Masquerade of Madness: Adjustments: Part Six

"Goodbye, Sue and Creed. Mom said I could keep Yin."

Sue looked questionably at her. "Your mom doesn't let you keep anything. Please be careful." Sue turned with Creed to walk away, casually tossing her hand in the air without looking back.

"Yeah, I will." Crystal took Yin's hand and whispered to her, "Hey, Yin, my mom wants to rename you. How do you like Ashley?"

Yin stared blankly at Crystal, and then with surprising enthusiasm announced, "Thanks, Mom, I love it!" Her cunning little mind could feel her part in the plan coming together. She couldn't believe how easy it was to earn their trust.

Sue hummed to herself as they walked toward home. She stopped suddenly, catching Creed by surprise. "Shoot, I just realized I didn't show you the school!"

"It's fine. I'm tired. Let's go home."

"Okay," Sue replied, happily walking ahead of him.

Creed sighed warily. Adjusting to this place was going to take some doing.

They finally arrived home. Inside, Gin was cooking. A great smell permeated the house.

"I took the liberty of buying you some vitamins, hoping we all can adjust to your eating habits without worrying over you." Then he took a look at Creed. "What happened? You look worse than you did yesterday."

"Just tired."

"Then get some rest because school starts tomorrow."

"Right." He went to the cleaning room to take a shower.

Sue let out a panicky yell. "Wait! Don't use all the hot water!"

"What!" Creed called back, pretending he didn't hear her.

He stripped and stepped into the shower, facing the automatic flow of scalding water. This is nice, he thought, and his wings would probably like it, too. He pulled them out, momentarily forgetting the limited space he occupied. They hit the shower door with a bang, prompting Gin to call out, "Try not to break anything, will ya!"

"Sorry," Creed called back. He could see this was not going to work. "Maybe if I can wrap my wings around the front," he said, talking to himself as he maneuvered the appendages to fold around. "That feels good, but I can't get the water on the inside of my wings. I guess I'll have to leave the inside strategy for another time. What am I doing? I am reduced to talking to myself and answering. I've been told that is not a good combination."

Creed carefully stepped out of the shower sideways, trying not to let his wings hit the door again. He succeeded, but barely. Leaving his wings stretched out, he pulled on his pants from the night before. He left the bathroom and proceeded to the living room, shaking out the water from his hair with every step.

Spike sat on the couch, staring at an odd vision in motion, hanging on the wall.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Watching TV," she said mindlessly.

Creed shook, and feathers fell from his wings.

Sue popped her head into the living room. "You didn't use all the hot water, did you?"

"No, I don't think so."

Spike suddenly lunged at the TV, whining and scratching. The commercials drove her nuts.

"No, Spike!" Creed said sternly. "I don't think they want you abusing that."

She whined, sitting back on the couch, knowing that she had been scolded.

He watched it for a few more minutes. "Hey, Sue, what is this thing called?"

"A TV, that's short for television."

"Really." He sounded excited. "I have only heard of those."

Gin came in from the kitchen. "Well, it kept Spike out of my hair today."

"Oh, sorry, was she bad?" Creed asked.

"No, rather good, after the TV was turned on, anyway." He turned to look at her.

"Good Spike."

She smiled and lunged for Creed's waist, hugging him tightly.

Sue thought that this was still some form of slavery, but said nothing, knowing that conversation would offend Creed. It will just take some getting used to, she thought.

Creed patted Spike's head affectionately. "I am going to sleep. Be good."

"Without eating?" Spike questioned Creed.

"It has been a long day already."

"But it is just early afternoon."

Creed headed to his room, ignoring her. As soon as he entered, his head hit the pillow, and he was out.

Spike huffed but did not attempt to follow him this time.