"I believe we're supposed to turn here." Lina said as she scrutinized the map. The cottage was tucked into the woods and hidden from prying eyes, which was part of what made it perfect for their needs. But it also made it difficult to find.

"I think I see it up ahead." Gourry said, "The trees are still rather dense though."

But as they walked through the woods they found that Gourry was right as a they came upon a clearing with tidy grounds and a charming cottage. It was much smaller than Maninstit, yet still much larger than the house that Lina had grown up in. And, considering that there would be no students there, it certainly looked big enough for their needs. Even if they did decide to have more children!

"What do you think?" Gourry asked, and from the smile that tugged on his lips it was obvious that he was enamored with it.

"It looks well crafted, and hopefully it will be comfortable. Can you imagine when Rails and Midas are big enough to run through this yard in a few years?"

"You've even got some apple trees!" Rick pointed out.

"Yeah, we could become apple farmers!" Gourry said.

"What do you know about growing apples?" Lina asked.

"Nothing!" Gourry said proudly. "But if we're going to give up teaching to live here, then I'll have plenty of time to figure it out."

Lina shook her head as the front door opened and a woman who appeared to be the housekeeper came out. "Welcome! Welcome!" she said as they approached. "I'm Wanda."

"Lina." Lina said as she resisted the urge to ask Wanda not to curtsy.

"Dame Inverse…" Wanda began.

"Lina." She repeated. If they were going to retire then she also wanted to get away from the formality of Maninstit. While she'd earned her title, it also made her feel old. "And this is my husband, Gourry."

"It is such an honor!" Wanda said as she gave another curtsy, and Lina wondered how sore she would be the next morning if she did that to everyone in the party. Regardless, Lina continued down the line until everyone had been introduced.

Wanda opened the door and stood back to let them through as she said, "I imagine you are all famished. The timing works out perfectly, though. Cook is preparing a delicious dinner and we have just enough time to get you settled and washed up!"

"Are you sure you don't want to leave her in the nursery with the others?" Wanda asked as she showed Lina and Gourry to the master suite.

"I'm nursing her, actually." Lina said, "Long story. But after she's topped off I will."

"Very well," Wanda said as they approached an ornate door that she opened, "Here is the master suite. Please let me know if anything is not to your liking so I can correct it."

"Well look at this cute little room." Lina said to Aurelia as they walked in. Yet if Lina was honest with herself, she was caught up on just how little. It was less than half the size of her bedroom at Maninstit. And it lacked the large balcony overlooking a gorgeous view. And if she ever got mad at Gourry she couldn't kick him out to his own room. Though the couch was still an option.

Still, it was twice as big as the house she grew up in. And the freedom that would come with being away from Luna would more than make up for a smaller room! Lina realized she really had little reason to complain. Still. When she looked out the windows, the view was no match for the one she had at Maninstit.

"Thank you, Wanda. We'll take a minute to freshen up."

"You remember where the dining room is?"

"I do." Lina said, "You may be asking too much of Gourry."

"Very well. Let me know if you need anything." Wanda said as she left.

Lina sighed as she sat on the bed, "Our bed in Maninstit is twice as big."

"So?" Gourry asked a he walked into the adjoining bathroom and started to pump water into the basin. "It just means we'll have to cuddle closer together."

Lina smiled a little as Gourry washed up, and then he came up and asked, "Hey, if we do move from Maninstit, who will get our rooms?"

"That's a stupid question." Lina flared as she handed Aurelia to him and then went to wash her hands.

"Huh?" Gourry asked.

Lina was quiet as she washed up. She curtly said once she finished, "Come on, I'm hungry."

Gourry got up to follow her out of the room. "But you didn't answer my question."

"Isn't it obvious?" Lina said as they walked down the hallway. "If Luna is taking over the school, then she would get my room."

"It looks like that bothers you." He said.

"Well of course it bothers me!" Lina snapped, "What's she done but stay put safely in Zeferia while I did all the work of actual Mazoku slaying! And what does she actually know about slaying Mazoku? I set a high standard of quality for that school."

Gourry's smile was bittersweet, "Moving might be best for our family, but that doesn't mean that giving up the school won't be hard. I like teaching and those kids have been fun to work with. And you put so much effort into building and developing the school. I know that will be hard to leave."

Somehow, he always seemed to have a finger on what it was that was really bothering her. Lina sighed and walked a little closer to him. "This would be so much easier if I hated Maninstit and teaching. But I don't! Part of me knows that Sis knew I would like it, part of a way for her to keep me entrapped within it. Though I guess we still have time before we have to make that decision."

"And if we do decide to move here, for all we know, in a few months we could be so happy we won't even miss the school!"

"Doing what?" Lina asked, "Growing apples?"

"Why not?" Gourry asked with a smile.

Sylphiel closed her eyes as she faced the window as she breathed deeply and focused on the discordance in the house. It was slight, and if she'd not been troubled by Naga's sudden disappearance she might not have even noticed it. But the more she focused on it the more it grew, even as it kept its secrets. Sylphiel took another deep breath as she started to probe what felt wrong. What exactly was it that she was feeling? What was it that was telling her that something was off?

"What a view!" Rick exclaimed as he came out from the bathroom and held his arms out wide to her. Sylphiel bit her lip as her concentration was ruined while he continued, "You've always been radiant, and it grows every day! Look at how you're glowing now."

He wrapped his arms around her and touched his forehead to hers as he said, "And that view of the creek through the window that frames you so well? This is just too perfect!"

He moved to kiss her, but she lowered her head. "Not right now."

"Huh?" Rick replied. "Are you feeling okay?"

"No," Sylphiel lied. But she didn't feel safe voicing that she was aware that it wasn't safe here. For all she knew whatever it was that was creating the discordance had ears, and she did not want to tip her hand. "I'm sorry, I know this was supposed to be out romantic getaway. I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Well, we still have plenty of time. And we've been traveling a lot and with the extra load you're carrying it wouldn't be surprising if you weren't feeling great. Do you need to lie down?"

"No, I think getting a bite to eat might help things to settle a bit."

Rick took her hand and they started to walk towards the door, "Let's eat, then."

"I'm so hungry!" Lina said as she juggled eating with one hand while nursing Aurelia. "Traveling while nursing is something else!"

"And this food is so good!" Gourry said as he licked the sauce from his fingers and then grabbed another rack of ribs.

"Better not say anything when we get to Maninstit, but this cook gives Nelly a run for her money!" Rick said.

Marlena walked into the dining room and glanced around the table and frowned, "Connie isn't here?"

"We haven't seen her." Lina and Gourry said at the same time.

"That's funny." Marlena said as she sat down, "It took me awhile to get my toddler down and Connie had already left to get a bite by the time I left. I'm surprised she's not already here."

Sylphiel set her cutlery down as Lina shrugged, "Well, she got lost several times at Maninstit."

"Maninstit is a lot larger than this place."

"I guess she's taking a long time in the bathroom then!" Lina snapped. This was supposed to be her getaway from all the dangers of Maninstit. She would be damned if she let them follow her here! She grabbed a rib and then groaned as the sauce dribbled on Aurelia, "Oh crap!"

Marlena laughed, "It will wash off in the bath. Nursing moms have to eat! Food comes in, food comes out, food drips all over the baby."

"Yet somehow, even while pregnant, Sylphiel maintains that air of dignity as she eats." Lina said, "Just look at her? Who else can look so composed and clean while eating ribs!? Just you wait, once that baby comes she'll find a way to nurse and eat and be clean about it!"

"I think you give me too much credit." Sylphiel said as she dabbed at her face with her napkin.

"So modest." Lina said, and she opened her mouth to say more but then stopped when she saw the expression on Sylphiel's face. "What?"

"Do you hear that?" she asked.

Everyone was still and silent for a moment. Eventually Gourry said, "Is that Wanda or the cook talking?"

"Sounds sure travels strangely in this house." Rick commented as he went back to eating.

"Did Connie take her baby with her when she left the nursery?" Sylphiel asked Marlena.

"I think so." Marlena said. "Maybe that's why she never made it here. Perhaps he got fussy and she thought it would be better to get him to bed first."

"I'm surprised Moe didn't come down then." Sylphiel said. "He must be starved."

"Well, you know how he's been since Naga disappeared. He asked that I bring him back a plate. He said he needed some time to himself." Marlena said.

"Better make it a big one!" Gourry said.

Marlena laughed, "Don't I know it!"

Lina smiled as she set her fork down and lifted Aurelia on her shoulder, "Well this little one is topped off, so I'll be dropping her off at the nursery."

"Good timing." Gourry said, "I just finished up myself. We can put her down together."

Lina's expression softened a bit as a she smiled at him as he wrapped an arm around her. Then she turned and glanced at the rest of the group and said, "Night!"

"Night!" Everyone replied back. Silence befell upon the table for a moment as they continued to eat. Yet even once it resumed Sylphiel did not find her listening much. She kept trying to focus on what was discordant about this place. But then she had to admit, perhaps it wasn't this place. Ever since Sairaag had been destroyed she'd battled feelings of discordance and doom. What if it was just her?

"Well, I guess I'd better make a plate for Moe." Marlena said as she stood up.

"I'll help you." Sylphiel said.

"Feeling better?" Rick asked.

"Yes, actually. I'll join you in a moment." Sylphiel said with a smile.

"I'll be taking a bath if you need me."

Sylphiel lowered her head as she shook it and followed Marlena into the kitchen. "I'm surprised Wanda didn't come around to check on us and ask if anyone needed a plate sent up. She'd been so conscientious earlier…"

Marlena's voice trailed off as they both stared at the empty kitchen. Dishes were piled high in the sink and food was still left out on the counter. A sense of unease settled in Sylphiel's stomach as she asked, "Where's the cook?"

"You don't think she took a break with Wanda somewhere else?" Marlena said, "But that makes no sense! Most cooks I know are eager to clean the kitchen up so they can go off duty."

"And I know my cook growing up would never leave the kitchen like this." Sylphiel said. And then she raised her voice as she called, "Miss Wanda? Cook?"

There was no reply. If anything, Sylphiel's voice seemed to echo ominously through the room. But it wasn't just the room. Suddenly the cottage seemed too quiet, without the distant sounds of people walking through the hallways and settling into their room. While the walls could have been nice and thick, something about it didn't seem right!

Marlena put her hand over her heart and exclaimed, "I need to check on my kids!"

"I'll go with you." Sylphiel said.

She followed Marlena into the hallway, and both walked so fast that they were nearly running. But suddenly the hallway warped, and Sylphiel couldn't move anymore as her feet anchored to the ground! She swerved wildly as her momentum was abruptly halted and managed to grab the wall for support, but when she looked ahead of her she found that the hallway was strangely distorted and elongated as Marlena was drawn impossible far away from her. "Miss Marlena!"

But then Marlena disappeared, and without further drama, the hallway was returned to its natural state. Sylphiel put her hand over her mouth as she looked around as the child within her kicked so fiercely it felt as though someone was popping popcorn in her belly. "Miss Marlena?" she repeated.

Slowly she lifted a foot. Assured that her ability to walk was restored, she set it before her, and then the next. Marlena had just disappeared before her eyes! And Naga had been missing for over a day now, and no one had seen Connie since they'd arrived. "Rick…"

Sylphiel raced to their room and opened the door. "Rick!" she cried. But he wasn't in the bedroom. She rushed to the bathroom and opened the door. It, too, was empty, and the tub completely dry! "No!"

She turned and ran back into the hallway and found herself nearly tripping over her feet again as they once more became rooted to the floor as the hallway warped and distorted. And suddenly she figured it out! She grabbed the talisman that she wore on a chain around her neck and took a moment to thank her father. As soon as whoever it was that was taking them realized they weren't going to be able to move her, the hallway returned to its natural state, and Sylphiel ran to the nursery, the last place that she knew Lina and Gourry were heading.

Her feet pounded harshly against the hardwood floors as she approached, and each step winded her as it kicked the baby into her lungs. "Sylphiel?" Moe asked as he stepped out of the nursery. "What's wrong?"

Sylphiel took a moment to catch her breath. She hated being winded so easily! "Are Lina and Gourry with you?"

"They already left." He said as she reached him, and then they both stiffened as they felt the wave of bloodlust wash over them.

Sylphiel looked into the nursery and gasped as she saw a strange woman with two sets of arms reaching into the crib where the twins were sleeping!