-PRESENT-

Penelope had fallen to sleep after the banging had stopped. Yet she was awoken to her covers being pulled back and a hand stroking her forehead.

"The fairies would often come out in the early morning to make sure the flowers had grown overnight..."

Penelope gasped at the voice and bolted up. There sat next to her was Lucy, her black hair swiped up into a bun, with a few stray straight hairs framing her face. She looked exactly the same, her skin was just as pale, and her smile was just as gentle.

"Lucy" she whispered. Without thinking, Penelope dived into her arms and hugged her tightly. Yet as she put her arms around Lucy's waist, she felt a thick liquid cover her hands. Carefully looking over Lucy's shoulder without causing any suspicion, she stopped the gasp crawling out of her mouth and her hands were covered in what looked like blood.

"I... I thought y..you were d...dead" Penelope said softly as she pulled back.

"No my dear, I had been told by your butler Claude that you no longer wanted me. So I left". This caused Penelope to gasp and narrow her eyes. "But I knew you would never say a thing so I investigated Claude and he is very dangerous. You must come with me Penelope! He is a demon and wants your sweet innocent soul".

Without waiting for an answer, Lucy started to pull Penelope's blood stained hands and dragged her towards the balcony.

"Wait! Why are you bleeding? And it's been two years! Why have you come all of a sudden?" Penelope bombarded her with questions.

"You have to come quickly! And don't concern yourself with the blood, I just fell. Now come on" Lucy's last words came out in a much deeper voice, as though she had been possessed.

"Sorry Lucy, but no!" She snapped before pushing her away with all her strength. To her shock, Lucy let out a horrible cackle and her skin became a sickly blue colour. Suddenly the once pretty lady transformed into winged creature. She reminded Penelope of a harpy that she had read from her father's collection of mythology.

"Oh my god!" Running to the door, she cursed herself for locking it and only just got out just in time for Lucy to smash through, ruining the old oak door. Trying not to think about the damage and rather her life, Penelope sprinted down the corridor hoping that the winged beast wouldn't reach her. The banging from downstairs was now very obviously Lucy's doing, and she hoped Claude hadn't been hurt too much. Thinking of Claude, she made her way down the stairs thankful that Lucy was no longer behind her. To say the entrance hall was a mess was a big understatement. The walls had holes in them and feathers littered the floor. It looked as though Claude had done a good job at beating up Lucy.

As she stepped foreword, trying not to step on any debris, she gasped when she saw Claude's glasses smashed up with some blood over one lens. Bending down, she picked it up and grimaced at what could have happened. A sudden screech and bang came from just around the corner of the stairs. Penelope watched with wide eyes as Lucy came flying down, almost as if she was scared. Seconds later, a flash of black followed and grabbed the winged menace roughly, before throwing it down the stairs as though it was a rag doll.

Lucy ended up at Penelope's feet. Just as she was about to move out of the way, she was lifted off her feet and found herself in the furthest corner away from Lucy. Claude looked fine except the scratch marks to his arms and one along his face.

"Please stay here mistress" he said simply and then appeared in front of Lucy once again. Penelope was going to correct him and tell him to call her by her name, but she correctly assumed that this want the right time.

She watched as the two fought rather viciously, with Lucy always aiming for the eyes. Claude on the other hand would strike back with violent punches and golden cutlery. 'Where on earth had he got then from' she thought, since her household wasn't that wealthy.

Claude suddenly grabbed Lucy by the wings, obviously having enough and with an eye watering crunch he snapped one of her wings in half. Her blooded back now became like a fountain as the red liquid cascaded down her back. And Although Penelope wasn't squeamish, the noise Lucy made resulted in her covering her face with her hands.

A few shrieks later, Penelope opened her hands and watched as Claude broke Lucy's neck easily, his eyes were blazing and she was glad that she wasn't on the receiving end of his wrath. However, just as she thought it was all over, Lucy suddenly stood back up, snapped her neck back and before their eyes gave a demented screech and burst out of the window that was next to the large main doors. 'At least the door didn't get ruined' was Penelope's first thought.

Looking at the ruined room, she gave Claude a tired look before saying "So... can you explain what just happened?"

He in return just glanced around the room and gave a defeated sigh knowing how much time he would have to put on fixing the place. Walking over to the young lady, he noticed that she had his broken glasses in her hands.

"I believe you and I were just attacked mistress" he said seriously, although she detected sarcasm in his voice.

"I'm called Penelope!" She snapped angrily causing him to look at her. He then took the glasses and with a twist of his hand, they looked good as new.

"I know" was all he said.

"Then please call me that instead of mistress. I though we were friends after all. Anyway I'm not having this conversation now, are you alright?" She asked with actual concern laced in her voice.

"It is only a scratch" was his reply, he went to pick her up, but she shook her head, causing the curls to bounce in all directions.

"I can walk. All I need to know, is do you think she will come back?" She asked, trying to surpress her yawn.

"Not tonight, but it would not surprise me if she returned soon. We will discuss this in the morning when I have sorted out this mess and you have been well rested". And with those words he picked her up despite her saying not to and in seconds they were at her room.

"Although I'm glad you can move quickly, it makes me feel sick when you do that" Penelope complained as she went to get in bed.

"Penelope, you do realise that you have blood on your arms and hands. I refuse to be given more work, so will you kindly remove yourself from the white sheets and wait for me to prepare some water." She nodded and began to wait. Yet as she waited, she wondered where her maid, Victoria was.

Claude returned quickly and she asked him. He told her how he made sure she was completely asleep by putting her into a trance. Carefully, he washed her arms and hands and made her put another nightgown on. However, just as he was about to leave the room. Penelope called him.

"You said my name!"

"Isn't that what friends do?" He asked in reply. Laughing Penelope nodded and snuggled into the cool white sheets.

"Oh and Claude, please make sure you have a rest tonight, I know demons can't sleep, but after what happened I believe you deserve to rest". He nodded at this and bid her a goodnight.

Two hours later, Penelope felt someone moving the covers. Fearing it was Lucy again, she sat up and was surprised to see Claude. He gently pushed her back down, and she noticed he had removed the tailcoat and was now in a clean white shirt and trousers. His face looked perfect once again and she wouldn't have believed he had been wounded had she not seen it. He carefully got into the bed and pulled her closer.

"Not that I am bothered by what you are doing, but what are you doing?" She asked tiredly wondering if he had been hit too hard on the head.

"You said I deserved a rest after tonight, and that is precisely what I'm doing". She just smiled and snuggled closer, feeling for the first time in a long time that she had her friend back.