EVABELLE

Oblivion.

Everyone was silent after Calandra's statement. Oblivion. Oblivion. Oblivion. The word kept repeating in Evabelle's mind, but for some reason it didn't register. Oblivion as in nothing?

"I'm not sure what that means exactly." Aza rose to her feet, but remained close to Evabelle and CJ. "Are you saying we're like nonexistent?"

CJ rose to a sitting position and Evabelle froze. He touched his shoulder. "I'm not bleeding." He said in amazement. Evabelle saw now that the gaping wounds were no longer dripping blood, but remained long jagged marks down his skin.

Calandra nodded. "We are not nonexistent, but we are in a place where everything is stopped. There is no progression or growth here, besides the mind, which in the end will lead us all to insanity."

Evabelle's eyes widened, slowly rising to her feet. "Insanity? You mean that..."

Velrose was the one to answer this time. "Oblivion is the safest place next to heaven. No one can be injured. There is no magic to do harm, only that of coming and going. There is not anything to cause injury or damage, but there is nothing good here either. The mind demands an existence of things: gravity, air, substance, beginnings, and endings, but here, there is none of that. The mind tries to complete or recreate the world it knows, but here that is impossible. It eventually drives the being mad. They lose themselves trying the fix what is not there. Eventually they forget and become a part of the Oblivion. They become nothing. Even the Devil himself dare not come to this wretched place for it is better to exist in a life of torment that to have none at all."

Aza blinked, her face screwed up in concentration. "Hold on all of this is giving me a headache. So what you're saying is that this place is as safe as Heaven and worse than Hell?"

"Hmm," Faux murmured, weighing their options. "So, either stay in a place infested with blood thirsty beasts out to get us, or come to a place that fries our brains to the point where we no longer exist." He inclined his head. "Shockingly, I don't care for either one of those options."

"We don't like the situation any more than you do." Calandra began. "Mages, witches, and warlocks found they could transport to Oblivion with enough power. We only use if we have to. It's the last resort of last resorts."

"Was there no other place we could have gone?" Kai asked, sliding Gem down to a non-existent floor, where she scooped up Jewels and held her close.

Velrose's dark eyes flickered. Evabelle could see the resemblance between Calandra and her father clearly now that she got a good look at him. "Sanctuaries all over the country have gone into lockdown. The Council could never allow humans or a vampire into our courts. This place was the fastest plan of action we could take." The older man replied. "Staying here for too long is dangerous; however, I don't believe any Sanctuaries are planning on opening anytime soon, especially for you eight." He glared at them all.

Evabelle blinked. What did he mean by that?

"However, I believe there is one place that might take you in." Velrose continued.

Calandra's eyes widened. "You don't mean her place." She hissed the words, her usual cold countenance melting away revealing a spark lighting a fire underneath her.

Velrose nodded. "She will keep them safe; of course you will have to go with them."

Calandra shook her head. "And where will you be going? I know you don't plan on going to that wreck of a woman for help." Her voice was rising angrily.

Velrose gazed calmly at his daughter. "I will be returning to the Council. We need to fix the matter at our own Sanctuary. I will be dealing with such as I know your mission must be completed without me."

"But with her?" Calandra was as close to hysteric as Evabelle had ever heard it.

Faux raised his hand as though he were sitting in school waiting to be called on. He was ignored by both mages. He began jumping up and down and suddenly instead of landing on the floor that was not there, he didn't. He kept falling, continuing down until he stretched out his wings and flew up toward the group again. "Whoa!" He exclaimed. "That was unexpected." He tried to land, but was unable to. "I can't find the floor!"

Calandra shook her head, turning from her father for a moment. "There is no floor."

Faux scratched his head. "I'm thoroughly confused now. What was I standing on just a second ago?"

Evabelle crouched down to touch the floor with her hand; however there was nothing to touch. Her hand passed the level where her feet stood and then the floor completely dropped out from underneath her. She screamed as she tumbled forward into nothingness. Her stomach caught in her throat causing her cry to be cut off short.

Two hands grasped onto hers. She clutched them tightly. Evabelle looked up into the faces of Lucis and CJ. They pulled her back up to the nothing that was the floor, except now like Faux she could no longer find that which had once stood. The two boys tried to help her find her footing, but it was no use. They hung onto her until Lucis scooped Evabelle up like he had when they had flown together.

Once again Evabelle was aware she was in the arms of one attractive guy and felt the infuriating flush of color spreading on her cheeks. It was then that Lucis lost his feel of the ground and dropped too. Evabelle clung to him as he spread his wings, slowing their fall and then soared back up to everyone, where he now hovered like Faux.

Calandra shook her head. "Stop thinking about it." She snapped. "Our minds still have a grip of reality that there is a ground or gravity, but once you start wondering and trying to rationalize, you really begin to fall into oblivion."

"Then let's get out of here." Tru exclaimed. "Let's not wait around until we lose it."

Calandra clenched her teeth. Velrose put a hand on her shoulder and whispered something to her. She shook him off and stepped away from him. "Fine!" She snarled.

Velrose gave an approving nod. "It was unfortunate that I was unable to get to know you well." He said, his gaze passing over Tru, Faux, Aza, CJ, and Evabelle. "But do plan on meeting me again. This situation with my home calls for some serious interrogation." He said almost threateningly. Then he stepped back and growled in a low tongue. His words were harsh and unable to be understood. He didn't vanish in a flash, but more seemed to fade away into the nothingness that surrounded them.

"Interrogation?" Evabelle asked from Lucis's arms. "What does he mean?"

Calandra shook her head, still looking rather unhappy. "Don't worry about it now. We need to go."

Faux fluttered over to her. "Do tell me we're going somewhere with substantial flooring and no monsters."

Calandra grimaced. "Depends on your definition of monsters." She sighed and pushed the hovering Faux aside. "We're going to San Diego, California. We're going to stay at the ­­­Kalas-Hem, the home of my mother."

"I take it you and her don't have a great relationship." Aza said.

Calandra hung her head. "No, not particularly. Unfortunately with this sudden change of events, she may be our only hope of keeping sane or just living until tomorrow."

***

"We are going to die." Del said as he slammed into the window, once again. "We are putting our lives in the hands of the one who is constantly puts themselves in near-death situations. Remind me, why are we doing this?"

Aza clenched her teeth her knuckles turned white as the gripped the steering wheel. "How about you remind me, who's the one who can drive?" She spat.

"I'm not quite sure that describes what you're doing." Lucis replied as he braced himself against the seat in front of him.

The crappy 1990 GMC eleven seated suburban that Calandra had charmed from an idiot drunk that had obviously gotten the piece of work from some old junk yard, roared down the highway, being jerked this way and that as they nearly crashed into the cars in front, behind, and to the side of them.

Evabelle sat in the middle row beside Gem, who was the only one who got a seat belt. On Gem's other side sat CJ, looking pale. They had managed to tie up his wounded shoulder, unfortunately they wouldn't be able to fix it up properly until they reached Calandra's mother's place.

Calandra had explained that there was no way to teleport them there. Her mother's place was under lockdown as well, so they would have to travel the human way. It was night now, so the Anahalians could fly them over, but there were only four of them and it was on the other side of the country. They finally ended up in a magically enhanced suburban that was going about three hundred miles per hour, driven by none other than the infamously dangerous Azalyn Kendall. Aza was the only one who had had any experience behind a wheel. Evabelle herself just took buses or subway. Usually Aza did too, but apparently, Aza had signed up for some driving lessons. Evabelle wondered how many sessions her friend had attended.

Evabelle shrieked as they nearly bowled over an innocent minivan. Just before the poor, little car was crushed, the suburban lurched to the side sending Evabelle out of her seat and onto the floor. She clambered back into her chair, wondering why they didn't take a car with fully functional seatbelts.

She was reminded of The Knight Bus in Harry Potter; how things on the streets would jump out of the way of the chaotic bus, but this was more the opposite. If they were about to run into something then, it would be them that moved away (more like catapulted to the side).

CJ, who had planned to rest on the way there, now sat up straight, completely alert and looking as though he were about to hurl. "Aza," he said, rising just a bit. "Do you think you could...?"

At that moment Aza swerved violently and gave off another burst of speed, causing CJ to topple backwards over the seat, knocking him and Del onto the floor. "Get off me!" Del shoved him away.

"Sorry." The injured boy gasped.

Evabelle craned her neck to look behind her. "CJ, are you alright?"

He was clutching his shoulder again. He nodded. "I'd be better if my shoulder wasn't torn open and if we weren't on the car ride of death." CJ gave her a tight smile.

"You know I can hear you, right?" Aza called over her shoulder and swerved again, causing Evabelle to cling to her seat in a panic as CJ was knocked around between the two benches.

Calandra sat in the passenger's seat, clinging tight to whatever she could trying to relay instructions to Aza. "KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD!" She screamed. Out of everyone, Calandra seemed to be the one who was suffering most. The mage was already on edge for the reason of going to her mother's, but now she had to contend with giving instruction to one reckless driver.

"Calm down." Aza replied, swiveling back to face the front. "You tripped this thing out with magic. I don't think it's possible to crash in this!" The last word was skewed as the car lurched. Evabelle shook her head as she saw her friend grin in the rearview mirror. Aza was actually enjoying this.

A cry of pain sounded from the floor between the two back benches where CJ jostled between them. The hand on his shoulder was white. His face was also lacking in color. He was far too pale. Evabelle reached her arm over the side, wishing she could help him back into a seat, but it was far too dangerous for him to get up, so he had no other choice but to remain where he was. Instead CJ blinked up at her with his hazel eyes and took her hand and squeezed it tight. Evabelle gave him a small, hopefully reassuring smile.

From beside Evabelle, the little elf girl with the only functional seatbelt piped up. "Maybe CJ should take a turn with the buckle." She suggested. "It kind of sounds like you guys are having fun."

Kai who sat in the back with Lucis and Del shook his head. "No Gem, whatever you think you hear, we are most certainly not having fun."

"Don't be such a party pooper, Kai." Faux called from the bench just behind the drivers and passenger's seats. For most of the trip, he had held up his hands as if he was riding a theme park ride. Of course he was enjoying it too. "It's kind of like a roller coaster."

Tru huffed from beside her cousin. "A roller coaster, that has no control and causes you-" She was cut off as the car took another swerve around a corner causing Faux to ram right into her. "To do that." She grunted as she heaved him off her right into the back of the passenger's seat, jostling it and Calandra in it.

The mage whirled. "Enough! Stop! Everyone just stop!" She was definitely at the end of her rope. "NO!" She cried as she turned back to the front. "You missed the turn!"

Aza did a severely illegal u-turn, nearly flipping the car, causing Calandra to shriek. "THAT IS IT! I'M GOING TO LEARN TO DRIVE!"

"Most would consider that to be a random comment, but considering the circumstances, it makes perfect sense. If fact I think that's the best idea anyone's had all day." Tru muttered.

"I think even I could have driven better than this." Evabelle heard Lucis whisper.

"Anyone could drive better than this." Del said not as quietly.

"I really wish we had some music. Life is a Highway would be an excellent song right now." Aza called out to everyone in the car.

Del scoffed. "I was thinking more along the lines of Highway to Hell. That song seems a bit more appropriate."

Evabelle was surprised. "How do you know about human songs?" She asked. She was still holding CJ's hand, so she couldn't look directly at Del, which was okay with her.

"Your friend has her music player blasting all the time. It may have been two weeks since you guys came, but I've learned quite a bit about your music."

"Secretly, he loves your music." Lucis grinned. "I think he enjoys that I-pod thing."

"Anything that that brat likes is on my list that I would like to dump in a bottomless pit where the devils of Hell can swallow it in their burning inferno."

"A bit extreme." Kai mused.

Evabelle smiled. I think, I'm getting better at talking to boys. Well really they were the ones talking, but she didn't feel quite like an idiot like she usually did. It was a step in the right direction, right?

"Remind me if I'm wrong, but you claimed that we could get to your mother's place in little more than an hour." Tru said from up front. "I'd say it's been about that long."

Calandra didn't respond, too busy trying not to completely combust.

"At least, why didn't you fix the seatbelts before we put her in charge of this thing." Tru grunted at another launch from another car. Tru sighed as there was still reply. "Just tell me we are almost there. That's all I ask."

Calandra gripped the sides of her chair as the car took another sharp swerve. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she finally said. "We need to get through this canyon." She explained, gesturing to the mountains that held them on either side. "Just up ahead you'll be able to get your first glimpse."

And they did. There was a large break in one of the mountains allowing them to look out their windows and catch sight of a large valley encircled with golden hills and just beyond that was a lake that reflected the light of the dim moon. It was rather romantic looking. Evabelle thought.

"Wow," Aza breathed. "You guys really like the picturesque places, don't you?"

Calandra screamed. "KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD!"

Evabelle turned her head away from the valley just in time to see the blazing lights of a large semi truck veer into view, around the small canyon road. Aza spun the steering wheel doing whatever she could to avoid the huge vehicle. It was too close, so their poor little suburban ricocheted off the truck with the spin causing the car to twirl like a top, completely out of control. Everyone was screaming and yelling. Evabelle braced herself between the seats, having lost her grip on CJ. She prayed that somehow they would live through this.

Other cars flashed into view, but with the car on its wild course, Aza had no chance of swerving away. Their car just ricocheted off of them as well. Evabelle was beginning to feel as though she was inside a giant pinball machine.

The spinning sensation gradually slowed. Evabelle finally raised her head, to peak and see if all was well, however what she saw was the world tilting. The car was now at the edge of the road tilting toward the lovely valley below. Unless they managed to get out of this they were heading for Calandra's mother's place the fast way.

"Is everyone alright?" Lucis asked.

Evabelle jumped, causing the car to wobble a bit more toward the drop off. Lucis was no longer in his seat in the back, but right next to her.

"That's a rather stupid question." Del grumbled. He didn't sound like he was in his seat either. Evabelle turned to see Del and CJ in an awkward heap on the floor. Del's dark boot was practically in CJ's mouth, who was not looking so good.

"CJ?" Evabelle leaned over the seat, toward him, which cause the car to dip lower. Evabelle nearly lost her balance, but Lucis reached out and caught her easily. Evabelle held on to him as they teetered on the edge.

"Nobody move!" Calandra snapped. She had miraculously managed to stay in her seat, but now she had her arms held out as though she could balance the entire car this way. "Everyone listen very carefully. One at a time we are each going to move toward the back right corner of the vehicle. Lucis, go back first. You're the tallest, and the strongest. Do what you can to anchor us."

"You really think I'm that heavy?" Lucis gave a small smile Calandra did not smile back. Lucis closed his mouth and gave a nod. "Right, I'm on my way." Then he loosened his hold on Evabelle and began his way toward the back.

Evabelle blinked several times as she felt his arms slide from around her realizing that she didn't want him to leave. He was so warm and comforting. She shivered a bit and resisted the urge to catch his hand.

When Lucis reached the back, Calandra gave a nod at Evabelle. "You can go next since you're standing. Make sure you keep it slow and steady."

Evabelle swallowed. "Okay." But just as she began her own way back, the car shuddered and took another terrifying nose dive down, causing Evabelle to cry out as she slid back and nearly crashed into Gem, who was still buckled in tight. Evabelle clung to the seats and stared across the aisle, out the window at the dark forms of two little girls.

They couldn't be much older than Gem. They also couldn't be any less like the sweet little elf. Their hair was in tangled nests, and their clothes were no more than stained rags. The pair's small palms were pressed up against the glass as though they were about to push the car all the way over the side. Normal human beings should not be able to see this car, but these children were obviously not normal. Glowing, yellow eyes flickered back at Evabelle, who could not tear her gaze away.

"They're wolf cubs." Calandra whispered. Just as these words left her lips, Evabelle watched in horror as both of the girl's nails lengthened into claws at the same moment as they drew back their lips into a terrible smile that revealed sharp yellow teeth. One of them threw back her head and let loose a high howl and then both of the little werewolf children pushed the car over the edge.