[h2]Esme[/h2]
The last thing Esme heard from Cason before passing out was that he would help her and that the name Ryker sounded familiar to him. It brought her some comfort, but she still didn’t want him to get into any sort of trouble by helping her with her requests. She also didn't want Natalia to be hurt or upset by the possible outcome. She knew that, if anything happened to Cason, she would probably never forgive her. But she also knew that if it had anything to do with that damned asylum, Cason would jump on it to keep Natalia safe, even if it felt like it was two different groups of demons involved in the two situations. For the most part, Esme slept the rest of the night peacefully, her mind having retreated to her safe place as it sometimes did when she was so mentally tired or when she was going to fall into one of her deep sleeps. The lush grass of the meadow beneath her, the scent of flowers around her, and the gentle breeze blowing on her face and through her hair. As well as her four-legged companions from her childhood running around below the hill where she sat.

As morning approached, Esme’s safe place slowly faded away into something a lot less happy and peaceful. Darkness surrounded her, grief and guilt weighed down on her heavily, and she was having trouble finding her way out. As the sun rose and shone on the property, fear gripped her tightly in the darkness of her sleep. She fought to find a source of light, and against the crippling emotions bearing down on her. She knew who the fear was coming from, but couldn’t put her finger on who it was at that moment. It was a fear that came from someone who was scared of losing someone. It had been so long since she had felt this fear so strong, it was taking her a moment to realize who it could be coming from. It wasn’t long until she could feel the gentle nudge of Sarah, making her aware that she had fallen asleep, and she was momentarily stuck in her mind/dream. This wasn’t the first time she had been in the position. Stuck in her mind or dream, and slightly aware of what was going on in the waking world. “Damnaidh!” she screamed into the darkness. “Of course, my body would decide to choose today to go comatose!”

“Today is not the day for me to be down for the count. I have to be present for the funeral!” she screamed into the darkness. “I need, no, I have to be by Duke’s side during it! I also should have ended up in bed last night, not here, so I could have been there when he woke up!” closing her eyes, she tried to wake her body up, and to get her eyes to open. As she did, Esms could feel Sarah nudge her again. Esme growled, but her body in the waking world remained still and silent. “Come on! Wake your ass up!” she yelled at herself. Her body did nothing in response, not that that was surprising to her. Opening her eyes, she looked around the darkness. Times of her being here before creeping in on her, as well as the cold the place held, and having no one to pull her out at times. If Duke went looking for her, he didn't know where she was, and he could see Sarah, and she was sure Cason had gone back to Natalia by now. Her only hope was getting herself to wake up or Sarah waking her up. 

Esme plopped onto her ass and crossed her legs in frustration just as Sarah nudged her a little more aggressively with a light bark. Sarah’s growing worry wasn’t helping her frustration any. Then it hit her, Duke’s fear. He had woken up to find her gone after falling asleep with her next to him, now he was looking for her and couldn’t find her, sure he’d be scared that something had happened to her. Clenching her fists and squeezing her eyes shut, Esme tried once again to gain control of her body, or at least her mouth. There, she could slightly feel the link that connected her consciousness to her body; it could be just enough to get Sarah to hear her. “Sarah….. Bite me.” Esme’s sleeping form mumbled. Sarah whined in response as she looked down at Esme. “You have….. To….. It’s the only…… Way….. Do it.” Sarah continued to whine, not wanting to hurt Esme in any way, even with being told to by her. “Please…. Sarah.” Esme’s sleeping form begged. Sarah’s ears went back at Esme’s words, but she obediently leaned her head down and took Esme’s left arm into her mouth, ready to do as she was told. 

Suddenly, Esme’s eyes popped open at the sound of Duke’s worried voice calling her name. She shot upright just as Sarah bit down on her arm, hissing from the pain from the bite and the soreness of her body. “Good girl, Sarah. Good girl.” she groaned to the hound. “I’ll make sure Cason doesn’t scold you, since I’m sure he told you to wake me gently.” She gave her a smile and a pat on the side, before looking around for Duke from where she sat. Once she saw him, she could see the worry all over his face as well as feel it.“Over here, Bright Eyes!” she called over to him as she lifted an arm and waved to him. Once she knew he had seen her, she rested her arm on her lap after crossing her legs. “Sorry, I scared you. I had planned on being back before you woke up this morning.”