Chapter Thirty Five ~ The Tables Have Turned

ROBIN'S POV

My injuries were starting to strain now. At first, they didn't bother me too much due to all the shock and adrenaline running through me. But now everything was starting to catch up on me. I ran at the back, barely being able to keep up. How was I going to be any help to Maria when I couldn't even keep up with Mr Gomez? I could only hope that the fight would be easy. I didn't have any weapons though. The gruesome brothers had taken them from me during my ordeal. This fight would be surely prove to be interesting.

Wrolfe's pace began to slow and soon the lion came to a halt. We stopped aswell and crouched down, either side of the creature.

"What are we doing?" I whispered. Wrolfe grumbled softly.

"Over there." Mr Gomez pointed somewhere between the trees. I had to squint to see the flicker of flames and the black shapes that were figures. "Good boy, Wrolfe." Mr Gomez murmured. I laughed breathlessly. I watched carefully to see a large group of figures gathered together then a few more around the fire.

"You thought of a plan yet?" I asked. I glanced at my tutor to see a blank expression.

"Not really." He sighed. "I was trying to work out which creature I would transform into to take them down." I rolled my eyes.

"I don't suppose it really matters."

"Well, I really can't see transforming into a pig being much help."

"Fair point." I nodded. "What are we going to do? Charge in and take them by surprise or sneak up on them and jump out?" Mr Gomez thought for a few moments.

"We need to get closer." He said finally. "Quietly, though." Slowly and with quiet steps, we crept through the trees towards the fire. When we got closer I heard the sound of rushing water. I then realised where we were.

The waterfall.

"Why do they need the waterfall for the ritual?" I asked. Mr Gomez shushed me and I realised I was a little loud. Though it didn't seem to be heard by the witch and her sons.

"The waterfall is a very sacred ground for us skin-walkers." Mr Gomez told me in a low voice, carefully shifted around a tree.

"Why?" I whispered. Mr Gomez glanced at me.

"Is this really the time to go into the history of my kind?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I suppose not." I agreed. We stopped and crouched down again. Wrolfe came up behind us, moving slowing and quietly like us. The figures were more clear now. The larger group was made up of my family and the Merryweather lot, all circled by the De Noir guards which I guessed Cassandra had taken control of. Around the fire were Cassandra, her sons and Maria.

Maria. Her cheeks were soaked in fresh tears and her dress dirtied in mud. The larger of the sons, Melvin I think, held her close to the fire. She was wearing a long white night's robe, and underneath she wore something very familiar, which I hadn't noticed her wearing. It was the shirt I let her borrow the first night she stayed at De Noir castle. Blood dripped from her hand, staining her robes. I had the sudden urge to rush forward and save her, though I felt Mr Gomez grab my arm as if he had read my mind.

"Don't do anything rash, it could cost your lady's life." He hissed. I nodded once.

"Then hurry up and tell me what to do." I whispered harshly. "We're running out of time." Mr Gomez didn't say anything, he just stared. There was silence between us for a few moments. His face was caught with thought. My head whipped from Mr Gomez and back to Maria. Wrolfe remained silent, though I could see his eyes burning, waiting for the witch to harm his moon princess so he could then pounce and save her.

The lion and I were both thinking the same. Though it seemed we couldn't react until my tutor told us to. Why was I even waiting for his orders anyway?

"Right, I have a plan." Mr Gomez whispered suddenly. I turned in his direction, waiting to hear the old man's idea. "I'll go save the others whilst you and Wrolfe stay here."

"Excuse me?" I said, a little louder than I should. Mr Gomez grabbed my head and pulled me down to the ground, in fear they'd spot us. After a few moments, Mr Gomez released his grip on me and let me up. "You seriously expect me to stay here whilst Maria's in danger?" I asked, quieter this time.

"Robin, you are too injured." Mr Gomez whispered. "You will get hurt and I won't be able to protect you."

"I can protect myself."

"Boy, you couldn't even keep up with me as we ran here." It seemed that he had noticed my struggle before.

"I can't just sit back." I protested.

"I can deal with Cassandra and the others on my own. Like I've said, I'm much stronger than them. It will be easy." Mr Gomez told me, obviously trying to be reassuring.

"Why can't Wrolfe go with you?" I demanded, eyes on the black lion, who seemed to be listening to our exchange.

"He's just as beaten as you." Mr Gomez pointed out. "Just stay here and keep out of sight." I opened my mouth to say something when a shout caught our attention. We both turned back to the clearing and the gathering around the fire.

Cassandra held a knife in her hand and Loveday began to shout for her to stop. The others began to join in as the knife was brought slowly to Maria's throat. Maria closed her eyes, unable to move from the giant's grip on her.

My head shot to Mr Gomez, who turned to me aswell.

"Wait here." He told me. "You are too weak. Stay and I will save Maria, I promise. Wrolfe stay aswell." He scrambled to his feet.

"But…"

"Robin!" He hissed. "Do as you are told." His tone was final and I didn't say anything. Quickly, Mr Gomez ran out from the cover of the trees and into the view of everyone. I clenched my fists tightly and grinded my teeth together. Wrolfe whined quietly and took some steps forward. I quickly grabbed a fist full of his mane.

"We can't go, Wrolfe." I told him. "The old fool thinks we should stay out of the way." I turned to the lion, who stared back at me with his dark eyes. "But we can't just do nothing." Wrolfe grumbled in agreement. My eyes flickered back to the clearing. Everyone was caught up in Mr Gomez's reappearance, Cassandra had refrained from killing Maria and was questioning my tutor. Everyone stared at him in shock. "We need to do something, Wrolfe."

END ROBIN'S POV

I felt the blade pressed to my throat and I closed my eyes tight, praying it would be quick. The thought that ran through my mind was that I would be with Robin soon.

This gave me a slight comfort.

Suddenly though, the coldness of the knife was gone and I heard a snarl from Cassandra and shouts of disbelief. I opened my eyes and was breathless at the person stood before us all.

Mr Gomez. He was wearing the exact same clothes he was wearing before he fell, though they hung off him. He looked dirty and slightly damp but otherwise no different. His eyes were on me for a few short moments, smiling, then up at Cassandra. His eyes went hard.

"How?" Cassandra asked the question that was on everyone's minds. She pointed the knife in his direction and walked slowly away from me towards the man that had just appeared. "You're supposed to be dead!" After a few short moments, Mr Gomez shrugged.

"It seems that the odds are in my favour." He said simply, smiling. He was alive. I couldn't help but smile. And if he was alive, then that could mean Robin survived the fall aswell. But where was he?

"How did you survive the fall?" 'Shaggy' asked, his face just as baffled as everyone else's.

"I'm a very good swimmer." Mr Gomez told him. Movement between the trees caught my attention. I swore I saw a shape, but when I looked hard nothing seemed to be there. It must have just been my imagination.

"What about the boy?" Cassandra asked, breaking my thoughts away from what I thought I had seen. "Did the De Noir boy survive too?" That was the question that dominated my own mind. The only question that mattered to me at the moment. Mr Gomez didn't say anything for a few moments.

"I don't know." He said. His answer hit me hard. So that probably meant no. Robin was still dead and any hope that he could be alive was gone. My heart sank again and my smile faded.

"You're lying." Cassandra hissed. Mr Gomez just raised an eyebrow. "Search for him." She told her son 'Shaggy'. He muttered something under his breath and then ran off into the woods, his figure seemingly changing as he disappeared into the darkness, though I was probably mistaken. Mr Gomez's face looked slightly strained for a few moments as he watched the witch's son leave, then he turned back to Cassandra. "Is there a reason you grace us with your unwelcome presence? Because we have things to do."

"Yes, actually." Mr Gomez nodded. "I demand you let everyone go and leave Moonacre." There was a long moment's silence before the witch and her remaining son broke out in laughter. The rest of us watched in silence, slightly baffled by their outburst. Mr Gomez turned to where Mr De Noir stood, both men sharing an odd and unreadable look, before they turned back to Cassandra and Melvin.

"Mr Gomez, I think the fall has knocked some sense out of you." Cassandra purred after she had composed herself. "I'm afraid I cannot do that. Though I will give you the chance to leave and we will not hurt you. You can leave Moonacre and start a new life. Forgetting all this has happened. Forget the De Noir's, they were never that good to you anyway."

"Well, I'm afraid I cannot do that." Mr Gomez said, mockingly. He smiled. "I made a promise and I will not go back on my promises." I saw Cassandra raise an eyebrow.

"And what promise is that?" Cassandra asked.

"That I would save Miss Merryweather." It seemed that all eyes fell on me at that point. My stomach churned slightly. Cassandra breathed a quiet laugh.

"Who did you promise that to, may I ask?" At that precise moment there was a noise within the trees. A figure rushed out, completely stunning my body into a complete stand still.

Robin De Noir. My heart began to pain. Please Lord let this not be an illusion. But it couldn't be. He was alive and well, running too. Though he was beaten badly, he still remained just as he was before he fell. He was alive. The boy I was in love with was alive. Unless this was all my imagination. Please let this be real.

"Robin!" Loveday cried. She could see him too! Robin rushed to Mr Gomez, who looked positively angry.

"What are you doing?" Mr Gomez hissed. Robin shook his head once and panted. He tried to speak but words didn't seem to come out. He pointed frantically back into the forest, though Mr Gomez just stared at him. "Speak, boy!" A shape began to move within the trees and there was a lot of cracks and snaps. I watched as the dark shape began to materialise and come towards the light of the fire to reveal itself. There was a low growl and whatever the thing was seemed to be watching Robin and Mr Gomez.

"Monster!" Robin cried suddenly. Just as he did, the shape pounced out of the darkness and towards the two apparently dead men.

The creature was black and fearsome with long, shaggy fur. It had sharp claws and teeth much bigger than on any animal I had seen before. It's eyes burned bright and was the colour of blood.

Mr Gomez turned just in time to spot the oncoming creature, only to pull Robin out the way. The creature missed them and landed on the ground, snarling furiously. It turned back to face them, Mr Gomez moving himself in front of Robin.

"Ahh, Robin." Cassandra spoke suddenly. "So nice of you to join us. And there was me thinking you were dead." She seemed completely unfazed by creature standing next to her. "I would introduce you," She gestured to the dark, dog-like creature that was staring at Mr Gomez with a look to kill. "Though I do believe you've already met my son."

Her son?

"Oh believe me, I know him very well." Mr Gomez replied, his eyes watching the creature. Mr Gomez's body seemed to shake violently and his skin pulsed. Cassandra raised an eyebrow.

"Really?" She asked sceptically. Mr Gomez didn't say anything. He glanced up at her and held her eyes for a few moments before returning eye contact with the creature that was apparently the witch's son. "No matter." She waved a hand. "Don't worry, you'll be both dead this time, I'll make sure of it." A pause. "Kill them." The creature launched forward.

As did Mr Gomez.

ROBIN'S POV

I wasn't paying much attention to the clearing to notice one of Cassandra's sons coming towards where Wrolfe and I were situated. I was too busy planning a way for the lion and I to jump out and save the day. Though Wrolfe caught my attention by nudging me with his nose and I noticed the smaller of the sons running into the forest.

Under the cover of darkness his form changed into the black shape of the creature, that looked very familiar to the one that attacked me. His transformation was much like Mr Gomez's. If I hadn't seem my tutor change, the sight would have unnerved and completely stunned me. Though thankfully I had that reassurance.

Without thinking, I made a run for it, urging Wrolfe to follow me. I knew that was a bad idea straight away. I was spotted by the witch's son and he took chase. It would be over in a second, the creature beating me with it's speed.

I quickly changed direction, an attempt to trick the creature, though I was attacked from the side and pushed to the ground by it's weight launching into the right of me. It's face was in mine in an instant, snarling and biting as I held it away from me with strained arms.

Suddenly though, the creature whimpered and was pulled off me. I saw Wrolfe snarling and jumping on it, giving me time to get to my feet. I watched for a few moments as the two black creatures fought before Wrolfe was knocked aside by Cassandra's son. The black lion fell to the floor with a quiet whimper. He was already weak enough.

"Wrolfe!" I cried. Though when I did, I caught the son's attention and his large head faced me, his nostrils flaring. "Oh, that was a bad idea." I muttered. The beast snarled and jumped at me. I moved quickly though and began to run. I didn't realise I heading towards the waterfall again until I saw the figures between the trees.

I didn't care what Mr Gomez told me to do. I couldn't just stay hidden. I was probably going to be eaten in seconds anyway.

I jumped out of the security of the trees and towards my tutor. Surely he could just turn into some scary looking animal to kill the son, before it killed me. He was there to protect me, so he might aswell do his job.

As I did reveal myself, I heard gasps of shock and I remembered that no one knew of my survival apart from my tutor. I had more pressing matters at the moment though.

"What are you doing?" Mr Gomez hissed at me. I shook my head tried to tell him. Though I couldn't speak. My injuries were already straining me and now I had just ran, I was exhausted already. I tried to point back at the forest, trying to tell him without words, but it was no good. "Speak, boy!" Mr Gomez was a very impatient man. I could hear a growl from behind and I realised that the creature had caught up with me. I needed to hurry up and get the words out.

"Monster!" I cried. Of all the words I could think of, and I chose 'monster'. Just as I said that, I saw Mr Gomez's eyes flicker to something behind me then he pulled me out the way. The creature landed on the ground and face us again. Mr Gomez put himself in front of me, protecting me.

I then remembered the lion. I glanced around frantically looking for Wrolfe, then I remembered him collapsing to the floor once the witch's son had knocked him aside. Guilt ran over me. Why did I leave him? He had saved my life and I had just left him lying on the forest floor. He was already weak and injured and I wasn't sure how more of a beating the lion had taken from the fight he has just had. He was in much the same state as me.

Which was probably why Mr Gomez demanded for us to remain within the seclusion of the forest. I had a habit of not listening to my tutor though.

"Really?" Cassandra's voice broke me from my thoughts and I turned back to where the witch was stood. Her son, in creature form, stood by her side waiting for her orders to kill us. It was a wonder why two grown men were still taking orders from their mother. "No matter. Don't worry, you'll be both dead this time, I'll make sure of it." A pause. I knew exactly what she was going to say next. I had known it from the start. "Kill them." Her son launched forward then, towards us.

As he did, I saw Mr Gomez's figure begin to twist and transform, much quicker than the last two times I had seen him change. Before Cassandra's son even reached us, he had changed fully and Mr Gomez launched himself toward the incoming creature.

The two creatures began to fight.

I recognised Mr Gomez's new transformation to be the same wolf-like shape had had changed to when we first encountered Wrolfe in the forest. Big and ragged and werewolf like. I was hoping for him to change into something different, though given the circumstances, I didn't let it bother me too much.

I stepped back, watching as my tutor fought with Cassandra's son. The two of the fighting viciously and completely inhumanly. Claws and teeth were used. They ripped at each other, drawing blood. Cassandra herself watched on, horrified, though I saw the understanding in her face.

She understood what Mr Gomez was now.

Everyone else's face just stared, a mixture of confusion and sheer shock. I wondered to myself whether I looked like that when I first saw Mr Gomez's transformation.

The only one who was unscarred by what we were witnessing was my father, though he had seen it all before. He knew full well what the man he had hired to protect his son was. His eyes watched me in an unreadable way, though I was too weak to work it out. It was an odd look, which I hadn't seen before. I could have sworn his eyes glistened with tears. Though I was probably mistaken.

A loud whimper caught my attention and I turned to see Mr Gomez pinning Cassandra's son down to the ground with his abnormally large paws. The creature beneath him cried out, struggling, though it did no good.

Mr Gomez was right, he was much stronger than Cassandra's son.

"Stop!" Cassandra's high voice rang out, stopping Mr Gomez from coincidently killing her son. "Do not harm my son." She snarled, an animal like gesture. Signs of her other form was seeping through. Just looking at her son in creature form showed me that he was not the one that attacked me that day, killing Danny in the progress. I could rule out one of them. Leaving Cassandra and Melvin.

Now I was to wait to see what they looked like when the transformed. Maybe then I could do justice to Danny's death. I would kill whoever was responsible.

Mr Gomez's lip turned up in a snarl, revealing a set of razor sharp teeth. He didn't relax his hold on the squirming form of Cassandra's son. The creature withered and whimpered, probably crying out for help from his brother and mother. Though neither of them made any signs of moving to help him.

The tables had turned.

Mr Gomez turned his large head towards me and made a gesture with it towards Cassandra's direction. I didn't understand him before until he did it a third time. I turned in the direction he gestured and at the three around the fire, Cassandra, Melvin and Maria.

Maria was still in Melvin's grip, though she wasn't in as much danger. She no longer looked frightened as she watched Mr Gomez. For some reason her eyes didn't look troubled by the sight of the man she recognised in animal form. Surely she should? Her eyes then flickered to me, like she knew I was watching her. She held my eyes with hers for a few moments, softening them slightly. She seemed to regard me in an odd way, looking me up and down at me battered form. It was a wonder I was still standing with how I felt at the moment. I wanted to just lie down and curl up into a ball. Maria held my eyes again and didn't look away. A small smile fell on her lips. I returned it weakly and turned my gaze to Cassandra.

"He wants you to let them go." I said in a low voice, interpreting what Mr Gomez was gesturing. I guessed it was correct, as my tutor made a growl of approval. The witch's eyes moved to me and fell hard. They burned into me, as if to kill me on the spot. She probably could, unless all her powers had drained already. Her lip twitched slightly as she fought herself from snarling at me. She surely was a terrifying sight.

"Never." She growled quietly. There was a few moments silence. Cassandra's eyes still piercing into me and I refused to look away. It was like I was held by her over powering eyes. Also I knew exactly what Mr Gomez was about to do and wanted to see the witch's reaction when he did it. It would give me some small satisfaction and justice because of the destruction she and her beloved sons had caused to my family and people I cared about.

There was a deafening, and somewhat satisfying, crunch as Mr Gomez broke the neck of Cassandra's son with his almighty claws.

(A/N) Not a very pleasant ending to the chapter, I know. But this chapter is much longer than the last so I hope that makes up for it!

Apologises on the wait, though it was only a few days this time. Not nearly a week like the last chapter! I'm quite shocked with myself for leaving this story for so long!

Again, I hope the POV change is alright. It's neccesary for what's going on. It would be difficult to write everything that was going on in just Maria's POV or just Robin's POV every chapter. The chapters would probably be really short aswell.

Thank you so much for all your reviews! I can't believe this story has reached 200 reviews! If I could hug you all, I would!

Anyway, please tell me how you think this chapter went. Your thoughts and critisism are incredibly appreciated! :)

-jemlou-