Down Under

Thane watched ehr go.
______

"Aurielle he will be fine, trust me."
______

"Trust me Damion, everyone here will agree with me if I asked them who is more stubborn."

Nidawi made her way quietly towards where she had felt the tear and when she found the gap she stared at it, a little put off by the size of it. It was at least ten metres tall and twice as wide. In her surprise, her grip had slackened on her knife as she realised she probably couldn't do anything about whatever had made the damage.

---

"I should be looking after him," Auriele whined. "And I didn't."

---

"Just because they're scared of you." Damion teased before digging his teeth into the deer. Kaidan made a stifled whimper at Damion's actions, obviously horrified before he scrambled back into the house, gagging.

Rochelle rolled her eyes. "I'm not as scary as you." She followed Kaidan.
_____

"Neither did I."
_____

Thane sat in his room, on his laptop.

Kaidan was hiding under the table in the kitchen, chewing on his fingers to stifle his crying.

---

Auriele moved to look at him, almost on the brink of tears.

---

"I thought making a tear would get your attention. I didn't expect you to be on this side though."

Nidawi stiffened, turning abruptly, lifting her knife in warning, as she mumbled, "Why are you here Creed?"

Rochelle looked at him. "Kaidan, what's wrong?"
_____

Thane was just messing around with his laptop.
_____

"Hey, come on darling don't cry."

"It's unnatural, what you do. Awful and unnatural and disgusting. I never want to have to do that!"

---

Creed around in front of Nidawi, reaching out suddenly and knocking her knife away, his free hand moving to rest on the middle of her chest. Nidawi's eyes widened as she stared at first his hand and then his face, dribbling up blood and almost falling, if he hadn't moved to rest an arm around her waist.

"I regret using my Hand on you Nidawi, but we both know you can survive with a little blood loss. The Queen wishes to see you. You knew it wouldn't last, not even with an anchor. Don't worry. He'll be gone soon."

---

Auriele moved to bury her face against his neck, sniffling quietly.

She sighed. "Kaiden, sweetie..."
_____

Thane was almost oblivious to what was going on.
_____

He held.her close

"I don't wanna have to kill anything ever."

---

Nidawi laughed breathlessly in pain. "You aren't going to move me over without my Anchor. Thane won't move easy."

Creed tutted, hefting Nidawi over his shoulder. "I'll force you through."

"Mentally break me while you're at it." Nidawi twitched in pain, dribbling more blood up as she gasped softly.

---

"I shouldn't have been allowed kids...Prophets like me not suited."

Thane walked towards where they were.
______

"Kaidan, you're a vampire, it's how things have to be."
______

"You are suited Aurielle."

"Rhys is good in what he does, Nidawi. We'll get you through and if by the chance that he fails, well, it's no loss on our side. We're not much in the need for your biting personality, more so your Hand and your potential."

Nidawi started struggling then, but she was still a little weak from Creed using his ability on her, wincing as she started into fits of bloody coughs.

---

"No. It doesn't. I don't have to kill at all. I've survived this long, I'll survive even longer."

---

"Not gonna be nice for Mathias when he watches me die for the first time. Condemned never suited for anything or anyone. Don't understand why you like me, natural aura should frighten and disgust everyone."

Thane kept his distance, but he made the guy let go of Nidawi.
_________

"It's going to get harder to resist Kaidan, just look at Thane."
_________

"Trust me, I will do anything to keep you alive Aurielle." He made her look at him. "And I love you because you are smart, fun, cute, kind."

Creed was startled when he lost his grip and made a quick grab when Nidawi tried to get away, managing to snatch her wings tightly and twisting them, briefly grimacing in sympathy when she arched her back in pain and screamed, not able to control her body properly as it twitched and shook.

---

"I'll be perfectly fine. Thane doesn't get the help I get given. I don't need to feed on dead things or hurt things. Take what I want when I want like was taught."

---

"Going to die no matter what. Just wake up in couple of hours. Can't really break cycle." When he made her look at him and said what he had, she had blushed a little, trying to turn her head away in embarrassment.

Thane suddenly moved and Creed was thrown back through the portal.
___

"Who taught you that?"
___

"I hope you do wake up again."

Nidawi curled up as small as she could make herself, wings spasming against the floor violently, looking crumpled in some places. They were as delicate as tissue paper and were literally exposed nerve endings, which made them incredibly sensitive.

---

"M'not allowed to say or he'll kill me." Kaidan stated matter-of-factly. "I've been fine and I'll stay fine without being nasty and killing anything."

---

"You've seen it happen before. Simple, if a little bit painful and awful."

"I know."
____

She sighed. "Ok I officially give up."
____

Thane walked to her and he healed her.

Auriele moved to nuzzle her cheek against his.

---

"You don't need to know anyway. Safer that way."

---

Nidawi twitched violently, trying to make herself smaller and not daring to even move her wings.

"Well like I said, I give up." She walked out of the room and to hers and Damion's room.
_____

Thane walked to her and offered her his hand.
_____

He done the same to her.

Damion was out in the backyard, clearing up the body of the deer, as well as sorting out the blood.

---

Nidawi stared wide eyed at him, keeping herself as small as possible on the floor. She was in a state of shock.

---

Auriele slowly wriggled away from him, dragging Mathias with him, aiming to stand up so she could put Mathias into his cot.

Rochelle sat silently on hers and Damion's bed.
_____

"Nidawi it's me, it's Thane."
_____

He let her stand up.

Damion came in after a few minutes, washing his hands in the kitchen and laughing quietly at Kaidan before making his way upstairs.

---

Nidawi let out a short, quiet breath and closed her eyes, slowly moving to make herself smaller.

---

Auriele picked Mathias up, carrying him to his cot, cooing softly at him and looking overall very happy.

Rochelle was watching the far wall.
_____

He smiled watching them.
_____

He watched her and sighed.

"It isn't like you to brood. What's up?"

---

Auriele gently tucked Mathias into his bed, brushing her fingers over his cheeks and kissing his forehead, mumbling soft nothings to him.

---

"It's not that I don't trust you. I just don't trust myself," Nidawi eventually whispered.

"I give up."
________________

"Why don't you trust yourself?"
________________

He smiled slightly, watching her.

"That's pretty vague. Give up with what?"

---

"I lost a fair amount of blood," Nidawi said in way of explanation, hoping it would be enough. "When Creed was foul enough to use his Hand on me."

---

Auriele straightened up, turning to face Jackson and smiling at him.

"I'm meant to be Kaidan's mum, but he won't talk to me about anything. We hardly see Thane anymore, and Danielle died because I let Xrobula into the house." She sighed. "Why can't I even look after and protect 1 of our children Damion?"
__________

"And you would be a danger to me how?"
__________

He smiled back.