Heroes Rising

[Raven]

"And where did you even come from?" Lynn asked. How could any woman here spend time 'studying' them?

Ryan laughed and held Zoey close, giving her the bottle. Zoey nestled into Ryan's chest and ate.

[Neon]

Vlad smiled warmly at her, seeming to forget Ryan could see and hear him.

"I'm that man from earlier. I'm a shapeshifter," he replied.

[Raven]

Lynn shook her head. "You still don't know him like I do," she said.

Zoey smiled and started to fall asleep again, but there was a quiet knock on the door, Ryan glanced at Vlad, not wanting to move and wake the baby.

[Neon]

Vlad got up and answered, his face and demeanor almost angry.

"Perhaps not."

[Raven]

The little boy shrunk away from him, looking scared. "Daddy... I had a bad dream," he whispered. Ryan didn't even hesitate to get up, and he carefully passed Zoey to Vlad and knelt down to hug his son. Zoey whined in protest.
"Oh, it's okay, Freddy. Come tell me all about it." Ryan picked up the boy and carried him to his bed.

Lynn sighed and looked around. "Now we'll never be able to find her..."

[Neon]

Vlad gently rocked her, walking around a bit. He closed the door silently and continued walking around the giant nursery/bedroom.

Edrin shrugged. "She's probably in the nursery. It should be at the end of this hall."

[Raven]

Lynn nodded numbly and headed down that way, then she paused and frowned. "So you're not Ryan's body guard?" she asked, finally realizing that he was just a shapeshifter.

Zoey hushed and finished her bottle, falling slowly back to sleep.
Frederick hugged his father. He was the oldest of Ryan's children, and had been several years old when Ryan's obsession started. The boy was mumbling about his dream as Ryan comforted him.

[Neon]

Edrin shook his head. "Not really no."

Vlad gave them their privacy.