Hello Everyone! I hope you've all had a good week, I know mine has been fairly good (busy but good), and now I bring you into this wonderful weekend with a new chapter :)...

Belle's POV

There was certainly a unique atmosphere in the air as I stepped out onto the paved driveway that led to a place called the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence. It seemed quiet as I was led up to the main doors by the Agent which I had only seen on the day that I had been taken to Hellboy, Liz and Abe. He was quiet, but his mind was filled with curiosity's as most people...though that wasn't the only thing I noticed, the many aura's I could sense from within the building was overwhelming, I knew from the size of the building and the amount of cars that it was likely there would be a lot of FBI agents inside, but some aura's didn't feel quite natural. However I wasn't given any more time to consider this initially as I was taken inside.

x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x

Opening the doors as he strode in at a pace ahead of her, Belle following with her attention being captured by the large, pristine hallway, she didn't realise too quickly that the floor was almost empty...

With the floor being a solid marble, the sound of Belle's heels seemed to echo off the floor and walls. Yet as she found herself being brought to a stop she took note of a symbol shaped in black marble over a large square of white, a hand clutching what looked like the handle of a sword that extended a little to the edge. 'I trust you don't mind lifts?' he remarked

'No, why do you ask?' Belle responded, the Agent saying no more as the marble square they were on suddenly shifted and Belle found that they were moving underground, the surface covering over as they got beneath it, revealing to Belle an incredible sight of a hidden base that no one could ever find unless they knew of its secrets.

'So Hellboy, Abe and Liz are here?' she asked in amazement.

'Yeah, in a meeting with Agent Manning. You'll be able to sit in with them until the meeting is over.'

'This place is so big...so unusual...' Belle commented.

'There are a lot of secrets in this place Miss. Lucivia...we do our utmost to keep them just that,' Belle looking to him for a moment in some understanding, finding it quite easy to believe that there was a lot more to the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defence than met the eye. As the platform came to a stop, Belle walked off it and onto concrete flooring as she was then led around the corner of the corridor where there were some rooms open and others sealed shut. Though as Belle began looking into some of the open rooms most were simply offices, but others were something more which gave Belle an unwelcome surprise. Hearing a loud screech, Belle saw a group of Agents trying to pin a creature to the floor, Belle watching in a mixture of horror and concern, a cage also being wheeled down the corridor with another creature contained within it. Though Belle found herself immensely startled as the first entity lunged out, Belle moving backwards with fear evident in her eyes. 'What is this?' she breathed, never taking her eyes off the creature for a moment.

'This...is the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence,' he answered plainly, 'it is what we do...capture dangerous creatures such as this in order to determine whether they can be contained or not.'

'Contained?'

'I suggest you go ahead to the meeting room, it's lined with long glass panels on the right at the end of the corridor, just around the corner,' the agent told her, Belle still watching the entity for a moment before slowly, she nodded. Upon finding her footing Belle finally walked at a swift pace, leaving her former driver who went and joined his colleagues. Going around the corner as instructed however, Belle heard a loud crash and slam, turning around and backing up slightly when she felt something brush against her back, Belle glancing round to see Abe stood behind her. She had backed into his chest...

'Are you alright?' he asked in a gentle tone, Belle feeling almost relaxed by it as her tense posture began to ease.

'Startled...' she admitted, 'I saw so many things but I just didn't understand it all...'

'I'm sure there is a lot you are questioning...but I can assure you that you are safe...just stay with us,' he said softly, Belle nodding slightly.

'I will,' she answered, Abe noticing how subdued she seemed in comparison to that morning and feeling her unnerved emotions as he opened the door for her, resting a hand very carefully on her shoulder as he followed her inside the room.

'Miss. Lucivia,' Agent Manning greeted somewhat wearily, Belle nodding slightly as Hellboy took note of her expression.

'Ya look a little pale,' he remarked, Belle shaking her head weakly,

'I'm fine...I just nearly got jumped on by...something,' she responded, Agent Manning asking where the Agent was who should have escorted her. 'He was trying to restrain a creature which his colleagues were finding hard to try and control,' Belle explained, it becoming clear to them that Belle had been unnerved by what she had seen.

'I'm sorry, this segment of the FBI is very unpredictable...' he said carefully, Hellboy drawing out a chair for her, evidently being uncertain of her steadiness if she had any more shock, Abe sitting beside her with Liz being opposite them.

'You forgot to mention boring, secretive, like a prison an' a disgrace to Father who was the best founder the BPRD could have ever had,' Hellboy remarked, meeting Manning's stare quite plainly.

'Professor Broom was a good man I don't deny, but I believe I run the BPRD just as efficiently. Anyway you quit as you keep reminding me, so what does it matter to you?'

'Only that my Father was the one who made this all possible, but you tell me, I mean you're the one who dragged us here and let me tell ya something...' Hellboy started, 'you think you run this place so well? Then tell me how, cause to me you never did before and ya definitely don't now.'

For a moment Agent Manning looked like he could quite readily explode in anger at Hellboy's blunt remarks, it becoming apparent how strained the relationship was between them to Belle as she watched the argument, Liz being about to step in when Manning – upon being reminded of Belle's presence – seemed to calm himself.

'Well...to business,' he then said, Liz looking at Manning with a frown,

'Isn't Johann supposed to be here?' she asked,

'He said he might,' Manning responded 'he is currently visiting this segment again for two weeks, though he's been busy getting caught up on the paperwork for his unit as the head of Ectoplasmic Research in Washington.'

'So why is it that you have called us here?'

'Because I need to know how many entities you had faced just before the problems with that elf prince.'

'Why?'

'We have reason to believe that there has been a high increase in entities within the past few months...but the areas we are seeing this problem in are becoming wider...'

'Entities?' Belle remarked questioningly, 'is that what I was nearly attacked by?'

'Yes...and what you saw in the corridor,' Abe answered softly, 'they are creatures which are generally very disruptive, and while we do not know completely where they all come from, they are not normal creatures, usually with some mythology or legend behind them,' he explained.

'Exactly, and this segment of the FBI ensures the prevention of any real danger,' Manning added.

'Yeah well it's not like we ever get credit for it, is it?' Hellboy responded, 'and in answer to your question I dunno how many entities we faced, if you're talking the past month or so before dealing with Nuada then it was about seven,'

'Eight if you include the Romanian incident, though that wasn't solved by us,' Abe also added,

'Right. Thankyou,' Manning said sitting down finally.

'Great, well we're off then, and please, do feel free not to call round,' Hellboy said with false pleasantry, standing up from his seat and going round as Liz also stood up.

'So we can keep all the contracts for the house?' Liz asked holding them up.

'Yes, yes...I mean that house was paid for out of Professor Broom's remaining money, so it's technically Hellboy's property.'

'Thankyou,' she replied, Belle also getting up though Manning asked to speak with her for a moment.

'Certainly,' she answered courteously, Liz telling her they would wait for her before leaving the room, Abe glancing back as if to see that she was alright before leaving himself.

Once alone however, Manning sighed heavily, getting up to pour himself a cup of coffee. 'I must apologise Miss. Lucivia, you must find Hellboy's remarks atrocious at times...'

'You don't seem to get along too well, but Hellboy is quite simply defensive of what he stands for, it's not a bad trait,' Belle responded, Manning evidently surprised at the way she supported him, making his actions sound more reasoned.

'Well be that as it may, I wanted to ensure that you're alright staying there, it is a big change, and as you know we cannot have anyone finding out about who you're staying with.'

'...and that includes my family?' Belle said

'Yes, I'm afraid so.'

'Then...may I ask, why is it that if Hellboy, Abe and Liz work for the Paranormal Research and Defence...or did...that I'm under their care? I thought there was a segment of the FBI which specialises in security?'

'There are many that do, there are the united states armed forces, the national security segment and others aside from them, but although this team have dealt with the paranormal, as you saw earlier it's not a case of ghosts and aliens,' Manning remarked grimly. 'These monsters and freaks are dangerous...and we believe whatever could be targeting you may be very dangerous. I talk badly of Hellboy, but he's good at what he does. He is known amongst the FBI as the best paranormal investigator in the world, because his cocky and headfirst plans always work. Though amongst them as you've seen Abe is the knowledgeable one who is able to advice on any situation and has every book possible to refer to when we don't know what we're dealing with. Then you also have Liz who has been more unstable...but they all know what they're doing.'

'But they retired...why would they volunteer to help me?' Belle persisted, 'I know they don't want to be a part of this, and I'm aware that it sounds rude but they just don't seem to agree with you on any level.'

'Belle...' Manning began looking at her honestly, 'you're father came to me because he wanted you to be safe, and I knew that they were the one team to do it. I went to them and they sympathized with your situation. They're not in this for any personal gain...and neither am I, all we're trying to do is to keep you safe.' Looking at him for a moment, Belle knew that there had to be something more in it than Agent Manning was letting on, otherwise she wouldn't get such great lengths of protection. But she wasn't given a chance to discover what other motives played a part in her situation as Manning then ended their conversation. 'Anyway, don't let out disagreements concern you, just remember that all you know must remain quiet...'

'Very well,' Belle nodded, about to leave the room when Manning called her back,

'Thankyou...for not telling Harold and Glenna,' Belle nodding with some wistfulness as she answered,

'It wasn't ever my choice to make,' before walking out of the door to see Abe there alone much to Belle's surprise. Though as he saw the thought on her mind he quickly explained that Hellboy and Liz had gone ahead to the car...

'I said I would stay and wait for you,' he then offered, Belle looking at him for a moment when she smiled gratefully.

'Thankyou.'

Abe didn't know how it was that Belle had taken to them so easily, it simply amazed him, though he knew she was anxious now. The BPRD after all had a lot of entities being kept in its confinements, many of which would probably frighten Belle, Abe thought. But regardless of that; he stayed close to her even when they left the underground level, it seeming to comfort her as they went out into the November sun...Yet as they walked down the steps, Belle and Abe waited for Liz to drive the car around, Belle seeming to be thinking about something for a few moments before she turned to Abe.

'Do you...believe that there's more to people than what you see?' she asked softly, Abe glancing to her as he took in what she said, his answer thoughtful as he responded.

'Yes...I do,' he nodded, remembering all he had discovered over the years from people without delving too far into their thoughts, though as Belle began to continue Liz and Hellboy pulled up, Belle then saying no more as they got in the car, though it remained on both hers and Abe's minds for the journey home.

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

As Friday evening came around the following week, Belle was in her room with Willow lay on her lap as she flicked through some songs, singing her solo's softly to herself when a knock came to the door.

'Hey, I was just wondering if you'd seen...yeah should have known,' Hellboy said knowingly, seeing the kitten that now purred contently from Belle's lap.

'Sorry, she wandered in earlier,' Belle began, stroking the soft black cat.

'Nah its fine, she's really taken to you hasn't she?'

'Yes, it would seem so...' Belle smiled.

'Well me an' Liz are gonna watch an action movie upstairs if you want to join us?'

'I might do, thankyou,' Belle nodded, Hellboy leaving her to it, though it was only ten minutes later that the situation changed from peaceful to hectic. As Belle sat there, she didn't know where Abe had been at the time, presumably upstairs and Liz with them as she heard a loud slam from the upper floor and Hellboy shouting loudly 'Oh sure, just let yourselves right in,' Belle jumping in surprise, and Willow falling from her lap, and crying out in an aggravated manner.

'Sorry,' she muttered apologetically, running her hand through the young cat's fur before going out of her room.

'Agent Hellboy please, vat Agent Manning iz trying to say iz zat vith all zat iz going on, it vill undoubtedly be difficult to stop any opposing entities vithout ze right team to stop it. I have no doubt zat ze FBI can now handle smaller jobs alone after fighting these creatures for years...but it vould be most helpful to ze people of ze vorld if you could help vere zey can't. You surely haven't forgotten ze gratitude you have received off some over ze years?' Johann offered. Belle didn't know the voice that was speaking, though she recognised the heavy accent...German. Upon reaching the hallway, Belle had heard the conversation from within the living room and it surprised her. The FBI were asking them for help...but she could already tell that they would be unwilling to do so...and she wasn't far wrong.

Though as Hellboy glanced over at Liz and Abe who seemed none the wiser on what to say to this, the group was surprised to hear Belle's voice speak up softly. 'You helped me...' Looking to the door, Hellboy saw Belle stood there, wondering whether or not to come in and hovering in the frame as she continued.

'I know I can't influence your decision, I think the dangers you all face is wrong because you all do so much and yet you help so many people. Some may not be aware you have, some may be grateful to know that someone was watching over them on that one day when they needed it. I know I was. When I needed the help, and I began to fear that hope was lost, Abe was suddenly there beside me, telling me it would be okay. So you may feel like the FBI are treating you badly, and I think in some respects they have, but regardless of that you've still gone out and helped those that have needed it. You helped me, and I will forever be grateful of it,' she smiled. With these words in mind as they moved around the room, Hellboy then sighed as he finally nodded.

'Alright, I'm in, though sometimes I wonder whether you had an ulterior motive in bringing Belle to us,' he remarked, Belle believing he was misjudging her,

'But I wasn't...'

'We know,' Abe said carefully, 'it's not your intentions he's questioning,'

'No, and most of the time I give up on trying to even guess Manning's, all I can say is this had better be good.'

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter :) and I do feel the need to mention my excitement tonight as I'm getting my own puppy today! Not a Samoyed as Belle's dog is but a lovely American Cocker Spaniel :) Can't wait!

Anyway, please review, I will be updating soon, and the next chapter is sure to be a surprise for everyone ;)

Goodnight and I hope you all have a good weekend!

~x-xMasqueradeAngelx-x