I do not own Daily Life With Monster Girls.

Chapter 19 Bad Moon Rising.

"Hey!" Jack called. "Can anybody help?"

He nudged the door with his shoe the rest of the way open and placed the first set of full paper bags on the counter.

"Hello?"

"We're in here Jack." Syleris's voice drifted into the kitchen.

He narrowed his eyes and stepped toward the front room when he heard a small yelp behind him.

"Uh, Jack. Can I get some assistance?" Dawn was struggling with the door staying open and trying to keep her too full bags from spilling over.

"Oh jeez." He crossed over and took one of the bags from her. "Here. I got it." They set their burdens down on the table.

"What are they doing in there?" He asked aloud and marched out of the kitchen. "Hey can one of you-what the?"

Strewn about the whole room were twisted narrow balloons of various colors. Jack recognized the vague shapes of balloon dogs, giraffes and what his mother liked to call 'rocket rats' when she made them for kids at birthday parties and public events.

Some were arranged in a collection on a shelf while others littered the space between the couches in a heap. A few were teetering off the back of the flatscreen like a kitten in a 'hang in there' poster. And one somehow got stuck in the chandelier.

Each of his roommates also had a balloon 'crown' around their heads.

"I...do I even wanna know?"

"Oh hey, Jack." Sula waved at him from the couch. She was wearing a pair of gloves with hard leather tips like Tetra had earlier.

"We got bored after you left and I decided to try making balloon animals." The arachne explained. She took in a deep breath and blew into a fresh balloon. She filled it up to a point and pinched the open end with her gloved fingers. She tied that end in a simple knot and handed it to Sula. The lamia took it and nodded at Syleris. The harpy tapped a button on her xbox controller and a video resumed playing on the flatscreen.

Jack waded through the partially filled balloons to get a better angle on his TV. His feet kicked and scattered various species of faux mammals about. He observed a YouTube video with the title of "How To Make Balloon Animals – Part 4."

A middle-aged male dressed in a white shirt and red suspenders started explaining how to make a swan.

He watched the video a few moments and then turned his gaze toward his lamia guest. Her golden eyes were fixed on the screen as she attempted to replicate the man on the TV's movements.

"You've been doing this the whole time?" Jack asked.

Sula shushed and held a palm out at him. Her eyes squinted and she frowned. "Stop."

Syleris obeyed the order and paused the video. The lamia glared at Jack in mild annoyance. Her crown featured a light blue 'bunny' on the front with a stubby 'tail' on the reverse side. "Damn it Jack. Don't distract me. I've almost got this."

"Yeah." Syleris piped up. "Can't you see this is serious business?" The front of her brow held a tiny pink mouse-like shape perched just above her eyes.

He opened his mouth and held up a finger to protest. Tetra placed a hand on his shoulder, drawing his attention away. She motioned toward the kitchen with her head. Her crown looked like a translucent purple dog was leaping out of her forehead.

Jack exhaled and followed. When both cleared the door they faced each other.

"You know I'm going to expect at least one of you to clean all that up later." Jack admonished.

Tetra nodded lightly. "Did you have a good date?"

Jack leveled his eyes and unfocused. "Yeah, yeah I did actually."

She raised an eyebrow. "Should I be jealous?"

He nodded his head side to side. "Maybe a little." Three of her eyes narrowed. "But don't worry." He waved a hand. "I convinced her to share what she showed me with the rest of you."

Mild confusion gave her pause and she was about to ask another question when Dawn walked in and interrupted with her own.

"What is that on your head?"

Tetra turned toward their newest guest. "This," She pointed at her brow. "is a purple hound."

Dawn blinked a couple times. "Ooookay." She focused on Jack. "She's gonna help us unload, right?"

Jack nodded and looked at the arachne. "Yeah, can you?"

She sighed. "As you wish."

With her assistance Jack's car was emptied of all recently purchased items. Dry goods were stored and the refrigerator was restocked. The three settled around the small table after the last jar was set.

Tetra inclined her head at Dawn. "I understand that you showed something to our host." Jack had gotten to know the arachne just well enough to detect a hint of discomfort in her words.

Dawn and Jack shared a brief look. "It's complicated and hard to explain." She indicated toward the front room with her head. "And I'd prefer to gather everyone around when we get into it." Tetra didn't say anything but her eyes narrowed slightly.

Jack smiled and stood up. "Yeah, come on." He entered the room with his other two guests in tow. "Ladies, if I could have your attention."

"Oh Jack." Syleris stood up and grabbed two balloon creations. "Here, we made this for you." She walked up to him and placed a balloon crown on his head. It was yellow and had two curves over the top.

"And this is for you." The harpy placed a white balloon hat over Dawn's head. That one had two loose ends twisted together and pointed straight up.

Dawn looked around the balloon saturated room in bewilderment. "And I thought we were going to be the weird ones." She muttered.

Jack chuckled. "Right, well, Dawn and Kuro would like to show you all something." He glanced to his left. "At the same time?"

She held up a hand. "Just one apiece please. Too many could get...messy."

He nodded. "Very well."

"Ooh." Syleris' eyes glistened. "Are you going to show us a magic trick?"

Jack chortled as Dawn closed her eyes and smiled. "Magic, yes, it could be classified like that."

Sula stopped twisting a balloon and narrowed her eyes. "A magic trick like what?"

Syleris raised her wing-hand. "Oh, me first, please?"

Dawn nodded and walked over to the couch. "Sit here." She took a seat and the harpy sat right next to her. "Now, try not to react too much at first, okay?"

The harpy couldn't decide between being excited and confused. "Uh...okay." Dawn lightly laid a hand on Syleris' wing and closed her eyes.

Watching it from the outside was much different. Not nearly as exciting. Like watching two people sleep. Except both were awake, the harpy's eyes were still open, yet unfocused and glazed over.

"Ummm..." Sula drawled out skeptically. "Is something supposed to happen?"

"Something is happening." Jack reassured her. "Just give it a minute."

Tetra stepped up closer to the pair on the couch. "Why a minute?"

"Well, maybe two minutes." Jack shrugged. "That's about how long it took when they showed me."

Sula raised an eyebrow. "You timed it?"

He chuckled. "Not intentionally, but Dawn told me to check my phone's clock afterward. And barely two minutes had passed when it ended."

Sula kept her eyes narrowed at Jack and slowly gazed back at Dawn and Syleris. Tetra skittered behind the couch, somehow not popping any of the balloons with her narrow legs. She lightly poked the harpy's head with her gloved claw.

"Hey, don't do that." Jack admonished.

She shook her head. "It's okay I don't think anyone's home." She poked Dawn's head with her other hand.

"Tetra." Jack glared.

Sula raised a knuckle to her lips. "Hehe. It's kinda funny." The arachne raised both hands and poked both inert heads at the same time.

"Tetra."

She ignored him and waved over the lamia. "Here, you try." Sula slithered over and was about to poke at the harpy when Syleris suddenly burst to her feet.

"Gah!" Sula and Tetra each retreated abruptly. Two balloons popped as Syleris' 'awakened'. Tetra's legs pierced them.

"I did it!" The harpy pumped two fists in the air. She looked directly at her host. Joy shone from her eyes. "Jack I did it!" He smiled at his house mate's exuberance.

"Did what?" Sula asked.

The harpy whirled on her. "I cured cancer." The arachne and the lamia blinked at the same time. "And I cured halitosis. And flatulence." Disbelief registered on both their faces as their jaws slowly opened. Sula's fell a little farther.

"I saw it." Syleris insisted. She turned toward Dawn and grasped her hand. "Oh thank you for showing me. Thank you so much."

The girl on the couch nodded. She picked up a balloon and held up it up. "So, you want to keep making these?"

The harpy let go and retreated a few steps. "Ah no! I gotta..I gotta." She spun around again. "I gotta study!" She blew past Jack and dashed down the hall toward her room.

"Hey!" Jack called. "I said no running!"

Syleris sped down and slipped into her room and closed the door. Her balloon crown had fallen off and settled softly on the floor of the hallway.

"I'm going to have to put up a sign or something aren't I?" He growled.

"Um." Sula raised a claw. "What just happened?"

"We showed her dream." Dawn answered.

Tetra narrowed her eyes. "Her dream?"

Dawn nodded. "Kuro and I communicate mentally with each other." She held her hand out. "When I touch someone, she can communicate mentally with them too."

Jack turned around and faced them. "It's true."

Sula glanced between her host and her newest housemate. She slithered forward and sat on the couch. "I..would you show me, please?"

Dawn nodded and placed a hand over Sula's. The lamia's face instantly glazed over.

Tetra kept up her skeptical expression as she nimbly cantered back by Jack. She pivoted her body to keep her eyes on the pair on the couch. "You sure this is safe?"

Jack snorted and glanced up at her. "Safe?"

She grimaced. "You know what I mean."

He shook his head. "It'll be alright Tetra. You should try it too."

The arachne didn't respond. She merely watched.

Almost exactly a minute went by when Dawn withdrew her hand. Sula's eyes brightened and a large smile blossomed on her face. "Ah, Paris." She pronounced it 'pare-ee'.

The lamia flowed off the couch, humming a tune that sounded vaguely familiar. She slithered up to Jack and said something in what he assumed was French.

Jack held up a hand but didn't say anything lest he risk breaking the spell. Fortunately Tetra came to his rescue. "She wants you to bring her some tea."

"Ah." He raised a finger and nodded. "Oui."

Sula's eyes brightened just a bit more and she hugged her host and kissed him on the cheek. Jack backed his head and blinked in surprise.

She let go, winked at Tetra and slithered passed both toward the hall. Her humming gained a few decibels. She even let a few 'la la la's' out. Arachne and human watched their friend depart in a state of mild shock.

"She kissed you." Tetra mused.

Panic shot through Jack's spine. "Uh...she's just really happy and I'm sure she didn't mean to... um..." His girlfriend laid a hand on his shoulder lightly and he shut up.

She hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe her concerns about us are something else."

Jack pressed his lips together and looked up to read her face. Surprisingly, she didn't seem angry, more like...contemplative. She stared down the hall a few seconds and then turned around to regard Dawn.

"But to get that kind of response...even today." She mused to herself. "I wonder..."

Jack narrowed his eyes and cocked his head. "Tetra?"

She raised a claw. "I'll be right back." The arachne scuttled across the room and ascended the stairs on the other side. He blinked in confusion at her sudden departure.

"Where's she going?" Dawn asked.

Jack shook his head. "I'm not sure." He sighed and walked toward the kitchen. "I should get that tea going for Sula."

He put on the kettle and fired up the stove. He went back to the pantry and got a jar of peanuts and a sleeve of chocolate chip cookies. He retrieved a large tray and placed all the necessary components for afternoon tea on it. He heard voices in the other room and he stepped around to investigate.

Dawn was inspecting a scrap of paper. As Jack focused on it he realized it was actually a picture, a photograph. She lifted her head at the arachne standing before her. "I understand." She reached out. "Are you ready?"

Tetra swallowed, nodded and held out her own hand. Dawn placed hers and the arachne's face went slightly slack.

Jack hummed and went back to preparing the tea. "Should figure out what to make for dinner while I'm here." He mused and started drawing out pots and pans and various utensils. He flipped open a cookbook and selected a few large capacity meals he was confident he could make.

He paused his preparations and checked back on Tetra. Dawn and she were still connected in their 'trance' or shared dream. He shrugged and went back to work.

The teapot whistled and Jack turned down the heat. He placed the pot on the tray and walked out of the kitchen. Tetra and Dawn hadn't moved an inch. Jack frowned and hummed lowly.

He proceeded down the hall and balanced the tray on his arm while knocking on Sula's door.

"Entrez." Her voiced called.

Jack stared at the door a second and tried to guess that she said 'enter' or something similar. He turned the knob slowly and pushed the door in with minimal effort, fully prepared to slam it shut in case he'd misinterpreted her meaning.

Sula had set up a small fold up table and a stool off the edge of her bed.

"Ah, hôte." She waved a hand in a 'come here' gesture. "Je vous remercie."

Jack stepped in and placed the tray on the table. Her tail gripped the stool and slid it toward him. "Rejoignez moi, s'il vous plait." She asked while picking up the pot and pouring the tea into two cups.

He took the cue and sat with her. He picked up a cup and took a sip at the same time she did.

"Magnifique." She sighed and placed her cup to the side. She picked up a peanut and popped it her mouth.

"Je devrais m'excuser." She placed her hands together and looked a bit sullen. "J'espère qu'elle ne te punit pas pour mon manque de discrétion."

Jack sucked in a breath and held up a hand. "Sula. If you're telling me something important." She glanced at him. "I might need it in English, please."

Her eyes widened a brief second and then she placed both palms on her brow and dipped her head. "Comment pourrais-je être si grossier?"

She closed her eyes and placed her hands back down on the table. She sucked in a breath and let it out while opening her eyes. "Sorry Jack."

He let his hand down and smiled lightly. "It's alright."

She looked at him with a hint of accusation. "Why didn't you say anything earlier?"

Jack gingerly lifted a finger. "I..didn't want to break the spell...or whatever."

She blinked in confusion. "The spell..oh." She looked down. "I suppose I was...in one" She sighed.

"Are you alright?" Jack asked.

She waved a hand. "I'll be fine Jack. I just got a bit confused." He tilted his head. "I...thought I was home. And Papa Augustine was telling me about his life in France." Her eyes lit up. "Only I saw it this time, I could touch it."

Jack nodded and smirked. "She has a gift."

"What did she show you?" The lamia asked.

His expression sobered a bit. "She showed me how they became what they are."

"Hmm." Sula nodded lightly. "She touched on that, to help explain how Kuro was able to do all that. But she didn't go into a lot of detail."

"It's probably for the best." Jack said. "It's not very pleasant." She hummed. Jack looked at her curiously. "So what were you saying to me earlier?"

Sula tilted her head. "What..oh." She smiled ruefully. "I was saying that I shouldn't have kissed you right in front of Tetra." She hunched her shoulders. "That was careless of me."

"Yeah." Jack held a hand near his cheek. A bit of color showed on it."That came out of nowhere."

"Sorry Jack." She dipped her head. "Like I said, I thought I was back at the island. The only guys at my home are either my fathers or my husbands." He opened his mouth in a silent 'ah' of comprehension. "It's sometimes odd for me to think of a man as a friend." She looked back up at him. "She isn't angry with me is she?"

Jack raised his eyes. "Oddly enough...I don't think so."

Sula tilted her head to the side. "Really? Arachne aren't usually known for..." She paused and blinked. "Hmmm."

"Sula?" Jack asked. "What is it?"

She rattled her head and waved a hand. "It's just an idea. Probably nothing." Jack tilted his head curiously at her. "It's nothing Jack." The lamia stated. "Just a random thought."

Jack was about to inquire further but something in her eyes told him not to pursue this line of questioning. It wasn't a warning per se, it was...something else.

"Please," She scooped up her cup. "Share this with me?"

He blinked and then took his own cup. "Right sure." He poured some tea into his cup. "Can do. Mrs. Peri. Can do."

They discussed Sula's dream visit to an imagined Paris over the tea and cookies. She raised her hand s about to express the height of the Eiffel Tower and even described a beautiful book she read.

"So, what would you want her to show you?" Sula asked while she poured the last of the tea for them.

"I don't think I need to." He answered and took a sip.

Sula cocked her head."Why not?"

He grinned and lifted his cup at her. "I'm already living my dream, remember?"

She giggled and waved at him. "Oh stop it Jack."

"You said it yourself." He reminded her. "I'm the luckiest man on earth."

"Hmm." She grinned and finished her tea. "So, when do you think we can go on another field trip?"

Jack put down his empty cup on the tray. "Well, now that we have provisions." He leaned his head slightly at her. "And eggs." She tried to hide an impish grin. "We can probably go to a wilderness preserve."

"Ooh, sounds fun." She bit into the last cookie.

"Yeah. Nice wide open fields, a few trails through a forest, and not nearly as many humans that were at the mall." He nodded. "Good place to stretch our legs out." Sula raised an eyebrow and wiggled the tip of her tail over the table.

Jack rattled his head. "Oh right, uh, stretch our... tails.. out...?" He frowned. "Ugh, that doesn't work either."

She put a knuckle near her chin and chuckled. "Going to have to re-think your idioms, eh human?"

Jack raised his eyes up in a ponderous expression. "Yeah." He nodded lightly. "A lot of them."

She chuckled again. "I do need to ask you something else Jack." He focused back on the lamia. "When would you like to start your training?" She finished off her cookie and swallowed. "The sooner the better."

Jack tapped the table a couple times. "I gave that some thought as well. Would tomorrow morning after your bath be alright?"

She closed her eyes and nodded. "That would be perfect Jack."

He pressed his lips together. "Even after the full moon?"

She glanced at him quizzically. "Of course." Her eyebrows lowered a degree. "Why would that affect things?"

He shrugged. "Just a dumb rumor I heard once."

She shook her head firmly. "No Jack. The full moon's effects are only active on that day and night."

"Okay." He acknowledged. "I know I'm probably approaching this at the eleventh hour but, should I do something tonight?"

She shook her head firmly again. "You don't have to do a thing Jack." Her tail extended and picked up a small plastic bottle from one of her shelves. "Reggie's already got that covered." She set it on the table.

Jack inspected the label on the small container. "Lamia-strength sleeping pills?"

"Yep." She nodded. "Some clever pharmacist somewhere in the world experimented with existing human produced sleeping pills and came up with ones tailored to liminals."

"That must have been fairly expensive and time consuming." Jack noted and turned the bottle over to read its contents. "Finding the right dosage and proper chemicals for each species."

"There was a rumor that the man who invented these had a mysterious financial backer." Sula acknowledged. "But as far as I know it's just a rumor."

"Hmm." He placed the bottle on the table before her. "Talbot once mentioned that lamia tribes would lock up their men in a secure bunker or something on full moon nights." Her eyes narrowed. "I assume to protect them."

She folded her arms. "In the past, that was necessary. But your friend is at least half a century behind."

"A half-century?" Jack blinked. "But the reveal was only a few years ago."

Sula smirked. "I believe agent Smythe mentioned that humans have been secretly marrying liminals for some time now." Jack dipped his head a bit in thought. "Keeping a moon crazed liminal that loves you under control is damn near impossible. So folks got these stronger sleeping pills for their spouse rather than locking them up like they were prisoners."

"And that doesn't even cover the history of liminal communities developing their own poultices to achieve the same effect." She picked up the bottle. "These are just the accepted standard among liminals of the modern age."

"Huh, cool." Jack pondered her words for a good minute. "You said 'moon crazed' earlier." She closed her eyes and nodded. "How um...out of control can liminals get?"

"Very." She crossed her arms and opened her eyes. "But like I said Jack, don't worry about it. As long as we all take a pill at sundown you should be fine."

"Sundown?" He asked.

She nodded. "Standard protocol is to take one when the sun goes down, and another when you're ready to sleep. The first one levels us out but if we miss the second one then we just toss and turn all night. Take a third and that's an overdose."

"Huh..." He placed a finger on his chin. "So the night Talbot attacked me, he must have taken one of those pills."

Sula nodded. "Yes. If he hadn't, you likely would not be sitting here with me."

Jack thought back to that night. "So he was really holding himself back."

"Yes." She affirmed. "You've probably noticed that I've been more irritable today." He nodded slowly. "Like I told you earlier, the moon affects the aggressive species like werewolves and echidnas throughout the day. It was already night when you unintentionally provoked him."

"I provoked him?" Jack's voice raised an octave.

"Tetra told me that you made a joke about the moon." She tapped her claws in rhythm on the table. "If I had to make an analogy, that's like making fun of a human child with Tourette's," She eyed him seriously. "for having Tourette's."

"Oh." He blinked. "Oh man. That was..really insensitive of me." He dipped his head in shame. "I didn't even know."

She shook her head. "That doesn't excuse what he did to you. And I'm not in the habit of victim-blaming but," She pointed the tip of her tail right at him. "In all likelihood, if you hadn't said anything, you probably would have been fine."

Jack stayed silent.

She sighed. "But now you know better." She was still gazing at him intently. "Consequently, I am content with your friend moving in with us."

Jack rattled his head. "I.. uh wasn't going to bring that up."

"Well," She leaned forward and laid her elbows on the table. Her voice took on an edge. "I would like to teach your friend a few hard lessons," Jack gave her an uneasy look. She rested her chin on her fists. "About my culture." Her tail slid around the table and stool.

He inched away from her, suddenly very aware that he was in a room with a very dangerous individual. Not a friend he was having tea with. But a creature that possessed strength several times his own and reflexes and speed beyond any known human.

Something about her changed. Changed like Talbot did, that night. Her eyes held a predator's gaze.

"Sula?" He tried to keep his voice as calm as possible while also conveying his concern. Her lips parted and one of her fangs gleamed.

A spike of panic told him to run for the door, but he stomped down hard on that notion. Don't act like scared prey.

He set a frown firmly and leaned forward. "Sula!"

She blinked and rattled her head. Her arms laid flat on the table and her tail relaxed. "Ugh dammit." She placed a hand on her face. "I'm sorry Jack." She whimpered. Her expression went from deadly huntress to woeful self-loathing in a breadth of a second.

"I'm afraid I'm not going to be good company, right now. " She looked down at her claws pensively."I need...I need to hit something." Her eyes closed. "I need to..go to the gym for a while."

She slithered around the table and headed for her door. She stopped as she reached it. "Can you take care of that please?" She idly pointed a claw at her table.

Jack nodded. "Yeah. I can do that." A pause. "Are you going to be alright?"

She lightly nodded and turned away. Jack frowned and crossed over to her. "Sula." He risked placing a hand on her shoulder. She tensed up. "I'm not mad at you."

She glanced back at him with an odd expression he couldn't read. "Please Jack. Let me go."

He gingerly let his hand fall to his side. She faced back to the hallway and slithered forward. The tip of her tail had almost cleared the frame when Jack spoke up. "Remember Sula. You are strong."

She halted a moment but didn't turn around. "I know. Thank you Jack." She proceeded down the rest of the hall and slipped around the corner. She never looked back.

Jack stood there a moment, alone in the hallway, trying to figure out anything he could do to help his friend. He hated seeing her in obvious pain. And he hated that the best he could do was merely offer comforting words.

"Don't dwell on things you can't change Jack." He strolled back into her room and retrieved the tea tray. "Doesn't mean I have to like it though."

He closed her door on the way out and slipped into the kitchen. He put the tray on the counter. On concerned impulse he stuck his head into the front room. Tetra and Dawn still hadn't moved.

"Okay. That can't be healthy." He walked over to the pair and was about to jostle one of them but he recoiled his hand at the last second.

"Crap." If I touch them will I get sucked in? It didn't work for Tetra earlier but how can I be sure?

He made a fist and considered yelling or maybe poking one of them with a balloon or two. He knelt down to pick one. As he straightened back up Dawn was looking right at him. Her pupils glowed a brilliant blue.

"Gah!" He back pedaled.

She tilted her head. "You okay Jack?"

He took a moment to compose himself. "Um yeah, I'm fine."

She twitched an eyebrow. "Ooookay." The glow from her eyes pulsed.

Jack frowned. "You three have been like that for a long while."

She tilted her head again. "So?"

"Well," He pressed his lips. "Is Tetra alright?"

She smiled. "She's more than alright Jack."

He paused. "What is Kuro showing her?"

"A very good dream Jack." She said. "Trust me, Tetra will be fine."

He lowered an eyebrow. "Okay, I just...I'm not sure..."

Dawn inclined her head. "What's bothering you, Jack? Tell me."

He pressed his lips. "I don't want my guests getting...addicted to this."

Her eyes widened and the glow intensified. "Addicted!" Jack had to squint and couldn't maintain direct eye contact.

Dawn looked down. The glow from her eyes illuminated her skirt. "Addicted..." She breathed out once. "You...may have a point." She closed her eyes and the glow cut out abruptly. "I'll be right back."

He didn't have to wait long. Dawn's hand retracted and Tetra's eyes fluttered. Jack remembered his own disorientation when he left Kuro's wonderland. After a moment she closed her eyes and smiled contentedly.

He all but whispered. "Tetra?"

She picked up the photograph that Jack only caught a bit of earlier and handed it to him. It was a Polaroid of a man in his mid twenties. He had mocha-colored skin and dark eyes. He wore a dark gray cardigan with a striped shirt underneath. His jet black hair was curly and disheveled. In the background was an ocean or sea.

"Who...?" He looked up. Her eyes were misty, bitter-sweet joy beamed off her face.

"That's my father, Jack."

He examined the photo in his hands. "Whoa." His hands suddenly felt like they were holding a great weight and he held it out to her.

She took it back and clutched it to her chest. "I finally got to meet him."

Jack rattled his head and his eyes almost fell out of their sockets. "Wh-what?! But you told me he was...he was.."

Dawn cleared her throat. "It isn't quite like that."

Jack darted his focus on her. "What did you show her?" He demanded.

"Kuro and I have never met the man in that photograph." Dawn acknowledged. "But we did our best to make him up."

"Make him up?" Jack's incredulity spiked his tone and volume.

"Kuro used my memories of my father and overlay-ed the image of this man on them." She pointed at the photo. "Then I shared all the times I could remember growing up with my father with Tetra."

He blinked a few times and tried to wrap his mind around what she was describing. "But..it wasn't real." He darted his eyes at Tetra. "Was it?"

She dipped her head and closed her eyes. "No it wasn't. I know that." She kept her smile. "But it was better than everything I imagined growing up with a caring father would be like."

Jack didn't know what to say.

On the one hand, he couldn't quite believe that Tetra would accept being lied to. On the other, it wasn't really a lie if she knew it was one, was it? And clearly, she appreciated the idea of a different childhood than what she experienced.

Can I really fault her for that?

Jack breathed in slowly and nodded lightly. "Alright. I can understand that. I really can." He looked up at both of them. "I just don't want someone trying to," He lifted a hand. "fix their past or something."

Tetra opened her eyes. "Of course not Jack." She placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed lightly. "I know he's gone. Nothing any of us can do can change that." A beat. "But is it really so awful to imagine that our lives could have been different than what they are now?"

He blinked once. "No." He admitted. "No. Not really."

The arachne smiled and squeezed his shoulder again and let go. She turned and engulfed Dawn in a big hug. "Thank you so much."

The other girl nodded and brought her arms up to complete the embrace. "You are more than welcome."

Tetra let go and faced Jack. "I'll be in my room." She looked down at the photo of her father. "If you need me for anything." She turned and walked toward the stairs. As he watched her go, he noticed there was a definite spring in her step, if such a description could be applied to spiders.

"Alright Kuro, Dawn." She faced him. "I'm sorry if I seemed like a dick for trying to stop you."

Dawn shook her head. "It's fine Jack. You were worried for her. We hadn't kept someone in the wonderland for that long ever before." He turned his head toward her. She shrugged. "She didn't want to leave."

Jack sighed after a moment and nodded lightly. "Yeah...yeah I probably wouldn't want to either."

He pushed aside thoughts of his parents and returned to the kitchen. He threw himself into baking several large dishes and preparing enough stir fry for all of them.

He set the pans and oven on low heat and was about to start his rounds of gathering everyone for dinner when curiosity got the better of him. He tapped on a browser app on his phone and looked up the local sundown. Seven thirty six. It was only five forty eight currently.

"Screw it." He walked back to the front room. Dawn was flipping channels on the TV. "Dinner's ready. I'm going to get the others." She waved a hand and continued to search.

Jack proceeded down the hall toward Syleris' room. He knocked on her door and she called him in.

"Dinner's ready." He announced.

She was lying on her bed reading a thick tome. A few other books were laying haphazardly on the floor. She glanced at Jack briefly and nodded. "Okay Jack. I'll be there after I finish this chapter." He smiled at her renewed efforts to become a medical student.

After he left her room he went over to the gym and leaned toward the door to try and hear anything inside. Someone was breathing heavily and there was an occasional clink of metal touching metal.

He pushed open the door. Sula was lying face up on a bench and lifting a barbell with an impressive number of weights balanced on each end.

He waited till she noticed him and placed the bar back on the stand. She sat up. Sweat was running down her face and arms. Her black workout outfit was partially soaked. "Jack, you really shouldn't be in here right now."

He swallowed and stayed in place. "Dinner's ready."

She closed her eyes and nodded. "I'll be there. I need to clean up first." She laid back on the bench and breathed out heavily.

"You'll be okay?" He asked.

"Yeah." She answered. "A full stomach helps alleviate the moon's influence. At least until nightfall."

Jack hummed and exited the gym quickly. He ascended the stairs and knocked on Tetra's door on the top floor.

"Come in."

He tentatively opened the door but didn't step inside. The arachne was lying backwards on a hammock of webbing and staring at the ceiling.

Jack cleared his throat. "Dinner's ready."

She blinked and turned her head at him. "Already? It's only been..." She turned her body over and dropped from the hammock. She looked toward a small digital clock atop a small bookshelf. "Oh...I lost track of time entirely."

She gasped suddenly and raced up to Jack. She crossed the distance so fast that he didn't even have time to react or even register panic at the sight of something moving that fast at him.

"Are you okay Jack?" She asked the same time he back-pedaled and threw up an arm.

"Ah!" He backed to the railing above the stairs. "Tetra what the hell?"

She examined him critically and gave a sigh of relief. "Oh good, you look fine." She faced him directly. "Sula hasn't..done anything to you right?"

Jack blinked a few times, and shook his head. "No, no. I'm fine. Tetra. She's kept herself occupied."

The arachne closed her eyes and breathed out. "That's a relief." Her expression fell a bit. "I'm sorry Jack. I should have paid more attention. I can't believe I forgot what day it was." She laid a hand on his shoulder. "I shouldn't have left you while the full moon was affecting our echidna."

He held up a hand. "It's alright Tetra. Sula has a lot of self-control." She tilted her head. "I even had tea with her."

She blinked once. "You were alone with her?"

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, she almost got too aggressive but she held back."

Mild disbelief crossed the arachne's face and she lifted her hand from his shoulder and placed a knuckle on her chin. "You were alone in her room and you weren't harmed in the slightest." She hummed. "Maybe I didn't need to distract her."

Jack raised his head. "Was that what the balloons were about?"

She nodded. "Yes. It was last minute and kinda desperate but she seemed to accept that she needed something to occupy her till we take those sleeping pills."

Jack nodded. "Yeah, she told me about those. Reggie got you a bottle of them as well?"

"Yes." She said. "I was worried that we'd have to secure our rooms tonight or something, but Reginald provided us all with them."

"Sula said that they're made for each species. I assume yours is labeled arachne strength sleeping pills?"

"Yes actually." She cantered back into her room and retrieved her own bottle. "I've used these before. They are quite adequate."

"Cool." He nodded. "Hungry?"

She paused a moment. "Where is Sula now?"

"In the gym, tiring herself out." He replied. "She should be washing up for dinner soon."

Tetra sighed. "I don't like it. Leaving her alone."

Jack gave a her a skeptical glance. "You think she needs to be watched?"

She shook her head. "Not watched, more like...attended." She faced ahead unfocused. "Isolating her like she's different and dangerous doesn't help.

He lowered an eyebrow. "She went there on her own, to keep herself away from me..." He paused. "Okay I can see why that could be really bad."

"I have seen it." Tetra stated. Jack looked up at her. "A large breed arachne once stumbled on mine and mother's spot in the forest a few minutes before sundown some years ago." She explained.

"Her name was Haliet. She didn't want to be alone on a full moon night. Mother and I shared some food with her." Tetra glanced at him. "A full belly helps a lot, by the way. It keeps the instinct to hunt from getting out of control."

She closed her eyes briefly. "She'd been pounding on trees and trying to exhaust herself out. But some humans investigated the noise and she ran off rather than attack them, like her instincts told her to. She ran and ran till she discovered us." A beat passed as she remembered details. "She was ragged and bloody, her clothes were torn. She didn't even have the sense to weave herself new ones."

"We asked her why she was out in the forest instead of a cave or an abandoned building. She said she was traveling and was going to meet someone. But she didn't know the area and let herself get caught out in unfamiliar territory without a place to sleep safely."

Tetra stared ahead. "That night I heard a terrible scream. I woke up and saw mother and Haliet were at each other's throats."

"Jesus..." Jack breathed.

"If mother hadn't set a trap to slow her down we might have both been killed. If I hadn't gotten around and bound her, mother might have been torn to shreds." She breathed out slowly. "We left her there and fled. We kept running till we were across the border and well into the next country."

"Holy crap."

She shook her head. "We probably didn't have to run that far. But the sun hadn't risen yet and we were both terrified out of our minds."

She lifted her hands and studied her claws. "I remember the moon screaming in my blood. Urging me to eviscerate her before she could do the same to me. But mother was hurt." She closed her hands into fists. "I had to get her to safety, had to tend the wound somewhere she couldn't find us."

Jack stayed silent.

"Later we learned that Haliet was traveling with a small group of large breeds. She'd gotten separated and had to fend for herself." She sighed. "With no one else there to lend support, it was just her and the moon."

Jack let her story percolate through his mind. "So, being alone is actually more dangerous."

She nodded. "Yes." She held out one hand. "Letting the moon's influence build up without a counter-weight of some sort to balance it...well." She ran three claws along her chest diagonally from her left shoulder to her right hip. "Mother will have that scar for the rest of her life."

Jack didn't have any words. He could only imagine that a wound like she described could happen to her, to any of them.

"Wait a sec." He faced up to her. "Wouldn't you have shared a sleeping pill with her?"

Tetra shook her head. "Mother and I didn't have any at the time. We usually kept to ourselves and avoided human settlements on full moon nights." She gazed ahead unfocused. "We didn't see the need."

She shook her head and frowned. "I let myself get distracted by Kuro's wonderland." She laid a hand on his shoulder. "I promise you Jack, I will never allow myself to be in a position where I can't protect you when the moon is full."

He blinked and placed his hand on hers. He reached out with the other one and pulled at her shoulder. She leaned down and they kissed.

"Thank you Tetra."

She smirked lightly as their lips parted. He let his arms drop.

"But I have to ask...what about you?" He put as much concern into his tone as he could.

She sighed and closed her eyes briefly. "The moon doesn't affect me that much during the day." She opened her eyes. "And even if I didn't have these pills I do have a few tricks to stave off its influence after sundown."

Jack nodded. "Okay. You and Sula mentioned that a full stomach helps." He stated. "Shall we test that theory?"

The arachne snorted and bobbed her head. "Yes, lets."

Both descended the stairs to the ground floor and rounded the intersection to the hallway. As they passed the bathroom both heard the shower running.

Syleris and Dawn were both seated at the large table in the proper dining room where Jack had already laid out the plates and other utensils. They also had a small bottle by their plates.

Jack cocked his head and gave Dawn a curious look. "You need a sleeping pill too?"

She nodded. "Yep. Kuro gets antsy on full moon nights." She tapped the bottle with one finger. "These help her keep calm. Otherwise she gets ornery and kinda mean."

Jack hummed in thought as he proceeded to the kitchen. He retrieved the pots and pans one by one and placed them on the kitchen table.

"Okay. I got beef enchiladas, Southwestern chicken casserole, stir-fry and seasoned pork." Jack pointed out each dish. All of his girls, save one, sighted the entrees with something between hunger and lust. "I'm not a firm believer in ceremony." He gave the large dining hall a look-over. "Even for this room." He glanced back at his guests. "So. Dig in."

"Shouldn't we wait for Sula?" Syleris asked. Jack blinked and opened his mouth to form a reply.

"I'm here, I'm here." The lamia announced. She slithered in from the farther door and took a place by Syleris and opposite Tetra. A few drips of water flecked off her scales as she crossed the room. She'd apparently rushed drying herself off.

Her golden eyes scanned the table and her tongue flicked out. "Oh that smells great, Jack."

Normally her host would chastise her for getting the carpet under the table wet, but with night approaching he thought better of it. Instead he nodded at the new arrival. "Glad you could join us."

Dinner was a fairly quiet affair. Although Sula seemed to have more gusto than usual as she cut into her pork. In fact, as time passed Jack noticed that each of his girls were getting a little more animated, almost agitated.

He hoped that Tetra's assurance that he'd be kept safe and Sula's proclamation that he needn't worry was true. Still, he hadn't chosen the head of the table for himself just cause it was convenient or subtly reinforced his position as host. It was also the closest seat to the garage door and his car.

Jack had no illusions that he'd be able to outrun any of his guests save maybe Kuro. But he hoped that Tetra would honor her promise and buy him time while he escaped and called for help.

Despite the fact that they were very likely famous last words Jack asked: "Would anyone like anything else?"

One by one they shook their heads.

"Alright well, if it's all the same to you girls. I'd like you all to stay here while I get something."

All four traded looks of confusion and then turned to Jack as he left the room.

After a couple moments of awkward silence Syleris spoke up. "Um, is he coming back?"

For a second the moon's influence weighed on their vulnerability and they all shared the same thought. He left me.

"Sorry that took so long." Jack reentered the dining room with a stack of colorful boxes in his arms. "I couldn't decide which game we should play so I brought all of them and figured we could vote." He set the stack on an empty corner and looked at his guests. "That sound alright to you girls?"

They each smiled. A little too brightly than he was expecting in fact. "That's sounds lovely Jack. Thank you." Tetra said.

"Okay, well." He picked up his plate and used silverware. "Let me clear the table, while you ladies discuss what you want to start playing."

Cleaning up was an easy effort as there were no leftovers to preserve for next time. He rinsed off the dishes and pots and stacked everything else in the dishwasher. By the time he returned to the dining room the girls had settled on a course of action but there was an issue.

"So. Picked something out?" He asked as he took his seat.

"Yeah." Syleris confirmed as she narrowed her eyes. "We wanna play Pandemic." She glanced over at her host. "But it says it's only for four players maximum."

"That's alright." Jack waved away her concern. "'I'll run the infection deck."

Sula was taken aback at his response. "You're not really going to play?"

He shrugged. "I'm a former GM." He flashed a toothy, predatory grin that could have belonged to the echidna or the arachne. "I sometimes enjoy watching my players struggle hopelessly against impossible odds."

Each of his monstergirls blinked. They all stared at him like he had suddenly grown horns and a tail and waved around a red trident.

"What's a GM?" Tetra asked.

Jack swallowed and composed his face. "A GM, or Game Master, is a narrator and facilitator of a tabletop role-playing game." Various degrees of confusion displayed on all their faces. They ranged from Tetra's mild blink to Syleris' full sideways head tilt.

"You girls ever heard of DnD?" He prompted.

Dawn's face relaxed. "Oh yeah, we have." The other three stared at her. "The GM is the guy behind the screen right?"

Jack shrugged one shoulder. "Or a girl, GM's don't have to be male."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever, you know what I mean."

Syleris raised a wing-hand. "I'm still confused on this. What does a GM do?"

Jack placed a finger on his chin and attempted to find an analogy that they would get. "Oh, you know your video games?" He thumbed toward the front room. She nodded wordlessly. "A GM is like the A.I. that controls the enemies and builds the environment."

"Oh." She retracted her head a bit. "That...sounds kinda complicated."

He chuckled. "It can be. But like any game there are tools that help the players experience what the game is trying convey to the players."

"Like what?" Sula asked.

"Well." He dipped his head. "A lot of game companies include tons of art in their sourcebooks that portray the peoples and environments they build. Then gamers create their own characters and stories. The GM takes those elements and crafts a hopefully memorably good experience."

"Huh." Sula tapped a claw on the table. "I think one of my newer husbands mentioned something like that. Can't remember which one."

"Wait, a lot of game companies?" Shock colored Dawn's question. "There's more than one?"

"Oh yeah." Jack nodded. "I've played a good number of them too." He ticked off fingers as he tried to recount all the systems he's played. "Shadowrun, Heroes, GURPS, FATE, Cyberpunk, Cypher, Pathfinder, D-Twenty modern, Star Wars and of course, the most popular one, DnD."

Each of the girls gave him a look of bewilderment. He hunched his shoulders and put his hands down. A little blush colored his cheeks. "I'm... kind of an RPG slut."

"What's DnD?" Tetra asked after a moment.

"Dungeons and Dragons." Jack defined.

"What's that one like?" The harpy asked.

"Well I think it's kinda lost a bit of popularity lately due to its historically unflattering portrayal of liminals." He qualified before continuing. "We didn't know any better at the the time but in DnD, most monsters..." He inclined his head at them. "at least when it first came out, were largely assumed to be naturally evil and would harm humans and the other 'civilized' races." He put his hands up for finger quotes.

Sula and Tetra narrowed their eyes a bit. Syleris seemed to have a more curious look. Dawn didn't react at all.

Jack held up his hands. "Believe me, we know better now." He blinked and glanced upward. "Or at least I hope we do, as far as tabletop gaming goes." He shook his head. "Anyways I haven't been doing that for while now so I don't know anything about any changes to the existing franchises or if the newest games take liminals into consideration." He shrugged. "They probably do, if for no other reason than to expand market share."

Tetra raised an eyebrow a degree.

Jack nodded his head. "Anyways. Me and my friends would play those games and have a great time." He smiled. "Pretending we were great warriors or wizards and protecting civilization from the encroaching darkness."

Sula narrowed her eyes skeptically. "How do you play those games?"

Jack glanced upward a brief moment to collect some thoughts and then faced back to her. "With dice and maps and models. Players record their characters on paper sheets and then act them out in the adventure."

"Act them out?" Syleris' voice raised a degree as she asked her question.

"Yeah." Jack nodded. "Like this." He paused a moment to recall a few characters he'd made.

He stood up out of his chair and slouched over a bit. Jack let his face go slightly slack and almost let himself drool a bit. He plodded up to Dawn and held out his hand. She glanced at his outstretched appendage and then his face with a look of mild discomfort.

He grunted. "Mmm. My name Jorwsh." He slapped his other hand on his chest. "Jowrsh. Have ax." He stuck his hand closer to her chest. "Say hello Jowrsh."

The slim girl gingerly slipped her fingers around his hand and shook it. "Um..hello..Jowrsh."

The barbarian grunted again. "Hmm. Well met, girl with stick bones."

Her head rattled and she let go. Before Dawn could form a reply Jack crossed over toward Tetra.

"Of course there was.." He bowed low to the arachne. When he stood back up he made a fluttering gesture with one hand and offered his other toward her. He produced his smuggest smirk and assumed his best British accent. "Byronie Prichard Cyril Scriven Hawtry." He raised his chin proudly. "the Third."

Tetra looked completely disgusted and amused at the same time. Her mouth turned down like a frown but her eyes widened in interest. She took Jack's offered hand and shook it lightly.

The pompous prig brought her hand to his lips and kissed lightly. "May I say you look absolutely ravishing my lady." He stressed the 'r'. She snorted and smirked. He leaned a bit closer and lowered his eyes suggestively. "You know, my closest friends call me BP." He dropped her hand and stood straight to face the rest of the table. He spat out the next statement with undisguised disdain. "The rest of you lot can call me...Lord."

Before any girl could react Jack was off again. He rounded the table and approached the harpy. "G'day mate." He held up his hand. "Lionel Pike at your service." He tipped an imaginary hat with his finger. She shook her head and took his offered hand with a bewildered half-smile. "If ya need any critters or any rowdy rascals rounded up..." He stuck a thumb at his chest. "I'm your man." She blinked a few times and Jack dropped his hand.

He stepped up toward Sula. After an appraising glance he nodded firmly. "You look like you could bash some skulls in." He stated in a grizzled hero accent and held out his hand. "I need a partner to help me clean out a bandit's den. You in?"

She extended her hand and clasped his. "Y-yes. I could help."

The adventurer nodded firmly again. "Good. I'm Brocas Dale by the way. But you can call me Bro." He let her hand go. "There's a sack of gold for you and equal shares of whatever loot we find." He thumbed behind himself. "Meet me outside the tavern just before sunrise and then we'll get some justice for these poor people."

Jack glanced at them all and then returned to his seat. "Kinda like that." He stated.

Tetra started a slow clap and was joined by Sula and the other two moments later. Jack dipped his head and displayed an embarrassed grin. "Like I said, RPG slut."

Sula glanced around the table after the clapping died down. "I think I can speak for all of us Jack." He focused on her. "We'd like to play one of those games."

He nodded lightly. "Alright, I have a few of my old books still around but I'm going to look online and see if there are any good ones that have come out since." He pushed the Pandemic box forward and took the other two games off the table. "Until then, we got these."

Syleris looked down at the table then back up at him. "But you said you had your books."

Jack smirked. "Putting together a good campaign takes time. I only have so many hours in a day." She looked at him pensively. He held up a hand. "I can put something together if you all really want." Each of them nodded.

Jack breathed in. "Alrighty then. I'll do what I can."

He helped set up the board game and coached them through the basics. They picked a good team: medic, scientist, quarantine specialist...but to Jack's knowledge no one's ever beaten Pandemic on their first try.

"Well you managed to cure two of the viruses." He acknowledged as he picked the disease cubes off the table.

Tetra scrutinized the board with a piercing glare. "But we let the infections in Asia get out of control."

"Yeah." Syleris assented. "And we needed to build another research post out there. Too much time was wasted getting Sula back to Atlanta."

The lamia shrugged. "I wouldn't have enough cards for a cure if we did that." She cast an accusatory gaze at her host. "It seems we just got unlucky with our card draws."

Jack smirked innocently. "You girls can shuffle this time if you want."

"I think we will." Dawn said and picked up both decks. A slight blueish twinkle flashed from her eye.

Jack raised his hands and tried to look as guiltless as possible. Dawn thoroughly intermixed the cards and placed both decks into their proper position. Each player picked out their starting hand and Jack set the initial infections on the board.

He placed the last cube and looked up at his players. "So who's first?" Each of his guests were very still. He lost his little smile and glanced between all of them. "Girls?" They didn't reply.

"It's time." Tetra announced.

All four nodded and reached for their pill bottle. Almost in perfect unison they unscrewed the cap and shook out one pill each. They placed it in their mouths and swallowed.

Jack waited breathless, Tetra's story about Haliet played through his mind. His eyes darted between them, trying to pick up any indication that the pills hadn't taken effect, and that he was probably in immediate danger.

Sula snapped out of the 'daze' first.

"Ah, that's so much better." She closed her eyes and breathed out. The other three followed suit.

Jack let out the breath he was holding but kept his eyes open.

"It's alright Jack." Tetra opened her eyes and glanced at him. "I think we'll be fine." She nodded at his hands.

He blinked and looked down at them. He hadn't realized that he was gripping the table edge like a vise. As soon as he noticed he let go and started shaking his hands. "Uh right." He looked back up at them "You girls still good to play?"

A couple hours later...

"So I told Sula that we're going out again tomorrow."

"Mm. Where to?"

"A nature preserve." Jack lifted a finger. "I think it's called Copper Springs. My family used to take hikes in the woods out there."

The arachne at his side placed a finger near her chin. "A new forest that I can prey upon?" She flashed a grin. "You spoil me."

Her host rolled his eyes and grunted. "I'm not going to get everyone up early this time though." Tetra slighted her head to the side. "Sula's asked me twice now to start training with her. I'm going to spend the morning doing that and after lunch we'll take a field trip." He glanced up at her. "Sound good?"

Her face went neutral.

"Tetra?"

The arachne stared ahead. "I know I said that I didn't mind it earlier but...the more I think about it, the more I don't like the idea of you and her alone, doing something... " She tapped a claw against her thigh. "potentially dangerous."

Jack nodded. "Yeah. It kinda scares me too." He breathed out once. "She says that her tribe instructs their men in self-defense." He looked up at her. "and her people train themselves to hold back their strength." He glanced down. "And I promised myself I'd try to get in better shape for this entire homestay."

He shrugged. "Potential win in my book."

"I just..." She uttered. "I don't..."

"Tetra, please." He implored. "What is it?"

She pressed her lips firmly. "I don't want you getting hurt, while your training."

He smiled ruefully. "I'd point out at that that is the point of doing it." He looked up at her. "To help prevent or at least minimize things that might happen to me." She kept her worried expression. "But that's not really what you want to hear, is it?"

She nodded slowly.

Jack shrugged. "You could watch or join us?" He suggested. Her expression softened. "Plus," He raised a finger. "I don't think you've tried the equipment Reggie's crew brought in for you."

She blinked. "For me?" Her eyebrows dipped. "I wasn't aware there were arachne exercise equipment."

He shrugged again. "Neither did I, until a day or two ago." He nodded at her. "You should try it. See if you like it and give Reggie some feedback."

She casually looked up toward the ceiling. "I...just might."

A memory from earlier that day popped into his mind. Jack sighed. She glanced back at him. "What?"

"I," He started and frowned. "I wanna be sure you're not mad at Sula." She blinked. "You're not mad at Sula? Right?"

She stared at him a second. Then she smirked. "You think I'm jealous of her?"

He opened his mouth and raised a finger. "You...uh, seemed to be a bit jealous of Dawn and Kuro when we got back."

Tetra giggled. "I was just teasing Jack."

He blinked. "You..you were?"

She grinned devilishly. "'Mind games' remember?"

His whole face fell into a not-amused state. He clicked his tongue. Her grin shined.

Jack took in a breath and let it out slowly. "Alright missy." He narrowed his eyes. "I'll be watching you."

She chuckled. "Of course you will." She turned and cantered toward the stairs.

Jack pouted a moment as the trickster left the hallway. Then he turned around and opened his door. A cool breeze brushed against his face and he focused dead ahead.

"Why is my window open?"

Bare milliseconds ticked past his last word before something tight and thin wrapped around his ankles and arms. He tried to step back and cry out but a cloth suddenly wound tight around his mouth and more strings tugged him forward into the moonlit bedroom.

Sharp pain gouged on his shoulder and he let out a gagged yelp. Then gravity seemed to pull heavily on his knees and he felt himself falling forward. A net rose from the floor and prevented him from slamming into the ground. The pain in his shoulder subsided in moments and he tried to struggle out of the net. But he couldn't move.

In fact he couldn't feel anything. Not his arms against the net. Not his legs touching the floor. Nothing.

A smooth appendage wrapped around his torso and suddenly he was soaring. Whisked through his window and out into the night.


Tetra's keen hearing picked up a yelp from the hallway she just left. She pivoted back and rushed toward her host's room.

"Jack?" She called.

He didn't reply.

She surged ahead and barged through his already open door. She grunted with the effort as her abdomen caught on the narrow frame. She swore violently, tilted herself and slid past.

"Jack!"

The darkened room was empty save for her. She dashed and poked her head out into the night air. Panic and loss and anger compounded her moon addled conscience.

"JACK!"

A/N: Dun Dun DUUUNNNN!