Ivy could feel Maggie looking at her from across the room. Lenan was in the other room, changing into some more earthly-looking clothes that Ivy had bought. Her body still ached from the abuse it had suffered, but Lenan didn't have money, and Maggie going was out of the question. That had left only Ivy to go.

Her lash wounds still stung, but Ivy hadn't wanted to go to a hospital, due to the questions that would be raised. So they were waiting, watching to make sure they didn't get infected.

Ivy glanced up at Maggie, lifting an eyebrow. "I'm fine, honestly." she shifted in her seat and winced.

Now it was Maggie's turn to raise an eyebrow. "That doesn't look like you're fine."

Ivy sighed, running a hand through her damp hair. One of the first things she had done when she had gotten back was to wash it, getting all the grime out of it. It felt soft now, and laid loosely around her shoulders.

The sky outside the window darkened, and stars twinkled at her as she looked at them, wondering which direction the planet Stellis lay.

Footsteps came from the hallway, and she looked over to see Lenan, in his human form. "You can sleep in Maggie's room." She stood up. "She can sleep in mine."

Lenan shook his head, "I can just sleep on the sofa."

Ivy went opened a cabinet, pulling out a few blankets. "If you're sure you'll be comfortable here..."

Lenan smiled, "Anything is fine. Thank you, for letting me stay here at all." Ivy gave a noncommittal shrug, laying the blankets on the couch.

As the moon rose, Ivy deemed it was bedtime. After seeing Maggie off to bed, she went to her own room, slipping under the covers. Her wounds ached, and she sighed, releasing all the tension that had bunched up over the last few days. Everything that had happened was finally catching up to her, and she shut her eyes.

Everything was going to be okay. She had made it home.

~~~

The moon hid behind some clouds, and wind rustled the tree's branches. The older trees groaned and creaked, protesting being moved at all. Two figures slipped closer to the house, silent as ghosts. Their blue skin was noticed by no one, as all around them, everyone was in their houses.

Their job was going to be quick and easy, and they would be off of earth just as quickly as they had arrived.

They went up to the door of the apartment, and picklocks were produced. In a minute, the door slid open, and both of them were inside.

~~~

Ivy's eyes flew open, her breathing hard. The nightmare slowly melted away, and she closed her eyes again, taking some deep breaths. She was just trying to get back to sleep when she thought she heard something.

Footsteps? They were too quiet to be Maggie's, unless she was purposely trying to be quiet to not wake Lenan up. Or were they Lenan's? Was he leaving?

Regretfully leaving the warmth behind, she flipped her covers back, standing up and opening her door. Her senses were on high alert, although for what reason, she didn't know. Her bare feet whispered over the soft carpet, and fingertips felt the slightly bumpy texture of the wall as they dragged along it.

The hallway was short, and soon enough it opened up into the living room. She froze when she saw the two Stellas walking over to Lenan. One of them heard her and his head snapped up, eyes meeting her own.

"Lenan!" She screamed, just as he crossed the space between them, clamping a gloved hand over her mouth. The distinctive sound of a dagger being unsheathed reached her ears and she struggled, breaking his grip.

She spared a glance at Lenan, who had awoken suddenly at Ivy's scream. He was already up and facing the other Stellas, whose face was twisted in a snarl. "Grakel." he growled, pointing an accusing finger at Lenan. "Traitor."

Lenan's face hardened, but Ivy could see the pain he masked. He had betrayed his country by doing what he knew was right. It sounded like something straight from a fairy tale.

The Stellas facing her didn't give her the chance to look any longer as he lunged forward. He had double daggers, and she recognized him as one of the Stellas who had been her guards during her imprisonment there.

She ducked, darting to the side to avoid the daggers that came flashing forward. A few seconds into the fight, and she could already tell they weren't trying to take prisoners. Her heart lurched as she thought of Maggie, still in her room.

The Stellas twirled one of the daggers in his hand, the other remaining steady in his hand. He stabbed with one, slicing in another direction with the other. As Ivy avoided one of them, the other skinned her arm. Her eyes watered with pain, and she barely avoided the next swipe that came.

Before she knew what was happening, Lenan had somehow made it through to her, grabbed her arm and pulled her into Maggie's room, slamming the door behind them.

"Are you hurt?" His eyes met hers, and all Ivy could see was concern there. She nodded, breaking the contact. She looked around the room instead, seeing the covers to Maggie's bed flipped back, and the window open.

Ivy breathed a sigh of relief, moving to the window and looking out. She heard a startled grunt and whirled around in time to see a dagger slam through the door. It started carving its way through it, and Lenan clicked the lock on the door. "We need to get out. Now."

Ivy nodded once, placing both hands on the window sill. For a brief moment she was thankful they didn't live on a higher level. From here, it wouldn't be that far of a jump. Her feet hit the grass just as wind blew hard, sending her hair flying. She shivered, looking back up as Lenan jumped out.

"Ivy?"

Ivy whirled around, seeing Maggie come out from around the corner of a nearby house. She ran over, hugging her sister. "You're okay."

Maggie nodded. "I called the police." As if on cue, police sirens came on just as the two Stellas jumped out the window.

~~~

Wow, I haven't updated this in years! Literally!

Haha, but I am back now, and will work hard to do more regular updates for this book!