Deep in the Forest

((Yes... lol))

Shadow reached out with her mind, sending out calm mental waves to try to help Marny.

Hayley put her head to one side, but stayed silent.

Alba felt the waves and was greatful for them. They helped, but the fear was still there, like a wild beast, ready to pounce at any moment.
Alba straitened up, a determined look on her face.
"Come on," she said to the others, "We have stuff to do before the Senate arrive."

"Tell me about it." Shadow muttered under her breath.

Alba headed for the door, happy to be getting out of the room filled with nervs and uncomfort. She stopped in the corridor and looked round to see if she could see Vrael.

Vrael was in the library, just across the hall. The door was open to show shelves and shelves of old looking books. The demon himself was hanging upside down off a bar that had been installed on the ceiling, reading an old text in demonic.

Hayley followed, staying silent stll. The atmosphere in the room was nerve wracking.

Alba walked into the library, looking around, sensing the living being but not seeing him. Then she looked up, and smiled the first smile she had in hours.

Vrael looked down, and smiled back.
"Alba, how be you?"

"Tired," she replied.
The Manticore animagus went to sit in a chair by the big fireplace and sighed.
"I'm having trouble trying to control my other half," then with a smile she said, "How can you read like that? Upside down I mean. It looks impossible!"

"Nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it." Vrael said, closing his book carefully and dropping to the floor with the grace of an elf. "I am sure that you will suceed in your quest."

"Thankyou," said Alba with a smile. She admired the vampire's calmness and "sang froid" (donno how to translate that into english).
She gazed into the fire, watching the flames lick the bricks behind them. The warmth was welcome, but it reminded her all too much of hiw wild and untaimable her Manticore half was.
What have I become? she asked herself, closing her eyes and sighing.

Vrael sat next to Alba, and slipped an arm around her shoulders, trying to comfort her.

Alba smiled, glad for the touch of someone she loved. She rested her head against Vrael's shoulder and closed her eyes.
"Shadow tells me that the Senate from your dimention is on it's way. I fear for you."

Vrael suddenly tensed, saying nothing for a few seconds.
"They will not be pleased."

"I don't know much about these people. Tell me, why are they comming here in the first place?"
Alba's eyes met Vrael's silver ones and she knew something was not right between the Senate and the demons she had learnt to care for so much.

"They are coming because the family was not supposed to be reunited, nor was Shadow ever to have children." Vrael said quietly. "They have at last found us."

Alba stayed silent. She had not realised how dangerous the situation was. Dangerous at the same time for Angel and Onix than for Vrael. She edged closer to the vampire she'd fallen in love with, as if to keep him from leaving her. That was the last thing she needed.

Vrael hugged Alba tighter, as if he neither, wanted to be separated from her.Upstairs, he could sense that Shadow was running around, trying to find somewhere for her twins to stay.

"Maybe we should help Shadow," Alba suggested, sitting up slightly, "The twins are older mentally but they're still children. They need protection."

Vrael, coming out of his thoughts, nodded.
"Perhaps it would be better than brooding."

Alba got up from the chair and made her way towards the door. She emerged into a hall but, still not knowing her way round the house, did not know where to go. She turned to Vrael with a smile on her lips.
"I'm sorry, but i dan't know my way round the house yet. What way do we go?"

Vrael walked out of the room, and a small blur promptly collided with his legs, sending the half demon flying. A wolf cub, which was the culprit morphed back into the violet haired form of Archangel.
"Sorry Vrael!" She shouted before running off again.

Alba ran to help Vrael up, a smile playing on her lips.
"Are you alright?" she asked, kneeling beside him, "I'm sorry for laughing, it was just so unexpected."

Vrael nodded.
"That was Onyx."