Ripley and Ethan were already smoking on the back porch.  Aris lit one for me then one for himself.  “Jade, are you okay?” Ripley shouted.  I jumped.  “Sorry,” he immediately apologized, “you were not hearing me.”  “I’m sorry.  I don't know if I’m okay, or not,” I answered, “I just didn't expect him to be here so soon.”  “Jade, it will be completely safe.  You will not even be in a room with him,” Aris explained, “he will be under guard the whole time.  Antony and Kale will be guarding him.  He will be kept in a prison holding cell until the hearing.  He will go right back to that cell once the hearing is over.  You will be with me at all times.  If you like, Ripley can stay with us too.  Anything that will make you feel safe, just name it.”  “I don't know,” I whispered, “I think I just need a little time to process it.  I will let you know.”

“You still owe me a snowball fight!” Ripley changed the subject.  “You still owe me an igloo,” I smiled.  “Maybe tomorrow we will feel up to it,” he suggested.  “Hopefully,” I replied, “Aris, you never said what you wanted.”  “I got what I wanted,” he answered, “I am looking at her.”  “That's not what I mean,” I prodded, “you still owe me a dance too.”  “Girl does not forget,” Ripley commented.  “I just want to help with your igloo and have a snowball fight,” Aris answered, “and give you your dance.”  “Oh, and Lia wants a snowman,” I added.  I started to feel better talking about other things.  A silent thank you to Ripley for distracting me.

We finished our cigarettes and climbed onto the snowmobiles.  We only have two available, so Ethan rode with Ripley.  “No swerving to miss bunnies,” Ethan warned Aris.  Aris didn't respond.  They took off fast.  I think that Ripley did it on purpose to catch Ethan unaware.  Ethan managed to hold on, just barely.  I held on tight just in case, but Aris took off smooth and slow, then gradually increased the speed.  I loosened up my hold as we went, feeling more secure.

We arrived at the main cabin about fifteen minutes later.  Lia, Max, Theo, Antony and Kale were all on the back porch smoking.  Antony helped me up onto the porch.  “It's so good to see you!” I hugged him.  “It is good to see you too!” he hugged me back.  “I've missed you guys!” I hugged Kale.  He hugged me back.  “How are you holding up?” Theo approached me.  “I'm not really sure,” I hugged him too.  “We will take care of this tonight so that you will not have to worry anymore,” he reassured me.  “I hope so,” I agreed.  “Oh, we will,” I wish I felt Max's confidence.  “It will be fine,” Aris put his arm around me, would you like a cigarette?”  I nodded my head yes.  He lit one for me, then one for himself.  Ripley and Ethan also lit up.  “He is set to be here around seven, so we need to get through our discussions and eat dinner before he comes,” Aris spoke up, “Jade wants to be party to the process, so it may take a little longer since she is not familiar with our ways.  I am looking to you all to help explain things and keep her as comfortable as possible.”

“We have quite a while before he comes.  Would you like to build an igloo?” Aris changed directions.  I looked up at him, “Yes!”  “We have a lot of help.  It should not take as long, Aris continued, “We might have time for Lia's snowman too.”  Lia's face lit up.  I got excited, “And Ripley's snowball fight afterwards!”  “How about I help the girls with the snowman, while you all work on the igloo?” Max offered.  “Sounds good,” Aris agreed.

Lia, Max and I set about making a large snowman.  Max had to stop us so that the midsection wouldn't be too heavy for him to lift.  While he set the middle ball on top of the bottom, I started rolling the head and Lia went inside to get buttons, a carrot, a scarf, a hat and something for the mouth.  I was done rolling it by the time Lia came back with the supplies.  Lia and Max had to decorate the face because the snowman was too tall for me to reach.  I went to find sticks for the arms.  While I was looking, a deer appeared from behind some brush.  It looked at me, but didn't run away.  Instead it came closer to me. Then closer.  It came right up to me and let me pet the side of it's neck.  You’re awfully tame,” I whispered, “They must feed you here.”  I stood there petting it for a few minutes.  “Jade, are you okay?” Aris asked spooking the deer.  It ran off.  “Did you see that Aris?  That deer let me pet it!”  “I saw that,” he answered.  “Do you guys feed them here?  That would explain why it was so tame.”  “No.  We do not feed them,” he answered.  “Maybe you should,” I replied.  I picked up my sticks and we went back to the snowman.  I handed Max the sticks.  “I got to pet a deer,” I told him.  “That is cool,” he replied.  “I pet it until Aris spooked it and it ran off,” I continued.  Max stuck the sticks into the midsection and our snowman was complete.  “I think this is the best snowman ever,” I commented.  Max and Lia both agreed.

We went to the igloo.  It was about half done.  They sure move fast for it being so big.  When it's done, we will probably all be able to sit inside of it.  I don't think that anyone but me will be able to stand up in it though.  “I think it is time for a cigarette break everyone,” Aris called out, “Probably time to go in and warm up too.”  “It is lunch time,” Ripley commented.  We all went to the back porch and smoked.

“Jade, I do not think that we will finish the igloo today,” Aris told me solemnly.  “It's okay.  Maybe we can come back and finish it tomorrow,” I suggested.  “We will see,” he replied.

“Who is making lunch?” Max asked out loud.  “I will,” Ripley volunteered, “Lia, Jade, want to help?”  I looked at Aris, excited.  “Go,” Aris urged.  I followed them inside and waited for them to take off their winter gear.  I change into what the skin picked, which happened to be a sweat suit and slippers.  I followed them through the dining room and into the kitchen.  Ripley handed me an apron and I put it on.  “What do you want me to do?” I asked, washing my hands, excited to finally do something useful.  Ripley gave me a bunch of leaf lettuce, “Wash this then tear it into sandwich sized leaves.  We are making sandwiches.”  I started to tear the leaves apart from the core and rinse them under cold water.  Then I went through the larger leaves and made them sandwich sized.  I left them in a colander to drain.  I dried my hands on a dishtowel, “what's next?” “You can start putting Miracle Whip on the bread,” Ripley replied, slicing up tomatoes.  “How many sandwiches are we making?”  “Two a piece,” he answered.  I opened the Miracle Whip, got a butter knife and began spreading it on bread.  Lia started assembling the sandwiches with ham and cheese.  After Lia had assembled a few, Ripley started slicing them diagonally.  In no time we had all of the sandwiches stacked on two large plates.

We took off our aprons.  “Do you like Doritos Jade?” Ripley asked.  “Yes.”  He went through a door and came out with a bag of Doritos and two bags of Lay’s and sat them on the island.  Lia went into a walk in refrigerator and came out with one can of Diet Coke and a twelve pack of regular Coke and handed them off to me, “You do the drinks.”  I carried the drinks out to the dining room where the others were waiting and gave everyone drinks.  “Leave the rest in the middle,” Ripley told me.  He had sat the platters of sandwiches in the middle of the table.  Lia brought out a stack of paper plates and the bags of chips.  I took the plates from her and passed them out.  Finished, we took our seats.

Aris picked up one of the platters and took four of the halves sandwiches and handed it to me.  I only took two.  “Jade,” he warned.  “I’m not that hungry,” I whispered, “I’ll eat some chips too.”  I passed the plate to Lia, who was sitting right next to me.  Ripley opened the Doritos, took some, then handed the bag to me.  I took some, “Who would like the Doritos?”  No one answered.  “You and Ripley are the only ones who like Doritos,” Kale spoke up.  Great minds think alike,” I responded, sitting the bag back down in the middle.  I pulled off the top piece of bread on one of my sandwiches, put some Doritos on it then replaced the bread.  I took a bite.  It was excellent.  Everyone stared at me.  “What?” I asked, “I like my sandwiches crunchy.”  They all resumed eating.  I looked around and saw that Ripley, Lia and Aris were trying it with their sandwiches.  “I like it too,” Ripley commented.  “I do not know,” Lia was unsure.  “I like it both ways,” Aris told me.  I finished my first sandwich then put the chips on my other one.  It just tastes better this way.  I bit into it and heard and felt that satisfying crunch.  I finished it, then finished my chips and was done.  “Are you sure that you do not want anymore?” Theo asked.  “I’m sure,” I answered.  “Then I will eat it,” he took one and Max took the other.

We all agreed to meet to discuss business in the library.  Lia, Antony and Kale stayed behind to clean up.  We sat at the same table that we had used that other dreadful night.  I hadn't thought of Rosa or Jeffrey since then.  That is what they deserve.  “Jade, are you with us?” it was Aris pulling me from my thoughts.  I nodded my head yes.  I told everyone about that horrible night in the alley behind the nightclub.  Then I talked about how Tobias Drake had been in my dreams.  Aris talked about what had happened and what was said in that last dream and Ripley confirmed it as a witness.  “I have stripped him of all of his abilities,” Aris explained, “That is why he is in such a hurry to get here.  He is probably hoping to get them back.”  “What abilities did you take?” Theo asked.  “Dream walking, strength, speed, shifting,…..”  “So, you pretty much made him human?”  “Yes,” Aris answered.

“His family is going to be a problem if we execute him,” Ethan spoke up.  “That is why I said to gear up for a war,” Aris said, “I should have taken his life in that alley.  Would you like to see pictures of what he did to her?”  “Yes,” Ethan answered, as did some of the others.  “I had to call on Max to help heal this,” he must've sent a mental picture.  They all cringed.  Ethan hissed through his teeth.  I still don't know what they are hissing at.  “Jade, it was an infection similar to what humans call an STD,” Aris explained.  “What!!” I was stunned, “All he did was beat me.  How did he do that?”  “He probably injected it,” Max answered.  “I want him dead,” I muttered.  “He almost killed you,” Aris told me, “I do not know what I would have done if he had succeeded.”

“I want him dead too,” Max growled, “You should have called on me sooner Yaris.”  “I see that now,” Aris agreed.  “Does anyone not want him dead?” Max asked.  No one answered.  “All in favor of death then?”  We went around the table with everyone saying “aye.”

“That gives us some time to prepare for the backlash,” Aris stated, “He was told to come alone, but I doubt that will be the case.”  “It will not,” Ethan stated, “the Drakes do not go anywhere alone.”  “As soon as the hearing is over, we need to get Jade to the safe room,” Ripley stated, “They may be placing blame on her.”  “Ripley, I want you to stay with her, no matter what,” Aris told him, “get the safe room ready for a long stay, just in case.  Be prepared to use the tunnels, if needed.”