Chapter 5

After dinner Sarah ordered Will to help Annabelle with her bath, much to my amusement. Jazz had left with Epps to take him home; apparently he lives a few miles away closer to town with his fiancé. And the rest of the group went to the barn to do... I don't know, I didn't ask. That left Sarah and I alone for a little while, well us and Ratchet. Optimus told him to help Sarah with the casts, or was it that Sarah help him? Meh, who cares. Besides I was too exited too get my casts off and walk around freely to care much.

"Alright Ren lay on your belly and stay very still." Ratchet said motioning to the floor with his hand that held a Small electric hand saw that appeared out of thin air. Gods these people are weird. I nodded a bit, watching the little saw in his hand glow blue ever so slightly through the bulb on the handle. I laid down where I was told and got tried my best not to move.

Ratchet took a hold of my body cast and lifted it high enough to where there was a gap between me and the cast. "Alright I'm gonna start, stay still." Ratchet informed, and turned on the saw. I grunted in acknowledgement as I felt the cast being cut.

Once both the body cast and the one on my leg were off, I stretched out on the floor and rolled around like a pup. Giggling to myself and ignoring the amused stares from the humans in the room. Suddenly I realized something; I turned to the amused pair and gave the biggest toothy grin I could. Instantly transforming to my humanoid form and throwing myself onto the couch backwards. I squealed as I stretched my sore muscled on the couch and laugh like a mad woman. Which let's face it, I probably am.

With a sigh I laid my head back onto the cushion and closed my eyes in contentment as I wrapped my arms around myself. "You guys have no idea how good this feels right now" I said dreamily. "It's nice to be free" I mumbled softly taking a moment to just enjoy myself. I was too wrapped up in myself that I didn't notice the two new additions in the room. Or that the first two had been staring at me in both astonishment and almost complete understanding.

"Mommy who's that on the couch?" I heard Annabelle ask. Snapping my eyes open I looked at her to see her washed and ready for bed.

"Well sweetheart that's Ren's humanoid form" Sarah responded with a smile. Though Annabelle looked confused.

"What's a humonoud form?" She asked in the cutest way possible. I laughed a bit but let Sarah explain the word.

"No sweetie, it's called hu-ma-no-id. And it's a way for her to look like people." Sarah said. Annabelle nodded and looked to me, accessing my features. She must have found whatever she was looking for because all too quickly she let go of Will's hand and went into a dead print into my arms. My eyes widened but I held out my arms out to her instantly to break her fall when she jumped on top of me with a squeal.

"You are so pretty! Like a princess!" She all but yelled in my ear. I blushed profusely at her words and grimaced at the high tone.

"Well I should. That is what I was before I came here" I laughed as I stood from the couch with her in my arms, balanced on my hip. Her eyes lit up even more, if that was even possible and gasped in surprise.

"You're a princess!?" She squealed. "A real life Princess! Mommy! Did you know that Ren is a real life princess?" she asked looking at her mother excitedly. I chuckled to myself as he continued to ask her mother if she knew of my status. I let Annabelle down to the ground so she could berate her mother by herself.

I turned to look at the other two occupants in the room. Will was watching with a mix of shock and amusement. Ratchet was accessing my form up and down committing it to memory. It didn't feel sexual or anything, he was like a just scientist collecting data from an exciting experiment. It was sort of funny the way he was concentrating so much. This confirmed my theory that he and the rest of the team had never come across a demon before in their life. But this also made me realize that I am in no way presentable right now the last time I bathed in this form was more than a week ago. Gods I must stink. When I came to this realization, I turned to Sarah instantly and pulled her down to my height—who is unsurprisingly taller than me, just like everyone else in this dammed house except Annabelle but that'll change once she hits puberty— to whisper in her ear.

"Sarah dear, I know you're a bit busy with Annabelle at the moment but could I borrow some clothes for the night? I don't really want to sleep in these clothes when I get back." I said softly as I glanced down at my outfit which consisted of dirt covered jeans and what used to be a cream colored shirt. How it all got this dirty with me being in my demon form I will never know, but it did. Sarah gave me a once over and nodded. She was most likely mentally looking through her drawers for something that will fit me. With another nod she put her hand on my back and pushed me to the stairs while giving the gentlemen in the room a small smile.

"Sorry boys but we have girl stuff to take care of. You can go to the barn and join the meeting, we'll be a while." She said. I looked at Ratchet over my shoulder as I reached the door.

"Oh, and don't wait up for me. Just go ahead and go to bed; I'll try not to wake you when I get back. Alright?" I said, he nodded once and they both turned to the front door and left. Sarah, Ann' and I went upstairs to the master bedroom. There Sarah rummaged through her drawers for some fitting clothes. Unfortunately even though my 5'2" 125lbs. form will never compare to her own 5'10" 100lbs. She was taller yes but she was also skinnier than me so her clothes would be too tight on me, though she found me some stretchy underwear so that's good. We eventually opted to just use one of Will's old shirts and college sweat pants for bed. And while I'm out tonight I would go searching for my travel bag that I had left at my rented hotel room. Hopefully it was still there, I had rented the room for the month so I think it'll be okay.

I showered quickly; washing my hair and making sure it would shine in the sun tomorrow. When I got out I changed into the offered clothes and headed out to where Sarah was coaming Annabelle's hair. I sat beside Sarah and ran my hands through my silver hair that faded to black at its ends to rid it of pesky tangles. Sarah glanced at me for a moment, her eyes focusing on the cat like ears on top of my head.

"So do all demons have ears like yours?" She asked as she braided Ann's hair. I looked at her as I played with my bangs, trying to keep them tame and making sure the sides framed my face perfectly. What? Just because I'm naturally attractive to other people doesn't mean I don't have to try.

"No, not really" I said, moving my hand to touch one of the delicate ears. "The story goes that one of my ancestors wronged a witch or a wizard. I'm not sure which, but essentially my bloodline was cursed to have the ears of a half breed – half human, half demon—and live I shame for all eternity or something like that. So every female in my family who was a direct descendant of that one demon are all born with these ears, I got them from my mother. My father though, he has normal human like ears but they are pointed like an elf." I explained.

"That's fascinating, so are you treated differently because of it?" Sha asked.

"Yes but not in the way you think. I personally, am treated like royalty because of who my father is. No one would dare speak ill of father's children if they want to live." I said with a laugh. Sarah nodded at me as I used Annabelle's abandoned brush to pull my hair into a half pony tail and securing it with a black and silver clip that held my family crest.

"But it's also because over the centuries, what started out as a sign of shame eventually became a symbol of purity ironically enough." I giggled. "Demon lords began seeking them out to marry and produce strong and powerful offspring. I was born by one of these matches, my father married mother for power. They are not intended mates but they tolerate one another and found common ground with their for love their children. Even though they don't really show it." I said, a sad smile coming to my face as I ran a hand over the crest.

"Intended mate?" she asked with a pensive expression. "Like a soul mate?"

I nodded. "Yes, all demons have intended mates, though they are not always other demons. Like for example my grandfathers intended mate is a human princess that he met a few years after he had married my father's mother and had him. They divorced shortly after of course, there was no way grandfather would have his mate be labelled a mistress just because he didn't find her before he was required to marry." I said. "One day I hope to find my mate and begin a family of my own. But it could take decades before I find him maybe even centuries so it's sometimes hard to stay hopeful." I mumbled with a displeased pout.

"Our mates mean everything to us. Once we find them, nothing else is more important, nothing more precious as our other half." I said softly finding myself gazing at the barn where the men were in a meeting. I shook myself from those thoughts and stood abruptly from my seat.

"I should head out. The faster I go the sooner I get back and go to bed." I declared. "Good night Sarah, goodnight Annabelle" I said touching my cheek to theirs as a sign of affection. "Sleep well, I'll see you in the morning" I called from outside the room.

Once I reached the porch I quickly transformed and took off in an easy sprint in the direction of my hotel, after I reclaimed my things I would go and scout the area. I can't wait to get back and get some well-deserved sleep.

Unknown to me, in the barn the group of men were in the middle of a debate on whether I could be trusted or not. Apparently they had all been listening in on my conversation with Sarah, and were also contemplating the information.

Ratchet thought that the prospect of a different sentient species on earth that shared it with humans was fascinating. He was astounded and dare he say it a bit enchanted by the young femme, he could practically see the intelligence and power seeping through her skin. He wanted to study her kind and find out everything there was about them. He wanted nothing more than to take her to the base so he could study her habits more closely. But alas he couldn't, not until he was sure they could trust her.

Optimus was a bit at conflict with himself. On one hand; the femme showed and increasable sense of loyalty and protective nature toward those she has bonded with. That type of loyalty could be good for the Auobots. She could set an example to the youngsters that were in anyway conflicted with their pledges. That and her natural sense of protectiveness would ensure that she would keep their secret and be discreet. But on the other; there was no ensuring how she would react to the information. And there was also the fact that if she were to learn of them and accepted it she would be in danger if the Decepticons found out. Though, she could clearly take care of herself if he went by this afternoon's performance of first hiding in plain sight and convincing them that she was a harmless animal. And even though she clearly was at a disadvantage due to her casts she was still willing to attack if need be to protect the sparkling Annabelle. She could still be no match for a Decepticon if she went head to head. She would still need protecting.

Now Ironhide, unlike the other two mechs in the room was completely against telling the creature of their secret. He found her irritating and annoyingly distracting. The little femme had not left his processor since they had arrived and he had noticed the animals' odd energy signals and strange behaviour. Even while confined to those 'casts' she presented herself with grace and elegance that he had never seen in any creature on this mud-ball of a planet. But she got in the way of William when he went to search for his sparkling and life mate. How dare she, it is not her place to protect his charges. He didn't trust her. Not for a second. He couldn't wait for Optimus to declare her untrustworthy and send on her away.

William Lennox didn't really know what to think. At firsts he was quite confused on how everything played out, beginning with his surprise phone call and ending with Sarah's arrival. The demoness Ren has yet to show any mal intent towards his family, from what he has observed she merely wished to start a life here. He actually admired her for it, to leave all of her loved ones and the comforts of familiar life behind and setting off to find something to make her own. But he didn't think it was a very good idea to endanger her with the knowledge of the Autobots.

Eventually they decided that they would continue to observe the young demoness. Hopefully in time, she will prove herself to be a great ally, and worthy of their trust.