Suddenly a loud screech startled Elle and she looked up to the rooftop to see a larger bird landing on the eves. Oddly it stared down at her. She had heard how some peregrine falcons were roosting on the roofs of the skyscrapers downtown, but she had never seen one before.

"And just when I thought things were strange enough," she uttered.

The falcon lifted from its perch and she ducked instinctively as it soared over her head and flew at the approaching men. And then something even stranger happened, the men changed before her eyes into a flock of blackbirds. Suddenly feeling faint, Elle watched the blackbirds rise high into the sky and begin to swarm around the falcon, diving time and time again on the outnumbered bird. Just when Elle thought things couldn't get any more bizarre the falcon changed into a hawk.

Mouth opened, she dumbly stood watching the scene unfolding as one of the blackbirds changed and then the hawk again-both simultaneously taking turns shifting into different species of birds, as though trying to outdo each other. Elle knew then she had lost it.

She had gone indisputably insane.

Looking down at Mary, Elle saw that she was just as horrified. She looked to the firemen, with pick axes and water hoses far too busy to notice what was going on. In a fleeting moment, Elle thought about convincing them to turn their powerful hoses on the birds, but she hardly doubted they would listen to her when a burning building was much more important than breaking up a bird fight. Yet, as crazy as it seemed, she knew she wanted to help the falcon.

Feeling it was worth a try, Elle pulled Mary in the direction of the closest fireman. He had his back to her and was attempting to put out a small heap of burning shingles that had fallen from the roof. They were almost there when Elle clearly recognized the sound of Julio's car once more and this time he was much closer. Pulling Mary along with her, she ducked behind a dumpster. And then peeking around, she looked for the car.

She caught a glimpse of the pea green Mustang passing between buildings, as he drove down the side street apparently looking for a clear path to the apartment. Julio knew about the hidden money and he knew Elle well enough to know that she would take advantage of a situation like a fire to disappear. Elle wondered which one was the most important to Julio. She knew she couldn't stick around, bird fight or not.

"Come on, we have to go," Elle said to Mary.

She headed for the abandoned Dairy Queen at the end of the alley. Many nights prior to crying herself to sleep, she had plotted an elaborate escape in her head, but not until this night had she acted. Even without Julio's money, she was leaving. There was no turning back now. She planned to spend the night in the cold ruins of the building, and in the morning, before setting out to find Mea, they could sneak back to see if anything had survived in the suitcase.

The sun was just lowering over the giant ice cream cone, and casting shadows over the alley, but Elle could distinctly make out two forms coming toward them. At first she thought they were both dogs, until she realized that one was far too large to be even the largest of the dog breeds. Then she heard the roar of an animal so frightening all she could do was freeze in place. Out of the darkness the creature rushed at them and Mary threw her arms around Elle's waist in terror. The heavy smoke in the air was getting to her...Elle was sure of it.

The approaching tiger was just an object of her tormented mind, nothing more. But as the animal passed by her in a rush of wind that sent her hair back behind her shoulders, Elle realized she wasn't mistaken. Some of the birds were in man form again and coming for her but Elle's fear kept her feet planted firmly on the ground. The only time she had ever seen a tiger in her life was at the Zoo downtown when she chaperoned a field trip for the *I Read' book club kids. And that tiger had been behind thick iron bars and separated from her by a large concrete mote. Even then the pacing animal filled her with respect.

Teeth bared, this tiger looked directly at her and Elle, on impulse, had the urge to pee. She tried to swallow but there wasn't enough spit in her mouth. The tiger did an odd thing then, it put its backside to her and crouching low roared at the advancing men. Looking up to see what had become of the falcon, Elle saw another bird flying in her direction. Mary's arms tighten around her waist as the seagull landed and changed into the man from the library. Just as he took a step toward her, a big Labrador, the color of chocolate, darted in front of her and snarled at the man.

The library man gave her a wink and then directed a devilish sort of a smile, strangely, at the dog. "Ari, it's good to see you again so soon."

This time when the dog changed right in front of her to a man, Elle wasn't the least bit surprised, and the thought of that frightened her all the more. She could make nothing out about the dog-man but dark hair and a set of broad shoulders inside a green army coat.

"Let's settle this like men Steve and not animals." Her protector named Ari took a step back closer to her as he talked. He opened his arms wide to prevent anyone from trying to go around him to get to her and Mary. "You have no business here Steve."

"Oh, I do have business with you Ari. Unlike you though, I'm gentleman enough to wait for a more suitable place to discuss matters, since this tonight has nothing to do with us."

"What is it then Steve, because it looked to me that you were bothering these two ladies and that does concern me."

A slow smirk spread across Steve's lips. "Well you being concerned about a lady doesn't surprise me Ari, but again that will save."

"What are you doing here Steve?" Ari demanded in a harsher tone.

"Calm down Ari. It's not how it looks, but I'm not at liberty to say much else right now. The important thing is you have the girl, so I'll leave you and the geek squad to getting her home. However," he looked past Ari and straight at Elle, "I'll be taking the lady with me."

Trying to show no fear, Elle strengthened her hold on Mary. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

"What do you want with her?" Ari moved a step closer. Behind Steve the tiger softly growled which caused him to turn a nervous glance over his shoulder.

The orange beast stood very still, just a few feet away in a crouching position. They were at a standstill, waiting to see who would make the first move, if any. With one giant leap the tiger could pounce on him and Steve seemed to realize that. There was no sign of the other men. However, looking up, Elle noticed several birds sitting on a telephone wire, watching. "Kennedy," Ari calmly said, "take the girl and leave."

The tiger shifted into a girl with orange red hair and glared at the dog-man called Ari. She was such a remarkable beauty that Elle suddenly felt ugly in comparison. Just as the feeling registered, Elle realized just how peculiar such a notion was, when it should have been the fact that the tiger shifted into a girl named Kennedy that she should have thought of first. Almost as though he had anticipated the girl's attitude, Ari quickly put up a hand, cutting her off just as she started to open her mouth.

"Don't argue with me," he said, "just take her and go!"

"What about her?" Kennedy asked curtly, her gaze falling on Elle.

"I don't need anyone looking after me," Elle snapped. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Ari turn toward her.

Smiling, he softly whispered, "Pardon me but I saw things a bit differently from my perspective."

Knitting her brows together, Elle frowned at him. "Well your perspective was just two feet off the ground a second ago."

One light amber eye winked at her, instantly warming her cheeks. "Still, maybe you should just let me handle things," he said.

Even though Elle was convinced that she was living in some twisted nightmare, due to stress or smoke or some other unforeseen cause, she couldn't help but admire the fact that she had dreamed up one nice looking hero. Nonetheless, stubbornness prevented her from giving in.

"I don't need you're protection." She folded her arms across her chest.

"I know," Ari said, "but it would help to feed my confidence if you'd at least pretend that you do." Again he winked before turning away.

There was a scowl on Kennedy's face as she approached and roughly pulled Mary out of Elle's grasp and protection. Mary let out a squeal but the more she fought the orange-haired girl, the harder she pulled. Impulsively Elle kicked the girl in the back of her leg, which caused her to let loose of Mary. She raise a hand as though she would strike her, but just as quickly as the scene unfolded, Ari not only reached up and grabbed the girl's wrist stopping her, he had somehow managed to grab Elle's arm as well, preventing her from doing anything else foolish.

Laugher erupted from Steve and above on the wire the blackbirds cawed loudly. Elle could almost hear them chanting for a fight like stupid kids on the playground. Always the fighter, Elle tried to break free but Ari was not only determined, he was strong-much stronger than Julio. When she refused to calm down, he had no choice but to release Kennedy and then grab her around the waist.

"Oh Ari," Steve taunted, "You do seem to have a way with women."

"Kennedy, please, just take the girl," Ari irritably commanded as Elle struggled to free herself from his powerful hold.

"Where are you taking her?" Elle shouted as Kennedy began dragging Mary down the alley.

"Be still, she's family," Ari said. Mary broke loose from the girl and ran. "We're not here to hurt her but bring her home," he finished just as Mary threw her arms around Elle's waist. When Ari jerked his hand back, Elle knew that Mary had bitten him.

Taking Mary quickly into her arms, Elle looked first at the bird-man Steve. A tremor involuntarily spread through her body as she found him not only standing very still, he was watching in a very odd almost fascinated way. He didn't appear all that eager to intervene. Then she looked to Ari behind her.

He stood with his head lowered examining the perfect set of teeth marks on his skin. When he became conscious that she was looking at him, his gaze rose and met hers. His warm brown eyes scanned her face and his handsome features twisted into an expression of clear confusion. He slowly shook his head but the words that followed confused Elle just as much as he appeared to be.

"How old are you?" he asked.

"I'm twenty two but what does that got to do with anything?"

She noticed him then, how he looked past her to the girl who stood some ways away, and then back over his shoulder. Steve was softly chuckling now as though, he had anticipated Ari's reaction.

"By all means Ari," Steve snorted, "take your time. I can wait."

Ari sent him a glare and Steve's held up a hand in a placating manner, and then applied that same hand to his mouth to show that he would remain quiet. "Then you're not the girl's mother?" Ari turned back to her.

"No, I'm her neighbor." Elle tensed as Ari suddenly took a giant step near her.

"Where's her mom?" He asked in a soft voice, away from Steve's listening ears and watching eyes.

"Not sure, she took off."

"I see." His eyes lowered to the little girl. His expression softened as he looked at her. He didn't seem to notice the dirt on her body or face. "You have your dad's eyes."

"You knew him," Mary whimpered.

"My names Ari Lake, and your dad's name was Grant Lake, but we need to go, so this can wait." Ari looked skyward, and then back at Steve. "What did you goons do with Nixon?"

Steve followed Ari's eyes up and with a slow shake of his head, the leer returned. "Not sure, but it should be no surprise to you that the boy started the fight," he said, eyes returning to Ari. "Now, more importantly, I can't have you running off with the neighbor lady, Ari, before I have a chance to speak to her."

"I don't know what your game is Steve," Ari said, "but we're leaving, all of us." Reaching over Ari put a hand on Elle's arm and urged her in the direction of Kennedy waiting for them at the end of the alley. The more distance they put between them and Steve, the better Elle began to feel.

"The problem with that," Ari glanced sideways at her as they walked, "I'm not sure what to do with you. We have rules about outsiders, regardless," his eyes boldly moved over her face, "of who they look like."

"I'm sorry that I'm not Mea, but I'll manage on my own, if you can just get me away from here." Elle glanced over her shoulder. Again Steve seemed to be quietly contemplating them, but this time he wasn't smiling, but instead deeply scowling. He didn't seem to like the idea that Ari wasn't heeding to his request. When he looked up and saw her watching, Steve shifted into a blackbird and flew away. With a relieved breath she gave Ari her full attention.

"Then Grant was your brother?" she asked.

Mary looked up at Ari in wait of his answer. She seemed to be watching for a sign that it was okay to trust him. Not even knowing that he had come to their rescue persuaded the little girl to loosen her hold. She needed Mary to trust him. That was the only way that she knew Mary would let her go.

"Well sort of," Ari said. "We were adopted into the same family but I loved him like my real brother."

"Then my dad really is dead." Mary dug her face into Elle's side.

"As I said before we can talk about such things later," Ari kindly told Mary. "We need to get you home where you*ll be safe. Your dad was an important man but we have enemies so others might come looking for you."

He put a hand on Elle's arm to stop her from walking since they had reached Kennedy, and then lowered down in front of Mary. "Sweetie, I promise we won't hurt you. Now I need to speak to your neighbor, alone, and you need to go with Kennedy, and I'll meet up with you in a little while."

Ari quickly added the last when Mary looked as though she would panic at the thought. Elle knew exactly how she felt. The glowering green eyed teenage girl was far more frightening than the tiger they first encountered.

"I want to stay with her," Mary protested and hugged Elle tighter.

"Then she means a lot to you then?"

Mary gave Ari a big nod and he stood and looked again at Elle. His brown eyes seemed to be pleading with her for help. Pushing Mary back at arm's length, Elle looked down into her eyes.

"Mary look, he's right. I don't understand what's going on any more than you do, but I can feel it inside. He's telling you the truth. Besides, I can't protect you. Look at me Mary. I can't even protect myself."

The last of her words, Elle had whispered in Mary's ear but she got the distinct impression that Ari heard by his sudden body shift. Elle hadn't said the words for sympathy though but when Ari along with the tiger girl closely looked at her, she became consciously aware of the fact they were, and had noticed her state of disrepair. She had forgotten about her bruises.

"But that's why I want you to come," Mary insisted, eyes glistening.

Elle took a step back. "I'll be fine. Now go with him, quickly. I'll go ask one of the firemen for help."

"But, what about mama?"

Elle turned to Ari then. "Promise me that you will find her? All little girls need their mothers."

"I'll see to it myself personally," he nodded.

Gently, he touched Mary's arm, like a person offering their hand to a strange dog. When Mary loosened her arms and took his hand, Ari smiled wide and walked her over to the awaiting Kennedy. Elle's throat thickened as she stood watching the little girl leaving with her huge unsure gaze fixed on her. She wanted to run after Mary, the dirty little girl that she first encountered on the alphabet pattered rug but she had no right.

Mary wasn't hers, and it was obvious that Ari was struggling with what to do with her. Again Elle felt as though she were an uninvited bystander in life. After Kennedy and Mary had walked a fair piece, Ari faced her.

"I'm at a loss," he hesitated, eyes fixed again on her face, "I'm not sure what to do with you but maybe you should come with us, at least, until-"

"I'll save you the awkward goodbye Ari." She started walking backward, away from him. "Please look after M-" Elle stopped walking. A strange tingle of trepidation filtered throughout Elle's body as she noticed a blackbird flying straight for her. Ari spun around just as Steve transformed from bird to man, and with a shove, he sent Ari flying sideways into a row of trashcans.

"I told you I wanted to talk to her Ari!" Steve shouted angrily. With Ari moaning and trying to get to his feet, Steve grabbed her by the arm and effortlessly hoisted her body over his shoulder. Elle tried to scream out but no sound formed.

With each jolting step Steve took, her voice was robbed away and an intense pain stabbed through her midsection. She hit his back with her fist but as nausea swept over her, she put her hand over her mouth instead. Part of her hoped she would throw up on him.

At the sound of a loud growl, Elle lifted up her head to see the chocolate Labrador racing toward them. In one spinning move, Steve let her loose and Elle flew backward into the metal dumpster behind her apartment building. She cried out in pain, as man and dog made contact. In a veil of dust, they took several hard rolls on the dirt and gravel surface of the alley, before they became a tangle of leather, fur, teeth and fist.

Elle soon realized she had her own problems to worry about. She had just become aware that the sharpness of the jagged metal from the dumpster had cut into her lower back, when a cramping spasm shot across her abdomen. Moaning in agony, she clutched her stomach. She wanted to yell at them to stop, that something was wrong, but neither dog nor man was paying attention to her now. She glanced in the opposite direction in search of Mary or Kennedy, and it was then she witnessed the blue glowing cloud at the end of the alley.

The cloud thinned into a blue stream of lightening that whipped across the fighting duo, causing one to scream and the other to yelp in pain. Elle wasn't sure what she witnessed but whatever had taken place, seemed to surprise Ari all the more. Shifting into a man, he lied back on his elbows and stared mouth agape as footsteps approached.

Elle heard them too and turned to look. She could see him now all too clearly, a tall man dressed in all black, wearing a long leather coat with his collar popped up to his chin. His hair blew wildly about his face, and his eyes were covered with glasses that reflected the light of the streetlamp above. On his outstretched hands, he wore gloves with no fingers.

He didn't look at her but instead headed straight for Ari. Elle understood then he didn't see her where she stood. Ari had warned about others coming for Mary but as the man approached his hands lowered and she could tell that Ari, although unmistakably shocked, seemed to know him. Steve on the other hand had shifted and flown away the second he spotted the stranger coming "What are you doing here?" Ari uttered.

Before the man could speak, Elle let out a whimper and both he and Ari looked in her direction. Even though she couldn't see his eyes, he appeared shocked to see her. She didn't have much time to notice much else about him, when another spasm of pain caused her to double over.

Vision blurring, Elle dropped to her knees and then allowed gravity to win. Her body fell to the gravel alley and she turned her head so that she could see the apartment building. She could see the firemen as they worked among the smoking embers, totally oblivious to her. And it was only then Elle realized they must not be able to see them, not the blackbirds or the men.

There had been too much fantasying and reading of weird books where men shifted into animals. That was it, the answer. She had finally lost her mind and this was all one bad dream.

She would wake up.

She would wake up in her own bed and realize that Julio had truly knocked the sense out of her. As the two strangers moved to stand over her she looked up into their faces. She felt the touch of a hand on her neck.

"Just leave me," she muttered. "No matter where I go he'll find me anyway."

Squatting down, Asher moved the collar of her shirt aside to expose what appeared to be infected bite marks. Her lip was busted and there were various cuts and abrasions on her face and exposed skin. Ari gently rolled her over and pulled up the back of the man's jacket that was far too large for her slender frame, and the tee-shirt underneath, to expose several other bruises in various shades of healing. Blood dripped from a long nasty cut on the lower right quadrant.

Instantly, Asher looked away. Removing the sunglasses he placed them in the pocket of his jacket. She was unconscious anyhow and wouldn't notice his eyes. Asher had seen her eyes though, the eyes that he had drawn for the last year, and there was no doubt in his mind that the blue pastel had been the perfect color choice. The shock at seeing her had washed through him, now it was blanketed in confusion, anger and anxiousness, of such magnitude he had never experienced. He didn't understand.

He didn't understand at all.

"She's got a nasty cut but other than that it's hard to tell what's wrong in the condition she's in," Ari said. "Maybe Steve gave her too much of a scare, or seeing us finally got to her, but then again she didn't pass out until you showed up."

Asher ignored the last of Ari's comment. "Just how did that come to play, her seeing you? Didn't you have your barriers up?"

"We put up our barriers but the second she turned toward us Kennedy and I knew she could see right through them. Even then I'm not you Asher. I wasn't going to turn my back and pretend she didn't exist." Ari bit the corner of his lip thoughtfully. "But then, that's before I realized she wasn't the girl's mom." Laying her back on the alley floor, Ari took her by the chin and turned her face so that he could see her better. "What would make a man hit this face?"

"Only a coward would do that." Asher stood and glared down at Ari. When he realized he was looking at him, Ari peered upward, and the light above glinted in his eyes.

"I know that look Asher, I'm about to get rebuked."