It’s been a little over two weeks since Moon woke up in the hospital.

She’s having trouble sleeping, wincing with every sharp sound, and facing anxiety attacks from time to time. Moon never thought she’d feel like this, or behave like this, as she thought of herself as a strong woman.

“You’re still a human being…”, Noira would remind her when her mind got way too messy with odd thoughts.

Since she came back home, to the border, she’s been sleeping with her brother, often it’s just her watching him sleep soundly. She only goes out to work if there’s someone to take her.

One day, Artur decided to spend his free time at the pub, helping his friends and spending some time with them. He didn’t miss how Moon was unusually quiet and, somewhat, jumpy at every loud sound.

― That’s enough… ― Artur threw a cloth at the counter. He needed to have a serious conversation with his friends, given the last events.

― Ok. Sit down. ― he crosses his arms and looks seriously at Moon. ― I mean it, Moon. Sit down. We need to talk.

Ace gently pulled her a chair, and then one for himself, as they sat side by side, in front of Artur.

― You were kidnapped, gone for almost a month, and when you’re back, you erase yourself from my brother’s memory, which is something that’d be fun if the situation right now wasn’t this serious… and you don’t tell us anything! We’re in the dark here…

― Moon… ― Ace leans over the table and turns to her. ― We’re your friends, we care for you… You can trust us. Please tell us what happened…

― Can it be the short version? ― she asks, lowering her head.

As they both nodded, she continued.

― Archie was the one who kidnapped me… Seems like he was working for a man named Caelan Cerdaville, whose family has an obsession for vaniks, a desire to get us to breed stronger dynamis… Archie almost raped me… Gray and Griffin tried to save me but failed. I tried to run away but Caelan hurt me and injected something in me that prevented me from using my powers…

― We’ve known you long enough to know that none of these would leave you like this… ― Artur stated.

― I killed someone. I lost control of my powers and killed Caelan’s father. The fact that I lost control will cause that man to go overboard with his obsession and madness, and Goddess knows how many lives will he get rid of because of me…

― It’s not your fault. ― Ace said as he hugged her. ― He’s the crazy one. And we’ll stop him.

― And it still doesn’t explain what you did to Gray.

― Caelan said that he’d kill Gray if I didn’t leave him… And the only to make your brother leave me is to make him forget about me. Thankfully, your father trusts me enough to abide by my wish without question. So, please, help me out with this one…

― He may have forgotten about you, but he’ll know who you are, eventually… He’ll feel the connection. ― Ace reasons with her. ― What are you gonna do then?

― He won’t. But I’ll feel for the both of us.

― And what about your brother being Griffin’s mate? When were you going to tell me? I had to know that from Ace! ― Artur asks, tilting his head, a little angry.

― Sorry about that… I’m trying to give Gunner some time to adjust himself to the situation… Choose what to do with it...

― What about Griffin adjusting himself? ― Artur asks.

Ace laughs, breaking the heavy atmosphere.

― Your brother would fuck anyone if he’s feeling like it… Being mated to a man won’t be much trouble to him. The problem for him is that, of all people, he’s mated to Gunner. Who’s a male version of Moon...

Moon laughed as well.

― True. Griffin’s fucked.

― Oh, Goddess… Why did I become your friend? ― Artur closed his eyes and shook his head. ― You think that the magic you used on Gray is strong enough?

― It is.

― Ok, then… No more secrets.

― Is it bad that I kinda overheard everything? ― a deep voice sounded right at the entrance, as Gus made his way. ― Dear friends, I’m sorry but I need coffee. Please tell me you have some...

― What you need right now is a goddamn shower. ― Moon says while she goes into the kitchen, with them following her.

― You shouldn’t feel bad for killing Caelan’s father… His death is a blessing. One less evil person in this world. ― Gus said. ― Artur must know about this as well… Eric has killed more people than we can count… I know death is not a solution, but, don’t feel bad for it. This doesn’t make you a bad person.

― Exactly. ― Artur says. ― You’re the kindest person I know.

― I love you regardless… ― Ace hugs her. ― Now, can you stop being so quiet all the time?

― I’ll try… ― she turns to Artur and asks if he knows anything about Caelan’s whereabouts.

― No. They’re still searching for him. Sverige and Hux are missing as well…

― I did try to find them again with the same spell I used last time, but… I couldn’t. The water got black… Huxley must be protecting their location from everyone... ― Moon tells them. 

― I don’t think they’ll come back anytime soon. But, the good side of what happened is that the invasions stopped. That area you live in… Isn’t that too far from here? ― Gus asks.

― I’m a witch. No place is ever too far for me… Unless I can’t use my powers.

Gus looked confused, but Ace just shrugged his shoulders.

― She has a thing with doors.

― I won’t ask… ― Gus says, afraid.

― Good choice. ― Artur replies. ― Now, Gus, how is your mission going?

― His mission? ― Moon and Ace asked in unison; they had no idea that Gus was now a member of the Velum as well.

― Oh, about that...

Caelan, the young Cerdaville, and only heir, was now pacing back and forth inside a room in the house that now functioned as his office. His family was grieving his father’s death but, deep inside him, he couldn’t care less.

His main priority at the moment was to get Moon back. Or, maybe, her brother.

A knock on his door picked his attention, as an old man, formally dressed in a suit, was fixing his silver and round eyeglasses.

― Sir, the young Brock is here.

― Good. Let him in.

Caelan gets up and walks to the front of his table, leaning on it. As he set his eyes on Brock, he could sense his fear. Before Archie could even say a word, he was already on the floor, with Caelan’s foot on his chest.

― How could you be so stupid? ― Caelan screams while his reddish eyes are fixed on the man in front of him. With his hands closing around his neck, Caelan releases his prey and approaches the face dirty with blood and tears. ― If you want so much to protect your dear sister, bring me the witch. This time, untouched… or I’ll kill you. ― he hisses in his ears, throwing him away, making him hit a pillar with his back. ― You have three days. ― Caelan shakes his black coat and leaves the room, with the noise of his shoes echoing.

Watching the young Cerdaville disappear through the big oval door, Archie, now lying in the corner of the room, with much effort picks up the cell phone from his back pocket, with the screen visibly broken by the impact.

― Where is she?

“Back to her old life, working at Barlows, and back to her hut. She’s not living with Gray anymore… I haven’t seen him around her anymore...”

― We need a new plan.

“Come on, Archie. I heard she is Gray’s mate. Gray Sutherland! I'm out, man, too much trouble…”

― I just need to get close to her. Can you help me?

“I can try... Where are you?”

― Far away... I'll be there tomorrow morning, probably.

“Good. I'll call TJ; we'll need him…”

Archie left soon after, passing by Caelan, who now paced back and forth in the living room; his coat gracefully flew with the soft wind coming through the little gap in the window. Caelan couldn’t stop thinking when things went wrong.

His plan was so simple, so flawless.

Unless…

― Dex, bring that old woman.

After Eric’s death, the citizens of Decatur, who were loyal followers of Eric Cerdaville were now under his only son’s command, Caelan. The atmosphere was tense among the inhabitants, as the older citizens were extremely worried about how an immature and inexperienced person like Caelan would be able to rule the North, given that it was an extensive territory.

Although many times they would be against the deceased governor’s way of dealing with certain subjects, they couldn’t deny that their economy was good as well as their health. The security? Flawless. They all agreed that it was a good place to stay, of course, ignoring all the blood running through the governor’s hands to make things like that.

But when Moon escaped from him, more problems arrived, the worst of them being that he was now the target of the Velum. This meant that, for the time being, he had two options: either get Moon back or get her brother.

With that, Caelan had to move out from the mansion to a smaller place more to the North, on the coast. A place that brought a bad feeling inside him, as if something cruel had happened there. What, though, he never knew.

The man was standing at his office, leaving on his desk with his back facing the door, watching as the waves broke on the shore.

Caelan closed his eyes, fingers pressing the bridge of his nose as he lost himself in his mind; thousands of troubles required his attention, but he could only focus on Moon.

― Sir. Lady Pat is here.

― Tell her to come in, and close the door.

― Yes, sir. ― Dex said, bringing a woman with him soon after, and closing the door as requested.

Lady Pat was around fifty years old, had pure white hair, braided, and wore a dark blue long dress with a golden belt on her waist. She had a serious expression as she took a seat and observed the back of Caelan.

Without turning back, Caelan crossed his arms and questioned her.

― Are you sure that that potion was done the right way to prevent her powers from showing?

― Don’t you trust me, young master? ― Lady Pat asked, as she calmly intertwined her fingers on her lap. ― I heard the news. She escaped, right? Don't blame me for your… soft heart toward her.

― What? ― the man turned around, clearly angry.

― Did you think she would happily decide to just forget everything and stay here, with you? No matter how needy you may be, you were a fool for trusting a witch…

― You’re a witch too.

― Indeed. ― the woman lifted her fingers. ― Don’t even try anything funny, young man. Don’t forget that I do have a reason to help you with this. If not, you’d be alone on this personal quest of yours.

― If not, know that you’d be exiled from the North.

Lady Pat laughs heartily.

― Oh, dear. It’s truly admirable how you have so much confidence in yourself… ― the woman gets up and fixes his clothes, just like a mother would. ― My destiny is mine alone, dear. You may own these poor dumb people… ― she leans closer to his ear as she fixes his collar. ― But not me.