DISCLAIMER: DON'T OWN THE HOLLOWS

RPOV

It was the too-close-for-comfort scent of burnt amber that stirred me. Forcing myself to remain still and keep my breathing even, I extended my hearing. The only sounds my ears were able to catch were my own soft breaths. Assured, I opened my eyes, my heart nearly jumping out of my chest and running away when red eyes was all I could see. Above me, Al was there, his arms on either side of me and his nose inches from touching mine. My eyes widened in surprise and just a hint of fear. In an attempt to put at least another half an inch away from him, I dug myself into the fluffy pillow that was currently supporting my head.

My hand rose to push at his chest, hoping he'd get the hint and back the hell off, but he remained where he was, getting closer if anything. I knew he was done trying to kill me, but still, I did have a sense of personal space.

Staring deeply into my eyes, he asked, "Are you alright?" and his warm breath washed over my face. He looked so worried with his brow furrowed and his demon eyes narrowed.

"Peachy," I muttered. Ugh, I felt as if I just came out of the oven. "Can you get away from me?"

His already there frown deepened and he did as I asked, moving off of me to sit up with his back leaning on the headboard. He was still too close. I had meant like him getting off the bed, but this was maybe the best I was gonna get. Damn him. "I told you I wasn't going to hurt you, Rachel," he said dryly, if not a bit guiltily.

"How long have I been out?" I lifted my hand to brush a strand from my face, hesitating when I realized it was the arm that was supposed to be broken. Touching my head tenderly, I felt for the bruise I should have had when Al kicked me, but it wasn't there. Al must have healed me. All of me. He better have, the friggin' jerk.

"Two minutes." He twisted his turso to face me, and opened his mouth. "I'm sorry." he said, sounding very much sincere.

I held back a grimace, refusing to meet his eyes. "Why?" I asked innocently, playing with the edge of the cover. If he was going to apologize, then I wanted to drag him through the process. For a freaking page of an old book, are you kidding me?

He glared at me, saying, "For attacking you."

"And?" I promtped, narrowing my eyes. Yes, it was childish, I knew it. And I didn't give a rat's ass.

"And for accusing you of something you're obviously not that stupid to commit."

I smiled. I just made a demon fully apologize for hurting me, admit making a mistake, and, to top it off nicely like sprinkle, he meant it. How cool was that? "Apology accepted," I said, feeling sassy. "Don't do it again."

Shaking his head, he sighed. "I'll ask questions first, beat the crap out of you later. Happy?" I just grinned up at him. "Since your awake," Al began, "I guess it's time to chat."

I blinked. "About what?" I asked, slowly popping myself up by my hands.

Mistakenly thinking that I needed assistance, Al wrapped his arm around my shoulders, helping me to scoot back to copy his position. Before my back could touch the hard wood behind me, Al paused for a second to shove a pillow against it. After my back was resting comfortably on the headboard, I thanked him. "You're welcome." he said.

"So," I persisted, "what did you want to talk about?"

"About the my missing page, itchy witch." His tone added a silent duh.

"Oh." I crossed my feet at the ankles, not knowing what else to do. "The page was mostly gone when I got to it." I glanced at him, seeing his rage. Of course he'd still be angry. Good news is that he wasn't angry with me any more. I think. Sure, Al would beat me to a pulp if I really, really deserved it, but he wouldn't kill me. He needed me. Alive, that is. Anyone else wouldn't be so lucky.

"Did you lend it to anyone?" I asked, doubting it. If he'd lent the book to another demon, that demon wouldn't have been so careless. Besides, all demon texts were spelled so as to not get damaged. If there was damage, it would have been intentional. And what demon would want to risk that and stand trial for vandalism on another's property? A demon wouldn't have done that. A thought entered my mind, having me blink at the possibility. But Al spoke before I could voice it.

"No." He made fists of his hands. "I've had it the whole time."

"Okay, then did anyone have access to your library?"

"Besides you, or I?" He laughed without humor, then went silent. Thinking with his head tilted to the side. "Nick." He said, his voice hard in accusation.

Nick? "Why?" I asked. Becoming anxious, I sat up straight. I had known it wouldn't be a demon. And a familiar would have enough knowledge. Oh crap. Nick.

"He was on a loan from Newt a few weeks ago." Al explained. "Only for forty-eight hours. I'd sent him in here to get some texts for me." He met my eyes. "That was the only time he'd been in here, and it was only ten minutes exactly."

Had it been Nick who cursed me? Oh God, no.

A pop sounded in the room, bouncing off the walls. Al had risen to his feet and was at my side of the bed, shoving an opened tome to my face. "This is the page," he announced, and I put it on my lap, peering closely at it.

"Uh-huh," I murmured. "What does this one do?" I asked, meaning the dream wish, 'punish' edition.

He started to pace along the length of the bed. "That one can do whatever the fuck it's maker wants it too. Plague someone with their worse nightmares. Trapping them in their subconscious. Etcetera."

"Even hurt someone as in the nightmare of another?" I whispered. Nick? I thought I was finished with having to worry about that bastard doing something. Apparently I was wrong.

Completely oblivious, Al continued with his pacing, sending a soft breeze with his quick steps. Walking to the end of the bed, retracing his steps to the bedside table, and then starting over. "Yes." He said matter-of-factly, his nicely muscled back to me. He wasn't wearing his green velvet jacket, and his thin cotton button-up shirt couldn't hide anything. "It's the most popular version of that one. It's intended to destroy the two parties cursed."

Oh, God. Trent should have let me let the demons kill Nick. Damn it! Damn Nick! "Would it hurt both?" I had to ask. If Trent was in danger, too, I couldn't fall asleep again. I haven't had any nightmares lately, that I recall, but that sort of thing wasn't definite. Unless I meditated for hours, but who has the time for that?

"No." Al froze mid-step with his back still to me. "And yes. The one having the nightmares won't get physically harmed, but the lost of the other would destroy them all the same. It's how the curse is intended to work."

I gulped, loud enough for Al to have heard me. He spun on his heel and kneeled beside the bed, watching my face carefully. "This is the curse on Trent and me, isn't it?"

"Now that you mention it, yes, it might be."

"Might be?" I shouted, startling him. I flung my legs over the side of the bed, sliding down until my toes met with the rug. I stood over Al as he stayed where he was, not moving an inch. "What the Turn do you mean 'it might be'?" It had to be Nick. He had the demon blood. All he had to do was trick Newt into invoking it. And he had stolen the page from Al. And he has the motivation. Screw that Trent wants something pure in his life, I was going to kill that little mouse burger. If he was going to try to kill me, he could at least have the decency to do it in my face so I'd be able to kick his ass. What a weenie!

Al rose from his almost squat, sending me to retreat back a step if I didn't want to have my chest pressed up on him. "If it was, Rachel, what could we possibly do?" he asked me, not liking it any better than me. "He's Newt's familiar. If we wanted to harm him, we'd have to go through her first with hard evidence."

"Well we have to do something!"

"Love," Al intoned, bending his head closer to mine. "What?"

I bit my lip. I hadn't a clue. He's right that we'd have to go to Newt first, if she even cared. I think she might, but who knows what she'll end up doing? Maybe blame Al for not watching him properly? Or me? "I don't know," I finally whispered, feeling helpless and not liking it. I had to talk to Trent.

Sighing, Al pinched the bridge of his nose. Then he blinked as a thought crossed his face and he began eyeing me up and down. Uncomfortable, I put an arm on his chest and moved around him. I leaned on the wall eight feet from him. I raised my eyebrows, waiting. "Well, there is a way to get the evidence." he admitted. "I don't think you'll give me any trouble, but your elf might."

Worry began to settle in my middle, and I asked, "How so?"

"Do you recall two months ago when Ku'Sox had dumped all the ley line imbalances into your line? I almost died trying to find his aura signature?"

And I saved your ass, I added to myself. "Yes."

"It goes the same as a curse on a person. There is a mark left."

"And then we can fry Nick!" Yes! We got the evidence! Well, sort of.

Al cleared his throat. "Come here." I did what he told me, standing toe to toe with him. The burnt amber that clung to him would have clogged my throat if I hadn't been so used to it. I could hardly be bothered by it anymore. "I need to have a peek at your soul to find an aura signature."

Unafraid, I muttered, "Go ahead." And feeling him waiting at my door, so to speak, I let him in. Al's presence wasn't terrible, but then again, it was suffocating, like we were squished into being the same person. I felt him searching around, picking up picture frames, touching the furniture, sniffing the air. Like a nosy neighbor entering my home for the first time. But of course Al's been in my head more than once. If you ask me, I think he liked it, nosy bastard. Al chuckled, and I blushed. I forgot he was in here with me.

Forcing my mind blank, I waited patiently for him to finish. Well, as patiently as I could manage, my hands wouldn't quit shaking. It wasn't long until he found what we wanted. He stepped out the door, out of my mind, and gave an evil smile. "It was Nick." he said.

I felt like jumping in triumph and slapping Nick at the same time. "Now we can go to Newt!" Got you, little wizard. At Al's silence, I looked at him. He sat on the bed with his ruddy face pinched. "What?"

He licked his lips, and said, "I need to look into Trent's, too. Knowing for sure you were cursed by Nick isn't enough."

"Oh." I sat next to him, his weight rocking me towards him and I pulled my feet up to sit crossed legged, me facing him completely. "Then we talk to Trent."

Al smirked at me. "Like your elf would allow me to reach into his soul and see all that is bared?"

Well, when he put it like that . . . "He trusts me," I insisted. "I could do it."

He threw his head back and laughed, making me feel stupid. "You can't, itchy witch," he chuckled. "You have to be male, and you aren't." I frowned at him. "It's the same as how you demonesses can carry another soul within yourselves when having a child. I can't because I'm male."

"He's not going to let you peek into him." I admitted glumly. "But let me talk to him." Al looked at me doubtedly. "He still trusts me."

"Perhaps, but not me."

"I can talk to him."

We continued staring at each other. I wasn't going to back down, damn it. Trent would listen to me. Finally, Al sighed, closing his eyes in a long blink. I jumped when he snapped his thick fingers, and his mirror was there between us. "Children." I heard him mutter under his breath and I gave him an ugly face.

I reached forward to put my fingers on his scrying mirror, yanking it back when he slapped my hand away. "You're aura isn't that better, itchy witch," he said. "I'll call him and relay your message."

Oh yeah, like he'd listen to you."Al!" I reached to take the heavy glass, but he lifted it on his lap. "You just said he doesn't trust you."

"Hush, itchy witch," he shushed me. He put a finger to his lips. "I'm on the phone." I crossed my arms over my middle, sending daggers his way, but it didn't affect him. He simply blew me a kiss, a lost look in his eyes as he had a silent conversation with Trent, I guessed.

Huffing, I stood, walking to the wardrobe where Al kept my clothes. Though the horrid burnt amber smell clung to everything, the faint scent of real redwood filled my nose, and I breathed in deeply, my shoulders losing some of their tension. I opened the doors, rifling through the many outfits he had gotten me. I felt like a slob wearing my pj's right next to his elegant grace. Finding jeans and a black camisole, I turned to Al expectantly.

He grimaced at the simple outfit I had chosen, and shook his head no. I flushed, refusing to back down. Not breaking our eye contact, I went to him, the clothes still in my grasp. Standing in front of him, I cocked my hip and put my free hand on my hip. Al rolled his eyes, and gave in. A red haze of ever after enveloped me, fading to nothing to leave me wearing the outfit I'd chosen, my boots, and a purple belt.

Satisfied, I lost my fierce stance. Al's hand left the mirror, and he got to his feet. He pursed his lips, then walked to where I was standing. "Trent is going to summon us, itchy witch, in few seconds."

"What?"

Al ran his eyes from the top of my head down to my boots. "I can't send you over there by yourself," he explained, licking his lips. "It may kill you unless there is another aura cushioning you. So don't try to wiggle away." Al placed his hands on my waist, pulling me into him. I stared at him wide-eyed. "Unless you'd like to risk it?" he asked.

Remembering when Al had jumped me to his library, I wrapped my arms about his waist, burying my face in his chest. It had hurt like hell jumping the line to one of his rooms, but I had to admit, it could have gone worse if Al hadn't been crushing me to his chest, as he was now. As a hollowness cramped in my middle, I squeezed my eyes shut. It may not kill me, but this was going to be painful.

"I take it," I whispered the same time Al did. Al bubbled up our minds together, and I could feel his concern for me. Then I felt the line burning me despite Al's aura. I screamed as he tightened himself around me. I concentrated on his thoughts to distract myself. Once he realized that, he forced himself to think of something else. On how he was going to rip Nick's limbs from his turso, Nick screaming in pain and pleading at Al to stop. It did me well, that happy little image. My horror masked any pain I was suffering.

And then our feet landed on a solid floor. I gasped into Al's chest, ugly sobs escaping me. My senses were getting hazy. I heard a commotion behind me, jerking into Al's chest even more when I felt hands grab me and try to pull me from him.

"Rachel," I heard a musical voice whisper. "You can let go of him now."

A sob escaped me as I turned my head and looked behind me. Trent was there, inches away, prying my arms from Al. Well, attempting to, anyways. Quen stood a foot away from us, concerned for me, and warily glancing at Al. I lifted my head, finding Al's face closer than I had thought.

"It's okay, itchy witch," he said, cupping my face with a large hand.

I'm okay, I thought, let go of him before Trent gets a crowbar. I forced my arms off Al, keeping a hand to his chest for balance. My, God, everything was getting blurry. Stars danced in and out into my vision. Taking a deep breath, I stepped away from Al, dropping my hand and shrugging off Trent's. I tried to shake my wooziness. Feeling myself tipping forward, I did nothing. I just wanted to go to sleep. Amid the panicked voices, I did.

TPOV

"Trent, stop worrying," Quen told me for maybe the tenth time. "Her demon wouldn't harm her." he finished confidently.

I glared at him for all of a second, then returned to my pacing. He was right that her demon wouldn't, but that wasn't why I was concerned about her. I had had another nightmare. My father had slit her throat open. I needed to know she was fine. Al had said she was. But she had died. Al said so, and that he had revived her. I wanted to talk to her, apologize until she told me to shut up. She had died.

Running a hand through my hair, I glanced at my watch. It was close to one. I wished Algaliarept would just call me to tell me she was getting better and she could come back to this side of the lines soon.

I heard Quen stand from sitting on the couch. He stood in my way, and when I tried to side step him, he followed me, effectively halting me. "Sa'han," he said smoothly. "Morgan is fine."

"I'm sure she is." I muttered, going around him to continue in my pacing. "I just need to know she's alright." The last I said softly.

Quen only frowned at me, walking to the kitchen. The scent of coffee rose. Maybe I should call her demon. With that idea in mind, I went to grab my mirror from inside my bedroom, inhaling Rachel's aroma that she left behind. On my nightstand, there was my scrying mirror. I crossed the room quickly and reached for it, pausing when an unexpected sneeze left me. I blinked. How odd. When another sneeze shook me, I figured I was getting "a call".

"Who is this?" I asked after I had placed my fingers on the appropriate symbols.

Who the hell else would be bothered to contact you? came an irritated voice with a proper British accent.

I'd had a hunch it was him. "How is Rachel doing?" I asked urgently, taking a seat on the edge of my untidy bed. I made a mental note to have a maid fix it as soon as possible. It wasn't if I was going to sleep any time soon.

Taking a deep breath, Al spoke. She's fine. I sighed in relief, my shoulder sagging as twelve hours of worrying left me. Until your ass falls asleep again. I went to speak, but he cut me off, impatient as ever. But that isn't why I called.

Quen walked in with his hands in fists. "Sa'han?" he questioned, his eyes roaming over my room.

"I'm speaking with Morgan's demon." I said to him, easing his suspicion that I was in danger. Then to Al, "What's happened?"

Through Al, I saw a glimpse of Rachel walking away, her back to him, and opening a wardrobe. I began feeling uncomfortable as his eyes ran over her body in appreciation. It was Newt's familiar who cursed you and Rachel.

"Nick Sparagmos?" I hissed. Quen's breath caught, his face becoming murderous. The wizard who had gotten Ceri killed?!

The demon didn't answer me, his attention on Rachel and the clothes she was showing him. You've gotta be kidding me, he thought to himself.

"Al?" I prompted.

Yes. he said, still frowning at Rachel as if the attire Rachel wore mattered more than our problem did. His aura signature is all over Rachel's soul. And I need to take a look at yours, so summon us right now.

"But I thought Rachel's aura isn't well enough for line jumping." Look into my soul?

She's better now, he growled. Hurry. And his thoughts separated from mine. My hand left my mirror.

"Trent?" Quen asked the exact moment I said his name.

I shook my head, raising to my feet. "He told me to summon him and Rachel right now."

"Are you?"

"Yes," I said. I walked out of my room. There was no way I was going to summon a demon in my bedroom. Once I was in my living room, I tapped into my ley line. I took a deep breath, summoning Rachel and her demon both.

Immediately, a giant mist of red began forming in the center of my living room, revealing Rachel and her demon. She gasped as if she were in pain, her arms tightening around her demon's waist. Jerked into motion, I went to her, putting my hands on her shoulders and trying to force her away from her demon.

"Rachel, you can let go of him now." Sobbing, she turned her head to look at me, her eyes briefly going to Quen behind me. The pain in her face tightened in my chest. Damn him, he said she was better! This was not her being better!

Rachel looked up at Al, and anger that I should not have been feeling rose when he took her face in his hand. "It's okay, itchy witch," he whispered to her.

Encouraged, she unhooked her arms, placing a hand on his chest to hold herself steady. I kept a hand on her shoulder, ready to catch her if she should fall. She stepped away from us, removing her hand and shrugging mine off. She only made it a step until she began falling.

"Rachel!" her demon and I yelled in unison. I caught her before she could hit the ground, and I carried her to my room, her demon and Quen tight on my heels. I lay her on my messy bed.

Al shoved me away with an elbow. He covered her with one of my more softer blankets, tucking it under her chin. A bit startled with how tender the demon was acting with her, I stepped back.

"Sa'han, I'm going to watch the girls." Quen said, touching my shoulder.

I looked at him. "Go," I urged, becoming fearful for my girls. But it seemed Al was too preoccupied tending to Rachel. Quen left after grimacing at him.

I stood at the foot of my bed, not sure of what to do. Rachel was out, and her demon was fussing over her, taking off her boots to drop them on my rug with a dull thump. Clearing my throat, I stepped forward enough so I could put a hand on her foot. Al straightened to his full height, staring as if through me.

"That went better than I'd expected," he said, running the back of his hand across Rachel's cheek.

Biting back my anger, I asked, "So, what did you mean by you had to look into my soul?" The sooner we finished this, the sooner he'd leave. Hopefully he'd allow Rachel to stay.

Al looked down at Rachel, the slight warmth in his eyes as he watched her shaking me to my core. "Nicky left a mark on Rachel's soul. I simply want to make sure that he has cursed you as well so I could file a proper complaint."

"And you have to?"

"Yes." he said, his alien eyes meeting mine. There was a deep fury in them, but I could tell it wasn't directed towards me.

Still not convinced, I said, "Rachel has the imprint on her soul, use hers."

"I need to make sure there isn't another person cursed with Rachel besides you."

"What would you need to do?"

"Just open your mind to me." Al huffed in annoyance when I remained silent. "Rachel has allowed me into hers countless of times."

I took my hand from Rachel's foot, leaving my arms to hang at my sides. "Rachel trusts you."

He rolled his goat eyes. "If I harmed you, I'd never hear the end of it from Rachel."

For a few moments, I gazed at Rachel's face. Her features were relaxed, a sharp contrast to when it had been animated by pain. If she could do it, then so can I. I returned my gaze to Al, nodding my head in acceptance. He walked to me slowly, as if surprised I had agreed. Him and I both. I bit back my instincts to move when he was inches from me. The poking in my head told me it was time to invite him in. I didn't know how. I figured if I thought of him, he'd do the rest. His presence wasn't quiet. I felt him shift through my thoughts, and I made fists of my hands. It wasn't long until he took a step back.

"Well?" I panted. The Goddess help me, how could Rachel willingly let him in her head all the time? Perhaps he held himself back when inside her?

"It was the little wizard," he said in monotone.

I coughed. "Now you can file a report." That damn rat. Quen was going to be furious. Al didn't speak, and I shifted my eyes from Rachel to him. "What did you see?" I asked, suddenly wary.

He took a moment to answer, sitting on my bed and stroking Rachel's arm that had moved out from under the cover. "I see now why Nick's curse worked."

"I don't understand." I ran a hand through my hair, angry at that rat. Rachel had been hurt repeatedly because of this damn curse of his.

"This curse is used to end the lives of two people in two very different ways. Rachel will be tortured, and then killed in a nightmare of yours." He paused for a moment. "Rachel's demise would kill you, Trenton."

Shocked, my mouth dropped opened. "I'll die if Rachel does?"

Al smirked. "No, you won't die."

"Then what do you mean it would kill me?"

He glanced up at me, sighing. "You love Rachel." It wasn't a question.

I jerked, my eyes widening. How would he know . . . ? "Uhhh."

"Don't try to deny it," he said, holding up a hand. "I was just in your head. Do you honestly think there wasn't anything I couldn't see?" Still, I just stared at him like an idiot. "If she dies, that would surely kill you, though you'd still be alive."

"I don't know what you are talking about." I whispered, knowing damn well it was true.

I swore I'll kill that human.

This chappie is a lot longer than what I meant it to be because I hadn't intended to put a TPOV in the end, but I didn't want to end another chapter with Rachel knocking out. But anyways, I hoped you bunch enjoyed it:)