The Battle

Leanne's hand that held the lighter shook, and she closed her eyes, trying to calm herself. Part of her screamed that she didn't want to die. The other part screamed for her to just get it over with and end it.

She knew how stupid she was being. How selfish. Andrew was right. Wait...Andrew was right?

She opened her purple eyes, and let the lighter crash to the ground, where the flame went out. Leanne fell to her knees, her shoulders shaking with sobs that produced no tears. She wanted to disappear. She was such a stupid, stupid girl. She looked at her mother's body, and let out a scream. It was shrill and filled the room, showing all that she was feeling. Then she fell silent, and collapsed into more dry sobs.
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Ember nodded. She knew that he was right, but she didn't want to say so. She was too proud for that.

She helped him pick up the rest of the pieces of the radio, then handed them to him and sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry," She mumbled. She sighed, and looked away. She closed her eyes, then turned back to him.

"Hey, do you want to uhm....do something sometime? Not like a date" She added, just to clarify. "But just to hang out."

Woah. Where did that come from? Jasmine...she had rubbed off on her too much.

Ember rolled her eyes at herself and turned to walk away, knowing what his answer would be already, though he would probably say it in Russian. No.
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December froze.

"Leaving....?" She asked. "What do you mean? A trip, right? You'll....you'll come back?" She asked quietly, though she knew the answer. She had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach, and had been feeling that all day. She could tell that this was what that feeling had originated from. Her best friend, for so many years....was leaving. But why?
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K.C. watched as Luna left, then turned her glare upon the wolf.

"Now what am I supposed to eat?" She demanded of her, her hands on her hips. Just then a strange smile crossed her face, showing her fangs. "I suppose dog blood is better than no blood...." She said, taking a menacing step towards her.
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Alex came out onto the sidewalk, still holding Dominic's hand. She didn't even bother to let go; she had missed him so much.

She smiled slightly at him out of the corner of her eyes, though they were still stained with tears. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Issac.

She didn't even realize that she was still holding Dominic's hand, and stood up straight and proud, and attempted to lead Dominic past him without a word. If only it were that easy.
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Seth was still watching Cinder. He was baffled. He didn't understand. She had a great life, as far as he could tell, yet she was still so unhappy. Why? He had to be missing something here; and he was determined to find it now.
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Draven was in his room, dressed in some of his nicest clothes. He had yelled at his sister to dress nicely, but he had a feeling that she wouldn't. He would deal with her later, however.

Elianna was indeed not dressed nicely. She was wearing jeans and a tank top, and was out taking her daughter hunting.

She didn't plan on being back any time soon. Toby was scratching on Tobias' door, barking loudly.
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Anya was on her way to Milo's house again. She and Ally had been getting him out of the house more and more often lately. She felt he needed it. She cared about him, really cared about him, and didn't want him to be sad.

Luna walked through the woods trying to find her way back home, but wasn't succeeding.

Isis roamed through the woods sniffing the wet grass.

~~~~~~~

Justin was still running around outside enjoying running in the rain.

Amelia smiled as she watched him.

Andrew kneeled down next to her, and helped her stand. He easily got her out oft he room past her mother's body, and out of the house.

~!!~
Dimitri didn't she her walk away. He shurged. "Why not? It's not like I have much of a life anyhow." He said it all in english.

~!!~
"I -" She cut her self off. "No. I'm not comeing back." She said softly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't want you to worry, and I didn't expect you to be denied from the college you wanted. But I can't stay. It's now or never."

~!!~
Nicole bared her teeth at K.C. She wanted to rip her from limb to limb.

~!!~
Cinder stood up and walked back up to her room, were smiled disappered. She pulled a box out of her closet, and sat in the middle of her floor. She started to pull out old camreas and compter parts, and went to wrk taking them apart.

~!!~
Isaac frown, his eyes glanceing down at their hands. For a moment jealousy paaed in his eyes. "Who is this?" He spat.

~!!~
Ally was tring to pull Milo down stairs, but he was stroner then her.

~!!~
Willow sighed and stepped outside. She already new her sister hated, why did she insist on proving that? Sometimes it made her so mad!

The rain was coming down heavy now, but Willow didn’t care. She enjoyed the feeling on the rain on her face.

Suddenly it wasn’t rain on her face, but sunshine. She opened her eyes. Another daydream, but this one felt so real! She was in a small village.

“Mary Kate! Mary Kate!” Someone called.

‘Does that boy ever leave me alone?’ Willow felt herself think, and felt herself turn around. Her daydreams never happened like this before. Suddenly she wasn’t Willow any longer, she didn’t even know who Willow was, she was Mary Kate. She was her thoughts, her needs and desires, her strong points, and her bad point. She was her past, and present.

Outside of her daydream Willow, had fallen to her knees in the rain. Her eyes were blank, more so then when she had a normal daydream.

“What is it, Robert?” She asked.

The boy standing in front of her smiled. He was . . . Cute, in the a framer’s son kind of way. But Mary Kate couldn’t let herself think that way, she was engaged to be married! She was going to finally leave this awful place.

She wiped her hands on her dirty apron. “I repeat, Robert, you silly boy, what do you want?”

“Let me draw the water for you.” He said picking up her pail from the ground and taking a few steps toward the well.

“Heavens! Robert! How many times have I told you, you stupid boy, I can pull my own water!?”

“Not enough. You still have that silly notion that I will listen.” He said, returning with a bucket full of water.

She sighed. “Robert, I must tell you something.” She took the bucket from the fifteen-year-old boy. “I’m engaged.”

His face fell. “What?”

She was surprised, Robert was usually was full of a child like happiness, no matter. But now, he looked dejected.

“What? Did you think I would wait another year for you to become of age? I’m eighteen. I should of have been married two years ago, and my mother needs the money this man has to offer.”

Robert nodded. “Yes, I understand.” He said quietly. “My family wouldn’t be able give much money anyhow.” He mumbled, then walked off.

Outside of her daydream, Willow was still in the street. Her daydream was running out of control, it was claiming her mind.

Luke was passing by then. he frowned and kneeled down beside her.

~!!~
Drake mumabled something, and was headed toward the woods.

Leanne had her eyes closed. She didn't let him see, but she now held the lighter gripped tightly in her right hand, her fist closed around it. She had picked it up.
~!!~
Ember paused, nodded, then continued to walk home. She stepped into her home and closed the door behind her, letting out a sigh of relief once she did so.
~!!~
December felt her heart breaking.

"But...where are you going?" She asked quietly. "And why?"
~!!~
Seth frowned and watched Cinder. He had never really understood technology, so it was somewhat interseting to watch her.
~!!~
Sam saw Willow, and ran outside and looked at Luc. "What happened?" He asked quickly.
~!!~
Alex saw the jealousy, and found herself smirking. Good. He desreved it. Let him be jealous. Let him feel what she had felt for so long now.

"My friend," Alex said, not releasing his hand.
~!!~
K.C. smiled, and shook her head.

"Not now. I'm too tired. I'll be back later, mutt," She spat, then was gone.

Brooke looked sad. "Brooklyn." She said. "I can't tell you why. But promise me you won't tell my mother or father, or even Simon."

~!!~
"Oh, nothing uncommon, well not uncommon among seers, but normarl humans, this is rare to see." Luke said looking up at him. "I can fix it." He said.

Before Sam could say anything, Luke pressed his lips to Willow's.

Her eyes suddenly came to life, and she pushed Luke, hard, away from her.

He laguhed. "Surpise is the best way to fix that little problem.

~!!~
Isaac nodded, and turned to leave.

December just nodded.

"But...you're just going to leave me?" She asked, her voice high and sad. It broke on the last word, and she looked away.
~~!~~
"What do you mean, is she a seer too--" Sam began, then saw him kiss her. He looked furious, and was about to pull him off when Willow did that for him. He glared at Luc.
~!!~
Alex felt disappointed that he did nothing more. She shook it off, and looked away.

"Let's go, Dominic," She said quietly, pulling him along. She would at least keep her dignity.

"Is that fair?" Brooke said. "Isn't that the same thing you were going to do to me? You were going to leave me too, remeber?" Brooke said softly.



It was early, just before dawn, when the manor family came into sight.

"About time!" Jamie yelled, unlady like. She glance over at her brother.

~!!~
Willow was already up. SHe couldn't sleep last night, because she was thinking about what happened the other night.

~!!~
Cinder was always up at this time. She was siting in her chair, looking sad.

Leanne sat on her bed, staring forward at nothing. She had been in this trance like state ever since Andrew dragged her back here almost a week before. She hadn't said one word, and the lighter still lay in her bedside drawer. The happy, carefree, strange, loud girl that she once was was gone, replaced by a dark, grim, depressed, silent girl. It seemed as though the old Leanne would never, could never, return.
~!~
Leslie smiled when the Manor came into view.

"Good, good," he said, looking at his sister and smiling at her. "This will be fun," He said.
~!~
Draven was already up and sitting on his bed. He couldn't sleep; no, not today. He knew that the royal family would be coming any time now, and he had to be ready.

Elianna, however, was in no rush for them to get there. She was wearing her normal clothes, having no desire to impress them as her thick headed older brother did. Her daughter, Isabel, was exploring the manor again.
~!~
December was sitting outside, though it was so early in the morning. She was swinging back and forth on her porch swing. Brooke was gone. She was alone.

Yet something that she had said stuck with her; she had been about to do the same thing to her. She felt horrible.
~!~
Ember was up but wasn't outside; she was sitting near her window, humming to herself. She wanted to do something today, but didn't know what. Maybe she should go talk to Dimitiri. She quickly shook of the thought as fast as it had come.
~!~
Alex was outside on the swingset. Ella was still asleep inside.

She had given Dominic the bed in the guest bedroom; not her parent's room. No one was allowed in there.

She sighed, looking down at her feet and letting her hair fall over her pale, frail face. She didn't know what to do. She felt lost. Again.
~!~
Anya stood in front of Milo's Manor's door, and knocked.
~!~
Seth was still in Cinder's room. He hadn't left.
~!~
Sam was worried about Willow, and confused. What had happened to her before?

He was sititng in his bed, still in his PJs, yet obviously not asleep.

Patrick was worried. He knocked on her door. "Leanne?"

~!!~
Gabriel, their guard, said noting as he walked ahead of them and knocked on the door. He glance over his shoulder at the prince, and the princess that looked like a prince.

~!!~
Willow stood up and walked down stairs. She wasn't sure what had happened, but now everytime she saw Luke, she had to riseits hitting him.

~!!~
Simon was already up. He was walking outside when he pasted December's home.

Without thinking he went up and sat next to her.

~!!~
Milo opened the door. "Yes?"

Leanne heard Patrick, yet she was too far gone to listen to him. She didn't even tell him to come in. She just hugged the pillow she was clinging to closer to her chest, as if for dear life. She had even stopped dressing normally; she now wore the black dress that Andrew had forced her to buy every day. She didn't care about anything anymore, or so it seemed.
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Leslie stood behind his guard, saying nothing as well. He was just itching to get his over with. He wore a pair of jeans and a button down shirt, nothing too fancy. He really didn't care for nice clothes; they always got ruined.
~!~
Draven heard the knock, and was down the stairs faster than his sister, who poked her head out of her door.

He opened the door.
~!~
"Hi," Anya said quietly. "Is Ally here?" She asked, peering over his shoulder. "She's supposed to help me get you out again today," she laughed lightly.
~!~
December glanced at Simon, but said nothing to him. She couldn't tell him where Brooke had gone, or even that she knew where she had gone.

"Hey," She said quietly, looking down at her hands, which were folded neatly in her lap.

He opened the door. He was holding a bottle water, and a few packets of salt and sugar. "I want to show you something." He said calmly.

~!!~
Jamie was dressed liked a boy; she was in jeans, a T-shrit, and a heavy sweatshrit, that hid the fact she was in fact a female, and tennis shoes.

"Rember they have to come to trust us first." She said softly, before the door was opened.

She frowned when she saw, who asumed, Draven.

~!!~
"I locked her in her room." He said. "I'm tried of being draged out of my own house."

Just then there was the sound of someone beating on a door.

~!!~
Myame stood atop the steps, smileing.

~!!~
"What's the matter?" He asked.

~!!~
Dimitri was still asleep.

"What do you think?" December snapped, harsher than she had intended. She sighed. "Brooke is gone. I'm not at college. That's what's wrong."
~!!~
Leanne just nodded, but still said nothing. She wondered what he was going to do, but didn't ask.
~!~
Leslie nodded, and smiled at Draven when he opened the door. Draven welcomed them in, and Leslie waited for his sister to go in and then went in himself.

Draven then looked up at Myame.
~!~
Anya laughed lightly.

"You should let her out. We're just trying to help you," She said, all traces of laughter now gone.
~!~
Ember's mother was already gone. She took her radio, placed it on her windowsill after opening the window, then blasted it to wake up Dimitri.

What? She was bored.

Dimitri's window was open. He groaned, and rolled over. He yelled something in Russian, it was too early for english to come to him.

~!!~
Jamie stepped in.

Gabriel stepped in after her. "This is Jamie," He pointed to Jaime. "And Leslie Vosmus." He pointed to the prince.

~!!~
"No i fear she will hurt me if I do." Milo said.

~!!~
Simon frowned. "In was only tring to be nice." He said.

~!!~
Willow stepped outside, she needed to think.

~!!~
Patrick sat down next to her. He opened the bottle, and added the salt and sugar. He mixxed it quickly and handed it to her. "Doesn't taste as well as blood does, but it works for a while."

Draven nodded.

"I'm Draven," he said, just as Elianna came downstairs. He saw what she was wearing, and glared at her. She smiled sweetly back, smirking slightly.

"And this is Elianna."

Elianna nodded at both of them. She, unlike her brother, could easily tell that Jamie was a girl. Draven thought she was a boy.
~!~
"Then let me," Anya said. "I'll get her."
~!~
Ember laughed slightly, and turned her radio off. She put it on the ground and sat on the windowsill in its place, her feet dangling off. She was on the second floor, but didn't seem concerned about it.
~!~
"I know. I'm sorry," December said quietly. She smiled at him, but it seemed forced.
~!~
Sam steppe dout just as Willow did. He smiled slightly at her, and walked over to her.

"Hey," He said quietly.
~!~
Leanne watched him, but didn't take the bottle from him. She just shook her head. She never wanted to drink blood or anything like it ever again. Maybe she would just wither up and die. That would be nice. To disappear and then never come back again.

Patrick looked sad. ""Take it." He urged.

~!!~
Simon stood up. "I'll leave." He said.

~!!~
Jamie nodded. Gabriel looked at Draven. "We look foreward to our time here."

Myame stepped down the steps. "You have 30 minutes before the sun raises. Draven maybe you should take the princes hunting?" SHe suggested, also thinking Jamie was a boy.

Jamie said nothing.

Gabriel strated laguhing.

~!!~
"Morning." She said. "How are you, Sam?"

~!!~
Patrick looked down. "Leanne please, I care about you. I can't stand seeing you like this." The bottle fell out of his hands, and water went everywere. He stood up, and pulled the book of macths out of his pocket. "I'll kill you if you want." He sounded sad, but if this is what she wanted then he'll let her have it, no matter what it did to his mind.

~!!~
Dimitri stood up and walked to the window.

~!!~
Milo handed her a set of keys. "Be my geuss."

~!!~
Nelly was wacthing in the shadows.

Draven nodded.

"A good idea," He said. Then he looked at the two 'princes'. "What type of blood do you prefer?" He asked them. Elianna rolled her eyes and left, somewhat rudely. "Please excuse my sister. Sometimes she doesn't know how to act." Elianna mumbled something as she walked up the stairs.
~!~
"No, you don't have to," December said quietly. "But you can if you want to." The truth was, she didn't want to be alone.
~!~
Sam smiled slightly at her. "Good, and you?" He asked, deciding to avoid the subject he had wanted to talk about, at least for now.
~!~
Ember was still laughing, and didn't notice when she leaned too far forward. Before she knew what had happened, she ahd fallen.

She landed on her right arm on the ground, and a loud snap could be heard. It made her stomach turn, but she quickly stood up. She didn't seem to feel anything. She tried to move her right arm, but it refused. She looked at it, and saw it hanging loosely at her side. It appeared to be dislocated, not broken. That was good. The rest of her seemed to be...somewhat okay. She coudl see bruises already starting to form, yet she could nto feel them.
~!~
Leanne just shrugged and looked away. She looked back up at him, surprised, when he offered to kill her. She looked up at him, her face nor her eyes revealing nothing.

She just nodded, then closed her eyes.

"Human." Jamie said quietly, speaking for the first time.

~!!~
Simon sat back down, not saying anything.

~!!~
"I been better." Willow said.

'And tomorrow I will want to die.' She said thinking about Thomas who was coming.

~!!~
Cinder stood up and went to her window. "It's funny how death isn't the end in this town." She said softly to herself. "I wish it was."

~!!~
Dimitri ran out of the house, ingoring the fact he was only wearing Jeans.

~!!~
"Outside." Patrick said. "I don't want to set the house on fire."

"Animal. But I'm not hungry," Leslie yawned and made himself comfortable on the couch. Draven frowned slightly, the nodded. He looked at Jamie.

"Shall we, then?" he asked 'him'.
~!~
Leanne nodded. She stood up, her hair falling loose around her shoulders, no longer in their usual ponytails. She walked down the stairs and out the door, hardly noticing the others in the living room.
~!~
"Willow," Sam said quietly. "What happened? The other night. You looked....way out of it," he finally said.
~!~
December smiled slightly at him, gratefully, but said nothing else.
~!~
Seth frowned and followed her to the window.

"Why do you want to die?" He whispered in her ear, making his voice heard to her, but only his voice.
~!~
Ember frowned, looking at her arm. She tasted blood, and couldn't seem to figure out where it came from. Her head was bleeding badly, but she didn't see it, nor feel it. The blood ran down her cheek and into her mouth, which was why she tasted it.
~!~
Alex stood up and stretched, but stayed in the backyard.

Jamie nodded. "I'm most intersed in seeing this town, it's, do . . .small." She said as she dropped her bag ontop of her brother.

~!!~
Patrick followed, sullenly.

~!!~
Dimitri grabed her arm and pulled her inside his house. He yelled something in Russian, and his mother came running down the stairs.

~!!~
"I-" She looked away. "I don't know. I have these werid daydreams, thst one just . . . shallowed me."

~!!~
Cinder jumped. "Who's there!?" She called, quietly, real fear in her voice.

Leslie sat up quickly, laughing and threw the bag back at his sister. Draven frowned, then nodded.

"There's not much to see," He said. "But I can show you nontheless."
~!~
"What kinds of daydreams?" Sam asked quietly. "About what?"
~!~
Seth sighed, and made her able to hear him.

"Does it matter? Answer my question; why do you want to die?" He whispered again in her ear.
~!~
Leanne turned to him once she was outside.

"It will be dawn soon. Do it now," she said, speaking the first words in almost a week. Her voice was soft, quiet....dead.
~!~
Ember protested, and tried to pull away.

"I'm fine!" she protested, but her appearance didn't say so. She tasted more blood, and frowned, her arm still at her side. A large purple bruise was forming on her leg.

Patrick lit the macth and stepped close to her. He stared at t. He didn't think he could do it.

~!!~
Jamie caugt the bag and set it down on the floor. "Very well. We should leave now, before the sun raises."

~!!~
"About the past." Willow said. "The far past."

~!!~
"Because I feel as if there is nothing here for me." She said unsurely. Why was she talking to her self?

~!!~
"I'm a doctor." His mother said, thick with a russian accent. "And you do not look 'fine'."

Leanne had her eyes closed. She didn't know if she really wanted to die, but it seemed like a good idea now.

"Please," She whispered.
~!~
Draven nodded.

He looked up the stairs, then walked to the door, opening the door for 'him'.
~!~!~
"What do you mean..?" sam asked, somewhat confused.
~!~
Ember frowned.

"I'm fine," she mumbled again, quieter this time. Blood dripped onto th eground, and she blinked in surprise.
~!~
"But there is," Seth whispered in her ear again. "You just have to find it."

Cinder was looking about. "No, no, no."

~!!~
"I can't." Patrick said putting out the flame. "I can't kill you! I care for you! I don't want you to die. I want to hug you, hold you. But you won't let me! I want to see you happy, it's killing me to see you like this. I can't, I can't!" His voice was creaking. "I want to kiss you." He mumabled. "I want Leanne back!" He said under his breath. "The one that stopped me form killing both myself, and Andrew, I want her back." There was a trace of fear in his voice.

~!!~
Jamie took a step outside. "Thank you."

~!!~
"I don't know, I don't know." Willow said. "When I was little I saw the Titanic, before even heard about it. I seen so many things rom the past, I always thought I made them up, until I turned on the TV to the history channel, or opened a history book, and it was there! It really happened." She was so scared, this was the first time she told anyone.

~!!~
His mother led her to the Kichen and sent Dimitri up stairs. She pulled out the frst aid kit. "Do you have an condtions?" She asked, starting to clean her up.

Ember watched Dimitri go, then shook her head at his mother's question.

"No," She lied. Her arm still dangled loosely at her side.
~!~
"There is. Just look," Seth urged her, though still unseen.
~!~
Draven nodded.

"There's not much to the town, as I said," he said to the 'prince'. "There's the main town, which holds a school and all the...humans, though some of them are 'different,'" he said. "And the woods." He pointed. "What do you want to see?"
~!~
Sam frowned. Normally, he wouldn't have believed her. But after seeing what Luc and Brooke had done, he did.

"Hey, it's okay," He said quietly, hearing hte fear in her voice. "It's okay."
~!~
Leanne flinched. She hated this. She hated that she was hurting him; she hated it more than she hated herself right now. But she couldn't seem to pull herself out of this, not this time.

"I'm sorry," Leanne said quietly, looking away. "But she's gone."

And it was true; she was.