Hoot. Hoot. The nocturnal birds of prey were out on an unusually spooky night in the city of Adenna. The snow-covered streets were still and lit by the moon. If ever a night was to remind of the approaching Halloween time, it was tonight. And inside one of the guest bedrooms up the second floor of Rijn Savorenius's library, a very Halloween case was being dealt with.

?I don't think it's as serious as we're treating it as, but for now just keep an eye out.? Rijn said to Mage in the lantern-lit hall of his library.

?It's not.? Mage replied to Rijn's speculation. Rijn thought Dyarhk had been infected by a vampiric bite and was now at risk, but Mage knew otherwise. It was only a shame he could not explain his proof. ?When can I go in and see him??

?You can go in now. Lilith and I finished negating the wound. He won't have a scar to show for it. The blood loss was a concern, though. It was not as clean a bite as we would have liked as doctors. Luckily we found a blood donor. Go on.? Rijn gave the go-ahead with a gesture of his head and the muscular man slipped on past him and delicately opened the door to the room.

There Dyarhk was, sitting up against four stacked pillows and looking very attentively to see who had come in the room. One of those surprising visits when you expected to see the person you were visiting in much worse condition than they actually were in. He rose his arm, with a line taped to it, to wave to Mage. ?Hey, Mage.?

?You're awake already? How resilient is one of Adenna's heroes, anyway?? Mage asked, walking over smiling.

?It's not my doing, Mage. Look,? Dyarhk pointed to Aurast who sat beside his bed, and also had a line running from his arm. This seemed to have scientifically amazed Dyarhk on so many levels. ?He's got a thing.? a chuckle from the Palliator.

?Look at the thing in your arm, man.? Aurast shook his smiling face, pointing to Dyarhk's own arm.

?Finally. We've found a use of Aurast Dagger Sasc.? Mage joked straightly. Glancing around the room he saw Corea sitting with Kellie in her lap, and Seiri sitting beside her with an arm around and rubbing her shoulder while looking out the window. It seemed as if she had been doing this for some time. ?How is everyone??

?As good as we can be considering, Mage.? Seiri said, snappily.

?Mm.? Mage replied. One of the few if not the only replies that would not have elicited a violent reaction out of Seiri, and he realized that. He reached to Dyarhk's neck once he came close to him and surveyed the healed area. Not a sign to show from it. ?Just as I thought. Smooth and poorly tanned, like usual.?

?It's inevitable we're going to have to talk about this, isn't it?? Dyarhk fixed his shirt neckline where Mage had stretched it.

?Don't sound so guilty, Dyarhk. I know it's not every day someone gets their throat ripped out at the duels.? Mage pulled up a chair, and just as he did that, Seiri saw it opportune to attack him again.

?Just what the ?? about to swear when Corea had shoulder-bumped her. She paused, and revised her planned ?query? to the Adennian hero. ? ? heck are you saying? This kind of ? stuff, happens every day over there.?

Aurast took a deep breath, still wearing his smile, and crossed his arms while he looked up to the ceiling in preparation of the discussion that was to come. Mage and Dyarhk had both looked over to her with different looks. One was understanding, the other was skeptical.

?You should know this better than anyone, Mage. You see all of it before it happens.? Seiri protested, very close to pinning some of the blame onto him for not doing anything. But he was quick to fire back.

?And you know how my gift works, Seiri. Not only am I forbidden to warn the present of the future, but I do not see the full picture like you insinuate I do.? Mage explained.

?It does seem like something is always going bad in Rhy'Din. And you are right, in part. There are crimes being committed around the clock. But we have crime here as well. It is not so different from any other place. But the day we let the bad guys win is the day we let them control when we go out. That's the same as surrendering everything to them.? Dyarhk said clearly.

?You have a point.? Aurast said, uncrossing his arms after realizing he had constricted the line in his arm.

?Well you're all better. Rijn is worried you may have been infected by a vampiric strain. But one thing my visions have told me that I can tell you is that you don't have to worry about that.? Mage placed his hand on Dyarhk's shoulder very strongly to show he knew it had fully healed. He stood back up and made for the door now with a wave around to everyone else. ?Bye girls. Bye Kellie!? and he slipped back out the door.

All alone with the girls, except for Aurast (who had no choice in being there), Dyarhk took a deep breath and sighed. ?I am so sorry about this. I know a few men who have bad a much better record with converting some troubled persons to a happier life.?

?Maybe instead of worrying about others' happiness you should focus on your own. Before you lose it.? Seiri said very straightforward.

?Daaaaaaamn.? Aurast whispered to himself.

?You just stay quiet! You're not here.? Seiri said to Aurast who buttoned up real fast.

Dyarhk looked aside, ?I know you're upset.?

?YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT I'M UPSET!? Seiri shouted. Kellie began crying.

?Seiri. It's not like he went out and did this on purpose. Just to upset you.? Corea said. And normally, her words would have calmed the Siovanui, but they did not this time.

?No... that's exactly what he did.? her eyes narrowed on the man. Kellie continued crying despite Corea's efforts of bouncing her on her knee. ?He goes to these places where he knows good and well trouble is lurking. And instead of coming home like a smart man, he looks at the situation like he can make it better. Like he can help. Like ? ? Seiri prepared to rant on, but was interrupted.

?I can. I CAN help.? Dyarhk clenched two fists beside his legs there in that bed and stared out forward so emotionally, tears in his eyes. Helping people was one of the only things he believed in when all else had failed. Helping people was what brought him where he was in life. Helping people was who he was.

Seiri had nothing to say to that. She did, but the man's displayed emotions reminded her of two things: one, she could sometimes get carried away, and two, how seriously Dyarhk was.

?Listen. I know this must be getting old for you. The last thing I want is to be reserving a room here regularly, and calling you to my rescue only to be scolded like I heard you were. That wasn't cool. So I can arrange for someone else to come along with me and be my bodyguard, like Mage ? ? Dyarhk began.

?Like Hell you're doing that,? Seiri said, standing up and going over to his bed. A worried look came over Corea's face. And there was little she could do, having to try and calm Kellie from starting back up again. Seiri came over to his bedside and pushed a knee into it, joining him. ?If you want to piss me off more than you ever have, you'll do that. But no one else is going to hold your life in their hand. That's my job. I don't want anyone else coming to your rescue but me.? she cupped his cheek, fixed his hair, and cupped his cheek again. Her apology for her earlier outburst.

Dyarhk stared at her and placed his hand over hers before closing his eyes and nodding. ?I'm sorry. But could you leave me alone with Corea for a moment?? he reopened his eyes.

?Heh,? Seiri began, letting out a sigh, knowing just what he was up to. ?Never said you weren't good at putting things back together, Dyarhk. Come on, Kellie.? she said, going to pick up the little girl from Corea and relieve her as she headed for and out the door.

Now they would be just a little more alone.

Dyarhk looked across the bed and then the room to the woman by the window with a faint grin. ?...Just one fright after another with me, isn't it, Corea? Come over here.? he patted the side of the bed.

?No. It's not that.? she said, standing and beginning to walk over. ?I know you'll be okay. Surviving's what you're good at. I'm just afraid this is going to happen one time and you won't return as tall as you always have been. Like something could crush that spirit of yours.? she eased one of her rather curvy hips onto the bed and looked at him.

?It's not me they're letting down when they choose to neglect my offerings, be it friendship, or a compliment of their looks. I want others to see the good in themselves. They all have it. Even our worst enemies have a little good in them. But you don't have to worry about it. They get the ultimate decision in who they are. Sometimes I try to make someone realize an act of humility, like I did with that woman tonight, and I get bit. But, other times, I follow this hunch in my heart. And I know I've found someone really special; even though she does her best to hide it; even though her mistress thought she'd gotten rid of what made her special. That's a little bit different, though.? he took Corea's hand and smiled. He had been talking about her.

?That couldn't have been easy.? she murmured.

?It's not something I can do every day, no.? he laughed.

?Excuuuuuuuuse, me!? Lilith said as she slipped in the door. ?I'm not interrupting anything, am I? Aurast, dear. It's time to remove that line from your arm.? sashaying curvacious hips on over to the Dagger Sasc man.

?Thank the Sorte, I was starting to get lightheaded.? Aurast chuckled, handing his arm over to the white witch to begin working with. Pulling the tiny needle out, she pushed down a gauss square and then made him fold his arm back; and with a gentle pat to his forearm, suggest he hold it there a while.

?Dyarhk, darling, how are you feeling?? Lilith asked.

?Pretty damn good, actually. You and Rijn did some fantastic work, as always. You don't know how grateful I am that I can depend upon you.? Dyarhk said.

Lilith simply smiled, ?Of course my work is fantastic. My name is never spoken lightly, I'll have you know. And of course you can depend on us. We're the friends you've always wanted. Strong enough to turn you to dust, but for whatever reason, we don't.? she pinched his nose and wiggled it cutely for a moment.

?No, we don't,? Corea sighed happily. ?We're there for you. Whenever you need us.? eager to take Dyarhk's hand after Lilith had removed the intravenous line to his arm.

?Well you guys work full-time, don't you.? Dyarhk laughed. ?I can't say there's a time that I don't want any of you around. You too, Aurast.? grabbing the man and pulling him into a hug.

?Ah. What? No. Don't do this.? Aurast protested jokingly as he hugged the snickering Palliator.

Lilith crossed her arms under her bust and pursed her lips at this little scene. ?Don't think we work for free, either, Dyarhk. I expect you to be taking us all out to eat at different times of the day for an undetermined number of weeks.?

?That would be nice.? Corea looked off to the side to aid her joke, something she didn't get to do that often.

?Me too!? Aurast and free food got along very, very good.

?Alright then,? Dyarhk began, putting on his challenge-accepting face. ?Do your worst. My wallet's as tough as I am.?