A New Experience

[Demeter]

Misha snuggled against Tomas and sighed. He'd found his lovely Tomas again. But there were so few left, he thought while glancing around. Very few of the Custoss loyal to Thanos had survived the reign of Lorcaine. They'd all lived through the inital take over but it had been Lucian's blood that Lorcaine had spilled first. Somehow, it didn't seem fair that only six of the consorts still had their permantent partners. He was one of the lucky few. Tomas had lived. Nika and Sabra, his son and the female Custos he viewed as a daughter were alone.

And Ransom, well he'd found someone in the years since Lorcaine had been killed. Misha watched as the redheaded angel hybrid teased his vampire lover. Around the other consorts, it seemed that Ransom because more of his old self from the time before Lorcaine. He probably felt comfortable around them.

Nika leaned against Kai and listened as Ransom teased the vampire. He leaned around Kai and smirked at Ransom. "You should stop before you embaress the poor guy. Look at him, he's turning red."

Ransom smirked at Nika and leaned towards him. "Well, he's the only here that I can embarress. The rest of you...well, I don't think it's possible."

Nika grinned, rubbing his nose against Ransom's. "That's because we taught you everything you know. Kai, don't be mad or anything but I'm going to kiss Ransom." And he did just that, right in front of Kai. He braced himself against the vampire's thigh to kiss the younger hybrid.

Sabra shook her head as she watched Nika torment the poor vampire. She sprawled out over a pile of pillows. They were all in the conservatory of Darius' mortal home having an improtu party. They wanted to thank the Custoss who'd ended Lorcaine's reign of terror. And eat his food apparently, she mused as she nibbled on a pastry.

"Nika, I think the vampire is more scared then anything else. He's not use to us."

Ransom shook his head. It was true, he'd only come out of shell like this around these guys. He could remember Kai's reaction to his...skills when they'd first slept together. Kai had lain in the bed, panting and staring at him afterwards, and he hadn't made it into work for the following three days. The fact that he was so open had to be new to Kai. Crowds this size tended to cause his nerves to fray.

Sabra chuckled with Nika pouted. She laughed when he turned his affections onto the poor vampire. Ransom and Misha also laughed at the shocked vampire. Nika was so...friendly with random strangers.

When she heard a strangled gasp from the doorway, Sabra turned and stared at the two women standing in the wide entryway. She smiled. "Gentlemen, we have company." She slithered off her pile of pillows and slinked over. "Ladies," she slid between them and wrapped her arms around their shoulders," why don't you join us?"

[Maira]

Kai was indeed turning red. He had barely gotten a grasp on Ransom's apparently Incubus-like bedroom skills and now the angel hybrid was acting like a totally different person surrounded by twenty some odd people... Who was this man and what had he done with his lover?! And then, on top of Ransom acting out of character, all of these other people reminded him way too much of his cousins Shay and Rowan. Only there were a lot more of them and they were waaaay worse. Those two would probably fit into this crowd just fine.

As he was trying to lose himself in contemplations of just how his weird cousins would fit in with the Consorts (he knew nothing better to call them) one of them leaned against him and informed him he was going to kiss Ransom. Instantly he was alert and glaring daggers. He may not fit in with this group very well but the least they could do was respect the relationship he and Ransom were trying to have and not make out with Ransom inches in front of his own face while he couldn't get in a good swing at the guy or go storming off! Damnit! And then, before he knew it, the Custos was turning on -him- and kissing -him-. If there had ever been a time he'd wished for even an ounce of his adopted father's feline heritage, now was it. His instincts had him wishing he could cling to the ceiling and hiss at the Custos. When he heard Ransom and one of the others, Misha he thought, laughing at him, Kai just felt hurt and a bit embarrassed. If he'd known this was what he'd been getting himself into this evening he might have been able to prepare for it mentally, but as he'd had no idea he was totally overwhelmed. Ransom owed him big time when they finally got alone again.

Luckily for Kai fate chose that instant, right before Nika might have done something more that kiss him, to send two more innocents into the den of the Consorts. Echo and Avalon walked in just in time to see one man laying what looked like a pretty serious kiss on another man and Avalon couldn't help but gasp in shock. She had just grabbed Echo by the hand and was poised and ready to back out of the room when a female she hadn't noticed suddenly was standing between the two women and was inviting them to join the group.

Echo too had been surprised by the sight of the men kissing, but while her sister had been lost on that visual, Echo had been able to take in the crowd as a whole. They were a rather interesting lot of men and women. Some were paired up, others weren't, but most of them were exuding some sort of sexual aura and it made Echo's skin prick. Not in a bad way necessarily, just as an alert to their possible nature. One of them had to be an Incubus if she remembered her teachings from the brief stint she and her sister had spent in Hell after Darius DeLorme had taken them under his family's wing.

When one of the females slipped between herself and Avalon, Echo tried to step away and around to rejoin her sister but already the woman had slipped her arms around both of their shoulders and was leading them into the conservatory. Before they could take more than three steps, Echo slipped away from the Custos's grasp on her and answered as politely as she could, "I'm sorry but we're here to see Darius and Genesis. Possibly if we have time later we will stop in to say goodbye. For now though we must go."

At her younger sister's words, Avalon gathered the courage to duck away from the Custos's arm and back out of the room. When Echo joined her back in the hallway, the women quickly left to find Genesis. Darius was likely holed up in an office with Carmine or Rune and the girls just wanted to visit with Genesis anyway, their nerves were now very frazzled and Genesis had a calming effect on both of them.

[Demeter]

Sabra pouted as the two women left. She wanted them to come back. One of them had been very pretty. She sighed, snatched up a second pastry and plopped back onto her pile of pillows. She studied the vampire squeezed between Nika and Ransom. Poor man seemed to so confused at the moment. She picked at her pastry and wondered where those two went. Darius seemed like a hard Custos to pin down.

Ransom peered at Kai. He seemed inches away from ripping into Nika. He snuggled up to Kai and nuzzled his neck. "Just ignored Nika. That's just his personality. He'd kiss Carma if Rune wouldn't maul him for it. His great-grandma of a Succubus' nature is strong in him." Ransom shooed Nika away to go torment someone else.

When Nika plopped down next to Sabra, Ransom cuddled closer to Kai. "I know I'm acting out of character but these guys are my friends, my fellow consorts and survivors of Lorcaine. They knew me before Lorcaine happened and they knew how I acted before that. I am entirely at ease around them. You'll have to forgive them, they got out before me. I had to threaten Misha to leave. He stayed for 450 years just to try and get me away from that Custos," Ransom nuzzled Kai. "I owe my life to them. I'll make this up to you later. I hope your father can spare you for a few weeks."

Misha, curled on a large chair with Tomas, watched the two. "I take it this is the first time the vampire has seen Ransom like this?"

Tomas nodded. "Normally, he's very withdrawn in public situations. I don't know how they are in private but he's very different from the Ransom you knew. Those last fifty years were hard on him. It took our combinded efforts to keep him alive. And don't you go beating yourself up over leaving him. You would have died, Misha, and then what would I have done?"

Misha smiled and nuzzled Tomas. "Completely lost with out me?"

Tomas grinned and nodded.

***

Genesis stared at the two women standing in her study. Echo had blurted out a question about the group of people in the downstairs conservatory. She snipped off the dead bloom from a rose. "No, these no Incubi or Succubi downstairs. Two of them are descendents from a Succubus," Genesis tapped her sheers against her chin. "Well, they are consorts, that might be what you felt."

When the two just stared at her, Genesis blinked. "You two have no clue what a consort is, do you?" When they shook their heads, Genesis motioned for the girls to sit. She sat on her desk. "Consorts are no longer in use but, well over a millenia ago, Consorts were a sign of wealth and power of the various Custos clans. The name is what it implies. One of the duties of a consort was sex, with men and women. Consorts, much like Incubi and Succubi, don't really care about gender. A consort is someone is who bed partner, consoler, friend, companion and, occasionaly, body guard to whomever they are given to. Yes, a consort doesn't get to choice who they are with. They are treated like a reward to those who are loyal to the head of a clan. Consorts are also usefull as gathers of information. Where a rival clan might not allow members of another group into a room, a consort would be allowed in.

"The group down stares is one of the largest groups of consorts known. The Magda clan, now all but destroyed by Darius. Previous to that, due to a internal upset, the consorts were smuggled out one by one. Now, they are having a bit of reunion downstairs. They didn't do anything to you, did they?"

[Maira]

Kai was seriously overwhelmed. It wasn't until Nika finally backed off and Ransom snuggled up to him again that Kai began to calm down. Ransom had always been rather quiet about his past, telling Kai things really only if he asked, so the sudden outburst of information brought a soft smile to his face. When the angel hybrid was finished speaking, Kai was the one to lean in close, his lips practically brushing Ransom's ear as whispered, "I'm glad you're finally starting to trust me and my father will just have to manage without me."

As he nipped at Ransom's ear and then proceeded to ignore his own inhibitions and make out with the man in a room full of people, Kai's mind was already planning a vacation for just the two of them. He was sure that between Darius, Carma, Rune, and Lysander, somebody in the family would have a place suitable for them that could be borrowed for two or three weeks. He was thinking somewhere tropical where clothing would be optional. After all, Ransom was just too pretty to keep covered up for long periods of time.

*****

By the time Genesis was done with her explanation, both girls were staring slightly bug-eyed at her. Before she could think better of it, Avalon blurted under her breath, "They're like prostitutes then?" A loud thwapping sound echoed through the study as Echo smacked her older sister on the arm.

Looking to Genesis, Echo apologized for Avalon, "I'm sorry, she didn't mean it like that." Avalon nodded and agreed, "Sorry, sometimes my mouth works faster than my brain, I shouldn't have said that. It was just the first thing that came to mind that was even close to being something I understand." And now she felt horrible. Sometimes Avalon just wanted to go back to their home in the Highlands and hide... Now was definitely one of those times

Echo, not sure what else to say, tried to change the subject. "So Genesis, you remember how you asked if we wanted to move out here nearer to you guys? Well, I think we've decided we will. Or at least I want to." Looking at Avalon, who was now watching her darkly, Echo just shrugged. She needed a change of scenery after what had happened three months ago. She just couldn't walk down that street anymore and considering its where she worked... She was just tired of always being scared and constantly looking over her shoulders to make sure there wasn't somebody watching her or following her.

[Demeter]

Genesis chuckled. "No, Avalon, they are not prostitutes. Sex was involved yes, but they didn't make money off it of. In fact, they're likely to snarl at you if you even suggest that they were prostitutes. They find it insulting. It was more then just sex. The consorts, they are more like the care givers of a clan. They cared for the members of the clan, cleaning their wounds and comforting them if it was needed. Often there would be genuine affection between consort and partner. Thanos Magda was infamous for giving the men loyal to him permanent partners."

Genesis turned back to her roses, smiling when Echo mentioned that she might be moving into the area. "Well, you know that you always have a room here. You'll likely see some of the people downstairs plenty. Ransom is part of this family and he is also part of theirs."

"Excuse me, Mrs. DeLorme, I was wondering if you'd seen Carmine recently? We'd like to thank him."

Genesis turned and smiled at the female Custos leaning in through the doorway. "Hello again, Sabra. Echo, Avalon, this is Sabra Magda."

Sabra smiled at the two women, the same ones as before, "It's not really Magda but I don't remember my orignal family name so I use Magda now. I was taken on a raid. Don't get me wrong, I didn't mind it. Life in the Magda clan was better then what I expected out of my life."

Genesis, looking from Sabra to the girl she'd fixated on, had to cover her mouth to hide a smile. Poor Echo, she really didn't know what she was in for. And yet, she though, getting to know Sabra would be good for Echo. And Avalon. They were both so...repressed. What would they be like if they let ago of themselves?

"Carmine is probably tormenting the new recruits. Tomas should be able to show you the way. You should take Echo and Avalon along. Wherever Carme is, Rune is bound to be and wherever Rune is, Darius is probably in the area. They don't trust him."

Sabra grinned and bobbed a quick curtsey. She grabbed Echo and Avalon by the arms and yanked them out. She dragged the two girls down the conservatory, where she found Tomas sucking on Misha's face. She kicked him. "Oi, stop playing kissy face and show us where Carmine is."

Tomas glared at Sabra. "I hate you," he hissed while hauling himself out of the chair. He glanced around the room. "Well, are we coming or not?"

The consorts chuckled but pulled themselves up from their various positions. Sabra marched over and grabbed Ransom by an ear. He pulled away from Kai with a snarl. "The least you could do, Rannie, is come with us because we want to thank Carmine for saving you."

[Maira]

Avalon didn't want her sister to move away but she totally understood the younger woman's reasoning. And try as she might, there really just wasn't any good reason to try and keep her sister in Maine any longer. They both loved the state, had made it home over the past couple decades, but it wouldn't hurt them to move closer to their surrogate family.

Would it?

Before she had a chance to think on it too much, and before she could feel too bad about how badly her mouth had embarrassed her once again, the same woman that had practically pounced her and Echo downstairs was once again speaking. This time she was talking to Genesis however. She almost gave a sigh of relief when it sounded like Genesis was directing the woman away from herself and Echo but then the woman grabbed them and dragged them off. With a small squeek, Avalon and Echo fell into step with the woman and Avalon couldn't help but wonder if she'd missed something...

Once the trio was back downstairs, Echo tried to wiggle her arm free from the woman Sabra's grasp but to no avail. With a soft sigh she just stood and waited for the apparent torture to be over. If it wasn't for the fact that the crazy woman was taking them to see Darius, Echo would have protested being hauled around like a toy doll.

Avalon too didn't like being dragged around and to show her displeasure she just glowered at everybody who looked at her. Of course, Avalon was worried that Sabra had heard Genesis' explanation to them about what Consorts really were and that possibly she heard her blurt out that they were like prostitutes. She hoped that she hadn't, but only time would tell.

When Sabra marched across the room, still dragging the girls with her, Echo and Avalon shared a confused look. Weren't the training rooms the other direction? Then suddenly Avalon's arm was free and she watched as Sabra grabbed a redhead by the ear and dragged him away from a glaring man. It didn't take more than a moment to realize that the glaring man was a vampire like herself and Echo. Determining what line he was would take more time but it looked like they were going to have at least a little bit of it.

When Ransom got dragged away from him by Sabra, Kai glared daggers at the woman. Why the HELL wouldn't people just leave him and Ransom be?! Having reached his limit for tolerance, Kai exploded, "Damnit woman! I don't care if you're Ransom's twin sister separated at birth, learn some boundaries!" Then he effectively removed her hand from Ransom's ear and positioned himself between the two of them to protect Ransom from any more man-handling. Then, knowing that he'd likely overstepped some boundaries himself, he apologized, "I'm just not used to sharing Ransom, I'm sorry. Give me some time to adjust, and don't just yank him away when we're kissing, and I'm sure I'll come around."

Echo gawked at the scene the one man was putting on and she couldn't help but flinch from the flare of temper. His quick apology did little to dispel her sudden flare of nerves however and she looked to Avalon hoping that her sister would come stand with her where she was still being held by Sabra. Avalon though, was a bit lost in thought about the other vampire and didn't notice Echo looking at her.

[Demeter]

Sabra gawked at Kai. Did he just snarl at her? She grinned and leaned close to the vampire and stroked a finger down his chest. "I think you are going to be very good for our Rannie," she purred, "that, however, isn't what the subject is. The subject is thanking Carmine for saving Rannie. One would think that you'd be especially thankful."

She turned to Echo. "He seems like a nice guy, doesn't he? You'd think he'd be grateful to the man who made sure his lover is alive today."

"Sabra, stop tormenting the poor vampire. Lords knew that he isn't used to you. No one is used to you. Now then, shall we go?"

Sabra pouted at Misha and but she followed him out of the room. She dropped her hand from Echo's waist to wrap it around her waist. She could feel the way the nervy girl was all but statue stiff. "You should relax some more. None of us are going to hurt you. Unless you want it, of course."

Nika, taking his chance, swooped down on the young, female vampire staring at Kai as he left the room. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, grinned and scooted her along. "Now, Darling, my name is Nika. What's your name and what do you like to do?"

Ransom sighed. Sabra had always been like that. At this rate, Wrath would be lucky if he showed up for work at anypoint in the next two weeks.

Carmine groaned when he saw the parade of consorts. His new recruits were already sufficently distracted by Darius. Not that the Custos lord was doing anything productive. He was working on his tan apparently. The Custos was sprawled in a lawn chair, wearing nothing but a pair of cut off shorts and a pair of sunglasses. He had a fruity drink in one hand and what Carmine suspected was a trashy romance novel in the other. Darius was such a disgrace to the name Custos Lord. Rune was muttering in disgust about how this man could be his father.

His recruits were supposed to be getting used the way earth smelled and looked and now he had a herd of consorts bearing down on him. "Tomas, you'd better have a damn good reason for this."

Tomas sighed. "They want to say thanks."

Sabra shoved Kai and Ransom forward. Misha caught the vampire before he stumbled into the war Custos. "We are very thankful that you saved Ransom for that existance. And that you brought an end to Lorcaine. And I'm very sorry for this. I have no control over them."

At his words, Nika released Avalon while Sabra abandoned Echo to join the others in hugging Carmine.

Ransom rubbed his temples and sighed.

[Maira]

To answer Sabra, Kai told her, "Of course I'm happy that Carma saved Ransom, but that doesn't change the fact that boundaries are a good thing." She wasn't a bad person, of that Kai was sure, she was just a bit much to handle... Seeing Sabra switch her attention to a girl who appeared to be 17 or so, but gave off an aire of being much older, he couldn't help but pity the girl. Where had she come from and just how did Sabra get a hold of her Kai couldn't help but wonder.

When Sabra's hand slipped from her arm to wrap around her waist, Echo about bolted. Not wanting to embarass herself, or raise any hard questions, she did her best not to panic. After all, Sabra was a woman and it wasn't a woman who had hurt her. If one of the men present were to act so familiar with her she likely -would- have bolted.

When Sabra spoke to her, Echo tried to smile and force her body to relax and she had just about done it too until the last thing came tumbling out of Sabra's mouth. She couldn't stop the shudder that ran up her spine. "I'm sorry," she apologized softly when the woman looked at her funny. She didn't know what else to say so Echo just avoided Sabra's eyes, she didn't want to know how weird the woman thought she was.

Luckily Avalon didn't have quite such dark thoughts going through her mind and when Nika draped an arm across her shoulders she didn't do more than look at him askance for a moment. He was the one who had been kissing the redhead when she and Echo had entered the house so she assumed that his preferences lay with men, not women. This made Avalon feel safe and so she was willing to answer his questions, "Its nice to meet you Nika, my name is Avalon. side from working I like to read and sew. Probably pretty boring to somebody who has had an interesting life like you, sorry."

*****

Rune had been glaring at, and muttering about, his father for at least the last hour when he spotted the troupe of Consorts coming toward him, Carma, Darius, and all of the new recruits. He glanced at Carma and just waited for the Custos to start frothing. As if Darius's distractions weren't enough, now there were 26 overly friendly Custoss (or hybrids as in Ransom's case) coming toward them.

When all of the Consorts ringed around Carma, thanking him for saving Ransom's life, and then hugging him, Rune couldn't help but chuckle. The look on Carma's face was priceless. If only he had gotten in the habit of carrying a camera!

Once the Consorts all converged on Carma, Rune was able to see the three oddballs of the bunch. He knew all of them and left the recruits to their own devices to go say hi. He approached Kai first because that encounter would likely take less time. A quick greeting, asking after each other, and the men were satisfied in their duties to being polite. Kai was all eyes for Ransom lately and Rune knew better than to distract a man.

The girls, Avalon and Echo, were another story all together. Normally it was Avalon that looked freaked out about being at the DeLorme house but today it was Echo. That really bothered Rune for some reason. The way she was just watching everybody, it looked like she was a deer about to be flown down by a hungry dragon.

Not sure if he should approach her or not, Rune opted for speaking to Avalon first. Like he'd done with Kai, Rune asked after how she had been since their last meeting. Avalon hadn't gotten beyond the general chatter about her work before Echo joined them. Normally Echo would at least shake hands with Rune but more often than not she'd give him a hug. For some reason the vampire had decided that he was like her younger brother... This time she gave Rune nothing more than a nervous smile by way of greeting. He would need to remember to speak with Sabra who he'd seen Echo walk out with and see if she could figure out what was wrong. He'd just ask Avalon, but he knew she'd never tell.

[Demeter]

Carma, as he fended off the Custoss, vowed to get revenge on Rune for not helping him. It would have to be very public and embaressing. He removed the last consort from his person and glared. No one, not even his over eager recruits, had offered any assistance. He adjusted his clothing, straightened his tie and sent the recuits off to run laps around the island. Their groans were sweet music to him.

Carma turned to Misha, the apparent leader of the group. "You're welcome. It was a pleasure putting an end to Lorcaine Magda."

Misha inclined his head. "You did what I could not. I was only able to get everyone besides Ransom out. We rebelled, once, and that ended in blood and sorrow."

"Darius ordered to me take out Lorcaine and that stone hearted bitch. He said no quarter, no mercy, was to be given to anyone who proclaimed loyalty to Lorcaine and that bitch. It was the longest two months of my life but it brought an end to Lorcaine Magda. All because he, and the bitch, ticked off Darius. He still claims that the gates to the hellbound strong hold don't work right," both Custoss turned to look at the lounging Custos Lord. Darius was giggling between delicate sips o fhis fruity drink. Misha raised an eyebrow. Carmine just shrugged. "I know, I don't get it but I know. I think there might be a split personality going on."

"I would have to agree with you. I've never seen an Overlord giggle before. I find it amusing."


Nika, after being shoved away from Carmine, wandered back over to the girls. He gave Rune a wide bearth. He'd hit on the Custos at first glance and gotten snarled at by Carmine and some female Custos introduced as Zhara. Not an experience he wanted to enjoy again. Besides, he didn't poach. Unless, of course. everyone involved wanted him to poach.

Nika snuggled up to Avalon. She was a pretty woman, if a bit shy but he could fix that. "So, Ava, can I call you Ava? So, is there a man in your life? Or is it a woman who holds your heart?"Nika seperated Avalong from the herd and ushered her a few feet away. "You know the area, yes? How about if we sneak away and, uh, see the sights?"


Ransom leaned against against Kai. Being around everyone was exhausting. Tired he might have been, Ransom was in no way a terrified ball of shot nerves. He hadn't felt this calm in years. He grinned when Sabra hauled Nika away from a wide-eyed Avalong and told him to tone it down.

He laid his head on Kai's shoulder. "They are a bunch of characters, aren't they? They are my brothers and sisters. Father," he nodded at Misha, "and mother," he then nodded at Elvira. "more so then Faith, your father, and those guys."

He nuzzled Kai's neck, breathing in his earthy scent. "You've just inherited a very large, very loud family who don't understand the concept of personal space and are a bad influence on me," he licked Kai's neck. "I imagine that this is what Saiyuri and Dominic felt all those years ago. Just minus the just-under-surface raging sexuality."


Sabra eyed Rune and scooted just that much closer to Echo. She'd seemed comfortable enough around women and more tense around men. She had an inkling of an idea of what could have happened to the vampire. Sabra smiled at Rune and giggled when he scooted back a step. She'd seen what had happened to Nika so she wouldn't hit on the poor man but that didn't mean she couldn't try to intimidate him. Sabra wiggled her way in front of Echo and held out her hand. "We weren't properly introduced earlier. I'm Sabra, the eleventh consort. You're Rune, heir apparent. Very lovely to meet you. How do you enjoying being in a Triad? Is it fun? I've always wondered about it and if I'd enjoy it. Do you enjoy sharing Carmine?" she batted her eyelashes at Rune and stared at him, a curiously innocent expression on her face.

[Maira]

Avalon was contemplating going and speaking with Darius but he seemed rather engrossed in his romance novel. To see the man giggling was still unnerving after the century or so that she had known the man... He was supposedly a Custos Lord but she really didn't see how he could rule anybody.

She had just decided to go let Darius know that she and Echo were there for their every six-month visit that he begged them to come on when suddenly Nika was back at her side. When he snuggled up to her, her eyes widened in shock ever so slightly. He was very chatty and touchy-feely and that unsettled her a bit. His question about if she had a man (or a woman) in her life made Avalon laugh. "Unless you count the twenty-some-odd dogs and fifty-ish cats that I help care for at the animal shelter I work for, no. No significant other of either gender in my life. As for seeing the sights, I think the one of Lord Darius reading smut while giggling and sipping on a fruity drink is quite a sight. I'm satisfied to stay nearby if its the same to you.

While she may have been using Darius as her excuse for not going far, in all reality Avalon just didn't want to let Echo out of her sight. The girl knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Rune would never hurt her and yet there she was flinching when he got too close. If any of the other consorts or new recruits got to close to Echo the poor girl might start flinging people... Her telekinetic ability tended to be rather enhanced when she was scared and what used to be just a simple nudge to keep people at arms length was now a hard toss.

Kai couldn't help but giggle at Ransom's comparison of his own Consort family to the Delorme family. "I totally agree Ransom. And while Dominic may have been scared witless I've grown up with my own bunch of raving weirdos for family members. And while not all of them are nearly so sexual, there are indeed a few of them." Immediately Rowan, Shay, and Cian popped to mind. Cian wasn't really family but being Saiyuri's best friend and drinking buddy when the family threw her for a loop sort of qualified him anyway.

Nuzzling into Ransom's neck, Kai asked the older man, "So, since poor Nika got turned down for seeing the sights, why don't we take advantage of whatever privacy we can find? I here the hay in the stable is great for a mid-day romp."

While Rune may have found the Consort Sabra attractive, he wasn't an available man. Not only did he have a wife and children, but he had a lover that also had children with his wife. He was very much a spoken for man. So, when Sabra smiled at him he instinctually took a step back from her. Carma and Zhara had not taken kindly to Nika hitting on him and he didn't want poor Sabra to become the next victims of their collective temper. Only when she started what seemed like genuinely interested questions about his relationship with Zhara and Carma did Rune relax a bit.

"Our Triad is fun, but its also a big challenging at times. We all have different opinions on how to raise our children and how to run our lives as individuals. Lets just say its never boring. As for sharing Carma, are you referring to me and Zhara taking turns having him in our bed or having him together? I loved Carma before I even knew Zhara so at first sharing him, in either way, bothered me a little but we still have plenty of time to ourselves as well so I've gotten used to it."

Echo just listened and gawked as Sabra and Rune discussed the differences between a Triad relationship and a "regular" one. While the Consort was talking to Rune, Echo took her chance and escaped. She slipped through the crowd to where Darius was lounging on his sun-chair and cleared her throat to get his attention. When he finally looked up from his book, Echo smiled weakly at him and told him, "I just thought you'd be happy to know that I'll not be going back home to Maine after this trip. If you don't mind I'd like to stay here long enough to find my own place and a job out here but then I'll be out of your hair."

As she stood waiting for Darius to respond, Echo couldn't help but hope that he was too wrapped up in his smut to notice she wasn't herself. She really didn't want to answer any awkward questions with all of these Consorts around.

[Demeter]

Ransom giggled. He grabbed Kai's hand and, casting a quick look around, pulled the young vampire off to the small stable located on the island estate. Used only for Darius' less violent mount, Dragon's Folly, and the gentle mare, Snow Dragon, that Genesis used along with the mare kept out at Three Willows, the stable was deserted. Even the horses were turned out for the day. Ransom chuckled as he urged Kai to climb up the ladder faster. When they tumbled into the hay, laughing and tugging at shirts, Ransom imagined that he couldn't have had a happier moment. He'd found Kai on his own.

Sabra blinked when she realized that Echo was no longer next to her. She glanced around and found her by Darius. Deciding that Darius couldn't do any harm to the girl (how had that guy become a Custos lord?) Sabra turned back to Rune. She used one sandled foot to stratch at the back of her knee. "How does one adjust to being in a triad?" She'd been involved in some threesomes but they'd never been permantent. "I mean, it's three different personalities. How does a triad even start? Someone would have to suggest it! How is the other person supposed to take it that they are just not enough to satisfy one man, or woman. How does the third member of the triad take it?" There was no was she'd even get close to Carmine to ask these sorts of questions. Zhara just freaked her out. The woman had a dragon...

Darius waved a hand a Echo and mumbled something about getting Genesis to hook Echo up with a room and whatever else she needed. Then, of course, he whirled around his chair and waved the book at Echo. Then, he started nattering on about the characters as if they were real people and the events of the book were actual events. There were many reasons that he'd been banned from watching soap operas. He got too involved and invested in the stories. He'd just die if Drake Malone didn't spontanously wake up from his tenth coma to declare undying love for Destiny Mackenzie while Jewel something-or-other was pregnant with his twins.

Nika peered at Avalon. Dogs? Cats? "You work with animals? I suppose that animals don't have massive cases of the grab hands, now would they? I wonder if I should switch professions. My current employer seems to think that my current post as his assistant and my previous life as a consorts means he has free reign to my person. I tend to fend him off with a stack of papers or a rolled up magazine. He tried to grab my ass yesterday. I slapped him with his gold plated stapler."

He overheard what Echo said to Darius and grinned at Avalon. "If she's staying here, will you be staying here?"

[Maira]

He had never really had to explain his relationship to anybody before, at least not more than the basics that he was in love with and in a committed relationship with both a man and a woman. Sabra's questions made him think, trying to come up with some explanations she might understand. Finally he answered her, "I can't exactly speak for Carma and Zhara, but I think we all feel the same way. It isn't that one person isn't enough for any of us, its that we just realize that love is what's important in a relationship and if that involves only two people, or if it involves three or more, so long as everybody feels loved and supported that's all that matters. When Carma and I got involved, at first it was just sex. By the time Zhara was brought into the picture, thanks to my mother arranging a marriage for me when I was an infant, Carma and I were already in love. At first I resented that I had to marry Zhara, but as I knew her already and that she was a good woman, I went along with it so as not to cause trouble between her family and mine. Unfortunately this sent Carma away from me for a long time. It was actually Zhara who suggested that I quit trying to be so noble and pigheaded by only being in a relationship with her. At first I thought she was asking me for a divorce. She practically had to smack me over the head to get me to understand she meant she wanted Carma to -join- our relationship rather than replace her."

Realizing he'd said way more to Sabra than he'd ever even told his family about his relationships with Zhara and Carmine, Rune felt himself go slightly rosey in the cheeks. And when he felt himself blushing, he just blushed harder. Gods this was embarrassing. Lamely he finished up his rambling with, "And now we all three are happier than we were before Zhara decided we should be a triad."

Avalon couldn't help but laugh at Nika's story of slapping his boss with a gold plated stapler, among other things, when he got handsy. And she told him, "Working with cats and dogs certainly does have its perks. They're, mostly, just so grateful that you're paying attention to them that they can't help but love you. I definitely leave work feeling like I made a difference. My boss is kind of a cranky bitty with people, and I've felt like slapping her with a rolled up newspaper myself a time or two, but not because she was being handsy."

Echo was very grateful that Darius was seemingly oblivious to her unusual behavior and when he waved a hand at her, muttering about having Genesis get her settled, she smiled at him as best she could and thanked him quietly before walking away. Only, as soon as she turned back around she was reminded that there were just entirely too many men around that she didn't know. She searched the crowd frantically for her sister and when she found her, she did her best to walk casually over to her. Once she was by Avalon's side again, she gently leaned into her sister for comfort and smiled when Avalon turned and smiled at her before going back to her conversation.

Before Avalon had a chance to answer Nika's question of if since Echo was staying if she would be too, the girl in question had found her. Now, trying not to seem too shocked by the revelation that Echo wasn't going home with her, Avalon tried to make it clear to Nika she didn't want to talk about that with Echo right there, she answered, "That's something we can talk about later okay Nika?" As she spoke, Avalon hinted heavily at the man by gesturing toward Echo with her eyes. She really hoped he'd change the subject.

[Demeter]

Sabra stood next to Nika and watched as the sisters walked away. "What an odd pair. They are staying here?"

Nika nodded. "I do believe they are. Well, at the very least, one of them is but I'm certain they will be house in a different wing. I don't think they understand us."

Sabra pouted. "No one understands anymore."

Nika rubber her back. "Those who are important will understand, Sabra. Don't worry, you'll find Eve again and I will fine my Jolene."

Sabra grumbled and marched off, presumably to go find something she could beat up. Nika watched for a second before turning towards the grand house. Once in his room, he wrote a note asking Avalon to meet him in the old portrait gallery in two hours time. He sent the note off with a maid and settled down to wait out those hours.

At the appointed time, he stood in the gallery, studying the DeLorme ancestors, when Avalon came into the room. He crossed over and smiled at her. "I was wondering if you were going to come or not. We never got to finish our conversation earlier. So, Avalon, if your younger sister is staying, does that mean you are staying here as well?"

[Maira]

It didn't take long for Avalon to get Echo settled in their normal rooms in Darius' home and she had just flopped onto her bed when a knock sounded on her door before opening just enough for a maid to poke her head in. "Miss Avalon, a note for you from the Consort Nika." With that the maid set the note down on the small table by the door and backed out, closing the door behind her. Avalon stared at the closed door in surprise for only a moment before hauling herself up off of her bed.

Reading the note, Avalon glanced at a clock and realized that she had just shy of two hours to make up her mind on whether she would be going to meet the man or not. She wasn't entirely sure how she felt about him, given his profession, but overall he seemed like a good enough guy and he probably just wanted to talk and that was harmless enough.

When the time came for her to meet Nika in the gallery, she was a bit shocked to find herself actually standing in it. She wasn't normally very social, hence her preferred job of working with animals, but if Echo was going to be moving here it was probably best that Avalon got to know some of the people that might be around from time to time.

When she walked into the room and Nika noticed her, Avalon returned his smile with one of her own. After briefly stating his curiosity if she'd even show, he jumped right back into where their conversation had left off before by asking if she'd be moving out here with her sister. She grimaced ever so slightly before answering, "I'm happy in Maine but Echo isn't, so yes I probably will be. We're really all we have left of our family, and while Darius's family has been more than kind to us over the years I know we'd both be happier if we stayed together. I'll probably be the one to go home and wrap up our affairs out there and arrange movers to pack up and ship our belongings, but other than that I expect I'll be back out here in pretty short order."

*****

After Avalon had left her in her room, Echo curled up in the window seat her room sported and she gazed without really seeing out the window onto the gardens. She wasn't sure how long she'd been sitting there starting when there was a knock on her door. She startled and smacked her hand on the window when she turned at the sudden sound. Cursing and shaking her now sore hand, Echo quickly made her way to the door before the person on the other side could knock again.

When she opened the door, she wasn't sure whether to shut the door in the other woman's face or invite her in. The first would be rude, and the other would be completely out of place considering they barely knew each other. So instead she asked, "Can I help you Sabra?" and waited for the consort's answer.

[Demeter]

She'd gone and beaten on a few of Darius' men. It should have helped to relieve some of the tension crawling up her back but it just created more. After the mock battles, while she was cleaning up, she over heard the men and the words they said about her. They took bets on who could get her first. Sabra shuddered and hurried away from the ring. Arms wrapped around her middle, she wandered through the grounds.

It annoyed her to no end when people didn't understand the difference between a common whore and a consort. When they didn't understand what had happened to them all after Thanos had died. She'd loved Eve and had been treated as the warrior's wife because that's what she'd been.

Thanos had freed her from her bonds but Lorcaine had reclaimed her. He'd had Eve killed and turned her, Sabra, into a plaything for his men. And those two women from before, the sisters, had raised hackles on Sabra, figuratively speaking, with their words and actions. Sabra had overheard the conversation they'd had with Genesis. It annoyed her, the words the speakers had used and how they flinched when she drew near.

Nika was attracted to the elder sister, which was all that surprising. He was a man, after all, not to mention that he'd go after anything that walked. And that thought was just cruel, Sabra admitted to herself as she paced in circles. Nika had loved his mate, Jolene, and had been utterly faithful to her before she'd been sent on the same suicide mission as Eve.

Sabra stood in the gardens, contemplating her fellow ex-consorts. At one point she looked up and spotted someone staring down at her from the house. Sabra narrowed her eyes and swallowed a growl.

Without thinking, Sabra marched across the yard, into the house and up the stairs. She only knew what room the sisters hared because she saw the older one leave. She waited until Avalon was around the corner before going up and knocking on the door. She caught Echo's slight hesitation on opening the door and it pushed her past being annoyed and headlong into the mad.

She didn't know why but she had to say the words and Echo had the lousy luck of being the target.
I'm not a whore! I've never been a whore! I was with three other people before I met my wife, my Eve. We were together for three hundred years before she was murdered. What happened after that has no bearing on who, or what I am now or ever was!"

Panting, with tears running down her cheeks, Sabra whirled away and run down the hall. She ran straight out of the house until she reached the very back corner of the walled in property. She crawled through some bushes and into a Sabra-sized niche and huddled there. She wasn't a whore, no matter what anyone said, she just wasn't.

***

Nika took Avalon's had and tucked it into the crook of his elbow. Together, they strolled the length of the gallery. "Maine? That's quite a distance from here. I don't think I've ever been there. I've always tried to stay close to my father and he's never gone there. What is it like?"

As Avalon talked of Maine, Nika studied her. There had to be some reason he was suddenly drawn to her. Over the past two hundred odd years, even since he'd been smuggled out of the Magda holding, he'd kept his relationships as platonic as possible. He'd never been drawn to anyone like he was to Avalon. Not even his own mate, Jolene.

They'd hated each other at first and it wasn't until Thanos had paired them together that they'd stopped fighting. Then again, that might have been because their lord and master had kept them shackled together for a week until they promised to stop fighting that might have had something to do with the cease in hostilities.

When Avalon asked him a question, Nika snapped back to himself and smiled at her. "What as that?"

Except she never got to restate her question because a maid came trotting into the room, calling for Miss Avalon to hurry back to her room. Miss Echo had locked herself in after Lady Sabra had yelled at her.

[Maira]

Echo wasn't even close to prepared for the outrage that came pouring out of Sabra. Most of the words of the other woman's yelling tirade were lost on Echo because once the yelling started, Echo shut down. She couldn't handle the confrontation. All she took away from Sabra's words was that somebody thought she was a whore, but in Echo's mind the "she" was Echo, not Sabra. So Sabra was basically calling her a whore, and the guilt and shame of what had happened to her surged back to the forefront and as Sabra turned and ran off, Echo slammed and locked her bedroom door and then ran in to her attached bathroom and locked that door as well. She left the lights off and climbed in the bathtub where she cried herself into exhaustion and eventually drifted asleep into the darkness surrounding her heart. She never heard the pounding.

*****

Avalon wasn't sure how long she'd been rambling on about Maine but when she noticed that Nika was looking rather distracted she stopped talking for a moment before asking, "So if you haven't been to Maine, where have you gone? Surely in your lifetime you've had plenty of time to travel." He obviously hadn't been listening after all and Avalon felt like a fool. She'd bored the man.

Just as she was about to excuse herself for making a fool of herself, one of the maids came into the gallery calling her name. Avalon turned and watched the woman curiously as she got closer before relaying her message. Upon hearing the maid's message Avalon cursed rather colorfully, her scottish brogue becoming quite pronounced, and then she did excuse herself but for a totally different reason. If Echo was locking herself in her room, Avalon needed to get in there immediately. The girl wasn't stable and things had a tendency to catch fire or go flying around the room when she felt threatened or her depression flared. Judging by what the maid said had happened, Avalon was certain Echo was feeling both depressed and attacked.

Nika barely had a chance to nod his understanding of why she had to leave when Avalon bolted, running full tilt down the hallways. She nearly ran into three different people, one of which she was fairly certain was Darius, before she reached her own room. She slipped in quickly, dug through the music box sitting on her bedside table and pulled out the key to the door adjoining her room to Echo's.

She nearly dropped the key trying to fit it into the lock but once she had it in securely it snicked open easily. Sliding the key into her pocket, Avalon scrambled around Echo's room looking for her. Only when she went to look out the window, to see if the younger woman had somehow managed to get out that way, did Avalon notice the closed bathroom door. Memories of what had happened the last time Echo had locked herself away in a bathroom flooded Avalon's mind and over to try and unlock door too with her key. When it didn't work, Avalon pounded on the door as loudly as she could. The light wasn't on and she wasn't getting and answer, but Avalon just knew that Echo was in there and she didn't have a damn key. She did not want to find her baby sister covered in blood again but she couldn't get in to save her.

With nothing else she could do, Avalon bolted to Echo's bedroom door and unlocked it. Once unlocked, she flung it open and cried out in frustration when she realized the hallway was empty. In the distance, Avalon heard a phone ring and that sparked a thought in her mind. Quickly she pulled out her cell phone and dialed Genesis, if anybody had a key to that bathroom it would be her. Or she'd at least have a skeleton key.

[Demeter]

The house was in a state of chaos. Half were trying to reach Echo while the rest were searching for Lady Sabra. It was one of the crypt attendants who found the second of those two ladies. He sent messages to Darius and Misha that she'd been found huddled at the base of Lady Eve's grave. While Darius was busy breaking down the bathroom door that kept him from his ward, Misha descended to the crypt.

Misha found his ward in the cell that housed the bones of her beloved. He spoke quietly to the attendants, asking them to prepare the pallet normally used during vigils for the woman. Sabra seemed calm and at ease when she was near Eve. It took a little manhandling but he eventually got her into the nest of blankets and pillows. He stayed with her through the night and only returned the house in the morning.

He spoke with Darius, telling the man that Sabra wasn't well and he was intent on securing her a spot on the next ship to Haven. Through she presented a bright and happy front, something in Sabra's soul was broken.

***

Darius pondered the situation. Perhaps Haven was the answer to Echo's issues. When he'd taken the sisters in so long ago, he'd sworn to protect and care for them as if they were his own daughters. If one of his girls were behaving like Echo was, he'd personally sail a ship to Haven.

***

Nika was sure that he'd have bruises where Avalon was beating on him. After getting to her sister, Avalon had learned what had happened. She was now calling for Sabra to be sent from the house. Ransom, by the request of Darius, had first asked that he, Nika, haul Avalon down to the crypt for her to take a good, long like at Sabra before being brought before Darius. Avalon had protested the order, claiming she wanted nothing to do with the woman who'd harmed her sister. Nika solved the problem tossing Avalon over his shoulder and hauling her down into the crypt. She protested that action with her fists.

He plopped her down at the entrance of Eve's cell and spun her around to look into the room. The narrow room had been adorned in the Magda clan colors and Darius had even managed to procure a shield with the clan crest on it. Eve's bones, covered with a shroud, were laid out on a stone alter and Sabra was huddled at the base.

Sighing, Nika went to her, taking a blanket from the pallet and covering her with it. He turned to look at Avalon. "Sabra is just as broken as your sister, Avalon," he said before waving a hand at the alter. "This is Eve Magda, at least this is what is left of her. She was the daughter of the man I considered a brother and was the favorite to be the next clan leader until a man named Lorcaine had her murdered. Eve was Sabra's wife and after Eve's death, she became property of Lorcaine, just like me. Except Sabra, unlike myself or my father or even Ransom, is no body special. She's a bastard born Japanese half-breed with no family connections. I forgot how long she remained in the house but she was used and abused most cruelly. And it has left deep scars. She, like your sister is putting on a brave front. We don't know what caused her to verbally attack your sister yesterday, she isn't talking. And, as of right now, she'd prefer the company of bones instead of those with flesh still living."

Nika let her observe Sabra a little longer before leading her to Darius. As they left the crypt, he kept the need to go to his own wife's cell and to stay there. All these years later and he still keenly felt Arianna's death. After leaving his charge with her Keeper, Nika did return to the crypt and the cell were his wife's bones remained.

***

Darius regarded the young woman on the other side of his desk. She was fidgeting in her chair. "While Sabra's attack on Echo was uncalled for, we still don't know what caused it. These me. And women from the Magda household have had very hard lives, Avalon. Some, like Ransom, have bounced back remarkably well while others haven't bounced at all. I've heard that you're calling for Sabra to be removed from this house. Normally, I wouldn't grant such a request but Sabra will be leaving. Misha is currently in the process of securing passage for her to a place called Haven.

"Not the Lion Pride we have here in Cedar Valley but a place far to the south, in Antartica actually, were many of the others go to heal from their pasts. If Misha is successful on getting passage for her on the next ship, Sabra will leave for Haven in two days."

He sat back in his chair. "I've actually asked him to secure passage for two more people. One for Misha or someone to escort Sabra to Haven. That person would have return passage. The other would be passage for Echo to go to Haven. I think the time spent there would be good for her."

"She would go alone, Avalon, without you. You would remain here in Cedar Valley." Darius knew it was cruel to separate the sisters now but he felt it was needed. Echo had to stand on her own feet and Avalon needed to stop protecting her from everything."

[Maira]

It took no time at all for Darius's words to sink in and before she could think, Avalon was on her feet protesting, "But you have bio idea what she's been through! She needs me Darius, you can't do this!" Avalon may have stayed of yelling but by the end she had tears streaming down her cheeks and her words were barely more than sobs.

She couldn't read the look on the Alati lord's face, but she collapsed back into her chair in defeat. She was not going to win this argument and she knew it.

Finally, after a moment of defeated silence, Avalon asked, " How long will she be gone?. Will we be able to stay in contact?". She knew that while Darius was a powerful man, he was also fair. And not far below the surface of how he had to appear politically and in business, Avalon knew he was a family man. If anybody could understand her need to be able to at least stay in contact with her sister it was him.

[Demeter]

Darius wasted no time in standing and rounding the edge of his desk. It gathered his ward up in a hug and gave her a squeeze. “You can write to her all you want. Haven lacks any sort of telephone or computer technology but you can write all you want and the letters would be delivered.”

***
Hugging herself, Sabra looked around the dockside of Haven. Standing next to her was Nika and Echo stood on his other side. They were waiting for their escort to arrive and show them to their quarters. Sabra leaned against Nika, exhausted from the two week journey. They’d had to physically drag her from Eve’s grave, Sabra remembered with a cringe. Nika, Misha and Ransom had hauled her from the crypts, kicking and screaming, to the airport.

She’d sulked and pouted the entire flight to Australia and been miserably seasick on the boat ride into Haven. She shifted her weight, acutely aware of the other woman standing with Nika and well aware that it was her own actions that had landed them here. Soon enough, Sabra was distracted from her thoughts by the arrival of Alexius, their escort for the evening.

***
Alexius pondered the two women who’d come to Haven by special delivery. It had been a special request by Lord Darius that these two women be granted a place to stay in Haven while they both healed from their pasts. He’d also requested that they share a room as he believe they’d come to lean on each other. Alexius’ mother, the Oracle of Haven, granted the request and set aside a set of rooms for the women in one of the lesser used caverns.

“Good Evening, Sabra, Echo and Nika. Welcome to Haven. If you would follow me, I’ll show you to your quarters in the Rainforest Quarter of Haven,” she said while leading the three to a waiting pony cart. Once her guests and their luggage were loaded up, Alexius signaled the driver. While they bumped down the road, Alexius explained to them that the Oracle had taken special interest in this case and had asked the leader of the healing guild to look after the two women. “You both can trust Zeno; he only wishes to help you. We’ve placed you in the rainforest quarter because it’s quiet. With the exception of Zeno and few other healers, no one else lives in that area and the healers are rarely ever home. Once you settle in, you will have some duties because we all have to work here in Haven. If everyone is agreeable, Echo, you will be working within the animal husbandry unit. We have a few animals that would benefit from dedicated care. Sabra, we think you would do well with the fish farmers. How do you like freezing cold water?”

***
Arms still wrapped around her body, Sabra turned in a circle to stare at the quarters they’d been assigned. Lush didn’t begin to describe the building they’d been given for their open-ended stay in Haven. The woman named Alexius had told them that this building was one of the oldest in Haven. This cavern, The Rainforest Quarter, had become almost overgrown with plant life. Green plants and flowers in bright colors had taken over the building.

After being shown to her room, Sabra flopped onto her bed and just stared. She hadn’t lived in this sort of luxury since before Lorcaine had taken over the Magda clan. She looked up when Echo entered their shared bedroom. The woman looked just as awed and overwhelmed as she felt.

***
The next morning, they met with Zeno. Sabra blinked at the red haired man and he stared back. Zeno had Sabra’s history and knew it was similar to the issues with Echo. His knowledge of Echo’s issues had come in the form of a sealed letter from the woman’s sister that had detailed what exactly had happened. Their escort, Nika, had already departed to start the return trip to the northern United States. “Let me outline what is going to happen while you two are here. You are to rest and work and together, we will all start to work out our issues. I’m not going to micro-manage either one you but I will be available. We’ll start our first session now, with what happened two weeks ago. Sabra, what happened?”

Sabra squirmed. “I think I went a little insane. I’d overheard a conversation that Echo had with Lady Genesis, about Consorts. And the words Darius’ men used and the looks they cast at me. I snapped.”

Zeno nodded. “You truthfully didn’t mean to shout at Echo?”

Sabra shook her head. “Echo caught my attention and I took everything out of her,” she turned to look at Echo, “and I’m truly sorry for what I did.”

[Maira]

To say that Echo was in awe of the Rainforest quarter at Haven was an immense understatement. Unlike Sabra, she had never in her life experienced such luxury. Darius's various homes were as close to luxury as she'd ever been and they paled in comparison. After Alexius left her and Sabra at their rooms, she wandered around for a few minutes trying to get used to the place but she eventually gave up and went in search of her room mate.

Echo found Sabra in their shared bedroom, gawking at everything around her. With a small smile, Echo realized she probably looked just as impressed as Sabra did. Realizing that it was going to take more than a few minutes to get used to their new surroundings, Echo mirrored Sabra's earlier actions and flopped onto her bed. Within moments, Echo was softly snoring into her feather pillow.

*****

Echo wasn't opposed to being at Haven, she even liked the idea of working with the settlement's animals. There were even worse things than sharing living space with Sabra. What she didn't like was that she was being forced to participate in therapy with Haven's top healer.

She knew that her sour mood was probably clear on her face, but she couldn't really suppress it at the moment. She had never liked therapy. Her sister had forced her to go after what had happened. She made it to one appointment, and left 10 minutes into it because the therapist had been male and the way he looked at her after each question made her skin crawl. Like that therapist, Zeno was probably harmless, but being in proximity to a man she didn't know just made her incredibly tense.

Due to the tension, Echo hadn't been paying much attention and when Sabra apologized to her, it took a moment for her to realize she'd even been spoken to. It took her another moment to realize what Sabra must've said because of the remorseful look on the other woman's face. Not knowing how to respond, as she didn't know the words that Sabra had used to apologize, Echo just nodded at her and smiled encouragingly.