Disclaimer: I own nothing but a few characters. *sigh*
PLO: Well here's another update, and just about a month later. College really takes a lot out of you... I hope you enjoy this chapter as well! It's got lots of Sera and Kenshin goodiness.
~*~
In the morning, Belle woke up first and yawned, rolling out of bed and going to get changed. She blinked when she emerged five minutes later; Sera wasn't in her bed and she didn't see Acheron or D'Alerian either. Shrugging to herself, she went to go start making food.
Upon entering the kitchen, she froze, holding back her laughter. Sera was standing in the middle of the kitchen with a bunch of flour dumped over her, looking astounded. Acheron and D'Alerian both looked like they were trying not to laugh, and Solin was glaring at the young trainer.
"What the Hell happened in here?" Belle demanded, putting her hands on her hips.
"We're innocent!" Acheron said quickly, pointing to himself and D'Alerian. "Innocent bystanders."
"She tripped over me!" Solin growled, still glaring at Sera.
"You were sleeping in the middle of the kitchen!"
"Because the others are all too loud." Solin's eyes narrowed.
"So why not just go back to your PD room?" Sera's eyes narrowed as well, her hands on her hips.
"I couldn't get to it because those idiotic vampires holed themselves up in there," Solin growled, his eyes glowing faintly. He looked like he'd love nothing more than to throw a god bolt at her.
"It's still your fault for sleeping in the kitchen," Sera said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Solin growled, taking a step forward, and instantly D'Alerian was behind Sera, glaring down the half-god. Solin snorted and muttered something undoubtedly uncomplimentary in Greek before he turned and stalked off.
"Solin, don't blow anything up," Belle called after him. "I mean it."
"Whatever," Solin growled, going into the other room.
Belle sighed. "Come on, Sera," she said, walking over. "Go take a shower."
Sera pouted before she walked over to the bathroom, her arms still crossed over her chest. The lock shut with a click, and the water turned on a moment later.
Smirking faintly, Belle looked at D'Alerian. "Told you so." That said, she turned and left the kitchen, going to get Sera's bag, knowing she'd want it when she got out.
Half an hour later most everyone was up (either by their own choice or after having been forcibly roused) and eating breakfast. Sera emerged from the bathroom clean, dressed, with dripping wet hair, and joined the others for breakfast. She cast evil glares at Solin every once in a while, and he completely ignored her.
"Alright, Kate, shall we go set up shop?" Shadow asked with a grin.
"Sure. You coming, Anna?" Kate grinned over at the shortest trainer.
"Hell yes." Anna grinned and looked at the various assorted bishis. "Alright, who's coming with?"
Thomas immediately went over to them, grinning and dragging Harry with him. Belle's three thieves (Yoko, Hiei, and Kuronue) all joined them, and soon half of the bishis had gone with the two trainers and half-bishi.
"What do we want to do today?" Belle asked, looking over at her sister.
"Go on a walk?" Sera suggested. "It looks like it's nice outside."
"Sure." Belle linked her arm through Sera's and headed out the door. D'Alerian, Kenshin, and Eclipse followed the two to make sure they didn't get into too much trouble.
"Hey, look at this." Sera disentangled herself to walk over to a poster in the window of a shop.
Belle moved over and suddenly grinned. "Oh boy. A big tournament coming up," she said with a grin.
"You could enter it," Sera said, looking over at her sister. "And the other two will probably want to do the same thing there."
"Of course," Belle said with a big grin. "Oh, I bet they'd love this. We should go tell them."
"We should." Sera grinned. "Right after we go tea shopping." She grabbed Belle's hand and dragged her into the shop before her sister could protest.
Kenshin sighed in amusement and followed them in, glancing back at the other two. Eclipse walked in as well, somewhat interested, and D'Alerian sighed and went in with them if only to not be bugged by people outside.
After buying a few tins of loose-leaf tea, Sera and Belle left and went to go find the other three and the bishis.
"Any idea where they might be?" Sera asked, looking around.
D'Alerian grabbed Sera's shoulders, spun her to look down a street, and pointed. "Right there."
Sera blinked, not having expected that, before she grinned and grabbed D'Alerian's hand. "Race you there, Belle!" She took off, towing the black-haired sleep god with her.
Belle shook her head and walked after her sister. "I think someone in that tea shop put too much sugar in the samples," she said dryly.
Kenshin chuckled and nodded his agreement, watching his trainer with amusement. "Indeed."
"Hurry up you slowpokes!" Sera yelled, having already reached their friends. She was still holding on to D'Alerian so he couldn't run off. A few of the trainers in line were eyeing him appreciatively.
"Hey Sera. What's up?" Shadow asked, looking over at her friend curiously. "Coming to volunteer him for service?"
"Nope," Sera said brightly. "There's a tournament being held in a week at the next town over."
"Seriously?!" Anna looked up from shoving money into Belle's jar as another girl tackled Thomas with a happy squeal. He merely grinned and let her.
"Yup. Belle's thinking of entering, and I was thinking we can go there and keep this up." She waved vaguely at the bishis.
"We would make a ton of money," Kate agreed, grinning slowly.
"Yup." Sera grinned as Belle finally joined them.
"I figured we'd leave in a day or two," Belle said, absently disentangling Sera's fingers from D'Alerian's wrist. "And no, you can't glomp him," she said to one of the trainers in line. The girl pouted but nodded. "We'll be up north by Yu-Gi-Oh! territory, so that will be interesting."
"Very," Shadow said dryly, nodding to Yami and Atemu who were both in the 'holding pen' and bickering with each other.
"I feel like today would be a good picnic day," Sera said, looking at the others hopefully.
"Bring it here and we'll eat," Shadow suggested. "And grab a few more chairs, too."
Sera grinned and nodded, grabbing Kenshin this time before bounding off to go get food, the swordsman trailing behind her.
"She got sugar and tea," Belle said dryly in explanation to the other three, who all nodded their understanding.
Sera returned not twenty minutes later to find them all gathered around the table. Eclipse was standing behind them, having refused to be glomped, while D'Alerian immediately went over to Sera when she returned.
"Your sister is evil," he said softly, so only she could hear. "She tried to put me in there with the rest of them."
Sera couldn't help but laugh a little. "Don't worry, I won't let her do that," she said with a grin. "Come eat with us."
Kenshin smiled to himself as he sat in one of the chairs, putting the bags of food on the table and pushing another empty chair up behind Sera so she'd sit down and maybe calm down some.
The afternoon passed quickly and they all decided to 'close shop' as Shadow put it just after nightfall. They all returned to the hotel and found the few bishis that had remained inside all lounging around, supremely bored.
"Belle!" Nyx yelled from across the room, unable to get up because Lucifer was sitting on him. "Help!"
Belle grinned evilly. "Hmm… To help or not to help…?"
"I say no," Sera said. "He didn't come see us once all day."
"That is true." Belle smirked. "No it is then."
"What?!" Nyx's yelp made both sisters snicker and Sera, who by this time felt much more comfortable with D'Alerian, turned and grabbed the sleep god's hand as well as Kenshin's hand, towing them both into Anna's room with her to set up a movie.
"Sorry, love," Belle said calmly. "But you didn't come visit me once all day." She pouted at him before she went and picked up Rae, going to play with him.
Nyx whined and tried to shove Lucifer off. However, the laughing bishi didn't move, too amused.
"Movie's ready!" Sera yelled, knowing that people would inevitably flock in to watch. She was right; though Belle didn't emerge, Shadow, Anna, and Kate all did, with some of their bishis.
Sera spent the rest of the night there except to bounce off to go get dinner for everyone. Kenshin and Kurama followed her to make sure she didn't do anything too stupid; she was still hyper, after all. Everyone suspected Anna was giving her sugar.
When Sera returned with dinner, there was the usual horde of people trying to get food all at once. So Sera managed to snag two plates of food and went to go eat with Belle.
"How do you feel?" Sera asked softly, looking over at her sister.
"Alright. A little tired," Belle admitted from where she was sitting on the bed with Raenef in her lap and Sylvana laying next to her. Both were asleep, the puppy snoring softly.
"Okay other than that?" Sera moved closer to her, pulling her feet out of the way as Nyx and Lucifer rolled past them, wrestling.
"Yup." Belle smiled and stayed where she was. "Having fun watching these two idiots."
Sera snickered. "Yeah," she agreed. "They are amusing."
Belle grinned as Lucifer tackled Nyx to the ground, making the other yelp. "Very."
Sera sneezed suddenly and blinked a few times, her eyes wide. Belle couldn't help but laugh.
However, both girls blinked when Sera sneezed twice more. Groaning softly, Sera flopped over on the bed. "Stupid nose…" she muttered.
Belle laughed quietly. "Go watch movies," she said. "I'll be in shortly."
Sera nodded and left, going to go finish the movies with the rest of them. Belle came in and sat next to her ten minutes later, and they all spent the rest of the night alternately watching movies and watching the small scuffles and wrestling going on between various bishis.
Sera went to bed early, just after midnight, and she was asleep within minutes. Kenshin glared at the others every time they got too loud, sitting next to Sera's bed and making sure the others didn't wake her up. However, the youngest trainer only shifted a few times in her sleep when they got too noisy, and a few hours later everyone else had gone to sleep as well.
Groaning softly, Sera opened her eyes blearily at the ungodly hour of 5 am, feeling much too warm. She managed to kick the sheets most of the way off her and, when she was still too warm, she kicked them all the way off. Her last kick, however, hit something a lot harder than blanket, and there was a muffled yelp as Thomas received a sharp kick in the shins. Then Sera rolled over and shoved him entirely off her bed, along with the blankets, before she took a simple sheet and huddled under it, trying to go to sleep again. Thomas sat up and looked at her, now awake after having been dumped off the bed.
Sera coughed a few times and rolled over again, trying to get comfortable. Thomas moved over to the other side of the bed and tentatively pressed his hand to her forehead. Sera shivered a little and pressed her head into his nice cool hand, and Thomas frowned before he went over to Anna's room, searching through the PD rooms before he found the vampire he wanted.
Half-dragging Eric out of his room and ignoring the blonde's muffled curses, Thomas dragged him back into the other room.
"Go lay down next to Sera," Thomas ordered in a whisper.
"Why?" Eric demanded with a growl, though he, too, kept his voice low.
"She has a fever." Thomas glared at Eric.
Eric wavered for a few moments. "Fine." Though he didn't know Sera all that well, he knew that Anna would want him to help her. Besides, he was awake again now anyway, and he had the feeling the dark-haired vampire in front of him wouldn't let him go back to sleep unless he did as he was told. So he walked over and slid in next to Sera.
Almost instantly Sera pushed herself into the nice, giant ice pack, and Eric nearly gasped at the heat she was radiating. He couldn't help but shiver before he forced himself to relax and closed his eyes. Oh he was going to kill Thomas for this later…
Four hours later Belle yawned loudly as she woke up, stretching out. Most everyone else was still asleep, so she got up and went to go make breakfast, only to find Eclipse already in there with Acheron playing with Rae, keeping the chibi distracted. Chuckling to herself, Belle went to go wake Sera instead. She paused when she was Eric in her bed and frowned a little before leaning over to shake Sera's shoulder.
"Sera? Sweetie, wake up."
Sera groaned and buried her face in Eric's neck. "Go 'way…" she mumbled sleepily.
"She has a cold," Thomas said from behind her. "She woke me up at five this morning when she kicked me off the bed."
"When did you get on her bed?" Belle frowned.
"About 1," Thomas replied calmly.
"And when did he get on her bed?" Belle pointed at the blonde vampire who was currently dead asleep.
"Just after five when she woke me up and I noticed she had a fever. He makes a better ice pack than I do." Thomas grinned.
Belle shook her head. "You really are smarter than we give you credit for aren't you?" She grinned.
"Hey!" Thomas pouted.
Sera stirred at the loud protest, rolling over in her sleep and trying to kick the sheet off. She almost kicked Eric off with it.
"Nyx," Belle said, turning to her lover. The half bishi merely groaned and rolled over, trying to ignore her. "Nyx, love." She moved and sat next to him, and he sighed before he lifted his head. "Go lay next to Sera. Please."
Nyx looked at her for a moment. "Why?"
"She's sick. She has a fever." Belle was still looking down at him. She didn't try to pull any of her normal pouty faces or big teary eyes on him. She just looked at him.
Nyx got up almost immediately, kissing her cheek, and went over to settle down on Sera's other side, keeping her cool. When Sera buried herself against him, he hissed. "Holy Hell she's really hot," he grumbled, pushing her hair back out of her face. He managed to find a hair band and pulled Sera's hair into a ponytail, keeping it out of the way. Sera let out a content little sigh, buried her face against his neck, and managed to go back to sleep.
Belle just barely made it into the kitchen before Eclipse looked at her with a slight frown.
"I'll have the others go get medicine," he said softly, ladling pancakes onto plates and holding one plate for his son. He sat down just inside the kitchen and pulled Rae into his lap, settling in there and letting the chibi eat from the plate he held. "I'll stay here."
Belle nodded and took a plate as well, sitting with Eclipse to eat her own pancakes. She kept one eye on the other room as bishis started to wake up, and when more than five of them were awake at one time they tended to get noisy.
Kenshin was the first of Sera's to wake up, and the moment he did he looked around for his trainer. When he didn't see her already up and about, he got up and checked her bed. He froze when he saw her sandwiched between the vampire and the half-bishi, half-way to trying to use Nyx as a bed. Frowning, Kenshin half-turned to find Belle approaching quietly.
"She's sick," Belle said softly, looking down at her younger sister before looking at Kenshin. The red-head nodded once, his eyes moving back to his trainer invariably. "She'll be fine. It's probably just a cold or the flu or something." Belle shrugged a little. "I'm going to send someone to get her medicine, probably Yoko or Kuronue."
"Send Kurama," Kenshin said softly, gently moving a few strands of hair from Sera's face. "He should like that, that he should."
Belle nodded and touched his shoulder gently, comfortingly, before she went to go find the other red-head and give him his marching orders for the morning.
By the time Anna, Shadow, and Kate had all emerged and were ready for lunch and business, they (and their bishis) were getting loud. Belle quelled them all with a glare.
"Hush," she ordered them all, Acheron a silent force behind her threatening to enforce her words with force if necessary. "Sera's sick and asleep."
All three females' lips moved into a silent 'o' of comprehension.
"Is she okay?" Anna asked, frowning a little.
"She'll be fine," Belle said. "I sent Kurama out a few minutes ago to get things for her. Just keep it down. She needs her sleep."
The three all nodded and sent Kate, as the least likely to be loud and noisy, to gather up all the bishis that wanted to go help the business. Even more than usual volunteered themselves for the day; apparently several wanted to get out of the hotel and away from Belle's imminent wrath.
"Hey, how come we don't just take her to the hospital to be checked out?" Shadow asked as she stood in the doorway. "Couldn't hurt, right?"
Belle went rigid and turned her glare of imminent wrath and pain on Shadow. "No hospitals," she said. "Period."
"Sure, sure," Shadow quickly said, backing away hurriedly. She led the others down the stairs and outside, a small stampede getting away from the three rooms and the sick trainer and, even worse, her pissy sister.
Belle sighed and ran a hand through her hair before she pulled it back in a bun and went around organizing the remaining bishis. Acheron and D'Alerian were set to helping Eclipse with whatever he needed, including watching over Raenef, while most of the rest of the bishis were set to cleaning all the hotel rooms, bathrooms, everything. Belle herself did the dishes, which had been stacking up, and then grabbed Duzell, Thomas, and Solin to go shopping with her. Solin growled at her back but followed her none the less.
Sera opened her eyes blearily at noon, blinking a few times when she felt two bodies packed in around her, making her shiver. She searched for blankets, finding she had none, and tried to sit up to get some.
"Sera-dono?"
The concerned voice made Sera blink and look around, trying to pinpoint it. Her eyes fell on Kenshin and she managed a smile. "Hey." She coughed a few times, her hand automatically covering her mouth, trying to dull the sound.
"You're sick," Kenshin said, gently pushing her back to lie on her back and pressing a cool, damp washcloth to her forehead.
"I noticed." Sera coughed again as she dredged up the driest tone she could manage. Kenshin chuckled as he got the intention, even though her voice hadn't quite gotten the dry tone very well.
"Kurama is getting you medicine, that he is," Kenshin said softly, keeping his eyes focused on her. "He'll be back soon."
The door opened and Kurama stepped in cautiously, looking around. When he didn't see Belle waiting to pounce on him or anything, he walked over to the bed.
"Well, speak of the devil," Sera said with a wracking cough.
Kurama raised an eyebrow. "Speaking of me, were you?" he asked mildly as he knelt down next to the bed and opened a plastic bag, fishing out the medicine he wanted. "Sit up for a minute, dear."
Sera struggled to comply, and Kenshin put his hands behind her to help her up. Kurama gave her two pills and a cup of water to chase them down with. Sera drank half of the water before she leaned back against Kenshin's hands, wanting to lay down again. The two red-heads exchanged worried glances before they let her, watching as she curled up between the two cold-skinned males, shivering a little. Kenshin draped a blanket over her carefully, making sure it covered her, and watched as she quickly drifted off again.
Kurama shrugged a little and turned on the TV, keeping the volume low. "She'll probably be out for a while," he said softly. "Sick people sleep a lot, and she definitely counts as a sickie right now."
Kenshin sighed and sat next to the bed, leaning back against the side of it so he'd be right there if Sera needed anything or woke up or anything. He let his eyes slide half-closed as he let his mind wander, not paying attention to any of the rest of them but his trainer.
Belle got back nearly two hours later, smirking. Solin was following her silently, his eyes on a bag in her hand.
"Woman," he growled, his eyes narrowing as Belle kept the bag to herself. "You agreed."
"Did I?" Belle asked mildly, a wickedly amused glint in her eyes. "I don't recall agreeing to anything, Solin. I did say that I might give you these if you behaved. However, since you're always so surly and you refuse to listen to me…" She turned away from him and, bag handle now looped securely around her wrist, went into the kitchen.
Solin growled and stalked after her, leaving Duzell and Thomas to put the few things they'd actually gotten away. Mostly they'd just done laundry, which had been piling up at an appalling rate, and got more food and necessary things like that.
"Think he'll ask nicely?" Thomas murmured to Duzell with a grin.
"Not a chance," the other vampire replied with a grin just as wicked as Thomas's. "This is going to be fun…"
"I didn't kill anyone," Solin said impatiently, following Belle around the kitchen. "I didn't even zap anyone. Or threaten to, even. What more do you want from me?"
Belle paused, keeping herself between him and the bag. "Hmm. That's true. This is you we're talking about here…" Suddenly she grinned. "I suppose it would be asking too much to get you to go around wearing a frilly pink tutu with bunny ears…"
Solin's eye twitced. Once. Eyes glowing faintly, he growled in wordless reply that was easily translated: NO!
"Oh, fine," Belle said with an amused smile. "But you have to be nice. Well, nicer. Nice for you. Got it?"
Solin nodded, his eyes on the bag again.
"Alright then. Here you go." Belle held out the bag after removing it from her wrist. A moment later it was gone, snatched up by Solin. He immediately left, going into his PD room again.
"What the bloody Hell?" Lucifer blinked from his place at the table playing poker with some of the others.
Belle grinned. "I got him candy. Apparently he has a sweet tooth, for certain things anyway."
Lucifer snorted and rolled his eyes, going back to his poker game with little interest in the half-god. D'Alerian, on the other hand, raised his eyebrows before he smirked faintly. He'd have to put that information to good use… later.
By the time Belle, Thomas, and Duzell had gotten everything put away and were relaxing in various places, some of the vamps were getting up. Or, at least, Eric tried to. He moved to get up, rolling over to get off the bed, and nearly jumped off the bed when a warm body immediately used his nice cold back as an ice pack. Swearing violently in Norse, he turned his head to demand to know what was going on.
"What in the name of—"
"Hush!" Belle flapped her hands at him to get him to shut up. "Sera's sick and you're still being used as an ice pack. Now either shut up and lay down again or switch off with someone else."
Eric glared briefly at Belle before he got up carefully, going to go warm up two bottles of blood. He was feeling rather hungry; waking up to a warm human body pressed against him was not exactly his ideal way of keeping his fangs out of people's necks. Unless, of course, they consented. Which just made life so much more fun…
Nyx yawned and stretched before he rolled over and grabbed Sera sleepily, pulling her close to his chest to cuddle with her. When he heard a snicker from someone (he suspected Lucifer or Thomas) he picked up a shoe and threw it with deadly accuracy at the offender. There was a yelp, a muted curse, and then silence again.
"Hey," Belle said softly, smiling at him and moving over to perch on the edge of the bed.
"Mmm." That was about as intelligent as Nyx got when he'd just woken up.
"Comfy?" Her lips stretched into an amused smile but she kept her laughter to herself with a little effort. He wouldn't have thrown a shoe at her anyway, but she made the effort all the same.
"Wish it was you," Nyx murmured, shivering as Sera tucked her head under his chin.
"I know, love," Belle said with a little smile. "I appreciate this, though. It helps her too."
"I know." Nyx shifted a little and kept his arms wrapped loosely around the younger. "She smells a little like you. It's nice. After you get past the sick smell, anyway."
Belle laughed quietly, stroking his hair gently. "Of course, love," she murmured. "She'll probably be mortified when she wakes up, so be prepared."
"Already am." Nyx tilted his chin up and Belle acquiesced, leaning down and giving him a quick kiss and a smile before she went to go get dinner with Eclipse, Rae, and Acheron.
Meanwhile, Anna, Shadow, and Kate were enjoying the rewards of having some of the night-dwellers out. Shadow's Eric was out, along with Al (though he had protested vehemently) and a few of the Dark-Hunters. Since the Dark-Hunters were harder to catch and not often seen and even more rarely shared for others to glomp, they were making a killing. The three exchanged grins as another trainer attempted to tackle Julian, who stood there with a tolerant half-smile. Even though he wasn't a Dark-Hunter, he was just as popular. Something to do with being the son of the Goddess of Love, maybe?
Belle wandered over to them, grinning. "You three seem to be having fun," she said by way of greeting, perching on the edge of the table. "I'm about to go get dinner for the lot of us. You guys want to head back to the hotel and meet me there?"
"Sure!" Shadow said enthusiastically, getting up.
"Is Sera better?" Anna asked, getting up as well and leaving Kate to manage the last few trainers.
"Not really," Belle said after a moment. "But she's been sleeping all day, and I think her temperature is closer to normal now. So we'll still be quiet, but not quite like you're in the middle of a funeral or anything."
Kate snickered and picked up the jars with all the money in them. "Alright, let's go get dinner," she said enthusiastically as the vast majority of the bishis went back to their balls to hide for a while. Only Julian was man enough to stay out.
Belle grinned and led the way to the nearest Italian place, ordering enough food for all of them and getting some soup for Sera as well. She'd have preferred to make chicken noodle from scratch, but oh well. This would have to do.
By the time they got back, Sera was sitting up and leaning back against the headboard. Pillows had been placed behind her for her comfort, and Nyx sat next to her on the bed still while Kenshin hovered over her worriedly. All of them looked up when the group entered and Sera managed a smile.
"I smell food," she said.
"I got you soup," Belle said, immediately walking over to her.
"I better get used to the smell of food first," Sera muttered. "Before I throw up."
Belle smoothed her hair back. "We'll go eat in the other rooms, okay? You'll have this room all to yourself, along with whoever wants to stay in here with you."
Sera nodded and Belle kissed her forehead briefly before she shepherded everyone into Anna's room to eat and watch movies and such. Nyx switched off with Duzell, following Belle into the other room. That left Sera in the bedroom with Kenshin, Kurama, Duzell, and a few others who either didn't want to go brave through the mob to get food or were just too lazy to.
"Kenshin?" Sera's lips barely moved, but the swordsman heard her all the same.
"Yes, Sera-dono?" Kenshin crouched down so he was level with her.
"I hate being sick." She managed a little grimace. "Can I have some water?"
"Of course, Sera-dono." Kenshin got up and got her a glass of water, returning to her and sitting on the edge of the bed as she drank in little sips, grimacing a little at the taste in her mouth. When she handed him the glass again, he simply put it on the bedside table and stayed where he was, making sure she was alright and didn't need anything else.
Belle came in an hour later to check on Sera and found her nestled between Duzell and Kenshin, watching TV with a sleepy little smile. Chuckling to herself, Belle walked over.
"Want your soup yet?" Belle asked, leaning down a bit and keeping out of Sera's view of the TV.
"Mmhm." Sera grinned as she watched a maniac with a gun, a huge truck, and make-up all over his face fall out of aforementioned truck. "He's funny."
Kenshin shot Belle a rather worried look but found Belle laughing as well. At that, he sighed and gave up; that kind of weirdness must be familial. Oh well.
Sera slurped down half a bowl of soup before she set it aside and settled down in bed again. Before the movie had even ended, her eyes had slipped closed, her breathing evened out, and she was out like a light. Kenshin moved her gently so she was laying down, settling in on one side of her while Duzell got Shadow's Eric to take a turn next to the "human heat pack". Duzell went to remind the others to keep it quiet, as Sera had just fallen asleep. And through all that, dreams swirled bright, vivid, and feverish in Sera's mind, ignored by the rest of the world but capturing her whole attention.
At least, of course, until she woke up screaming. Then she got a lot of attention, and the dreams slipped away while she struggled in bed, trying to escape some imagined threat. Or was it?