Note: Alright, if anyone noticed an error with the roman numerals not corresponding to the regular numbers, it's been fixed. Anyways long chapter o.o

Chapter Song: Sqwee! I love this band. :3

October Project – Eyes of Mercy

Chapter XV

Valinty looked down at her white shoes and sniffed.

"I've been dying to know:" Ariel began. She looked back up at her.

"Are you okay? And what happened, if you don't mind my asking?"

Hush, close your eyes
And I'll keep you safe
Allow you to weep
And sing you to sleep

The child sighed. "Mummy and daddy.. They were fighting again.."

"Like, words, or physically?"

"What's "physically" mean?"

"It means, for example, if you hit somebody."

"Daddy hit mummy.. At least I think so.. When they fight I see bruises on her arms or face."

Don't be afraid
Remember I'm here
The noise in the street will soon disappear

Ariel sighed, shaking her head. Her eyes slowly feel upon a bandage wrapped around Valinty's wrist.

"Do they hurt you?" Ariel asked.

"Well, this one time after Daddy drank, he threw his bottle and it came to me.. I put my hand up to protect my face.. It was an accident though.." Valinty's brown eyes began to flood until they spilt tears down her cheeks. Ariel hugged her while she cried.

When the soft face of mercy
Is lost behind a veil
I will stay with eyes open
Stay here with eyes open
To watch over you
And take away the sadness and the fear

If it had not been for my vampire skills, I don't think we would have found Ariel, because it took really good hearing to hear sobbing noises in the distance.

"I think I hear something," I murmured to Evra.

"Ariel?" He called.

"I'm over here!"

Valinty's head flew up.

"Shh, it's okay, my friends are probably coming," She said, trying to comfort Valinty. But all she did was hide behind her back.

I was the first to come upon a stream, and then Evra followed. We stared looking around, but didn't see-

"I'm right here." She called.

We spun around toward the hill where the girls were.

I sighed with relief. "We though you were hurt.. Ariel you scared the crap out of us!"

"I was hurt.." Ariel replied. "In fact, I just came to about ten or twenty minutes ago.." She looked upset, and worried. "I.. don't know.. I think I'm ill." The child had taken her mind of the raging fire in her stomach, but now that they were back on the subject..

All color flushed from her face.

"Wait, who's that behind you?"

"A friend.." She murmured. That's all she could say before everything blacked out.

"No, please don't make her do it,"

"She will never wake up if we do not do this."

"She'll be able to go on a little longer, I know she will!"

"Out of my way, you brat! It is my head if she dies!"

"She wouldn't want this, I know she wouldn't."

There was a brief pause, and a sigh. She could feel someone's arms wrap around her, and pick her up.

"Ariel please.. please wake up.." A boy pleaded.

Then there was a feeling, as if she had been drowning. Suddenly, reality seemed closer, and she started to cough. It was hard to breathe, so all she could do was concentrate on taking in a few solid, long breaths.

Her face was pressed up against someone's chest, and when she looked up, Ariel was looking into the eyes of Mr. Crepsley. Closing her eyes, she hid again into the comfort of his grip.

"Ariel, listen to me," He said, after a moment. She looked up at him. "It is mandatory that you drink blood, right this instant."

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Darren standing in the corner of the trailer, sending silent screams, as if saying: "Please don't do this to her."

"Mr. Crepsley.." Ariel sighed, bracing herself for his anger.

She paused.

"I.. I can't, I won't do it."

Mr. Crepsley, shaking his head, sat her back down on the bed. "Ignorance." He murmured under his breath.

Mr. Crepsley walked outside for a moment. It was nine o'clock at night right now.

"Do you think she will be okay, for now?" Ariel heard Mr. Crepsley ask from outside. This frightened her: Usually he seemed so sure of himself.

"Don't say Ariel's gonna die!" I snapped.

"I am sorry." He replied, looking away. I apologized for raising my voice- It's not just me who's extremely worried, it's both of us.

Shaking her head, Ariel stood, and tried to remember what had happened.

Bandages.. Tree.. Lost.. Sick.. Girl..

Girl?

Valinty!

Ariel raced out the door, but stopped. She looked around. Whoa.. How long have I been out?

"Ariel?" I asked. She had raced out in front of us.

She turned around. Mr. Crepsley was looking down, leaning against the side of the trailer. I stood behind her.

"I'll be right back," Quickly, Ariel ran back to the place where she had been before taking a walk. It was dark, and hard to see, but she decided she'd go back to the stream to see if Valinty was still there.

"Arie?" She heard a familiar voice call. Spinning around, Ariel made her way to the other side of the trees. There was Valinty, waiting for her.

"It's so late!" Ariel whispered, when she came near the child.

"You fell asleep again and the boys took you away, so I followed and waited here."

"You're mother is probably worried sick," She scolded.

Valinty frowned. "Sorry, Arie.."

Ariel sighed and hugged her. "I'm okay though, you go back home, I'll be here tomorrow,"

When the soft face of mercy
Are blinded by the dark
I will stay with eyes open
Stay here with eyes open
To watch over you
And take away the sadness and the fear

"Can you come with me?" The child eye's widened. That's when Ariel figured she was only little and most likely afraid of the dark.

"Sure, just lead us there."

Valinty, holding Ariel's hand, lead them to a small nearby village. When they got to the entrance, Valinty hugged her goodbye.

"Good night," Ariel hugged her back, smiling.

Then, quickly, Valinty made her way into a small house by the entrance, while Ariel stood in the darkness, watching..

I'll be here