Walking back, Maddox turned towards Daisy, curiously. “So... What’s the plan?”

“Plan?” She looked in deep thought for a moment. “Hmmm.... Welll.....”

“You do have one... right?”

“Hmm, not really” She gleefully admitted “I think she’ll slip up on her own eventually... When she does, you’ll see what kind of person she is.”

The gleam in her eye is what worried him the most, this was a side to her he had never seen before. She was normally so considerate and always saw the good in people, so what had happened to bring this out of her. “You say so...” He mumbled as walked towards the gate.

As they got closer to the house, a trembling figure was there waiting to greet them at the door, Corina. Suddenly she ran towards them, taking a hold of Daisy in her arms. “Thank goodness!” She cried aloud “Don’t do that again please! I was so worried! Let’s be friends from now on!” She leaned in closer to Daisy’s ear so that only she could hear. “You should have just left, it would have been easier that way...”

Daisy, caught in the embrace, held Corina tightly as well, exclaiming loudly “Hmmm, let’s be friends, I’m sorry that we got off on the wrong foot!” Moving her face closer to Corina's ear, she whispered “No, why would I leave and miss you fall apart in front of my eyes, let’s see how long you can keep up this act...” With that, Corina let go as Daisy made her way inside. “I’m gonna have a shower then I’m going to bed, kay! Night!”

“Hmm, that’s fine, goodnight” Maddox waved her off as she made her way up the stairs. “I’m glad you two seem to have patched things up!” He looked at Corina, expecting her to look happier about them making up, however. She seemed to be pretty irritated. "Corina?"

Quickly she snapped back to reality, switching to her smiling mask once more. "What is it?"

“You ok?”

“I’m fine" She bluffed "I was just worried is all! I hope she doesn’t do anything like that again!”

“Right!” He nodded confidently as he made his way past her, heading towards the porch before turning back. "Anyways, I think imma head to bed as well, it’s our day off tomorrow so I think imma get some sleep!”

“Hmm, make sure to rest up! I’ll see you tomorrow!” She beamed falsely as her eyes followed him upstairs. Once he was out of view, her fists clenched, that happy mask she wore just moments ago vanished, a scornful expression shading over. "Why..." She whispered under her breath "Well, it doesn't matter, I guess I'll just have to try a different tactic..." She unballed her hand as her face wore it's mask once more, before making her way inside.

As he laid his head against the pillow, his mind was clouded in thought, he really didn’t know what to believe anymore. Daisy had no reason to lie to him, but she was acting way to weird, and Corina... What was that look about? Did Daisy say something to her? Corina was always so bright with him, he felt a strong connection with her. Even if what Daisy said was true, he wanted to stay and help. He knew what loneliness felt like, but not this isolation she had been forced to feel throughout her life. Perhaps if he could show her a life where she knew she wouldn’t be alone anymore, where she could be herself and safe, perhaps then she would open up more and would be comfortable with herself. “Right” He whispered to himself as he held his pillow behind his head. He was gonna help Corina, then once she was comfortable, hopefully Daisy would stop resenting her and they could finally get along. As his eyes drifted close, he heard a slight tapping at the door. “Who is it?”

“Maddox... It’s me... You awake?” Whispering gently against the door was the soft voice of Daisy.

“Yeah I’m awake!”

“C... Can I come in?”

“Hmm... Sure”

“O... Ok... Excuse me...” She lightly pushed the door open as she peeked inside, clad in a white, sequinned dressing gown, clutching hold to her pillow. “Hmm... She looked around, confused then let out a sigh. “Why am I even surprised...”

“What’s up?” He asked as she stood cautiously in front of the door.

“Oh, I keep on hearing strange sounds from my room, it’s really creeping me out...” The look on her face only emphasised her displeasure.

“Can’t you ignore them?”

She shook her head sadly. “I wish, but no, you know how sensitive my ears are... Once I hear something, it sticks."

“I guess so, you wanna stay here then, take your mind off it?”

“Well actually...” She began to shuffle around a little uncomfortably, toying with her fingers as she looked at the floor. “I was kinda hoping... I could stay here... for tonight?”

“Serious?” He sighed loudly.

“If it’s not too much trouble...” Her eyes not leaving the floor as her cheeks reddened, staring at the ground bashfully.

“Sure, I don’t mind.” He knew there was no point arguing.

“Really?” Finally, she looked up, her eyes shining radiantly.

“Just for tonight, ok?”

“Hmm” she nodded, before running to his bed side and jumping into the bed next to him.

“You can at least wait for me to get out first...” He moaned as he removed the bedsheets from himself.

“What?” She looked at him, confused.

Maddox stumbled out of his bed before heading towards the wardrobe across the room, opening the door and rumbling inside before pulling out a large, red sleeping bag and a rolled mat.

“What you doing?” Daisy posed.

“I’m getting the sleeping bag out... You don’t expect me to sleep in the same bed, right?”

“Of course not!!” She cried aloud “I’m glad you understand!”

“Why wouldn’t I...” They weren't sleeping in the woods anymore, it would be weird if Corina or worse, Angus walked in on them and they were laying in the bed together. That was a conversation he would rather avoid if possible.

As she snuggled into the bed sheets, a comfortable grin melted on to her face. “Mmm, warmmm.”

As he turned to look up at her, snuggly wrapped in his bed, he thought to himself how cosy she looked. He didn't mind having her stay over for the night, if anything it was reassuring to have her hear with him. His arms remained stretched behind his head as his eyes began to shut once more.

“Hey... Maddox...” A shy voice whispered from his bed.

“Are you determined to make sure I don’t get any sleep...” He complained as his eyes lazily opened once more, staring at the ceiling.

“Sorry... It’s just... Can I make a selfish request...”?

“After taking my bed?”

“Please... until I prove what she’s like... Don’t get too close to Corina, ok?”

He had a feeling something like that would come up, but he already decided that he was going to help her. How could he turn someone away when all his life he'd been turned away? If she needed to feel wanted, he was going to be the one to do it. With a stern voice he responded. “I don’t think it’s your call to make Daisy”

“I know, and I know it selfish" She muttered from within the covers. "but still... Please... Don’t go K...K... Kissing her again and stuff”

“I haven't kissed her?" Turning his head to face hers, her face hidden underneath the blanket.

"But you looked like you were going to" She shyly argued “You looked really into it...”

“Well... I...” He stammered for a moment, he couldn't really argue that. In that moment, if Daisy hadn't of came in, he wasn't sure what would have happened. “I like her Daisy, even if she’s how you say she is, I want to help, being isolated for so long, I want to show her she doesn’t have to act this way, so she can be herself”

“That's so you..." Her voice trailed off as she sank further between the sheets.

Maddox was now sitting up now, his arms firmly placed on the ground. He really needed Daisy onboard if this was going to work. “It is... so please help me”

She had moved her body against the headboard now, her face still hidden behind the blanket as she mumbled. “I'd like to... If it's for you... But... I don't think I can...”

“Why?”

“Because..." She started but she couldn't tell him how she felt, not right now. If she did, he would think all she was being was jealous, that she just wanted to keep him to herself. Not that that wasn't completely true, but she knew this girl was just toying with them both. She resigned herself to keep her secret for a little longer, sliding back under the covers. "Mmm... It doesn’t matter...”

“Daisy?”

“I’ll help alright... I’ll help but only if you promise not to kiss or do lovey-dovey stuff with her... Ok!”

“Fine, I promise I won’t do anything like that, I just want to be friends with her, I want you to be friends with her too...”

“That’s impossible...” She whispered to herself as he could barely hear her.

“What was that?”

Nothing... Goodnight...”

“Ok... Goodnight”

The night had been and gone as the morning sun peered through the window onto Maddox’s eyelids, waking him. “Morning already?” Wiping the sleep from his eyes he turned to his left. Before him, the drooling sight of Daisy wrapped within his blanket like a sushi roll. “Daisy?”

“Meat...” Her glistening lips uttered.

“Huh?”

“Meee...atttt...” She was still sound asleep, but her voice sounded agitated as her face squinted.

“Oi... Wake up already” Gently he shook against where her shoulders would be in the mattress.

“I want the good slice...” She complained, still locked in her dream.

“What are you on a... BOUT!!"

*NOM*

She placed her lips firmly as she bit down on his shoulder “Mmm...” she mumbled as she chewed contently.

“Oi! Oi! OFF!” He complained, attempting to push her off but it was no good. Like all dogs, once she got her teeth into something, it was impossible to get her off. He placed his free hand next to wear she had bitten and looked at the liquid that had seeped onto his hand, blood. "This can’t be how I go out" he thought to himself. "I could use my scales but I don’t want to break her teeth... Damn what should I do!" He continued to poke, prod and flick at her as he tried to wake her, all to no avail as she wrapped her arms around him, only making it more difficult to get her off. The world was slowly going dark, until a loud noise came from his door.

“Maddox? You awake? I was just going to start breakfast” Corina called from the other side of the door. He was saved.

He spluttered out his words as best he could “C...Corina... H... Helppp...” His voice faded as he called for her help.

“What? I’m coming in” She sounded concerned as she entered, but as she saw Daisy attached to Maddox nape, a look of anger crept into her usual smile. “Oh... Am I disturbing something”

“G... Get her off me... The world... It’s going dark...”

“Is that so... A moment please” She exited the room, from the corridor the sound of a tap running caught Maddox’s attention. Soon Corina returned with a rather large bucket, nearly spilling from the brim, full of water. “This should work, shouldn’t it?” She grinned at maliciously.

“Corina... That’ll... get me as well”

“You wanted her off you correct, well, brace yourself, I didn’t have time for the water to warm, I was in such a rush you see...”

“Corina... Wait!!!” His arms waved helplessly as he tried to stop her, but suddenly a sharp, cold sensation washed over his body.

*SPLASH*

The water scattered across the both of them as they were engulfed in the water.

“Abababab” Daisy spluttered as she was shocked awake, as she stumbled back, the blanket slipped from her body. Angerly she looked around the room till her eyes locked on Corina. “BITCH! What was that for!”

“How rude" She muttered, her head held high "perhaps you shouldn’t try these stunts again if this is the outcome”

“Huh... What outcome? Are you an idiot? what are you talking about?” She argued, a disgusted look in her eye.

“Look for yourself...” Pointing towards Maddox newly healed neck, surrounded by glistening, dark scales.

“That... Was me?” Her eye’s hit the ground, dejected.

“You did, perhaps its unwise for you to sleep in the same room?”

“No, it’s fine really, it’s all healed now see...” He turned to Daisy to show her the freshly healed scar, but he was quickly distracted, how couldn't he be. Sat next to his bed was Daisy, his bed sheets had abandoned her. Her white, satin nightgown now clinged tightly to her delicate skin, leaving no part of her body covered. Tentatively, as it held her, her lingerie slowly revealed itself beneath the now, transparent night gown. Firmly it clung to her bosom as it followed her diminutive body past her narrow waist before falling away, caressing her succulent rump. His eyes couldn’t advert there gaze no matter how hard he tried.

“Maddox, why are you staring so much, it’s weird” As she attempted to cover her body with her arms, it only adding to cuteness to this scene.

“Oh... I...” He began to stutter hopelessly as Corina butted in.

“Are you planning on becoming an exhibitionist or are you going to get changed?”

“Huh?” Her eyes slowly looked down. her face grew radiant, embarrassed as she screamed loudly, sliding back against the bed as she grabbed a hold of the soaked blanket and hid behind it.

“That won’t do...” Corina hurried over to her and pulled the blanket quickly around her. “Let’s get you to your room, hurry up”

With her arms around her shoulders, Corina shepherded her out of the room and down the corridor, back towards Daisy’s room. As they entered, she sat her down on the bed, slowly removing the bed sheet and soaked dressing gown from her body. “Jeez, I was hoping for a quite morning...” Corina moaned as she quickly disappeared out of the room, only to return with a towel. “Here.”

“Thanks... But why are you helping me?”

“Don’t think too much into it" Corina scolded as she turned towards the door. "if you get ill, it gives me more work to do, that’s all, now get dried up and changed...”

As soon as she entered, she had left the room, leaving Daisy alone clutching hold of the towel. Did Corina really just help her? That was really out of character she thought to herself. wiping the damp from her forehead with the towel. She was pretty sure there were other ways to wake her up, but she couldn't really complain, she could still taste the iron on her teeth from where they had sunk into Maddox. She wasn't going to let her guard down so easily, but perhaps she would be less obvious about her worries about her. For now, she would stick with Maddox's plan although she didn't like it, and play along with her game.