CHAPTER 31

The next morning Beast showed up at Andrea's door bright and early.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Go where?"

"I will show you."

Andrea and Beast left the manor house. Demon watched from the window.

"Do not pout Demon, it does not become you."

"Go away Starchild."

"Tell me what is bothering you."

"How do you know she won't escape from Beast?"

"Escape? Demon she is not our prisoner."

Demon just stared out the window watching as Beast and Andrea disappeared beyond the meadow.

"What are we doing out here?" Andrea asked Beast.

"I thought we could go for a run." With that Beast turned into a black panther and took off running.

Andrea smiled, "So that is what you are up to." With that she transformed into a black panther and went chasing after him.

For hours Beast and Andrea chased each other all around the countryside, over hills and through the forest. Finally, Andrea stopped by a stream, lay down and turned human again. Beast lay down next to her and did the same.

"Tired?" began Beast.

"A little. I have not done that in ages." Andrea sighed in contentment.

"But did you enjoy it?"

"Yes. Thank you it has been a wonderful day."

"I am glad you have had a good time."

As they lay there resting, with a smile on her lips Andrea questioned, "How am I supposed to get to know you if we spend the day running around?"

"Oh Andrea, haven't you gotten to know me today?"

"Well I know that…well, I feel that I can trust you. I feel comfortable with you."

"Then you have gotten to know me."

Andrea grinned at Beast. He was right, even thought they had not talked, they had shared the afternoon together and she was comfortable with him.

They continued sitting by the stream, this time talking and laughing. Andrea told him about her family and he regaled her with stories of The Masters.

It was starting to get dark.

"We had better get back. Demon will be worried about you."

At the mention of Demon, Andrea became quiet and withdrawn.

"Do not be like that Andrea. Demon is not as bad as all that. You will see, in time you will grow to love the big guy."

Beast and Andrea made their way back to the manor house. She was quiet on the way home and Beast decided it was best not to push the issue with her. They had had a wonderful afternoon and he did not want it to end on a bad note.

"Where have you been? Don't you know how late it is?" Demon was screaming at Andrea. "I cannot trust you out of my sight."

Andrea fled the room in tears.

"Demon that was uncalled for." Began Starchild.

"She was with me all afternoon Demon. You knew that." Beast was angry. Demon had spoiled their day after all.

CHAPTER 32

"Andy, Andy."

"Yes Dot."

"What is wrong? You don't sound good."

"How are you doing Dot?" Andrea was avoiding his question.

"I miss you Andy. Are you going to be coming home soon?”

"Maybe Dot, we will see."

"Andy are you sure you are okay?"

"Everything is fine Dot. It is late and I am tired. Good night."

"Night Andy, I love you."

"Love you Dot."

*****

There was a knock at the door. "Andrea, my I come in?"

Andrea did not answer.

"Andrea," Starchild said as he opened the door. "I wanted to check on you to see how your day went."

"Everything is fine." she said avoiding his stare.

"You did not seem fine when you left the hall, you seemed a little upset."

Andrea did not say anything but continued to avoid Stepchild's glance.

"Beast said you had a lovely day today.” Hesitantly he added, “We thought that tomorrow you could spend the day with Demon."

"No!" Andrea was alarmed. She did not want to spend time with Demon not now and not alone.

"We thought it would be best," Starchild tried again.

"No. I think it is time I go back home. This is not going to work. I don’t think I am The Lady you are looking for."

Starchild was starting to get worried. "Andrea please. You had a good day today. Let's not be so quick to give up. Why don't you spend the day with Celestial tomorrow? I am sure Celestial can think of someway to entertain you."

Before Andrea could answer Starchild said, "I will tell Celestial and he will be here first thing in the morning. I will have dinner sent to your room. Sleep well my Lady." And Starchild left.

"What happened?" Beast was all over Starchild when he returned.

"Celestial, I think you should spend the day with Andrea tomorrow."

"I wanted to spend the day with her."

"Demon, this is not the right time."

Demon turned and left the room.

The Masters looked at each other and sighed. This was not going to be easy.

CHAPTER 33

“Rise and shine my Lady." Celestial quipped as he opened the door to Andrea's room. "Are you ready for an adventure today?"

Andrea was a little hesitant but that did not stop Celestial.

"Come on let's go." With that, Celestial transported them to a tropical island.

"What are we doing here?"

"Don't you like it?"

"Yes, it is beautiful. I was just not ready for this."

"Come and enjoy the wonders of this place.” Andrea and Celestial sat down by a lagoon. They talked and laughed together and enjoyed the sights. Andrea saw birds, animals and sea creatures she had never seen before. They walked by waterfalls and splashed each other with the water spray.

"Let me take you somewhere now." Said Andrea.

"You lead."

Andrea took them to a mountaintop.

"I love it here." They stayed for hours enjoying the green trees and the mountain wild flowers. They watched as eagles soared over the mountain. They enjoyed other's company.

Andrea and Celestial transported all over, popping into a village whenever they got hungry and then popping out. Finally they ended up back at Celestial's island.

"Have you had a good time today?"

"Yes, I have never jumped from one place to another like that. My father didn’t like it when I did that."

Celestial took both of her hands in his, "Andrea your father is not here and you can do as you like."

"Can I really?" Andrea replied with sadness in her eyes. She felt like a prisoner of The Masters.

"It is getting late, we need to get back. Demon will be expecting us and if we are late he will get upset."

Andrea did not say anything but the sadness in her eyes intensified. Celestial saw the sadness. He knew the cause of it but he also knew he could not take it away.

Celestial took them back to the great hall of the manor house and as if on cue Demon stormed into the room.

"It is past dark you should have been back hours ago." Looking straight at Andrea "Did he have to chase after you to bring you back? Is that why you are so late? Were you trying to get away?"

Tears filled Andrea's eyes and as they rolled down her cheeks Andrea closed her eyes, bowed her head and disappeared.

Demon stopped ranting; suddenly he was filled with guilt.

‘Why do I do this to her?’

Demon's anguish was written all over his face. He had loved Miranda but he had failed her and she died. Here was Andrea and he was beginning to think that maybe he loved her too. Actually, that was the problem; he realized he did love her. The guilt he felt was causing him to lash out at Andrea.

Yes, Demon loved Andrea and Andrea despised Demon.