Zeke just sighed as he sat down in the couch, shaking his head.

It had been about a week and a half since he'd found Erika on the desert island, and Azazel had been sent to rescue her. Azazel had been chosen because he was immune to Erika's abilities, they being demonic in nature. It seemed like whatever had happened to her, it had caused her mark to spread... from just her arm, to considerably on her torso as well.

He'd brought her back, and she was being kept in isolation until she woke up. But the isolation had stopped her influence from spreading out to the world, so people were slowly returning to normal.

Terra was also still at the Unit. She had offered her services to Hal, and Hal accepted. She had proven herself to be powerful and helpful, so Hal decided he would be a fool to say no and turn her away.

Though there was still something weird about her. Was she really a dryad? Why was she so powerful? Why did she seem so familiar to people that swore they'd never seen her before in their lives.

These questions whirled and swirled around in Zeke's mind, so much so he was starting to get a headache from it.

"Ugh." he groaned.

"At least Angela and Liv are back up to par." he said. Surprisingly enough, or maybe it was because the fae mana around the home offered some form of protection, Liv and Angela hadn't been affected nearly has badly as others, but it had still affected them to a degree. They were more or less back to normal currently, but still felt a bit on the 'off' side.

So he'd decided to bring home dinner for them. And he had. He had taken it to the kitchen, and set it down on one of the counters.

"Angela! Liv! Food's in the kitchen!" he called to them, unsure as to whether they were upstairs or outside in the backyard. The windows were open, though. They'd heard him, regardless of where they were.

The eagle, which had been perched on his shoulder, hopped down from it, and landing on his chest, looking into his eyes.

"Heh." Zeke chuckled, lightly stroking its head.

"You're really well-behaved." he commented. "And a big boy, too. I haven't had you for that long, yet you almost look like you're fully grown." he said further.

"Huh...? Mom?" Zeke muttered.

He then looked at Talon, before looking at her.

"Uhhh... sure? I guess?" he said further, extending his arm out towards her.

When he did, the eagle hopped off his chest and onto his arm, before slowly making its way closer to the woman.

"Why?" Zeke then asked.

"What do you want to check?"

The bird looked around, before almost looking to nod.

However, it was clear that as it looked around, it was getting a little on the uneasy side.

Meanwhile, back with Zeke, he was starting to drum his fingers on the arm of the couch.

And he looked visibly agitated.

"....hm-hm..." he muttered.

"What Angela is thinking?" he then asked himself.

"The hell does THAT have to do with anything?" he asked further, grumbling slightly.

Zeke looked over to her sharply.

"Wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing!" he exclaimed.

"Nothing is wrong! Why would anything be wrong?" he asked her.

"Why would you ask that?" he asked further.

"There something I should know?" he then inquired, a bit of an accusing tone to his voice.

"......" Zeke was silent for a moment.

"I'm sorry." he apologised.

"I shouldn't have snapped like that. I guess I'm on edge for some reason." he admitted.

"Dunno WHY, though." he went on.

"Erika's been rescued, Azazel's going to help her, things are calming down worldwide, I should be fine." he continued.

"Maybe I just need sleep or something." he reasoned with a small shrug.

"...how are YOU doing, Liv?" he then asked her.

Zeke gritted his teeth and almost shot Liz a nasty look when she suggested that.

"That can't be it." he said.

"I was under the effects of Erika's reach for a VERY short amount of time." he reasoned.

"And even then, for some weird reason, there were times when I just... didn't feel it at all." he went on. "Like, I had sustained moments of clarity, and not just bursts of them." he continued.

"So, no. I wasn't immune, but it can't be that." he summarised.

"I don't know WHAT is going on, and it's pissing me off." he continued, a threatening nature to his tone now. It wasn't directed AT Liv, but she could see he was feeling quite edgy right now.

"...damn it, when is Mom coming back?" he then asked, seemingly out of nowhere.

After Liv left, Zeke continued to drum his fingers.

He got up and paced for a bit, before sitting back down.

He turned on the television to try and take his mind off of things, but that didn't work. He didn't find anything he liked, and when he did... it was suddenly interrupted by some sports talk, which seemed to really anger him.

So much so, he threw the remote onto the floor, causing the batteries to pop out.

"Damn it all!" he yelled.

"I finally find ONE thing to watch, and they interrupt it! Damn it all to HELL!" he cursed further.

He then got up and started to pace once more, all the while looking like he was getting angrier and angrier... almost to unreasonable levels, one that knew him would say.

One thing was for sure: he was NOT acting like his usual self.

"I'll be right there." was the response she got.

Sure enough, about 20 seconds later, she felt his immense mana presence in the home, and he made his way over towards her.

When he approached his wife, he saw that she had Talon with her.

And the bird was looking... stressed.

Its feathers were fluffed out, it was looking around, and it was making strange quiet screeching sounds.

"...thing looks stressed." he commented.

Uriel just chuckled.

"Well, I'll be." he said.

"Ezekiel's got his own familiar." he commented.

He then shook his head, extended his arm, and whistled at the eagle. Talon responded by flying from Aimee's knee, and landing on Uriel's arm.

"I'll explain it." he told her.

"...did the bird injure you?" he then asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Any cuts or scrapes...?"

Immediately, Aimee could see that Uriel's temper was starting to act up.

"..........I see." he replied.

"Is that so." he went on, glaring at the bird.

Aimee, however, responded by just shooting him a glare.

A warning glare.

A glare that seemed to immediately quell her husband's temper.

"...how badly?" he then asked her.