Her feet were moving before even her mind had registered what she was seeing. Within a blink of an eye, Rose was sprinting towards the man that was fumbling with the keys to the door of his house. He was tall, dark brown hair curled softly on top of his head and she could see his beard which he obviously had not shaved for a while. She could recognize him from miles away and here he was, without a warning or a single message. The strangest thing was that after her brain caught up with her body, she realized he was alone.

"Lucas!" The name escaped her lips in a loud shout as she quickly closed the distance. He stopped trying to open the door. His body seemed frozen for a moment allowing the short woman to run towards him where she hunched over panting heavily with her hand on her knees.

"Lucas! What... the... fuck!" She had to take a deep breath between every word but she soon managed to stand up straight again and make coherent sentences. "Where the fuck have you been? Why didn't you send a message! Where the hell is your car and most importantly, where the heck is Azura?!"

He still hadn't turned around. She noticed his arms jerking softly at times as if he had no control over them. They were small movements but he had never displayed anything like that before.

"Lucas?" He voice softened from a criticizing tone to an uncertain one as he didn't seem to react to her. She wanted to touch him but as soon as she reached out she stopped. Rose examined her friend and ex carefully before slowly placing her hand back at her side.

"What is going on? Please talk to me?" She pleaded with him.

It seemed to work as she saw him visibly relax. His shoulders slumped downwards and slowly but surely he turned around, keys still lodged between his fingers. Deep green eyes bore into her so intense she unintentionally backed away a step. Something was wrong. Badly wrong. A chill ran down her spine as she took him in. She had never seen him like this before. His face bore no emotions, his eyes lacked the sparkle and life they usually held. She wanted to reach out again as she felt all hope deflate within her in mere seconds but she didn't. Something was holding her back.

"Lucas?" As she said his name it seemed as if he needed almost ten seconds before it registered in his head. He looked down on her and normally it didn't affect her, but now it felt intimidating. "Where's Azura?" Her voice had degraded to almost a whimper.

Lucas stared at her a moment before he brusquely turned around and managed to open the door in one go this time, without answering her. He stepped through and as he was about to throw the door shut behind him Rose stepped forward and yanked him back by the back of his coat. Anger flashed across his face as he spun around and faced her.

"Lucas?! Rose?!" A warm voice sounded through the air making both Rose and Lucas break focus on each other. Rose turned around to see Sheila slowly jogging towards them. The busty lady was holding her pregnant stomach as if she was afraid it would be left behind as she slowed down to a quick walking pace instead of a jog.

There was a gleam of happiness in her dark green eyes as she eyed up Lucas and a big smile broke on her face as she opened her arms and wrapped him in a tight hug. Rose stepped back, surprised he let Sheila hug him after he was so pissed off at her. He didn't return the hug though. His arms kept resting at his side as the voluptuous woman squeezed him even more before she let him go.

"I'm so happy you guys are back! Just yesterday we,' Sheila pointed to Rose and herself. "were wondering if we should do something since you hadn't contacted us for so long! I'm glad to know you are safe and back now though! Jeff already told us to be patient for a little bit longer since you guys couldn't give an indication of how long you would be unable to get in touch. It seems he was right. I'm so glad you guys are back! You should really stop by for dinner later! Rose, you and Steffen should stop by as well to celebrate!"

Sheila finally stopped talking and seemed oblivious to the stunned look Lucas was giving her. Rose scratched her head and quickly redid her short blond hair so it stood upright a bit more.

"Where's Azura, Lucas? I'm dying to see her! I think I have felt the baby kick for the first time yesterday and I know she would just love to feel it." Sheila was truly radiating as she gently stroked her pregnant belly. Rose couldn't help but smile as well, temporary forgetting about Lucas's strange behavior.

"Thank you, Sheila." Lucas finally speaking up almost made Rose's jaw drop. "I'm actually really tired and prefer to be left alone."

He turned around and wanted to move inside once more but Rose took his hand and pulled him back again. This time, she met with slightly less angry eyes but it was still clear he was annoyed by her.

"Wait. Why did you say I? Where is Azura, Lucas?" She tried to sound firm. Sheila shot a confused glance between them and gently took Lucas's hand in her own as Rose let go.

"What's going on, Lucas?" Sheila's soothing voice always worked to get the truth out of Rose and she had hoped Sheila would use it on Lucas. She was happy Sheila had figured out something was wrong and now that they were with two, Lucas had less of a chance of walking off without an explanation.

Lucas let out a big sigh and for a moment, Rose was sure she could actually discern a true hint of emotion in his face. It was short-lived as he pulled up the same facade he had on before. Only his anger had really shown but for the rest, he was completely unreadable.

"I would truly appreciate if you let go of me now and leave me alone." Lucas pulled himself free and for a moment his gaze met with Sheila's. She eventually nodded and took Rose by her shoulder and forced her to step back. Lucas turned around for the final time and walked inside closing the door behind him.

"Sheila?! What the hell! Why did you drag me away like that?!" For a first in a long time, Rose had to blink away the tears that started pooling in the corners of her eyes. Something was so wrong with this whole situation. She had never seen Lucas act like this ever since she met him.

"Call Steffen, make sure he comes to our place after work. You are coming with me right now. Jeff will be home shortly and we can talk about it then. Rose, we will find out what's going on but pressuring him right now won't help. Let him settle back down and then we can talk to him later with the help of the boys."

Rose couldn't help but admire this trait in Sheila. She was like a mother figure, always knew the right thing to do and say. She meekly nodded and followed Sheila back to the larger house which was only situated twenty meters away.

It was the old house of Lucas's dad. Lucas had moved into the smaller guest house a long time ago and his dad had remained at the old big house but after he had passed away, Lucas never bothered to move there. Instead, he decided to rent it out to Sheila and Jeff who were desperately searching for a place to stay and eventually start a family in. Jeff, being one of his best friends, gladly accepted the offer and it was working out fine.

*

"I'm telling you! He's not himself! I've rarely seen Lucas angry. He's like the last person to get riled up over something. To get him pissed off at you, you need to do something really bad. The way he looked at me just before Sheila came over was pure anger. That is not, I repeat, NOT a normal Lucas!"

"Calm down, Rose. He just came back. He's probably tired and yes, while I agree something probably has happened, it is unfair to judge him so harshly straight away. I'll speak to him tomorrow." Jeff gave her a friendly and warm smile. Rose felt all her energy leave her small body and with a frustrated sigh she chucked down her beer in one go before getting the fourth one. They had been talking for a long time now and she was getting tired.

Jeff got up from the table and moved over to the window. He was a tall and big man, reaching well over two meters in length. Even though he was very imposing to look at, he had a heart of gold and voice so loud Rose could swear he could make mountains shake. Next to him, Rose always felt like a small mouse but it did not bother her. He was a big teddy bear and the worst he did was dangling stuff just out of her reach when he felt like it. Sheila was the perfect match for him in all areas. Something everyone in the city who knew them acknowledged.

"Honey, I'm not going to clean up after you if you keep drinking like this." Steffen winked at her.

She snarled back, agitated that none of them seemed to take her seriously. Steffen of all people should know better. He had met Lucas in college and they became good friends. Both being a womanizer, they used to share their victories and parties together. After college, Steffen had moved away though and they had lost touch until over a year ago when Steffen had moved back to Pleyvale. Despite Lucas at first hating the idea of Steffen getting together with Rose, he eventually came around and after seeing it was actually serious, he was quite thrilled to see them settle down. Steffen often joked about the fact they both had shagged the same woman. A joke Lucas often could not appreciate. Rose loved the boyish charm that Steffen had, but that boyish charm was also the cause of some arguments every now and then. He was the only one of the group who wasn't a werecat shifter but he had other tricks up his sleeve as he was an energy-caster. Something he rarely mentioned, let alone used.

"Look, guys, it's getting late and Sheila needs to rest. I'll talk to Lucas tomorrow and let you guys know how it went." Rose glared at Jeff for a moment before she slowly got up. He was right and she knew it. Sheila looked tired and it was getting late. 

"Alright." Rose took the remainder of her beer and chucked it down in one go again earning her a big sigh from Steffen. "Don't keep me waiting. I want to know straight away."

Rose gave Sheila a quick hug and did the same with Jeff. Steffen followed suit and after they said their goodbyes, Rose grabbed Steffen by the hand and almost dragged him out. Once outside she stopped and stared at Lucas's house where there was still light burning behind the windows. He was still awake. Although Jeff and Sheila had managed to calm her down a little, she still felt restless. How could she wait for tomorrow if something was going on that involved both of her good friends?!

Rose squeezed her lips together as a thought occurred in her head. When Lucas was home, he would always leave the kitchen door unlocked. As if Steffen could read her mind, he took her by her shoulder and turned her so she faced him.

"Don't even think about it, Rose. We need to go."

As he tried to make her walk with him, she firmly stood her ground and refused to move. She could see the annoyance in his eyes as he clenched his teeth together.

"Rose, We need to go. Stop acting like this."

She lowered her gaze to the ground and took a couple of deep breaths as if she was giving up. Steffen seemed to buy it as he let go of her. Something she hoped he would do.

"I'm sorry..." She softly muttered under her breath before she took off sprinting towards Lucas's house.

Just as suspected the kitchen door was unlocked and Rose ran inside with Steffen hot on her heels. Lucas wasn't in the kitchen so she didn't waste any time and burst through to the living room.

He was expecting her. Lucas stood behind the couch with his arms crossed over each other. His cold penetrating gaze fixed on hers she could do nothing but stop dead in her tracks. He had never exerted his power over her, she didn't even know he could do that, but it hit her straight in the face like she had run into a wall of solid steel. Behind her, Steffen walked in as well and at the sight of Lucas, Rose could hear him curse softly as he protectively snaked an arm around her waist.

"Rose, my dear Rose." How her name rolled off Lucas's tongue sarcastically gave her goosebumps.

She swallowed hard and took a deep breath. No, she would not let him intimidate her now. This was just Lucas, not some evil necromancer out to destroy the world. She straightened her shoulders and stood as tall as she could possibly be. Not that it was that tall, she still only reached till Steffen's shoulders but it did give her a small boost of confidence.

"What didn't you understand about the 'leave me alone' part?" Lucas stepped forward, dropping his arms to his side as his gaze never left hers. He didn't even bother to acknowledge Steffen.

"I don't care, Lucas! I really don't care!" Her voice was filled with desperation as she started shouting at him louder than intended.

"I'm your friend, Azura's friend and I'll be damned if I don't do anything! You would do the same if it was me or Steffen or Jeff or Sheila. You would not leave us alone in times like this and neither am I. Don't you get it? We fucking care about you and we want to help! But to be able to help We need to know what happened. We need to know what happened to Azura. She is my friend too, you know..."

Lucas stopped, his gaze flickering from her to Steffen and back again. It was like he was processing what she had just said and processed the man behind her. As Rose studied his strange behavior she noticed his arms slightly twerking again before he crossed them in front of his chest again. His nostrils flared each time he breathed in and she could still feel something powerful radiate off him but he seemed to calm down. It helped her calm down as well but that didn't last long as what he said next wiped the floor out from underneath her and turned her world upside down.

"She's dead. Took her last breath in my arms. She died, she's gone and she's not coming back."