A/N: Melodica belongs to me.

Chapter 3: Always Safe

After a day of learning more about the aliens that had rescued her and eating good food that she had only dreamed about after being in the system for so long before running away and then stealing to eat, Rachel found herself struggling to stay awake, to which Phantasmo chuckled. "Looks like our newest family member is sleepy," he said, going over to the girl and picking her up. She didn't protest as she was trying to stay awake.

"It has been a big day for her," Zeus said, smiling. "But I believe she has the right idea. We should turn in."

"I'll put the defenses on," said Ghostfreak, moving to do so.

"And I'll get this little one off to bed," said Phantasmo, carrying Rachel down the hall to her room, setting her on the bed. No sooner had the girl's head hit the pillow, she was out like a light, making him chuckle. "Good night, young one. We'll see you in the morning."

A few hours later, Rachel jumped awake with a gasp. "Mom!" She yelped out, hearing her birth father's horrible laughter in her mind. She shook her head, which helped to clear her head, but she began shivering, feeling cold.

Getting up, she changed her clothes as she realized they were soaked with sweat and felt uncomfortable. Not wanting to go back to sleep right away, she left her room and walked quietly down the hallway, not wanting to disturb the aliens, but little did she know, the Vladats had detected her upset and fear and were waiting patiently for her as she was approaching their room.

Vampiro had woken up at sensing deep fear, adrenaline, and sadness. This concerned him as he felt it coming strongly from Rachel's room. "Father?" He heard and looked up to see Whampire was awake too. "You sensed it too?"

"Yes," he said. "It's Rachel. Something's not right."

Vamps blinked awake and yawned. "What's happening?" He asked.

"I think Rachel had a nightmare," his brother said.

Now the older brother could sense the girl's negative emotions. "She's scared," he said.

"Whampire, bring Rachel in here," Vampiro said. "Vamps, please get a cold washcloth and some berry tea."

"Yes, Father," both said, flying down from the ceiling where they had been sleeping and going to do as he had asked them.

Rachel paused at a window, gazing out into the black space with the many stars shining brightly. Her eyes widened as she saw they were flying past Saturn and she gazed at it with wonder. "Wow," she said softly.

Whampire, seeing this, smiled as he approached. "Rachel?" He said gently.

Gasping, she jumped and whirled around, letting out a sigh of relief at seeing it was just him. "You scared me," she admitted.

"Sorry," he said apologetically before joining her at the window and smiling as he saw what had amazed her. "It's one thing to see it in pictures, but to see it in real life is breathtaking."

She smiled. "Yeah," she said as a memory came to her. "I wanted to visit space when I was little. Mom even helped me make a mobile of the planets in our solar system."

Whampire smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder. "She loved you and your sister very much," he said before noticing that despite her being calm, her shoulders were tense from the stress of her nightmare. "Are you alright?"

She nodded, but he didn't buy it. "Couldn't sleep?" He asked gently.

Rachel sighed, having a feeling she wouldn't be able to keep it from him. "I had a nightmare," she said. "About my birth father."

She didn't say anything more, but that was all he needed to hear. "Come," he said gently, resting his hands on her shoulders. "Father and brother are waiting for us."

She didn't argue with him as she let him guide her to the room where Vampiro was in bed and he patted the spot on the bed beside him. Wordlessly, Whampire led Rachel to his father and the girl sat down beside the regal Vladat, who smiled gently.

"We could sense your upset all the way from your room," he said, his voice gentle. He picked up a bowl of water with a washcloth and held it out to her. Wordlessly, she took it and sighed in relief as the cool washcloth helped to not only make her feel better, but to help her face clear up too.

Vamps came forward with the berry tea. "Here," he said gently.

Accepting it, she nodded. "Thank you," she said softly.

Vampiro rubbed her back. "What disturbed you, my dear?" He asked.

She sighed. "A nightmare," she said before taking a sip of the soothing tea.

"Must have been a really bad one," Vamps said gently.

Rachel nodded. "It was about my birth father," she replied.

The three Vladats grew quiet before Whampire spoke up. "Rachel, was your birth father...abusive?" He asked gently.

She nodded again. "I...I don't remember a whole lot about him, except that he was scary. He always yelled at Mom whenever he came by and he called me and Sasha 'brats'."

Vampiro looked like he had tasted something very sour. "Despicable," he said, distate in his tone before he gently cleared his throat. "Rachel, why don't you stay with us tonight?"

She looked up at him. "Are you sure?" She asked.

He nodded and she nodded back, finishing up her tea and Vamps gently took the empty mug and set it aside while Whampire lifted Rachel up bridal style and carried her to the other side of his father's bed as Vampiro lifted up the covers, gently tucking her in after Whampire set her down.

Oddly enough, the teenager didn't feel awkward or uncomfortable. Perhaps it was because of Vampiro's fatherly nature, but whatever it was, she felt safe and saw him smile at her. "My dear, do you want me to use my hypnosis?" He asked her.

"Like you did last time?" She asked, but her voice was curious.

"Well, yes, but this time, it will soothe you to sleep," he said. "Unlike last time where it forced you to go to sleep."

She nodded. "Okay," she said.

Smiling, he gently stroked her head before his eyes began swirling. Rachel focused on them and realized what Vampiro had meant about his hypnosis soothing her to sleep this time. She felt relaxed and him stroking her head soothingly was also making her sleepy. She snuggled closer as her eyelids drooped and with a peaceful sigh, she fell fast asleep.

Whampire came up to them. "Father?" He asked. "I was thinking...,"

"Yes, son?" Vampiro asked.

"Well...what if when we find Rachel's sister, perhaps you, Zeus, or Phantasmo could adopt them," the green-masked Vladat said.

"They do need a good home and a family," Vamps said in agreement.

"True," their father said before looking deep in thought. "I believe it might be a bit too soon to discuss, but let's see how things go. If Rachel decides she wants to stay with us, then we'll see about her and her sister being adopted, but if the girls decide they would rather stay on Earth, then we will find them someone to take them in. Perhaps they have relatives."

"But if they do, then why didn't Holly leave Rachel with relatives after she passed away?" Whampire asked. "Surely there must have been someone that would have been named a guardian for them?"

"Maybe Holly didn't have a chance to do so," Vamps said.

"It's possible," Vampiro agreed. "We'll look into more later. Right now, I say we follow Rachel's example and get some more sleep."

"I agree," said Phantasmo as he phased into the room, smiling. "And I have good news. Zeus was able to locate Sasha."

"Where is she?" Whampire asked.

"She is in a homeless shelter in Michigan," the Ectonurite said. "She apparently works there and sleeps there too."

"Then whoever was guarding her must have passed away too," said Vamps. "How soon until we can get to Sasha?"

"Apollo's going to go in the morning and get her," Phantasmo said. "Ghostfreak is down there keeping an eye on things because it seems that the girls' birth father is approaching the city where the shelter is."

It was quiet for a moment. "How close is he?" Vampiro asked.

"Thankfully, still a few towns over, but still headed in the direction of the city."

The Vladats nodded. "As soon as we get Sasha, we must go to Anur Vladis," the regal Vladat said firmly. "The girls will be safe there and we will decide from there about finding a guardian for them."

"Father," Whampire said, having been thinking deeply. "What if...Melodica takes the girls in?"

Phantasmo perked up. Melodica was a lovely Thep Khufan who he was seeing and she had two grown sons, Snare-Oh and Kuphulu. Both worked with the Vladats and were good workers. "I think that's a great idea," he said. "I'm sure Melodica would welcome them."

"We'll ask her when we arrive home," said Vampiro with a nod. "For now, let's go back to bed."

Nodding, they all settled down, having formed a plan to help the girls. Vampiro held Rachel protectively and she snuggled closer in her sleep. "No matter what, young one, you and your sister will never have to worry about the monster who is your birth father again," he promised before he fell into a sound sleep, the night once again peaceful.

Looks like they have a plan and maybe the girls will have a new home soon, but will Melodica be willing to take in two humans? And how will Sasha fare at meeting Apollo? Stay tuned to find out! :)

And please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418