Once more Zan vanished only to reappear with a crystal vase filled halfway with water. He set it on the table and started to carefully arrange the flowers inside, creating a lovely rose bouquet. He smiled up at Talia and inclined his head to her. "Will there be anything else, mistress?"

"I can't think of anything just now. But thank you for these they're beautiful. I absolutely love flowers." Talia said to Zan as she delicately touched the petals of the roses. "So you don't mind doing any of this?" she asked curiously. "I mean if I were to keep you, you wouldn't mind?" She was beginning to think how useful it would be to have him around, someone to help out and keep her company when Dash was not around. I wonder if I should go tell Dash about this...I mean the ring was in his belongings after all.

"I do not mind," Zanariel said, his face carefully guarded. After spending longer than most creatures' lifetimes serving others, he had more or less gotten so accustomed to it that it didn't bother him. While he would prefer freedom, he figured that this was the reason he had been created. "I live to serve, mistress."

"How about instead of calling me Mistress you call me by my name, Talia." She said with a smile. "I suppose I should tell you a little about myself, huh? So it doesn't feel like your working with a complete stranger. I'm a shapeshifter, I work as a dancer, I live here alone though my friend Dash is coming to stay for a little while." Her smile suddenly brightened at the mention of Dash's name. "We like Dash Zan. You very much want to see Dash and Talia fall in love." she said with a chuckle. "You'll meet him soon."

"If that is your wish, mis-....Talia." Zan gave a slight bow again and listened to her speak of herself and Dash. "Is master Dash a shapechanger as well?" He needed to know what to expect so he could properly greet the newcomer.

Talia shook her head. "No he's not a shapeshifter. Hes...well if he wishes for you to know he'll tell you himself. I'm not sure he would appreciate me speaking of him so freely and I would not wish to destroy the trust we have built between one another." she said looking at Zan with an apologetic expression. "He has his reasons for wishing to keep parts of his life secret. But you needn't worry about him, he's lovely and sweet." she smiled looking a little embarassed. "You will like him once you get to know him. Hes gone to see friends of ours..." Talia looked thoughtful for a few moments then frowned. "I should have gone too...they are my friends as well." She bit her lip as her worry for Fox returned from earlier then stood. "Zan, i'm going to go out for a bit, you can come but I need you to pop into your ring for a while until I reach my friends home, okay?"

"I can take you there instantly, mis- Talia." Zan managed to correct himself just before saying mistress. He gave her a bright smile. "Just take my hand and picture it clearly in your mind, and I can bring us there. Unless you would rather I go into the ring." He was reluctant to put himself there and waited for her decision.

Talia smiled and nodded as she picked up her jacket but stopped with a small frown. If I go to Fox's apartment will Dash think i'm following him on purpose. I don't want to annoy him... she bit her lip then looked up at Zan. "Change of plan. How about you zap us into the city and we just go for a nice stroll?" she asked as she proceeded to pull her jacket on.

"I need a safe place to take us." Zan suddenly snapped his fingers and pointed at Talia excitedly. "Ooo! There was a nice bar in town I was in, had a nymph running it. And I got a drink with a funny little umbrella!" He seemed more excited about the umbrella than he did the actual bar.

Talia's eyes widened as she realised he was speaking of Fox's bar. Is this a sign that I should go see them? she thought then gave a determined nod as if answering her own question. "The bar belongs to a friend. We can go visit her and i'm sure she'll have plenty of drinks with little umbrella's for you." she said with a smile. "She'll be at her apartment..." she said holding her hand out to Zan and picturing the street just outside Fox's home.

Taking her hand, Zan nodded and started their transport. It was like walking through a warm, pleasant tunnel, and Zan looked up at her. "Keep thinking of that destination and take a step forward."

Talia did as she was told and thought only of Fox's apartment then slowly took a step forward, her hand clutching Zan's tightly. (posted down with benny and fox)

---

Benny nodded in agreement. "We just know things Dash. Mother and Father had the same bond. You can choose to fight it, or deny it, but you won't find anyone else who makes you feel that way, it's a fact."

Dash groaned, lowering his head even more. "Outstanding..." After a moment, he shifted so he could lean back into the corner of the couch and look at them both. "I can't just rush into something like that though. I mean.. just because I'm attracted to her doesn't mean we'd even work as a couple. What if all she does is annoy me? Or I annoy her? What if all we do is.. is that and that's the extent of our romantic relationship? What if other than.. that... nothing changes? That's not what I wanted from a relationship."

Again, his older brother nodded. "Dash, you are always going to worry things like that, and as I said, you can choose to ignore it. But there's no harm in asking her out, is there? Try giving it a go. If it doesn't work out, then she'll move on and you'll... well you'll cope, and I'll help. It's not as bad as it seems. It's just your nature asserting its knowledge. Knowing something doesn't mean you have to act on it though."

"The 'What if's' are not going to help you. Sure, like Benny said, your going to worry, but your worry about things that haven't happened and may never happen. If you and Talia do proceed into a relationship it may be the most perfect thing you've ever experienced. You just never know. It would be stupid of you to just walk away without even trying though." Fox's tone was soft and kind while she spoke to Dash. Sure she worried about him getting hurt but she knew she wouldn't be able to protect him from something that could result in his happiness growing. Sitting back against the arm of the couch she smiled softly. Dash is in love, how cute! I knew it would happen!

"I guess... what I'm most worried about though..." Dash told them, lowering his eyes and his unhappiness evident on his face. "Is.. What if she doesn't even like me back?" He looked up at them, as if pleading for comfort.

"Then you are there for her, and try to make her happy anyway, even if you can't be with her," Benny was quick to interject. "Because their happiness is what is most important, Dash. If they are happy and safe, with you or not, you are going to be happy. I promise you that."

Dash nodded, seeming to decide that's what to do, then he sighed and looked at Fox. "Anyway, sorry to be such a downer about all that. Benny said you had something you wanted to talk about?" That's why he had come over here after all. Or planned to, in the beginning.

Pursing her lips together Fox looked over at Dash and nodded her head. "I'd like to take back the city. I want our kind to be free to walk the streets and I think its about time. I dont want anyone hurt but, Im tired of living in the shadows. We're not a harm to anyone...Well most of us. So there is no reason to stay in hiding like we have been. I'd also like to bring in some nymphs to help heal the earth and such around the city that way it doesnt look to desolate..." Feeling she had worded herself correctly and that Dash wasn't going to think she was going insane, she smiled softly.

Dash stared at her for a long moment before he spoke, seeming to really think it over. "...Are you insane?" he said finally. She apparently had not succeeded at not sounding insane. "Take back the city? You'd have to.. I mean that's..." He paused, scrunching up his face as he thought about it, then looked at her again. "Even if you did succeed, and that is a big IF, you'd have the world swarming down on you to extinguish the flame you start before it grows into a forest fire. You can't just have the city Fox, unless you plan on having the world."

The image of Rafe flashed into her mind momentarily before here body shivered and she shook her head to clear her mind. "I just want our lives peaceful. We were once able to walk among the humans with no issues." A determined look came over Fox and she looked back and forth between the brothers before she stood and crossed her arms over her chest. "Am I the only one who is tired of the police barging in here once a month and questioning the patrons? Or tired of Benny being halled off all the time for "questioning"? Her face grew red with anger just at the thought. She did feel alone in this, like she was the only one who wanted a normal life.

"I am getting tired of not hitting back," Benny admitted to Fox, then looked at his brother. For the first time in what felt like too long, he and his brother shared a secret look, one that held much more conversation than words could.

Dash nodded. "Alright," he agreed and looked at Fox, a bit more determined. He shrugged in a 'what the hell' sort of way. "What do you want me to do?"

"Well, Im not entirely sure. This really isn't my forte. How about we throw out some ideas and go from there? I do like Benny's idea of bringing in Nymphs and bringing the city back to some of its glory." Thinking to herself for a moment, Fox sighed and came over to lean into Benny."You both know me better than anyone on this earth, so you should automatically know I don't want anyone hurt...especially you two."

"Then I suggest we wait until we have control to start doing any repairs," Dash said as he watched his brother shift Fox around to have her fall into his lap, holding her waist. "If we want minimal casualties, we'll have to go to the top... Like the mayor, and head of police... Probably at the same time."

Benny nodded. "Once they are out, it'll be a lot easier to take down the rest of the city. We'll need excessive force though. No matter how able we are, we're going to have to intimidate them visually enough to make them back down without a fight."

"What if they don't believe they can't take us?"

"We'll have to fight," the elder answered sadly.

"Would hostages work?"

"I guess. If we could keep them from contacting reinforcements."

"Infiltration then?"

"Seems so."

"You know... subtlety was never our thing."

"I know..." Benny frowned and hugged Fox. He had to think of her, and especially her wishes. "But this time, it's going to have to be."

Dash nodded and stood. "Alright. Then I guess I need to find some helpers who look intimidating."

"Oh, I'm sure that wont be hard." Fox smiled fondly and pulled Dash towards her, kissing his cheek she smiled warmly. "Thank you." Leaning back into Benny she thought to herself. I hope he makes the right choice. Him and Talia could be so good together. I just hope he doesnt get hurt. Lacing her fingers with Benny she inhaled deeply and closed her eyes for a moment. "I hope this works..." In her mind, she was determined to make it work, in her heart she wanted it to work, but there was still that doubt that everything could go wrong and their lives be torn to pieces.

Dash took a bracing deep breath. "Wish me luck!" he said in a less than sure tone, smiled and waved, and left the apartment, closing the door with a soft click.

Gentle lips met Fox's neck. "Don't look so worried," Benny told her gently as he continued giving her little kisses. "You'll get wrinkles."

Fox's body shivered as he kissed her neck. Breathing deeply she closed her eyes. "Trying to finish what we started earlier?" Her tone was light and playful, but in the back of her mind she knew she was all for it. She had always believed that making love with the man you loved was one of the most important emotional connections a girl needed, and her and Benny, they needed it.

"Only if you want to," Benny answered softly, not pressuring her though he did continue to attend to her neck with unhurried kisses. He wanted to show her affection even if they didn't have sex. "I understand if your mind is preoccupied," he added, pausing his attention and letting his lips and breath ghost over her skin as he spoke. He leaned back to look into her eyes, showing he was being honest and not pushing her. "If you would rather just have tea then bed...?" He let the question hang in the air for her. True, he had waited forever it seemed and he felt like he was going to explode in frustration at not getting it, but at the same time, he had been happy all this time, hadn't he? What was continuing to wait?

Fox stood and moved away from Benny towards the bedroom door. Turning she pulled the straps of her dress and allowed it to fall, pooling at her feet. Her entire body shook with anticipation and nerves. Yes she was nervous, how couldn't she be? This was the first time she would be with Benny like this and she wanted it to be absolutely perfect. Inhaling deeply she cocked a finger at him in a come hither fashion. Smiling she turned into the bedroom and walked towards the bed, waiting for him to come to her.

Benny had to take a steadying breath to see her like that. His skin felt like it was on fire as he followed her into the bedroom. Was this really going to happen? After so many years? How many years had it been exactly? He had lost count so long ago. Standing in the doorway to their bedroom he tugged off his shirt and let it fall to the floor before he stepped up to her, his hands finding her skin in a spark of what felt like electricity, one resting on her lower back, the other coming to the nape of her neck, laced into her hair as his lips claimed hers in a slow, loving kiss. It had been so long in general, and yet it felt like the first time. The only time. And he was perfectly happy with that. For the first time in his life, perfectly happy.

Brushing her fingers along his jawline she looked up into his eyes and smiled. She knew deep down that no matter what, this moment would be perfect, unless they were interrupted...again. Her eyes shone with love and happiness as she leaned forward and returned his kiss full force, every emotion in her body was put forth in this kiss to show Benny exactly how she was feeling. Fox was surprised when a tear rolled down her cheek, true it was a tear of happiness, but a tear none the less.

With an almost effortless motion, Benny lifted Fox again, gently guiding her legs around his waist before he laid her on the bed, shifting to a more comfortable position above her. He wanted this to last and it was making his body quiver slightly as he forced himself to slow down. Gentle lips left hers to continue his trail of kisses, but when he found the small, wet, salty tear on her cheek, he stopped immediately, leaning back to look at her face, his eyes concerned. "Fox.. if you didn't want to, you should have just said... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to upset you..." His hand was stroking hair from her face again. How could he think this was ok? She probably felt she had to to make him happy. Fuck.

"Oh god...Benny...Sometimes." Laughing softly she shook her head and raised her hips to grind against him. "Tears of happiness, Benny. I've never been so happy in my life!" She wasn't sure how to show him otherwise so she took his hand and guided to her wet nether lands and smiled. "I want this, believe me, I've been dying for this moment. I would have said otherwise." Fox smiled lovingly at him. Glad he was so concerned about her, but she wanted this and she didnt want to hold back any longer.

Benny's eyes widened when she moved his hand and a blush covered his cheeks. He was not this lucky. But before his brain could protest it too much, his lips captured hers in a deep loving kiss and his hand left hers, only to address his own lower clothing. Warm lips found her neck, loving on her flawless skin as she settled between her legs again, his own agreeing desire becoming very apparent. "Fox..." he breathed into her ear, feeling like he could almost cry himself. "I'm so in love with you..." Had he... had he actually just said that? His heart clenched, yelling at him that he was an idiot for saying what he had wanted to say the moment she had been brought into the throne room.

Fox forced them apart just enough so she could look into his eyes and smiled. "I love you too, Benny, more than anything." She couldnt believe they had both said it, and willingly. She was happy they had, damn happy. It was the most amazing feeling to hear those words coming out of his lips. She didnt know if she would ever be happier than she was at this very moment. Wrapping her legs around his waist she pulled his head back towards her and kissed him deeply. Her smooth tongue begged its way into his mouth, wanting to deepen the kiss as her body shook with desire.

Benny did his best to suppress his groan, happily allowing her entrance and played back with her tongue as he shifted his hips slightly, getting ready but not doing anything. Not yet. Strong but lithe arms found their way around her waist, hugging their bodies together as they kissed. True, they had had years upon years of foreplay, but this couldn't be rushed. He carefully broke the kiss, trailing kisses down her jaw to the hollow of her throat, down her sternum and, again he had to suppress a groan, louder this time, as he pressed the first kisses he was ever permitted to give to her soft breasts. It was even better than he imagine and a few stars went off behind his eyes at how happy he was, delirious with the feeling of soft warm flesh beneath his lips.

Talia was amazed when the next thing she knew she and Zan were standing right outside Fox's home. She let go of Zan's hand and smiled down at him. "That was incredible. Thank you." she said happily then motioned for him to follow her as she quickly made her way to the Fox's front door. After a quick fix of her hair and straightening of her clothes she raised her hand and knocked loudly on the door.

"Is she the one with the umbrellas?" Zanariel asked happily, bouncing on his toes. What sort of creatures were here he wondered. Zan stood a step behind Talia and slightly to the right.

Hearing the knock at the door she shook her head. "Ignore it. It can't be that important." Fox was about to her breaking point with people just "dropping" by. Who the fuck does that anyway? She wasn't down stairs in the club working because it was her day off, her day to spend with Benny. And so far that hadn't gone over very well. Turning Benny to look at her she frowned deeply. "Please, just ignore it. If it were important they would have just barged in."

"If it wasn't important, they wouldn't have come at all," Benny pointed out a little breathlessly, but made no move to get up, capturing her lips in a hot kiss instead, bearing down slightly with his hips. He had never felt so much of her skin against his and every time they touched it was like electricity again, begging him to have more of himself against her, and soon.

"Give me a second." She wasn't leaving this bed...not for anything. Closing her eyes she sent her mind to the door. Talia... Pressing her mind into Talia's she sighed and shook her head. Pulling her mind back she shook her head and looked up int Benny's eyes. "I swear it isnt as important as she thinks. She's just being nosy. I'm not letting anyone else ruin this." Capturing his lips with hers she raised her hips up a bit and grinned herself against him.

Benny groaned quietly into her mouth. "Ok.." he said, though the word was muffled and distracted as he broke the kiss to love on her neck again. She was just so soft. "Fox," he murmured against her neck between kisses. He seemed to need the eye contact though and sat back just enough to look into her eyes, his own gold ones practically glowing in the dark. "Do you trust me?" Sure, she said she did all the time, but she was really going to need to now. Not just that he wouldn't hurt her physically, but emotionally too, and that he meant what he was about to do with good intentions, and not just because she was the single most beautiful creature on the planet.

Fox stopped all movement and looked up into the most gorgeous eyes she'd every seen. She knew her own eyes were probably glowing white because around her peripheral vision was tinged with a lining of white. "Of course I trust you. I always have and I always will." Gently she ran her hand up and down his arm, reassuring him in a way. "I love you." She smiled softly as she watched him carefully. She knew he wouldn't ever hurt her...ever. He was her Benny.

Talia frowned when no one answered. "Where are they?" she muttered then turned and looked at Zan. "Seems they've all gone out." she says in an annoyed tone as she stomped down the steps. "Do your powers work if I think of a person? You know I think of someone and poof, we're there with them..."

"Not exactly," Zan said. "It only works if I bring you, and I can only do that if I've met the person." He rubbed his toe on the floor, disappointed that there would be no more little umbrellas.

"Good..." Benny replied quietly, moving so his lips brushed against hers when he spoke. "I need you to continue to do so now... If you want me to stop, you need only say." That having been said, he captured her lips in a loving kiss and, after a careful repositioning, entered her for the first time, nearly fainting from the sheer ecstasy of it. Bright stars went off behind his closed eyelids as he kept their lips together, trying to wait for it to settle before he moved again.

"Oh." Talia said looking disappointed then held her hand out to Zan. "Lets just go home. You could magic up some of those little umbrella drinks you keep talking about." she said with a small smile. "And if you feel like it you could rustle up a little dinner for me and Dash? I want to start showing him that I really care, you know. So i'm thinking a little dinner, maybe candlelight and some music and i'll put on a really nice dress." she smiled brightly as she imagined it. "Let's go."

"Oh god!" Fox gasped aloud as he drove into her. Pure ecstasy ran through as they were joined. Wrapping her arms around him, she held him still for several moments. It had been so long since she'd been intimate with someone that she knew she may hurt. "Okay...I'm ready." Looking up into his eyes she smiled softly. "I love you."

Benny looked back down into her eyes, almost as if searching for something, but after a brief moment he smiled. "I love you too," he replied honestly before he leaned down to kiss her neck, very carefully starting to move. He had to go slow, he didn't want it to end so early, but everything in him was singing at how right this was. Sparks lit under his skin wherever they touched and he had to force himself to focus slightly, to make sure his hips were moved in a way that would rub against her, against that one spot he hoped would set off similar lights behind her beautiful eyes.

Goose bumps covered her skin where Benny laid his kisses. Fox was in complete bliss as she lay here in his arms making sweet, slow, passionate love with him. She knew being with Benny would be amazing but she never thought that little bolts of electricity would zing through her body. Every time it did she lost a bit more control over her powers and since the bed and Benny were the only two things she was touching, she glimpsed several things, them lying in bed together, night after night, there first time having met, a few of their arguments. But every time something like this popped into her mind, it was cast aside by the pleasure that was building inside her. She knew Benny was holding back, wanting it to last, and that was okay, they had years ahead of them to change it up and have wild love!

"You're in my head." The words were soft and sudden in her ear, breathless as Benny didn't stop his movements to say them. There was a small thought, in the back of his mind, that cried out at the intrusion, but was washed over and muffled by the majority of his brain telling it to shut the hell up. It was like Benny was acknowledging that, for the first time since they had met and he told her to stay out, she was in his head, and that he was letting her be there. It was the ultimate sign of trust. His lips captured hers again in a deep but gentle kiss as he quickened his pace just slightly, almost as if to distract the little control she still had.

"I'm sorry, I can't control it..." Fox sighed against his lips. He didnt seem angry and he hadn't told her to stop. That reassured her immensely that he wasn't mad at her. At his quickened speed she lost all control and was thrown into his mind. "Benny...What..." Pleasure like nothing she'd ever felt before erupted inside her.

Benny focused on every good memory had had of Fox: the way her smile made him feel, how he felt when he was the one to make her happy, getting her safely away, dancing, singing with her, singing to her just to see her laugh, getting to hold her hand, getting to hug her, all the way back to the very first kiss she had ever given him and how he almost felt his heart jump out of his chest in that moment. Settling on the very first moment he laid eyes on her and how he felt his loyalty, his love, focus in on this one creature, the most beautiful person he had ever seen in his life, that he would ever see, and as if completing a saga that started that very moment all those years ago, he felt his heart leap out of his chest as pleasure rolled through him and the world went dark, all except for the two milky eyes he couldn't help staring into, his body shaking, the breath rushing from his chest with just one word. "Fox...."

Some time later...

Fox awoke with the feeling of Benny's arms wrapped around her. Instead of opening her eyes she kept them closed and remained still, not wanting to wake him. She noticed two things right away, the smell of their love making and Benny's smell. Both of these things made her smile. Sighing softly she remembered one of the most intimate parts of there love making. He had allowed her into his mind without complaint. That huge piece of trust meant more to her than the wonderful orgasm they had both received.

A soft kiss landed on her cheek as Benny's arms squeezed her gently. "You're awake." His voice was soft and a little rough, but his smile and eyes were kind. His mind was oddly at peace for having been invaded. He was curious though and he buried his face against her neck, closing his eyes again. "What did you see?" He didn't sound angry, just curious, still lingering in a pleasant haze.

"Us, mainly. There were a few glimpses of you and Dash as children. You were both so adorable. Somehow I skirted around seeing anything bad, but I think that has to do with us doing something so good that it blocked out the bad stuff." Fox was now in control of her powers again as she rolled over to face Benny. Looking into his beautiful eyes she inhaled deeply and smiled. This is my man...

---

Just outside the city, an angry blue demoness was leaving large gashes in a concrete barrier as she walked. Aleia tried to calm the demon, but it was too much for her to control. The demon didn't trust people for a reason, and Al now had the job of handling the backlash of what had happened. To make things worse, now that they were outside the city, the demon wanted nothing more than to go back and feast again.

It was a while later when the anger overtook Al's ability to reason with the demon. She turned into the city, the scent of fresh blood filling her senses. But something else pervaded her scenes of smell. Mingled with soap was the scent of he who angered her. Aleia absently followed that smell, staying close to the shadows and in the alleys to avoid being seen.

"If you vouch for them, Dash, then I'm behind you," said a very base voice. A troll stood in a dark alley with a dark elf, addressing the human looking blond in front of them.

"Me too. Whatever you need," the dark elf nodded and Dash dared to let a little relief show in his eyes.

"Thank you, thank you both," he told them and bid them both goodbye with promises to contact them. They turned and exited down an open manhole and Dash turned to head down the alley, stopping dead in his tracks, eyes wide, at a familiar face. The manhole closed, and he was on his own with the demoness. "Aleia...." he breathed. She still looked pissed. No luck hoping she would be calmer then. Why couldn't he move? He shouldn't just be standing here like a tree, rooted to the ground! He was a hunter, not a damn target!

The demon lunged quickly, faster than any human and most creatures had any right to be. Aleia tried to pull back and regain dominance, but the demon was having none if it now. She wanted blood, and more importantly, she wanted Dash's. The anguished cry broke from her lips, but was quickly cut off by the demon.

He must be rusty. Dash could have just stopped her but all thoughts of control left his mind as he saw his, what he hoped was still his, new friend leap at him. His hands came up and grabbed her shoulders but it didn't stop his back from hitting the pavement. He focused all his attention on just keeping her mouth at bay, keeping her as much at arms length as he could while pinned down. "Aleia stop! You have to calm down!" he shouted at her over her mad attack. "Please, stop!" He was panting from the effort, his whole body straining, muscles taught. How did she stay safe this long with her blue skin? Where were the police? Not that he was complaining that she was safe. He was going to have to take her somewhere, but where? They had to get off the street. He kept an eye on her teeth, tried to keep one on her claws which he really didn't have any control over, all the while trying to glance around for a means for both of them to escape.

A leg came up and slashed razor sharp talons at Dash's stomach. Aleia's shoes were ruined, showing the animalistically clawed feet. She growled deep in her throat, almost in a sing songy voice. "Aleia isn't home! Just me! And I am going to end your city just as soon as I finish with you!" The words were garbled, the demon having trouble pronouncing them, but they were understandable enough. The voice sounded nothing like Al's sweet tempered soprano. It was deep, hungry, and frightening.

Dash cried out as his stomach was wounded, forcing his eyes to stay open so he could keep an eye on the creature above him. "Let Aleia out or tell me what you want because I'm not going to keep putting up with this!" he snarled at her, gold eyes flashing as he glared up at her. He didn't want to make her into a puppet but he would if that's what it took to calm her down.

Something flashed through the demon's angry eyes. The clawed foot gripped at his shirt,but the pressure stopped pushing on his arms but she didn't move. "Aleia needs protection, and I need-" Aleia tried her damndest to stop the demon from saying it. The blue receded suddenly and Al pushed away from Dash, falling to her knees. "No! He doesn't need to know that!" she screamed suddenly, clutching her head as if in agony.

"Aleia!" Dash sat up quickly, hissing at the pain in his stomach but pushed it away as he stumbled over to her, falling to his knees again when he reached her. "Aleia thank gods! Are you ok?" He leaned down a bit, hand under her chin, trying to look into her eyes as if that would help him assess her well being. She needed protection? From what? And what did that demon need? Damn it all, he wished he knew how to deal with this.

Aleia pulled away just in time to be violently ill. She threw up a stomach full of blood, creating a puddle large enough to easily be a murder scene. Tears streamed down her face as she pushed her blood soaked hair back. "I'm so sorry," Al managed before another wave of blood came up. "I can't control her anymore. She's going into..." Al bit her lip, stopping herself while she tried to figure out the word she wanted. "Going into heat. And others are going to start sensing it."

"Others?" Dash's word was half choked. Fuck me... he thought loudly, wanting to groan. He ran a hand through her hair carefully, less to comfort her and more so that the blood would follow his hand and he tossed it carelessly onto the pavement away from them where it spattered like a gun shot had caused it. At least her hair was clean now. He sighed. "Don't be sorry Al. I guess it's a natural thing, right? What did you do last time this happened?" It had to have happened before, right? Since she knew what it was?

"I..." Aleia actually groaned at the memory. "I tried to keep it at bay as long as I could. But then they came." More tears, more pained memories. "They killed everyone. And they almost killed me. But she....she took over. And I don't remember after that. I woke up in carnage." She refused to meet Dash's eyes, staring at the light playing in the blood puddle in front of her.

"'They'? Who's 'they'?" Dash looked around, frowning, before looking at Aleia. "Come on, we have to get you somewhere safe. We can talk more but for now we need to move." He stood, trying to get her to come with him.

"Male demons," Aleia said as she tried to stand. "They will come, in numbers impossible to control. The only thing they truly seek is...will be me." There was a small squeak as she said 'me', as if she was frightened by this prospect. "I don't know what exactly happened last time, but I know she didn't mate. There were no...children."

"I don't know what else to do. You can't just.. stop being in heat," Dash said, worry creeping into his voice. He paused, thinking maybe a hoard of desperate male demons might be exactly what they need. "Can you?" Well, it was worth a shot. Seeing how sick and shaky she was, he sighed, impatient, and scooped her into his arms. "Brace yourself." He dropped into a shadow next to a dumpster in the alley, a rush of cold air passing by them as if dropping through a hole and he landed, crouching, out of the ceiling of a dark home. He set Aleia down before going to the windows to rip a board or two off, letting in a bit more light. They were in another suburban home, his favorite default hide out. It was not the one they had been in before, possibly not even the same neighborhood. "Now," he said with a sigh, turning to face Aleia again. "What are we going to do about this?" He motioned to her with a hand, not noticing it might be taken that he was motioning to both of them.

"Only two ways to stop being in heat," Aleia said with a blush. She looked at the floor, another wave of nausea hitting her but she managed not to stain the floor red this time. "Either we wait or I...um..." Al made a hand gesture, not wanting to say it. "Uh...but he will have to be someone she approves of, and there are very few of those." There was actually only one. And that was what she wanted to keep so desperately from him.

"Wait for what? And who would she approve of?" Dash asked, growing a little frustrated but clearly willing to be here for her. He sighed, leaning back against the faded flower wallpaper, covering his face with his hands. He wasn't sure which he wanted more: to handle Fox's make-shift army or get 'home' to Talia. Or deal with this. This needed dealt with or Aleia would get raped. Or there would be a big pile of carnage to deal with. Neither option really seemed pleasant.

Aleia stared so hard at the ground it was amazing the floor didn't spontaneously combust. "Wait until her mating period ends, which is what I think happened last time. And as for who she approves of, only she can answer that. And I'm trying to keep her contained." Aleia really didn't want a horde of demons to descend on this city, but a female demon's mating period was rare, and demons were only fertile during that time.

Dash sighed and slid down the wall, resting his elbows on his knees. He really didn't have time to deal with a girl on her period. "Alright," he said finally. "Since you won't let her out to pick someone- not that I blame you of course-" he added quickly, holding up a hand to stop any protests. "Can't just do that with anyone. We'll just have to wait it out. How long does this last?"

"Last time? It started on the full moon." Aleia actually winced at what she was about to say. "And I awoke again on a full moon." It had been one week of her fighting it off, and then nothing.  A long three weeks of the demon being in full control. And since she wasn't talking, Al had no idea what had actually happened. "They'll start arriving soon. It's why she wax so angry, I think."

He barely resisted the urge to groan. He had to think. He couldn't protect her for a month, but this city couldn't deal with a pile of obvious carnage though. She could leave? Before it became too much? But what was to stop her from coming back if she wasn't far enough away before the demon took control? What was to stop her from coming back at all at that point? He leaned his head foward, sliding his fingers back through his hair before gripping it. First this thing with Talia, then trying to start a revolution, and now a horny demon: no one would say his life wasn't interesting. He sighed in frustration, throwing his hands down and leaning his head back against the wall. He had no idea what to do.

"I'm sorry," Aleia said. Her tone had a light hint of annoyance in it. "I could just let her go back to trying to kill everyone. Then you can go back to whatever it was you were doing." She stood shakily, trying not to let the demon's moodiness bother her, but that was near impossible. The creature wanted Dash, or his blood, and wasn't going to back off. This time tomorrow demon males would be finding the city, and the ones already there would be searching for her. Aleia didn't want anyone else drug unwillingly into it.

"Fine." Dash tried to only show he was giving in and not actually snap at her. He looked at her face, his brow furrowed slightly and waved a hand to her. "What do you want to do? Given the available options." He didn't want to leave it at 'what do you want to do' because 'I want to not be in heat' wasn't an option. Well, unless he found a physician to remove her lady parts. Then she couldn't go into heat.

"I want..." That was a hard question. Aleia was torn between what she wanted and what the demon wanted. It made things difficult when her inner selves were at war. She settled back down and looked at Dash. "Given the options, I just want her to be appeased so she'll stop all this."

"Well... How do you go about finding someone to appease her then?" Dash asked. Hopefully he could get her on her way to fixing this, and then he could get back to building the army. And dealing with Talia. Though to be honest he was ok with putting that off for now. Even if it meant giving up sleeping in a bed for the first time in forever in favor of working on Fox's revolution.

"He has to be someone she accepts," Aleia said simply. "Someone she approves of." Al blushed a little and twisted her fingers in her lap, staring down as she contemplated telling him. "The only person she's ever allowed to touch me without trying to kill them...is you." Aleia realized how awkward this was about to get, but she couldn't really say anything.

Dash's brow furrowed and he opened his mouth to answer, paused, and snapped it shut. Oh. His eyebrows rose and he averted his eyes. "Aleia... Being allowed to touch you and... that... are two very different things. Maybe she just needs a champion or something. I think some creatures go by that. Have to be defeated. Then again, I guess others find that to be the ultimate shame." He was letting his thoughts get off topic. He looked at her sadly. "Al... I'm not going to do that." Especially since he had just found out what might be happening with Talia. Yes, he still had doubts, but while that meant he wasn't sure he would pursue her, that didn't mean he was going to 'try' other women either.

"I don't want to just...jump in bed with someone, either." Aleia wrinkled her nose slightly. "You're cute, but you're not that cute." That was something more like her old self would say. Which meant she was regaining some control anyway. "I don't know anything about a champion or being defeated, but I do know that whoever it is has to meet her standards and my own, not that I really have them."

"I'm guessing you do, since I don't meet up to them," Dash replied simply as he stood and dusted off his pants. Well, Talia's pants. He was wearing his girlf- His female friend's pants. If it didn't make him so emotionally confused, he would find that amusing. He looked at Aleia again, crossing his arms over his chest as he thought. He didn't seem annoyed, it was just a fact to him. "Then I guess speed dating would be in order? To find a suitor? I suppose trying to interview the male demons who can smell you would be the most logical place to start searching..."

"I just...really don't want to have to worry about carry some male demon's offspring," Aleia said. She looked over at the corner, trying to think. "There's not a way to just go around and meet these people, is there?" It seemed to Al as if her options were extremely limited.

"Well, there's the bar," Dash said thoughtfully. "Benny and I would be there, we could keep them off of you while you snoop around. At least, for a little while. I'd say it's your best bet to get a lot of suitors all in the same place, at the same time, and safely. But it can't be tonight. If you want, I can talk to Fox about it. Maybe tomorrow night?" He raised an eyebrow at her. If that wasn't acceptable, he didn't know what else to offer.

"Would they be willing to help?" Aleia wondered what Benny and Fox could do to help or even if they would. "What bar would that be?" She didn't want to think about what was going to happen if she was surrounded by males without anyone there to help.

"It's over on the corner of fifth and Amerson," Dash replied, making a vague sort of nod with his chin. "I can't promise they would be willing to help, but if it helps keep most of the creatures from going batshit crazy, I'm sure they'd much appreciate it. Do you think you can lay low until then? I have work I really need to get back to so..." He took half a step toward the door, looking at her to see if she needed anything else, since there was nothing else he was going to be able to do, but still showing he was ready to leave.

"If I can stay here, I will probably sleep until tomorrow," Aleia said with a frown. "I'm really tired and kind of wishing I could just lay down somewhere safe." She stayed where she was. "Can someone come get me tomorrow?"

Dash nodded before stepping further toward the corner of the room. "I'll come get you, if you are still here," he promised, took the last step, and was swallowed by the darkness. He really had demons to find.

---

Zan nodded and reached up, taking Talia's hand in his. The same sensation as before washed over her, but this time he stepped forward, bringing them to her home. He looked up at her and bit his lip. "Should I find something to cook?"

"Yes please. Oh and don't forget to include enough for yourself to eat..if you want that is of course." Talia replied as she let go of Zan's hand. She turned and looked at her apartment, trying to imagine where the best place to put the dining table would be. "I want this dinner to be perfect."

Zan nodded and took off his jacket, which vanished. He snapped his fingers and a bright purple apron appeared, which he tied around himself. "What would you like? I can make pretty much anything."