Prologue

Saetan was sitting at his desk shuffling around papers nervously when he heard a timid knock at the door. Jaenelle had asked him, as her father to take care of her children while she and Daemon enjoyed some private time. He did not bother to mask his psychic probe to check who was outside of his door. Saetan was not at all surprised to feel Jaenelle and her young twins outside waiting. Before he had a chance to identify the other psychic scents, the door burst open. Not only did Shaenelle and Caleb come in, but also did Talya and Kaerla and Talon. Jaenelle just stood at the door and smiled while the children crowded around the desk, yelling out to get 'grandpa's' attention.

"I'm sorry dad, but plans changed. Me, Karla, Surreal and our significant others decided that today would be a good day for a picnic." She smiled at Saetan's surprised expression. " I assured them that you would have no trouble taking care of the children for a couple of hours."

Saetan started to shake his head when Jaenelle began to back out of the room. "I'm sure they'll be no trouble," she said as she walked out of the room and closed the door behind her. "Be back in an hour or so!" She called as she put an Ebon-Black shield around the room.

Shaenelle looked up at Saetan with her sapphire blue eyes. She had gotten not only her eyes but also her curiosity and sense of adventure from her mother as well. "Grandpa Saetan, wanna see what we learned today?"

"Mother night!" Saetan thought, but he didn't say a word, still spellbound over the thought of being locked in a room with the children of Karla, Surreal, and Jaenelle for over an hour. Shaenelle took this as a yes and motioned the other children towards her.

Surreal, Falonar, Karla,, and Daemon were waiting just outside the door to the kitchen when Jaenelle opened the door. "All ready," she said. Behind her, an ear-shattering scream was heard.

Daemon grinned, "It's sounds like he's taking it fairly well." The others nodded in agreement as they walked off.

Right over two hours later, Jaenelle and her motley crew returned. Beale greeted them at the door. "Saetan wishes to speak with you," Beale said, unable to suppress a grin.

Jaenelle grinned back at Daemon as she walked up the stairs to face the Guardian of Hell. She unshielded the room and walked in. The room looked like a black-jeweled explosion had taken place. She saw Talya, Kaerla, and Talon in a corner talking, and Saetan with his head set on his desk. Jaenelle slowly walked over to where Saetan was. He looked up at her with a haunted look in his eyes.

"Never again Jaenelle. Promise me, never again!"

Jaenelle smiled, "Sure Papa, at least not until you are old enough to handle them. By the way, where are Shaenelle and Caleb?" She looked back at the group of children that were on the floor, who were by now watching intently. Only moments later, she felt a tug on her leg; she looked down and saw nothing. Then, Shaenelle took down her sight shield. "Mother night," She whispered, under her breath, so Saetan wouldn't hear. Then she knelt down as Caleb appeared as well. " And where did you learn that?" Caleb suddenly looked innocent. "Shaenelle taught me!"