Chapter Seven

Mac's morning started off on a bad foot. Not only did he not get much sleep that night. He woke up to find he was out of coffee, and to make things worse as he pulled into the parking lot. The woman he now knew to be Jolene was standing in front of the door. To add insult to injury she'd parked her rental car in front of the sign that read Mac's parking only. All others will be towed, in really big red letters. On the upside she was alone. "Good morning, I didn't expect to see you back so soon. So were's the cops you said you where bringing," asked Mac as Jolene stepped aside to let him unlock the door.

"They tried to feed me the same line of bull shit you did, but they tried to tell me she was in Spain not France," nagged Jolene barging in right behind him.

"Yeah well, you know how rummers are. So let me guess you're here to harass me again. It's a little early for that isn't it," groaned Mac turning off the alarm before unlocking the door that leads to Cleo's office.

"No actually, I'm waiting for my husband. He's flying in this morning and then you and your sorry town are going to be in really big trouble," said Jolene snidely as she stuck her nose in the air.

Starting a pot of coffee, Mac walked into his office. "And why is that, may I ask?"

"Because my husband has a lot of pullback home, and if you want to keep up these charades of saying Elizabeth's on vacation. He'll bring the law down on you before you can say Rumpelstiltskin."

Sitting down behind his desk Mac started going through his ledgers. "Let me guess he's in the Navy too?"

"No, he's a lawyer," said Jolene proudly.

Looking back up at her, he smiled, "Great, and when he gets here he can pay my parking fees, my maintenance fees, and I'll tell him exactly what I told you. Elizabeth's on vacation. Now if you would go wait in the lobby like every other customer. I will let you know the moment you're husband's plane lands," said Mac through a fake smile.

Growling Jolene stomped out of the room slamming every door behind her as she went. Within an hour Brom came whirling into his office. "Let me guess that hellcat out in the lobby must be Elizabeth's friend? I don't think I've ever seen Cleo in such a temper," asked Brom taking the seat across from him.

"She would be the one. So what brings you to my office," asked Mac laying his pen down. "I just got a call from the Alpha out of Virginia Beach this morning. He's about 15 minutes out by his guess this morning."

"Yep just got the call on the radio. I didn't know it was an Alpha though. I guess I should have been more proper on the radio. Oh well, he'll get used to our slang if he's going to be visiting long," replied Mac propping his feet on the desk. "At the rate, we're going, this town is going to be taken over by Virginian's," joked Mac.

"Not really it's just the Alpha and one of his Beta's."

"Wow he's got more than one Beta," gasped Mac. "Well it is a heavily populated area over there. You know how shifters enjoy the military, and that area is full of military installations."

"Well hopefully we can keep them away from cranky, and let's hope the other isn't so cranky."

"I've had multiple conversations with the Virginia Alpha. He's a pretty nice guy," stated Brom giving Mac a strange look. "I was referring to Jolene, and her husband. Whenever he lands."

"She's married," asked Brom with the look of lost hope. "Yep as you know all the pretty ones are taken. The only downside is she's married to a lawyer."

Groaning Brom shook his head. "It just keeps getting better and better."

"Well at least you only have one Beta and Charles isn't really a beta. He's just the highest-ranking Gamma you've got," chuckled Mac.

Just as Brom formulated a comeback. Mac jumped out of his chair. "Looks like your Alpha has just arrived."

Following Brom out to the flight line. Mac watched as a silver-headed man walked off the plain followed closely by a brown-headed man in a business suit. Who must be the Beta Brom had mentioned. "Greeting Alpha," said Brom offering the silver head man who looked in his mid to late 50's his hand.

"Thank you for allowing this visit on short notice Brom," replied the man taking up his hand.

"Please follow me gentlemen," said Mac making sure not to meet their eyes.

He'd almost forgotten that outside his little city, lower-ranking shifters didn't meet the eyes of higher-ranking members. Unless you wanted to start a dominance fight. He'd grown to accustom to being able to do that here. He almost made a big mistake. "I assume you already called your mate," asked the Alpha as they walked through the hanger.

"Yes Alpha I have. She should be on her way if she's not already here," replied the Beta who made sure to put himself between his Alpha and Brom.

"Ah your mate is meeting you here? Surely you didn't make her fly commercial," asked Brom entering the lobby.

"Mathew!"

Turning Mac and Brom starred in shock as Jolene dashed across the lobby and into the Beta's arms. "You're the Lawyer," said Mac before realizing his place and looked back at the ground.

"Only the best Lawyer in the entire Hampton Roads area," bragged the Alpha.

"Good morning Edward," smiled Jolene kissing the old man on the check.

"And to you lovely."

"Now this was unexpected," said Brom shoving his hands in his pockets. "A witch huh? Never figured a shifter could ever stand the smell of herbs long enough to choose one as a mate."

"She's not just any witch," said Edward patting her cheek. "But a damn good one from what I hear. Best one in a 100 years I'm told. It's kind of nice having one around even if she does smell like sage," laughed Edward turning back to his host.

Sparing enough time to detach her lips form Mathew, Jolene turned toward Mac and Brom. "So both of you are shifters?"

"Really honey did you not know," said Mathew lovingly as he kissed the top of her head.

"Well of course not! You know I can't tell the difference, but that would explain why the fat heifer in there called me a witch," snapped Jolene looking in the direction of said heifer.

"We really need to work on that," laughed Mathew kissing her nose.

Stomping on his foot Jolene stepped away from him as she placed her hands on her hips and glared at Mac. "So now mister high and mighty do you want to tell me where my friend is now!"

Raising his hand Brom said, "I can answer that, but how about some breakfast. You must be starved after your flight, and I know the perfect little dinner we can eat at and discuss the situation."

Following closely behind Brom's truck. Jolene rattled on about her encounter last night and everything else that happened the day before. Taking everything in Mathew advised her that she might want to tell Brom what she'd seen, but only if it tied into the situation at hand. Pulling into a parking spot beside Brom, Jolene shut her door and looked around. "I thought we were going to eat?"

"We are," replied Mathew taking her hand pulling her onto the sidewalk.

"But there is nothing, but stores on this street."

Smiling Mathew took her other hand, and backed up quickly earning himself a squeak as he pulled Jolene through what she saw as a solid brick wall. Gasping she looked around the diner. Looking back the way she came to see Mac holding a glass door open, and many windows looking out onto the street. "Brom what in the world," asked a man behind the counter as all the occupants turned toward them. "It's okay Dan she's his mate," said Brom pointing to Mathew before making his way across the dinner.

"And she's a witch too," said a teenage girl with curly hair as she stopped to sniff her before carrying drinks to a waiting table.

"Donna," scolded Dan. "What have I told you. It's rude to sniff people without asking first!"

"Sorry dad," said the teen hanging her head.

*******

Elizabeth awoke in a tub of melted ice as her body shivered uncontrollably. Heaving herself over the edge she lay in the floor panting from the effort. Finding her feet she wobbled through the door, stumbling into an unknown bedroom. Falling onto the surprisingly thick carpet she again lay on the floor. Just those few steps took more energy out of her than should have normally. Forcing herself back up she staggered through another door and into a common room. Not getting the signal to stop, her feet carried her into a leather couch. Crashing into the sofa, Beth and a tan afghan tumbled to the floor like a drunk who was traveling well beyond their motor skills. For the third time, she lay on the floor wondering what was wrong with her. Why did she feel like a train wreck, and why did her limbs seem to not want to function correctly. Rolling herself onto her hands and knees Elizabeth took ahold of the couch and pulled herself up bringing the afghan with her. Rapping it around herself like a towel she stumbled through yet another door into the hallway from hell. Trying to focus her eyes, Beth looked down the hall who to her, appeared to be five miles longs with doors an either side. Taking a deep breath she started down the hallway wishing that for once, the world would stop tilting and moving about in waves. Bumping into the wall Beth pushed herself off it causing a ping-pong effect until she crashed through a door. Running backward she hit the floor again knocking the breath out of her while she watched the door bounce off the wall and swing closed behind her. Gasping for breath like a fish out of water she watched as black spots floated in front of her face. The last thing she heard was a woman shouting before the world was no more. Elizabeth didn't know how long she lay on the floor, but she knew it was long enough for her to dry off. The tail ends of her hair were still damp but it was nothing compared to how it was when she pulled herself out of the tub. Struggling back onto her feet again Beth re-entered the hallway, but instead of acting like a sober person and walking down the middle. She did the drunk thing and clung to the wall. The rough texture of the paint made her already over sensitive skin scream in protest. Several times she looked to make sure she wasn't leaving chunks of it behind as she drug across it. With each door frame she came to she'd take a half a step out before swinging back into the closed door with a hard thud. Tomorrow she'd have a bruise there for sure as she thudded against another door. By the third door she'd had it down to a drunken science. Even if she had to wait, every so many steps for the world to stop spinning. With the coming of the fourth door she took her step out, and braced herself for the impact of hitting the door. Her brain didn't even have time to react as she fell through the open space. Luckily enough it had chosen that exact moment to turn off again. Waking up some time later feeling ten times worse than she did waking up in the tub. Elizabeth found herself face first on a concrete floor. The fluorescent lighting of her new surroundings burned her eyes like a thousand bee's forcing her to close them. Groaning she tried to push herself out of the floor only to get rewarded with a sharp pain in her side. Flopping back down she rolled her head around to see what in the world had pinched the croup out of her. Opening her eyes again she groaned as something pink and wet ran up her face from chin to brow. "Hey everyone she's awake," screamed a voice causing her throbbing head to shatter into tiny little fragments of Elizabeth scull. "Elizabeth can you hear me," called the person from somewhere out in the fog and kaleidoscope of colors.

Rolling her head away from the horrible pink thing that was drenching her face she looked out to where the voice had originated. Straining her eyes she willed them to focus but found only blurry silver lines. Sliding her hand across the floor she ran her fingers around the base of one of the lines where they met the floor. They were smooth, ice-cold, and hard as steel. When she tapped it with her nail they sounded like metal. "Bars," choked Elizabeth barely being able to form the word.

Her mouth was as dry as the Sahara, and her tongue felt fat and lazy. She was lucky she could recall at all how to speak with as bad as her head felt. "Ellen heard a crashing sound, and when she found you she ran outside to get me. Well, we'd been leaving the cell door open because Kujo there never moved from where the High King had laid him. By the time I got down here the sorry sack of shit had done dragged himself across the floor on top of you. Needless to say he won the battle of King of the mountain. We just kind of drug you and your flea, back into the cell. I'm sorry."

Grunting Elizabeth drifted back into oblivion. Coming to again, she found the room quite other than something above her eating noisily. Tilting her head enough. Elizabeth could barely make out Daniel sitting Indian style of the other side of the bars. Looking at her. He smiled as he tossed something between the bars that made a sickening slap on the ground. Feeling something shift on top of her she didn't have enough time to look at what he'd thrown, before it was snatched away. Resigning to the thought that it was better not to know she drifted back to sleep. When she awoke again it was to more shouting. "I don't care what you say that's my friend in there!"

I know that voice, thought Elizabeth opening her eyes and looking into the mist. "If you go in there, that mangy beast as you called him. Even though he looks half-starved, and dead. Will rip your throat out before your mate could even flinch," said a voice from the mist.

"Believe me she's perfectly safe in there honey. He's only protecting her from the danger he perceives, and that's currently us," said a voice from the past.

As her eyes drifted close she reopened them when she felt a warm hand touching hers. "Hey shugga can you hear me?"

Shugga? I only know one person who calls me that, thought Elizabeth looking into a pair of green eyes. "Jolene you're home," whispered Elizabeth as her eyes drifted shut again.

Squeezing her hand gently Jolene looked down at the ghostly form of her friend. "Yep, made port three days ago when Greg and Clay told me they couldn't get ahold of you. An when you didn't answer your phone I flew straight in."

"Mathew," asked Elizabeth not bothering to open her eyes.

"He's here too. Got in this morning."

All was quiet for a moment until Jolene screamed and the sound of shuffling boots from where she scrabbled away from the bars. Made its way to Elizabeth's ears. "What the hell is he doing!"

"Um, we have come to a conclusion he does that to heat the concrete," said a man from somewhere to the right side of the room. "He only does that when she shivers like that," came a familiar voice closer to her. "You'll get used to it, it's kind of cold down here. So he lights himself up about every 15 to 20 minutes or so," said the same man as before.

She hadn't known she fallen asleep until she'd opened her eyes sometime later, and found no one at the bars. Groaning Elizabeth tried to shift herself around under the tremendous weight on top of her. "Hey sweetheart welcome back to the land of the living."

Training her eyes back on the bars she found a pair of green eyes she knew well. "Jolene your here," breathed Elizabeth pulling her tongue from the roof of her mouth where it seemed to be stuck.

"Yeah shugga I'm here. Can you tell me what's wrong? Can you tell me where it hurts," asked Jolene pressing her face against the bars.

"It feels like there are razor blades in my joints," panted Elizabeth. "There is an army of micro-midgets in my head hacking away at my skull," taking another break to pant Elizabeth continued, "It feels like someone is ripping my spine out one vertebra at a time.... and my skin is on fire."

"I don't know about the first bit, but as far as your skin being on fire. I think that's your fur rug. He seems to like to catch fire quite often," laughed Jolene trying desperately to lighten Elizabeth's mood if not herself.

"Fur rug," asked Elizabeth mentally.

Pulling her hand away from the bar she didn't know she was still clutching she slid it to her side. Digging her fingers into a thick mat of fur her brain raced. Well at least it tried. Turning her head slightly to look over her shoulder. Beth found she couldn't lift it from the floor. Rolling her eyes as far over as she could. She watched as a muzzle came into view and sighed as a wave of warm breath passed over her face. Drifting back to sleep she hung on the edge of the abyss as a woman whose voice range out like wind chimes hung among the wispy branches of a willow tree. "She needs to shift Brom. If she can manage that, the pain will stop."

"That should be easy right," asked Jolene from somewhere behind the veil of darkness. "I mean yall do it within the blink of an eye. One moment you're human the next animal. Hell, I've seen new-bees do it on accident not even knowing they've changed. Am I right?"

"Leave it to a human to think such complicated things are so easy," said the woman with the pretty voice who was currently being drowned out by a noise Elizabeth couldn't place. "For them, yes, but I fear she's no shifter. I don't know what she is. I've never smelled anything like what she's become. If anyone can help her it's the man who's currently cleaning her ear."

So that's what that sound is, thought Elizabeth to exhausted from talking to move her head, and place that ear on the floor to stop the mild annoyance. She didn't have to suffer long before the blackness took her. Floating around in the abyss Elizabeth heaved a sigh of relief for it was only here did she not hurt. Only here was everything fine, insanely quiet, but fine. Enjoying the reprieve Elizabeth groaned when she heard someone call her name. She knew that her peaceful rest was about to be stripped away into the misery of the waking world. Waiting for it. She looked around into the darkness when she heard her name again. Still, the pain and blinding light didn't come. "There you are," said a man from somewhere behind her.

Spinning around she could see Shaw walking down a small hill of grass. Looking forward again, Elizabeth scratched her head when she saw she was again sitting by the river as she'd done in almost all of her dreams for that past several nights. "The river, I always start at the river," muttered Elizabeth as Shaw sat down beside her.

"Would you like to know why," asked Shaw moving closer to her so that his left side was pressed against her.

"If I said no. Would you still tell me," joked Elizabeth silently loving the contact between their skin.

"Yep."

"Well then get on with it."

"Water is a universal sign of life. In a dream state it represents your emotions or your feelings. It's your life force, the essence that makes you. Within it, it holds knowledge, healing, or things you wish to block. It can be a barrier."

With a look that said none of that answered my question. Beth said exactly what was written on her face. "That doesn't explain why I always start my dreams at the river?"

Standing up Shaw walked to the river's edge and pointed down. "Tell me what you see."

"My reflection, duh."

"Are you sure she's your reflection," asked Shaw touching the surface of the water.

"If not, she sure looks a lot like me," laughed Elizabeth finding the Shaw in her dreams was a little off.

"What would you say if I said that the girl you see there is the real you, and you're the reflection."

"I would tell you that you were insane," snorted Elizabeth.

"Can I show you something," asked Shaw wading into the river.

"Again it's one of those questions in which it doesn't matter what I say, because I have a feeling you're going to do it anyway."

"True," replied Shaw before slipping under the surface of the water.

Waiting patiently on the banks of the river Elizabeth jumped to her feet when Shaw resurfaced with a girl dangling lifelessly in his arms. Packing the woman to the shore he laid the woman at her feet. "What the fuck Shaw!"

"Now look at the water and tell me what you see," said Shaw pointing back at the empty water. Racing to the water line Elizabeth waved her hand back and forth. No matter how fast or how close she got, no one was there to mimic her. Turning back to Shaw a low growl escaped her throat. As she watched Shaw lovingly brushing a stay hair away from the woman's face. The urge to rip the girl's throat out for just being in his lap was almost unbearable. The strong sense of territory burned within her and this stranger had just invaded it. The feeling quickly faded upon closer inspection of the woman in his arms. "This isn't real. It's just a dream," whispered Elizabeth staring down at herself.

"You're right," said Shaw looking up at her. "You are just a dream, and it's about time you wake up and realize you're hurting your true self."

"No, I'm real! I don't know who she is, but she's the dream," shouted Elizabeth backing away from the couple.

Shaking his head Shaw pulled Elizabeth farther into his lap. "You've been trapped in this world so long, you don't know the difference between real and not. When you go to sleep it's her really waking up."

"That's not true! It's all Lies! I'm me when I wake up!"

"Then when did you first see me? How do you know who I am," asked Shaw not even looking at her?

"I met you while I was awake," shouted Elizabeth almost in hysteria.

"Yes but where?"

"I don't remember, but that doesn't matter!"

"It does Elizabeth because you weren't there. You were locked here on this side of the water because your body wasn't able to handle the both of you together. So it split you in half. You were free to run here, unlike this Elizabeth," said Shaw kissing her head. "Took a back seat and enjoyed the ride. I bet when you sleep nothing wakes you up, because in all sense of the word. Elizabeth was dead to the world, because you were in control, and it's time that stopped."

"You're crazy and this is all a bad dream. I'm going to wake up in a minute in severe pain," said Elizabeth as she began to pace.

"You hurt because you and she are fighting each other. Neither one of you wants to give up control to the other. You've both been ignoring the existence of each other since you were born. All because you were on this side of the water, and she was on the other. If you want to live through this you've got to stop denying your human self," snapped Shaw. "But I am human! Why do yall keep saying I'm not!"

"Look at yourself, Elizabeth," said Shaw finally looking up at her. "Have you looked at yourself since I've brought her into your world?"

"How can I when I've got no reflection," growled Elizabeth pointing at the water.

"Then tell me what kind of shoes you're wearing," asked Shaw snidely.

Looking down toward her feet Beth found the world upside down. Where she should have seen chest, waist, legs, and then feet, she saw two pairs of white fuzzy legs and paws. Looking back at Shaw in disbelief she turned in circles looking at a white rump and tail. "So what? I've always been able to change forms in my dreams. Doesn't prove a thing," said Elizabeth determined to deny what is right in front of her face.

"You never changed you are always in that form, this is your other. Until you get over this misgiving then you will never stop the pain. It will continue to tare you part until there is nothing left of the both of you."

"Then let it take her," growled Elizabeth.

"If that is how you feel then kill her, and be done with it," said Shaw pulling the other Elizabeths head back exposing her throat. "Or are you too scared that I'm right."

Lunging for the fake Elizabeth, she screamed in pain as soon as she touched the imposture. The basement rang out with Elizabeth's blood curtailing screams. Struggling to stand Shaw stepped away from Elizabeths curling form on shaky legs. "What's happening," shouted Jolene pressing herself against the bars and reached to comfort her friend. Pulling her hand back through the bars the woman who was introduced as Ashley placed it on the bars before saying, "I know you're just trying to comfort her with your touch, but it will cause her more pain than good."

Before she could ask what she had meant. Jolene's attention was drawn back to her friend as she screamed again. Covering her mouth she watched in horror as the bones in Elizabeth's body started to shift around. Some gave under the pressure and the grinding and snapping sounds turned her stomach. "Oh my god this isn't right," gasped Jolene placing the hand not covering her mouth on her stomach. "Shouldn't she just shift? I mean I've seen new shifters go from human to animal in a blink of an eye, and not know they've changed."

"Yes but the old ones are different. You see within her is two separate spirits. There is the human who you see, and then the other is of the wolf," said Ashley pulling the gagging Jolene away from the bars as Elizabeth's skin began to rip and tear.

"So was Shaw's first change this bad," asked Daniel disturbed by the whole ordeal.

"See when we created the Hell Hounds and breathed life into them. We gave them their spirits like that of your shifters. But like the shifters who have evolved in a way that their wolf is apart of them which is for the better. The Hell Hounds are not so lucky. You see when we wanted them to be more human. We kind of... how should I put this lightly." Pausing for a minute she tried to think of finding a softer way of putting what she knew would highly piss off the humans. "We went through the world and found the purest children with the sweetest disposition. We kind of took them and replaced them with a look-a-like. So this is were you humans get your changeling stories of Fae swopping their children."

"You stole children," shouted Jolene revolted at how the woman could have been so cruel, but the cruelest part was still to come.

"Yes and we took their spirits and merged them with our Hell Hounds to make them more human, and so the shifting started. The common age of the children was between four to six years of age and that's why the hounds shift between those ages as far as we can gather."

"You're race is so heartless!"

"Jolene," scold Mathew trying to calm his mate.

Shrugging Ashley didn't care what Jolene called her or her race. For the Fae were arrogant creatures who cared only for themselves, and what satisfies their means. "Well the first shift is slow and painful, because both spirits fight for control. The human fights to keep control, and the wolf fights for dominance. The first shift always comes and one always loses the fight. Through time the two learn to coexist or they die. Plain and simple. One can't live without the other. That's why when a human is attacked they don't always live to shift, because their spirit doesn't like the new addition. Kind of like giving you a third arm. Your body would reject it. This rejection is what causes the mortality rate of changed shifters to be 90%. That's why almost all shifters are born shifters, and that's why Mathew will not change you because the success rate for females is only 2%."

"That would explain why pretty much all shifters are male," said Donna causing everyone to look at her.

"How long have you been here," asked Brom.

"A really long time now, but you all have been preoccupied," said Donna placing both hands on her hips with a what attitude.

Turning their attention back to Ashley, Brom asked the question everyone was thinking. "So why the long face. You looked really worried about something. What's the reason behind the history lesson?"

"Well with the hounds they are born a wolf. So when they shift it's the human in total control. It's not until the human and wolf learn to coexist do they regain the ability to shift back, and Elizabeth was attacked by mountain lions," stated Ashley glancing at the floor before returning her gaze to the half-wolf, half-human who lay in a fetal position on the floor.

"Spit it out Ashley," snapped Daniel moving from his seat halfway up the basement steps.

"Well since this is reversed I fear the wolf will be in total control when the shift is done. A wolf who has allegiance and loyalty to no one. A wolf who should be a mountain lion since that's what attacked her. A wolf who shouldn't exist."

Jumping the remaining stairs Daniel made for the door of the cell. "Fuck we need to get him out of there!"

Before Daniel could even get the door open an inch Ashley slammed it shut tossing Daniel across the room before she said, "It's too late Daniel."

With fear in his heart he watched the sold white wolf rose from the floor and turn it's ice blue eye toward them. Elizabeth felt like she was watching a movie as she rose from the floor. She felt disconnected from her body and it unnerved her when she had no control of her actions. She knew she was in trouble when her body turned toward Shaw who was pressed against the far wall and a voice said, "How dare such a diseased creature enter my territory."

Her chest vibrated with the intensity of the growl that rumbled from her body. Shaw looked beyond diseased. His coat was dull and patches of fur had begun to fall out from the malnutrition. Every bone was visible and she could see he was struggling to stay on his feet. Even the glow of his red eyes was so dull, they barely glowed at all now. "That's Shaw," shouted Elizabeth as her body stalked toward him.

"Such a sick creature should be put out of its misery," growled the voice in her head.

"No that's my Shaw," screamed Elizabeth as she watched in dismay as she attacked him.

Fighting with all she had she couldn't stop the slashing claws and teeth as she tore into him. Being too weak to fight he only offered up a small growl before he was crushed to the ground. Frantically Elizabeth retried to regain control. When she felt her teeth clamp down on Shaw's throat cutting off the air supply. Elizabeth turned inward to find the source of life from within her. Right as the spark of life started to fade from Shaw she latched onto the foreign body within her and pushed her will upon it screaming, "Stop that's our Shaw!"

Unable to do anything to stop the violence in front of them. Daniel seized the moment when the wolf flung itself from Shaw yowling like something was killing it. Darting into the cell Daniel quickly drug Shaw out as the wolf rolled around on the ground flailing about like a fish out of water. "Stop it," shouted the voice within her head. "You're hurting us!"

"I don't care," growled Elizabeth tightening her hold on the invader. "You were hurting our Shaw!"

"That is not our Shaw," snapped the invader trying to force Elizabeth away from her.

"Our Shaw doesn't look like that half-dead thing!"

"He's sick, we're sick. I think he's sick because of us! I won't let you hurt him!"

"That's enough," shouted the voice.

Finding herself with herself in a stranglehold and her legs wrapped around her torso. The invader pried her fingers away from her throat panting. "You happy? You just knocked us out!"

"Don't blame me it's your fault," shouted Elizabeth rolling to her feet ready for a fight. Standing up, the impostor choked and coughed for a bit before saying "We can't be fighting each other like this."

"Then leave," snapped Elizabeth with enough venom in her voice to drop an elephant.

"I can't! We're stuck with each other until the day we die you moron," growled the other Elizabeth rubbing her throat. "Moron am I? At least I know Shaw when I see him!"

"Well I would have known him if you didn't block all your memories of when you were in control! Then I would have known who he was in such bad shape, and I wouldn't have attacked him! This is a two-way street you know! I always let you remember the dreams I had, but you've locked everything else down! Hell I don't even know what two times two is!"

"Well that sounds like a personal problem," replied Elizabeth snidely.

"Yes, our problem until we can find a way to fix this. It's not going to be good on either of us!" The group stared at the still wolf on the floor as Daniel tended to Shaw. Before he knew it, the wolf was conscious again and Daniel let out a scream. Elizabeth was on the wrong side of the bars with Daniel's arm securely in her mouth. Her glowing blue eyes held his as her lips drew back from her teeth. "Daniel back away slowly," whispered Ashley ushering everyone back.

"How the fuck did she get out," shouted Mathew shoving Jolene up the stairs.

"The same as Shaw would if he was up to strength, but Daniel you need to move back," said Ashley pulling on his shirt.

"How am I suppose to do that when she's got my dang blasted arm," shouted Daniel somewhere between a scream of pain and a sob.

"She'll let go if you back up."

"Yeah right," said Daniel between gritted teeth.

"She's right," called Brom from the bottom of the stairs. "Look Daniel her eyes are glowing like Shaw's, so maybe Elizabeth is there as well. They weren't doing that before. An look at how she's standing. She standing over him in a protective stance. The wolf thinks you're hurting him."

"Hurting him, she damn near killed him," shouted Daniel causing him to be rewarded with more pain as Elizabeth clamped down tighter on his arm.

Walking slow up behind Daniel, Brom grabbed a hold of his belt as him and Ashley drug him away slowly. Like they thought, Elizabeth let go of the appendage. "If she's her then she should know I'd never hurt him," snapped Daniel pulling free of Brom and Ashley.

"She knows Daniel wouldn't, but she doesn't know you," said Nicole from the top of the stairs.

"What is that suppose to mean," snapped Daniel angrily.

"I went to school with this girl my whole life. We had been friends since we were little and my Felix tried to punish me once. He attracted her. Needless to say it failed because she lived and became a shifter. When she shifted for the first time she didn't know who I was."

"How could she not," asked Brom looking up at her. "I guess you've never had any none born shifters here huh, or you'd know this to be true. As she described it to me it was like she'd spent her entire life underwater. You know how everything looks so distorted and fuzzy when you open your eyes underwater. She said it was like going from that to a High Def TV. Nothing looks the same even if you've known them your whole life. I imagine that's what's she's going through right now. I bet that's why she attacked Shaw."

Nodding to the girl, Ashley smiled at Brom. "She's a very perceptive cat. I'd keep her around if I were you."

"I was planning on it," said Brom smiling up at Nicole. "I guess we'll just leave those two alone and wait until she remembers us then."

With that everyone ventured up the stairs. Once she felt it was safe. Elizabeth licked Shaw's muzzle and nuzzled his face. I'm sorry, thought Elizabeth rubbing her head against his. "It's alright I forgive you this one time", laughed Shaw turning his head just enough to look at her.

"You heard me," thought Elizabeth stepping away from him.

"It's not like I can read your thoughts. It doesn't work that way. But you speak with sound and body language. Your wolf interprets what I am saying. Through her, her brain translates it into words. I'm kind of glad to hear you, that means you two are working together if only a little bit."

If wolves could smile she would say Shaw as smiling right now, as his tail thudded against the floor. "I'm sorry for saying all those mean things the other day."

Rolling onto his back Shaw pawed at her playfully. "Yeah well they were all true and I see that now. I was being childish, and I'm sorry about pulling that thing off your metal death trap."

Lowering her front half down to his level she bared her teeth. "It's a fool's death or stupid of you for exposing your throat and belly to me. You know I could rip you open and spill your life upon the floor," thought her other half.

Leaning up Shaw nipped at her muzzle and batted at her again with his paws. "I'm hoping at least one of you like me enough not to. Plus I'm in no shape to fight back."

Laying down on the floor to make the playful sparing easier she thought, "Well that will have to change or me and thing one will have rounds again."

"So is that what happened earlier? I'm not saying I'm not glad, but I was running out of oxygen."

"Yes the stupid heifer tried to kill us."

"I tried to kill you? If you would have listened-"

"Listen! How was I supposed to listen when you locked yourself behind a wall!"

"Well how was I suppose to know you couldn't hear me easily!"

Clamping down on her entire nose Shaw growled. "You really need to stop arguing with yourself. I'm getting nothing but garbage over here, and even the human can't figure it out."

Laughing Elizabeth stuck her tongue out and raked it across the roof of his mouth. Shivering, fire lit Shaw's eyes and a growl of desire rolled from his lips. Be careful of your action Elizabeth, or my wolf might take it the wrong way. You'll whined up on the floor with his teeth buried in your neck."

"And that's supposed to mean what," thought Elizabeth mentally turning to her other-self.

"It means he'll try to mount us, but in the shape, he's in. He'll be lucky to get out of the floor," thought her wolf rising from the floor to poke him in the very visible rib cage.

"Well that's the worse pick-up line I've ever heard," laughed Elizabeth before flopping to the floor practically on top of him and closing her eyes.

Not realizing he'd gone to sleep Shaw was rudely awaked when something hit him in the face. Growling he snapped at the rudeness as it hit him again. Missing whatever it was he opened his eyes to see Daniel sitting halfway down the stairs with a tray full of beef. Thinking he's tossed some down to him Shaw looked about the floor before something whacked him in the face again. Turning in the direction the punches where coming from he found Elizabeth on her back with all for legs in the air. Her head was tucked between his thigh and his hip. He smiled as her front paws twitched in her sleep, and as one of her back legs jerked. He knew exactly what had hit him. Nipping at the appendage Elizabeth roared to life ready to attack whatever had just bit her. Hackles razed and tail straight up in the air like a flag post. She whirled around looking for the enemy. "Calm down I bit you for kicking me in the face," thought Shaw.

"Really I kicked you? Well that's what you get for biting me," huffed Elizabeth laying back down before starring up at Daniel. "What does he want?"

Her question was answered as he tossed a slab of beef on the floor in front of them. Stretching her neck forward, Elizabeth sniffed it. "Ewh it's not even cooked," thought Elizabeth turning her nose up.

As another piece hit the floor Shaw snatched it up and within seconds it was gone. "That's so disgusting I can't believe you just ate that."

" It's great," thought Shaw swallowing another steak hole. "You can't tell me your wolf doesn't want to eat it."

Mentally looking at each other. Her wolf shrugged her shoulders before she leaned forward again and licked the steak. "Your joking right," asked Shaw watching Elizabeth rolling her tongue in and out of her mouth like she had a vile taste in it.

"I say send it back to the chef and tell him it's not done enough."

Snatching up her untouched meat, Shaw chomped it down as he thought, "more for me then."

"You know you can get E.coli from undercooked meat right?"

"You've been trapped in a human body too long. You don't know what good is," growled Shaw as Daniel tossed the rest of his tray down to them. Turning her nose up to the food, Elizabeth curled up into Shaw's side and drifted back to sleep. Every so often the white-haired guy would return with his disgusting tray of meat. If it wasn't him it was a strawberry blonde-haired lady who would point at a bright screen of her laptop and talk to her. Elizabeth couldn't even understand why the woman would bother. It wasn't like she knew what she was saying. Elizabeth would try to focus on the worlds and every so often she would understand a word or two. But her wolvin brain just wasn't meant to process human words. To her it was like listening to someone from a different country jabber away on a phone. She would lose interest in the woman and venture back to sleep. The stairs were empty as Elizabeth woke up to a growling stomach. Famished she sniffed the lovely aroma that floated to her nose from the area above the stairs. Standing up Elizabeth ventured over to the bottom step and inhaled deeply. Placing a paw on the step she paused as Shaw bumped his head into her shoulder, and looked up the steps. "Where are you going?"

Looking up the steps she placed her other paw on the steps before inhaling again. "I smell pizza! I love pizza!"

Figuring out how to climb the stairs. It didn't take her very long before she found herself in a hallway. Following her nose it led her straight into the kitchen where several people sat at a table loaded with boxes, in which she called a gift from God. The room grew quiet as she padded into the kitchen. Several people vacated their chairs quickly and moved to the other side of the room as she approached the table. The smell of many different types of meats, melted cheese, marinara sauce where overwhelming. The mouth-watering scent of warm bread flooded her nasal cavity. She was too hungry to contemplate how she could pick out all of the smells from each other, but she didn't care. Laying her head on the table she eyed the stack of boxes longingly. "Man I'm so hungry", thought Elizabeth.

"You and me both. God, that smells like heaven, and it's meat lovers too," growled her wolf.

As she licked at her lips to stop from drooling all over the table she could practically taste it. Eyeing the stack of pizza boxes on the table longingly her attention was drug away as someone draped something fuzzy over her shoulders. Looking down Elizabeth found that it was a cream-colored housecoat. Sliding her arms into the sleeves she tired it quickly. Looking behind her to see the deathly pale kid who always brought them the meat standing behind her smiling. Sitting down on one of the vacated seats. Elizabeth ignored the empty plate that was slid to her and grabbed one of the pizza boxes. Digging into the steaming pizza greedily she, in all tenths of the word, wolfed it down she purred in delight. Not caring what was going on around her, she didn't notice when the chairs filled back up around her. So long as no one got close to the pizza she was devouring everything was fine.

When a hand appeared in front of her a growl rumbled in her chest as she hunkered down closer to her food. Until the wonderful scent of Shaw wafted up from the strange hand did the growl seise. Plucking one of the remaining slices of a large pizza from the box. She heard Shaw's sweet voice bur, "I doona understand why ye would choose this junk over a nice bit of meat. But I canna be complain. Tis please'n to see ye finally eat'n."

"Well pizza for her is like crack to a drug addict," laughed a very formula voice from across the table. Looking up Elizabeth could see the blonde hair girl who always tried to talk her. "It's me Elizabeth, it's Jolene."

Catching the bit of food before it fell out of her mouth. Elizabeth took a swallow of the tea that had appeared in front of her at some point. Looking at the woman closely. Elizabeth could see each strand of red, blonde, and light brown hair that made up her hair color. She could see all the different flakes of green that made up her eye color. As well as all the baby-fine peach fuzz that lightly dusted the woman's peaches and cream face. "Jolene?"

"Do you not recognize your childhood friend," asked Jolene sadly.

Jumping to her feet Elizabeth halfway drug her over the table when she pulled her into an embrace. Her heart warmed in recognition when the smell of sweet pea and sage filled her nose. "God girl it's so nice to see you! When did you get in! I thought you were still somewhere in the mid-Atlantic," said Elizabeth before releasing her friend.

"I've been in for almost a week now. I was beginning to worry that I was going to have to spend my three weeks of leave talking to a dog. A dog who didn't seem to give a rats ass that I was talking to her," scolded Jolene taking her seat.

Shoving a piece of pizza in her mouth Elizabeth chewed on it for a bit before shoving it to one side. "Sorry about that, but I couldn't understand a damn word you were saying. It was like watching one of those shows we made fun of when we were stationed in Korea."

"See I told you," said a man sitting beside Jolene.

"And as I told you Mathew. I couldn't sit there doing nothing," stated Jolene watching Elizabeth polish off her pizza.

Swallowing the bit of food in her mouth she pointed to the man with her slice of pizza. "That's Mathew?"

"You know almost everyone here in the kitchen Elizabeth," said the young kid sitting beside Shaw.

Looking around Shaw she looked at the pale kid. "Well kid, I don't know about that. I can say I've never seen anyone as.... Fluorescent as you before. If I were you, I'd get out in the sun more, before people think you're dead. I mean it can't be healthy to be as translucent as you are."

Shaking his head the kid smiled. "Here we go again with the kid jokes. Since it seems like you've forgotten. Let me remind you that I am dead."

Eyeing the blonde kid it took her brain a minute to read between the lines and connected the pieces. "Daniel?"

"Holy crap someone get her a cookie," joked Daniel. "She got it right."

"Well I don't know about a cookie," said Elizabeth going for another box of pizza. "But I could sure go for more of this."

"Go right ahead," laughed a man at the head of a table with a beard.

"And you are," asked Elizabeth flipping the lid open. "I think I'd remember someone with a beard." Rubbing his face the man laughed, "I do need to shave don't I. Been a little to busy around here for me to find the time. You'll remember me with a goatee I'm sure."

Looking at the auburn-haired man with a red-tinged beard, she scanned her memory for a man with a red goatee. The only one she could remember was Brom, but his hair was more of a brown color than auburn. "Okay so if my eyesight has changed, and everything has been enhanced. Would it change your hair color," asked Elizabeth with her mouth full.

"It's a possibility," answered Mathew.

Turning her attention from Mathew back to the man she asked, "So are you Brom?" Nodding his agreement he saluted her with his glass before taking a drink from it. Looking down the table she spotted a young girl with curly brown hair and chocolate-colored eyes. "Donna?"

Nodding her head enthusiastically the girl said, "Yep."

Continuing around the table to the next occupant who remained seated through all of this. Elizabeth looked at the sandy-haired girl who never moved her gaze from her half-eaten slice of pizza. Catching her eyes as she shifted her way. Elizabeth smiled, "Well you are none other than the timid cat Nicole." Watching the girl blush she knew she'd gotten it right. Standing along the kitchen counter. Elizabeth eyed several more people and tried to place if she'd known them or not. None had Mac's short black hair or anything close to black, she shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know them."

"One of them you do. The others you do not," answered Brom. "The woman is Ellen who is the caretaker of my home. The red-headed man next to her is my Beta Charles, and the man beside him is Mathew's, Alpha Edward."

"Wow back the train up," stated Elizabeth waving her hands in the air. "You're a shifter! I can't believe you never told me!"

"Well it was kind of forbidden. I didn't tell Jolene. She kind of found out the hard way when you discovered me in the woods," said Mathew as love oozed out between the two love birds.

"But I would have figured, you of all people Jolene, would have told me werewolves existed. That would have, so made my day," said Elizabeth totally shocked that her best friend would have kept such a secrete.

"I wanted to tell you, Beth, I really did," exclaimed Jolene. "But I swore on my life I wouldn't tell a soul!"

"Not even your best friend who pinky promised one another when we were like five, to never keep secrets from each other!"

"Oh come off it Beth," snapped Jolene. "You would have too if you where in my shoes."

"I would -," but Elizabeth cut the sentence off at the sound of hills tapped against the hardwood floor. Turning in her seat red hot anger slammed into her at the sight of the white-haired woman with silver eyes. The wolf inside her roared to life, and within seconds she was out of her chair lunging for the woman. Screaming the woman trough her hands up. Inches from the woman. Elizabeth was slammed into the ground as something clamped tight over her eyes. Clawing and snapping at the air the vice-like grip of whatever was around her neck and stomach tightened. She could hear Shaw's voice in her ears as his breath tickled the sensitive hairs causing it to twitch. Only when she noticed that she couldn't understand his words, did she realize she had changed. She knew his words were meant to soothe as they washed over her with the gentle calming rumble. But the fire in her body refused to listen. The smell of Sandalwood and earth filled her nose letting her know the source of her anger was still present among the chaos of the room. Elizabeth struggled against Shaw's herculean grip as the sound of retreating heals could be heard through the house. Even when they were muffled by the carpet in the hallway. The woman's scent still told her that she was still there. Only when that too faded, did she stop her struggle and her muscles go slack.

Shaw felt when Ashling had arrived, but he didn't have a clue that Elizabeth's wolf would react so violently toward the Fae. And as he felt Ashley leave, did he feel Elizabeth uncoil all of her tight muscles. Laying his head down on her Shaw exhaled a sigh of relief because he didn't know how much longer he'd be able to hold the trashing wolf down. "What the hell just happened," growled Brom storming into the kitchen so suddenly it caused Shaw to growl and tighten his grip on Elizabeth. Hearing Shaw's growl her wolf renewed her fight with vigor. A warmth like nothing she'd felt before ran the length of her body while she snapped her jaws violently. Her renewed energy petered out as someone started dousing her with water. Sneezing and sputtering, Elizabeth tried to move her muzzle out of the spray of water, but with the force, Shaw was using to hold her head and neck. She didn't get to move it but several inches in either direction. Hiding his face in her fur to avoid being sprayed in the face Shaw finally looked up when he heard Daniel let go of the handle. "Well wasn't that a pretty blue," exclaimed Daniel keeping the water hose at the ready. "Aren't you glad I'm fast?"

"My floor is still ruined," groaned Brom holding his hand out, like look. "Well maybe the witch can fix it for you," stated Daniel as if Jolene wasn't in the room. "How are you holding up down there buddy?"

Sighing again, Michael laid is head back down on the now drenched fur. "Not good. If she goes into another fit, I don't think I can hold her down. I'm exhausted as it is."

"Well let's hope not to have another episode. So do we know why she just tried to eat Ashley?"

"Haven't a clue," panted Shaw shifting his weight around a little to get a better hold of Elizabeth should she decide she wanted to through another fit. "How about we ask her," said Brom.

Stripping his clothes off Brom tossed them carelessly to the floor before shifting. Staying a safe distance from Elizabeth he whined. After several minutes of growling and yipping at each other. Well, really Elizabeth did the growling and Brom the yipping, did he change back. "Well," said Brom sitting cross-legged on the floor. "She says that Aisling is a very bad woman. Who has done very bad things? She also says Ashley has broken the old laws, and that she's to suffer her punishment." Shrugging his shoulder at the group he continued. "I haven't a clue what any of that is suppose to mean."

Walking over to the phone that hung by the kitchen counter Daniel held up a finger, "Hang on I know someone who might." Picking up the receiver. Daniel dialed a number, and when a voice answered he asked, "Hey if you're not busy can you jump over to Brom's kitchen?"

With that he hung the phone up. Wondering who he called. Shaw opened his mouth to ask to only shut it, when Bryan showed up in the middle of the kitchen in a pair of shorts. Tightening his grip on Elizabeth as her head swiveled toward Bryan. He readied for a fight when she curled her lip up in a silent growl. "Holy fucking junipers Daniel! Is that a white one," shouted Bryan leaping onto the table to get away from the wolf he'd landed inches from. "Yes, and to make this more interesting that's Elizabeth. An she just tried to eat Ashley," answered Daniel pulling a chair over next to Shaw and sat down. "Why in the name of the earth have you asked me into the same room as a known Fae killer! An that can't be Elizabeth she's not a cat," exclaimed Bryan ready to disappear at a moment's notice. "Brom will you explain to Bryan what Elizabeth just told you her reasons for wanting to kill Ashley."

"Well," said Brom still sitting naked on the floor. "First off she says her name isn't Ashley its-" "Don't say it," shouted Bryan quickly leaping from the table covering Brom's mouth. "Never say the true name of a Fae unless you wish to end your life before due time."

"So that is Ashley's real name," asked Brom as Bryan moved his hand away from his mouth.

Pulling a chair up Bryan sat down. "It is said that every creature's true name floats within the fabric of life that surrounds you. If you're a being that pulls you're magic from the web that surrounds this world. You can read from it all that is apart of you. Or so I am told by the life Fae's. That all creatures whether Fae or not, get at least a little of their magic from this world, because it has a tendency of weaving your fabric into its own. You know this world is just a baby, and like babies it loves to stick its hands in everything. So I would not doubt what she says is true, but we'll determine that later. Continue with your explanation."

"Well, she said that Ashley is a very bad woman, who has done very bad things. An that she has broken the old laws. That she's to suffer her punishment."

"Ah," said Bryan looking at Daniel. "I now see why you have chosen to call me here. And right you were."

Making her way around the table. Donna brought up her own chair. "And why is that?"

"Well you see young kit. I am what is known as an Enforcer. I am in this town to keep all the other Fae folk in line. Since there are so many of us here the High Council said that it was necessary to send a Sherif into town so to speak."

"Well now everything makes sense," said Brom as a light turned on in his head.

"Yes, well we Enforcers, believe there where Sheriffs long before Enforcers were ever thought of. You see long ago when the High King moved all things Fae from this world he set down laws to protect the life forms from the Fae. He believes that the life forms on this planet are of lower existence. An such life forms should live their lives as destiny sees fit. Your Ashley is old, well beyond your reasoning of time and space. More lifetimes than me even. An the old ones did many bad things back during the dark ages for there were no Enforcers. You see there are law's written in blood and stone for all races of the supernatural persuasion. There are rituals and spells that witches are forbidden to do," said Bryan looking at Jolene. "There are laws that govern the shifting races," continued Bryan turning to Brom. "And there even laws the vampires are not supposed to break," stated Bryan smiling, exposing his long pointed canines. "Even if there isn't many." Sliding his view back down to the white puffball tightly rapped in Shaw's arms and legs he continued. "Back when the world was new and the humans were just beginning to settle down, everyone broke the laws governing their races. The dark Fae where the most notorious for this. We enforcers speculated that the White Ones could read the fabric of one's life and their sins where written on it. Seeing this they would exact their justice. That's why all supernatural would fall at their feet, and the dark Fae being the worse of the group suffered the most losses."

"Is that why the dark Fae are locked in the underworld now, because of their vileness," asked Daniel curiously. "Yes of course that wasn't until centuries later. Of course for your Ashley we believe she has broken many of the laws but like all of the High Council. We can't prove any of it. Don't look at me like that Brom. I know you fancy her, but believe me there are enough bones in her closet to fill this house four times over. She is a High Lord of the earth Fae, and only the King himself is over her. She does whatever pleases her. Not so much as she used to since my regiment was formed. Of course I can't prove any of this, and to speak it to her or the council would be my head. I'm trusting you with this information. Only as a friend in hopes, it can shed light on our current situation."

Nodding his head Brom said, "Understood," for what was said in this room was to stay in this room.

"The old laws state that no Fae shall shift time, and disrupt its flow for its own gain. No Fae should alter the life of any creature found in this world. No Fae should take the life of any creature of this world for sport or play. It is forbidden for any Fae to torment a life in this world for their enjoyment. There are many more laws, but those are the most deadly if you are caught breaking them."

"So what does this have to do with Ashley," asked Brom already agitated by Bryan's insinuation that his Ashley had anything to do with torturing people.

"Everything Brom. You see the Enforcers believe it wasn't by chance Daniel stumbled upon Shaw in the woods several thousand years after their extinction. We speculate that your Ashley stole him from his time and shifted him to Daniel's. Then tying him to a stake so that he could not wander off. We also believe it wasn't by chance a vampire happened to be in Roma on the night Dannicus got lost in woods. Woods, he knew like the back of his hands during a hunt and was traveling the roads during the witching hour. For it was forbidden then to take someone so young that they had not fulfilled a full life, even if he was a man at 16. For your kind it is forbidden to change any under three and twenty years. By then they would have had a son of age to care for the family while the dad was gone. Or for a woman if she has lived long enough to produce an heir for her spouse. We believed she killed your maker soon after you turned, and left you untaught in the ways of your kind. For even then your maker would have stayed long enough to either kill you, or showed you how to survive. Even if only one night. We do not know what she has gained from all of this. Other than a hunter to raise her hunting dog who should have never have been in that time, to begin with. I wouldn't be surprised if she hasn't altered her own life enough that she even remembers why herself. But the action is done."

"For her sake, Bryan," growled Daniel with the fires of hatred burning in his eyes. "I pray you are wrong. For if it is true. I will personally rip her throat out for the hell she's caused me."

"Like I said Daniel, it's all speculation. I can't prove any of it. But the upside, we can see if my speculation of what the White Ones are, we can prove," said Bryan pushing his chair back. "If you would Brom can you asked Elizabeth what she sees when she looks at me?"

"If ye ask me. Tis not a smart choice," grumbled Shaw.

Grinning Bryan patted Shaw's head, "Tis why I didn't ask you mate, but would you uncover her eyes?"

Blinking the world back into view. Beth lay staring at a grey man in a pair of Laker basketball shorts. Looking up the length of the man she stared into his cat-like eyes and watched as one of his elvish ears twitch nervously. Eyeing his twitching tail she inhaled the man sent. The smell of rock and clay greeted her and she determined the smell she'd been picking up was from the stranger. This stranger who looked like the man by the name of Bryan, but this man was different. She could see the dusting of silver hair that covered his skin making his skin color more silver than gray, but then again everyone today had looked different. Hearing Brom's distinct whine again she slides her head across to floor to look at him. He made an impressive wolf. He was several inches taller than your standard wolf and was built more like a mastiff. Other then that, he's coloring was that of a grey wolf. Besides the little ting of red-brown hair across his shoulders and ears he was the standard grey. "Elizabeth if you can look at Bryan and tell me what you see."

"Grey skin, silver body hair-"

Snorting Brom shook his head, "no not his appearance can you see the same things as Ashley?" Looking at him closely she focused on the silvery wisps of fog that surrounded him. "His name is Bran and he is having an affair with his neighbors.....Oh my. "

"What," asked Brom inching closer.

"Nothing that's it, that's all I see."

" So Shaw can let you up. You're not going to eat him?"

"Nope I'm good."

Shifting back Brom pulled his clothes on. "So she says your name is," pausing he looked at Bryan for his okay as he buttoned his pants.

"Go ahead," said Bryan waving him on.

"It sounds like Bron or my name Brom."

"Close, it's Bran, meaning raven. My mom thought it was cute to name me after my hair color. I guess I should be happy I wasn't born calico huh," laughed Bryan slapping his leg. "What else did she say?"

"She said you're sleeping with your neighbor's wife," stated Brom tying his shoes.

"No I didn't. I said he was sleeping with his neighbor, and then I didn't say anything at all," said Elizabeth elbowing Shaw in the ribs.

Ignoring her sharp elbows he continued to nibble on her neck and shoulders causing her to giggle with the delight of his torturous behavior.

"But if you're not sleeping with your neighbor's wife then what are you doing? Humping their cat," asked Donna clearly perplexed by the whole thing.

"Nope I'm sleeping with her husband," said Bryan nonchalantly.

"Ew, gross," said Donna making a sour face.

Pausing in his torture, Elizabeth found her escape as Shaw said, "Okay I could'a gone without know'n that, but to each his own. Where ye going lass," called Shaw after Elizabeth's streaking backside.

"Away from you," called Elizabeth from somewhere down the hallway.

"Well it looks like we have a new Marshall in town, and this is so funny. I swear fate has a sense of humor. Because who else would have the job of Marshall of the supernatural world than a woman by the name of Marshall," laughed Daniel.