Hey guys. I know I haven't updated in a while but somehow these chapters are taking me more than usual time to write. But I'll upload as soon as I get one finished!

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Chapter 30

'What did you hear?' Ariana asked finally. They sat on the same branch Ariana had fallen from. The tree kept them efficiently hidden out of sight.

'Enough,' Felix said. 'Ariana you have to tell Alec.'

'Are you insane?' Ariana said. 'You heard what Caius said. I'm not risking his life.'

'There's no other way,' Felix said. 'You have to tell him. If not him, then Aro.'

Ariana shook her head. 'You know I can't do that either. Caius didn't sound like he was joking about it.'

'He said he knew about your father,' Felix reminded her.

'I'm not believing a word he says,' Ariana said. 'If I have to find my dad, I'll do it myself.'

'Did you hear everything Felix?' Ariana asked. If he heard everything then there was going to be a problem. Especially if he had heard the bit about Aro's sister.

'Mostly,' Felix said. 'Though at one point I barely heard anything. You were talking too quietly for me to hear.'

Ariana inwardly heaved a sigh of relief. So that meant Felix hadn't heard anything about Didyme. That was good because Ariana didn't want that secret to be out.

'Ariana what are you going to do?' Felix asked. 'If you're not going to tell Alec or Aro, what are you planning to do?'

Ariana remained silent. She couldn't make herself to look at Felix so she kept looking down at her fidgeting hands. She knew what she had to do.

'Ariana, you're not even considering that!' Felix said in a finalized tone. '

'I don't have an option,' Ariana said.

'You are not going to go away!' Felix said. 'If you do anything like that I'll tell Alec.'

'You'll do no such thing!' Ariana said. 'Damnit, Felix I'm trying to save his life!'

'But-,' Felix started but Ariana interrupted him.

'I'll go,' Ariana said. 'But I'm not planning to stay away. I'll find a way to come back if it's the last thing I do.'

'And how are you planning to do that?' Felix asked.

'I don't know yet,' Ariana admitted. 'But I will. Caius must have some sort of weakness. And I'll find it out. And then I'll come back.'

'Alec has the right to hear about this!' Felix said.

'I don't care,' Ariana said. 'Right or no right, his life is on the line here. And I'm not going to tell him anything. You know what he's like. Look how he beat himself up over the Romanians. What sort of a fuss do you think he's going to throw if he hears about this.'

'He'll kill Caius,' Felix stated. 'Master or no master, if Alec gets to know about this, he'll kill Caius.'

'Not if Caius gets to him first,' Ariana said. 'And I can't risk that.'

'The Romanians wouldn't have been able to get to you in the first place if it wasn't for Caius!' Felix said. 'Bastard! I always liked him the least. But he turned out to be worse than loathsome.'

Ariana shook her head. 'There's nothing else that can be done.'

'Oh shit!' Felix cussed. 'There has to be some other way. We'll think it through. We'll find another way for you to stay.'

'There aren't,' Ariana repeated. 'Listen, from what Caius told me I sort of guessed that driving me away from the castle and out Alec's life is not his only intention. He's planning on something bigger.'

'Bigger?'

'Yeah,' Ariana said. 'But I can't know what it is yet. Look, give me some time, I'll find out. And then I'll come back. If I can find out the real reason why Caius is doing this, I'll have leverage. Then I'll come back. Once I'm back, I'll tell Alec everything.'

'How long do you plan to take on that?' Felix asked.

'I don't know,' Ariana said. 'I'll keep searching. Hopefully I'll find something soon enough.'

'Alec will come after you, you know that right?' Felix told her.

Ariana nodded. 'That's why I need you to stall him. Keep him in the castle.'

'Excuse me?' Felix said. 'What you ask of me is impossible. He'll have my head!'

'Please Felix,' Ariana said. 'I promise it doesn't have to be for too long. Tell him lies I don't care! But keep him in the castle. Stay by him and make sure Caius gets nowhere near him. I know it's not gonna be easy but try-.'

'Easy?' Felix said incredulously. 'Try impossible.'

'I know,' Ariana said. 'Please try, okay. If it doesn't work out, I'll think of something.'

'Fine,' Felix said after a moment of hesitation.

There was a buzzing sound issuing from Ariana's pocket. It was her phone. She made no move to pick it up.

'Aren't you going to pick that up?' Felix asked.

'It's Alec,' Ariana said knowingly. 'I can't talk to him right now. I'll go talk to him later.'

Understanding, Felix nodded. He knew what she meant. She didn't have it in her to make such preposterous plans and simultaneously talk to Alec as if nothing was wrong. She needed a little time to focus before she could talk to him without giving anything away.

'I'll start by looking for my dad,' Ariana continued. 'If Caius knows anything about his disappearance then I'll be onto something.'

Felix nodded.

'Give me your word that you'll keep Alec safe and not tell him anything until I tell you to do so,' Ariana said.

Felix hesitated again. 'Damnit Ariana-.'

'Felix please,' Ariana interrupted.

'Fine,' he said. 'I give you my word.'

'Thanks,' Ariana said managing the briefest of smiles for Felix.

'Do you know how to find him then?' Felix asked.

Ariana pulled out the journal from her jacket pocket and showed it to Felix. 'I think I might have a little idea.'

'That your dad's?' Felix asked.

Ariana nodded.

'You know where to search for him?' Felix asked.

'I know where to start,' Ariana said.

'Tell me where you are headed at least,' Felix said.

Ariana shook her head. 'It's better I don't tell you. Then you won't be lying to Alec when you're gonna tell him that you don't know.'

While Ariana walked back to the castle her mind was racing with thoughts of what exactly she was to do now. She knew one thing for sure though. She hated Caius's guts. She was going to see to it that Caius was brought down. Nothing could keep her from Alec. Caius didn't scare her until the point he brought in the threat about Alec. Ariana knew that Caius was old, uber old. He was B.C. material and in vampiric years, she was as good as born yesterday. She was weaker that him physically, she was sure, but she still had her gift. But having the centuries of experience that Caius had, he was good at hiding his thoughts and what was more, he had Aro's unconditional trust. And that was going to be a big obstacle for Ariana.

But Caius was guilty on so many levels Ariana knew that she could pin something on him that would lead to Aro questioning his trust on Caius and touch his hand for the truth. Just one touch, was all Ariana needed. One touch and Aro would know everything. But she couldn't risk going and telling Aro everything now. Caius would know and then he would go after Alec. Alec was strong but even he could be taken by surprise. Plus she needed some sort of a proof to point a finger at Caius in the first place anyway. Ariana knew she was alone in this. Felix couldn't do much. It was too much of a risk to involve someone else. At least she was somewhat relieved that at least Felix had Alec's back. The least she could depend on was that Felix would be successful in stalling Alec for a while.

She stood in front of the door and took a breath. She couldn't go without seeing Alec. She didn't even know when she would be able to come back. The thought somehow managed to tear at her non functioning heart. So how long would that be before she could see Alec again?

No she gave herself a mental shake. Thinking about this would only make her worry more and feel depressed. She needed to stay focused. She needed to think about Alec's life. Even without her thoughts Alec was pretty good at reading her expressions, so she needed to be careful. She couldn't afford to give herself away right now.

Focus!

As soon as she opened the door and entered the room, Alec turned from the window and was in front of her in a blink, worry etched all over his face.

'About bloody time,' Alec said. 'What took you so long? I was about set off to look for you.'

Focus? Well as soon as she saw his face there was no such word in her dictionary anymore. All the feelings that she was trying to lock away a while ago came flowing out. The happiness of seeing him, the misery of knowing she wouldn't be able to a while, the worry about whether he would be safe, if he would be alright.

She wanted to pour her heart out to him. She wanted to tell him everything. She wanted him by her side. She needed his support.

But she couldn't have that now, could she?

She felt the lump on her throat and was thankful that she couldn't cry. That would have been a dead giveaway.

'You weren't even picking up your phone. What happened?' Alec kept asking. 'Hunting doesn't take so much-.'

Ariana flung her arms around his neck and stopped him in midsentence by pressing her lips against his. Alec was taken by surprise for a second but he circled his arms around her waist holding her close and kissed her back.

So how long would that be before she could kiss him again? Feel his gentle embracing warmth again? Quite long, Ariana guessed.

She couldn't stand there and look at him worry over her for any longer. He worried too much. She could almost picture what he would be like if he told him everything. He was worried sick that she was late from hunting. Okay, even she had to admit it, she was pretty darn late. And according to Alec there were Romanian killers on the loose. So the worry was justified. But still if he was to know about Caius, this worry and would be nothing compared to the anxiety and anger that he would feel then.

Alec brought his hand up and cupped the side of her face, letting his fingers find their way through her hair. Then he pulled back and smiled.

'What's up?' he asked.

She smiled back at him hoping that the sadness in her eyes could be masked from him by it.

'Nothing,' she said. 'Just…'

Alec raised his eyebrows.

'Nothing,' Ariana repeated.

Alec furrowed his eyebrows and studied her. 'Are you sure?'

'Yes,' she said firmly.

'But you-.'

Ariana rolled her eyes. 'Now something has to happen for me to want to kiss you?'

Alec smiled. 'No, of course not. It's just-.'

'That was sort of your cue to shut up,' Ariana pointed out.

Alec brought down his face and resumed kissing her with more intensity that Ariana had initially begun with. Alec could guess that something was up with her. He didn't need a peek into her thoughts to know that. Her face usually told him enough. Alec figured that it could be that she was reading her father's journal and had most probably come across something that had upset her. Alec wanted to know what it was that was bothering her. He wanted to know so he could try and make it better for her. Not knowing any better, Alec thought that she would tell him in her own time and decided not to ask too many questions. But still something kept bugging him at the back of his mind. Something he was having a little difficulty shrugging off.

He wrapped his arms securely around her waist and lifted her up and laid her on her back on the bed, not breaking the contact of their lips while doing so. He could feel her hands all over his hair and he put his weight on both his hands on either side of her as he continued kissing her. After a while he broke the kiss again and looked at her. Ariana opened her eyes and looked back at him. He didn't ask her any questions. He just looked at her trying to figure out what it was that could be bothering her. He looked her, urging her to tell him something that would make the nagging feeling at the back of his mind go away.

She brought one of her hands down from her hair and touched the side of his face.

'I love you,' she said looking into his eyes.

Maybe it wasn't the response he wanted to his question. But it was enough for the time being. He could always ask later. She trusted him, he knew that. She would tell him what was bothering her sooner or later. He just had to give her a little time.

He smiled at her. 'I love you too.'

Felix was at his wit's end. He couldn't believe he had ended up giving Ariana his word on doing something that seemed more and more impossible by the minute. Ariana would disappear within a few short hours and then Alec would go positively berserk and then it was going to be his job to make sure Alec didn't do anything stupid. So basically he had tag along a very livid Alec.

That's gonna be fun. Felix thought sarcastically. Not to mention shit scary.

Felix had faith in Ariana. He knew she would do whatever she could to return. And the way she was speaking it already looked like she had a plan. Now Felix just prayed that it would work.

God, why couldn't Alec overhear the whole thing instead of me? That would have saved a lot of trouble!

Except of course, he might be, could have lost his life. That's of course considering that he couldn't have finished off Caius first. Felix knew he would have Alec's back no matter what. And he knew Demetri would too. There were, however a few guards in the Volturi who having been created by Caius would owe their allegiance to him. Those were the ones he needed to look out for.

Jane needed to be kept out of this just like Alec. She never thought before doing something. She would either launch a torture attack on Caius, which Felix figured wouldn't do them any good at this point or tell Alec.

Right now, all Felix could do was believe that Ariana knew what she was doing and she would do whatever it is that she needed to do fast so all this would be over soon. He would help Ariana in any way he could.

Felix sighed. Even a few hours back, he couldn't possibly have guessed that things could have gone so much out of hands in a matter of minutes.

'Where are you going?' Alec wanted to know as Ariana pulled on her clothes in lightning speed and sat to put on her shoes.

'Outside,' Ariana answered with her back to him. This was it. She had to leave now.

'Why?'

Ariana shrugged, doing her shoelaces. 'Just need some air.'

'Do you want some company?'

Ariana shook her head. 'No, it's okay,' she said. 'I'll – I'll be back soon,' she said through her teeth. Please let it be true.

Alec furrowed his eyebrows. The nagging feeling was back again. 'You sure?' he asked.

Ariana nodded. She was taking a little too much time for a vampire to tie up shoelaces. She finished it up in a second. She forced a smile on her face and leaned back on the bed and kissed him softly. That, Ariana realized with a pang of hurt and guilt, was going to be their last kiss for a while.

'I love you,' she said, pulling back and looking at him. 'I'll see you later.'

Yes, she would definitely see him later. Only she wasn't sure, how much later, later would be.

Ariana stood up and collected her jacket.

'Just pick up your phone, okay?' Alec said. 'Saves me a lot of worry.'

Ariana nodded. 'Sure,' she said and with that she was out of the door.

Ariana walked out of the castle and made her way out of Volterra through the forest. She checked her jacket pocket to see if her father's journal was still there. It was. As she reached the edge of Volterra, she pulled out her phone.

Just pick up the phone, okay? Saves me a lot of worry.

Ariana heaved a sigh and crushed the phone in her hand as she gripped it tightly and let the pieces fall from her grip as she opened her fist.

God, Alec. I'm so sorry!

An hour…..two hours…..

Alec dialed Ariana's number. She surely should have been back by then. Apprehension started gnawing at the edge of his mind. And on top of everything her phone was out of service. The nagging feeling he was having all day had evolved into something much greater than just a nag. If before it was like a needle poking his mind, now it was like grenades exploding in his mind over and over again.

Three hours…..four hours…..

At that point Alec was going completely insane. Without even bothering to give her phone another try, he rushed out of the castle to look for her. If about a hundred calls before didn't work, a few more wouldn't.

'Hey Alec, where are you going?' Felix asked running behind him as he saw him rushing out of the castle.

Alec didn't slow down his pace. 'Ariana's not back yet. I'm gonna go look for her.'

Felix heaved a soundless sad sigh. So it had happened. Now it was his turn to keep his promise to Ariana and keep Alec as safe as he possibly could.

'I'm sure she's fine-,' Felix started but Alex cut across as they stepped in the forest.

'She's been gone four hours,' Alec said. 'And her phone's out of service. Just split up and search for her.'

Felix was about to say something when he realized arguing on this topic with Alec was pretty pointless. He nodded and headed the opposite direction. He wasn't really making an effort to search for her. He knew she wasn't anywhere around. If she had been gone for four hours then she was pretty much long gone by now. And she had been clever enough to spread her scent all around the forest so no one could track her in one specific direction. Except maybe Demetri. If Felix was to keep his promise to Ariana he had to make sure Demetri came nowhere near Alec. But he also realized that if Caius knew that Ariana was gone then he would keep Demetri busy himself and hence not give him the chance to track Ariana down.

After a few minutes he joined Alec near the edge of the forest.

'I didn't find anything,' Felix said.

Alec didn't reply neither did he turn back to look at Felix. It looked like he was frozen solid.

'Look Alec, don't worry,' he said. 'I'm sure she's fine. Maybe she's in the city having a pleasant educational stroll or something.'

Alec turned then and opened his fisted hand. His expression was that of sheer terror.

Felix looked at his outstretched hand and his eyes widened.

In Alec's hand were the broken pieces of Ariana phone.

Okay so that was it for this chapter. So things just got real serious. That's a lot of pressure for Ariana no? Will Alec be able to find out the truth himself? Well you definitely have to wait a little for that. I'll update as soon as I can.

A bucketful of thanks to Cetacea-of-Time, BarbieRachel, BFABB, miramisa90212 and anti-princess for your reviews! Love you guys! =)

Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter!

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