"I just need to check something. It will only take me a second, please?" Elle begged, "It's everything I have."

A frown appeared on his brow. He looked to the burned building and then with a sigh, nodded an approval. Elle slowly walked to the area where she had seen the suitcase last. Ducking under yellow tape she carefully walked over heaps of shifting fallen shingles.

With the toe of her white Dollar Store sneakers she poked around in the rubble, while behind her, Asher exhaled heavily. When she turned back to look at him, he stood with his head lowered, and he was removing the mint tin from his coat pocket.

"Just what are hoping to find?" He didn't look up when he asked. He just sounded bothered.

"I was leaving an abusive boyfriend when all hell broke loose. I dropped a suitcase..." Elle allowed her words to trail off the very instant she spotted the suitcase where it lied, open, upside down and emptied of its contents. After a brief look around she spotted several articles of clothing that had belonged to her, scorched and tattered. There was no point in anything she was doing.

She turned around just in time to witness Asher spit out a mint. He pulled something off his tongue and then angrily tossed the tin at the dumpster.

"I assume it's a lost cause," he grumbled and spit again. "Then, if you're finished I need to find a bird."

"Bird?" Elle hurried again to match his long strides. "You mean that bird-guy in the leather coat that attacked Mary and me?"

"I can only guess you mean Steve Barton the leader of the Blackbirds but in this particular case I am not. I am referring to a different bird, another Lake." He scanned the sky. "This one's a falcon and he's missing."

"Yes, you're brother mentioned him. The last time I saw him he was flying above that building." Elle pointed to the roof across the alley. Asher thoughtfully nodded, pondering the apartment building before him.

"Do you know how to get up there?" he asked.

"I've never been in that building but the layouts probably the same as mine. And if that's the case, the only way to get in is the front entrance, other than the fire escapes."

Asher visually inspected the rusty ladders attached to the brick building and then discounted the idea. Even Elle could see that some of the brackets that were supposed to attach the ladder to the side of the building had broken loose. "What a horribly bad design. It would be better for you to go in the front," he said moving on. "Let's just be quiet in that endeavor. I would rather not draw attention to myself if possible."

Elle casually glanced over her shoulder to the ugly brick building that had been her home for the last five years. In that moment she realized there wasn't a morsel of sadness in the thought of leaving Julio or the apartment behind, not when he made sure that she held no attachment to anything inside, even him.

Hesitating Asher looked back. "Are you coming?" With a nod, Elle started for him. She noticed how his eyes seem to analyze her as she approached. "I could carry you. You couldn't weight much more than a hundred pounds," he said.

"Thank you, both for the compliment and the offer, but I'm already starting to feel better."

"Too bad, you don't look it." He turned and started walking. Elle chose not to be offended by the comment, when she knew she more than likely looked just as bad as she felt. This time as they walked, his pace seemed deliberately slower, which allowed her to keep up with him.

They walked in silence to the end of the alley, and then turned right along the side street, working their way to the front of the building. Noting that he seemed a little uneasy, she decided to talk anyway, even though he didn't seem to be inviting conversation.

"So, you can tell if someone's around then," she asked.

Asher nodded. "I have a strong sense of smell." He cast a look in her direction and wrinkled his nose. "You smelled bad before but now you smell of smoke and whatever else you were digging in."

"T-thanks." She closed her arms tight over Julio's jean jacket that was far too big for her. "You really know how to make a woman feel good."

"Must run in the family then," he grunted, "but to better answer your question, I, more than others of my kind, am acutely aware of everything around me."

"I saw that, back there." Elle blushed when he glanced in her direction. "I don't believe I've seen anything like that before. I guess your some Karate master or something too along with being a magician?"

He exhaled long and deep before he spoke. "Magicians pull rabbits out of hats and pull quarters from behind the ears of little girls. The proper word for me so you'll stop demeaning me with the childish names is a mage. But yes I am a master of many arts. That however back there wasn't Karate but a form of it known as Shaolin Kung Fu, and the primary strategy of Kung Fu, is to surprise your aggressor from opposite directions. That way they have little time to counteract an attack. I followed protocol, nothing more. However, in the light of that, and not to lessen my abilities, yes I heard them coming." He ended his words with a matter-of-fact shrug.

"So you do both, play with your blue lightening and your...body." The moment the last word escaped Elle's lips in an awkward sort of squeak, she wished she could take it back. Asher stumbled as he fixed eyes on her.

"The blue lightening," he emphasized, "is magic and even though I know your words were a slipup, I will inform you that I don't play with either my magic or my body."

At the sound of a whistle loud and piercing, Asher stopped and spun around. Elle stepped closer to him as she noticed the man heading their way in the light of the streetlamp. Once she realized that it was Asher's brother Ari, she relaxed and so did he.

"Did you hear him coming?" she asked.

Asher flashed red frightening eyes her way. "I guess I was a little preoccupied with our illuminating conversation," he snapped.

Ari eyed her intently as he approached. "I hope my brother's been treating you well. He's not being too disagreeable is he?" At Ari's words, Asher hastily wheeled around with a grunt and assumed walking without them. "Glad that you're safe, brother," Ari said to his retreating back. "I am too. Thanks for asking!" Grumbling under his breath, Asher increased his speed and kept going. Returning his attention to her, Ari asked, "Where are we going?"

"The bird, I mean the falcon-your brother is searching for him. I told him the last place I saw him was flying above the roof of that apartment building." Elle pointed.

A concerned look crossed Ari's countenance. "Then we should go. I had to lead some uninvited guest to the party away and haven't had a chance to look for him yet." After a few quiet steps, he spoke again, "I am glad to see you feeling better. I guess this has been a real shock for you. I saw your face when Kennedy changed. I thought you would faint right then but you didn't. You held on like a trooper...well till the end when Mr. Tall Dark and Brooding showed up. "

"I was more shocked to wake up and realized that I wasn't dreaming. I was just looking at the abandoned Dairy Queen a few days ago from the window of Mary's apartment admiring the way the sun was setting over the roof, so it was a little strange to wake up there and find him watching over me, but he wasn't exactly the reason I passed out."

Ari nodded solemnly, as though he guessed her reason for that. "Then he kept you safe...while you were there alone in that abandoned building?" As she relayed the story to Ari about the men, the phone ringing and Asher knocking them both out, Ari's eyes grew wide and stayed that way. Finally he stopped her by placing a hand on her wrist, while up ahead, Asher hurried into the night. "Asher circled you in magic and you saw it....and it was blue?"

"Yes, why's the color so important!"

Ari laughed. "I was just curious but hey at least I know now why he was so angry when he called back. The call that burst his bubble was from me." He looked again in Asher's direction. "We should catch up." Elle looked at the proffered hand he offered, shoved her hands into the pockets of Julio's coat, and started walking.

"So ani-shifts really exist?" she mused aloud.

Ari gestured his hands over his body with a flirtatious sort of a wink. The army coat hung open in the front and she could tell that he was put together in all the right places.

"Living proof before your eyes," he said, "but then don't go shouting the news to everyone you meet. We prefer existing apart from the outside world if we can. You don't seem all that shocked."

"I'm still wondering when I'll wake up," she laughed.

Ari chuckled in turn. "Well in the meantime, I'm glad to be a part of your dreams. In case you are wondering, I'm a dog-a Labrador to be more precise in my animal form. Dogs are typically the lowest animal on the shifter totem pole but I was born as a spirit twin to him," Ari pointed in the direction of Asher walking ahead of them. "In other words I'm his guardian so that makes me special."

"In other words, you're a watchdog," she smiled.

"Aah," Ari laughed, "a woman with a sense of humor. So, don't you think it's time you tell me your name, neighbor lady?"

"My names Elle."

"Like the letter L as in l-o-v-e," Ari spelled out the letters with a playful grin. Ari was a handsome man and he had a nice full lipped movie star kind of appeal. There was no doubt about that but unlike his brother Asher who spent most of his time evading her gaze, Ari had spent all of his, every second since stepping out from under the streetlamp staring straight at her.

She rolled her eyes. "Oh my God, you're one of those men."

Elle came to a complete stop, so fast she thought she would tumble forward. Even though she was tired and frazzled, the pain had subsided. The reaction alone was nothing more than a trigger response.

Asher sat on a step leaning forward with his arms draped over his knees. His hair hung down enough to conceal everything but his lips, and those lips that mirrored his brothers were widely smiling over a set of very white teeth. Knowing both of them were watching him he looked up. Light from the lamp above reflected into his eyes giving them a luminescent glow.

Ari stopped behind her. "Asher's smiling, now that's a rare sight," he said.

"I can't help it," Asher laughed. "In just the short time since your arrival brother I have learned a significant lesson that not all women fall subject to your charm."

"We just met," Ari said in his defense, "give it some time."

Standing Asher spread his arms wide and as he did his coat fell open to expose a black tee-shirt that was stretched taut over a muscular chest. That broad chest tapered down to a thin waist, thick black belt and black jeans. "By all means take all the time you need." Turning around, he headed up the steps. The gesture had seemed to imitate Ari's earlier invite to look him over, and Elle couldn't help but blush since in fact she had looked Asher over, quite thoroughly.

She would know Julio's car anywhere, the revving motor and the loud obnoxious music that screamed disrespect to all the people sleeping inside their homes. He was at the street light a block down and the light was about to change.

Hurrying up the steps past Asher holding the door open she planted her back against the wall behind him. Ari followed her in and stood on the opposite side of the entry. The pea green mustang passed by with the thumping Eminem song, clearly depicting his derogatory views on women, loudly playing over the expensive Boise speakers, and the glass doors and walls vibrated. Elle knew then she could never go back.

"Boyfriend?" Asher took a step back as Julio looked their way, which put him up close and personal to her chest. Again she caught the scent of musk and leather.

"He was never my boyfriend." She placed a hand on his elbow and he tensed under her touch. "Please take me away from here. I have to get away." Elle recognized the desperation in her own voice and it shamed her.

Turning his head sideways Asher looked down at her hand. His eyes narrowed. "First, tell me what you did to deserve such treatment."

"Asher, I'm not sure that's the right question," Ari quietly said.

But it was too late. His answer and delivery was enough. Elle got his meaning and she was instantaneously embarrassed. A woman like her couldn't be trusted. A woman like her that got kicked out of her home at the age of seventeen, who had lived through hardship and poverty and through abuse must have done something to cause her to be in such a situation, and Asher knew about her pregnancy. She wasn't sure how he knew but he did and to him she was trash.

"I didn't do anything but buy a book, a stupid book!" Elle shoved him forward into Ari and hurried up the stairs. She wanted to run away from them, from Julio, from everyone and everything, but she had no place to go. A light flicked on under a door. She was being too loud but people in her neighborhood were used to loud arguing voices.

"The irony of that is the book was about ani-shifts-ani-shifts!" she exclaimed. Another light came on and this time a door cracked open. "I should be questioning my sanity about now but ever since I was a kid I was convinced that such a world existed. What did that get me though but ridicule and punishment until you two go-go-power-morphers show up to make my life-"

The last of her words were cut short as both Asher and Ari overpowered her on the stairs. Asher threw his arms around her waist and held her in place against his body, and Ari stood before her, covering her mouth with his hands, and clearly he felt the need to use both of them.

"We exist and people are aware of that more than they realize," Ari spoke in a hushed voice. "The word ani-shift spoken out loud by an outsider dissolves our magic barriers, and then when it falls everyone can see us. And we only want certain outsiders, such as you, to see us. Do you understand that?"

Elle nodded her head and Ari removed his hands. Asher on the hand didn't seem as convinced. "But if I'm an outsider then why can I see you?"

"I knew it, she has no silent button," Asher grunted. "And again I strongly advise you to never call me a morpher again."

Sending an elbow backward she made contact with his chest and the hold was broken. She dropped to the stairs, righted herself with the use of the handrail, and continued on up the stairs to the roof.

"I have other words, chauvinist, xenophobe, overoptimistic, bully!" She spat the last out vehemently as she took each step. "I like to read. I know many that are more than applicable!"

"I'm going to kill her," Asher muttered. "I'm truly going to kill her."

"Get in line." Elle directed over her shoulder and pushed open the roof door.

Just like her apartment building the tenants utilized every space of the roof. To the right was a cluster of lawn furniture in an array of style and disorder. To her left were four long clotheslines that sported sheets to underwear left to dry. The people who lived here were poor just like her and lacked the funds to buy washers and dryers to make their lives easier.

As the two men searched the roof, Elle moved to the edge and looked off toward her apartment. She tried not to eavesdrop but she could tell by Ari's tone and his words that he was surprised by Asher's presence. She heard Asher complain about them being gone for over a week and when he said he was starting to worry about them, Ari appeared even more stunned.

"You were worried?" Ari said, turning over a couch to look behind it. "Since when do you get worried...about us?"

"Since maybe you were taken and strange people started appearing to wreak havoc into our lives. Regardless of what you think of me Arimus, you're still my brother."

"I'm not mad about you keeping Grant's kid from me anymore," Ari said. "I let him down too. I'm just surprised you left Lake Manor on your own."

"Frankly, I am too but let's talk about this later."

When Elle noticed Asher turn to look in her direction, she moved even further away so that she could get a better view of the apartment. Most of the windows on the second floor were broken and a big section of the roof was gone. She found her bedroom on the far right side of the building and regretfully came to the conclusion that the firemen had prevented the flames from reaching that far.

Lowering her eyes, she followed the taillights of Julio's car as he drove down their street. The building was roped off and the doors boarded up to prevent anyone from trying to gain access but Elle knew that would not stop Julio.

Wind whipped about her face and hair. She pulled up the collar on the jacket. The smell of Julio's cologne nauseated her. She just wanted to eat a hot dinner and climb into a nice warm bed and sleep away her agony but she wasn't sure where to go to find that, and if Julio found her she knew she wouldn't be sleeping for hours.

At the sound of a moan, Elle jerked around, afraid that Ari or worse Asher had caught her crying. The two men however were on the opposite end looking behind a grouping of couches. Again, she heard someone moaning and immediately she sought out the source. She saw them then, legs through the metal supports of the rooftop billboard sign that advertised the downtown zoo, and on the front was a picture of a tiger.

Life was a satire she realized as she hurried around the huge sign and found him. She could only assume the young man was the falcon since in fact he was in his human form. He was about her age and was just as handsome as the other two Lake's. His hair was a tousled blond-brown mess, tangled with blood.

"Over here!" she called out.

He put up a hand in a pleading gesture. "Not so loud!" he inaudibly whispered.

Elle dropped down on her knees and without thinking took hold of his head. She found the cause of the bleeding easy enough, a deep gash three to four inches long on the crown of his skull. Reaching in the pocket of the jean jacket she withdrew Julio's bandana-his doo-rag that she knew was there. In the downtown gangs, it was a sign of color, a means of identification. To her at the present its purpose was far more important. Folding the red square in sections, she placed it over the bleeding wound.

"Wow, that smells really really bad," he grimaced.

"I know but it's all I have and you have a really really bad cut."

Asher and Ari hastily rounded the corner. Even though both showed signs of relief, Asher stayed behind. Ari on the other hand quickly came to where they were and squatted down on the other side of the young man.

"I can't believe it, my eyes didn't deceive me. Asher really is here," he said.

"Guess he couldn't live without us after all." Ari's eyes lifted to Elle. "Elle this is Nixon." Ari carefully lifted up on her fingers to examine his wound, and his brow furrowed. Nixon gave her a nod but when Asher snapped his phone closed and cursed, both he and Ari gave their attention to him.

"Bart still can't get to us. I told him to abandon the limo and call the service to send another car." Asher moved toward them. "Move Ari, I can heal him. Just keep the rag in place so I won't see."

Ari's head jerked up. "Healing drains you. You don't like to heal anyone but yourself."

Apparently finding him too slow, Asher roughly shoved his brother out of the way. Ari fell back onto his bottom, cursed in response, quickly stood and took off. She watched him go and then fixed her gaze on Asher. He had gotten down on his knees in Ari's place and was busy removing his gloves, but his eyes stared directly across at her. She had been watching Ari, while he had been watching her.

"That was uncool Asher," Nixon said in a hushed tone. Asher ignored him.

"What book was it?" Asher asked.

"Excuse me?" She adjusted the rag as Nixon turned his head to the right to look at Asher.

"What book did you buy about ani-shifts that warranted that?" He gestured to her shoulder. Elle knew what he meant. Asher had been the one that inspected the bite marks prior to her falling unconscious.

The floodlight that usually cast light up to the billboard had been dislodged and shone instead along the roof floor. Unlike in the dim street lamps below, Elle could clearly see Asher. He was a beautiful man, not handsome which clearly made her understand what the man in the building meant.

Asher was pretty.

His features were chiseled and flawless. But it was his eyes that captivated her. Never before had she witnessed such a remarkable color. Only when they widened urging her to answer did she force her gaze downward for fear of making herself look even more like a fool. Besides, as his head rotated under her fingers, she knew Nixon was now observing her instead of Asher.

"Hatori Matasuto's last book," she said.

Nixon laughed and Asher's hard glare fell on him. "Unless you want to get stitched up instead in the nearest emergency room I would remain silent," he suggested.