Ailsa exited the infirmary, swallowing down a few pain pills.

"Are you having a headache again?" Daiki asked softly.

"Yeah," she sighed.

He grimaced and hung his head.

Ailsa suddenly swayed, almost falling.

"Woah there!" Her brother steadied her.

Her eyes were now glowing white.

"This again?" Daiki groaned as Gaelin arrived.

"What the hell?!"

The voice of the light spoke, "I believe we are the cause of her headaches. I'm unsure her body can handle the full extent of our power. I could leave, but it would leave her unbalanced."

"Can't the darkness leave instead?" Daiki asked.

"She's tamed it, as best as darkness can be tamed, that is. If it would be released, you might have issues worse than the Council to deal with."

"Could some of the darkness be transferred until she's in balance?" Gaelin inquired quietly.

"It could but it would be too much of a risk. The darkness could overpower the other person, the darkness left in her might try to follow, leaving her more unbalanced, or it might not take and the darkness escape."

"I volunteer." Gaelin told the spirit. "She should not be suffering more. Transfer some of the darkness to me."

The spirit was quiet for a moment. "I will think on it. I do not wish her harm, but these powers are a serious matter, not to be taken lightly."

"I understand." Gaelin stated.

Ailsa's eyes slowly returned to normal, her eyes still opened but unfocused.

"Hey, you with us?" The dark fairy gently touched her shoulder.

"Sorry," she looked at him, "must have zoned out.. What did I miss?"

Daiki gave her a small smile. "Nothing much."

Ailsa smiled, "Are you guys ready? The forest sanctuary is going to be done today."

Gaelin grinned. "I'm proud of you for making it."

She smiled, "Well, this place is filling up so I figure it's a good thing to have."

Daiki chuckled. "Only filled because Kei can't stand to turn down any of your strays."

She laughed. "Well, now we'll have room for any new strays. Not that I'm intending to pick them up though."

"It's never intentional. Doesn't keep it from happening." Gaelin teased.

She chuckled and took his hand, "Want to help finish up everything? I think they are just down to decorating and putting in furniture."

"You left them decorating? Morgane must be in paradise." Gaelin laughed.

She smiled, "Yeah, I think she's having fun."

"Lead the way."

Ailsa started off toward the forest, landing in front of a large building hidden in the trees.

"Aunt Ailsa!" Jayla raced into her arms.

"Hey, hun. Having fun?"

"Unh huh. Mommy says it's time for my nap though." She pouted.

"Aww, well, we can hang out once your nap is over, okay?"

"Okay!" She quickly shrank and entered one of the nearby trees.

"She seems happy here." Gaelin spoke wistfully.

Ailsa smiled, "You were worried about the future of the dark fairies. Seems like she's the future now."

"Yeah. Why don't you go help out and I'll be in in a minute."

She nodded and headed inside.

Gaelin and Daiki exchanged looks, then Gaelin's phone rang. He answered, listened for a moment, then said "Understood" and hung up. He looked at Daiki. "Send my regrets but Captain wants to see me."

Daiki sighed, then nodded. "Be careful."

Gaelin waved, then flew off.

Daiki entered the building, giving a low whistle as he looked around. "This looks great!"

"You really like it?"

"Yeah, I do."

She smiled and took Daiki's hand, leading him to a bedroom. "I made this for you. For whenever you feel like staying." The room was a soft blue with a large, darker blue bed.

"You act like I can't shrink." He groused good naturedly.

"I made myself a room too," she admitted.

He chuckled, taking one of her hands and kissing it softly. "Thanks."

"We can fit up to thirty new strays if needed." She smirked.

"Thought you weren't making plans?" He raised an eyebrow.

"No plans to find strays.. Just plans in case I do anyway.."

"Of course." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "My sister, the not-planner."

She laughed lightly. She then stopped and frowned when she heard a loud noise outside.

Daiki's face darkened and he headed out the door.

She followed behind him.

Gaelin lay bleeding and unconscious at the feet of an imposing man.

"Mathian, you bastard!" Daiki snarled.

"Who?" Ailsa looked between them.

"Former Mahoutsukai. Tossed out for a number of things, not the least of which is being equal parts utter asshole and power hungry." Daiki scowled as Mathian stared at her.

"I must have it. Give it to me willingly and I won't hurt anyone."

"Have what?"

"The darkness. The power must be amazing!" His eyes were filled with manic glee and Daiki shivered.

"Darkness? I mean, I have powers of light and darkness but I can't just transfer them to someone." She looked a little confused.

Daiki stilled with a curse, then stepped toward Gaelin.

"Stay back or I'll have my pet drain him. When she gives me what I desire, he's free."

She continued to look confused, "I'm not sure how to give you the powers, but I'll go with you if that will help."

"Ailsa, no!" Daiki shook his head at her. "You can't!"

"I don't want anyone else hurt."

"He'll steal your gift and then give you to it." The fairy inclined his head toward a pale man who suddenly appeared at Mathian's feet.

"I can't let Gaelin or any of you get hurt though."

"He'll kill us eventually. If he gets you, it'll be worse."

She nodded and then turned to Mathian. Her eyes suddenly went black and she formed a big ball of darkness.

Mathian laughed as the man at his feet whimpered.

She focused the ball forward, slamming into Mathian.

The Mahoutsukai's laughter cut off as his eyes went wide with terror. He raced to speak a spell as his 'pet' cringed and tried to run away.

Ailsa suddenly felt pain all over. She looked and noticed she now had gashes that were bleeding. She tried to ignore it and sent another attack toward Mathian.

He was distracted as he sent an attack toward the pale man whose back was against one of the trees as he raised his hands in surrender. The Mahoutsukai snarled a spell, the other man sagging weakly to the forest floor.

Mathian screamed as the second attack began disintegrating his form. He sent her a venomous look and spoke another spell.

She felt a ripping pain, noticing what looked like a spirit form of her beginning to be pulled away from her body.

"Ailsa!" Daiki was frantic, his gun firing into Mathian repeatedly.

The Mahoutsukai flew back, tumbling to the ground before disintegrating completely.

The spirit form was reabsorbed into Ailsa, but some of the pain lingered. She moved slowly, trying to get to Gaelin's side.

Daiki rushed to her. "Let me call someone.."

"I'll be.. alright.." she said before light began surrounding Gaelin.

He weakly opened his eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Don't worry about me.." she gave him a small smile. "Just rest."

He let his eyes slip shut as Daiki advanced on the motionless pale man.

Daiki pulled out a small sharpened piece of wood and bent, preparing to strike.

"Don't hurt him," Ailsa said softly. "He seems like he was just afraid of Mathian."

Her brother looked up in disbelief. "He's a strigoi..he's Mathian's ally!"

"Then why did he look so afraid of Mathian?" Ailsa stood after finishing with Gaelin, and moved toward the pale man.

"Because Mathian was a lunatic? Or just because Mathian turned on him? Who knows? If Mathian had told him to, he would have drained all of us without another thought."

She sighed and knelt beside the man, using her light to check him over.

He was weak, but otherwise in good health. Mathian's spell had weakened him further.

She pushed energy into him, trying to get him in slightly better shape.

His eyes opened, red pupils glinting as fangs extended and he attempted to sink them into her wrist.

She pulled away quickly, "We'll find you some blood elsewhere if you need it. But you're safe now. Mathian is gone."

He froze, recoiling and huddling in on himself. "Why have you not killed me?"

"Because, I don't think you're such a bad person."

"I am a monster. A Strigoi. I don't deserve to live."

"I just.. I have this feeling that you aren't bad. I'm sure you've been made to do a lot of bad things, but I don't think you would have done them on your own."

"I drink blood to survive.."

"So? Humans donate blood. You don't just have to get it from a live being. And it's not like you have to kill who you drink from."

"You are quite kind. I will take my leave now so you can go home." He tried to push himself up and failed.

She shook her head, "You're in no shape to be on your own right now. I have a place nearby you can stay until you are feeling stronger."

He dipped his head. "I thank you. I will try not to be a burden."

Daiki snorted, hauling a woozy Gaelin to his feet.

Ailsa stood, wincing as she moved. She held a hand out to the man, "I'm Ailsa."

He stared for a moment before taking it. "Lucien."

"Nice to meet you."

He bowed to her as soon as he was on his feet. "I apologize for my neediness."

She shook her head, "You are fine, don't worry."

He gave her a small smile.

"If we're doing this, let's go." Daiki helped Gaelin walk toward the Sanctuary.

Ailsa led Lucien to a room, "You can stay in here. If you need anything, let me know."

He had tears in his eyes as he looked around. "You don't have to be so kind. A small area outside in the shade would have been fine."

"Don't worry about it," she smiled softly.

He gave her a sad smile, then swayed slightly.

She helped him inside the room and to the bed. "Again, if you need anything let me know. You're welcome to stay as long as you'd like and if you need it, we'll try to find some blood for you."

"You should not worry about it."

She shrugged, "Just trying to help."

"I do not mean to sound ungrateful. I just do not wish you to have to go out of your way to aid me."

She nodded, "Well, the offer is there if you change your mind." She turned and began heading out of the room.

"Stay? I do not wish to be alone when I.." He stopped and shook his head. "I should not trouble you."

She frowned, "When you what?"

"My master has kept me weakened and it is catching up. At least I will be a person and not a slave." Lucien lay slowly down and sighed. "I am glad there are still kind people in the world."

"Will blood help?"

He shuddered. "I would need to drain someone. I refuse to do that anymore."

She looked thoughtful, "Maybe you can have some of mine and I'll give you more energy with my light? It might work?"

"You would risk yourself?" His eyes widened.

She shrugged, "I like helping."

"You are free to try. If I don't stop, kill me before I rampage."

She nodded and held one wrist out. Her other hand began glowing and she started pouring light into him.

His fangs elongated and he bit into her wrist tentatively. A few moments later, his eyes flashed and he began drinking quickly.

She continued pouring light, allowing him to continue drinking.

His skin regained its color and his breathing eased.

She began feeling a bit dizzy, but didn't stop him.

Lucien glanced up, then dropped her wrist as if burned. "Why didn't you stop me?"

"I'm okay still, just a little dizzy. Wanted to make sure you got enough. Doesn't help I lost a bit of blood earlier," she looked down at her wounds.

He moved back, shaking his head rapidly. "No..I will not hurt you."

She looked up, "I know. I trust you, don't worry."

He stared at her in disbelief. "I should go before I do something."

She sighed, "I wish you'd stay but you aren't a prisoner, so if you feel better leaving, I won't stop you."

He hung his head. "I am unused to kindness. I do not wish to harm anyone."

"I believe you won't hurt anyone."

"Why are you so confident?" He raised his eyes to hers.

"Just a feeling I have."

Lucien let out a small laugh, then began to tilt forward as his eyes closed.

She helped lay him down gently before leaving to clean herself up. She went to take a shower, but she struggled to stay awake through it.

Daiki tapped on the door. "You okay?"

She shut the water off, "Yeah." She half dried off before throwing on a robe and opening the door. Her eyes were barely open as she leaned against the door frame.

"You look pale." Daiki's eyes started to swirl. "He drank from you, didn't he? I swear, I'm going to stake him even with your objections."

"I offered it."

"Have you lost your mind?!"

She shrugged, "I wanted to help."

"He could have killed you and everyone else here!" Her brother was vibrating with anger.

"I'm sorry.. But I have a good feeling about him."

"A good feeling about a Strigoi...did you hit your head? A village can be wiped out by a single Strigoi. Plus we know nothing about him!"

"I.." she looked down, "I'm sorry.. I'll find him somewhere else to go when he wakes.."

Daiki calmed. "Wait, he's unconscious again? I thought he fed?"

"He's still pretty weak. I tried to give him some energy while he drank, but I don't know if I helped enough."

"That's unusual. Every Strigoi I've run into were stronger after feeding.."

"Mathian messed with him. Not sure exactly how though.."

"Maybe Kei can check him. He's more versed in this."

"Alright.. so you aren't going to kill him?"

"For now. You should get some rest." Daiki turned and disappeared down the hall.

Ailsa sighed and climbed into bed, passing out soon after.

Kei entered the room Lucien was in and closed the door.

After a while, Ailsa woke, still not feeling up to her usual strength. She ignored it though, and went to check on Lucien.

He was staring out the window, his face shocked.

"You okay?"

"I am not a Strigoi.."

She frowned, "Alright. What are you?"

"According to your Mahoutsukai, I am a Dhamphir. My mother was human. Mathian lied to me.."

"I'm sorry."

"Yes. But I am relieved. I may be able to live normally."

"That's good."

"I must decide what to do. I'm sure your hospitality is close to its end." His eyes looked sad.

"You can stay as long as you'd like."

He blinked in surprise. "What?"

"You're free to stay."

Lucien's eyes teared up. "Thank you for your great kindness."

"You're welcome. This place is a sanctuary for those who need it."

"You created it?"

"This one, yeah. There's another a friend started that inspired this one."

"You have interesting friends. Is that young man alright? And will the other one not try to stake me?"

"Gaelin will be fine. Daiki.. will try his best to not stake you."

"That makes me nervous. I do not wish to cause disruption."

She chuckled, "It's alright. I'll keep you safe from him."

"As you wish." Lucien dipped his head.