"Shss," Nixon soothed pushing her tear damp hair back from her face. He couldn't see her since she was facing away from him but she felt he wanted to. "You don't understand at all what those two idiots are going through. I know them Elle. Neither of them drinks unless they're really bothered by something. And Asher, I've never seen him act this way with anyone. He's been a master of indifference ever since I've known him. He resents the fact that he doesn't have control of his life, and this with you is confusing for him. He may have gone about things the wrong way but truth is we need you, and I know you need us."

"Then you're okay with what Asher's asking of me," Elle exhaled in frustration. She didn't want to think about a future without love.

"Maybe I am being selfish but I don't think it will be all that bad of a trade. Besides, I'm still waiting to see what happens. In the meantime the three of us would never intentionally hurt you, and we would never let someone else hurt you either. But this, regardless of what Asher said and did, by taking your shoes and knocking you out, which I totally didn't agree with by the way, is your decision and yours alone. Take us or leave us, the choice is yours but when morning comes Asher will expect your answer."

"I really do have no place else to go."

"Asher has offered you an alternative-the chance to stay here and live comfortably so that's not a factor. You have to come live with us and agree to Asher's terms because you want to be with us. But right now I don't want to talk about this. Talk to me Elle. Tell me who you are."

"My stories not that pleasant or interesting though."

"Tell me anyway. I think it will help the situation. Start with your parents."

"My mother was a crack addict and she left me with my grandparents when I was nine. I don't know a whole lot about her except that she chain smoked and yelled a lot. When I was younger I would have these crazy dreams about this strange looking man and a boy with blue eyes like mine. I don't remember anything before I moved in with my grandparents, just the moving around with my mom. We lived in some very bad neighborhoods but I don't remember where."

"What about your grandparents. Weren't they good to you?"

"My grandfather died a year after I moved in so it was just my grandmother and me, but yes she was. She loved me very much and when she got sick I took care of her. When I was sixteen my mom came back and made life hard for us though."

"How did you end up with the ex?" he asked.

Elle turned her face into Nixon's chest and his hand moved to her ear. He gave her earlobe a tug. "Come on Elle, you were doing so well. Don't quit on me now. I told you this will help the situation. Don't you believe that?"

She glanced at the television and watched it a moment. She took a deep breath and then continued on. "Mom was bitter when she came back. She said I ruined her life and that I was the reason she hid her pain in drugs and alcohol, which is why I can relate to Mary. A year later my grandmother died. My mom didn't show up for the funeral but when I got home later that day, I caught her shooting up. She yelled at me and told me to get out, so I did. I walked the streets for two weeks going from place to place before I met Julio."

"I was on my way up the shelter steps when I noticed him smoking a cigarette with a homeless man," she said. "This guy came out of the shelter and ran him off and he told me there weren't any more beds. I was cold and hungry. I was just a kid but he still wouldn't let me in. I didn't realize at the time but Julio sometimes gave away free drugs to strum up business, and that's why the man ran him off. When I was walking away Julio made me an offer, a home for me, so I took it."

"You took an offer by a man giving drugs to a homeless man. How did he expect the guy to pay for the stuff later?"

Elle shrugged, "Most homeless people are on the streets already because of an existing drug or alcohol problem. They'll do anything, turn in cans, beg and steal to get their next fix. They're good business."

"Was that the first time you...ever did anything like that?"

Elle softly moaned, "Yes, I was on the honor roll at school. I had just tried out for a play. In the five years I lived with Julio though I never joined in with him and his buddies when they smoked a joint in the living room or did drugs. Instead I sat on the fire escape and read."

"Asher's books?" There was a bit of humor in Nixon's voice when he asked.

"Not always, I love all the classics."

"You are such a rarity Elle, a beautiful lily among the weeds. You deserve so much more."

Her eyes faltered on the brink of sleep, while Nixon held her in place, quietly listening. Elle was aware that not only was Asher awake and listening as well, she knew she didn't care. She had noticed him sit up and look in their direction, but her words would not stop flowing. She wondered if Nixon had known he was listening all along, and for that reason alone had wanted her to tell her story.

"I don't feel so beautiful." Elle muttered sleepily. "I'm not so sure why he would draw me."

"Come on Elle, don't you wanna stay here a little while, long enough to find out?" Nixon had stopped stroking her hair, and sat with his head against the back of the couch. After placing a pillow under her head, he seemed content to just let her lie on his lap. When he spoke again, his voice was soft and far away. "At least just for a little while, till you know...till you know."

"I guess I'm used to being unloved, so maybe it won't be so bad."

Ari woke with a start. He couldn't breathe. He was a dog; night vision and his nose were his best attributes but not only could he not see a thing, something smelled oddly of onions, pretzels and beer.

"He's just a dog right?" A voice loomed over him, pounding beat for beat with a painful throbbing tempo in his head. Just seconds before as Ari stirred on the brink of waking, he had recalled the argument with Asher, dinner and his reason for drinking.

Worst, he remembered his behavior. He had gotten drunk. He had stormed out because of Asher's intensions to ruin yet another life, and he couldn't stand the sight of those intensions as they distorted her pretty face. Nothing should make her look so unhappy.

"But he can't shift right as long as I'm holding onto him? It's a dead moon right?"

"Yes Kurt it's a dead moon which means he can't shift at all, and neither can you, you idiot. Even if he could, he's a lab!"

The pressure left his eyes, and Ari looked up at Kurt. He would know his round scrunched face anywhere, and his football size hands, which explained the smell. The last time Ari spotted him in Steve's pub, Kurt was cramming a triple decker cheeseburger into his fat face.

One glance in the direction of the light coming in through the balcony door, he found his brother Steve sitting in the winged leather chair. Ari's body jerked upwards with such force he had little time to react. The ogre of a brother had him by the front of his shirt and he didn't care much if he was strangling him in the process.

"So what do you want me to do with him?" Kurt asked.

"I want you to put him back down so I can talk to him properly." Steve sounded angry as he rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. Once Ari was back on the bed again, he looked around. The last thing he remembered was Felix opening the door for him.

But after leaving Asher behind, he wasn't sure where he went or what he did. Now he lied fully dressed on the top of his bed and there was no sign of Elle, except for the light blue shirt, Steve had draped across his right thigh.

"Ari, Ari, Ari," he said, "just when I think you can't stoop lower you go and hook up with my wife."

Ari looked at Asher's door and found it open. He could make out the sound of soft snoring but Asher didn't snore. Nixon on the other hand did so he knew he was in there watching over him, and more than likely had all night.

"How did you get in here Steve?" He turned back.

"That's not the question you should be asking Ari. The question you should be asking is what I'm planning to do to you."

Ari threw his legs over the side of the bed. "Fine let's get on with it then and save us both some time. I'm tired of playing your game!"

Again Kurt was in front of him. All it took was one meaty handed swipe to his chest and Ari crashed backward onto the bed again. As the bed moved and swayed, Ari clinched his eyes closed. His brain felt sloshy, and now to compound things, Kurt had successfully knocked the wind out of him.

"Leave him alone Kurt. Trisha's little indiscretions aren't important now. Not when there are other matters far more pressing," Steve loomed over Ari. "While you take the time to suck life back into your lungs Ari, maybe you will lend me your ear."

Without thinking Ari cast another look in the direction of Asher's room. This time, Steve looked too. "I know he's in there, along with that falcon and the girl, but I have no intentions of taking advantage of her. I do fear you have misunderstood my intentions Arimus Lake, and I'm here to set matters straight, that's all."

"What do you want Steve?"

Chapter Twenty-Two.

Fire and Ice "Wake up!"

Asher tried to make sense of things but his brain would not allow him to acknowledge anything let alone leave the comfort of his warm bed. He couldn't recall the last time he had slept so sound. All he wanted was to rest a little while longer, let his tired sore body appreciate the pleasure of the cool sheets against his skin, and listen to the soothing properties of her voice. When he listened, truly listened, he didn't feel so tense inside.

But someone had told him to wake up. Blinking his eyes open, Asher saw that it was Ari. He stood in front of the closet, with wrinkled clothes and tousled hair, pulling clothing from a drawer.

Nothing made sense.

Why was Ari in his room?

Why did he look so blurry?

"You gotta get up both of you!" Ari brought clothes back and threw them down. They landed on Asher's bare chest. Asher moaned and started to turn back over but Ari grabbed his shoulder and shook him hard. With each jolt Asher felt his brain bash back and forth against his skull. "Get up fool and get dressed. You have to get back!"

The words took meaning causing Asher to jolt upright, nearly hitting Ari in the head in the process. Ari frowned, grabbed hold of his arm and forcibly pulled him over to the side of the bed. Asher wanted to resist but, humbly knew, he didn't have the aptitude at the current time.

"You left the balcony door open. Steve got in and opened up my door to let his pig brother inside. We had a conversation, it was nice," Ari said.

Asher was confused. He looked down at his body. He was in his briefs and nothing else. How was it he didn't remember undressing? How was it he didn't remember leaving the door open or anything after he poured...

He mentally caught a glimpse of her face on the balcony, and closed his eyes. Simultaneously as vague pictures began to form in his head, both he and Ari glanced in the direction of the couch where her pillowed head, still rested on Nixon's lap. There was a look in Ari's eyes that only complicated matters, but even though seeing them like that, close and comfortable with each other had bothered him more than he wished to admit, Asher understood. Nixon was just a few years younger than Elle, and he knew all too well Elle's pain.

"Wait..."Asher paused as Ari's words struck home, "what do I have to do?"

"You have to get home, back to the manor." Ari pushed a shirt over his head. Looking down, Asher saw that it was green and it had a big clover on the front. He took hold of the hem and pulled it off and threw it across the floor. "Why are you dressing me?"

Ari threw his hands up. "Fine, you find something to wear but just get up. Seriously Asher find the strength and move."

A voice loud and shrill rudely woke Elle from her sleep. Kennedy stood in the doorway fully dressed in jeans and a cute green hooded sweater with matching green sneakers. She had her orange hair twisted in two single braids that fell cutely behind her shoulders. She appeared as though she were in mid-text, and had been caught completely off guard. She was the archetypal image of a teenage girl, Elle had witnessed many times at the library.

Asher, shirtless stood before the closet with his muscular back facing her. He had on the same jeans from the night before but when he faced her, Elle saw that he hadn't taken the time to zip them yet. He looked to be in a hurry. He inspected a white tee-shirt and pulled it on over his head, flattening his wild hair against his face in the process. Shaking the black strands out of his eyes he noticed them, her and Nixon stirring awake.

Pushing her gently up, Nixon excused himself and immediately headed straight to the bathroom, leaving Elle alone to deal with Kennedy's wrath on her own. The younger girl's glare was unmistakable.

"What's going on?" She spun toward Asher. "Asher get rid of her. I want her gone!"

His expression turned violent, as she rushed at him. "And what gives you the right to demand anything of me!" With each step that Kennedy moved closer, the volume of his voice increased. In the end, his red glowering eyes caused her to come to an sudden stop, and then take a step back.

At that point she set her angry glare on Elle. "Well I'm not giving her anymore of my clothes. I don't want anything to do with her." With that Kennedy hurried out the door.

Asher exhaled deep and heavy, and put a hand to his head as Ari appeared in the doorway behind him in nothing but a towel. He ran a hand through his brown hair.

Ari and Asher both had impressive bodies but in this particular case, it wasn't his sculpted stomach that she was noticing but instead the tattoo like Asher's just to the right of his belly button.

"Since when do you yell at her like that?" Ari asked.

"I'll deal with her later." Crossing to the closet again Asher removed the black leather coat and reached into the pocket. He removed a small brown book and his phone.

"Why did you bring that with you?" Ari asked.

"It's safer with me. Where's Grant's journal?"

"I have it in my briefcase."

"I need it." Asher moved across the room and after hastily sitting the coat, book and phone on the coffee table, hurried into the bathroom just as quick as Nixon could exit. Ari caught Nixon up to speed, while Elle quietly sat hunched over trying not to draw attention to herself. She felt self-conscious and uncomfortable. She wasn't sure what was going on, except that Asher had to leave, and something about another possible break in at the manor.

Without shutting the door, Asher brushed his teeth, and ran a brush through his hair. When he returned for his things, he sat down at the opposite end of the couch. He punched in numbers into his phone and put it to his ear.

"Come for me," he said, "quickly."

Leaving the phone open he placed it on his thigh. Reaching forward he took the book and started flipping through the pages. Elle could tell that the book was really old. A few of the pages even looked as though they were loose and just kept together by luck alone. He found the page he wanted and sat the book upside down on his knee, to keep the pages apart. Ari dressed in a white shirt and black trousers come back with a briefcase. He sat down with the case on his lap and worked a combination on the lock.

"What are you planning on doing?" he asked.

"What I have to." Asher replied. "I can't depend on my own strength. The moon will be dead for the next two days. I'm exposed and they know it. I can use the firestorm spell if I need to but I need to amplify things a little."

Elle watched Ari and Nixon exchange looks. "You're taking a great risk. That's not exactly standard issued stuff there buddy," Nixon said.

"Well, since I've become a master of breaking my own rules lately I'd have to say your point is irrelevant." Asher took another book from Ari. This one looked the same as the other, same size and color but this book was much newer.

"So, what about us?" Nixon asked. "What are we doing? Are we going with you and Bart or heading back in the truck?"

"Better yet, what's with Grant's journal?" Ari watched him.

"I've hidden solution keys throughout his journal for certain more dangerous spells. They're meant to be kept secret just in case the spell book falls into wrong hands. But Elle can better answer Nixon."

"I'm not sure I understand," she said when Ari and Nixon both looked her way.

"I made myself perfectly clear last night." Asher pulled the leather coat toward him and dug in the pockets till he drew out the black gloves without the fingers. As he pulled them on, he explained, "You were to give me an answer in regard to the contract this morning. If you've decided to accept my terms then Nixon will remain behind with you for a few days until you have completed some necessary errands, and Arimus will return with me. If you wish to have nothing to do with the contract then I will make arrangements for you here. So, you see, their plans are tentative to yours."

"In other words," Ari added when he noticed her confusion. "Have you agreed to play Rapunzel and allow yourself to be locked away in his tower, and in this manner, I'm referring to the contract."

Elle discounted him and looked at Asher instead. "What errands?"

"You have nothing," Asher said. "You need clothing Elle or do you wish to continue wearing my brother's shirts." Her cheeks flushed. She was leaning forward holding the robe closed. The only way he could know what she was wearing underneath was by being present at the time she was dressed in the shirt, by whoever had dressed her, or when his eyes faltered open the night before. Either was an embarrassing thought. "Answer Elle, I'm in a hurry."

"I'll accept the terms," she quickly answered.

"Then...I will prepare the contract."

Elle noted three entirely different reactions. Nixon thoughtfully smiled. Ari lowered his pensive stare from her gaze, and Asher other than a slight hesitation-a slight flutter of his eyes, closed the phone he had left braced on his thigh. She wondered if he had left it that way in anticipation of her answer. She wondered if he had thought her answer would be different. With that settled, Asher went to work.

The black flame danced on his palms and grew in intensity as he uttered the words off the page of the old book. Eyes wide open, Elle watched as the flames moved up his arms. Asher had pulled on the leather coat, and the leather soon began to give off a scorched smell.

Nixon and Ari watched too, and they were just as shocked when he drew back his hand and sent a fireball across the room at such velocity it smashed into the white wall, and sent a spray of fire back at them. Nixon rushed forward out of the way, and Ari drew his legs up into the chair. With a yelp and some tricky head movement Elle ducked just in time to avoid a chunk of burning wall.

"Good God, Asher, what was that?" Ari exclaimed.