SHIFT 2 - Purgatory

Blood moon rising

It had been two months since Lilly left. The other Romanari's scuttled back to their lair in Tuscany. Reginald was absent from the school for some weeks.

Marcus had been different too. He was clamer, more focused on the fighting. Moon moon appeared more often at combat trianing than not. She always cried for her uncle or Ryu.

The govenring body of the school had put Marcus on probation for awhile. The whole fiasco with taking first years into the woods, only to have them face strong opponents, wasn't what they wanted to let get out. Marcus argued back that every first year fought with bravery and discipline. In fact there weren't even any serious injuries.

Due to Ryu getting most of the class out of the woods, the only two who spent any time in the hospital were Akara and Seamus. The rest had bumps or scrapes but that was about it. Now things were finally settling down. Seamus was even seen away from his brother more often. Although Nagisa wanted to talk to the red head, he knew it wouldn't be wise.

They heard nothing from Tuscany, other than Lily was now back at her parents home. Time was ticking on. The gladiator trails were drawing every closer. They were to leave within a fortnight.

"Hey, do you think Moon would like this?" Ryu held up a sparkling crystal on the end of a thin cord.

"I could make it a bracelet for her." He smiled.

"Ryu, she is three! She would hurt herself on that!" Nagisa snorted. The group was shopping in town.

"Well, maybe..." Ryu glanced around.

A hand came up through a pile of stuffed animals. One was held tightly in the thin long fingers. It waved side to side at Ryu. He snatched the smiling bat creature out of the hand, but snagged the hand as well.

"Ah, I've been had!" A familiar voice cried out.

"Please release my husband, fiend." A bored tone spoke next to Ryu.

"He's my brother!" Ryu huffed. Mori just glared at him.

Ryu let go of Wyvern's hand. The pregnant dragon shifter stepped out from behind the wire bin. He grinned at his little brother as he patted his growing stomach.

"I swear there can't be just one in there!" Ryu laughed as he greeted his older brother.

"What are you guys doing here?" Nagisa asked walking up behind his boyfriend.

"Same as you, apparently." Wyvern smiled at the basket of things Nagisa carried.

"Moon, moon's birthday is coming up." Lucifer appeared next to Mori.

"The day before we go to Tuscanny." Collin said.

Everyone glanced around. There was a fear that Lily would try and kidnap her children back. Nagisa chuckled. He eyed those around him. They all looked grave.

"Come on! That bitch won't get her hands on my niece or nephew." He declared.

"Yet Marcus insists on taking them with us." Mori huffed.

"But, who else lives in Tuscanny?" Nagisa shook his head.

The others glanced around. No one seemed to want to answer. Nagisa met each of their eyes. Ryu reached out to tuck a strand of fading pink hair back behind his ear.

"Who?" Ryu asked.

"Aradia! She isnt..." Nagisa was cut off.

"Don't put all your faith in that witch." Reginald said from behind his son.

"Oh! Have you come for the blood moon soriee?" Nagisa asked not reacting to how his father just appeared.

"You are getting better at that." Ryu snickered.