― So... How is your relationship with Gray going?

― Like I told Dafoe… We’re both still alive…

― Is he that bad?

― No… ― Moon sighed. ― It’s just that… I don’t know… We barely know each other, there are no feelings other than this… pull that is our connection. It’s like… I always think this: if it wasn’t your mate... if no string made you a couple, would you still love that person?

― I get what you mean… it’s like the love it’s self-imposed because of the threads, like the person’s feelings, didn’t matter…

― Exactly! ― Moon exclaimed. ― Finally, someone that gets me…

Gunner chuckled.

― That’s exactly what I fear about my mate… You already know, right?

Moon tilted her head, sympathizing with her brother.

― I do. Wanna talk about it?

Gunner sighed, lowered his head, and intertwined his fingers.

― Not yet…

― That’s fine. Well… Let’s talk about me then… Seems like everyone is interested in me and Gray, so… No, he’s not… bad. He seems to be a good man, actually… But he’s a vampire… That’s a fact. And it’s scary sometimes.

― You think he’ll lose control of his thirst?

― Yeah… I am.

Gunner then held her hand.

― I’m here, for whatever you need… ― Gunner caressed her hands. ― I’m so, so sorry for what our parents did… for what they let happen to you…

Moon smiles.

― It’s fine... Uncle Dam took good care of me.

― Did you get to know what happened to our parents?

― Uncle told me...

― There were rumors that they were after you, the vanik.

Moon stares at him for a few seconds. It made sense somehow; vaniks were still being hunted. But that stirred thoughts in her.

― So, I’ve been thinking… ― Moon says. ― Ace wants to open a pastry shop. If I go work with him, what do you think of taking my place at Barlows? I’m thinking of offering Ace’s position to Reese.

― Reese is the youngest brother of Gray, right?

― Yeah. I think you both will get along.

Gunner just nodded.

― Sis… I can’t wait to really settle down here, with you guys...

― Everything will be alright now. ― his sister smiles. ― Now, we should go home… Uncle Dam just texted me.

"I'll be going to Lora for some work. Gus will come with me. What do you want as a souvenir? Keep an eye on your brother. Take care."

Moon immediately replied that she didn't need souvenirs, She also asked what kind of work. Her uncle never went to work anywhere besides Berkshire.

― Why do I feel that everyone around me is hiding something? ― she says softly. ― Gunner, don’t ever hide anything from me…

― Can I even hide anything? You’re a vanik.

Moon laughed.

― We’ll never be apart again, right? Promise me that I’ll never be away from you guys again… Never…

― I promise. ― Moon laughs.

All the way to the bus stop, they held hands. It was like Gunner was afraid that it was all a dream. Moon ended up taking a nap on his shoulder.

When they got to the hut, Moon gave him a small tour, telling him where everything was and giving him her bed. Surely, they’d have to find another house in the future, one with another room so Gunner would be comfortable.

Well, that’d only happen if he decided to stay with them and not with his mate.

Gunner watched as his sister fell asleep within seconds on the floor beside her bed. He had his hands rested on his knees, carefully memorizing his surroundings.

The wooden furniture, the decorations, the old family photo at her bedside… Gunner lost track of time.

Until a loud noise in the living room caught his attention.

― Moon… Sis! Sis, wake up!

Gunner's frantic voice woke Moon up from a deep slumber. As she moved slowly, still sleepy, she got to a sitting position, scratching her eyes and taking some time to focus.

She took in her surroundings. There was a man, wearing a black mask, holding her brother from behind, with a knife right in his neck. Any sudden move could cost his life.

― Morning, sleeping beauty. Care to take a walk with me?

― Let him go. ― Moon answered, thinking of how familiar that voice sounded.

― Sure, I’ll let this cutie pie go. But then, I can’t leave with empty hands, can I?

― What do you want? ― Moon asked as she looked straight at her brother, trying to calm him down. ― It’s ok, Gun, he won’t hurt you. What do you want?

― Well, it’s more like what I need…

― And what is it?

― You. Alive. Come with me. ― the man said, putting the knife nearer to the boy’s neck. ― Get your ass up and come with me and maybe, just maybe, my partner won’t come after him.

Moon contemplated her options. Her brother’s safety was her priority. Always. So she made a choice he wouldn’t like.

― Ok. I’ll go with you. But if he gets the slightest scratch on him, I’m gonna kill you, slowly and painfully. ― Moon said as she walked cautiously to the guy, who slowly let go of her brother.

Once in his grasp, she calmly turned to Gunner.

― Hey, it’s ok. Don’t worry, I’ll be back really soon… Go to Ace. Now!

With that, Moon was forcefully dragged outside and Gunner could do nothing but let his tears fall.

Tears of fear, of frustration, of anger.

He lost his sister. Again.

5 hours later…

― Ok, what do we know? ― Brock sat on the high chair at the end of the oval table, in the middle of the room, looking intensely at all the members present.

― According to Gunner, Moon fell asleep and, out of boredom, busied himself with games on his phone. A little after six, he heard a noise in the living room, and thinking it was Damion, probably back, he went there. Before he could go back to his sister, a man wearing a mask grabbed him from behind and told the boy to take him to Moon. ― Casey summarized everything. ― That was five hours ago.

― What about CCTV? ― the older man asked, both hands supporting his head as he thought deeply about the matter.

― The ones nearby were disabled remotely. ― Casey answered.

― Any witnesses?

― None. ― Griffin suddenly appeared, dropping his body to one of the empty chairs. ― That hut is too far from any other house.

― Where are your brothers?

― On the way. Gray went solo after her…

― Casey, where’s Hux?

― He shifted half an hour ago and followed their scent… Said it was faster than a car. Said he’ll mind-link us if he finds anything...

― When your brothers arrive, I want you all in my office.

While the Velum members now are gathering at the Atlantis Hotel, trying to find any clues as to Moon’s whereabouts, in a room at the border of the town, chained to a bed, Moon sleeps deeply.

― Wake up. ― Noira’s voice sounds loud inside Moon’s head.

She hopes to wake Moon up by doing this.

Moon slowly opened her eyes, feeling a terrible pain in her head. Slowly, she managed to adjust her vision, realizing she was not only chained, but gagged, inside a dark room.

She had no idea where they were or why.

As she tried to free herself from the chair, in vain, she felt some blood flowing down her face.

― Where the hell am I?

― No idea... But we need to get out of here. Fast.

― Don't tell me… ― Moon whispers, paying attention to everything around her.

The only light in the room came from a door about five meters from where she was tied up.

Right then, the door opens with Archie accompanied by two other guys that Moon had never seen before.

― A witch with no respect for dynamis... Tsc tsc tsc. ― Archie snapped his tongue as he approached her. ― No matter what they say about you, you're just a piece of shit. Dynamis doesn’t get mixed with witches, but no... You had to… What do they even see in you?

Moon, not quite understanding what Archie meant, keeps looking at the guy with no reaction at all until he gets closer and removes her gag.

― What the hell are you talking about?

― The Sutherlands protect you... Why? I'm tired of having to bow my head to him and his family. My family is better, stronger… We're the ones who should be at the top. ― he ends up yelling.

― So, let me get this straight… ― Moon decided to act unbothered by the situation. ― You’re jealous of them. Really? That still doesn't explain why I'm here, Archie… I ain’t a Sutherland. Your plan is fucking dumb… ― Moon says, laughing lightly.

Archie felt beyond angry, seeing that he couldn’t get any reaction from her. Losing his temper, he slaps Moon in the face, so strongly that she feels her whole body being thrown aside.

― Shut up, bitch! Do you think I haven't seen the way everyone looks at you? How precious you are to them? Why not take revenge by taking away from them something they protect so much?

― Archie, where did you get that idea?

― Why do you have a guardian protecting that fucking house? Why are you even there? Why does everyone like you? You're fucking worthless… ― he pants, breathless.

― Maybe people like me because I'm not arrogant, prejudiced, or cruel like you. And for what it's worth, have you ever looked yourself in the mirror?

Another slap lands on her face. Moon is beyond mad now.

― When I get out of here… You better run. ‘Cause I swear I'm gonna kill you.

― Get out of here? ― Archie laughed, hysterically. ― You were sold, bitch. The Cerdaville guy is looking for you… But, as a good negotiator, during the next couple of days, it will take for him to get here, I have total freedom to do with you whatever the hell I want.

― Don't you lay a finger on me, you fucking idiot!

― What are you going to do? ― Archie questioned as his eyes showed nothing but a murderous aura. He got closer, grabbing her hair ruthlessly. ― You’ll do nothing. Because you can't. I thought about it, a lot… I needed a way to keep you from running away… So, I got a little toy, you know? This collar right here… ― his cold hands grab the collar, choking her a bit. ― This prevents you from using your damn powers... So tell me: how will you get out?

― I will get out.

The two men who had been silent at the door untied her, and each dragged her out, holding her arms, down a long gray corridor to a door at the end.