40: Shock

     Nathaniel slowly opened his eyes to find himself on the floor. Gabriella had blasted him off of her! His eyes traveled over to where she lay, still passed out.

     I'd forgotten she could do that, and she did it to me. Me!

     Well, I was attacking her. I'm determined to fight fate. She can't attack me again right now. Should I try again?

     He sat there and watched the love of his life as she slept in an almost comatose state, still sunned from what she'd done to him. He'd scared her every bit as much, maybe more, than August had done that day at her mother's house. August had only threatened to bite her then. Nate himself tried to change her outright.

 

     It doesn't take a psychic to know that she's gonna be extremely pissed when she wakes up. And I don't want to apologize either.

     Should I try again right now? he thought again as he rolled over onto his stomach to crawl over to her sleeping form.

    

    Gabriella awoke to see Nate leaning over her. Exhausted, she still found the strength to move quickly away from him.

     "Leave me alone!" she said as loudly as she could manage.

     "Or you'll do what? You can't stun me again so quickly." he pointed out sardonically.

     Terror coursed through Gabby along with adrenaline as she backed herself into the far corner of the room. Nathaniel blocked the room's exits. Her heart raced in her chest. The power it took to stun Nate the way she did plus the fact that Nate had partially drained her as well made her legs shake underneath her, threatening a collapse. She decided it would be prudent to just sit on the floor for now. Still, she had to find it in her to put up a fight if that would be what was needed.

 

     Only moments before, Nate had wanted to continue with his plan to turn Gabby against her will, but now, feeling the fear in her directed at him, her whole demeanor tore at his heart. She was really terrified of him!

     Gabriella watched as Nathaniel's shoulders slumped on his way to sit on the bedroom's small loveseat.

      

     What have I done? he thought as he sat with his head in his hands. He felt Gabriella watch him warily, still afraid and untrusting. After all, why should she trust me? Ever?

     "I'm sorry." he said lamely, knowing that wasn't enough.

     Gabby remained quiet and suspicious.

     "I crossed the line." he continued. "I won't try to stop you from leaving if that's what you want. I won't blame you if you never trust me again." Then his voice crept down to a whisper as he said, "I'm so sorry!"

     But where could I go? Gabriella thought as she got up on her knees, too exhausted to even speak. Is there anyone I can trust anymore? I used to trust my mother, but she's controlled by Gus now.

     She's leaving me, Nate thought sadly. She's going to leave me and I deserve it. He got up and walked out of the room.

    Gabby slowly walked over to the dresser to put on some warm, outdoor clothing, a stunned look on her face.

 

     As she continued to get dressed and pack a backpack to take some items, her heart ached. Tears coursed down her face as she thought, How could he do that to me? How can I ever trust him again? Knowing there was no point in trying to hide her intended destination, she thought, I'm going to the wolves to ask for help and shelter. That's one place where I can be safe ... from everyone.

 

     Nate stood at the bar and wished the spirits would get him drunk as fast as they did when he was human. But that's the whole point isn't it? I'm not human, but a monster. For a century I tried to convince myself I was good even though a vampire, but that simply isn't true. I tried to turn the woman I desperately love against her will for my own selfish agenda. If dying is what she'd prefer then why can't I accept that?

     Her time is limited, and I've made her want to spend the rest of it away from me, forcing her into the presence of my kind's worst enemy. He heard her plans to ask for sanctuary with the wolves and because she knew that was the one place he would be unable to get to her. She mentally asked him for Desi.

     "Take her." he mumbled into his glass, knowing she couldn't hear him. "Take it all." He refilled his emptied glass and said to the room at large, "Nothing matters anymore anyway."

     He heard the door open and saw Gabriella warily leave the room, a backpack in her hand.

    "You may have her. She'll be happier with you." he told her, also thinking how Reggie's heart would break as well. Well, they could just be lonely bachelors together. That is, until Gabriella dies and I end my own miserable existence. I'll bequeath Reggie to the pack so at least someone can be reunited with the one they love.

     Gabby stood and stared at him wordlessly, so he said, "I do not expect your forgiveness so I will not ask for it again. But please, if you ever need anything... anything... remember I'm only a thought away." He watched her face and the cold expression it wore.

     "Goodbye, Nathaniel." she said quietly before walking out the door, her heart breaking.

     When the door closed, Nate crumpled into a pathetic heap, the glass in his hand shattering as it too fell to the floor.

---------

     Gabby did not try to stem the flow of her tears as they ran down her face. She opened the stable door, and the horses' ears perked up at her approach.

     She spoke to Reggie first, "I'm sorry I'm doing this to you, Reggie." Then she turned to Desi and said, "Desi, we're leaving." She got her favorite saddle and prepared the two of them for the relatively short journey.

     She knew traveling at night was dangerous, especially for her, but she had the attitude that if the vision was to somehow occur tonight, then there was nothing she could do about it.

     Desi nickered as Gabby led her outside into the cool night air. Gabriella turned around to look at the house once more. After about a second, Nate appeared at the kitchen window, looking back at her. She quickly averted her eyes before mounting her horse. Refusing to look back a second time, she kicked Desi into an easy canter.

     As she left the grounds, she could feel the protection that kept Gus away being lifted.

---------

     Wary now from what he felt Gabriella feel, Nate turned around and looked about him in a mildly paranoid way. The drink was finally working its magic, and that plus still feeling a little weary from being stunned, he felt ill-prepared for a fight.

     As he walked over to look out the front door, he heard the back one open behind him.    

     "You were right, my Marge!" he heard his maker say to the redhead behind him.

     "August." Nate said in shock as he watched the two of them walk in. Marge ever so slightly placed herself in front of Gus. The intent was clear -- he'd have to go through Marge to get to the older vampire.

     "Oh, don't act so surprised, Nathaniel." Gus drawled as Marge darted up the stairs and back in a blink, now holding a large red book in her hand.

     "She forgot it." Marge said in a shocked voice.

     "Excellent." Gus said with a smile. "However, you should have taught her better."

     Marge acted like she was about to say something, but about that time Nate yelled, "Get out!"

     Augustus laughed, his arms still folded casually. Furious now, Nate charged him.

     It all happened in a fraction of a second. As Nate came close, Marge shot out her hand and said a strange word just before sending him flying backwards and into the wall. Upside down now, he landed with a thud on his neck and shoulders.

     "Cool." she said as she stared at her hand in amazement.

     "I told you you'd get better." Gus said with encouragement. "Even after this short time. You'll be unstoppable when you get older." He leaned over and kissed her cheek affectionately. Marge just continued to look at her own hand in wonder.

     "What... the fuck... was that?" Nate asked as he worked on righting himself.

     August decided to answer for his Marge since she appeared distracted. "A handy little spell she discovered in something you left behind. I'm simply amazed at all you didn't take -- such interesting items..."

     "Like what?" Nate asked as calmly as he could manage while returning to a standing position.

     "Like something you want... or more like Derek wants, and Gabriella is going to try to take. The idiot is going to send her in alone, can you believe it? Well, not counting the easily-taken-care-of bitch."

     Nathaniel roared in fury and dove for him again. Once more, Marge sent him flying back. This time, however, his head smashed up the dining room table. 

     "You idiot." he heard Gus say just before he lost consciousness for the second time that night.

-------

     Gabriella was lost. She thought she could remember the way, but she must've taken a wrong turn somewhere on the many trails through the woods in the hills above town. She couldn't figure out what to do, and she felt exhausted from the evening's events.

     "Desi, do you remember the way?" she asked the horse before giving her free rein. Desi made what Gabriella could swear was a scoffing noise before heading back the way they came.

     Before they'd gone far, however, a chilling howl rent the air, giving her goosebumps and causing Desi to act skittish.

     "Somehow, I doubt that's Derek's crew." she said quietly as Desi side-stepped a little off of the path. She wished she could call on her ability to know for sure, but she was wiped.

     Suddenly, Desi panicked and reared before taking off like mad into the woods next to them. It was all Gabriella could do to hang on! What has gotten into her?

     Then she heard it. They were being chased by an angry snarling sound. Not Derek's crew, she affirmed to herself as she hugged herself closer to the horse.

     In a clearing, Desi came to a sudden halt and reared once more. Right in front of them stood two weres, transformed. Desi reared once again as she tried to turn around only to discover three more had joined them, and they were surrounded.

     "What do you want?!" Gabriella screamed with more strength than she thought she had. Nate, help! Help! Please help!

     "Good evening, Miss Hudson." the were with the long hair said calmly as he stepped around his brethren.