It had been getting dark, and Nero had been walking back home from the pierce shop and candy store but stopped and hid behind a tree as he listened to a few bandits talking to each other. They were planning on kidnapping Mela and hold her ransom for money. To make things worse, they wanted to kill her and her parents when they came to give them the money. I can't let that happen...gotta keep Mela safe...but everyone is sleeping at this time. I'll go see if I can have a quick visit, if I'm lucky someone will be up. he thought to himself before glancing at the bandits and decided to take the long way to the castle. He had to get there before the bandits did.

Mela yawned as she headed up to her room after saying good night to Vixen and Valefar as they walked to bed. Duchess gave a soft tired howl as she walked over and laid next to Eofe's door along with Wheasel who curled up next to her mother. Mela smiled as she curled up in bed with Mint, Snow and Luna and was soon fast asleep.

Nero arrived at the house but didn't hear any movement coming from inside the castle. "They all must be sleeping..." he whispered softly to himself as he walked over to the garden and noticed that Mela's window was opened. "Mela!" he called quietly but knew she wouldn't hear him. Looking around the garden, he noticed a tree and knew he could climb it up to her window where he would take her...take her where? Anywhere is better at the moment than here. he thought to himself before quickly starting to climb the tree.

Mela yawned softly as she slept soundly with her arms wrapped around Snow and a hand on Luna while Mint slept curled up against the small of her back. She didn't even hear Nero call her name or the rustling in the trees... in fact she had music playing softly in her room that blocked out most noises from outside.

As he reached the top of the tree, he carefully climbed into her room and turned off the music before gently shaking her awake. "Mela...!" he whispered, hoping he would wake her up quickly. Nero knew it wouldn't be long before the Bandits reached her castle. "Mela wake up." he whispered again and shook her a bit faster hopping that would help.

Mela groaned a bit then her eyes shot open and she stared up at Nero shocked and looked around. "Nero what the heck are you doing in my room at this time of night?! Do you know what Poppa will do to you if he finds out you're in here?!" she said quietly and worriedly as she placed one hand on Snow as she started to wake up and growl and the other on Mint who did the same thing.

"Well what did you want me to do? Knock on the door and wake everyone up?" he asked quietly and shook his head. "It's a long story but I need you to come with me. If you don't you'll be killed." he said and stopped, realizing how mean that sounded. "Sorry that didn't come out right. I heard bandits talking about kidnapping you for money and then killing you and your parents when they got the money so come along Mela. I'll be semi kidnapping you today for no money in return." he explained quickly and quietly. "Leave your pets here just hurry up." he added in a soft whisper. Mela was right though, if Valefar saw Nero here at this hour, he would be getting the wrong idea. "I think I know what he'll do, but I really don't want to find out if I'm right or wrong Mela." he answered with a nervous smile.

Mela frowned a bit but slowly got up and headed over to the bathroom in her room and shut the door before walking back out a few minutes later in a comfy teal shirt and a pare of loose black satten pants and already had her sandles on. She then walked over and picked up Mint and Luna and opened a small door in the wall and shooed them through it before picking up Snow. "I'm taking Snow... she doesn't know her way around the tunnels yet." she said softly but then frowned deeply. "Why didn't you just tell Poppa? Or Pappaw?" she asked softly and curiously.

"Snow could follow the others..." he muttered. "How was I supposed to tell them? I just heard about this as I was walking back home...if you want I'll go wake up your father and tell him but I don't think that would be very kind to do you know." he explained and heard some footsteps. Looking out the window he sighed and looked at Mela. "Just come along now Mela okay? Please be as quiet as you can..." he instructed and decided to just carry her instead. "I don't know where I'll take you...but I'll take you somewhere safe for now." he whispered before taking a deep breath and jumping out the window, landing on the bushes. "Okay let's go..." he said to himself and quickly ran off before glancing back. Off in the distance he could see the bandits running. "Damn, they noticed." he cursed under his breath and continued running as fast as he could.

Mela frowned when he grabbed her and then huffed some. "Are you forgetting that I have wings? Just get to a clearing." She said softly since she knew he was skiny enough for her wings to keep them both a ways off the ground and it would be faster then running.

Nero did his best not to laugh at her. "Silly Mela, you can fly if you want, but I'm better off running." he said as he turned a sharp corner and looked around a bit before running off again. "If you fly they'll see you though." he warned as he continued running. "I could take you to my house...I'd just have to keep you hidden, it's the best place I can think of right now." he whispered as he turned again and ran over a bridge as he headed to his house.

"Nero... how did they get past the guards around the gates? I know you have your ways... and because you're my friend the guards would over look you... but how did they get through?" Mela asked softly and worriedly before looking down at Snow who let out a soft yawn and cuddled in her arms.

"Mela, the bandits didn't get through, they were headed to the castle but saw me jump out with you so decided to chase me instead." he explained. "You're right about me, but climbing that tree was tougher than I thought it would be." he admitted and noticed his house coming into view. "Getting you inside will be easy, my parents are usually sleeping at this time. If they're awake though...well that's going to be a problem." he explained to her as he continued running.

"But they had already passed the gates... they are normally open but during evenings the guards only let people that we know and trust through... you being one of the people... so how did they get through the gates when they have never been in the castle grounds before?" Mela said softly then paused. "Why would it be a problem?" she asked not knowing that his paren't didn't like her at all.

"Beats me Mela...they probably have their ways." he answered and shrugged before frowning and sighing at what she said then. "Well I guess I should tell you." he started and soon reached his house. "I'll tell you inside." he whispered and quietly unlocked the front door and pulled her inside. His parents were sleeping and he gently closed and locked the door behind him before leading her upstairs to his room where he opened the door for her and gently pushed her inside and followed. Closing the door, he covered his window with the curtains and sat on the bed. "My parents hate you." he said flatly. as he looked at her and sighed sadly.

Mela looked at Nero shocked as he sat her on her feet then said that his parents hated her and stared at him confused. "W-why? I've... I've only met your parents once why do they hate me?" she asked softly before sitting next to him and placed Snow in her lap as she slept.

"Well that's easy, they hate you for who you are, what you look like...and basically for being you. They tell me I shouldn't hang out with you." he whispered and stared at his hands. "Remember on the day of your birthday party...when I had to leave so suddenly?" he reminded. "It was my parents...they were upset with me for going to your party and began to lecture me. I am a pure bred demon, they said they don't want me to hang out with you. They called you a freak and said I'm degrading myself by hanging out with you." he explained sadly. "I love hanging out with you Mela and you should know that...but I don't want my parents mad at me." he added and played with the piercing on his tongue bored.

Mela frowned deeply and stared down at Snow as she lightly ran her fingers through her fur. "They'll kill me if they see me won't they?" she whispered softly then sighed. "Why didn't you just tell the guards? Why did you bring me somewhere where I am in just as much danger?" she asked quietly seeming rather unsure... he seemed more concerned now about what his parents thought then what he thought... what was the point in him helping her then?

Nero sighed and stood up. "If you're so worried Mela then I'll just take you back home, back to your room and forget anything ever happened." he said a little upset. "Do you want me to just take you home? I brought you here because I just wanted to keep you away from those bandits. I'm not going to let my parents hurt you okay?" he answered and sighed.

Mela frowned and looked down quietly not wanting to say anything. She had never stayed anywhere but at the castle... she had walked around the areas surrounding the castle but had always had guards or Duchess with her... she was mostly blind after all... she had actually grabbed Snow because... well she couldn't hardly see on her own so she needed one of her pets to see for her. She was honestly scared... if someone wanted to hurt her and she didn't have anyone with her then how was she supposed to protect herself? How could she trust her surroundings? And knowing that she was somewhere where people didn't like her... it really scared her.

Nero looked at Mela before sitting back down beside her and hugging her gently. "Mela I know you're afraid...but I won't let anything happen to you. I'll be right here to protect you from anyone and everyone." he whispered softly. Of course he wasn't going to tell her that he actually had a crush on her...she could do much better than him...at least he thought so. "Just relax, feel free to get some sleep, I'll stay up to make sure you're safe." he whispered and smiled.

Mela looked up at Nero and gave him a weak smile before hugging him and then laid down in the bed and curled up around Snow. "Thank you Nero... you know I trust you completely." she smiled softly before hugging him around the waist once more then yawned and soon fell asleep once more.

Nero grinned and tucked her in gently. "Thank-you for trusting me...I won't let you down." he whispered and watched her sleep before running his grey nails through her hair gently. "Goodnight Mela...and sweet dreams." he whispered and ran a finger over the piercing on his chest and wondered if Mela only said she liked them to make him happy. Well she's semi blind, she can't really see all the piercings you have Nero. he told himself mentally before looking at Mela who was sleeping.

Mela smiled slightly in her sleep and stretched a bit before just curling back up and nuzzling her face into Snow as she slept.

Vixen yawned as she awoke as usual in the middle of the night and slowly got up and went to check on Eofe, finding that she was okay she slowly walked back down the hall only to see Luna and Mint sleeping outside hers and Valefar's room. She frowned a bit at this and walked over to Mela's room to check on her. Right away she got worried and ran over to hers and Valefar's room and shook him awake. "Valefar! Mela's gone! She's not in her room and no one's downstairs." she exclaimed worriedly.

Nero did his best not to fall to sleep, but he hadn't slept at all that day and found himself falling to sleep, cuddling with Mela in bed happily. His father then walked over to Nero's room and opened the door only to see his only son snuggled up against that freak girl. "NERO!" he yelled and yanked Nero up by his hair. Nero abruptly woke up and widened his eyes in fear when he saw his father furious and glaring at him. "What is this freak doing in our home?!" he exclaimed angrily, attracting the attention of Nero's mother. "Mother...Father, I invited her over for a sleep over." he lied. "I don't care, you know we don't want you hanging around with her!" yelled his mother.

Valefar groaned tiredly and opened his eyes as he stared at her. "Love, what is it?" he asked, rather annoyed to be woken up at this hour. It took a while for his brain to register what she was saying and quickly sat up. "Little Mela...is gone?!" he quickly ran out of the room and to Mela's room only to see that Mela really was gone. Valefar looked around her room but frowned when he couldn't find her and walked back to Vixen. "Love relax, maybe she's in another room?" he suggested, trying to relax himself.