(Liliana Vess)

I hope he can't tell that I'm feigning sleep. The past month has been terrible. Jace has been drowning himself in the bottom of a bottle like he does when he pitches these little bitch fits. It isn't the first time that something like this has happened, when Kallist was with us, every time something went wrong, the bottle has been Jace's first reaction. I've tried and tried and tried again to talk to him, but he refuses to do anything but sit in his goddamned study and say he's "working." I don't appreciate being taken for a fool, he's drinking, and we both know it. I'm tired of being the only one putting effort into this relationship. I'm tired of the scotch on his breath. I'm weary of the fact that he doesn't come to bed unless he thinks I'm asleep. I love him, with every part of me. I'm scared of losing him. I can't allow him to kill himself the way he's doing now. I want to love him, and he's not letting me. I don't want to have to do what I'm about to do. But I don't know what else I can do. I hear him leave for the council meeting and I enchant a shade with a message for Teysa.

I pack up a few things, including the chain veil and a couple of Jace's shirts, as well as one of my more conservative dresses.

Because I'm out of options. He's not going to talk to me on his own accord. So I'm going to make him feel the only thing that scares him.

As I step outside to our doorstep, I imagine his face when Teysa tells him. It's probably not good for me to enjoy the pained look on his face as much as I do.

I planeswalk.

(Jace Beleren)

My head is pounding. I don't feel like dealing with these fucking brutes right now, but I don't feel like dealing with Liliana either. She's been pushy and demanding, and I just can't deal with that right now. I know that she's hurting. I'm powerless to help her, and telling her what happened to me in the damn maze will do nothing but make her nightmares work. She's completely put up a block in her mind, I can't hear so much as a whisper. She's done this as a show of power, I know. She's downplayed her power for these brutes on the council and even for me, but she's showing me that she's still in control of our relationship by doing this. And it makes me angry. The fact that she's blocking me out just to be a spiteful ass is beyond infuriating. I understand her thought process. It's very much "I'll show him to think he can buck up to me." She's always been controlling. But this is ridiculous.

The council members filter in, it's going to be a short meeting today. We have to take a vote on which emissaries will be put on the forefront of the problem with the Dimir. Along with myself, we have to get at least four guilds to vote that the Dimir will be included in these meetings. As I voice this, I actually get a six-guild majority. Teysa, Ral, Gideon, Vorel, and to my intense surprise, Exava and Ruric-Thar. Domri hasn't been to any meeting since the fiasco a few weeks ago.

As I adjourn the meeting, I try to decide what I'm going to do with next few hours before I absolutely have to go home. Teysa walks over to me, leaning on her cane. Her face looks resolved but unsettled in what she's going to say.

"Jace, can I have a private word?"

"Of course, Teysa."

We step off into one of the rooms in the Sunhome, Teysa looking less and less resolved as we walk.

"Look. Don't shoot the messenger, okay?"

"Teysa, what on earth do you have to tell me that is so bad that you think I'm going to be angry with you?"

"Jace, when you get home, Lili's not going to be there."

My heart sinks to my feet. Is she saying what I think she is?

"Teysa, has she…"

"She planeswalked to Innistrad."

"What the fuck is on Innistrad?"

"How do you not know, Jace?"

I take a sharp breath in. That fucking manipulative woman. She's not leaving me, she's just throat punching me with that fucking vampire of hers. My teeth clench and mana starts to pound through my veins. Where does she get off on doing shit like this?

"Fucking Markov."

"You got it, mindsculptor."

"What'd you do, Jace?"

"I apparently have pushed her into the arms of another man."

"Jace, don't say that. She loves you, and she and Sorin have been friends for decades."

"Friends? Teysa, please. Friends don't do the kind of things they've done."

"Jace, that isn't fair. You weren't even born when most of that happened!"

I just nod and leave Teysa standing there.

The anger and hurt that I feel are at an all-time high. I walk out of the room and see Gideon and Ral waiting on me. I walk directly past them and they follow for a few feet.

"Why are you two following me?"

"Obviously something is about to go down. We are your back up."

"Nothing's wrong, just my manipulative fiancée is having a bit of a temper tantrum and decided to go tattletale her precious vampire."

"Jace, come on, you're not being fair to her. Have you seen how much you've been drinking? And I bet it's double when you get home. Besides, he's her closest friend."

"I don't give a damn! This is manipulative and fucking ridiculous! She can't go off to Innistrad because I'm not paying attention to her!"

"I'm not saying she's right. I'm saying that you've been being harsh on her! Even you admit that, Jace! You can't expect her to be happy with you when you've treated her like this for a month and a half!" I turn on my heel and they don't follow me.

Angrily, I storm out of the Sunhome and toward the house, stopping at the house for a few things, including clothes and food. When I get there, there's a note on the table. I pick it up and unfold it, and all it says is "I love you," in Lili's elegant script. Seeing it just makes me angrier, angrier that she's been planning this behind my back, angrier that she's in Innistrad, angry that she's probably crying on that fucking vampire's shoulders. Rage fills my eyes and causes mana to pound through me again. How could she do this? I thought that she was truly different.. I walk out onto my front steps, securing the house with both locks and magic and see that there is a faint aura of black magic already there. She must have put something up as well.

I want to put my sword through Sorin Markov. I want to see him pay for what he's trying to do. But I can't go into his house hostile and endanger Lili- but how I wish I could land a punch square between his eyes.

I've only been to Innistrad three times in my life, and it is not a pleasant place. Why Liliana would want to live there is beyond me. Ghouls, ghosts, demons, and werewolves run rampant. Vampires and zombies are in public office. There is a presence of angels but it is not enough for me. I'm glad that I settled on Ravnica. I step out onto the front step, and for the first time in years, I planeswalk.

When I get to Innistrad, it's exactly as I remember it; a dark, gloomy hole. It's almost like being back in the Undercity. I fight off the bad memories in my head as I pull up my hood. I walk around this plane, desperate for a familiar face, someone that can possibly tell me where I'm going.

"Hello, Jace Beleren," says a whimsical, sing-song voice.

I instinctively ready mana as I turn, but it is Tamiyo, the Moon Sage. I'm sure she means no harm, and I turn to face her.

"Hello, Tamiyo. How are you? It's nice to finally make your acquaintance."

"I am fine, though I sense something in the stars."

"What do you mean?"

"There is a reason that Lord Markov has returned to this plane. Keep your eyes open, Jace Beleren. It could come to affect your plane and your people."

"What do you see, Tamiyo?"

"Something is awry. Don't let your anger blind you. And keep your loved ones close."

"Tamiyo!"

But she's flown away. As if that helped me get my bearings at all. I walk around, looking for familiar or friendly face. Sadly, it doesn't seem that this tactic is working at all. I turn to the most human looking citizen and speak.

"Have you seen Liliana Vess?"

They don't seem to hear me.

"Have you seen Liliana Vess?" this time it's louder and more demanding, just being here is feeding my rage.

"No, I have not." His voice is snarky and I don't like it. The look in his eyes says he knows more than he let on.

"I'm going to ask you one more time before I go into your mind. Have you or have you not seen Liliana Vess?!"

He points up to a hill with a wooded area on it.

"I saw her go to Lord Markov's estate. It's the first time in a long time."

I look up to the wooded area, and begin the hike. Planeswalking directly to the door would have been easier, but I need to get my head straight before I get up there. I can feel the ice forming on my hands, without conscious thought. The rage- - this is how it manifests. When I get to the door, I bang unrelentingly on it.

"Liliana! I know you're in there!"

Sorin Markov comes to the door and the ice on my hand starts to form a stake, whether consciously or not, I haven't the slightest. My breathing is labored as I look around behind him for Lili; I don't see her. It's even more infuriating because I know she knows I'm here and she's shirking our relationship off to the side.

"Hello, Jace. Long time, no talk. How are things?"

"Things are not well, as you very well know, vampire lord. You have someone that's mine."

"She's no one's possession, Jace Beleren."

"Be that as it may, she's my fiancée."

"Put that away, boy," he says, gesturing to the ice stake in my hand, "you don't want me as an enemy."

"Likewise, Markov."

"Come in and let me give you a cup of tea so we can talk about this enormous mess you two have made."

I grudgingly walk into Sorin's house, looking around for Liliana. She's nowhere to be seen, and that makes me uneasy.

"She's upstairs, Jace. I wanted to talk to you alone."

I bound up the stairs and bang on the door to the first room. I hear her shuffling around and feel a pressure on the knob. However, at the last moment, she loses her nerve and walks back to a chair, the bed, whatever she was sitting on.

"Goddamn it, Liliana Calliope! If you do not come out here right now, I'm going to drag you by your fucking hair back to Ravnica."

Sorin's sword makes a metallic sound when comes out the scabbard, but before I can ready any magic or ward, it's at my chin.

"You are not going to speak to her like that, not here. Not anywhere. Not now, not ever. Go downstairs, Beleren. Now."

His iron gaze holds mine for a long moment before I decide to speak.

"And what authority do you have over me?"

"None, but if you value Miss Vess you'll come downstairs."

"You honestly think she's going to stay here? She is mine. "

"That much is true, Beleren. But she came to me, did she not?"

I follow Sorin down the stairs. I pull out a chair and sit, he sits across from me.

"Why do you think she came to me?"

"Because she's acting like a child!"

"Does all the blame rest on Liliana's shoulders, Jace? Does it really?"

"Of course not!"

"Exactly, Jace. That was all you had to say. She came to me because she thinks that she's the reason you two are falling apart. She thinks you blame her for losing the baby. She's scared to lose you, dear boy."

"How in the hell does she think that? My world revolves around her! And she thinks coming to you will make our relationship less rocky?"

"She knew it would get your attention. She knew it would scare you, and that's exactly what she wanted. Liliana may be a lot of things but she's not stupid, you know that."

"I don't think she is, Sorin."

"Liliana, darling, come down stairs."

When the word darling exits Markov's lips, it makes my blood boil. My jaw and fist clench, anger apparent.

"I have called her darling decades before you were born, Mr. Beleren. No need to get all worked up over that."

I exhale a moody breath of air.

I hear the door open and her descend the stairs. I walk over to the foot of the stairs and wrap my arms around her. Surprised, she jumps at my touch.

It nearly breaks my heart.

She returns the embrace, laying her head against my chest. I put my hand on her hair and breathe in her scent. I sigh in relief.

"I'm glad you're safe."

"See now. That wasn't so bad was it?"

We walk over to the table and Liliana pulls the chair out beside me. She hesitantly reaches for my hand, but then drops hers before I can grab it. I wish she would hold my hand. The fact that she oulled away from hit harder than I realized and being hesitant tore at my heart. Was she truly scared of me? Did I terrify her that much? I wish I could go back in time and change how I handled, well, everything. But at this moment I was beyond pissed, why had she left? Was it all just to get my attention, like Sorin said? Or was there something more? I stewed on this, and it only made me more upset.

Sorin took a sip of his tea and placed it on the saucer and that back on the table. I could feel his icy glare on me, and looked up to see him turning his gaze back and forth between the two of us. Sorin was like a hawk, his amber eyes looking right through us. I underestimated Sorin, only having heard of him, I never really got to meet him. He was as awe inspiring just like Lili had said, and there was something about him that I could not place, but I liked it.

Sorin cleared his throat, "What is going on with you two?"

Out the corner of my eye I see Lili's head drop, and watched as she picked at her hand. I ordered my thoughts and began to think on his question. What is going on with us? I love her, yes, but why was I so angry? Why did I feel the need to kill something or lose control like I did in the maze? Did I secretly want it? Was the desire of power that strong?

"Well...uh..I don't know, Sorin," I said, my voice shakey.

"What do you mean you don't know, Jace? You two live together, you sleep together, you experienced something in that maze that not many people ever have to go through and yet here you sit, arguing llike children. One would think that after the ordeal that you two went through you would be off gallivanting on some other plane, drinking and being merry; Yet you sit on this gloomy plane, in the gloomy home, looking...well, gloomy. Why?" he said. His words stung, and they were true, why did we allow ourselves to get to this point? Why are we not stronger in our relationship than before? The truth I had been dodging for so long crept back into my head, and those doubts strong once again. It was me.

I had caused the majority of these problems outside of the maze, and all because of my stupid pride and not wanting to put her in harm, I sent her into another man's arms. She didn't deserve the bullshit I put her through. She didn't need this, especially considering her life and everything she has lost. I don't deserve her. But, why did I hold so much anger then? I was mad at her for planeswalking away, but I commend her, she's smart and knows how to get what she wants. I would expect no less of Liliana Vess.

"Jace, what happened in this maze?" Sorin asked.

"Sorin, I can't...I won't-" I started, but Liliana's hand on my hand stops me. She touched me, she actually touched me and I can't believe it. I turn to see her violet eyes looking at me. There was a sense of loneliness and desperation in those eyes. She looked hurt, scared and lonely. Something Liliana Vess will never say out loud, I can read in her eyes. I don't need to be a mind reader to see she is desperate for answers and wants to know. But if I tell Sorin and her what happened What are the chances that she would leave? I didn't want to lose her love and her relationship, I've already lost my best friend and I didn't want to lose her, but, I have to trust her, so here goes nothing.

I hesistantly, began, retelling everything from that morning all the way up to Gideon knocking me out. I told her about the book given to me by Aurelia, and how we snuck into the gate, and slit the guards throat. I told them of the lens I crafted, finding our way out of the initial confusion that was the entrance, just to waste time. Liliana grabbed at my hand and squeezed it as the progression of my story continued. I choked at parts here and there, having to retell it was by far the worst experience ever. I didn't know which was worse, living through the experience, or having to retell it. Then came the hard part.

I steadied my breath, retelling Gideon throwing me through the doorway, and my entrance into the maze and progression into madness. As I retold my tale, the back of my head pounded like hell and my hands shook. Sorin kept looking intently and Liliana did her very best to comfort me, especially as I counted off to them the number of people who died by my hands. Dropping my head, I recited the willingness I gave into the madness, and felt a slight change in tension in Lili's hand and told them about the horrible visions, all the way up to Gideon's punch.

"There, that's everything," I said, placing a hand over my mouth trying not too vomit and continued to look at the floor. Mainly out of shame, but partly because I dare not look into their eyes and feel the presence that would be there. I wonder if they would think me a monster, or something worse. There was no telling, but I felt as if I would never find peace in my heart again, and lose the one I cared for above everything else.

"Well Jace, I knew you had been through the abyss, but never would I have thought it to be anything like this, however, the fact that you still sit here in front of me now in one piece tells me something," he said, his deep tone almost soothing and comforting, but not enough to erase these horrors.

"And that would be?" I asked.

"You have more heart than anyone else I have ever met. You did what you had too, to try at the very least to save Liliana. I can tell that you cherish her more than anything, but..." he said, trailing off. He picked up his cup of tea and drank from it gracefully. "Why take it out on her? Did she wrong you in a way?" he said as the cup left his lips.

"No, well not exactly. All I wanted to know was that she was pregnant. All I ask from her is to let me help, but she's too damned stubborn," I said, and just as I figured, she removed her hand from mine so fast, you would've thought she was touching poison. I could feel the disgust rolling off of her. She was angry with me, but this was a two way street.

"Did I say something to offend you? Or does the truth hurt?" I snap at her. Why in the hell did I do that?! What possessed me to say that? Why can't I keep my damn mouth close?

"Here, you say that you love her, but yet why say that?" he said.

"I..." I began.

"You what Jace? 'Didn't mean it'. Load of shit if you asked me, all great mind mage," Liliana spoke, knocking her chair over as she stood up angrily. "You know what Jace!?" she yells at me.

"What?" I retort, not looking at her.

"You are the most stubborn asshole I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, and you frustrate me. You're cocky, arrogant and half the time you think you're better than everyone else."

"Well, I guess we see how you truly feel," I say.

"Stop! I wasn't done talking, don't cut me off," she snapped. I sealed my lips tight, trying to prevent something I could very well regret and not be able to take back.

"You do things that get on my nerves, but I can honestly say, that I love you," she said. This surprised me, especially because I thought I was going to be yelled at. "I love you more than anything in this world, and there isn't a deal I wouldn't make for you, a life I wouldn't take and a sacrifice wouldn't make. All of this and more, just to make you happy. Just so at the end of the day, when all the hurt and the pain has been tallied up, when all the losses have been counted and the hearts broken I can crawl my frail, broken and scared body into your arms, and let your touch rejuvinate me." she stepped closer to me, and motioned for me to stand up. I did so, and she wrapped her arms around my waist.

"I love you, and you fix me when I didn't know I was broken., but my love, please, please I'm begging you to let us help, and open the door. Because, while I love you, I can't live like this. You're asking me to not leave and I don't want to, but you're quickly making the decision for me to go by not telling me. If you care for us, for our future and our sanity, then tell me. Tell me what to do, so I can make it better," she said. At this point, tears were streaming down her face, her makeup smearing and the look of desperation wrenched my heart. I cannot believe I allowed everything to get to this point, and in retrospect, it wasn't worth it. Yet, at the back of my mind, it was like someone was pulling the strings, and craved my anger and the pain. For a brief moment, the pain was sharp and I winced, gritting my teeth and clutched at my head. The pain was indescribable, and it would bring any man to his knees.

"Jace, are you alright, son?" Sorin asked, gracefully standing up, and walking around to us.

"My head...it hurts," My voice sounds weak and broken.

The pain felt very similar to the maze, but not as bad. For a brief moment I was scared that there would be a repeat of the maze, and I would do something uncontrollable. I swayed a little bit, and placed my hand on the table, steading myself. There was a moment of silence between us, and I steadied my breathing, calming myself.

"Jace, how often has this happened?" Sorin asked, approaching me.

Lili looked at me, and I looked at Sorin, sweat on my brow. She looked at me expectantly, waiting for an answer. I looked into their eyes, trying my very best to hide that this has happened far more than once and frequently since leaving the Duskmantle. How many times have I gotten angry and smashed a cup, splintering glass all over my study? Or how many times have I punched the wall or slammed my fist into my desk? There were times I've snapped at my assistant, Gideon and Ral Zarek.

"Frequently, often at night I smash glasses or start raving to myself," I said, the sweat pouring down my face.

"Jace, in the maze how did you get poisoned?" Sorin asked, roughly taking my face in his hand, looking deep into my eyes with those entrancing amber eyes.

"I don't think I was poisoned, I just saw things to disturb me," I said, trying to pull away from his grip, but it was too strong. What he did next scared me. He placed his thumb on my forehead and closed his eyes, breathing in deeply. I felt a winding through my brain, and felt like a frightened animal. Was this what it felt like to have someone in brain? I felt the probing stop as the force wound to the back of my mind, and perused around.

After a moment, Sorin pulled away, the feeling gone in my mind and he looked at me, then to Liliana. Sorin never looked troubled, but this time he looked as if someone had just died.

"Come with me," he said, walking out of the room, and we followed. We followed him through portions of the house. It was filled with other vampires, some 'feasting', others lounging about. Through the rooms we passed all the vampires greeted their lords, as well as the human cattle. This slightly repulsed me and I cringed at these sights, glad I wasn't to be Sorin's guest for 'dinner'. We went through a few more rooms, and progressed up a staircase on the other side of the house, and into a private room. Sorin closed the door behind us as he indicated for us to take a seat. The room was a massive library that housed thousands of books, and a writing desk filled with miscellaneous notes and other writing utensils.

Sorin walked over to shelf and began looking through tomes, maybe trying to find something to help me. I looked to Liliana who was staring intently at me, but she seemed out of her wits, something she never is. Until now, I didn't notice the bags under her eyes, or the hair out of place here and there, or how she looks like she hasn't eaten in a month. I'm willing to bet she hasn't, and her sickly look was evident to this. Her eyes were red and stress was all over her face.

Standing up, I grabbed the arms of the chair and moved the chair to where I would be sitting directly in front of her. I sat down, and grabbed her hands, the coldness to them shocking.

"Sweetheart, why are your hands so cold?" I asked, rubbing her hands to warm them.

"Isn't one who plays with the dead meant to be cold?"

"No, she shouldn't, she should look like she is warm and happy, that way no one knows she's a necromancer," I said.

"But, then I would hide what I am, and unlike some people, I'm not ashamed of my abilities." she said, her tone cold.

I felt a surge of tears forming in me. "My dear, I love you. Never in a hundred million years, would I have intended to push you, us, to this point. But yet, here we sit in Sorin's home, because I was too stubborn to just open up to you," I said, looking into her eyes.

"Jace, it's fine-" sh started.

"No! I mean, no, it's not. This shouldn't have happened. I didn't want for you to feel what you feel now. I'm sorry," I fall to my knees and look her in the eyes. "Liliana Calliope Vess, can you find it deep within your heart to forgive me, forgive what I have become?" I said.

For the first time I recall, since all of this has happened, she smiled. She looked at me and gave me the biggest smil I've seen in a long time. "Of course, Jace. Now, get off of your knees, you look like a fool."

I did so, sitting back in my chair, tear down my face. For that moment, nothing else mattered, it was just us. We were both smiling and you would thought that nothing at all had been bothering us. She leaned in and our lips connected, a spark reignited, and all those feelings came rushing back and I was happy. Sorin clears his throat, and looks at us. Liliana and I look at each other and our faces are beet red. There's a moment of silence and we burst out laughing at the situation.

"Do you two need a moment? Jace, I found this book that will help you. I'm no chemister, but take this to a healer and they should be able to fix you up. I'm glad to see you two have worked things out, but never forget that you love each other." Sorin said. I looked up at him, and there was a softness to him I didn't know vampires were capable of and he looked just like a dad. Maybe Avacyn taught him that look? Or maybe time has taught him an amazing amount of love one could not learn in a normal life?

"Sorin, I-I-I don't know what to say? How do I repay your kindness?" I asked, staring at him.

"You don't. Continue to love her, and if she comes to me again with tears in her eyes and you caused them," he leaned close into my ear, "you best hope I don't find you."

With that, Sorin lead us down the stairs and out of the house. We thanked him again as we said our goodbyes and prepared to planeswalk, but Sorin stopped me.

"Oh Jace?"

"Yes, Sorin?" I respond

"Anything worth fighting for, is worth having. Anything worth having is worth fighting for," he said, smiling.

"I'll remember that," smiling and we planeswalked away.