Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer
*Important notice* If you're reading both stories please read WTST chapter 9 (FFn ch10) before you read this chapter. Thank you
I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Noble, Fadewind, Bibika94, Lsb123, Alphabloodwolf, Alexsandra and jaboo101
I made sure I was a barrier between Mal and the men. They would not hurt him. I guess my hugging Mal was the last straw for them, a betrayal of their master. They began to close in on us and I closed my eyes tight, wishing to be anywhere other than where we were as Mal began to back toward the wall…
I leapt up into his arms, wrapping my own arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. I would not let him go, they'd have more chance of pulling a limpet from a rock. Mal continued backing into the wall as I wished for a way out. My perception of time must have changed for we moved for longer than I would have thought the distance allowed. Was there a slight feeling of resistance, as if the air itself had taken on a sticky consistency? Then I was clinging to Mal's neck as air rushed around me.
"Quick grab on to the rock!" Mal gasped as he attempted to hold us both onto a rugged cliff-face with just his fingertips.
I turned quickly and got a purchase on the craggy surface and moved so that I wasn't between Mal and the cliff before I took in our surroundings. I wasted no time in wondering how we had come to be outside, we had more pressing matters at hand.
"Up or down?" Mal asked.
"There is a river down there. If we follow the course we will eventually reach civilisation of some sort. Besides, we will have water to drink." I stated.
"You don't want to drink that water. Believe me." Mal said. "I think we'd be better off going across the desert."
"Without any supplies?" I said aghast.
"We'll make it if we ghost. All we need to do is head for the nearest landmark. It'll be better than going down there. That river might go under ground at some point and then we won't be able to follow it." He stated.
I felt a strange vibration in the rock.
"What was that?" I gasped.
"Alec. He's trying to break through the rock. Lucky for us it's pretty thick here and he's not thinking enough to gouge at it instead of punching at it. That's buying us time since we seem to be wasting it." He said a little pointedly, and I realised that we had to snap to a decision.
"I suppose Alec will assume we would head to the water." I stated. "We should go up."
"Righty-o." Mal said and we began to scale the rocks.
It took longer than I would have liked to scramble up over the cliff's edge to view an endless desert stretching for miles in every direction, even on the other side of the canyon behind us. We were truly in the middle of nowhere.
I heard a rumble and then a trickle of rock.
"Which way?" Mal prompted.
"North." I declared, pointing due north out of sheer instinct.
"Well I hope you're right bach." Mal said as he took my hand and we began running, ghosting over the rocky sand and scraggly plants that pulled at our clothing. I tried not to think on it as we ran on, trying to put as much distance between Alec and ourselves.
There was no time for further discussion; we had to conserve energy in order to continue with our escape.
We reached an island of rock and it was without conscious thought that we scrambled to the top. We kept low once we reached the ridge lest we be spotted. Once safely on the other side we paused for breath.
"There's water here." Mal informed me.
It took him but a second to locate the small pool of captured rainwater in the hard rock. He placed his hand to the surface of the water and closed his eyes.
"This water is safe to drink." He told me before he began drinking it down in handfuls.
I paused for only the briefest of moments as my natural reaction gave way to common sense. Yes I was drinking water from a ditch, but it was better to stay hydrated, regardless of the water's source.
Mal produced an empty water bottle from the pocket of his trousers and began to fill it.
"If you got anything you can fill it would be a great help." He observed.
I patted myself until I found the wad of sandwich bags I had placed in my pocket ready for keeping food fresh, and also a small reel of cord.
I began filling the bags with water and tying them at the top. I had thirty in all and that would give us fifteen bags each, although the bags were of the smaller variety.
I sighed as I began to loop the string around seven of the bags; I then did the same with eight more of the bags. I then secured them about my person as bandoleers. Working quickly I did the same for Mal.
I stood and moved experimentally. The water sloshed as the bags bulged, but I was confident it would hold.
"We must continue." I said, for our interlude was beginning to grow long.
I took Mal's hand and we began running again keeping a peculiarly shaped mountain in front of us as our guide. Until we had to dip into a dry river valley. We lost sight of the peak and it took us five minuets to relocate it once we were on the other side.
The day was wearing on and we had been running for hours. I began to think that we were lost in the desert for we had encountered nothing in the form of civilisation all the while and that peak still seemed a long way away.
As darkness began to descend and with it fatigue, I began to realise how futile our escape attempt was. We should have gone down towards the river; regardless of the water's state there would have been plenty of cover from the merciless sun. We would have cover from Alec too, for we could have found somewhere on the riverbed to hide and mask our scents while we regrouped and formulated a plan. This had been a mistake.
I told Mal as much whilst we paused in the shadow of a boulder that stood all alone while we drank another ration of water, soon we would be out despite the fact we were being careful the bags could not hold the amount we would have required.
"It won't be so bad now the sun's gone down, but we got to keep going." He stated.
"I am too exhausted." I cried. "And we will not see the peak."
"Just wait until the sun's gone down tidy and the stars come out." Mal said firmly, although he did take me in his arms to give me a comforting embrace.
I hugged him back, resisting the urge to cry since this would drain my precious fluid reserves. I had to stay strong, and we needed to keep moving.
Having night vision paid dividends once I let go of my foolish human notion that I was unable to see in the dark. That strange peak still beckoned to us and we ran on toward it, moving through the night. We used less water through the night but it was clear as dawn broke that if we did not reach another water source soon we would surely perish for we would not last the day.
We tried to ration the water by sharing the bags for once opened they could not be refastened. The water lasted us through the day and the next night as we continued to move in a daze. I was almost certain we were lost now, and that annoyed me greatly for I had always prided my sense of direction.
It was the third day that proved troublesome for we had run out of water and we had been running full pelt almost non stop for the entirety of that time. Our energy reserves as vampires were low. As humans we were ravenous and now with the onset of dehydration things looked dire indeed.
Besides which the sun was starting to take its toll on us as it beat down. I think I was experiencing my first case of sunburn and I hated every moment of it during the heat of the day. I hated it as much when the cold wind of night made it sting. I wished to stop running and to merely be home.
At last the peak seemed to loom over us, and to my utter devastation there was no sign of life. This was another barren rock. I sank to my knees in despair as I contemplated the miles we had traversed to reach this place. We were truly lost to the wilds now.
"There's water inside here." Mal said, leaning his ear against the rock.
"Can you be sure?" I asked.
"I can feel it." He stated. "But I can't feel any way into the cave. But it's a big one."
"You can feel it?" I asked as placed my own ear to the rock and I was sure that I could hear distant water.
"Yeah. With my telekinesis I can see the little connections between the molecules. Cause that's what I manipulate when I use my power. I get like an MRI picture I guess. I can see what's beyond a seemingly solid object by what it's connected to."
"I wonder if that was how you were able to manoeuvre us through solid rock." I mused. "I wonder if you could do it again."
"I don't even know how I did it the last time." He said, sounding a little embarrassed that he had done something with his powers hitherto unimagined.
"Then it was a triggered instinct." I reasoned. "I think perhaps you need to look deep within yourself for the answer truly lies there."
"I don't want to risk it when there's no danger." He said with worry, he really had no idea how he had performed such a feat, could he do it again?
If he did it once then I knew that he could do it again. Perhaps the right motivation was in order to belay his worry. How to make him know the danger, to re-ignite whatever neuron had sparked in that moment to allow him to walk through a wall. He had walked through a wall, was that not an amazing thing? Yet part of manipulating molecules when one thought about it on a deeper level. Now how to encourage him to do it once more? The right argument was needed.
"There may not be immediate danger, but we are on the brink of dehydration, our only option is to find water at any cost. Even if you were to attempt it alone I would wait here if it meant at least one of us be hydrated." I stated and I meant it.
Then we heard voices in the distance. They were too far away to make out any thing of significance as of yet, but I had no doubt who was following us.
"It is Alec and his men." I said, "We are sitting ducks here."
"Then there's only one thing for it." Mal said, pulling me into his arms and looking at the wall with resolution. "I'm gonna have to try."
I wrapped my arms and legs around him and closed my eyes tight, as I hoped with all my being that he would be able to pass through the stone once more. He had done it once and I knew he would do it again, for our lives depended on this action.
I felt cold envelope me, and Mal let out a sound of triumph.
I opened my eyes but could see nothing.
"Don't worry bach." Mal whispered, sensing my agitation. "It's just cause there's no light here. Now let's move a bit from the wall. Just in case."
He moved me so that I was now cradled more comfortably in his arms and without another word he carried me for what felt like an eternity, for without my vision I felt at a complete loss. My nose was full of cave dust, water and limestone; there was no point of reference. I felt uncertainty creep upon me as I felt lost in darkness, but Mal seemed sure of himself, and I clung to him in the hope that he would lead us to a light at the end of the tunnel.
Suddenly Mal stumbled, and I managed to drop from his arms in order to support him down to the floor.
"Oh god." He gasped. "Power drain."
"No, no, no." I gasped. "You need to wake up. I can not see."
"Neither can I bach. The power's all gone. Until I rest." He said and I could hear the sleep in his voice.
"At least let me see." I gasped.
"See?" He murmured. "There's no light."
"But I can not look after you if I can not see." I gasped. "Please Mal. I beg of you! If you must rest at least give me some light."
"I can't." Mal said softly.
"Yes you can." I said, clutching at the front of his shirt. "All you need do is excite the molecules within one of the rocks and it will glow."
"Won't that make it radioactive?" He murmured and I could feel his warm breath ruffle my hair.
"Possibly, but I would suffer it for some light." I stated.
"I would Liza bach, but I'm out of juice. I'm just…drained…" He muttered.
Juice?
Drained?
Suddenly I had an idea that shocked me to my core that I could think such a thing.
I knew how to give Mal the extra juice he needed, although it may leave me feeling drained. However, having the most able bodied of us powered up to full strength as it were, was the wisest course of action. Mal was the most capable of getting us both to safety.
I tried to gather enough power of will, but I knew I would be unable to bite my own wrist. I searched the floor of the cave until my fingers closed upon a sharp stone. I picked it up and braced myself before I used all my strength to drive the rock through the skin of my wrist. I pulled it quickly, feeling the pain burn in its wake as my blood began to flow. The rich scent began to fill the air, so different from the blood of animals, or even that of humans.
"Oh god Liza!" Mal gasped. "Are you bleeding?"
"Yes." I said, feeling for him in the darkness with my left hand until I touched his cheek. "Now drink." I added, pushing my dripping right wrist to his mouth.
"What?" He gasped, pulling his head back.
"You need to drink." I said firmly. "You need the strength more than I. Now drink before my precious life blood is wasted upon your shirt."
"Liza I don't think this is…"
"Drink." I broke him off, pushing my wrist to his mouth once more.
I placed my other hand to the back of his head to hold him in place. He would have to drink now.
He resisted for a good while before I felt his lips press either side of the wound and he began to suck. I felt an odd thrill through me at the thought of allowing someone to drink my blood. I almost fell into the thrill of it all, but I remembered one important fact.
"You must not bite me. You are venomous." I whispered into his ear.
Mal nodded his head as he still held my arm to his mouth. I allowed myself to fall to my knees, melting against him languidly as he continued to draw on my blood. I placed my lips to the pulse of his neck and drew in his scent. I was lost in his presence.
"We'll have to swim." Mal said quietly.
"What?" I asked, feeling dazed.
"Oh god Eliza, why didn't you say it was too much?" He demanded and I felt his arms around me, which was nice, although his voice was urgent.
"Huh?" I was incoherent.
"Ok. Do you think you could manage holding around my neck and holding your breath for five minuets?" He asked.
"I can hold my breath for half an hour." I declared proudly.
"Then I'll need you to do that now." He said firmly and he moved me in his arms as he forced me to lock my arms about his neck.
I complied for it seemed the best option. I locked my arms about his neck, marvelling in the warmth of his body. How I longed to sleep.
Cold water roused me and I cried out in protest, but Mal cautioned silence for Alec was outside the cave and if he had good reason he could make his own entrance. That reason penetrated through the confusion I was feeling at that moment in time.
"You need to hold your breath now bach." He said into my ear.
I took a deep breath and held it as Mal did the same.
We were submerged beneath the water as Mal moved with determined strokes, steering us in the current that dragged us ever onward in the darkness. I wondered when the pull would end, when I would be allowed to breathe once more.
I could feel rock beneath me and I was breathing.
"Now you need to drink." Mal said firmly and I felt warmth in my mouth.
I swallowed and the taste was divine as I began to imbibe more of this miraculous liquid. With every mouthful I gained clarity, but then the font was drawn from me.
"We don't need me weak now." Mal said. "God Liza, why didn't you stop me?"
It took a moment for my mind to adjust to the current situation.
"You had to be strong because you can see in this darkness, while I cannot. It is less awkward for you to carry me." I stated.
"Couldn't you of explained this to me?" Me demanded.
"I wished for us to be safe." I whispered. "I did not think."
"Oh Liza bach." He sighed as he gathered me into his arms. "You have to tell me your plans or I panic."
"You did not panic." I pointed out as I felt up to his cheek and I felt his long hair, it was delightfully wet against my fingers. "You brought us to safety."
"Not real safety. It's just somewhere we can rest for a bit." He stated.
"But we are safe." I stated firmly.
I had my eyes closed for I found it easier to deal with the darkness. I was also allowing my senses to work to their fullest, not allowing them to be hindered in any way. This gave me a sense of the small pocket we were occupying on a small rock shelf above the raging torrent.
Mal was a source of heat to me and the whir of his heartbeat a comfort of noise in contrast to the roar of water.
I found myself laughing.
"What's so funny?" He asked in a whisper.
"For the past three days we have been limited with water, now look at us, the proverbial drowned rats." I observed merrily.
"Yeah. Guess for my sake it's better that you can't see me right now." Mal chortled.
"And that you cannot see me." I replied.
"Oh I don't know, you carry any look off." He stated.
"Not as well as you." I whispered and without thinking I placed my lips to him.
I had meant it to be a quick friendly peck, but as my lips met his and I felt the warmth of his body against me I found myself lingering the kiss. I was unwilling to move my lips away.
The time had passed for this kiss to remain in the chaste category and before I could stop myself I began to move my lips against his as I felt passion surge through my body. Mal was not unresponsive as his arms encircled me, drawing me into his chest.
Then he stiffened and pulled his face from mine.
"This is wrong." He whispered.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because you're still scared but running on relief at this safe impasse. You're not thinking clearly and I value your friendship too much to do something you might regret later once we're back to civilisation and clean and dry." He stated.
"You have me at a loss Malachite." I said, not willing to accept his excuse immediately this time around.
"If I went along with this it would be just as bad as taking advantage of your drunken pass." He said firmly.
"So this is for my own good?" I asked with a frown.
"Yes." He stated. "And for mine." He added in a murmur.
"Pardon?"
"We really should sleep now. Regain our energy while we can. We can't stay here forever, and who knows if Alec will find us? So we need to nap and then get back on the road." He said quickly, making no room for further discussion.
"Of course." I replied.
Mal lifted me slightly in his arms as he manoeuvred himself into a more comfortable position. He placed me down on his lap and allowed me to lie against his body. It was fairly comfortable, especially when he placed his arms about me.
We were both soon asleep and I dreamt.
I dreamt of being in a vast darkness full of fog and I was lost. I felt alone until I heard a voice in the distance calling to me.
"Mother?" I cried. "Mother I am here."
"Oh thank god! I got a lock. Don't worry Lamb, we're coming for you."
I felt a wave of hope and contentment wash through me as I heard this promise.
The hope remained when I awoke in the pitch darkness still resting against Malachite's chest. From his breathing I judged he was still sleeping.
I realised that I felt thirsty and I wished to drink. I sat up then leant forward to feel the rock with my hands. I inched myself carefully forward, feeling with my hands until I reached the water's edge. I reached out carefully and felt the cold shoot through my fingers.
Satisfied I moved closer still until I knelt at the edge of the water. Cupping my hands I dipped them into the water, feeling it pull slightly, but I pulled out a handful of water and brought it to my mouth. It was divine as I drank it down my parched throat.
I sighed in enjoyment before I began to reach for another handful. Suddenly Mal was beside me his hand stopping my wrists and before I could voice a protest his other hand pressed across my mouth. I went to push him off and berate him, but then I realised he was holding his breath and I did so in response.
I thought I was imagining at first, but as Mal and I held perfectly still on the waters edge a glow went through the water. Three more glows followed it and I felt my heart jump to my throat as Mal edged us back.
He pressed his lips to my ear and his voice was barely a breath as he whispered. "Alec and his men."
I gasped, and felt truly sick, despite the fact I had suspected as much.
"That's the third time they've passed. There's an hour between each pass. I think that's how long it takes them to get back to the start. It won't be long 'til they start searching the air pockets. I think we should leave now."
I nodded my head.
Mal let go of me.
"Well no time like the present." He said, taking my hand and I realised that he intended for us to return to the water.
"But where does this lead?" I asked.
"Well there's only one way out. So we can either stay here for the rest of our lives, our take a risk." He pointed out.
"We should take the risk." I said firmly.
"Ok. After three."
Mal counted to three and I held my breath before we leapt into the water and submerged once more. The currant pulled us along, our strokes keeping us from hitting the sides but little else. We were beneath the water for a while before Mal tugged on my hand and we broke the surface, still in darkness, but it allowed us a fresh lungful of air before we submerged again.
We travelled in the icy void, drawn ever onwards, until a glow appeared up ahead and I felt panic take me. Mal's grip tightened on my hand, as we prepared to meet our fate, but as we neared the glow we realised that the torch had been anchored somehow to the cave floor.
Mal pulled me upwards once more and I felt thankful for the air this time.
"I think they're marking air pockets so they can prepare to surface to search." Mal stated.
"That seems most likely." I replied. "Then we must not delay."
We submerged once more and soon the course was interspersed with glows of light. I felt agitated as I wondered if we'd meet one of them as they attached their light in place. I hoped that if this were so, then it would be Rea we came across.
The current began to change, and Mal pulled me into him, wrapping his arms around me and cushioning my head into his chest as he ducked his own head into me. I took the hint and clung around him as we dropped suddenly and then we were struggling to the surface into a cavern that echoed with our breath.
I found that the water was shallow and I stood dripping in the darkness as I tried to ascertain the whereabouts of Mal.
A hand took mine and I felt happy until I noted the fact that it was cold. I hissed and lashed out.
"Easy Lamb. I got you." A familiar voice said from the darkness.
"Mother!" I gasped and I threw myself toward her scent and felt the heat seep back into her body.
"Let me just get this damn torch to work." She said and I heard her hit something above my head.
Light flared and it took my eyes a moment to adjust after the hours of darkness.
The beam swung around and I caught the glimpse of rock and water. There was a roar of a waterfall and as the beam passed over it I felt shocked by the fact I had fallen fifty feet and I had barely noted the distance.
"Where is Mal?" I gasped as I was suddenly recalled to him.
"Over here." He called, coughing slightly.
I left Mother go and ran toward his voice. Mother ran beside me, her torch guiding our path.
We found him wedged into a gap in the rock. The water had forced him into that spot and now it lapped at his face and nose.
"Are you trapped?" I asked.
"I can't move." He said.
"Oh no." I cried, placing my hand to his cheek.
"Tobias!" Mom called loudly and her voice echoed.
"Come. You can materialise through the rock." I encouraged him.
"I…" He began, but trailed off.
"He can't concentrate enough." Mother translated, reading the words from his mind.
"If you do not concentrate then you will die." I said harshly.
I leapt up onto the rock and then lay on my stomach in order to place my hands to his cheeks.
"Come on Malachite. I know you can do this." I said firmly as I looked into his eyes.
Mal looked as if he was about to argue once more, but then he grinned as a look of determination crossed his face. He began moving upwards, as if he were climbing a staircase.
I went to let go of his face, but Mal's hands were free and kept mine in place and I had to rise to my knees. In increments I got to my feet as Mal emerged from the rock keeping my hands to his face. By the time he was stepping onto the top of the rock I was stretched on the very tips of my toes with my arms stretched above in order to keep my hands to his cheeks.
"Wow." Mother gasped. "Since when can you walk through stuff?"
"Never." Mal replied as he took his hands from mine and I settled back onto my feet.
"I came as fast as I could." Father said. "We had trouble in apprehending the last of Alec's men."
"The emergency's over." Mother replied. "Mal was trapped in the rock and it looked like you'd have to gouge the rock from around him, but then he walked right through it."
"Your telekinesis has grown." Father directed at Mal.
"But it hasn't." Mal said. "At least not over the years. It's just been like it always has, moving things with my mind and creating physical shields. I've never been powerful enough to be able to manipulate the molecules to slip between them."
"Then what changed?" Mother asked.
"I met Liza." He declared.
"Excuse me?" I asked, for I had no idea how this applied to me.
"Don't you know your own power?" He demanded.
"I have no powers. Tony is the gifted twin, as I have told you often." I reminded him.
"He's not the only gifted twin." Mal said. "You are like a super booster or something."
I gave him a look of confusion.
"You enhance other people's abilities. So yeah, ok I shifted us through solid rock, but I wouldn't have been able to do it if you weren't there. And it's more powerful when you touch the person you're enhancing." He said in a matter-of-fact voice, and although I was certain it could not be trued, it was hard to refute him in that moment.
"Is that why you wished me to remain touching your cheek?" I asked.
"Yeah. I was afraid if you let go I'd suddenly have a power drain and end up stuck inside the rock, and some of the rock would have been inside me. Our molecules would have been all mixed up and I have no idea what that would have done to me, only that it would most likely be painful." Mal said darkly.
"It is an interesting theory." I said with a sad sigh. "However, I know you say it only to humour me."
"What? How would this humour you? And what purpose would it serve me telling you this? You do enhance people's powers."
"If that were so then how has nobody else noted such a thing over the years?" I demanded.
"I don't know." He replied with a shrug. "Maybe they haven't had their powers tested to the full. Or there's no advancing on their powers. Or they have a fluctuation in their powers so they don't notice when you're adding to it. But I've known the limitations of my powers for years, so I know when I'm being boosted."
"I think this is something we should discuss once we are safely out of the cave and you have both rested and fed." Father said quickly before I could express further argument.
"I think it's for the best." Mother added and Mal and I agreed.
We stepped down onto the cave floor and we walked as a group, led by the two spots of light from the torches.
"So Mal. Long time no see." Mother said as we traversed the darkness.
"Yeah." Mal replied.
"So where have you been all these years?" She asked casually, but there was a hint of her hurt and relief beneath her words.
"Here there and everywhere." He replied with a wary chuckle. "Mostly trying to keep away from the vamps."
"Why?" Mother inquired.
"There are some out there who kill us half vampires if they think they can get away with it." Mal stated darkly.
"Really? We have to do something about this!" I exclaimed.
"We will discuss it with the others once we are back home." Father promised.
"Yeah. I know Jane will be happy she has someone to burn again if it's a common thing." Mother added.
"Jane?" Mal asked. "I thought you left the Volturi."
"We did." Mother replied. "And Jane did too. She's the main enforcer of the VCAC."
"What's that when it's at home?"
"The Vampire Coalition of America and Canada. They are the governing body pertaining to all vampires who wish to live or travel in North America." I stated. "Have you not heard of them?"
"No. And why didn't you say the Volturi weren't running the show anymore? It would have been nice to know that I could take my troubles somewhere and actually get listened to." Mal demanded of me, and I felt ashamed in that moment, I had failed my friend.
"I am sorry Mal. I was behaving a brat. I wished not to give Mother the credit she was due in bringing about our new arrangement. I wished to hate her for the foolish sense I had that she wished to replace me with the new baby." I stated.
"So all your running away to college and not going home was over a new baby?" He asked, and I realised I had let slip the secret I had been keeping from him for all this time in the hope that I would not drive him away. I had picked the worst way to break the news to him, and now it was time to humble myself before him before I sought his forgiveness.
"I am a brat and I deserve your ridicule and resentment for not informing you sooner that we vegetarians have run of North America, with consent of the vampire clans in the South. We have come to a compromise over feeding rights. I should have informed you of this, and also told you of my new sister. I was a brat and I do not deserve your kindness."
"Liza, this is not the time." Father said softly, and he touched my shoulder briefly.
"Of course Father." I said sadly and I fell into a sullen silence as we completed the journey from the cave.
It was a long walk, but if truth be told I had no energy to run. This plodding pace was enough for me. I could feel the draw of a nice hot shower and a cool clean bed. I wanted nothing more than to fall straight into sleep.
Mother lifted me into her arms and cradled me to her shoulder.
Sleep if you want. She thought toward me. You've been through a lot these past few days and you should rest.
No Mother. If Mal is walking then so should I. I stated firmly.
Are you sure?
Very much so. Although I am grateful for the offer.
I know Lamb. Mother said as she placed me back on the floor.
I continued walking and after a while Mother and Father turned out the torches. It was quite dark, but not the impenetrable darkness of earlier. It was clear that light was reaching us, even if it wasn't apparent yet. I knew that the torches had been switched off in order to allow our eyes to adjust gradually to the natural light as we exited the cave.
As I caught the scent of fresh air I felt a renewed vigour and that helped to carry me from the cave and out onto a flat rock perched precariously over a rushing river.
"Just up the rope and we'll be in the car." Mother said, pointing up the cliff behind us.
My first thought was of how high it looked, but then I chastised myself for a hundred feet was nothing to a dhampir.
Mal gave my hand a squeeze and I looked at him fully for the first time in what felt like days, although I doubt we had spent more than a few hours within the cave. He looked somewhat drawn, paler than usual and very exhausted. His hair was matted with cave debris and his clothes were damp and worn. Not to mention the specks of my blood visible down the front of his shirt.
Despite all of this he managed to smile and give me a look of encouragement. With his eyes alone he managed to communicate, come on Liza bach, not far now. Just up this cliff and we'll be home.
I smiled in return and felt the true strength I needed to climb to the top of the rope. Although my arms were beginning to tire and it was with some relief that I reached the top. I staggered across uneven ground and was intercepted by Granny Ness, who threw a blanket around my shoulders before pulling me into an embrace.
I fell into her arms allowing her warmth to encompass me for a moment; it was so good to be near her again. To be near most of my family who I knew were near. I pulled the blanket around me and turned to find that Auntie Rose had handed a blanket to Mal. Mal pulled it around himself, and he seemed subdued.
I stepped toward him and hugged him. He hugged me in return, leaning his cheek on my head as we both delighted in the fact that we were alive and free. There was the reassurance of the scents of my family that added to this feeling of relief. I was back with my family, and Mal was here too.
Mal sniffed and lifted his head sharply. I looked up at him, thus giving me a good view up his quivering nostrils. Suddenly he pulled me behind him and his posture became defensive as he let out a growl.
"What's wrong?" I asked softly as the others looked at him with caution.
"Jane is here." He hissed.
"Of course she is." Mother said, tapping Mal gently on the shoulder. "She was overseeing the rescue."
"What?" Mal demanded.
"She is the leader of the Coalition." I stated, stepping from behind Mal and I took his hand. "She leads the guard in the apprehension and punishment of vampires who break the laws."
"What laws?" Mal asked, looking down at me.
"Kidnapping dhampir for starters." Jane stated, stepping toward us from the throng of the guard. "Killing on another's territory without seeking permission. Wilful exposure of our world to the humans. Recruiting others to join him in his crimes. But most of all, trying to frame the daughter of my very good friends for murder in a way that leaves her unable to defend herself to the humans without drawing attention to our world. To making her feel so scared that she had to flee the life she was creating for herself. To take her and keep her prisoner for days, and when she does escape have one of his minions confuse her so she ends up running in endless circles while she slowly dehydrates. And doing the same to the boy we were once charged to protect for simply being a friend to the girl." Jane paused and her face looked wary. "Alec has broken a lot of our laws and he will be punished after his trial."
"You're giving him a trial?" Mal demanded.
"It's the law." I whispered. "Everyone is entitled to a trial, unless they give enough reason to be killed on the spot."
"And Alec hasn't?" Mal asked sarcastically.
"If he gave himself up then he has the right to a trial." I stated.
"And with Alec it's a delicate issue anyway." Jane stated. "We don't know if he's here on Aro's behalf."
"He told me he had left the Volturi." I stated.
"But he has lied to you in the past." Jane stated.
She was merely stating a fact, but it still hurt. Alec had lied to me in the past, why should I believe him now? He could have been working for Aro, but then what would Aro gain from this? And another thing…
"If he was working for Aro he would not be able to lift a hand against me." I stated. "For Mother's edict still stands. Alec was working of his own accord, and that was how he managed to kidnap me."
"There is always a chance that it has warn off." Jane stated, but she sounded almost hopeful.
I stepped toward Jane and hugged her.
"You know he has done this of his own accord and deserves to be punished, but he is still your brother and you can not bring yourself to decide his fate." I whispered into her ear. "I understand. I am a twin myself."
I stepped away from Jane and I could feel Mal's curious eyes on my back. He was most likely wondering how I could be so casual with Jane as to hug her.
"I think he should go on trial for all to see. Justice must be seen to be done otherwise it is not a deterrent. Do you not agree Mal?" I turned to him as I asked the latter.
"I guess." Mal murmured.
"Talking of justice, how are we gonna clear Liza?" Mother asked and Jane looked thoughtful.
"Perhaps we could find a human criminal to take the place of Alec." Farther suggested. "There are many a vile human who get away with sickening crimes through loopholes in the law. Perhaps we could engineer a scenario that puts them in prison with no loophole to aid them."
"Would that be ethical?" Mother asked.
"Maybe we should save this discussion for later?" Alice suggested. "We really need to clear this area soon."
Mal and I were ushered into a van. There were no seats in the back, but I was so exhausted I cared not. I merely lay down on the carpet, wrapped up in my blanket. Mal curled beside me and his green eyes looked into mine. I could not fathom his thoughts, and given the revelations he had encountered over the last thirty-six hours I was hesitant to ask.
The van rumbled into life and began to move over bumpy terrain. The van was jolted, but I barely noticed it as Mal still held me with his eyes. I was unable to look away and I wished he would speak to me. I wished he would not speak and say hurtful words.
I felt my lip tremble I was too exhausted to keep a strong hold on my emotions. Mal reached out a hand and brushed it against my cheek as if to wipe away a tear, although I knew there were none there.
"So." He said.
"So?" I prompted, ready to face his hatred.
"Alec then." He stated.
"Alec?" I asked with confusion, for this had been at the bottom of what might be affecting his mood in that moment.
"He was the one who broke your heart." He stated.
"Yes." I said sadly.
"You said the guy was called Sasha Ulyanov." He reminded me.
"Which is an alias Alec uses at times." I said sadly.
"Why didn't you say?" He asked softly.
"There was no point at the time since I believed I would never lay eyes on him again. And really, how could I admit that I was tricked by Alec of the Volturi with his false words of love and his taking advantage of my naivety when it came to men?" I asked sadly.
"I would have thought that you were only young at the time and it's easy to get swayed by someone older and more experienced. That no doubt Alec tailor-made his bait to do his master's bidding. I bet he watched you a while before he approached you?" Mal said as he took my hand in his.
"Yes." I replied.
"Then he knew how to be to make you fall for him. Only trouble is, I think he fell for you too." Mal stated, and I felt that he was studying my face for something.
"How so?" I asked, wishing to hear his theory, did it match my own?
"He wouldn't go to this much trouble if he didn't love you. I mean obsessively love you." Mal corrected, although I had no idea why for the thought of Alec loving me in any form was repulsive. "And you wouldn't have been able to pull the wool over his eyes with your feminine whiles if he didn't at least find you attractive. And Liza, thanks for blindfolding me, if I'd had to witness the sight of what I heard…" He shivered slightly.
"I have no attraction for him." I stated, feeling the sudden need to reassure Mal. "I had to imagine him as someone else in order to touch him. I would have used any other way, but outnumbered as we were I was left with no choice."
"Well if it's any consolation, I think you got him back for crushing your heart all them years ago. And then some." Mal said with a slight smile.
"Oh dear. Was it wrong for me to use such action against him?" I asked, feeling suddenly worried.
"What? Why? It's what he wanted wasn't it? And if he hadn't kidnapped you in the first place you wouldn't have to play dirty." Mal reassured me.
"But is it right to use such underhand tactics?"
"If it keeps you alive it is." Mal stated. "So just don't go second guessing yourself now that we're free and he's captured. You did the best you could with the tools available to you. I mean, it's not as if there's any weapons that can penetrate vampire flesh. And us dhampir are weaker, even facing one vampire can be a bit of a challenge, never mind four."
"Three." I corrected.
"But there were four if you include Alec." Mal countered and I realised he knew nothing of Rea.
"Yes. But Rea was on our side. Unfortunately Alec decided to enlist her help when he went to find protection rather than one of the men as I had hoped." I frowned. "I wonder in which direction the town lay?"
"To the west of the main entrance." Mother stated, and I craned my head to see that she was watching us over the back of the seat. "If you'd gone around the rock formation to the west of where you came out over the canyon you would have found it."
"And I chose north." I said mournfully.
"North is where your home is." Mal said, and I looked at him and smiled.
"I was hoping to head home, to head to safety. But we merely ran in circles." I said mournfully.
"Like Jane said, one of Alec's men could mess with your mind. It was a bit like Zafrina's power." Mother stated.
"Was?" I asked as I sat up to face Mother. "Then I take it he's no more?"
"Rea took him out as soon as she knew back up had arrived. Her first target would have been Alec, but he was the other side of the water slide of doom at the time." She replied.
"Too bad." I stated.
"Actually it's a good thing. You know what Aro's like about his old minions. This way we got a peace offering. Let the brothers decide Alec's fate and they'll feel they've got a hand in our politics."
"Wow. So you're really running the show?" Mal asked, sitting up also.
"Yeah. Well Jane and her elected Government is. I didn't want to get into all that agro. I mean my services are there in an emergency, but otherwise I just want me a nice quiet life." Mother explained.
"And the Volturi really aren't in charge anymore?" Mal asked, still a little sceptical over the whole notion.
"No." Mother stated.
"And didn't you say that vampires are not allowed to attack dhampir?" Mal inquired.
"It was part of the dhampir charter that Tony and I drafted and submitted to the committee. It was sanctioned so any vampire found harming a dhampir will be punished." I explained.
"Why didn't you tell me any of this when I was always going on about the bad vamps and how we had to watch out for the Volturi?" Mal demanded in a slightly exasperated voice, and I realised that he too was exhausted and drained and was allowed a small amount of melodrama.
Now I'd had time to think and was not feeling guilty over keeping Billie a secret, I realised that I had often tried to tell him about the new state of affairs. I thought it only right that I defend myself on that point. But not in a confrontational way, I did not wish to fight with Mal.
"I did try to tell you." I stated in a careful voice, not wishing to sound as if I were accusing him of anything. "On many occasions I tried to tell you, but we were always interrupted; usually by Dove, and I would lose my train of thought or the matter would not be raised again for a while. When we would finally come back to it Dove would be on hand with her bad timing. She has made quite a habit out of interrupting us."
"Tell me about it." Mal said despondently.
Mother looked quickly between Mal and I, then her eyes widened as if in shock. I felt communication pass between her and Father, but since Tony was absent I could not hear what was said. I frowned as the realisation hit me.
"Where is Tony?" I asked.
"Back at Tregarran with Grace and Billie." Mother replied. "And helping Carlisle with the birth."
"What birth?" I asked, and for a worrying moment my mind went to the thought that I had missed out on being an auntie as well as a big sister.
"Ebony is having a baby." Mother stated.
"Auntie Ebony?" I asked in excitement. "I take it that Nahuel is the father."
"Of course he is the father Liza." Father said from the driver's seat.
"I thought I should ask in case some development had occurred in my absence." I said feeling somewhat defensive.
"Of course." Father said. "It is only natural that you would be behind on current events since you chose to cut yourself off from the family."
"Tobias!" Mother chastised.
But Father was right to criticise and so I dropped my head and said, "Sorry Father. And sorry Mother for all the grief I have caused you. I have been the worst possible daughter these last few months. If it were not for Malachite watching over me I would have been the worst possible person too. I realise now that family is important and it was wrong of me to feel misplaced. I will never do something so foolish again. I have learnt my lesson. The hard way."
"Hey Lamb, don't be so hard on yourself. You can't help it if you're hot headed, I mean we all know where you get that from." Mother said with a snigger. "And you were getting back in touch. You kept your promise to text me every other day. And you were texting Tony too."
"You got back in touch?" Mal asked. "And didn't tell me?"
"I was waiting until I was on firmer footing, and ready to return home to Mother. To my father and brother. To meet my sister Billie." I stopped and felt appalled with myself. "What will she make of the grown woman who wanted nothing to do with her? How could I act so horribly at the thought of a baby? What was I thinking?"
"What were you thinking?" Mal asked, and he was looking at me with open hostility, I knew the knowledge would turn him against me, and I had no reason to blame him, I hated myself for my behaviour.
"We are here." Father said as the van drew to a stop. "We must discuss what is to be done."
"About clearing up the mess I have caused?" I asked.
"You didn't cause this Lamb." Mother said firmly. "Alec did. My only gripe is that you should have told us how serious it was from the word go, rather than play it down the way you did. We could have intervened to stop the cops linking anything to you."
"I honestly believed the law would serve me. I was not guilty and there would be no evidence. I had no idea Malcolm planned to film my ordeal." I paused and gasped. "He was not the camera man."
"Alec." Mal growled and I nodded my head.
"Let's go sort this out." Mother said before exiting the van via the passenger door.
The back doors were opened and sunlight flooded in. I blinked in the sudden light as a vampire in a wide brimmed Stetson held a hand out to me.
"Why Miss Liza, ain't you a sight for sore eyes." Mr Sam Ransome JR declared.
I took his offered hand and allowed him to pull me from the van and his exposed skin sparkled in the relentless sun.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance once more Mr Ransome." I said with a curtsy. "Although I would rather it be under better circumstances."
"It is always a pleasure to meet with you Miss Liza. Now tell me, who is this handsome young man of yours?" Sam Ransome JR said, indicating Mal who had got out of the van behind me.
"This is my good friend Mr Malachite Llewellyn." I said, taking Mal's arm and pulling him forward. "Mal, may I introduce you to Mr Sam Ransome JR, Governor of the Texas territories."
"Governor?" Mal asked.
"I thought I aught to make things more democratic like." Sam Ransome JR said grandly. "I gave all vampires on my land the vote, provided they voted for me of course." He added with a wide grin that enhanced the features that had once helped him charm the good people of Texas, before a vampiress took a fancy to him and changed him. He never spoke about his maker and I had a feeling there was no love lost there, much like Uncle Jasper and Maria.
"Very democratic." Mal observed.
"Now enough lolly gagging, we got us a meeting to attend." Sam Ransome declared as he placed a hand on my shoulder and the other on Mal's shoulder and began leading us toward the big building made from corrugated steel and it was but a moment for me to realise it was an aeroplane hanger. We had stopped at an airstrip.
"May I cut in Mr Ransome?" Mother said as she gently but firmly took his place behind Mal and I.
"Why of course Mrs Hannigan, I would sure hate to impose." Sam Ransome said politely despite the fact that he'd already been displaced.
As much as I feel comfortable in Sam Ransome's presence, I felt infinitely better with Mother's arm about me. I placed my arm about her back and leant my head into her side as we walked. I inhaled her scent deeply and I felt tears threaten as I chastised myself for staying so long from her presence.
I have missed you Mother. I thought. I should not have been so…
We'll talk about it later Lamb. She said, tapping my shoulder. Once you've fed and rested and we're back home.
I nodded my head and sought to be closer to her warmth whilst still maintaining locomotion.
Mal chuckled from Mother's other side and I felt his arm resting above mine as he too embrace Mother.
"What's so funny?" Mother asked.
"I feel like a kid again." He sighed. "You here, protecting me from the Volturi."
Mother laughed and ruffled his hair.
"Yeah, feels just like the old days, except I'm a mom now." Mother said and her arm tightened about me and she kissed my head. "Three times over."
"Yeah. But adolescent confusion aside, you were always a mom to me." Mal observed, and I frowned a little at his change in accent. He sounded very much like Mother now, his tone and inflection matching hers.
"Yeah." Mother replied and there was something uneasy in her mind but I could not follow it without Tony here to help me.
Besides there was no time to ponder further for we were stepping into the hanger where a conference table had been set up. Mal and I were ushered into very comfortable seats where a place had been laid for us with glucose drink, steaming vegetable soup with dry bread and best of all, fresh warm blood. Although it was now in a glass I knew that only moment before one of the vampires had harvested it from the rabbits. I wondered if I should like to drink rabbit blood again since that was what Alec offered me, but then I brushed that thought aside. That way lay obsession and my life ruled by someone who was truly insignificant to me now.
Mal and I sat and he took my hand, although I knew it was for the feeling of comfort for other than my family he knew no other vampires here, other than Jane and he still counted her as hostile. I did not begrudge him this thought because of his upbringing; Jane would have to redeem herself in his eyes before he would trust her.
"Help yourself." Jane said, "Eat while we talk."
I nodded and reached for the bread, Mal's hand tightened on mine. I looked to him and gave him a reassuring smile before I tore a chunk of bread off with one hand and dunked it in the soup, watching the broth soak delightfully into the bread. I brought it to my mouth and when it hit my tongue I almost melted into the flavours. So good was that hot soup after days of starvation. I chewed the bread and swallowed and waited a moment, but the bread was light and the soup just right, it would not burden an unlined stomach.
I dipped the bread again and savoured the second morsel a moment longer before I picked up my spoon and took a few sips. Mal took encouragement from the fact that I was yet to keel over and began to eat his own soup while the vampires conducted business around us.
I noticed that Alec was standing at the far end of the table, his posture somewhat defiant, but I knew that Grandma Bella was containing his power; we were safe from his numbing influence. I wondered for a moment if it would have helped if he showed remorse, but I realised it was too much to hope for. Alec was Volturi through and through, even if he had forsaken the robe, to him pride was most important.
I reached for my glass of blood and began to sip it; I felt it fill my body in a delightful way, enhancing everything beyond comprehension. It always amazed me how my senses shifted after feeding, although it was not often that I noticed it so readily as in a room full of talking vampires. That was how it took a moment for me to realise what they were saying.
"You are sending us home like naughty children while the adults clean up the mess?" I demanded.
All twenty people in the room turned to me, but I would not shrink under the glare of their attention. I would not be sent away, not when Mal and I were required to ensure our names were cleared without too much criminal activity where documents were concerned. Besides, how the vampires planned to tackle it would mean Mal and I would never be able to attend Riverside again, at least not while our friends were still there. Perhaps it was perverse, but I could not help but think if that was to be the outcome then in a sense Alec would have won. My life would be destroyed, if that were his intention, and he would have won.
This could not be!
There must be another way that would clear Mal and I completely and thus leave us able to return to Riverside after Christmas, we would need time to settle our nerves would we not? Besides, it would give the gossip chance to die down. Of course for it to work then Mal and I could not simply be packed off home, we would be integral to the plan.
Would Mal go along with this?
"Yeah. We're adults you know and we didn't cause this mess, Alec did. We want to help just as much as you, and I think Liza and me needs to be there." He stated and I was certain then that he would agree to my plan.
"Don't be silly child. We have much experience in cleaning up such messes." Chided Areola Cohen, leader of the Phoenix coven.
"Don't call me child." Mal snapped. "I am a veteran of the La Push Skirmish and the Battle of Volterra. I was there on the front line when the Fire Twins were finally felled. I protected the Quileute from the advances of the Chiang Shih. I also know about clearing up. Or how you vamps like to clean up, but Liza and me got a good group of friends here in Riverside. A good group we'd like to keep in contact with if at all possible. We don't want a clean up that's just sweeping everything under the carpet. We want one where every corner is dusted and Liza and me come out of this looking as clean as ever. If you know anything about Liza you know she'll agree with me, because she'd never sweep anything under the carpet. She's too much of a neat freak for that."
I giggled and Mother and Father and the others of my family who were present laughed too. The other vampires were unsure how to react, although Jane looked rather amused.
"But there is no way to completely exonerate you." Areola protested.
"And you're likely to get in the way." Billy Dukes of Nevada added.
I took a calming breath and rose to my feet.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have a plan that will fully exonerate Mal and I in the eyes of the human law. However it will require us to be present, and we would play an instrumental part."
The vampires began to argue, some siding with us, some against. Others were more ambivalent, they merely wished the meeting concluded, the job done and they could return home. Jane called for order.
"Let us hear the plan before we dismiss it." She said and she gave me a smile of encouragement, I knew I had her vote, but was this a matter where her casting vote would come into play?
It mattered not for I was certain of one thing, "You will not dismiss this plan for it's the best option available to us. Mal and I must be involved in clearing our names. And this is how we will go about it…"
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