”I should go.” Demona finally said. ”I need to go into the office.” She explained, moving out of her friend’s arms and turning away from her to head towards the door. She stopped by Obsidiana and looked to her contemplatively, touching her cheek a little wistfully. Una was right, she truly did not relish the prospect of her former lover finding out about Elisa Maza. She knew it would hurt her, knew she would see pain and betrayal in this woman’s eyes – and it hurt her just to consider that, because despite the fact that she’d been unable to fall in love with her, she did care about her a very great deal and despaired at the thought of hurting her. Was she truly making the right decision? ”While I’m gone, be on your guard, Una. I doubt he would, but I wouldn’t put it past Xanatos to attack here, while the others slept.” Her gaze roamed around the room at her sleeping clan: Leo, Griff, Apollo, her ’dog’ (whom she had stubbornly resisted giving a name, despite Fox and Griff both having tried to convince her to), and Obsidiana…

”If he does, he will regret it.” Una told her.

Demona nodded and turned to leave. ”I should be the one to tell her.” She said at the door, not turning to meet Una’s gaze.

”You won’t be back before sunset?” Una inquired.

”No, yes, of course I will. It’s only…” She didn’t know what else to say; although she did feel the weight of responsibility, of guilt. But guilt and responsibility were no strangers to her. No, they were old friends… perhaps even family, if anything.

”I understand.” Una replied.

Demona left without saying anything else.

She was conflicted about leaving, thinking, as clan leader, perhaps she should stay to help Una guard the others. True, Xanatos was unaware of Una’s constantly improving talents as a sorceress, and true that it would take a small army to breach the mansion once it was in lockdown and Xanatos, presumably, did not know that either; but, regardless, if she were thinking with her head instead of her heart, she knew she would stay and simply have her assistant come to the house for the day. …But then, if she were following her head, she would forget about Elisa, turn around, and, if not try to make it work with Obsidiana again, then at least forgo her own feelings for the sake of maintaining harmony within her clan. She was their leader, perhaps she owed it to them?