Woven Rings Of Destiny ( Continuation of The Family)

[Shoty98]

Maggie

I was content in Ray's arms for a moment, his message from Aria caiming me some, but also infuriating me more. I was restless and Micheal kept turning from his cartoons to look at me, asking me one time if I was ok. I assured him that I was fine, leaned up and gave Ray a gentle kiss "I am going to go shower and dress." With that I left him and Micheal to their cartoons and headed upstairs.
The shower was hot and refreshing, I stood there under the flow of the water and let it relieve my tension. Dressing in some blue jeans and a sweater, I left my feet bare. At some point I needed to go and find a new pair of boots, but for now I was content to take a walk in bare feet. The cool earthen floor beneath my feet would feel nice.
A walk is what I intended and that is what I would do. I knew Ray would object and I had to find a way to convince him. But that would not be hard....I hoped.
Quickly I combed through my hair and went downstairs, to the living room. I watched the two of them laughing at Sylvester and his failed attempt at catching Tweetie. Smiling warmly my thoughts turned to Ray and I having a child, how nice would that be? I shook the thought away, now was not the time to even think about it....to much chaos in our lives.
I strode four steps to the couch and leaned down to kiss Ray "I will be back love...I am going to take a walk and clear my head." He looked up at me and frowned, telling me how I should not go out alone, that something could happen. I assured him that I would not be gone long and would not go far either, just a short walk in the woods behind the house.
When he finally yielded I left the room and headed to the kitchen to exit through the back door. The air was cool on my bare feet but I welcomed it, and the dirt beneath my feet was a feeling I had not felt since I was a small child. Before I moved another step I checked my back where I had slid my last dagger, a check to make sure it was still there.
Sure that it was I moved on silently over the forest floor, what beauty nature could provide and calming it was indeed. Nothing could be heard except the beating of my own heart. I found that odd, this time of day the birds should be singing, chipmunks and squirrels calling each other and scurrying through the forest collecting food. None of the normal sounds existed.
I made myself alert and watched all around me, listened carefully to the silence. My footsteps on the ground were not even heard by my own ears, but I knew someone watched me as I went along. My eyes darted around me, trying to find whomever watched but to no avail.
I heard a sound to my left, a twig snapping under the weight of something. Turning quickly I scanned the woods but saw nothing. I heard another sound just seconds before I felt a hand over my mouth and a knife at my throat, and a soft whisper in my ear "Do not fight me or i'll kill you anyway. Call to the big guy in the house...get him to come out here."
My heart was pounding so loudly in my chest that I barely heard the man. I tried to speak and couldn't, he held me tighter. "Nod your head, I will not give you the chance to scream a warning to him." I nodded my head no, I would not call him out.
"Bitch!" He growled out in a low voice "Don't make this harder, we already have the house surrounded, I could just give the signal and everyone will die in there."
It was then I began to struggle and I had almost gotten free when two men came out of the woods to help him hold me. I called out to Ray silently "Ray the house is surrounded. You and Micheal and Beth are in danger. Do not come out of the house and don't come after me no matter what they say......I love you my sweet."
I closed my eyes and waited for them to kill me for my refusal. But that did not happen, the man behind me shook me violently "Call him now!" he demanded and I shook my head once more. He took his hand from my mouth and spun me around. "You would prefer to die rather than call him out here to face us? All we want is the boy, with him surely that pretty little lady...uh what was her name?....Ah Aria that's it surely she will end this quest to save her boy."
I glared at the man before me, my eyes raw with anger. Taking a deep breath to compose myself "I will not call him out, I would rather die than let you have either of them." I tried to pull away from the men who held me to dodge the blow but it did not work and I felt the burning on my cheek where the back of his hand had met it. He growled with his anger and raised his hand once more, but this time he did not strike, just waved for them to take me away.
Struggling and fighting the whole way, I had nearly exhusted myself when I stood before a run down cottage deeper in the forest. "What are you going to do with me?" I asked the men, my voice as sharpe as a dagger. "We will kill you eventually...but for now we will use you to get that man to come out of the house." He shoved me forward, still holding my arms behind me, through the doorway to the cottage. Inside it smelled grotesquely musty and also as though something had died in here. I gagged and felt the bile rise in my throat, the smell hung so heavy.
Roughly I was sat in a chair and secured to it, the binds so tight it cut into flesh in each place. I opened my mouth to speek and he stuffed a gag in it tying it tightly at the back of my head. He came to stand before me and grinned. "We must not have you screaming and causing trouble. Gilbert go to the others and tell them she is secured, and to use her life to try and get him out of the house. If he fights....kill him...." I heard his evil sinister laugh and it echoed loudly in my ears, for what seemed like an eternity.
I was now alone, the only sounds were footsteps outside the front door. I closed my eyes and concentrated on Ray "They will try to use my life as a bargain to get you to come out...do not listen......protect Micheal at all costs."

 

[nightray]

Ray

I watch the cartoons with Mike but not paying it much attention know that Maggie went out for a walk. I shake my head wondering why I can’t refuse her any thing and she insists on doing things that put her in danger agenst my wishes. I shrug chuckling as tom is flattened by that large dog.

I jerk up suddenly as I her Maggie’s voice in my head I snarl thinking yaw right I’m really going to let them kill her she’s nuts. I stand up and quickly dart up stars I through my sword on over my shoulder and I strap servile knives on my belt and tuck anew more in my bots and on my back so I can get it under handed. I then throw my trench coat on over it all and I run back down stars. I go to Mike picking him up saying “be very quite we need to go save Auntie Maggie.” He nodes and I put him under my coat telling him to hang on tight.

I close the coat up arund him hiding him from site and with me running at full speed they won’t beadle to tell that I’m caring him all they’ll see is a black blur. I move to the kitchen and I fined the nanny standing there looking startled at the look on my face. I say “Get out of hear take your car and go some where safe this place is surrounded I’ve got Mike so you go.” She only hesitates for a second then runs out the front door. I her the engine of her car start then I hear a scream. I cers under my breath as Milky whimper's in fear. I pat his head and I dart out the back door a blur of movement as I enter the woods fallowing Maggie’s sent.

I run threw the woods avoiding the vampires lurking as I her glass shatter back from the direction of the house. I dog trees and brush as I move threw the wood making hardly any sound as I look for Maggie and a good place to hide mike until I get Maggie out of danger. I fined a fallen tree near where I can senates Maggie I take Mike out of my coat looking arund making sheer I’m not seen I tell him to get under the tree and cover him self up with damp levis and moss so they can’t smell you ok. He nods putting on a brave face I’ll be back as soon as I free Aunty Maggie ok. He nods agene and scrambles under the log.

 

[poohlive]

Lance took a step back, looking at the wall that seperated them. He pushed himself forward as hard as he could, his shoulder hitting the solid granite with full force.
Rocks fell down on his head, as the entire cavern grumbled under his strength. As if to defy him though, it stood there, as proud as ever. A small crack in the wall was all that he had done.
He cursed, rather loudly, watching as blood flowed freely from his arm. His strength was nowhere near enough to do that. Sitting back down on the rubble behind him, Lance waited for his arm to heal.
"Ok..." he was talking to himself more than the woman in the next cavern, "Ok, ok. We can do this. It'll just take a bit longer."
He sat back, remembering the old trails in his head. He had spent months down here, and still hadn't gone anywhere near tracking everything. There were winds, loops, places that look so familiar, and others that seemed as if they are from another world.
"All right, listen..." he pounded the wall, "You need to go down the tunnel. Don't touch anything, don't walk on anything the looks funny. If anything is out of place, just leave it there. I don't care if it's a jewel, or a sack, or even a weapon, don't touch it. This is the part of the maze where all the twists and turns become apparent. It doesn't matter which way you go, they all lead down to the book eventually. Just go down, ok?"
He paused for a second, repeating this even louder, "Go down. If one of the trails leads downaward, take it. The book is far blow us, like a hundred feet. Just keep going down, and don't touch anything."
He got up, looking at the darkness before him.
"I'll meet up with you as soon as I can."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

I heard a thump against the wall and watched as a long crack formed down the wall. I could hear his voice, muffled as it was, telling me to go on without him?!
"Lance? I can't!" I had no idea about this place, I had no idea where I was going or anything, how could I just wander around and find this damned book alone? And what of this Robert character?
"fuck I am being a damned wuss.." I paused for a moment, looking down the cavern. It looked safe, nothing out of place so far. I could do this dammit, or die trying.
"Alright Lance, I am going. I will leave a trail or something so I can get back here if you don't find me.." I put my hand against the rock wall, wishing I could give him some comfort, no reason really just to help a little. He had to be weak still, but there wasn't much I could do on this side of the wall. I eyed the crack he had made with just hitting it... I wondered if I had the strength to break it down further?
I paced in the tunnel, trying to think of something that would rile my temper just a little. That would help, adreniline rush or something. Inhailing deeply I cursed softly at my own stupidity for even thinking I could find something to piss me off enough.
Chuckling I just braced myself against the opposit wall and ran the four feet to the other wall. Hitting into it with the handle of my metal flash light and my shoulder. "ouch shit that hurt!" Backing up, panting and rubbing my shoulder, I seen to my surprised eyes, the crack was wider than it was before. I hit it again, this time with the other shoulder, giving my left a rest. It cracked a bit more and I could see dust fogging in the air and pouring through the crack.
"Alright Lance, stand back, I am giving it a try once more.." I dont know if my voice reached him, I was panting and groaning from the damned impact on my shoulder. Cursing at my luck, all the things going wrong my blood finally began to boil. Walking up I kicked the wall twice with the flat of my foot, "Fucking wall!"
One more good kick just for measure and my foot went through. I knew I'd have something broken from that, but I knew it would heal as well.
"Alright! I can't do anymore.." I fell down to my ass, back resting against the far wall as I panted heavily for air. I was sweating and itchy now fromt he dirt. I prayed silently he could break that the rest of the way or do something more? Pushing down my shirt, I wiped it off as best I could, blood and dirt crusted into the cuts there. I knew my other shoulder would look just as bad.
picking up a rock, one not very large in size, I hurled it at the wall. It hit and made a thunking sound in the dirt where it rested. I heard a popping sound and glanced up, the wall began to crumble and shatter as if made of glass instead of rock.
"Oh wonderful, that's all it took!?" I growled again, that was just not right. Shaking my head, I laughed lightly. This was far from funny, I could be dead any second and I was laughing.
There was no means to my madness, I was just losing my mind.

 

[poohlive]

Lance craned back, looking at the trail far behind him. He had been running for a good five minutes, but didn't feel as if he had run any further than a couple of steps. the black cave just enclosed around him.
Maybe he was wrong, maybe it was the right one after all. Glancing down at the dirt floor, he saw scuffled footprints, but nothing to tell him which way they were going.
Nope, this wasn't the right trail at all. He'd have to switch up ahead.
Going into the right tunnel at the next junction, he began running up instead of down. The run was far more harrowing to his muscles, but he didn't slow down at all. He was already way behind, and he didn't doubt that Aria was scared out of her mind right about now.
Hell, at least he knew what was coming up, and he was scared as well.
He stopped, as a loud growl echoed through the tunnels, making small pebbles rattle on the floor. Something sunk deep in his heart as he cracked half a smile.
"Robert," he said between breaths.
Up ahead, a huge light came on, and he could see a small fountain. Water, cool and crisp bubbled to the top, before laying in a pool surrounding by a perfectly carved rock.
He hoped she was smart enough not to touch anything. He saw another corpse, one of his bony fingers pressed against the water. He had tried to get a drink, but death had gotten him instead.
Heading down the left trail, he tried to pick up his speed. If he was right, he'd come up right above the larger cave in a few minutes.
Hopefully it'd be a hop, skip, and a jump to where she was at the moment. If she had followed his advice.
If not, she could be anywhere. He didn't want anything to happen to her, but he wasn't going to spend forever in here looking for her. The book needed to be taken care of, with or without her.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

Peeking in the hole I realized Lance had already left. Shaking my head, i wondered why I even bothered to try, I should have just listened to him.
Turning, I picked up my flash light and began walking. The tunnel seemed to go on forever until I finally popped out into a circular room. In the center stood a single column looking totem pole and handles moving upwards. I glanced up and seen the light above the totem.
"Yeah right, pull one of the holds and die, I know better.." Shaking my head, I carefully moved around the room. There were four tunnels plus the one I came out of. I glanced at each one and only one appeared to go down, the rest went up. He said to go down right? Well hell with that, I am going up instead.
Going into the far left tunnel I kept walking, hearing and seeing nothing I felt a little better, but not much.
my heart still thundered in my ears and my hands felt clamy. I turned to look back over my shoulder and realized I was going down not up. Alright, the tunnel changes directions on me. Shivering from the cold I seen more light up ahead. Running towards it, I stopped in another open room.
"Oh fucking christ!" I was back where I started. Looking down I found both sets of tracks and entered the right tunnel this time. Instead of walking, I started to jog. If I was going to end up back where I started I wanted to get there faster than this.
Except this time I came to a junction. Only two ways to go from here. A corpse laid on the floor, curled into a fetal position. Why? that was odd. Was this person lost and died here? Too tired to go on?
I took the left tunnel and kept going. Each time it branched I took the left until I found another set of stairs moving down. I halted at the top, listening intently for any sound. I heard nothing but a low rumbling sound and then it was gone.
Eyes wide with worry and fright, I glanced around. Nothing here but these stairs. Carefully I took one at a time, moving down deeper. My flash light carefully moving over the stairs, one at time. I watched for anything that might be a trigger for something worse. I kept my hands from the walls, I didn't need to touch something either.
I heard shifting above me, somewhere but not too far away and over my head. My heart lept in my throat and I went down those stairs faster and faster until I was moving at a speed to great to stop myself. I came down to the bottom and ran into a wall across from the stairs.
Jumping back, I landed on my ass as I looked around franticly for danger.
Nothing.
Shaking, I sat there for a moment, too weak to move.
One long tunnel and light at the end.. I had a feeling I was almost there. Standing on watery legs, I moved slowly forward. My eyes unblinking for fear of missing something. Lance had me so fucking petrified of this place, I was sure I would have a heart attack any moment now!
I entered the room and looked at three books. Each sitting on a pedalstal, each identical to the other and I was betting two were the wrong ones.

 

[poohlive]

He continued to walk in a circle.
"Now, if I remember this correctly, we should be coming up to the..."
There it was, the huge table came up to him. Across from it, there was a pile of gold, and on top was the affection of most people. A simple looking lamp. The gold shined through, although it's sides were a bit dusty. Almost enough to make one unconsciously want to go rub it, to see how much it actually could shine.
That was a deadly road though, and one that Lance didn't want to tread again. There were worse things than death. No one ever told you that after the three wishes, the genie gets your soul as a small little reward.
That was one of the little technicalities that never made it to the public.
He continued down the single path, watching as the cold rock turned from an earthen color to a solid black.
He emerged at the bottom, to see a long straight and narrow tunnel that made up the last of the run. He was out of the maze.
Lance glanced back at the fork. Several small cave entrances came out to this one long tunnel.
He glanced down each one, now that was funny. He had taken the long way, which meant she should have been here by now. Damnit, he knew he shouldn't heave let her go on by herself. He doubted if he had just told her to stay put that she would have. That naive girl probably got herself in more trouble than she was worth.
There were so many tricks and traps set up back there, any one of them could have caught her. Some are more misleading than others. He had spent a month in there one time, that frog that kept giving off those sweet scents. They made you hallucinate for hours.
One of the best, and worst times of his life.
Lance leaned against the far side of the wall for a few more minutes, watching each of the tunnels. She didn't emerge though.
He wanted to back track, and possibly find her, but that was miles and miles of tunnels. Even if he could find her, then they would both have to go get the book, and then finally get out of here.
Robert would certainly have gotten them by then.
No, it was best to just leave her to her fate. Hopefully she wasn't as stupid as she first let on, and could take care of herself. As for him...
He had a book to destroy.
Lance started off the lengthy tunnel at a jog.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

Looking over the books, I had a feeling this was the wrong place. Once again misleading me entirely. I glanced around for another passage. I was in the bottom, i was sure of it, but was I?
I glanced around until my eyes fell onto a mirrored wall. Now why would someone have a mirror down here? Walking towards the mirror, I watched for my own reflection to pass over the surface and smile back at me. But nothing, there was nothing in the mirror but the room behind me. Or was it the room behind me? Curiously, I stepped forward, hand out stretched just a little to touch the mirror surface.
I could see the book reflected behind me, the middle book, reversed and everything as it should be. But something wasn't right about this at all. My hand crept closer and closer to the mirror, wondering if I touched it, if perchance the walls would fall in on me? Shrugging, I had nothing to lose nor gain either way anymore, I pushed my hand forward and realized I went through the mirror. Only it wasn't a mirror at all.
I was feeling like Alice in Wonderland here. Peeking into the smaller opening, I crouched down and moved forward, careful of a protruding stick from the side of the wall. That was definately a trap or trip wire or something. Crouching down lower, I had to crawl the last foot to keep from touching anything.
Standing in the room, I turned and faced the wall I just passed through. It too had a mirror frame around this door way. Only this was the only book in the room.
Turning to look at it closely, I seen the dirt and webs on the book. It rested on a pedestal, innocent looking yes. Getting down on the floor, I wiped away some of the dirt around the pedestal base and found what I was expecting.
"tsk tsk, you didn't think anyone would check first huh?"
There was a faint circle in the floor, big enough for the entire thing to fall through or sink or whatever into I would assume safety if someone were to trip it.
This room all looked aged, like there was nothing modern in it. But even in Ancient egypt they had weight traps. Meaning if I removed this book, something would happen, unless something the same weight was in it's place. I eyed my flash light, wondering if it would weight the same as the book or less? Judging was a little difficult to do right now, it was do or die.
Behind me I heard something scraping and groaning. A door was opening? Franticly my eyes searched the room, circular in shape but I couldn't see anything??
"oh god!" I whispered and gulped down the lump in my throat.
I glanced at the book, was this the right one? My eyes went to the wall and I seen it shifting in it's tracks, spinning or something.
Someone was coming!? I heard heavy breathing, I knew it wasn't lance for some reason, I seen my death flash before my eyes.
" now or never Aria!" He paused and shoved on the door suddenly, giving a ear piercing, soul scaring bellow of anger.
"GET OUT!!!" His fist, or what I thought was his fist hammered on the door, trying to make it turn faster.
Fear froze me only a moment, before I reached out and grabbed the book.
I turned just as a giant of a man came through the portal. Our eyes met and locked and he bellowed again.
I couldn't understand what language he was speaking in, but I knew if I didnt move I was dead!
Heart leaping in my throat, I lept for the opening and dove inside, crawling with the book under my body, I was barely inside when I felt his hand grab and hold my ankle. He was trying to pull me back inside. bellowing in outrage and anger. I screamed, and kicked with all my might, hitting him several times. He did not deter from his assignment, I was going to die!
My eyes searched the walls, looking for a hand hold to get away from him and keep this book with me.
He screamed again, something in Itallian it sounded like. My eyes caught the lever and reaching up, my finger tips barely grazed it!
"Fuck!" Grunting I kicked him again and again, his hand losening only a moment, but enough!
reaching out I grabbed it and yanked down.
"NO!!!!!!! You bitch!" I heard that! Yanking my foot away from him I slithered through the opening and raced down the tunnels. Behind me rock began caving into the room and the room behind me with the decoys.
"OH FUCK!" I had to get up and fast! I ran, left then rights all the way out, climbing higher and higher until I was at the bottom of the stairs. Not bothering to look to see if that man gave chase I ran up the stairs, hoping to god I could find my way out!

 

[poohlive]

Finally, the book was safe. If only he could find Aria. Lance didn't doubt that she had met her untimely death a while back though.
He reached up for one of the handholds, gripping it tightly. With the cavern entrance filled with rocks, the only way out was to climb the sheer wall. It was a hundred feet, but it got the person right back into the original room, and from there they could easily walk outside.
He gripped the holds harder, pulling himself up as hard as he could. Such luck that he hadn't run into Robert under all this. It seemed nearly impossible, but now with everything finally cleared up. Lance couldn't help but feel things were finally coming to an end.
Halfway up now, a huge rumbling came from below. Inside the maze, somewhere, Aria had set off one of the traps. Oh, the poor thing, she had probably just run blindly into something. Well, at least this way it didn't hurt.
The only thing worse than dying down here, was being in pain down here. So many things came out to help one suffer. It was unbearable. If she wasn't already dead, he probably would kill her himself, just to end her misery.
There wasn't time for any of that though, he had to make it out.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

I ran until my lungs and legs hurt and still kept going. I made it back to where the tunnel had caved in and the hole I had put there was open. Crawling through the hole, I climbed back out the way we had come in. Carefully I made my way, looking for all the signs. Our foot prints were clearly in the sand, all the way back to the first set of stairs. Heaving a sigh of relief I climbed the stairs. Weary and tired but all in all whole. My leg hurt, I knew Robert's nails had raked my skin down to the bone in several spots. But i didn't dare stop and see. Pulling out the boat keys I smiled. Book in one hand, hell if it was the right one? And keys in the other. I seen light and heard the ocean crashing outside.
Almost there.
I glanced back again and again to make sure that Robert hadn't followed me, so far so good. I was still scared shitless though. I had no idea where lance was, and I was betting he didn't give one shit about me.
Walking out into the light, I shielded my eyes and sighed. "Now to get the fuck out of here.. Forever."
I paused a moment, there were footsteps behind me in the tunnel. Turning I saw Lance coming up, but before I could speak someone else cleared their voice outside.
"Thank you, we've been looking for that." I turned and glanced outside. Just below me was standing a small clan of vampires.
I backed up a little, the book clutched to my chest.
"excuse me?" if they thought I would hand over this book, they had best think again!

 

[poohlive]

Lance ran up behind her, unsure as to why she hadn't goen through the entrance yet. He had thought that she was dead with the crashing of the boulders behind him, but apparently she had found another way.
This place had hundreds of secrets.
Glancing around her, he could see what the hold up was.
"Willow, damnit. Why am I not suprised."
One of the men standing up front took a better look, "Lance, is that you? Someone told me you were back in this side of the country. How the hell are ya?"
He gave half a smile, "How much you getting paid this time?"
Willow gave off a cool smile, "Millions. Come on, Lance. More money than you could imagine, just being thrown at us, and all we have to do is stop these idiots."
Lance gave a sort of a cough, glancing at the book that Aria was clutching tightly to her. From the looks outside, there were to many to take, and they had machine guns. With enough bullets, any vampire would go down, as quick as you pleased.
"Who's backing it all up?"
Willow shook his head, "Sorry, that's confidential. Lance, come on, don't tell me you're helping these idiots. They can't even hide, we've already got the other girl. She is too easy to catch, this is like the second time we've got it. It's kinda funny."
Giving off a deep sigh, Lance glanced at the cave behind them. They could hide out in here, but that wouldn't last for long. Aria would need to drink in a couple of days. And these guys wouldn't just leave that easy.
"Enough, this is a simply choice. Either you give us the book, or we kill you, and then we get the book. At this point, it's really your choice."
Lance took one more look at the men outside. With a sorrowful look on his face, he whispered to Aria.
"It's over, just give it to them. We'll get it back later, don't worry."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

I shivered a little, my eyes narrowing slightly as my anger built up. Just give it to them? was he crazy? He said we could get it back though.
Glancing down the tunnel, I knew I had a fifty fifty chance. I could flee back into the tunnels and run into Robert again, or hand it over.
"How do we know they wont kill us once we give it to them?" The guy Lance talked to had a smile on his face, a smug one at that.
Sighing I didn't know what to do now? I could hand it over.. wait.. they didn't have the rings to open it, nor did anyone even know I had them. Good thing I didn't have them on me too!
glaring, I opened my arms and with one hand tossed the book out into the air. Nothing I could do, to die now was pointless.
I backed up into the darkest corner of the opening once he went for the book, staying out of sight. Now what would happen? I tensed, waiting to see.

 

[poohlive]

Willow gave a nod, grabbing the book from the sand.
"Oh, excellent. Now, if our other party is done with their little contract, then we should be all done. Our boss will be very proud."
He turned, getting onto one of this boats.
"Kill them both."
Lance jumped into the back of the cave, just in time as a hail of gunfire sped through the small entrance. Light beaming into the cave was dimmed as hundreds of bullets tried for both of their lives. Lance crawled away from the entrance, getting a few strays hitting his legs. He grimaced, leaning as far as he could against the wall.
"You all right," he called to Aria, as the gunfire finally stopped, and a couple of boat engines could be heard roaring to life.
They hadn't tried very hard, which meant that they didn't care that much. Now that they had the book, they wouldn't.
He wondered what they meant by their other party.





Willow took out a camel, lighting it up. The metallic blue smoke drifted around him as he inhaled deeply. His lungs burned with the sweet smoke.
His cell phone was already out.
"Hey, Derrin, yeah, this is Willow. A change of plans. We have the book in our possesion. All we need now are the rings. I'm sure that bitch you caught knows where they are. Get them, at all cost. He won't be pleased unless we have everything, you got it?"
He hung up without the answer. Now that things were falling in place, that money was bound to be his.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

"Kill them both." The words echoed in my head loud and clear. I would find that little fucker and kill him slowly as possible! I flinched back against the wall, my eyes closed tightly. The gunfire rained out too quickly for me to do much but prey it didn't hit anything vital.
Making myself small as possible I could hear the chimes of the bullets bouncing and ricocheting off of the rocks around me. One pierced my shoulder, I felt the sting before I could react another pierced my upper thigh. Wincing in pain, I bit my lip to keep quiet as the gunfire finally ceased and the boats roared to life.
Colasping to the floor I panted for air, wincing again as I felt the bullet lodged in my thigh move.
"God dammit!" I cursed, Rising quickly and then falling back to the floor.
"I'm fine!" I growled out, pain making me feel even more light headed. Again I stood, my leg shaking as was my arm.
"I've got to get to the boat, get.. going.. home.. Uuuuuggg that hurts like a son of a bitch!" I opened my eyes and moved towards the opening once more. Cradling my arm with my other hand, I limped forward until I was to the edge.
"They've got Maggie don't they!? What of my son?" I was panicing again. A loud roaring came into my ears and I knew if i wasn't careful i would pass out. My back hit the wall and I slowly sank down. My legs no longer wishing to hold my upright, the weakness taking it's toll.
"give me a minute, I will be ready to go.." I sounded more sure of myself than I felt, but I was not a weakling.

 

[poohlive]

"Just lie back, you're hurt," he glanced outside, as everyone was gone now. They left the boat, pretty much intact. He had no doubt that most of the things inside were stolen though.
His legs were already healing, but she wasn't doing so well. Some of the bullets were still inside.
"Come on," he reached down, helping her up, "I know a few things. Remember, I used to study vampire anatomy for years. It hurts now, but you should be fine in a couple of minutes."
He helped her to sit down on one of the comfy chairs in the boats, before taking out a small dagger. One of the presents from inside the cave.
"You want me to do it," he held the dagger out to her, "Or would you rather? Either way it's going to hurt pretty badly."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Erika

I held the phone to my ear listening to the phone ring.
"Answer me dammit!" I hated this shit, I didn't know where Vladamir was but we had a mission, a reason for being here. I wanted that book and I wanted to finish this. I had heard only a portion of what this book could do, and I wanted to confirm it for myself.
"Willow, Erika here. Got my book?" I waited for his responce. I wanted all that bitches Family dead and I wanted it yesterday. Gripping the steering wheel I glanced out the side of the car. A field, this was perfect.
Stopping my car, I climbed out and opened the trunk. Placing the sword in there, I shut the lid and stood tapping my foot. I was paying this guy millions, two to be exact to get this for me. Three if he accomplished the job completely.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

He helped me down to the boat, sitting me into a chair. Hissing out a held breath from the pain my world tipped crazily one way and then the other. I was losing this battle.
"You better do it.. I can't even see straight.." It was killing me to admit it, but it was the truth. I felt tears sting my eyes. Not from the pain but with worry for my son and my family.
"God I hope Micheal is alright.." I shook a little, wasn't sure if it was from blood loss or from the stress, but I wanted to get home.
"An hour's drive along the coast is a rental place where I got this and my suburan is parked.. We need to get there. please Lance? As soon as possible, I dont care about my pain.." i groaned a little, the knife probing the hole, or it felt like it. perhaps he hadn't even touched me yet?
Laughing a little, a forced laugh I spoke again, "didn't count on running into me did you? Or the fact you would have to deal with this too huh? Idiots.. thats what he said.. Shit! That stings. I feel like an idiot..." I fell silent, waiting for this to be over so we could head to my home.

 

[poohlive]

"Don't worry," he watched the knife slide into her flesh, piercing the part around the bullet hole. He didn't want to, but he had to work fast. Already the wounds were starting to heal. There was nothing worse than having a bullet inside you. It's like pain cubed.
"You're doing great," the knife touched the bullet, but at the same time it groaned passed one of her bones. Quickly he flicked it out. The bullet dropped harmlessly to the floor, alongside a trail of blood.
He got a sudden flashback to back in the warehouse, the first time they met. She was sitting, just as she was now, in pain, and he was leaning beside her, with a knife. How ironic.
He worked on another of the bullets. He had to dig in deep to the skin, as it was healing over. The knife fug deeper, but once he found it, it came out easy as you please.
Just two more, and then he couldn't find any more on her body. She would heal up nicely now. He smiled, wiping the hair from out of her eyes.
"Just rest, all right. Don't worry, I'll get you home, we'll go see Michael."
He wasn't quite sure who Michael was, but it was important for her to see him. At this point, so long as she could hold onto something, it was good.
"Relax, go to sleep. I'll be right here, nothing will happen."
He moved over to start the boat.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

I dont know how many times I cried out from the pain until finally there was no more bullets nor pain. Sighing, I shook slightly as i sat there staring at his bent head.
"De Ja Vue.. We've done this one before.." Weak and tired my words were little whispers, but I managed a sorrowful smile.
"Thank you.." I fell silent as he moved away, Closing my eyes, I bit back that urge to sleep. I needed to be awake and alert to get myself home.
"My son is with Ray and Maggie, that's where we are heading. I just hope.." I didn't finish the sentence i didn't want to contemplate it.
The hour ride up the shore was silent and I felt a little better with each mile. The wounds were closing and the one in my shoulder was not so bad as it was at first. I kept drifting in and out of sleep, but I did manage to stay awake for most of the trip.
I heard the engine cut out and woke up once again.
"My rental still there?"

 

[poohlive]

Lance shook his head, trying to get a better look. The docking port was completely empty. As it should have been this late in the morning. It wasn't a tourist season, and most of the people already had their own boats. This was mostly just for tourists.
Probably why almost all of them were being cleaned at the moment.
There was no car though. Anywhere. All he could see was a beaten up truck farther down the road.
"I'm sorry," he said, parking the boat in one of the moors, "Doesn't seem to be anything here. You sure this is the right place?"
He got out for a moment, stretching his legs. An hour on the water wasn't something he considered a good time. Perhaps this wasn't over though, if they couldn't get a ride. Maybe she was a little delirious, and this wasn't the right spot after all.
Well, if not, he'd have to get a ride for them.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

"What!?" Jumping up, I winced and cursed, that hurt!
"Wait here." Walking up the dock, limping the whole way, my temper was rising with each step.
I banged on the front door, hard enough to rattle the glass windows.
"Go away!" I heard the little man's voice inside, ordering me away.
"No! I rented a damned boat from you, left my rental here and now I am back. I want my truck.."
"They came here for you and trashed everything! Now go away! The truck is mine!" He backed away from the door or knocked something over, I didn't know which but that had done it. Gone and broke the camel's back so to speak.
I ignored the man and walked around the house to the garage, sure enough my truck was inside.
Opening the door, I walked inside and reached under the body of the truck. Pulling out the magnetic box, I dumped the rings in my hand and pocketed them.
"fuck it, report it stolen see how he likes that one?" Smirking I wondered where Lance took off to? Keeping the rental keys with me, I walked outside and sat down on the edge of the street.
"This is just one fucked up long day i don't even want to be part of right now.."

 

[poohlive]

Lance walked up to the bar, a few miles down, looking at a couple of the bikes. One of them would do just nicely. He pulled his foot over one, letting it roar to life under him.
"Hey, hey what are you doing fuck stick?"
Lance couldn't help but give off a sly smile, "I'm just taking it for a test drive, don't worry," his leg shot out, and kicked sharply on the man. He screamed, folding into the ground. Blood splurted out of his nose.
"I'll bring it back without a scratch, I promise."
He roared back to the dock, seeing that the little lady had gotten a ride of her own. Well, that was nice, didn't beat a bike though.
"Who are you talking to?" he asked, looking back in the boat. Was someone else in there?
"If you don't mind, perhaps we should stop somewhere and talk for a bit. There's a few things to discuss."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

"Myself." I glanced up from the road, wondering where he got the bike from?
"This moron has my truck in his garage and won't give it back... So i am going to report it stolen and see how he likes that!" Sitting there, I hurt too much to move now. I didn't think I could get up if I had to right now.
"I need to feed Lance, I have no energy and I don't think I can move just yet.." I was whining and I knew that but I didn't care too much right this minute about that.
"nice wheels, where'd ya get it?"

 

[poohlive]

Lance helped her on, and sped off into the distance. The road became a mere blue under their feet.
"I got it from a friend," was all he said over the roar of the engine.
He wanted to scold her about reporting the truck stolen. That would take too long, especially in France. That was a good hour's stay at the police station filling out forms. An hour that they didn't really have. She was too weak at the moment though, and he didn't want to argue with her.
"We'll stop at a little place in a while. You can feed, and then relax. Once things are done, we can finally destroy this damn book and leave this whole thing behind us."
He turned a corner, leaning sharply, before speeding up once more on the straight away.
Not too far down the road was a small bed and breakfast.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

Gasping, I clutched him tightly to me as he sped off. I didn't try to keep a conversation with him, it was too hard on this bike to do that. Leaning forward to watch where we were going, I rested my chin on his shoulder. The road was a blur, the scenary as well. He took another sharp corner and I clenched tightly to him once again. I thought for a second he was doing it on purpose just to scare me, but then again I was tired and over reacting to everything.
"we almost there?" I said into his ear but not too loud. Didn't want to get scolded for making him deaf. He nodded and sped up once again. Everything felt heavy, I couldn't wait to find a bed and sleep for hours.. It would help me feel so much better too.
He slowed down and turned into a drive way or parking lot of some kind. Looking over his other shoulder I glanced up at the large victorian looking home.
"Meadow Cottage: Bed and Breakfast." Ok, this was a diferent kind of place to be staying but it worked.