Brock was standing near the window of his office.

His thoughts drifted to a faraway place as he continuously tried to put all the pieces together. Why couldn’t they find Moon, and why was the Cerdaville so quiet?

― A penny for your thoughts? ― Artur asks at the door, carrying his heavy black backpack as usual, and a few envelopes in his hands.

― Just a penny? You’re petty.

Artur chuckled, putting his belongings on the couch and walking toward his father’s side.

― Any news from Gray?

― Nothing so far… Griffin is with him… wherever he went to. ― Brock clicked his tongue.

― Hm… ― Artur says, crossing his arms and looking outside the window. ― I have something to tell you… It can be a good thing or a bad thing. It’ll depend on your point of view.

― What now? Can’t you give your poor father a break?

Artur laughed lightly.

― One day, maybe… Well, we have the location of the Countess.

― Finally some good news! ― Brock threw his hands in the air. But, when he saw the conflicted expression on his son’s face, Brock's smile faltered. ― There’s a but, isn’t there?

― Seems like she was hired by Bailey.

― What? Why? And for what?

― We don’t know why yet. Casey said he won’t make a move until either we figure out why she was hired or if she’s trying to hurt someone.

Brock nodded slowly, looking outside the window again.

― What else?

― Huh? ― Artur asks surprised.

― Artur, although Gray’s situation is worrisome, and we have a lot of problems on our hands, you wouldn’t come here so late, just to tell me those things… ― Brock got near his son and leaned on his desk. ― So, what else?

― Ace called. It’s about Gunner… ― Artur thinks hard of what words to use to pass the information he received.

― What’s wrong? Hux just called and told me he’s ok…

― He is. But… You know Ace is a zien, right?

― Yes.

― He can see the threads just like Moon.

― And? ― Brock nervously anticipates.

― Ace suspects that Gun is destined to… Uhm… How do I say this?

― Griffin?

Artur stares at his father.

― Yes.

― Good Goddess… ― Brock shakes his head. ― I don’t know which of them I feel pity for…

― Oh, Gunner, for sure. Griffin is the worst…

When his father is about to retort, his cell phone rings.

He stares at the screen.

― Say it, Sketch.

Artur gets closer trying to listen.

― All of them?

Brock keeps staring at his son, with his index finger up, silently asking him to wait.

― How bad? Uh-huh… Which hospital?

He nods and sighs.

― Ok, I’m coming. Thank you.

― What? What happened to whom?

― Sketch found Moon crossing the border of Milan to here, severely hurt. Tyr traced back Moon’s steps and found where she was being held captive and found your brothers there, unconscious. The three of them are being moved to the hospital.

― I’ll let everyone know.

― Do it. Let’s go.

When they reach Berkshire Hospital, they see Sketch, pacing from one side to the other.

― How are they? ― Artur runs to her.

― Your brothers are sleeping… It seems they have been drugged. ― she then sits down. ― The witch… She’s bad… She’s got cuts on her abdomen, scratches all over her body… When I found her, she was losing consciousness.

― Where are they? ― Brock asked.

― Your sons are sleeping over there… ― Sketch points to their left. ― And Moon is there. ― she then points to their right. ― They’re waiting for an operation room.

― We’re losing her… ― a nurse yelled as a doctor hurriedly came to Moon’s body.

Artur got close and was able to see the state in which his friend was.

Moon’s eyes rolled up; she was feeling a great amount of pain in her abdomen, where multiple knife cuts were bleeding profusely.

― Doctor Emma! ― a nurse yells.

― What is happening?

― Woman, probably in her late twenties, early thirties, the abdomen is visibly lacerated in multiple places.

Dr. Emma takes a good look at Moon.

― Get me a full blood panel, crossmatch for O-negative, and prep the OR for emergency surgery. Now!

Several nurses scramble to carry out her orders, while the doctor leans over, her gloved hands gently probing the wounds.

― Honey, I need you to stay with us. We're going to take good care of you.

Moon tries to say something but ends up just nodding weakly, her eyes filled with pain. Dr. Emma's focus is unwavering as she continues to assess the injuries.

The doctor turns around and faces Artur.

― Are you her guardian?

― No. I’m her friend. Her uncle is on his way.

― Ok. We’re taking her to the operating room, I can’t wait for him to come... ― she shakes her head. ― I’ll come back once I’m done.

The doctor then left with the nurses, taking Moon with them.

Once they left, it didn’t take long till more people arrived. Now, all the Sutherlands were present, as well as Ace, Gunner, Damion, and even Barlow.

Gunner trembled from head to toe, and Ace had to use a little bit of magic to make the younger sleep; Damion was expressionless, leaning on the wall beside Gunner.

After what felt like an eternity, a nurse approached them, filling some sheets while talking.

― Where is the guardian of Moon Bexley?

Damion leaned away from the wall.

― I’m here.

― She’s in the room. Hopefully, she’ll wake up from the anesthesia soon… She needs to rest. Don’t force her too much.

He looks at Ace and shakes his head; there is no need to wake up Gunner yet.

Damion then hurried his steps into the room. Surprisingly, Moon was in a sitting position, staring blankly at the outside. What the man was witnessing was breaking his heart: his niece was full of dark bruises, and stitched cuts; her hands were on her lap, and there was a visible mark of rope on her wrist.

― Hey, honey… ― Damion softly called her, cautiously sitting at the end of her bed.

― Hey… ― Moon weakly responded, as her eyes met his, soulless. ― Caelan ran away, sorry… ― her words were merely a whisper. ― I… I think I…

― It’s okay, honey, no need to talk… You just have to rest, okay? We... ain’t going anywhere…

― Where’s Gun?

― Outside, sleeping on Ace’s shoulder…

― Hm… ― she sighed. ― Keep him away from Griffin for the time being.

― Why? ― Damion looked at her confused.

― Just… do this, please. ― she took the duvet away from her body and tried to stand up, with great difficulty. ― How’s Griffin and Gray?

― They’re fine… Sleeping.

Moon nodded and started taking off all the needles attached to her body.

― Honey, you shouldn’t… ― Damion got close and tried to stop her.

― I gotta talk to Casey.

― Then I’ll call him. Stay here. ― Damion left.

Soon Casey came inside, being followed by Huxley.

It’s been about ten minutes since Casey walked into Moon's room. The quietness made the ambiance a little eerie as no one talked.

― So, why did you want to talk to me? ― Casey asked as he observed her injuries.

― I… ― Moon tried to speak but no words came out, as if she had a knot on her throat, making her unable to speak. Her eyes shifted from Casey to Huxley.

― How about we start from the very beginning… ― Casey held her hand, gently rubbing her palm with his thumb. ― I know it may be hard, but I need to know everything so I can know how to help you.

Moon took a deep breath, smiling thinly.

― The man who took me was wearing a mask, but after a few days of being held captive, I found out it was Archie.

― That’s… unexpected, but I’m not surprised. ― Casey said softly. ― Was he the one who hurt you?

― No. But he did try to… Uhm… ― Moon stopped, closing her eyes tightly as she remembered the horrible sensation of his fingers on her skin. After a few deep breaths, while looking up at the ceiling, she looked down at Casey again. ― He tried to rape me. But then he had to stop because Gray and Griffin got there… Gray was out of control. Then, a guy named Caelan appeared and got quite angry at the fact that I was about to… leave.

― Keep going.

― He shot something at them. When they were both on the ground, he got inside the room, but still far from me. Then, he said we should race against each other… I tried to run away, I did, but I was hurt, thirsty, and, overall, tired.

― He stopped you, I presume. ― Casey sighed. ― That guy is nothing but a coward. Alright, let me make a wild guess here: he did something to prevent you from using your powers… am I right?

Moon silently nodded.

― While I was running, something hard hit me and I flew away a few meters from him… While I gasped for air and tried to get up, he injected something on my neck… It was violet liquid... ― Moon showed a dot on her neck.

― Then how did you escape?

― I’m a vanik. My body just needs a few hours to learn how to fight a poison. Guess he didn’t know that…

― He underestimated you, Moon. And that is something to our advantage. Do you have any idea where he took you? Something that can give us a lead to where he is?

― It was dark… and humid. Griffin and Gray will certainly be more useful to give you a direction. But… I did hear him talking about the full moon.

― The full moon? Now that’s something new… Why the full moon?

― Witches and wizards, regardless of their classes, are much stronger on the full moon. ― Huxley said, bringing all eyes to him. ― What? I like to read.

Casey shook his head, stupefied.

― Ok. I’ll… look into that. Anything else, Moon?

― I think I met his father on the way here…

― So, Eric was the one who hurt you?

― Yes. And no... I mean… I was still under the effect of whatever that was, so, when I met the man, he instantly shifted. I’m not a wolf, I had no powers, so I could only dodge his attacks and try to run. That old man hurt me a bit…

― You’re sure something, Bexley. He’s heartless. Yet, you escaped him... ― Hux commented, but still focused on looking out the window.

― Well… ― Moon bit her lips. ― I kinda forced myself so my powers would work again… and… I might’ve lost control, and...

― And what? ― Casey now looks terrified.

― Let’s say that when I was back to reality, he was lying on the floor. He seemed… dead. ― she gulped dryly, anxiously ripping off the dead skin on her index finger.

― You killed Eric Cerdaville? ― Casey looked horrified.

― You got kudos, witch. ― Huxley chuckles.

― She was there too… ― she looks at Huxley. ― Not with them… but near the border… I saw her.

― Who? ― Casey asked, curious.

― Sverige. ― Huxley said in Moon’s place.

― What? ― Casey asked. ― How did you know it was her?

― I didn't. ― he answered.

― You just said her name… ― Casey was starting to lose his patience.

― No, I meant she’s near. Sverige is here.

― Here? As here in Berkshire or here at the hospital? ― Casey was now up, hands on his hips, exasperated.

― At the hospital. I’ll handle her… ― Huxley said as he took wide steps toward the door.

After a few seconds, Moon recovered herself and broke the silence.

― I think you should tell Mr. Sutherland about this matter. Even if it’s just Sverige, we’re short in number. Who knows if she’s brought someone to the party...

Casey grabbed his coat.

― The strongest here, now that Huxley is gone after her, are Gray, Griffin, Damion, Brock, and me, but Gray and Griffin are bedridden. We’ll have to think about how to approach this…

She was still, her eyes were focused on the white wall, as she looked out of it. Then she snapped out of the trance, tilting her head.

― Chill… Huxley will be able to solve this. She won’t get in.

― Did you just…? ― Casey trails off his question. ― I really like you… But you’re freaking scary sometimes… ― Casey raised both his hands. ― I’ll talk with Mr. Sutherland.