Leading the Blind

It was not like him to brood but he was. He sat his horse and he balanced a large, round fishbowl size of shadow above his palm. It was in the shape of a perfect ball and no light could pass into nor out of it. He couldn't see it but his eyes, pupils and irises together were black as night, a side effect when he used his power. The ball of darkness was soothing to look at and the shadows seemed to speak to him, sometimes. His subconscious mind could speak to them and he gained strength and sensory information from them. What he also knew though was that they were changing him. Not quickly to be sure but each time he uses his power a dark cloud spread further and further across his mind. And each time he used his power it drew him further and further away from Sabella. Yet...ironically, it was the only way he’d be able to save her. Something inside him knew something was coming, something terrible. Something that would force him to use his power far beyond any reasonable limit. He had only done that once before and it nearly turned him into a mindless animal. When he finally woke up from that he had no idea where he was nor who he was. His memories returned but not all at once to be sure. The hooves of her horse approaching made him let go of the ball and wheel his horse around to face her. Her presence made him...angry. He didn’t know why exactly but that was what he felt. As she slowed up near him he scowled at her.

“What? Is something happening?” he asked obviously annoyed that she was here now.

Sabella did not shy away from Nathan's scowl. She was not going to let him frighten her away. She moved closer to him and looked him in his eyes.

"Nathan, I love you and I know that you love me. Why are you trying to push me away? You and I belong together and I know that you know that. I don't know what Father told you, but whatever it is we can work through it...together. We are stronger together than apart. I need you Nathan...just as I know you need me. I don't know what the future holds...for you...for me...or for us...but I know this, I would rather spend whatever time we may have with you than without you."

The truth, the bitter truth was that so few of them could never truly live normal lives. If there was even a normal anymore. Something happened and then they were either chased away or killed. The school was their home. The only place where they were safe and yet...it wasn’t. Someone or something was coming and those that resist it will be forced to fight. A cryptic prophecy but also a dark one. Nathan did love Sabella, his body burned for her and to know that she was going to lose him was tearing him up inside.

“You know nothing...nothing!” he said angrily. “You think that there is a some kind of future for us? I know what happened to Wesley Sabella...I know what you and the Oracle did,” he said harshly. “Did you think that there was a future for him too? Look around you, people fear us and with that fear comes death and fire!” He said as he pointed in the general direction of the town. His eyes spoke a completely different story than his mouth though. The guilt he felt inside, he had never been able to free himself of it. It hung like a spectre over him and poisoned his heart. He drew his horse up to her then took hold of her riding jacket and brought her face closer to his.

“You say that you know me? Well I killed women and children Sabella. I burned them in their homes and in their beds. And I wanted them to burn. I wanted them to suffer! THAT is who I am!” He shouted.”So you get one thing straight in your head...I can’t save these people without you. We make each other feel good enough to get up each day and to keep trying. That’s all you are to me! A good fuck!” He said and she noticed that his hand was shaking. Another sign that he was indeed trying to just push her away.

Sabella's expression never once changed...even as he began yelling at her. She had been expecting it, but by the end as he was yelling in her face about being nothing more than a good fuck, she began to grow rather annoyed and impatient.

"And do you know what you are Nathan?! A big baby who is throwing a tantrum! Grow up...man up...and shut the fuck up!"

She then grabbed his riding jacket and pulled him towards her and kissed him with all the love and passion she could.

If someone had watched them after that they would have laughed. Nathan kissed her back and uttered in between kisses, “I do love you, I do love you...I do love you.” he dismounted quickly and slid off on her side then practically dragged her off of her horse. They fell together in the grass and his need for her was so urgent he didn't bother getting her boots off. He mounted her face down and she had had to crane her neck to kiss him as he pushed himself inside of her over and over. His unbridled passion made her orgasm quickly and just before he did. The grass was damp and she was the wetter between them and didn’t appear to be pleased about that when they were putt their close aright again. “Well it’s your own fault...if you weren’t so damn beautiful…” he said in a complaining tone.

Sabella's heart was overjoyed to hear him say the words she had wanted to hear. She kissed him back and before she realized what was happening she found herself with him in the grass. They tore at each other's clothes, not even bothering to get everything off. Their love making was fast and filled with intense love and passion. As they re-dressed Sabella rolled her eyes at his 'complaint'.

"And if you weren't so broodingly handsome," she replied with a smile.

She then moved closer to him and kissed him gently. "Say it again..." she said softly.

And he did so...several times as they rode back. The days that followed were spent with more of the same, Blindfolds and everyone getting better and better with finding their way around the house. Their nights were spent together, making hot, sweaty, passionate love to one another and Nathan seemed to learn quickly what she liked and didn’t like. Some days he was gentle, others he was a thunderhead. Some days he was so angry with the training that he didn’t want to be with her and others he never seemed to be satisfied. It was on the 16th day that a woman and a man knocked on the door. It was actually Sabella who answered it and knew right away they were Witchborn, like she was.

The woman wore a fanciful gown of deep blue and black. Her skin was very pale and she had jet black hair held up in some kind of headdress. She was very beautiful, stunning infact and her lips were dark, too dark, blood dark and her eyes were the most stunning blue she had ever seen. The man next to her was in a suit..the most hideous red suit she had ever seen. Half of his face looked pocked marked as if he had been badly burned and that eye was white while the other was a bright green. He had short, fiery red hair that stood up and looked quite in disarray.

“Oh...hello,” She said and she had a slight accent that was difficult to place. “I am Albereth and this is Kindle,” she said. “I thought it prudent that we at least, pay you all a visit,” she said…”May we...enter?” She asked.

The next two weeks were quite the whirlwind for Sabella. Her days were spent either with her mind connected to someone else's or training privately with Nathan. Despite their love and relationship (which was being kept a secret for now), they became serious and focused when it came time to work. However, when the sun went down that was an entirely different matter all together. They made love most nights and she would fall asleep in his arms before he would slip quietly back to his room so they would not yet be discovered.

It was late one afternoon when Sabella heard a knock on the main door of the estate. She happened to be walking down the hallway near the door at the time and walked over to answer it. Immediately, she knew that both the man and woman standing before her were witchborns. The woman was extremely beautiful, but the man clearly had suffered some burns. She did not know how they found the estate. Witchborns had never just shown up here before. They had always been brought. However, she slowly stepped aside to allow them to enter.

"My name is Sabella," she said as she closed the door. "May I ask what this is about?"

Before she could really stop it from happening the woman paused as she closed the door. And when she turned back she was right there and to her surprise, the woman kissed her. Her lips were cool to the touch but quite soft and inviting and even though she was outraged she found herself kissing her back. Not only that, her mind felt cloudy and her emotions became giddy, as if she had had far too much coffee. She felt confused and knew that in that kiss a part of who she was, the memories at least were now known to this woman. “So he is here...take me to The Oracle,” she said and it was all Sabella could do to keep her feet from moving down the hall and leading her to him. Part of her wanted to please this woman, in every way and be adored by her and yet...she didn’t. The woman’s eyebrow raised at her resistance and indeed her look of surprise was palpable. “Hmm, we have a strong one Kindle...Take me...to the Oracle,” she said again but again Sabella’s feet did not move. Behind Albereth, Kindle chewed nervously on his nails as he looked around the room unconcerned.

“Who is this Sabella?” Jarvis said as he came up behind them. Before he could take another step Albereth flicked her wrist and Kindle stepped to the side. A flame formed instantly in his palm and then he made the motions of blowing it onto a surprised Jarvis who was suddenly engulfed in flames. He hadn't even gotten out a scream before what was left , a charred husk of burned meat and bones fell to the floor. Sabella looked down at what was left in horror but Albereth put her hand on her chin and tilted it up so she could look into her eyes. To her horror Albereth smiled and Sabella knew she was going to kiss her again and with it another attempt to take over her mind. Each time she tried to scream her throat clenched as in doing so was not what Albereth wanted. Finally Sabella felt her throat unclench and her ability to speak returned to her.

Sabella was visibly surprised when this woman was suddenly standing right before her...and even more so when the woman suddenly kissed her! To her horror she very quickly realized this woman was trying to control her mind. She began to feel strange, though she desperately tried to fend off her control. The woman then ordered her to take her to The Oracle and Sabella had to fight hard against her own body to keep herself from taking her there! Thanks to Nathan's training she was extremely strong now, though she wondered how long she would be able to hold out.

Suddenly, she heard Jarvis' voice behind her but before she could say anything a flame formed in the hand of the of man with the burned face and he set Jarvis on fire. In seconds his charred remains fell to the floor at her feet. She felt as if she was going to be sick as she stared down at what was left of her friend. She then felt Albereth's fingers under her chin and she forced her to look up at her. She knew she was going to try and take over her mind again and with what energy she had left she sent a message to Nathan, warning him of what was happening. She continued to fight off this woman's mind control and when she was finally able to speak again she glared at her.

"I'm NOT going to take you anywhere!"

Nathan was getting a snack when he heard Sabella’s voice in her head. He flung his bowl aside as he stood and shadows flew up around him as he headed toward Sabella. Sabella knew this woman was powerful but it was only an assault on her mind, her will was systematically being diminished the longer she was near her. She desired her one moment and wanted to rip out her hair the next for what she did to Jarvis. “You are quite lovely Sabella...I could make you my favorite pet...would you like that?” She said and licked her cheek seductively. Sabella wanted to be her pet too. Wanted to beg her to let her please her in ways that made her skin crawl. Albereth took hold of her hand and drew it toward her breast. It was the image of Nathan that day on the horses and what he had told her that drew her out of it completely. For a moment Albereth held her head and then her eyes looked like blue fire when she looked at her. “How dare you!” She said and then it was suddenly all she could do from losing her mind completely. One moment she had pushed her out, the next it was all she could do to hold on to the barest fragment of her identity. And then darkness surrounded them…

Nathan didn’t have to see what was happening to know Sabella was in some sort of trouble. Her alarmed voice in his head was enough. Instantly shadows blocked out all light and sound and Nathan was there and she felt herself being hauled back as he brushed past her. When she could see again Nathan held a blade up to her neck and the man in the red suit was bleeding from a long bloody slash on his arm. “Lady I don’t know who you are or what you want but you’ve come to the wrong house to start up trouble!” he growled. Sabella could feel his anger and outrage at Jarvis’s death and Albereth looked very afraid...for a moment.

“Well, this one is quite the hero, isn’t he Kindle,” She said confidently and her eyes finally took him in. “And how yummy indeed, tell me Sabella...is his bark as dangerous as his bite?” she asked and Sabella knew right away what she meant. Part of Albereth’s own thoughts and memories filtered into her as hers were taken. The woman was the epitome of excess and she loved to be doted on...by what she called ‘pets’ handsome and beautiful men and women that she deemed worthy of her. What she made them do was horrible and her favorites who obeyed her willingly were allowed to please her in ways that made Sabella’s skin itch. To her horror though she saw how close Nathan was to her.

Sabella wanted to move...to run away from this woman, but she felt as if she were glued to the very spot on which she stood. The longer she stood near her, the more she desired her. However, her mind still remained her own and she continued to resist her with every fiber of her being. But when Albereth began to draw her hand towards her breast memories of Nathan that day he told her he loved her came flooding into her mind and she yanked her hand back and away. Her mind began to struggle as Albereth became outraged at her resistance, but then darkness surrounded them and she knew Nathan was there. She felt herself being pulled back and away from Albereth by his strong hands and instantly her mind became her own again. The cloud was lifted and her desire to be near Albereth was replaced by outrage. She watched as Nathan moved closer to her and to her horror she began to realize what Albereth was going to do. Instantly, Sabella connected her mind with Nathan's. She knew he didn't like her inside his head, but she had no choice. With what energy she had left, she forced Nathan to walk back towards her and away from Albereth. When he was next to her she released his mind and glared at Albereth.

"Stay away from us. We are stronger than you believe and will NOT become your personal toys."

The urge to cut this woman’s neck was strong and indeed a drop of blood did slide down from where his blade nicked her. She hadn’t noticed it though but inwardly she was actually fearful that he may kill her if she wasn’t careful. She managed to smile though and prepared to extend her will into him. However before she did Nathan felt an irresistible need to step back. Stiffly he withdrew and knew it must be Sabella. He growled with clenched teeth, angry at being controlled this way and the feeling of confusion that came with it. His feet, when he came to a stop next to Sabella were as if melted to the floor.

Albereth liked a challenge, and she smiled knowing the others would as well. She smiled at Sabella, a knowing smile. “I think I will make him my pet and make you watch as he...pleases me and anyone else I want him to,” she said but then saw Nathan try to hide the fact that he turned his blade in his hand to throw it. She pounded her will upon him but Sabella’s control on him acted like a shield against it and deflected it back. She winced and almost fell when it rebounded back into her. “Tell the Oracle dearest, that his time...is almost up,” she said threateningly. Nathan still struggled to move, to lunge, to see her blood flow. Sabella would feel his rage at being culled like this but also felt that it protected his mind from her. “Come kindle,” Albereth said and the two stepped back out the door they came in.

When Albereth and Kindle finally left Sabella was finally able to relax. She felt utterly exhausted and mentally unstable. She had to sit down on the floor and she looked at Nathan.

"I'm sorry I stopped you," she told him. "But if you had remained that close to her for any longer she would have been able to get ahold of your mind and control you. She tried to do the same thing to me. She almost puts a spell over you. I was able to fight it off for a while, but if you hadn't come when you had things may have turned out differently."

Only now, as the fear and other emotions subsided did Sabella begin to see the thoughts and memories she had pulled from Nathan’s mind. She had forced several of them to the surface in order to block Albereth from forcing her will upon him. Unfortunately in her haste she had pulled the most unpleasant memories that she could find to make the shield as strong as possible. Nathan said nothing but the haunted look in his eyes and the pain of seeing Myrna burned like she was was there once more. He had shuttled that memory away as it seemed to unbalance him and caused him pain. Now, tempered with his love for Sabella and it all turned into a strong sense of guilt inside of him. Guilt that he could not save her. Guilt that he had told her they could live without worry. Guilt that it wasn’t him up there screaming with the pain of being burned alive and the horror of all the angry faces that chanted for her to burn. Guilt that he had found love again. His hands shook as he placed his blades back into their holders but he said nothing. He looked down at his hands and then at the burned corpse of Jarvis who didn’t have a chance to even fight. The caustic smell of his flesh added into the memory of Myrna burned alive and he knew he was going to be sick. Without a word he ran, back through the house and out the back. Even outside he continued to run past the hedge garden and several people including Amy stood as he ran by. Concern welled up inside of her when she felt the extreme emotions that eminated from him but it was inside that she ran, afraid of what might have happened. The smell hit her immediately and she flung herself down at Sabella.

“Sabella! Are you alright! What happened? Who...who...Nathan...he,” she tried to talk but so many questions filled her mind her words came out in a confused mess. She averted her eyes from the burned form on the floor though and pulled out a handkerchief to cover her nose and mouth to the stench. Obviously this event had gone unnoticed...somehow.

Sabella looked at Nathan and slowly begin to remember the memories that had only just filled her mind moments ago. She knew that these were memories that he had tried to keep hidden deep inside, but in her attempt to save him from Albereth she had brought these memories to the surface. She could see the pain fill his eyes and she struggled to think of something to say that would help in any way. Sometimes one just had to deal with their own pain in their own way. She watched as he suddenly turned and rushed away, but made no move to stop him. She would let him be for now and speak to him later.

She looked over and saw the burned remains of Jarvis on the ground and felt as if she might be sick herself. Tears filled her eyes as the realization of what had just happened hit her. Amy ran over just as she began to cry for the loss of her friend.

"Please...go get The Oracle...now."

And Amy went and hefted her skirts to run. Before long the Oracle came out with half a dozen men and 2 women armed with long rifles. The two women were actually the most dangerous among them, one, was older with her long blonde hair held in a tight bun upon her head. She could create ice from the existing moisture in the air. The other, Donna Pierson could make small portals of empty space appear at will. Sabella had seen her make them below people and then open another that they could hop out of. The potential to do harm with them though was devastating but the portals, like Sabella’s power seemed to take alot out of her. Created to many and she passed out completely.

The Oracle rushed up to Sabella and went onto a knee before her. “Oh my dear….what happened?” He asked as he saw what was left of Jarvis. “Ben, you and Alan...please,” he asked and the two men covered Jarvis’s remains with a green blanket and rolled him into it. It wasn't easy to get him all into it though, his bones seemed to fall apart when they jostled them. The Oracle’s eyes looked tired and weary, as if he hadn’t slept much and Sabella knew. Knew he had seen this. Knew that he could have prevented it more likely than not but also knew that he wouldn’t have. “So it’s begun,” he said in a sad tone but then it appeared that he was suddenly in pain. He clutched his chest and fell back. Rory and Ben dropped their rifles and jumped onto their knees to try to help him and he gasped in pain. “Ahhhh!” The Oracle cried out in pain.

Sabella continued to wait on the floor next to Jarvis' remains. While it was only minutes, it seemed like hours ticked by before The Oracle appeared. She could not stop the tears that continued to flow down her cheeks. Why had she let this woman inside? She had known something was ill about her, but she had allowed her to come into their home and now Jarvis was dead because of it. She tried to look away as Jarvis' remains were gathered up. Her face was pale and she trembled. She slowly began to tell him everything that had happened, going into detail about the woman and her abilities. She was not entirely surprised when The Oracle seemed to have already known something was going to happen. She just wished that she had been warned.

Before she could say anything though, he grabbed at his chest in pain and yelled out. Sabella gasped and rushed to his side.

"Father!"

ooc-new thread