croaked.

"Good to hear." I said getting up from the chair. I'm beginning to realize that I am a giant luck sink. I steal everyone else's luck. That is if there's such a thing as luck. Whatever it is, it has a habit of keeping me alive, at the cost of others. Bella's sick, Alice nearly died. And I have exactly one scratch on me. I began to leave the room. It's not like I was walking out of a stimulating or enlightening conversation. When I got to the door I turned back. "Let me know if you need anything." I said before closing the door. I opened it quickly saying "Plus you look like hell!" I closed the door quickly not wanting to get hit in the head by anything she threw.

Clearly my sense of humor is lost on sick people.

I limped back down the stairs, by the time I got to the bottom the pain in my ankle nearly vanished. See what I mean, I'm damn near perfect and two other people are paying the price. I dropped that line of thought quick fast. I really needed to check in with Ramirez.

I figured this time I had plenty of time to actually talk without fear of interruption. Thank god that they haven't bothered getting one of those fancy cordless phones. I grabbed a pen and a small notebook and set them on the table. I managed to dial Ramirez's number without destroying the phone. Always a good sign. It rang, twice, again, again, again. On the nineteenth ring I hung up.

He very rarely answers his phone so I wasn't surprised. I punched in the number for the wardens' head quarters. It only rang twice before a gruff voice answered, in a thick Russian accent. I was getting Karma's kick in the balls for the brief period of cooperation talking to Harry. The static and feedback were so terrible I was shouting my password for a good thirty seconds before the other end recognized me. Nope still not going to give my password out. "Name of party." He demanded in the same thick accent. I came out closer too "Na- o –rty."

I skipped straight to shouting, "Regional Commander Ramirez." I shouted three times before he connected me. I guess he put in a separate line for business. I could just imagine; that it was a big red rotary dial phone with a big flashing light on it and underneath it would have a gold plaque that read "White Council." I say this because it only rang once.

"Ramirez here." He sounded completely nonchalant.

"Warden Marsdon reporting in sir." I shouted sounding like a soldier snapping to attention.

"What do you need Aaron." He still sounded bored. This isn't like the Carlos I know. He should be…I'm not sure…but this wasn't right.

"Just checking in boss. The vampires are actually, umm, nice." I said hesitantly, "oh and I've killed two others already."

"That it?" Seriously he should be making a joke, or asking for details. Or telling me I would have to submit an after action report in triplicate, one for myself, one for him, and one for Luccio; or some other idea he got from watching war movies all day.

"Anything I need to know?"

"You might want to talk to Scribe Lafarge. He's up in Seattle, apparently there's a vampire problem. Good bye." He hung up. Strange he was normal a few days ago. I wonder: did he finally get laid?

I hung up the phone and looked at the piece of paper. I unconsciously scribbled down the name 'Lafarge.' I only had heard the name a few times before, and those times were at big council meetings. Apparently he had a perfect eidetic memory for both sight and sound. That means he can remember anything and everything he sees or hears, for those of us that didn't pass Psych 101. If I called him right now I would have another difficult problem to deal with. I sure as hell do not need another one of those right now.

I need to deal with the potential warlock first. The rational side of my brain told me that only the maybe-warlock was less of a threat to people than a vampire problem in Seattle. The irrational side of my brain, which gives most of the orders, told me that seeing on more kid getting executed was far more terrible than a dozen innocent people getting killed or turned by vampires. I know it doesn't make any sense.

Of course all of this was a distraction. If I weren't trying to do something, be productive all I would manage to think of is her. Alice. I'm still not entirely convinced that she wants me dead, but she's had plenty of opportunities so far and I'm still alive. That doesn't really matter, I'm still worried about her; she should have been able to fight her. Alice can see the future; she should be able to see what someone is going to do before they do it. Then block it. Then hit them.

The reason is obvious. Victoria knew that Alice was a seer, she would have thought about what move to use, and then do the opposite. It made perfect sense…

Because it's what I would have done. Because it was the only thing that made sense.

I want, no I need, to know that she's okay. I won't be able to forgive myself if something bad happened to her. on some level I knew that she would be alright, she hadn't been killed. Carlisle knew what he was talking about. He knows more about his own kind than I do. It must be all that chivalry shit Harry stuffed in my head. Not that I'm really complaining.

Logic doesn't help. It's called insanity for a reason. Plain and simple.

I just want to know. It's that simple; not knowing is the worst feeling. I wish that I had someway of talking to her, of seeing her, getting to her. I had to keep my promise, both of them.

I picked the phone up again and started dialing Harry's number. I hung up before I finished. I didn't need his help on this one.

Harry was never great with ritual magic. When it comes to magic I'm good at only two things: evocation and ritual magic. Maybe it's because I am a terrible creature of habit. I ritualize every single thing I do, in the real world I would probably be diagnosed with OCD. But hey it works for me.

The person I need to find is a student, hopefully. If it's a teacher I need to rethink this plan. Ok I need to set up the magical equivalent of motion detectors. It should be simple enough. It would need two things: a shit load of power, and a pentacle (that's a five pointed star inside a circle.) Two things that have to be done in private. You draw a pentacle, people assume it's a pentagram, and then that there's some devil worshiping going on. I have to do this at the lighthouse. If I could get back there, and set some wards up.

First thing's first, I need to get a materials list together. I had the wire to make both circles. I had a map of the school that I could use as an indicator. The only thing I really need to get is something, preferably clay, (specifically red clay) to act as the motion detectors. The idea being, any thing magical crossing the line of clay, would show up on the map of the school. It's kind of reverse thaumaturgy, using something big to influence something small. I've never done anything like this before, but it doesn't seem too hard.

The power shouldn't actually be a problem. It's a school. So the maybe-warlock will move between classes just like the normal students. That means I only need to power the circle for ten minutes at a time, with almost an hour break in between. Provided I'm not being paranoid about this too, it should only take one day. Plus I already had an excuse because of this lump on the back of my head. I would just have to set everything up after dawn.

Dawn is a huge deal, magically speaking. It washes everything clean. There are very, very few spells that can hold power through dawn, none of which I can do. I don't have the sheer power or the control to pull it off.

Maybe I can enlist the help of a certain creature of the night. If she's up for it, that is. If not hopefully I can get someone else to help. I'm not sure that I could sneak in and plant small pieces of clay by myself before the school opens without getting caught. There wasn't much to do now but wait.

I picked up the notebook and walked back into the living room. I was beginning to wish I had a bed. Not that I mind this semi-comfortable couch, but it would be nice to stretch out without having to prop my feet up.

I yawned, the kind of yawn that makes your tongue cramp. Last night, or I suppose it was only evening had taken its toll on me. More magically than anything else. From now on I'm not going to use as much magic before I have to be around technology. I say let it fry. I yawned again, this time not so hard. I closed my eyes. A nap might do me some good.

Another dream! I wish that I would just stop dreaming, they were never good dreams. Always cold, and never the comforting kind. The cold that comes from within. I forgot all this in the past two days, but in sleep there is no way to hide from what's lurking in the soul.

The lighthouse again. The cold of the stone floor seeped through my clothes. This time there were no chains. I wasn't sprawled out on the floor either; I was pressed against the wall hugging my knees to my chest to stop from shivering. The cold shouldn't bother me, it never did before. But this cold was didn't numb me, it caused me to ache. I tried to move. I could, but the pain from the cold was excruciating. I settled back into the huddle. I felt tears streaming down my face. I pressed my face to my knees wishing for it to end. A clicking of footsteps on the cold stones came closer. Who was to torment me this time? I peered up to see just who had come to me. My eyes were clouded with tears, but I could make out the figure perfectly clear. She was wearing a pale blue silk dress that stopped at the knee. It was a dressed I recognized. My eyes continued upwards. But there was no mystery anymore I knew exactly who it was. Her silver hair was elegantly done up, with a single curl hanging over he left eye. It hid one thing I found absolutely beautiful, something that should have marred her beauty, it made her real. Without that gentle curved scar. The only thing her father left her.

It was the dress she wore the night of our senior prom. The night she made her decision. The night I lost her. At least she was the girl I loved. Not the faerie I killed.

"Katherine." I said my face lighting up. I had very few good dreams of her anymore. I ignored the pain in my joints stood. The tears changed to those of joy. I reached for her. I longed to touch her again, her soft cold skin, against my hand. Her equally soft lips pressed against mine. I brushed my fingers gently against her cheek dragging my nails lightly. She closed her eyes and cooed, pressing against my hand.

I wrapped one arm around her waist pulling her closer to me. The dress was as soft as I remembered it. My eyes were still streaming with tears. The girl I loved was here beside me, again. I wrapped my other hand around her neck and pulled her closer. Our lips met. It was like they never had parted. It was the most passionate kiss I remember. The kiss deepened. She wrapped her arms around my waist pulling me closer. I closed my eyes wanting to remember the feeling of her skin, the scent of her skin.

It ended abruptly. I hadn't had time to open my eyes before I was pinned against the wall. She had one hand on either shoulder pushing be back against the cold stone walls.

I opened my eyes as fast as I could. Katherine's were staring back at me with the fiercest intensity I had ever seen from her. "How could you forget about be!" She growled between clenched teeth.

Those were the most painful words she could have used. "Forget about you?" I questioned, "my love, there is no way I could forget you." No matter how long I lived these words would be true.

"I see the way you look at that leech, that parasite, that demon!" I've never seen this fury in her before. "You're glad I'm dead. Now you can be with her!" She spat in the same fury.

The thought had never crossed my mind, "no! I never tho..." My breath caught in my throat, I couldn't speak. Her eyes were cold now, taking an iciness that wasn't human. They burned right through me. I still couldn't speak; I tried but the only sound that came was a low rasping noise.

"You will never see me again!" She said releasing me from her grip. I slumped to my knees and sobbed. Her heels clicking lightly across the stone floor. She was gone.

Then everything went black.

I shot up from the couch. My breath was coming in ragged gasps. I was crying, real tears, tears of happiness mixed with tears of pain. I could still feel the kiss on my lips; smell her skin, the scent of her hair, the softness of her skin. Yet there was all that pain. I caught my head in my hands, and slumped forward.

Did she really believe that I betrayed her? Was I supposed to be miserable, is that what she wants? Was it even really her, or was this Katherine simply a figment of my subconscious? Somewhere deep inside me what she said was true. I did feel like I was betraying her. What if the glove was on the other hand; what if I was the one who was dead, would I want her to be in pain?

The simple answer, the real answer, is no. No, I wouldn't; I would know that she wouldn't forget me, forget us. Maybe this is my way of not forgiving myself. I thought I had accepted what I had done, after the Katherine I loved disappeared that night. Maybe I was just lying to myself all this time.

"You look like crap!" I heard a familiar sweet voice say. That leech, that parasite, that demon. The voice of Katherine echoed.

I looked up with tear stained eyes that suddenly didn't matter. Alice was safe; she was okay; I didn't get her killed. A sense of joy overwhelmed me. I jumped up immediately wiping the remaining tears from my face. I forgot about my ankle. It didn't seem to appreciate the sudden weight on it. My knee didn't even get the chance to buckle before Alice made it to my side keeping me steady. She could have caught me outright, but I suspect that she wanted to leave me some of my male ego intact.

"I feel a little like crap right now, but not as bad as Bella. Which I suppose is your fault." I playfully chided, sliding back down to the couch.

"Bad dream?" She said more of a statement than a question. She also sat down next to me on the couch.

"Ya, you could say that." My voice trailed off. I wasn't sure exactly how much to tell her; or how much she already knew. You will never see me again. The voice echoed again. I shook my head, trying to shake off the dream. "How are you?" I asked in a pathetic attempt to change the subject.

"Me? I'm fine, never better." She said as if last night never happened.

"You didn't look so well last night." I commented.

"Well, I heal fast." She explained casually, like she was talking about the weather. It must have been the blood, her eyes were back to liquid gold and the dark circles under her eyes were less noticeable.

"That's good." I said pausing; waiting for Katherine's voice to creep back in. It didn't and I breathed an internal sigh of relief. She moved closer wrapping her arm around my waist.

"Thank you." She said timidly as she laid her head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arm around her and gently stroked her hair.

"It's what I do." I said smugly. You're glad I'm dead her voice came back. It sent shivers up my spine. Alice looked up at me, with her golden eyes, I laughed to myself. She probably thought that she was the cause of my shiver.

We sat there for a while, Katherine's voice constantly echoing. I didn't mind it, now. It said what it wanted; besides it wasn't Katherine, not the real one at least, it was nothing more than a figment of my subconscious. The part of me that said I could never move on. "What are out thinking about?" She asked playfully. She shifted out of my arms and looked at me with those eyes of hers.

I hesitated, I thought about telling her the truth. "There's another problem." I lied, but it was close enough to the truth, "I told you about the seven laws right?" She nodded, "Yesterday, I felt someone trying to get in my head. I'm worried; if whoever was trying to get in my head succeeds the White Council will kill them." She looked up at me; her warm eyes had a look of worry in them.

"What are you going to do?" She asked in a small voice.

"I want to catch whoever tried to do it, before they break the law. I've seen too many my age killed because they broke a law they didn't know existed. I'm not going to let it happen." I told her about my plan in as much detail as she needed to know. She listened like child hearing a fairy tale for the first time, nodding at appropriate times. "The last thing I need is for your family to not be at school tomorrow."

"Why," she asked inquisitively.

"I don't know if you're… family," I still hesitate using the 'family' to describe a group of vampires; "will set off the web. Maybe you guys could take a group hunting trip?" I suggested. I guess old prejudices die hard. Being around Alice, or any of her… family, is fine as long as I don't have to think about them being vampires. I fought vampires, I watched them kill good people. I shuddered at the thought.

"I fed last night," I grimaced, thinking about Alice draining the life out of some animal; I guess it's better than the alternative. "But I'm sure I could convince them to go."

"Good! Then you can help me, I'm still supposed to hurt, so I'm going to have to set everything up tonight. Then like I said I need to put all the clay up after dawn. That reminds me, is there any place around here that sells clay or play-doh?"

"Ya but, I remember having to make clay in science years ago. All it takes is cornstarch salt and water." She answered.

"Works for me, but we'll have to die it red." I really like when a plan works the way it should.

"I hid all your stuff under the floor of the lighthouse." She blurted out. My heart immediately went into overdrive, I balled my hands to fists, and my breathing became irregular. I was pissed. To put it lightly.

I shook my head, "I don't believe it! Most of those books are damn near irreplaceable. Not to mention the other stuff is really expensive on a warden's salary." I managed to keep my rage to a minimum. I hadn't put wards up at my storage locker, but I put the best veil I could around it. Besides, a storage locker blowing up would raise much more attention.

She let out hard laugh, "you're too easy." She said stifling another giggle.

"No, you just have a terrible sense of humor." I came back, still upset. I don't mind practical jokes when they're funny, but there's nothing funny about this.

"No, not terrible. I think the word is playful." She said sticking her tongue out at me.

"Either way." I chided, "Tonight's going to be long." I said mainly to myself. I was used to long nights by now, but that doesn't mean that I actually like them. Right now, at least, there better than the dreams I've been having.

I think she said something, but it was too soft for me to quite piece it all together. It may have been: 'in more ways than one' or my ears were playing tricks on me. It scared me to know that I was out of the loop on this one. Is this paranoia?

Note x2: Just a helpful reminder to review if you feel so kind, or pissed. I like 'em either way.