The clock on the wall in front of Moon's bed points to four.

It's four o'clock in the morning on a Monday and it's only been about thirty minutes since she had laid down to finally sleep. And while sleep doesn’t come, she’s in the darkness of her room, listening to the ticking of the clock on the wall amidst the snores of the drunken Ace and Artur. Luckily, Gray wasn’t still back; otherwise, it’d be chaotic.

Sleep did not come, Ace had his leg thrown on her, and Artur was hugging her. Not only that, Noira was agitated, for some unknown reason.

― What is it? ― Moon asks in a low voice.

“Blood…”

― Ok, Noira, that's a little scary to talk about in my head at this hour…

“Somebody's dying. Near…”

― And how the fuck do you know this...? ― Moon asks again.

“There's the smell of blood. Don't you feel it?”

Moon kept quiet, clearly trying to say ‘no’. All she felt was the breath of alcohol of her friends.

“Go to the living room’s window.”

Moon begins to wonder why she’s following Noira's orders, at this time, while walking into the room and realizes that, once again, Noira is right. When she opened the window, the wind of the night greeted her with thousands of mixed smells, but she could distinguish the smell of blood, an ability she had as a vanik.

― Ok, you're right. It’s blood.

“But the death of someone unknown doesn't matter, does it? Well, not for me…”

― Fuck, Noira. I can’t leave, you know that… ― Moon ends up talking in a loud voice.

While Noira decides to debate the importance of other people's lives or her absence, Moon is already at the door of the apartment, taking a coat and putting on her boots. She didn’t know how, but she was going to leave that place.

― Moon, what are you doing? ― Artur asked, yawning and scratching his eyes.

― Call Ace. We need to leave, now.

Artur ran back to her room and grabbed Ace by the collar, pushing him hard through the house; Ace was extremely confused but followed along.

― What’s happening?

― Someone’s dying, near here. We gotta do something… ― Moon says, positioning herself in front of the door.

― You can’t leave. He forbade you…

Noira materialized herself in seconds.

― But not me. ― she turned to Moon. ― Sorry, this might hurt… ― she said before going back inside Moon’s body.

Moon screamed in agony and pain.

And then, silence.

― Follow me. ― and so, easily as if the door was made of paper, Noira left the house.

Ace just stared at her. Even if Noira was in control, it was still Moon’s body; a body that was ordered not to leave.

At the last step, a figure left the shadows.

― It's a very cold night out there, Miss… Bexley. There is not a living soul in the streets. ― the deep voice of the old man, sounded through the emptiness of the street. Wearing a black overcoat, reminding the trio of how reapers looked like. ― Artur, Ace.

― Maybe there is one, or not. We won't know unless we leave. ― Noira tried to remain calm and sound like Moon.

― I hope you all know that, even in Berkshire, the night holds its dangers beyond the usual mysteries.

― We'll be careful, Dafoe. She won’t be alone. ― Artur said.

― Thank you for the warning, man. ― Ace said.

Moon turned around but was once again called by Dafoe.

― Miss Bexley? Once you find what you're looking for, you'll only have five minutes to get through the street corner.

― I don't think I get it…

― That's all the time I can offer at the moment. Don't take too long. ― Dafoe slowly walked in the opposite direction; his tall, slender body disappearing into the shadows.

Through the streets of the city, the wind sang in their ears and their footsteps echoed through the silence. Noira was alert, telling the guys to be careful and that they were not alone.

A few miles away from Barlows, in an alley near the industrial zone, about ten blocks away from the warm and cozy apartment; the smell of blood took them to a scene they’d like to unsee, if possible.

There he was, sitting in a pool of blood with bites on his legs, and arms, and a horrible belly wound. As they approached him, his fearful eyes met theirs and with great difficulty, he asked for help.

― What have they done to you? ― Artur asked, getting close to him.

― Just... get me out of here... before they come back… ― the man managed to say.

― You’re one of Archie’s friends… ― Noira says, taking a closer look at him. ― You went to Moon’s workplace a few days ago…

― Yeah. This is Gus Rothery. We studied together… ― Artur told them.

― Guys, we should hurry… The last thing I want right now is to fight someone. ― Ace whines.

With some effort, they managed to put him on his feet and onto Artur’s back, given he was the strongest one there, physically.

― Ok, let's go. ― Artur fixed his posture and started walking.

Due to the severe pain the man was feeling, he grunted; soon after, they heard howls not far from there.

― They know we're here. We gotta hurry… ― Ace looked into the distance. ― It won’t be good if we end up having to use our magic…

― Bites don’t make sense… No one shifts anymore… It’s brutal. ― Artur said in a hushed voice.

They moved fast, looking at their back from time to time.

A few minutes later, which seemed like an eternity, they could already see the sign of Barlows and the entrance to Gray’s house.

― Since when does Dafoe use a cane? ― Artur asks, painting.

― How the hell would we know…

― Yeah, you’re the one who knows him… ― Ace says.

― They’re here. Ace, be ready. ― Noira muttered.

A loud howl on their left made them stop.

A big brown wolf with green eyes was two blocks away, in the middle of the street, growling at them. Soon, other wolves began to appear around, trapping them. Five in total, angry that they had saved the man. Dafoe watched everything from afar, calm as ever.

― As much as I would love to kick their asses, if I get herself in trouble, she’ll lock me up. ― Noira says. ― So, when I say run, we’ll all run toward that old man…

Noira lifted both arms and swirled a big wind toward the wolves, throwing them far from them.

― Run!

With some difficulty, Artur ran carrying the man on his back, Ace trying to help by holding him from behind, and Noira behind them, keeping an eye on the wolves, that were now regaining consciousness.

As soon as they stepped on the white marble stairs, Noira turned in time to see the wolves knocking on what seemed to be an invisible wall; Dafoe’s cane touching the floor.

After a few whispers she didn't understand, Dafoe signaled the friends to follow him, saying that it wouldn't be good if Gray knew what they had just done.

Once inside the townhouse, Noira left, and Moon fell to the floor.

― What the fuck just happened? ― she was breathless, her body ached as if she just ran a marathon.

Ace helped her get up.

― Well, Noira took over your body, and then out of Gray’s place and into the streets and we found a man nearly dying… ― he pointed to Artur. ― Dafoe is something… and he’s helping us…

Dafoe walked down the corridor between the stairs and Gray’s office, then stopped in front of an empty wall.

― What about them? ― Ace asks, pointing to the five wolves outside, growling as they try to get into the alley.

― The moment they turn back, they won't remember anything, don't worry. Come on, let’s take your friend to a safe place.

Moon looked at the arm thrown over Artur’s shoulder.

― He's not our friend.

― But you all know him. ― Dafoe said quietly as his hands created a door at the empty wall. It looked like an apartment.

Dafoe guided them through the place to a very simple and rustic room in the far back. After putting the young man to bed, Dafoe appeared with a large box, from which he took several medical items.

― You know, Miss Bexley, Mr. McKay, I've been here a long time in Berkshire. Long enough to meet almost every resident here. I've seen the Sutherlands help this town grow… Right, Artur?

Artur nodded.

― One thing I've learned here is that, inevitably, appearances can be deceiving. You've seen this man before, haven't you?

― Yes. ― Artur, Ace, and Moon replied in unison.

― Where?

― At Barlows... He always comes in the middle of Archie's group. ― Moon says.

― Artur, what do you know about Mr. Rothery? ― Dafoe asked.

― He came here with his aunt when he was a kid. They used to be my neighbors. She passed away a few years ago. You know, thinking about it… Archie wasn't like that when he was younger. Things... happened.

― And when things happen, people change. Sometimes, for the better. And, unfortunately, they sometimes change for the worse. ― Ace added, thoughtful. ― I’m not defending Archie, but… that’s how life is...

Moon shook her head.

― I don’t care about Archie. And, honestly, I did save him, but I don’t think I wanna get involved with someone that’s being chased by rogues…

― Rogues are the last concern you should be having, Miss Bexley. This man will be of great value to you in the future. Your journey is just beginning. Berkshire needs you. Kirel Valley too.

Moon felt a cold going through her spine.

Her hands were freezing while she was squeezing the edge of her coat.

Fighting not to stutter, Moon said:

― How... do you know about Kirel?

― I met your parents. Your father was a great man. Your mother was… a tough one. And your... brother. Lovely kid. Gunner, right?

― You’ve met her family? ― Ace was curious.

― Gray is not the only one keeping an eye on you, Miss Bexley. Even if there’s a lot of mysteries surrounding the Goddess’ choice in uniting you two. There are people who... well, this is no time for that kind of talk. You should go back home, Miss Bexley. Soon, your mate will be back, and he won't like to find out that you got to leave. ― Dafoe said in the same calm tone as he stood up and covered the boy in the bed, keeping the gauze, needle, and thread, as well as the medicine in the box.