Arriving at the spot where they hide their bikes for the day, David cut his engine and became aware of her slight trembling.

'Where are we? I thought we were going to your place.' He picked up on her discomfort instantly.

'Get off.' He said which she did, allowing him to push his bike off to the side. 'This is just where we park our bikes. We have to go for a small bush walk before we reach our place.' He turned seeing the worried look on her face.

'Right.' She said and he took her hand and stood close to her.

'Trust me Star bright.' She looked up at him like a small child would and he led her into the forest with him, his boys falling in line behind him.

'Have you even fed yet?' Paul projected into David's head as they moved through the trees. 'You're just fucking with us and she's going to be tonight's meal right?'

'Drop it Paul.' David warned him and Paul looked back at the other two to see their reaction. He couldn't be serious, David just didn't do this, but here he was leading this girl, this very young girl, to their sleeping quarters. The only girls who ever made it into their home, never made it out again.

'We're nearly there.' David encouraged her.

'Good.' She replied and he felt her fall behind him and he turned just in time to catch her. 'Oww!' She cried.

'Are you alright?' He asked genuinely concerned about her and, in that moment and witnessing this side of David for the first time, Dwayne knew the feather girl was special and David was dead serious about her.

'Yeah, I just rolled my ankle I think. I'll be fine.' She said limping.

'Paul.' David said and Paul came in behind her and scooped her up in his arms carrying her the rest of the way.

'Woah, I'm OK, really. You don't have to.' Both Paul and David ignored her protests and continued on out of the woods and onto the wooden staircase before descending down to the cave. David could smell her fear, Hell, they all could, she was terrified. The situation they had her in had her adrenalin skyrocketing. Walking into the cave, David told Paul to place her on the couch while he took his jackets off and Dwayne began to light the barrels. David stood back and watched her large eyes light up as the room was illuminated around her and he smiled. Again he saw her as a shining star in his dark cave and she looked so beautiful to him.

'You like?' He asked her, amused at her reaction when she looked at him and nodded.

'Um… yeah. This place is amazing. What is it?' She asked looking around and, as he told her about the earthquake, her face became shocked. Dwayne tried to remember if he'd ever seen David act in this manner the whole time he'd known him.

'Is it safe in here?' She asked and he walked towards her.

'As long as you're with me, you will always be safe Star.' He laid his influence on her thick and then switched just as quick. 'Are you hungry?' She shook her head staring at him and he turned and sat in his wheelchair. Dwayne sat next to Marko and they both watched David fuss over the girl in amusement.

'Drinks Marko.' David said and he picked up on her interest in his boys and it bothered him, he wanted her all for himself and his desire to own her and control her weighed heavily on him. 'Where are you from Star?' He asked wanting her to talk to him and divulge more about herself. He wanted to know everything about her.

'Originally, I'm from Chicago, but I live in San Francisco. Well, my dad does.'

'Yes… Your dad.' David said remembering what she'd told him. There was no way that fucker would be hurting her ever again, David would make sure of that. 'Santa Carla is a nice place Star. You'll like it here.' He'd already decided she would come and live with him, maybe not straight away, he'd set her up in a motel and he'd keep an eye on her until she was 17 and then she would come to him. He watched as Paul sat next to her and placed her injured ankle on his knee and asked her how it was feeling. Paul was just being Paul and normally it wouldn't bother him but with her, David felt flooded with jealousy over Paul's close proximity to his girl. Paul pulled out one of his perfectly rolled smokes and lit it offering it to her and David was interested in her reaction and whether she would partake and to his delight, she did. That would make her integration into his group easier. The girl had balls being here with these guys, who all appeared quite a bit older than her, and be willing to get stoned but it wasn't like he'd given her a choice. He wasn't going to let her escape ever, he'd been waiting half a century for a connection like this.

'Did you see Tee talking to the people before she left with them?' She surprised both Marko and David with her question and Marko flicked a quick look to David before answering.

'Yeah, it seemed like she knew them.' She seemed to accept that and he turned and passed Dwayne the smoke.

'Ahh, do you guys sleep here?'

'Sure do girl but the couch is all yours tonight.' Paul answered her and she smiled at him. He could make any girl feel comfortable and that's just what David wanted right now, for her to feel comfortable around his boys. David felt content as everyone in the room began to relax and get high and laugh. They talked about everything; the concert - where Paul called Dwayne a slut, drugs, alcohol - where Star said she wasn't much of a drinker and they laughed at her chugging back a beer, parties – where Paul called Dwayne a slut, girlfriends and boyfriends – David was interested in her answer to that one, food and then school – where Paul again called Dwayne a slut. They were all getting along great but David wasn't doing much talking, he just sat there and listened and watched her interact with his boys. She was perfect to him and it was like she belonged there with them already. He looked over at his jewelled bottle, contemplating if he should, if it was the right time and if she could handle it.

'David, Max will lose his shit if you do.' Dwayne spoke in his head and David calmly looked at him, knowing what he said was the truth. He really didn't give a shit what Max thought but it confirmed for him it wasn't the right time yet, he would wait but it would happen. Star would be his for eternity.The boys began talking between themselves, banter to which she just lay there and listened to and David watched as her eyes closed and she began to fall asleep. David rose, knowing the sun was about two hours away and he told his boys he was going out for a bit and not to leave her alone. He shot out and flew down to a flower farm in the valley where he picked her a single white lily and brought it back without damaging it.

'You romantic prick.' Paul chided him and David just looked at him. The boys then took their cue and retreated to the back of the cave to sleep and David sat next to her and watched her sleep for a few minutes, when suddenly she jolted and opened her eyes.

'Go back to sleep, my Star.' He said softly. 'You are mine now and I will take care of you.' He touched her cheek and pulled the feather out of her hair, then he stroked a stray piece of hair that had fallen in her face. He looked around realising he had nothing to cover her with so he went back to one of the sunken hotel rooms and found a musty old blanket for her and placed it over her. He would go out and get her a new one in the next few days. She was fast asleep and he could feel himself beginning to fade so he kissed her on her cheek, not wanting to leave her alone but knowing he had to, and he placed the flower he'd chosen for her, along with a small note on the table near her head and went to sleep.