Isolde sighed and smoothed her hair with a shaky hand.<br/><br/>"I just need a shower and I'll be ready to face whatever needs to be faced."<br/><br/>Malachai followed her upstairs. He sat in a wingback chair and took up the newspaper. Isolde could see he was comfortable.<br/><br/>Once in the shower, the pelting water seemed to scour the worry away from her. Isolde came out clean and ready to end this nonsense. She dressed head to toe in black, from her Italian leather jacket to the knee length boots. With her hair bound in a braid, she finished her make up with a slash of red on her lips.<br/>"War Paint." she thought, narrowing her eyes at herself in the mirror.<br/><br/>When she came out, she found Malachai with his head leaned back on the chair, with his eyes closed. To the red headed witch, he looked like safety. Fighting the urge to curl up in his lap and be surrounded by his arms,she clearned her throat.<br/><br/>"I'm ready."