Belle

Black Dagger Brotherhood (REBOOT)

It was only a few minutes after they went back to the room that Gracie was asking for a snack. Brenna looked at her doubtfully.

Sure you want snack or want to follow Zavist? she signed and Gracie looked sheepish. Brenna sighed and shook her head with a smile.

Taking Gracie's hand they left the room, moving cautiously through the house. It may be the Brotherhood's stronghold but it was still a house full of males. Gracie whimpered a little as they moved downstairs, afraid of the unknown.

Black Dagger Brotherhood (REBOOT)

@KatherinWinter I'll make a quick post brings my her downstairs.

Black Dagger Brotherhood (REBOOT)

@KatherinWinter I was planning on having Gracie want a snack so they'll wander downstairs.

Black Dagger Brotherhood (REBOOT)

As the door opened Gracie woke at the sound and pulled the covers up to her chin, ready to hide under them. When she realized that Zavist was leaving the room she scrambled off the bed and raced out the door, grabbing his waist and shaking her head vehemently.

Brenna tried to pull her off. "I'm so sorry," she told Zavist before signing to Gracie to let go. Gracie tried voicing but it sounded muffled, like her was trying to talk with a mouth full of cotton balls. "Stay. Stay. Monsters."
"No monsters here," Brenna signed and spoke. "Brotherhood protect us. Here is safe. I promise. Here is safe."
Brenna pried Gracie off of Zavist and looked at him apologetically, biting her lower lip. "She is quite taken with you it seems," she said, her blush indicating that the child wasn't the only one taken with the male. "She'll be fine after I get her to bed."

Black Dagger Brotherhood (REBOOT)

After the male left Brenna set to work calming Gracie. The child was still shaking slightly. Brenna held her, kissing her head and rubbing her back. The soothing sensation did the trick and the child's eyes started to drop.
A knock at the door had her whimpering. Brenna opened it cautiously to find the doggen there. He left the food and tea and bowed before leaving as Zavist came out of the bathroom.

Gracie sat on the floor with her tea cup and sipped it slowly, the lavender having a relaxing effect. But she still sat close to the bed, ready to dart underneath if she was scared. She barely finished the cup before she was curled up on the floor like a sleepy puppy. Brenna carefully lifted her into the bed, covering her with the blanket as the child drifted off to sleep.

"I hate that her first instinct is to find a place to hide," Brenna admitted to Zavist. "I feel like I have failed her as a mother. A child should not live in such fear."

Black Dagger Brotherhood (REBOOT)

I will post tonight. Been working 12hr shifts the past three days

Black Dagger Brotherhood (REBOOT)

@BlackPanther

The sight of the male shirtless would have affected a dead female. And Brenna was most certainly not dead. A surge of desire hit her stomach and she quickly put a stop to that. It was a normal female response to a male, but while natural it was certainly not appropriate.

The feral growl that came from him at seeing Gracie's fear of strangers affected her in a different way. It was also a natural response: a male response to a child, protective. It was... a very nice feeling it gave her. Neither of them had ever felt the protection of a male before. The simple feeling of knowing they were safe for the first time in a long time overwhelmed her and he eyes stung with tears.

Mommy? Wrong? Why cry? Gracie signed.
Fine. No worry. Only tired. Brenna sighed back before turning to the male and composing herself.
"I cannot thank you enough," she told him, signing as she spoke so as not to leave Gracie out. "We can't take your bed from you. We could stay in another-"
Gracie cut her off, making whimpering sounds and shaking her head, signing fast. She had to repeat herself twice before Brenna got it all.

"She wants me to tell you she doesn't want to leave your room. She is scared, but feels safe with you," Brenna paused and looked at Zavist with wide eyes. She signed to Gracie that she and Zavist were going to have grownup talk and then spoke to him without signing. "Please forgive my shock and know this is nothing against you, but I am genuinely shocked. You don't understand. She never feels safe with people, not even at the shelter. This is... this is incredible..."

Black Dagger Brotherhood (REBOOT)

@BlackPanther

Brenna took the clothing he offered. There was something about this male that was unlike others she had met. A kind of... animal nature. It unnerved her but at the same time made her want to reach out and touch him, like when you found yourself around a large predator.

Gracie peeked at the male from Brenna' neck, holding on to her mother but not as tightly as before.
"Thank you... Zavist," Brenna said, hesitating only a moment before saying his name. It was a strong name. The name of a warrior.

Going back into the bathroom, Brenna eyed the door for a moment before stripping down and getting into the shower. Gracie followed her lead and got in as well. The bathroom was large with a shower and tub. She assumed all of the rooms in the mansion had their own bathrooms like this one. It was obvious the Brotherhood enjoyed luxury. It wasn't a bad thing. With all they did to protect the race they deserved it.

The females washed quickly. Irish Springs soap rested on the shelf and Brenna breathed in the refreshing scent. The shelter used generic hospital soap that had no scent and was rough on the skin.
Once they were dressed Gracie started giggling. Brenna could help the small chuckle that escaped her. The shirt was truly gigantic on Gracie, going to the floor and falling off one shoulder. She looked utterly adorable. Brenna fairs no better, the shirt more like a cocktail dress length on her. But the material was soft and warm. And both shirts smelled like the male.

The bottoms he gave her were too big to stay on so she had to go without them. A blush crept across her cheeks as she showed far more of her legs than she wished to.
She spotted the male still in the room and then blush deepened slightly. "Your kindness is greatly appreciated Warrior," she said respectfully and bowed, the old language custom of showing honor to the host.
Gracie imitated her mother. Moments later their was a knock at the door and Gracie cried out, scrambling behind Zavist's bed in the blink of an eye.

It was a Doggen, wondering if any of them were hungry and if so what they desired to eat. Brenna coaxed Gracie out from behind the bed.

Black Dagger Brotherhood (REBOOT)

@BlackPanther

Brenna frowned worriedly. He insisted they stay? It was not safe? Why? The Lessers had been dealt with... right?
Gracie tugged on her arm and pointed to her own mouth, a questioning look on her face. It was a brief sign for what is he saying?
Brenna started signing then realized how rude it might look to not translate what she was saying. "He says we stay here," she said aloud as she signed. "His name Zavist," she finger spelled it for Gracie.

The child looked at the male with wide eyes and signed wolf, her face a question. Not wanting to offend him Brenna just nodded without translating. Gracie swallowed hard and started at the male with wide fearful eyes. She was afraid to make him mad. Would he turn into a wolf and eat her like in the Red Riding Hood story?

Brenna followed the male as he led them to a bathroom to clean up. Brenna wished she could give Gracie a bath but they had no clothing here. The smell of the black oily blood was terrible. Gracie was still shaking with fright.
Here safe, Brenna signed. Brotherhood protect us. Gathering up Gracie in her arms, she left the bathroom after cleaning herself off as much as possible.

She met the male again in the room outside of the bathroom, which she assumed was his room. She shifted nervously, being in a strange male's room. Gracie kept staring at Zavist, a mix of fear and curiosity in her eyes. Most of the large males she had seen at the shelter had been bad males who came to hurt their mates who were in the shelter hiding from them. The only postitive relationship she had with a male was with Dr. Havers but he was only polite to them nothing more.

"I'm sorry to bother you," Brenna said, "but we have no clothing here. Would it be possible to borrow something for her, just for tonight?"

Black Dagger Brotherhood (REBOOT)

@BlackPanther

In a split second it went from the sounds of fighting and death to peaceful silence. Brenna opened her eyes to see the foyer of a large mansion. Gasping, she instinctively stepped away from the male, pulling her hand from his and wrapping her arms around her daughter.
"Where are we?" She asked as Gracie continued to whimper and cry, large tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Mommy," she signed and voiced, wiping at the black blood on her face and whining in protest that it wouldn't come off.
"I know baby. We'll clean it off I promise."
"Monsters"" Gracie voiced as she frantically tried to get the black substance off of her. "Monsters."

Kneeling down, Brenna put her on the floor and pulled up the hem of her shirt to try and get Gracie cleaned off, trying to calm her down as much as possible. At this rate the five year old was going to have a panic attack.
Brenna looked up sat the male who had brought them to... wherever this was. "Thank you for getting us out of there. We live at Haver's Clinic in the city. We will return there as quickly as possible, so as not to bother you and the other Brothers. My name is Brenna. This is my daughter Gracie."

Gracie was peering up at the male shyly, not certain if she should be afraid of him or not.