I was out of the bath and in jeans and a grey singlet within a matter of minutes.
I had to get use to werewolf speed.
Hellian flew over head as I ran out of the room and down the hallway, following her quickly. As she gained speed, her wings burst into flames, leaving a light trail of light that had me in awe. She cawed loudly as she took an abrupt left, I followed, my bare feet pounding on the hard stone. I suddenly had an urge to jump on all four to run fast; without noticing, I threw myself after Hellian, landing on all four and ran like Garret had in wolf form. My nails grew long and black like talons, I could feel my teeth sharpening as I gained on Hellian as she blazed off. It was dark, I realized, but I saw perfectly; my sense of smell heightened and I could smell the disgustingly sweet perfume of vampires but just beyond that, it was very weak but it was definitely humans. Hellian was right.
A thunderous noise erupted in the halls and I stopped abruptly, only I slid on the stone and rammed into the wall with a yelp. The stone gave way and splitters of stone crumbled to the floor, echoing loudly; the noise sounded again and I spun around, it echoed through the halls and was eerie, like a growling predator
"Stop it!" Hellian shouted at me, I looked at her, closing my lips that had pulled back over my -now sharp- teeth. The noise stop and then I realized it was me making the growling noise. Hellian took off again, I got to my feet and followed after her, I couldn't give away my...canine instincts. I felt my teeth return to normal and the talons grew back to being my chewed-off nails.
I lost sight of Hellian but her scent -a lush mixture of lavender and jasmine- lingered in the air long enough for me to follow it. I ran faster, the thrum of my feet pounded in my ears, my breathing somehow steady as I increased my speed, taking a corner and getting lower to the ground, increasing my speed even further. I came to an immediate stop when I saw Hellian floating around a door, her tail had gone out and now the long feathers daintily danced around with her. I rushed to her
"Open the door, quickly" she instructed, I took deep breathes as I reached for the brass loop handle and pulled it open; it creaked violently, I peered over my shoulder in case someone heard then ducked inside. Hellian's feathers blazed once more and lit the way as I feebly stepped through the narrow hallway, the stone brushed roughly against my shoulder, I winced once as it cut my arm open; I turned side on and continued through the hall only to shuffle faster to keep up with Hellian. I stepped out into an area where Hellian glided around, the sight made me want to cry, I covered my mouth with my hand and quickly as tears streamed freely at the sight.
Humans, children, men and women. Chained and bound to the walls in dirty, torn rags that belong to a slave in ancient times. They were dirty and all skinny
"Oh god" I whimpered, alerting a women, she looked up at me then coward away, holding a child in her arms, her stomach was large and the baby was covered in something that made me even more sad.
"Please!" she pleaded "don't hurt my baby" I stepped forward but the women coward away even more
"I'm not...I'm a human" I whispered in tears; slowly, I crouched in front of her, the women looked at me for a moment before relief came over her and she leaned forward
"Oh thank god" she sighed, the child was a girl and small, a premature child. The poor thing, it didn't deserve this, no one deserved this.
"Who..." I couldn't finish, scared of the answer, the women held out her child to me
"Please take her...you can save her" she pleaded, more tears fell from my eyes
"I can't...she's yours"
"You have too! She'll die here, I beg you. They will kill her, she is a half-breed" the women whispered, the word stopped me as I glanced down at the child. Her eyes were open and staring at me, they were a beautiful emerald green; she skin was pale and almost illuminate
"A half-breed?" I asked
"Yes, her father was an angel...please take her. She will have a chance" the women quickly wrapped the child in a partially clean blanket and dried it off with her own rags. She placed the small child in my arms which I held awkwardly; I'd never been good with babies, they had a tendency to cry or spit dummies at me. Even my baby cousin Hansel hated me. But this child laid content in my arms, her radiant skin burst with light that seemed to gleam from her beautiful eyes, her skin was ivory and her hair was a luscious golden brown that bundled on the top of her tiny head. She was beautiful.
"You will take care of her. Won't you?" the women asked, placing her hands on my arm "please, you are just like her. Born a prisoner of your own fate...she doesn't deserve this life" her hazel eyes were now on her daughter, the loving gaze was something that seemed personal, I had the urge to look away but the women looked back at me
"What is her name?" I asked, the women's pleading gaze was something that I couldn't take. They reminded me of my mother.
"Rosa, her name is Rosa." the women whispered
"And yours?" I whispered, the women gave a gentle smile
"I am Tali, Tali Light" she ran her hand across my cheek, her fingers were course and rough like a blacksmiths and her nails were broken and jagged
"I will protect her Tali, I promise" I said, Tali smiled though she didn't seem to have the strength for much else, the light in her eyes was slowly dimming; she leaned forward and kissed my cheek then kissed Rosa's forehead but after that, she slumped back against the cold stone and closed her eyes.
They didn't open again.
I began crying again and looked around at the cowering humans, staring at me with bewildered expressions. Hellian clawed at my back
"Hurry! The meeting is about to end! We have to go!" she cawed, I got to my feet, awkwardly holding the child who still stared at me with some sort of interest. I turned and started down the hall again, slowly this time, Rosa seemed too important now, as if she were my own child.

I made it back to my room before anyone noticed, quickly, I ran toward my closet a pulled out a large blanket then dashed across the room and opened a spare closet, it was small and dimly lit but it would do. I set the blanket down, folded it and placed Rosa down then dashed out; I grabbed three pillows from my bed and made a sort of bed for the beautiful child, placing a pillow under her tiny head then one on either side of her. I folded the blanket under and over her, wrapping her as warmly as I could
"Hellian, stay with her" I ordered, the phoenix nodded at me and blazed brightly as she settled beside Rosa; I stared at the beautiful child
"Rosa Light, I need you to be quiet...can you do that?" I cooed, hoping she'd somehow understand, she absently played with the corner of the light pink blanket but her eyes were on me
"Be a good girl...please, stay quiet" I kissed her forehead gently then stroked Hellian "thank you. You're amazing Hellian, but please, protect her for me"
"I would give my life for her" she swore, I smiled and pecked Hellian's head then dashed out and closed the door just as the bedroom door opened and Annie stepped in
"Doom wishes to see you" she spoke lightly, a small smile on her lips, I nodded
"OK." my voice shook, I wished I could stay with Rosa, but I couldn't give her away, I couldn't let Doom know she was here...I had to do something for the human slaves.