Yule Ball

Shadow groaned.
"You have got to find some better comebacks."

"Leave my comebacks alone," said Natalie, grinning.

"I was talking to Holly." Shadow said.

"Then leave MY comebacks alone!" Holly said, acting offended.
Then she punched Shadow lightly on the arm.
"Kidding bro," she said grinning.

"Oh...sorry...seems to be all about me tonight...talk to George...see if he'll be your date for the night," Natalie laughed.

Shadow grabbed Holly's arm, twisting it round behind her back before placing a foot firmly on her friend's back and pushing her forwards into the ground, all in one quick movement.

"Flipping heck Shadow," said Natalie, looking surprised.

Shadow bit her lip.
"I'm sorry Holly." She said, helping her friend to her feet.

"That was cool though," said Natalie, still in shock.

"I had better go." Shadow said, shocked at her own actions. She turned, staring to run back to the castle.

"SHADOW! DON't GO!" yelled Natalie, "PLEASE!"

Gareth jumped.

"What just happened?" he asked.

"I don't know," said Natalie thoughfully.

Shadow turned once she was out of sight, siting down under a tree.

"I'll be back...stay with Holly," Natalie said to Gareth softly. He nodded, and smiled.

She ran off and found Shadow under a tree.

"You ok?" she asked.

"You'd better keep your distance for now." Shadow said quietly.

"WHAT THE-"
Holly glanced around looking for Shadow.
"Demon instincts?" she called over to the girl beneath the tree.

Shadow leapt to her feet before getting a grip on herself.
"I don't know."

"Are you sure?" asked Natalie.

"Look, I just don't know!" Shadow snapped before looking down at her feet. "Sorry."

Holly stood up shakily and dropped down next to her.
"Have they passed yet?"

"Look...its ok...it was just all that emotion in the air." said Natalie.

"I don't think so. Nat, go back and enjoy your evening." Shadow said.

"Go back to Gary," Holly said, using his nickname again.

"Gareth!" Natalie called, "do you mind if I stay here with Shadow for a while...you can stay too."

"Yeah...sure," said Gareth, still looking confused as to what had just happened.

"Nat, Holly, I think I had best stay on my own for a while." Shadow said.

Holly considered for a moment.
THen she cast a force field between she and Nat, and Shadow.
"You're on your own," she said reasonably, "But ill be bored if i go back to just waiting around for my date that didnt show up,"

"I don't want to put you guys in danger." Shadow said.

"But he did...is that not him over there by the door Hols?" Natalie pointed to another hot guy.

"Yeah, which is really noble," Holly said, "But im an arrogant jack-,"
She grinned.

Shadow managed a faint smile.

Holly sat under her half of the tree and summoned lemonade, which she levitated through to Shadow.
"Cheers"

Shadow caught the glass.
"Thanks." She said. She stared into it before closing her eyes.

"Ooh...look Gareth...a tree party," said Natalie laughing.

Gareth laughed even though the joke was bad.

Shadow didn't even groan at the joke, even though she heard it.

"You alright?" Holly murmured to Shadow as the others talked.

"I'd rather not answer that." Shadow said.

"Ahhh," said Natalie, thinking that Shadow was probably going to her happy place.

Shadow certainly had a lot of thoughts going through her mind, mainly because she knew what was happening, but didn't want to worry her friends.

Natalie looked worried about her friend.

Gareth looked worried about Natalie.

George was looking at a bug.

Holly nodded at the ground, thinking private thoughts.

Shadow's head twitched.

Natalie looked up.

"Oh...whats happening?" asked Natalie.

Shadow didn't reply.

"Holly...something's happening to her," said Natalie, who had seen Shadow go fully demonic only once before.

"Nat, go with Gareth, enjoy the rest of the ball." Shadow said.

"No....I'm staying here....I have to be here to call Raven if anything bad happens," said Natalie, "Holly can help too."

Shadow looked up at Nat.
"I don't want to ruin your evening."

"Are you becoming a full demon?" Holly asked quietly.

"Your not...I'm stayimg," said Natalie, in a final sort of tone.

Holly repeated her question.

"She's going demonic probably....when she does...we will need to use George to call Raven...she'll be able to calm her down...Shadow won't be able to recognise us or control it when it happenes," said Natalie quietly.