"Ow! What the--?" For a second, he wasn't sure what had just shoved him out of the way, but it hurt.

"Its okay. Its only Spider. Hes my friend."

" What? Why...? "

She kneels down next to Ash. ,, Are you okay? ,, She asks, ignoring Puck. Theres just the faintest hint of worry in her voice, which is a lot noting how careful she is with showing emotions.

A soft slithering sound came from under the bed, and two yellow eyes peered up at her. "Fear not, Princesss," it whispered. "I am here under ordersss. Prince Asssh told usss to watch thisss houssse. It isss under the protection of the Unssseelie Court."



Ash shifted, very slightly, away from her.

She frowns, not realizing the eye she usually keeps closed is open and that her claws are out a little.

" Oh. Um...thank you, I guess. "

That wasn't exactly...the only reason, though.



The thing slithered to the edge of the crack, staying just out of the light. "The child isss in no danger," it rasped, "and neither are hisss parentsss, though they do not know we are here. Protect thisss houssse and work no missschief on thossse who live here, those are our ordersss."

"He tells me stories every night," Ethan said, looking up at Lise. "Most of them are pretty scary, but I dont mind. And sometimes theres a black pony in the front yard, and little man in the basement. Mommy and Daddy dont see them, either."

She nodded to...spider, then looked to Ethan. " A black pony? "

She doesn't know there's a second reason. She's just worried about him. Plus she's mostly unaware of the claws, and has no idea about her new, creepy left eye.