The Yule Ball

Maik watched them go, hoping things wouldn't go wrong. She leaned against Elrhohir's shoulder and stretched her legs across the length of the couch. This worried her. She didn't like being worried.

Descartes watched them leave with only one fear in mind. If the trial didn't happen then he wouldn't meet Maik. Sighing he laid his head on his arms which hugged his legs to his chest.

The minutes dragged on, and Maik slowly fell asleep again. She just hoped that when she woke up all would be right with the world and her meeting Descartes wouldn't be erased.

When Courtney and Morgan looked again, they were at the school watching as Sonia passed by. A look of poain on her face as tears streamed down her face.
**************************
Smiling, Descartes stood up when Sonia came over and asked what was going on. "Where's Mrs. Higgs?"

"Taking care of business. Go play with Courtney." he said watching her skip upstairs the bunny-like creature following. When she was out of eyeshot, Descartes mumbled. "Why sonia?" She never did anything to deserve to go through this."

Elrohir carefully stood up, not wanting to wake Maik. "So, the bunny, that's courtney?" he asked Descartes. The waiting was too mcuh for him. He needed to talk to someone.

"No, courtney's pet that metamorphisizes every week." Descartes said. "Also another dark creature. Good thing is, they've never attacked anyone, or at least what's known, just out of violence."

"Dark creature. Right." This would take getting used to. Being surrounded by dark magic and doing nothing about it. He looked around for a moment awkwardly then cleared his throat. "Descartes, could I ask you something?"

Descartes smiled and nodded. "Of course. I'm always willing to help."

Elrohir smiled weakly back, then plowed in. "Descartes, back at the courtroom..why didn't you...." He struggled for words for a moment "What happened? You gave up so easily."

"I'm just so tired of fighting the system. Sonia and I have been outside of it since we were in our mom's womb. i'm sorry, but I was exhausted." Descartes sighed. "I don't like being a fugitive and I don't like the fact that because of me and sonie, you and Maik or fugitives."

That was true. But hopefully Mrs. Higgs could change that.
"Maybe you should tell Maik that." He suggested quietly. "I think it really bothered her. Like you didn't want her to help, when you said you didn't want any trouble. She kinda took it the wrong way, I guess."

"I know. I could see it in her eyes, but i don't want to wake her. i mean would she kill me if I did?"

"If you woke her up?" Elrohir considered that for a moment, weighing the possibilities. "So long as it wasn't sudden or alarming, no, I don't think she would. Hopefully she'll just think it's me."
He glanced up the stairs again. He felt better now, but he needed to clear his head. "I'm going for a walk."

Descartes nodded. "Might want to take Sonia and Courtney too. The grounds around the mansion are boobietrapped to attack anything they don't recognize that's not with a Higgs.

Elrohir was beginning to think that the surprises would never end around here. Boobietrapped yards....
He walked up the stairs to go looking for Sonia, listening for their general location.

Sonia squeeled happily. "It's changing, Courtney!" she yelled. A blonde girl ran down the hall and into the second door on the right.
*******
Descartes gently shook Maik. "Maik, please, wake up. I want to talk to you." he said softly not wanting to anger her.

Elrohir jumped to the side, trying not to get hit by the running girl. Once the hallway was clear again he went to the door and knocked politely. shrieking girls wasn't his forte.

Maik slowly opened her eyes and blinked a few times. "Descartes?" She mumbled "What is it? Something wrong?"

"Um, no, I wanted to talk to you abou why I didn't want to fight back at the ministry. I don't want you upset with me." His blue eyes seemed pained as they could easily be read. he would hurt himself if he disappointed Maik.
*********
"Come in." Courtney said. the two were on either side of the black bunny as it began transforming into some wolf looking creature.

"That is so awesome." Sonia said.

Maik sat up, fully awake now. "I'm not upset with you. Just a litlle...confused."

Elrohir opened the door and poked his head in. Slightly put off by the transforming rabbit, he paused for a moment. "I'm going for a walk, you two want to come? You can bring the rabbit...thing too if you want."

Sonia nodded. she glanced at Courtney who shook her head. "I need to feed my pet. You two go. The traps won't attack since it's Sonia."

Descartes sighed. "I'm sorry, Maik. I was just tired of fighting the examples. I've been fighting against it for almost twenty years."