"Come in!" Ryan called to the door.

Angela peaked her head in, replying, "I've just come to change your sheets, if that's alright."

"Um, yeah. It's fine." He stood up from the bed to allow her access. "I should go take a shower anyways."

She set down a laundry basket on the floor, of which was now empty after she'd taken it's contents to the washroom. In her other hand rested a clean set of sheets. She set them down on the dresser, glancing back at Ryan. Something didn't seem right about him. Usually he'd be much more flirty than this. Maybe he was just tired, she tried to reason with herself.

"Are you feeling alright?" Angela hesitantly asked.

"Huh? Um, yeah. I've just got a bit of a headache." He replied. 

"I could get you some Aspirin, if you'd like."

"No, it's fine." Ryan replied while unbuttoning his shirt, "I'm sure a warm shower will help clear my head. I'll be fine."

People who are fine don't say the word twice, she thought. Being that he was now her superior, she had to be respectful. She couldn't press him even if she was tempted to do so. Angela decided it was best just to do her job. She began to pull back the comforter of the bed. As she was leaned over, Ryan looked over to her. 

She was a perfect woman. Her body was stunning, she was attentive and obedient with just the right amount of attitude. Any man would want her. Previously, he had no problem fucking her into next week. Now, when he looked at her, he felt nothing. He wouldn't believe it. Ryan refused to believe that after five hundred years of being with women, his mind was just automatically going to reject them.

Angela could feel him staring. She glanced back at him just in time to see him push her back onto the bed. The two fell backwards, lips colliding. He knew she wouldn't give a fuck, and right now he needed to give his brain a reminder that he liked women. She wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening their kiss. It may have been turning her on but it didn't seem to do a damn thing to him.

Ryan took a break to catch his breath. He rested his head against her shoulder, his hands tracing down her body. It was actually starting to make him sick. Feeling her curves, her breasts, his stomach turned. He knew there was no way his mind just one day switched sexuality. It was Asher; He had to have done something to him. There's no way this would happen naturally.

He pushed back from her and left her in a confused state. As Ryan walked away, he angrily punched the wall, leaving a hole in it. Great, she thought, he'd left her dazed and now she'd have to tell Jasper there's a hole in his manor. He won't be happy to hear that and he's the kill the messenger type. 

| | |

The next morning, Joy was delighted with the news that she was finally getting her own privacy. She thanked the Master greatly, figuring it was about time. Especially after what Apollo had done to her, she deserved a reward. The poor thing did almost die and suffered a great deal of pain thanks to one of his spider bites. Unfortunately, someone else was not enjoying it as much as her.  

Friday tugged one of her fur shawls away from her, whining, "No, you can't go!"

Joy grabbed it back, stomping out of the room. "Look, it's not like I'm moving to another realm or something. I'm just going across the hall. I'll literally be ten steps away from you." 

"I don' care! That's still too far!" She pouted and hugged her stuffed kitty closer to her chest, "Joy, I don' wanna sleep alone."

"We all have to grow up sometime. You'll be fine. You're never sleeping alone, okay? Just because I'm in a different room, doesn't mean you'll be alone."

"Yes, it does! You just don't get it. I'm not a big girl like you. Stuff still scares me." She muttered.

Mentally, Joy wasn't that much older than her. They both were in this ward because they suffered from some sort of mental regression, but in a different way. Friday was robbed of her childhood. She forced herself into a state of never growing up because of it. Joy, on the other hand, had a tendency to want to ignore the responsibilities of adulthood. She could accept adult ideas, however, unlike Friday.

"There's nothing to be afraid of." Joy spoke as she walked back to their room to get another handful of things to move. "In case you forgot, we live in a mansion with some of the most powerful creatures alive. Anything that could ever hurt you wouldn't stand a chance against them, okay?"

Friday frowned, muttering, "Okay."

It didn't make her feel any better. Closet monsters aside, she didn't want to be alone. She wasn't a big fan of change either. Most mental patients weren't. Watching Joy's things slowly disappear from her room throughout the day was upsetting her. She had a whole half of her room that was now completely empty. 

Micah quietly walked in, seeing her sitting on her bed with a tear stained face. Now that night had fallen, it hurt her even more to be alone. He knelt down in front of her, wiping off her cheeks. "Hey, what's wrong?" He softly asked.

She looked up at the empty corner of her room. "I'm all alone." 

"Oh, honey," Micah gently pulled her into a hug. "You're never alone. I'm always right here for you. Now, as far as that empty corner, I know exactly what to do for it. It's dinner time, so you go join the others, and I'll fix up your room." He winked.

Friday managed a small smile. "Okay."

She jumped down from her bed and grabbed her kitty stuffie. It was hard to ever see her without it. The little grey tabby had worn down so much, yet she still loved it. Micah waited until he knew that she was gone to put his plan in action. 

There was a lot of space in this room now that it didn't have another bed. He laid out a new area rug for her, knowing she'd love to play on it with her new friend. Then he put a cat tree and kitten bed down in the corner. Everything a proper kitten would need. The last thing, of most importance of course, was the kitten. She climbed into one of the cubbyholes in the cat tree and waited patiently. 

"How'd I know I'd find you here?" Paris inquired as he walked in the room. "You concerned me when you didn't come to dinner."

"I'm fine. I just had to make sure I got someone all settled in." He softly smiled.

"I hope so, because I barely beat Friday here." He replied. 

Paris barely had finished his sentence before the little vampire scurried in the door. She was pretty excited to see what her caregiver had in store first her. Seeing all the kitty stuff, her eyes were sparkling. Paris was pretty happy he wasn't missing this. 

Micah cleared his throat, "I think you should go look what's in there." He pointed to one of the lower cubbyholes. The kitten wasn't strong enough to jump up to the higher ones just yet. 

Friday set down her plush on the bed. She got down on her knees, squeaking when she saw what was inside. "A kitty! A real kitty!" She beamed a smile, eyes glassing over. Carefully, she pulled him out and into her lap, "And she looks just like my kitty too."

"Well, she is your kitty now." He knelt down beside her. "After all you've been through recently, I thought you could use a friend."

She gazed up at him with her beautiful, big eyes, "You mean she's really mine? Really?"

Micah laughed, "Yes, really. You have to promise me you'll take really good care of her, though, okay?"

Friday wrapped her arms around his torso in a hug. It took him off guard, but he was happy to make her so happy. "Thank you so much. I promise I'll be the best kitty mommy ever! Does she have a name yet?"

"Nope, not yet. I figured you'd want to name her."

She picked up the kitten, getting a good look at her face. "Hmm, I'll have to think about it. I want her to have the most perfect name in the world. After all, she's the most perfect kitty cat in the world." 

As much as Micah hated to admit it, she was growing up a little bit. She may never mature to be an adult but she wasn't completely incompetent anymore either. Friday was so in love with that cat from the second she set her eyes on her. He knew this was the best thing for her. Maybe it would mean she'd stop following him around everywhere. Either that, or it meant he'd have a baby vampire and a cat following him daily. 

| | |

Finch wasn't one to drink much. Recently, he'd come to understand why the others found comfort in a glass of whiskey at the end of the night. He swooshed around the liquid in the glass, watching the candle light sparkle along the side of the glass. Beau sat across from him, rather thankful he and the others were here. He didn't want to think about how Jasper would act if they were alone.

"I've found what we've been looking for." The warden spoke, seeming bittersweet in his tone. "Unfortunately, we can't use this one. We'll have to keep searching for a different vessel."

Beau narrowed his eyes. "Why would you throw away an opportunity like this? You've spent two years looking for it." 

In the dark of the night, only candle light illuminated the drawing room. It was a smaller room built for intimate meetings such as these. Much like any other study in the household, bookshelves liked the walls. They were littered with novels and various items. The dim light sheen across leather seating and crystal glasses.

The head of the society preferred his soldiers to be on a need to know basis. As far as he was concerned, the only ones who should have knowledge of this were the higher ups. That consisted of only Finch, Deacon, and Beau at this point. Following their war with Tesla's cult, Jasper had decided to make Felix his right hand man. He decided it was best to stop trying to do all his work on his own. 

He closed his eyes a moment, sighing, "The vessel we found is someone we need. I previously was unaware that this being was even alive. I thought surely he'd perished in the war, but in hindsight, that was foolish of me to think. He's too clever to be taken by low level demons."

"What exactly are you on about?" Beau questioned.

"I understand Knox has not been your patient very long, but surely at some point you've gained knowledge of his lover?" 

"I wouldn't use that word exactly, but yes. I read about it in Colton's notes." He replied, "Prior to the war, he was seeing someone who he cared deeply for. What does that have to do with anything?"

"That person is who was identified as a compatible vessel. I wouldn't betray Knox like that. It'd be barbaric. Personal agendas aside, this creature could be of much use to us. His name is Sixteen. He's one of the most skilled assassins alive, but he likes to hide. I'm sure that's why, prior to the war, he was laying low."

"If he cared for Knox so much, and he was so skilled, why didn't he save him from Carmella?" Felix asked.

"Because he was a royal assassin at the time. Love has such a way with irony, doesn't it? He unknowingly fell in love with an enemy of the kingdom. With the kingdom now in ruins, he has no one left to serve. I'll send someone to track him down and bring him here. That isn't of my concern though. We can't spare to waste much more time looking for a vessel."

"We can, you just don't want to. You're afraid of who could intervene if you allow unnecessary time." Finch responded. 

"I have a right to be paranoid. There's plenty of people out there who would want to stop me. It isn't our biggest objective at the moment, however. I estimate we have a week until Covey is well enough to begin the defrost. The time has finally come for the Black Valley to fall." 

"There's no telling what will happen." Deacon said, "Are you willing the live with the possible consequences?"

His eyes distilled, staring blankly at the fireplace. "I'm not sure, to be honest with you, but I made a promise. Shae has served faithfully at my side for countless years. I owe it to him to free him of his chains."