Shaina raced down the hall, arms and legs pumping. "I'm gunna get you!!" she yelled, practically flying down the steps. Then all the breath left her lungs as she ran into something solid. Looking up from the floor, she saw a very bemused Daemon.
"Daemon!!" she squealed as she picked herself up off the ground.
"Up!" she demanded, lifting her arms. Daemon laughed as he lifted her into his arms. She snuggled, resting her head against his neck.
"What are you doing brat? Running around yelling?" he asked as he brushed back her hair.
"One of the wolf pups stole my shoe" she said indignantly, pointing to her feet to show him that only one had a shoe on it. Daemon nodded seriously, "I see. We'll have to make sure you get it back." He looked at her and asked, "did you have any dreams last night?"
Shaina bit her lip and shook her head. She had been living here with Daemon and Jaenelle for almost 6 months now and still none of her memories had returned. It had taken her a couple of weeks before she was comfortable around males but now Daemonar was one of her best friends and she adored Lucivar and Daemon. The only bad thing was the dreams she had sometimes. She never remembered them but she always woke up sweaty with Daemon or Jaenelle standing there, saying that she'd been shouting and crying in her sleep.
"That's good". Daemon's voice brought her back to the present as he carried her toward the back of the hall. "What do you think about going over to Lucivar's for dinner tonight?"
She gasped in delight, "Yes!! I haven't seen Nivian and Daemonar in a long time". Daemon laughed as he put her down, "You saw them both last week".
Shaina nodded, "and that's too long to not see them". She narrowed her eyes as a wolf pup appeared from around the corner, a shoe in his mouth.
*No more play?* the wolf looked downcast. Shaina patted him, "We can play later, I have to go do lessons now. Jaenelle's waiting for me".
The cub perked up *We go see the Lady? Let's go!!*
"Bye Daemon! I'll see you when my lesson's finished!" She curtsied gracefully as Daemon grinned and bowed.
"Tell Jaenelle what's planned for tonight ok? And try and be good!" he called after her as she and the wolf ran off.
****
Shaina looked at the eyrie as they walked towards it. This was where she had woken up. It was so scary she thought, tightening her hold on Jaenelle's hand. Marian had been really nice, calming her down and helping her get used to everything. She still wasn't good around strangers, becoming crippled with shyness and fear, but she felt safe now with the SaDiablo family. A loud 'woop' startled her out of her thoughts. She looked around and saw Daemonar running towards her. Letting go of Jaenelle's hand, she turned toward him just in time to be swept up in a hug that squeezed all the air from her lungs.
"Shai-Shai!! I've missed you!! Nivian is no fun when you're not here." Daemonar finally let her go as a voice was heard from behind them.
"I am so!! And she's MY best friend. Not yours!!" Shaina giggle as she hugged her best friend. Nivian, Daemonar's younger sister, was the same age as her and they had gotten along ever since they met all those months ago. Lucivar and Marian came through the archway and Shaina ran over to them. She hugged both of them and grabbed Marian's hand, "Auntie Marian!! I learnt a new song on the piano!! I'm going to play it for you tonight ok?"
She squeaked as someone picked her up from behind, "Brat! Why are you paying more attention to my wife then me huh?" She smiled as Lucivar flipped her around so she could put her arms around his neck, "coz she's prettier!!"
He gasped and staggered dramatically, "That hurt!! How could you!! As punishment, you must spend the evening putting up with Daemonar". She giggled as Daemonar said, "Hey!"
Nivian came over, finished with talking to Jaenelle and Daemon, "Come on Shaina! Let's go play in my room!" Lucivar let her down, and Nivian and she ran off to play.
****
Lucivar watched as the girls ran off, Daemonar going in a different direction. Giving Cat a hug, they all went inside. "How's she been?" He asked Jaenelle as he called in some wine and glasses.
"She's been ok. Still not good with strangers, but the dreams are happening less often now, and she's totally comfortable around everyone at the Hall." She looked at Daemon as she said, "It's only been a couple of months, but she already feels like part of our family, a daughter". Daemon nodded, "I still haven't found any leads as to where she comes from. There are no reports of anyone missing a girl like her either here or in Terreille." He looked at the others, "We want to formally adopt her into our family. What do you think?"
Marian smiled, "That's great!! She's really sweet and gentle; I've liked her from the beginning". Lucivar agreed, "I already feel like she's part of the family, I'm sure Saetan would say the same thing".
Jaenelle groaned, "May the Darkness have mercy on her if you're going to start treating her like you do the rest of the females in the family."
Lucivar just gave a cocky grin, "I've only been waiting for her to settle in properly before starting her weapon's training". Everyone in the room whimpered, having been subjected to Lucivar's lessons for years.
"So when are you going to talk to her about it?" Marian asked, "I mean, we're the only family she can remember, but you're still going to explain it all to her aren't you?"
Daemon nodded, "We'll talk to her about it tomorrow and then Father will help us get it all organised".
"Well," Jaenelle stood, "We better get the children down for dinner before they destroy something". Then they thought it was too late as, from upstairs, they heard a big crash. Lucivar sighed as they all laughed.
"Alright, let's go see what's happened". But as they left the room, Nivian came running around the corner, "Something's wrong with Shaina!! We were playing, and she accidentally knocked over a vase, and now she's huddled against the wall, whimpering, and she won't listen to me!!"
They all raced down the hall, halting as they saw Shaina. On the floor was a broken vase, and behind it sat Shaina, tears running down her face. Fear filled the air as she saw them, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!! I didn't mean to!!"
Lucivar moved closer, meaning to comfort her but the fear grew worse as she shrank away from him.
"Please don't hurt me, please!!" Her eyes glazed as she turned inward, "Bad girl, bad girls must be punished". She whimpered.
"Lucivar", Jaenelle said quietly, "move away. This has brought back something of her past. We must be careful". Lucivar nodded and moved back as Jaenelle took his place.
"Shaina? Shaina it's alright now. Shaina look at me". She knelt in front of Shaina and lifted her face. Shaina blinked at her and then looked around at everyone standing there, Nivian peeking from behind Marian.
"W-what? What happened?" She asked as Jaenelle pulled her into a hug.
"It doesn't matter, you had a scare, that's all" Jaenelle stroked her hair, "Go with Nivian and get ready for dinner now ok?"
Shaina nodded and went off with Nivian. Jaenelle stood and vanished the remains of the vase.
"Well…" said Daemon
"Yes" replied Jaenelle, "bits of her past are beginning to leak through. Hopefully it won't get any worse than what happened today".
"But if it does?" asked Lucivar
"Well" Jaenelle sighed "we're all here to keep an eye on her. All we can do is wait and watch".