I went up the steps as I ran in the house and shut the door behind me. I panted as I slid down to the floor, holding my knees as I placed my head down. I thought of the weird day I was having as I felt my hands getting cold again. I looked at them as they formed little ice particles that were thinner than my skin, coating my fingers. It wasn't something that I saw before, which made me wonder. "Why, are they thinner than ever? Am I making them like this, or am I weakening?" I asked myself, as I put my hands against my legs and put my head down. "I don't care. I'm home safe where no one can hurt me" I said as footsteps walked in the room "Ella?" it said as I looked up. Lindo was standing in the kitchen with a shocked look on his face. I sighed as I stood up from the door and walked into the living room more. "Hi, Lindo," I said, as Lindo sighed. "Why are you home? You should be at school" he said, as I sighed. I looked over at the wall next to me as I spoke. "I couldn't be there anymore. It was too much for me today, so I ran out" I said, as I studied the wall. Lindo huffed as he walked into the kitchen. "Come sit at the table, we'll talk about this," he said as I looked up. He was pulling out a coffee cup and started to rummage through his drawer where we kept the coffee and tea. He looked at me as he sighed. "Are you going to talk from the doorway or are you going to join me at the table?" he asked as I sighed. "I'll join," I said as I got up and walk to the table to sit. "Tea?" Lindo asked as I shook my head. "No thank you. Not in the mood" I said, as I tucked in my seat. Lindo sighed as he turned his back to me as he put a kettle on the stove. When he got his cup ready, he walked over and sat in the chair across from me.

"How was school? Were you ok?" he asked as I shook my head. I told him about the meeting with my dad and how that ended. Then I told him about going to the nurse's office and what happened there. Then I ended with running out of the school and going home. Lindo just sat there as he sipped his tea and listened like he usually does. I huffed as I looked at him. "I would understand if you're mad about this," I said, as Lindo shook his head. "No, it's understandable. The committee did some awful things here in the past. And when they left, they didn't sound like they were coming back for years. But they came back unexpectedly soon. Which makes me wonder" he said, as he took a sip of his drink. He turned to me as he spoke. "You said they asked you about Max. Max didn't go with them?" he asked as I shrugged. "That's what I thought too, but they didn't know where he was. Mage was curious about it too" I said, as Lindo sighed. "So the questions are. Why did the committee come back and what happened to Max. That seemed to be one that the committee even wonders about" he said, with a sigh. I looked at him as I spoke. "Not only the disappearance of Max concerns me. But Ritska's vampire friend" I said, as I looked at Lindo. Lindo took a sip as he spoke. "You're talking about Noah Sakamaki, right?" he asked as I nodded. "Yeah. He was with Ritska and Azuna when they sat with us at lunch. He knew that Aaron and I were devils" I said, as I thought back to lunch. I felt my hands starting to freeze as I looked down, seeing ice forming on it. I sighed as I started to calm down, as I put my arms on the table and leaned on them.

Lindo watched me as he sighed. "That's a first," he said, as I looked at him. "Sorry, I didn't hear you," I said as Lindo sighed. "You just started to make ice a few moments ago. Is something angering you?" he asked as I looked at him. "I dunno. I just had a weird day" I said, as I sighed. I looked out the window as I studied the road. I noticed the red limo parked outside the house. It shimmered a blood red as it sparkled a bit. I studied it as a buttler got out of the limo and walked towards the back, opening it for whoever was there. A boy with purple hair and a teddy bear got out of the car. He was in a puffy black vest with red lining that showed behind him. I bent over to study the boy as I got confused. "Why is a boy with a trashed teddy bear coming here?" I asked as Lindo spoke. "Oh Kanato's here," he said, as he got up to walk to the door. He opened it as he invited the being in. "Nice to see you Kanato. How's it going?" he asked as Kanato sighed. "Good. Teddy and I wanted to visit again" he said, as I sat in my seat. "Come sit with us in the kitchen. One of our friends are home" he said, as he walked into the kitchen. The boy walked in, clenching his teddy to his chest. The boy looked at me with a stern expression. I studied him as I scooted my chair over, making room for him at the end. "Have a seat. Ella doesn't bite. Want a glass of blood?" Lindo asked as the boy looked over. "Yes please," he said, as I looked out the window.

I felt the boy's eyes on me, but I didn't let that bug me. Lindo huffed as he shut the fridge, then walked over to join us. "So what brings you here today?" he asked as the boy sighed. "Teddy just wanted to visit. We haven't seen you and Ritska for a while. Even our sacrificial bride was worried" he said, as he picked up the glass and took a sip. Lindo laughed as he spoke. "Well, we didn't know you were back in the human world until Ritska started to hang out with Noah." The boy finished sipping off his drink as he put it back on the table. "Those two have been non stop until school. Noah told us he's hanging out with your sister today after school" he said. Lindo looked back over as he spoke. "Oh, that'll be good for them," he said, as he sat down with us at the table. The boy nodded as I focused on the outside world. I started to gaze through it as a voice pulled me away. "What's your name?" the boy asked as I turned to him. "Ella," I said, not even bothering to give him my full name. The boy sighed as he spoke. "Ella?" he asked, obviously wanting a last name. I sighed as I turned to the boy. "Ella Kaginuki," I said, in a stern tone. The boy sighed as he studied me more. "Your Rem's kid. Huh" he said, making this whole situation weirder than it was.

I took a sip of my tea as Lindo spoke. "Ella and her boyfriend live with us. They're going to school with Ritska" he explained. The boy sighed as he spoke. "Nice to meet you, Ella. My name's Kanato Sakamaki. My family just moved into town. I'm guessing your roommate introduced my nephew at lunch" he said, as I nodded. "Yeah. She introduced Noah to us" I said, as I saw a little brown and tan face peek through the window. I ignored it as I knew that it would be bad for Kanato to see Roen. I focused on the conversation as I tuned in. Lindo gave me a funny look but didn't say anything about it. Lindo signed as he spoke. "How's the rest of you? Cousins up?" he asked as Kanato continued to tell him about his family. I heard a little whimper as scratching came on the door. I got up as I sighed. "I'm going to see what that is. I'll be back" I said, as Lindo nodded. "Alright," he said, as I got up and walked to the door. "Careful Ella," he said, as I opened the door. "I will," I said, as I shut it and huffed. Whimpering came down at my feet as Roen rubbed my ankles, still whimpering.

I picked him up as I ran in the back of the house and behind the shed that we had. I put him down as I sighed. "Really Roen? Now wasn't a good time" I said, as he switched forms. "Sorry, didn't know he was over," he said, as I sighed. I sat down as I huffed. "It's ok. It's been getting really weird in there" I said, as I lied on the ground. Roen looked up at the sky as he spoke. "Aaron home yet?" he asked as I shook my head. "Not yet. School's still in session" I said, as Roen nodded. "That's why I came. Your dad knows you left school. Wanna take a walk with me?" he asked, as I sighed. "I'm not in the mood to leave the house, but thanks for the offer," I said, as he sighed. "I think we found what happened to Max," he said, as I looked at him. "You best not be lying," I said as I stood up and followed him through the yard. We walked through the yard into the streets as he spoke. "It's not night time, but it will have to work," he said, as he waved me on. I followed for a little bit then stopped. "I'm sorry," I said, as he turned around. "What do you mean your sorry?" he asked as I shook my head. I looked up as I spoke. "I can't go with you. I need to stay at home. Things have been too strange right now" I said, as Roen looked at me more. "But I really need you to come with me. I think I found traces of Max and what happened to him" he said, as I looked at him in shock.

"Wait, you know where he is?" I asked as Roen nodded. "I think so. Follow me, I think he's in the woods" he said, as he continued to walk down the street. I sighed. I stayed in my spot to think of a reason to refuse. He wants to show me where a friend that no one saw in a while is. What was he planning? Roen turned around as he spoke. "You coming or not, Ella," he said, as I snapped out of my thoughts. "Oh, sorry. Just thinking" I said as I continued to follow him down the street. I looked around and onto buildings for traces of the other devils, not seeing anything. I looked ahead as Roen took a glance back, then looked straight. I stopped as to know that it was strange for him to do that. Roen kept walking a bit, then looked back as he stopped. "Something wrong?" he asked, as I looked at him. "What are you planning?" I asked, feeling the blood in my arms starting to grow cold. It was a little strange for me. My blood never went cold before, but I made a mental note to figure it out later. Roen turned more towards me as he spoke. "I'm trying to help you look for a lost friend. I'm not planning anything awful" he said, as I fisted my hands. Ice started to form on them as I froze the ground around me. I was prepared for anything. I went to speak as he cut me off. "You shouldn't do that here, just in case Urie, Mage, Shiki or anyone else is watching us," he said, as I eased up. I sighed as I spoke. "Sorry. I am just having a bad feeling about this. I should go home" I said as I turned to go back, but Roen spoke. "Please come. No one else will probably know about this. It'll be best if you just come" he said, as I sighed. I looked at him as I spoke. "Can I continue to trust you? Can you say I have your trust?" I asked as he nodded. "Trust me. This is our little secret" he said, as I sighed. I nodded as we started to walk again. "Don't make me regret this, I will freeze you," I said as Roen nodded. "That's fine. Freeze me if you feel in danger" he said, as I looked behind us. "Ok, lead the way," I said, as I followed him to who knows where.