A Month Later

Nightmares. Shilo got them a lot. She'd hoped that once she started living at the Bureau, the nightmares would end. They didn't. They just got worse. Instead of dreaming of her death by the hands mankind, she would dream of Myers being shot in the head for trying to protect her. Of Liz's fire ability blowing back at her and dieing. Abe being ripped to shreds by sharks.

Of Hellboy becoming a monster. Engulfing the world in an apocalyptic hell. The nightmares came. They seemed so real. She would awaken in the night, screaming and crying. Myers or Clay, a man with scars on his chest and exhausted eyes, would come to her side, telling her everything was OK. It was just a bad dream.

Shilo hated it. Her nightmares. She found herself straying away from Hellboy and the others in the morning. Only coming around them in the afternoon, when the dreams didn't seem so fresh in her memory. When she felt comfortable enough to be around them without crying.

One night, Clay and Myers weren't there to comfort her. She had awaken from a hellish nightmare. Shilo curled her knees to her chest. The nightmare played like a movie in her mind. Liz was having her children. Hellboy, Myers, and Abe were fighting a giant tentacle covered creature outside the hospital labs doors. Doc was dead on the floor, blood everywhere.

Liz was crying. Shilo couldn't reach her. Her body slowly being covered in chains. The pulled her away. Pulled her into the shadows. Shilo cried out to Hellboy to help Liz. He couldn't hear her. He couldn't see her. She was swallowed up by the darkness.

Shilo cried. Tears streamed down her face, her body shaking, as she wrapped her tail around her waist, her face in her hands. The room was dark. Above her, the ceiling fan turned. Shilo was scared. She needed to get out of her room.

Pushing herself from the bed, Shilo walked over to her door, pulling it open. Shaking, Shilo stuck her head out the door, wringing the bottom of the large black shirt Hellboy let her keep for a nightgown. From her mouth hung the red ball of yarn given to her. Stepping out into the dimlylit hallway, Shilo slowly, quietly, tip-toed to the kitchen, which was one of the closes rooms to her.

Stepping into the kitchen, Shilo let her nose lead her to the fridge. Finding the fridge, Shilo, grunting, yanked the fridge door open, sniffing the cold air til she found what she wanted. Pulling the wrapped bowl out of the fridge, Shilo shut the door, before settling into a corner next to the kitchen table.

Pulling the ball of yarn out of her mouth, Shilo placed it next to her, before unwrapping the bowl she had pulled from the fridge. Her nose and tail twitched happily, her ears perking up straight, as the smell of the bowls content pulled a purr from her. Her favorite fish; tuna.

Dipping her fingers into the bowl, Shilo scooped a finger full of tuna and egg into her mouth, purring a smiling as she licked her fingers and face clean, before repeating the process over and over again.

After halfway through the bowl, Shilo felt her nerves and tears settle, as she licked her fingers clean one last time, finishing the entire bowl. With a content hiccup and sigh, Shilo picked up the bowl and placed it on the kitchen table, before reaching down to pick up her ball of yarn.

Shilo clutched the yarn to her chest as she stepped out of the kitchen and into the hallway. 'What if I have another nightmare? I don't want to be alone in my room.'Shilo felt her ears drop against her skull, as she looked down the hallway towards her room, before turning away.

Making her way down hallways and away from her room, Shilo let herself wander all the way to the library. Making her way down two hallways, Shilo finally spotted the large wooden door. Running towards the door, Shilo, with a little difficulty, was able to pull the door open.

Sticking her head in, Shilo found the room was dimly lit by the green shaded lamps. The bigger lights were off. Shilo pulled herself into the room, her nose and ears twitching as she listened to the water in Abe's tank.

"Mr. Abe? Are you awake?" Shilo called out, making her way to the glass of Abe's tank. Shilo peered into the dully lit tank, ears twitching as she placed her left hand on the glass, hoping Abe would feel her presence, and she his.

Instead of feeling his presence, Shilo felt that something was off; foreign. The room was to quiet and the air tasted strange. Ears tilted back and claws out, Shilo slowly pushed herself away from Abe's tank. Shilo let her eyes wander slowly around the room, her tail slowly swishing back and forth behind her.

She stayed like this for awhile. The room smelled fine. Clean, even. But Shilo couldn't shake the animal instinct feeling that something was wrong. As if someone was watching her right now. And it seemed that it knew that she knew it was watching.

The room suddenly became slightly darker, as Shilo let out a hiss. Her eyes adjusted perfectly to the dark, allowing her to see everything clear as day. Shilo's eyes narrowed as she raised her claws up, watching as the shadows in the corner of the room seemed to take shape, and move forward towards her.

Shilo felt a growl and hiss pull from her throat, as the person came farther out of the shadows and finally into the dim light of the room. Shilo crouched down slightly, staring at the once shadow covered creature.

It was a man. 'No. Not a man. An elf.' Shilo thought to herself. He was tall. two and a half times her small size. He had long, waste length, blond, almost white, hair that shimmered even in the dark. His skin was pale, and ears were pointed. He had a handsome, but frightening and rugged, face. His attire was that of the ancient warriors she had seen in the movies her and Hellboy had watched about a week ago. Royal and elegant, but firm and sturdy for a battle.

Hanging from a strap, Shilo spotted what appeared to be a spear hanging from his hip. Shilo hissed and growled as the man took a step towards her. He halted, his eyes narrowing. Shilo's eyes narrowed as well, as he reach towards her with his left hand.

Shilo, eyes wide, let her own left arm lash out, her claws jamming into her hand! The man snarled in what sounded like annoyance. "Child! I do not wish to harm you! However," the elf grasped her wrist harshly, squeezing hard enough to pop Shilo's claws out of his hand. "I will not tolerate being attacked!" He pushed her back, causing Shilo to stumble back against the glass of Abe's tank.

Face red and anger rising, Shilo felt the hairs on her tails stand up, as she produced her claws completely out to there full one and a half inch. Her hair rustled, as she let her fangs fully produce them self to there one and a half inch. She brought herself down on her hands and the toes of her feet. Anger and a want to protect herself and her home overwhelmed her.

'There's a stranger in my home! There's a stranger in my home!'Her mind was screaming, and her body was shaking. Shilo felt fear in the back of her skull. Fear for the anger that was over-taking her. Fear for the elf in front of her, who through all her growls and snarls, simply stared at her with hardened eyes.

Any human part of her seemed to be pushed to the back of her skull. Shilo barred her teeth, and let out a lion of a growl. Her pupils burst! They reformed into slanted murky pools of black, red, and green!

"Child! Calm yourself! You do not want to challenge me!" The elf's voice sent a wave of fury through her. Shilo's eyes locked with his, She hissed and swatted at the air towards him. Like a spring, She pressed herself backwards, as the elf took a stance. "Calm yourself, demon child! Control your anger!" The elf was now growling himself, his hands formed to fist.

Shilo roared out a hiss before she lunged at him! Shilo, claws out, landed infront of him, swiping at his chest. He back stepped her easily, grabbing her wrist, before sling-shooting her towards the tank. Shilo cried out in anger, as she pushed against the tank upon impact, launching herself towards the elf. Seeming to surprise him, Shilo landed on him, her hand and feet claws jamming into his shoulder and the sides of his waist, as she was able to use her weight to pin him to the ground!

Shilo lowered her face to his. He did not cry out or blink as she growled into his face, ripping her right hand from his shoulder. Greenish brown blood dripped from her claws, as she raised them, preparing a strike to his face.

"Shilo, no!" Shilo felt something hard grasp her right wrist, as she was ripped off of the elf. She felt something wrap around her chest, releasing her wrist as she struggled against whatever was holding her! Shilo let out a strangled, angry, lion like hiss of a roar, as the elf slowly, clutching his bleeding right shoulder, rose to his feet.

"Brother!" Shilo snarled and thrashed around on her hold, ignoring the grunts and familiar voice that called for her to stop. Her teeth bared and eyes narrowed, Shilo watched as a woman, similar appearance as the elf, ran towards her source of anger.

She woman reached the elf, clutching her own right shoulder, as she touched his chest, fear and worry on her face. The male elf, eyes still locked with Shilo's, dismissed her worry, turning it back to her. She shook her head, tears in her eyes.

Shilo's eyes widened and jaw slacked, as she spotted Abe. His large black eyes were wide with worry, as he ran to the woman, placing his web hand on her bleeding right shoulder. She gave him a loving smile, as she turned to face him, revealing her swollen stomach!

Abe placed his webbed hand on the woman's stomach, worry in his eyes, as Liz suddenly appeared beside him, clutching her own large belly. "I am fine, my love. Brother and I are fine." Shilo heard the woman whisper softly.

"Come on, Shilo! Snap out of it!" Shilo, realizing that she was still struggling against her holder, let her thrashing slowly come to a halt, as she began to let out slow and even breaths. She felt her vision clear of the red tint that had slowly been forming. Her claws slowly retracted back into her, along with her teeth returning to a smaller size. She slumped against her hold, her breathing heavy as her heart pounded against her chest like a drum.

"Good girl, Shilo! Good girl!" Shilo felt the hold on her release, causing her to fall on her hands and knees. She stared at the floor, her eyes glazed, as she someone stepped in front of her.

Breathing deeply, Shilo slowly let her eyes travel up from the ground, landing on a pale female face. Shilo felt tears form at the corner of her eyes, as she shook her head. "I'm so sorry!" The elf woman lowered herself to her knees. She held a warm, motherly, smile, pulling Shilo into her arms.

"It is all right, young one. You were only protecting your home from what you thought was danger. It is in your nature." The woman whispered, running her hand through Shilo's hair. Shilo felt herself hiccup as she pushed down her tears, pulling away from the elf woman.

The woman helped Silo to her feet, as Abe helped her. Shilo gave Abe an apologetic look. Liz approached her, pulling her into a hug as Shilo felt her dame break. Tears flooded forward from her eyes, as she felt Hellboy, her holder, place a hand on her head.

"Child? How old are you?" Shilo felt herself tense in Liz's hold, as she pushed away from the fire starter, a guilty and disappointed look on her face, as her victim stepped towards her, clutching his still bleeding right shoulder.

Shilo hiccuped, wiping her eyes, keeping them away from his. "I-I don't know. I-" Shilo was cut off by Abe. "She is five-years-old, Prince Nuada. She lived alone on the streets for her whole life, and does not have any clue as to what she is."

Shilo lowered his head, as the elf, Prince Nuada, brought his gaze from Abe back to her. Shilo froze as the man stepped forward, brushing past her to Hellboy, who was patting a tired Liz on the back. The elf prince made his way towards the exit.

"Demon. It is late. Tomorrow I would like to have a word with you and the others. The child will stay away from this meeting." With that, Shilo watched as the elf prince disappeared out the door.

Shilo felt her lips tremble, as her ball of red yarn was dropped into her left hand. Looking up, Shilo found Abe and the elf woman standing infront of her. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Abe!" Shilo whimpered, her voice low.

"Im sorry!" Shilo let out, before pushing herself away from everyone and out the door. "Shilo!" Hellboy called out to her, but she ignored him, bolting down hallways until she found her room. Shutting and locking her door, Shilo, in the dark, threw herself onto her bed, pulling the covers over her, as she curled into a ball and cried.

"I'm a monster!"

R&R plz.