The one that had saved her, the one she called Master, the one she had devoted her life to...he had failed. She knew this, felt it with the relief of the humans that came when the lights of the city sparked back into life. He had spoken so many times of greatness, of the power they would share over the world when it was rid of the vermin that crawled on its surface. Now his words seemed empty and fragile, lacking the promise they once boiled with. This did nothing but dishearten her though. She would never leave him, never stray from his side.

But she could not say the same for her children.

They were filled with the hunger that could only be drowned by the taste of human flesh. Unlike her, they were not pure, they were not complete. She was spawned from time, from the very essence of everything...like any immortal. But they were defect, nothing compared to time but a speck of dust on its face, waiting to be swept away. And now they brawled amongst themselves in the belly of the earth, frustrated and angry, primeval animals that held nothing but lust. But she could not bring herself to feel disappointment towards her children because besides from the Master, they were all she had now. Hundreds of defects.

With a bull like bellow, she called for silence, only receiving it after the action was repeated. She stood above them on a broken throne. The place they dwelled in was once something beautiful and she remembered it from long ago; back when humans still feared myths and legends. It was nothing now, nothing but a crumbling cave.

"The Master of us all," she called across the mass of monsters, her voice cracked with the age of eternity, "He will come from his hidden temple tonight and he will show us why we must wait." Her words caused a chorus of protesting screeches that echoed throughout the great cave. The words they spoke were simple and raw. When she bore them, she did not grant them the gift of intelligence, the ability to truly question what she told them. Though this was true, they still somehow managed to manifest simple ways of expressing how they felt, like any animal.

Shouts of 'Humans' and 'kill' filled the air and she watched them, pitied them even because of their lack of understanding.

"Why wait?" Questioned one of the children, lumbering towards her on bulky black legs she had given him. The cloven hooves clicked in the silence that now lingered, as they all waited for the answerer to his question. He raised the lips of his dog like snout, bearing the rows of fangs at her in an idol threat. "Human stink. Kill." He growled. She narrowed her eyes at the snarling creature, before swiping him down with one huge, taloned paw. She held him to the ground, her claws burrowing into the flesh at his neck. He squealed at the attack, writhing under her grasp. She looked back at the others, wordlessly challenging anyone else to approach her. They did not.

"Do you question my judgment? The one who as created you, the one that has given you life in this world?" The monsters shrank away from her piercing, fiery eyes and shook their deformed heads in submission. Her hold around the neck of the beast tightened and crimson beads of blood stained its fur. As fast as she had trapped it, she let it go, watching as it fled into the cowering crowed of its kin, leaving a trail of red in its wake.

"Then rest, all of you," her words were now as soft and tender, like she was lulling her creations to sleep, "When the master comes, we will all have work to do."

HellBoy watched as one of the technical staff tried to explain what one of the many screens in the control room was telling him. It wasn't going very well. The young, stuttering man tried again.

"T-the red bits show-"

"Yeah, yeah I know – the red bits tell me where the electricity all went. I get that, but can you tell me why it went there?" He asked, getting more and more frustrated with each word the youth tried to spit out.

"I...I mean we...um, were trying to figure that out now..err, Sir," the small man, probably in his early twenties was attempting to make himself very small, like he wanted desperately to disappear. He had only been working there for three months and had never had much contact with the places more...interesting inhabitance. HellBoy was not a good place to start. HellBoy in a bad mood was even worse.

"Well," Red said, coming down to eye level with the boy, "Figure it out. Quick. I want to go back to my shower!" He was pissed off. Manning was standing a few meters behind him, he was the one who called for an emergency meeting the moment the electricity was back online and HellBoy wasn't allowed to leave until they knew for sure it was just some fluke. But everyone knew that they just weren't that lucky and that something would crop up.

"It's all very fishy," commented Abe, then added quickly, "No pun intended," Taya laughed, then realised that he was being quite serious and tried to hide it with a cough. With her attention span being very similar to that of a three year old who just swallowed a bag of sugar, she wasn't finding this very interesting at all. This only meant that Manning's had one person in the team that would be half cooperative and that person was a fish-man. A fish-man that didn't like him no less. Yes, the world was defiantly against him.

"Well I think," he said with a rather evil smirk playing across his lips, "We should send a team in." Both HellBoy and Taya turned to face him, with a looks of disbelief plastered across their faces. Abe was still staring at the monitors, trying to make some sense out of the strange readings they were displaying, apparently unaware of the world around him. He could tell something was very different...very wrong about them.

"I agree," he finally said, not taking his large eyes off the screen. Now HellBoy and Taya were staring at him. Sure, Taya had wanted to go on a mission, in fact she was secretly looking forward for a chance to show off a few of her fighting skills, but a mission because of a power cut? She wasn't quite sure of what to say about that, so she kept her thoughts to herself. HellBoy on the other hand, did not.

"Your both nuts. It's like sending a team in to change a light bulb," he complained. "Besides, I need to stay here with Liz," the self satisfied grin that had formed on his face was shattered by the voice that came from behind him.

"No you don't, because Liz is coming with you," the topic of current convocation was leaning against the door frame, rubbing her belly thoughtfully. She had already put her jacket on and had that look in her eyes that said; don't argue with me, I'm a woman. Abe obviously didn't see it.

"You're in no condition to travel Liz," he told her sternly. HellBoy nodded in agreement, then stopped when Liz shot mental daggers at him with her eyes. Taya silently agreed with Abe, then changed her mind.

"She could stay with the monitor team," she suggested, knowing that Liz really was starting to feel extremely useless and was equally sick of people doting on her every need. (Unless it involved early morning cravings of course.) For a moment she thought the pregnant woman was going to argue but then she seemed to accept the compromise with a delicate smile.

"Ah, crap," said HellBoy, knowing he was beat. He loved that woman and wanted no harm to come to her...but that meant he was likely to get hurt in the process. And not by the thing he was protecting her from. She enjoyed being her own person and fighting her own battles and if he ever tried to take that away, it would be like losing her completely. So he did the only thing a boyfriend in that situation could do – he gave in.

"Lets go," he said and wordlessly, the team followed.

Abe was sat across from Taya in the helicopter. She was fast asleep. He found her to be a very curious woman, one who would jump from one emotion to another within seconds, without considering how confused that left other people. He added himself to that category the moment she sought comfort in him and as of yet, he couldn't see a way of getting himself out of it.

He knew little of her past but the snippets he had picked up on left him wanting to know more. Weather it was curiosity, a yearn for knowledge or something different, he wasn't to sure. She had been a horrible person, that's one of the first things he found out about her because that's what she always seemed to be thinking about. In her eyes, anything bad that happed had to be her fault because of who she used to be, it was like her own twisted version of karma. But the worst thing that happened...the thing that left her with a fear of darkness...No, she couldn't blame herself for that. Ever.

The helicopter hit light turbulence for a few moments and Abe watched as she stirred in her sleep and pulled that face she pulled when she didn't quite understand something. He smiled to himself; he was getting quite fond of that face. He kept his eyes on her for a moment more, watching as she relaxed once again as the aircraft settled and her distant smile returned. Turning his gaze to the sea, shrouded by night that was spread out below them, he returned to his thoughts. He wondered if her ever-changing personality was used to mask who she really was, to hide herself from the world. Which part of her was the real her? The joker? The one that wanted to laugh about everything and anything. The brawler? The side that liked fights and tough talk...or the soft side. He chuckled. No, she wasn't a fragile little flower in need of his protection, he thought to himself. Though that side was there, it was defiantly not the dominant one.

But she does need protection, he realised. Mainly from herself and her self hatred that she tried to hide. And now, he was even more confused than he was a moment ago. Was it only him that could protect her – that she wanted protection from? Earlier in the library, when the lights were turned off and she was facing her worst fear, she had held onto him like a new born baby lamb afraid of the big bad wolf. He had felt so needed then, with her hugging his arm and burring her face into his shoulder because she didn't want to see the nothingness of the room and imagine the things it might hide. But did she only seek him out because he was the only one there? Or did she feel truly comforted by his presence? He placed random people in his place – Red, Liz and a few other agents she was friends with and he didn't like what he saw. In truth he couldn't bring himself to imagine it. Jealousy, how curious. That was almost new to him.

Taya said something then. He glanced at her, thinking that she might have awoken and they could talk about...whatever he could pluck the courage up to talk about. But she hadn't and her eyes were closed lightly in a peaceful sleep. But she was still talking.

Abe really regretted what he did next. As curiosity took hold, he moved in closer to her trying to listen to her mumbled words. It was at the point when he was only an inch or so away from her face that she chose to wake up.

"Wow!" she yelped, more confused than anything else. Abe shot back in his chair and tried to act like he hadn't done anything, which, of course made him look like he had. Taya began to laugh nervously and scratch the side of her neck at the same time. She didn't say anything more for a moment, then they both tried to speak at once,

"I was-"Abe began.

"Wha-"Taya started also. They both looked away from each other. But whereas Abe was practically having kittens over what she might of thought he was doing, Taya was grinning like that cat she was. She decided to save him before he chose never to talk to her again out of embarrassment.

"Talking in my sleep again, huh?" she asked as she moved to sit next to him. The look of utter relief on his face was evident.

"Yes, you were. I was just trying to...well, hear what you were saying...T-then you woke up," he swallowed. She shrugged.

"I bet you say that every time," she giggled, sensing him relax at the joke. She knew she talked a lot in her sleep, most of the time about nonsense, so she didn't worry about what she had said or what he might of heard.

"So, how are you?" he asked in a desperate attempt to stay well away from the subject. With a yawn she managed,

"Sleepy," then followed his gaze out of the window. There was nothing but sea and a dark stare sky to match it. But it was beautiful. She let her mind linger there from a moment, lost with Abe in the amazing view. Then she dragged them both out of it by shouting, "Coffee!" Whilst leaping out of her seat. In a flash was off in search of the liquid that would keep her awake, then back again holding two cups.

"Oh, thank you Taya, but I don't drink coffee," Abe told her when she held out a cup.

"I guessed as much, so I got you water. Can't go wrong when you give a fish water," she grinned.

"Yes, thank you very much," he took the cup from her, attempting not to touch any of her fingers in the process. Taya noticed this somehow and frowned.

"When did I get the plague?" she joked, sitting down next to him once more and moving closer to prove her point.

"Excuse me?" he asked, trying to sound innocent. She shook her head and held the cup of coffee to her lips with both hands, giving it a light blow before taking a sip. Within seconds she felt better.

"Noting," she lied, then took a deep breath. "How long until we get there Abe?"

"An hour of so yet I'm afraid, why?" he asked.

"Just wondering how long Liz will get to rest for, that's all. She and HellBoy are curled up together a few seat backs, both of them sleeping like a pair of bricks," she laughed.

"So were you a few minutes ago," he told her with a smile.

"Pay that much attention to me while I'm sleeping do you Abe?" Yes, she was feeling cruel. She smirked with satisfaction when he blushed, like he always did, bringing a hint of purple to his sky blue cheeks. But he caught himself and looked at her, a smirk of his own playing across his face,

"Only because you were talking about me," he was surprised about his quick thinking and the fact he acted on those thoughts, but it seemed to be worth it, because she blushed back.

"What the hell did I say?" She hissed, trying not to sound worried in any way. Come to think of it, why was she worried? What could she have said....really? Abe looked back out of the window.

"Oh, nothing, nothing of importance," he cooed. She could tell he was lying, but she didn't know if it was about her talking about him...or whether it was about how it was of no importance. She huffed, then continued to drink her coffee like she didn't care.

But she really, really did.

They set down on the roof of a building, a good hour and a half later. Abe was still acting smug with his comment and Taya was still trying to pry information out of him. Everyone else just wanted to sleep and tried their hardest to block out the cat-girls complaining.

"Right," said HellBoy, turning to Liz who was standing at the door of the helicopter with agent Nuke and two others, "You stay here and guide us through the caves."

"Caves?" squeaked Taya.

"Didn't you read the brief?" asked HellBoy. She shook her head. He shrugged.

"Oh well. Yeah. It's an underground system that the electricity was drawn to. It's just outside the town. Won't take long to get there," he assured everyone and set off after blowing Liz a kiss, which she presided to shoo away with an amused smirk.

"Stay safe," she called after them.

After a short walk through the remains of an old wood, surrounded by farm lands, they found the entrance to the cave. Red made sure everyone had there tracker and walky-talkies switched on.

"Ok," he spoke into one, "Tell us what's what babe." A few seconds later there was a fuzzy reply.

"Red..." Liz's tone was warning.

"Yeah, ok, I'll stop calling you babe, babe." Abe and Taya rolled their eyes.

"Red, take this seriously," she said, "You and Taya are to take the cave entrance, I'll guide you when you get in there," all or the team had shuffled closer to HellBoy and were listening intently to every word Liz said, trying not to miss anything. "Abe, you'll find a lake a little to the east. Below the cave there is a maze of underwater passage ways that lead into cretin places in the cave that are difficult to get to otherwise. You take that rout, but, if you find anything...do not act alone. Wait for backup."

"Got it," he said with a nod.

"Good. Ok guys, be careful. Liz out." The silence that followed was filled with a buzzing thrill for Taya. Her first mission, it was really happening! Red had already wandered into the cave and she took a step to follow him, then she remembered Abe. She spun around to see him headed off, taking huge strides away from her. Her stomach suddenly tied itself in knots. It didn't want them all to be separated like this. Hell, she didn't want to be separated from Abe. What is something happened to him...?

Without thinking she ran towards him, then flung herself around his waist childishly, trying her hardest to hide her real concern. It didn't occur to her that he was psychic. He gave a cry of alarm, then she let him go, allowing him so turn around, before she latched onto him again.

"Stay safe big Blue," she said, then before he could manage to say anything, she had skipped off into the cave.

"Stay safe," he said quietly to her, feeling the fear for him still linger where she had touched him.

She was scared. And she was scared for him.

He smiled.

A/N: Okay, okay...you will get some fighting in the next chapter! :P Do you think I might be moving a little to fast with the Abe/Taya possibility thing?...Or am I just worrying? As aslways thanks for reading people (: