The Cliffs were an area just outside of town where some of the richer people situated their mansions. They were called the Cliffs because that's exactly what they were, sheer walls of rock rising fifty feet into the air surrounded on three sides by dense natural forest. The views were supposed to be amazing. I had only been up there once to do a delivery when I had worked at the grocery store. The guy who normally did it was sick so I had gone. The houses were huge and spread out so that each one was situated on a plot of land.

We drove down the street for a while, passing house after house till we came to the last house on the street.

"This one!" Alice exclaimed and before anyone could say anything else she was out of the car and running up to the gate, to the comms. I hurried after her and just as I got there I heard a buzzing noise and the gate opened.

This really is her house. Jesus who is this girl?!

As soon as the gates were open she was running down the drive, I was hot on her heels but she was really fast and I was having a little trouble keeping up.  It didn't help that the driveway was made of tiny little smooth pebbles that kept slipping out from under my feet. 

"Alice wait up!" I called after her.

Before we even reached the bottom of the steps that led up to the front porch the door was being thrown open by the most stunning man I had ever seen. He had big, steely blue eyes that were wide and frantic. His platinum blond hair was long and hung platted in a rope over his shoulder. His cheekbones were defined and his jaw was wide and sharp which gave him an almost fox-like appearance.

Fox-like. Of course! Alice is a fox, this must be her dad.

No sooner had I thought that than his appearance began to change. 

His hair became even lighter until it looked completely white, his eyes turned from blue-grey to silver and his pupils became slits, his human ears disappeared and white fluffy fox ones appeared on top of his head, his teeth became that of a fox's and his entire face shifted to become more fox like, though he didn't have fur covering his body like Alice did and his features stayed mostly human. At first, I wondered why, but then I saw his tail's.

They were big and fluffy and there was nine of them. They looked like some sort of furry white flower attached to his lower back.

He's a Nine-Tail's! And a white one too! Oh my god!

Nine-tails were extremely rare and powerful fox spirits. In their true forms, they were gigantic and they had power beyond that of most other spirits, they got more powerful with age too. They were supposed to be immortal and it was said that they ate the livers of unsuspecting humans who wandered into their territory. The white ones were even rarer and more powerful than the normal orange ones. It was said that a white nine-tails was as powerful as five orange nine-tails of the same age. Kate had told me all this one night while we had been talking about the supernatural world.

"If they're so rare why are you telling me all this about them?" I asked her when she had finished. "You normally just glaze over a species, telling me one or two key things and whether or not I should avoid them if I see them on the street."

"That's not true I always tell you about anything you're interested in!" She replied avoiding my eyes. Her aura flared and became darker in colour.

"Kaaaaaaaaate," I say drawing out her name. She gave me an innocent look like she had no idea what I was talking about. I gave her a look of my own. It said spill.

"Let's just say that in the future you shall meet a Nine-tails and no matter how hard you try you will not be able to get away from this one." She finally said after quite a bit of back and forth.

After that, I had asked question after question but she had just kept repeating her favourite saying - "What will happen, happens. You can either spend all your time worrying about it or simply live in the moment."

It might be him, but he's Alice's dad. Alice is so sweet and shy and she seems attached to me, Kate never said I would only meet one Nine-tails. . . Oh, I don't know. Guess I'll just have to roll with it.

As soon as the nine-tails had seen Alice his face had been filled with joy and relief and his eyes had welled up with tears. For some reason seeing the beautiful man crying made my chest ache. I had this insane desire to wipe the tears from his flawless skin.

"Daddy!" Alice exclaimed in joy as she threw herself into her father's arms. He caught her in a hug and spun around with her in his arms shrieking in delight.

I reached the bottom of the stairs and stopped. A huge Japanese man who I suspect to be Yama had appeared in the door and he was now flitting over Alice like a mother hen and apologising profusely to her dad who he called Mr Voshell. I was surprised to see that he was half Cyclopes. A one-eyed giant mostly found in deep forests.

The police officer came and stood beside me as I stood there and quietly watch the interaction between the three of them. Mr Voshell was definitely the one in charge, his aura was large and commanding and I could tell he took responsibility for things. Alice was shy and an introvert. She didn't let many people in but those she did she kept, cherished and protected fiercely. Yama had a tough scary exterior because of his size and his features but on the inside, I could see he was a giant marshmallow and incredibly loyal to Mr Voshell.

Wait a minute. Voshell. I've heard that name before, but it couldn't be!

I look around at the house and garden. Both are huge and I can tell that what I'm seeing is only a tiny section of them. All the hedges are immaculately trimmed and there isn't a weed anywhere in sight. A sculpture sits in one corner, the centre of a feature garden. On the other side is a water feature spilling into a koi pond with water lilies floating on top. There are all sorts of exotic plants scattered in groups all over the garden. The house itself is made of stone with lots of windows and exterior lights. All in all, it was all very high quality and would take a fortune to maintain. Plus this was prime location. Everyone wanted a house on the cliffs, but very few people could afford even one of the smaller ones on the road up here, yet a mansion this size right on the edge. And out of all the people who could afford a house like this, there was only one named Voshell.

It is him! Jacob Voshell! He owns most of the land and at least half of the buildings in town. One of the richest and most powerful men in this half of the country!

I was completely shocked into silence by my revelation. What on earth had I gotten myself into?

"Oh, Alice-chan I was so worried! What happened to you? One minute you were there and the next you were gone!" Exclaimed Yama.

"I'm sorry. I wandered off and got lost and then a scary man tried to take me somewhere!" She replies hugging him.

At the mention of the kidnapper, Mr Voshell goes stiff and all the colour is bleached from his face, making him so pale he looks like a ghost. His aura flares dark reds and greys and he practically radiates fear and rage. 

"Don't worry Daddy! I'm okay! Tim saved me from the bad man!"

Alice looked over in my direction and smiled, pointing to me as she said that to him and Yama. 

Mr Voshell's shoulders relax and he is filled with relief. They both turn to look at me, but when Mr Voshell and I meet eyes something strange happens. Thoughts, feelings, and images come rushing into my head. I see a forest burning, people running and screaming in fear, a woman's face, clawed hands, a dying man, a baby crying and a two-year-old Alice taking her first steps. The force of them all almost knocks me over, but I regain my balance managing to only take a single stumbling step backwards. I shake my head and look back up at Mr Voshell who is blinking and frowning.

What was that?

Before I have time to think about it Alice comes running back over to me and grabs my hand to drag me over to meet them. The officer follows closely behind us. Mr Voshell extends his hand for me to shake but before anything can be said the officer interrupts.

"Sir, I assume you are the father." 

"Yes that's me," replies Mr Voshell. His voice is deep and cultured. He has a slight accent which I can't quite place.

"I would like to have a conversation with you and your wife regarding the safety of your daughter."

At this, Mr Voshell goes stiff again before drawing up to his full height and radiating an aura of command and authority.

This is not going to go well.

"I am not married. Officer, I assure you Alice is perfectly safe and nothing like this will ever happen again."

"Yes, sir, of course, but . . ."

"Do you know who I am officer? Because if you don't I suggest you stop before you get yourself fired."

There it is. Looks like Mr Voshell's patience has run thin.

"Fired!? Now listen here, sir I . . ."

"Jacob Voshell." He interrupts sharply. The officer freezes and his eyes go wide. His mouth opens and shuts like a fish's. Mr Voshell who had been getting more and more annoyed and offended seems mildly amused at this.

"Good, then you do know who I am. You may leave now. If I'm needed for the investigation or any follow up the Chief knows how to contact me." He says dismissing the officer before turning to me and Alice.

"Yes, sir! Sorry, sir! Right away." He replies quickly. I wouldn't have been surprised if he'd saluted. He turns and leaves faster than a bat out of hell.

"Sorry about that. I would like to thank you for helping my daughter," says Mr Voshell, addressing me and reaching into his back pocket. At first, I wonder why until I see him pull out an expensive looking leather wallet.

"Oh no really! I just happened to be passing by and wanted to help her! I had no idea she was your daughter Mr Voshell." I sputter putting my hands up and shaking my head.

"You do not want money? Then what can I do to show you my gratitude?" He asks returning the wallet to his pocket.

"Nothing really! A simple thank you would suffice." I reply.

I feel a tugging on my sleeve and look down to see Alice looking up at me out of her big green eyes.

"What is it sweetie?" I ask crouching down so we're eye to eye.

"Tim doesn't want anything? Why not?" She asks tilting her head to the side like a curious puppy.

I smile and give her a pat on the head. "Because I didn't do it for a reward. I did it because it was the right thing to do and because if I hadn't then I would have felt guilty and wouldn't have been able to stop worrying about you." 

"Okay then. Does Tim want to play with me?"

"I'd love to but I have to get home to my family," I tell her gently. If I don't get home soon Laura will start to worry. She was in charge of the kids today.

"Of course. If you're sure you don't want anything. Maybe if it's okay you could come around for dinner sometime. I'm sure Alice would like that very much and that way I can thank you properly." suggests Mr Voshell.

The idea of having dinner with him in this amazing house had my heart soaring. Despite the potential danger and our difference in social standing I couldn't help but be drawn to him. He was exactly my type and he didn't have as much of the darkness that I would expect of someone like him. There was still some there but it was small and deeply buried like whatever it was that caused it happened a long time ago. He intrigued me and I found myself wanting to know more.

I stood up grinning. "That's a great idea. I'm free this Wednesday if that suits you."

He smiles back and my heart does a little dance in my chest. When he smiles his whole face lights up and his eyes seem to glitter.

"Wednesday sounds perfect."