Eiiri's Prompt Foundry

Dynasty 

Chapter 3

Salvation or Damnation 

“Boss.” A messenger by the name of Calvio offered that got Alessio's attention in addition to Nicolo’s as he approached the

“Yes?” Nicolo immediately answered. 

“I got more information on Cesario’s guest.” He offered before he sat down on one of the couches, closest to Nicolo’s left as Alessio came off the railing to sit down on the couch to Nicolo’s right as they both looked expectantly at Calvio as they made sure they gave him their full and undivided attention as he already had a notebook with several notes written down before he came in, and Nicolo had to put up a wall that had a soundproof glass that made it look like it wasn’t there, but served as special shielding to conceal their conversations before Nick pulled up the walls around the other booths on either side of them and then raised the barriers so that no one could get “behind” the booth and lowered the back wall while his other men came into the space to hear this since Nick had already requested, once Cesario was able to stable the situation with Adora, for all of his “associates” to come to him there. So he could both continue to monitor the situation with Cesario but also conduct this very serious business and when everyone signaled that they were there, then Nick gave Calvio the nod to continue. 

“Her name is Adorabella Castella, but she goes by Adora, she is the third daughter in their family, and she just turned 17, a few weeks ago. Her parents' names are Russ and Isabelle Castella, their oldest daughter is Estelle who is 24 and still living with them…” He began as everyone soon got giddy grins as Nick fought tooth and nail to be stoic but he simply rested his chin on the pad of his thumb while the other fingers curled loosely into his palm as he set the septum of his nose over his first finger's knuckle to keep his smile from being too bright as Alessio made no such movements and openly smiled happily and excitedly, after hearing Nick go on and on for the last 7 years about this, Alessio was ever so grateful that not only was Adora here but she did indeed have an older sister at the perfect age for Nicolo which was the answer to just about every other Vitale’s prayers. Granted, Nick hadn’t gotten a chance to read or listen to what Archie had left with him, but surely, they would both have the same information if it just got confirmed that Estelle existed and that she was only a year younger than him. And still living with her parents. This was almost too good to be true. And Nick was about to punch himself just in case a pinch wouldn’t be enough.  

“Next is Vahnah who is 19, then Adora at 17, followed by a son, Mahlo who is 14, and Tesarah who is 12 and Isabelle is pregnant with a boy, and they’re going to be naming him Tristonar.” Calvio read off. 

Which, for the “pilgrims” it made sense to have a 6-7 year age gap or having a last child older than 6 and either no more or maybe pregnant now, because again, that 6-7 year wait, some things couldn’t be helped obviously. But it did make them look like either last or second to last rebirths sized families of only a handful of kids. And honestly, if anyone was constantly fleeing from colony to colony, it would make sense to not conceive while under those circumstances. 

“Now, while those are the names they are going by, from these ages compared to the reading into the Cosmos Dynasty Family Lineages, which I triple checked and then had Fernando and Dominic do the same, just to be sure. She and her family match the description of possibly two families from the Cosmos Colonies, but they also match a third from Neveah. The first is that the mother whose real name could be Serriah-Ysabel is of Giacinta’s and Lourenco’s daughters of The Fortunada Dynasty, and thus, through Giacinta, Serriah Ysabel is Heir Apparent and which makes the oldest daughter- her heir apparent as well, and they are The Prime Meridian Family Line in The Fortunada Dynasty, which is one of the main family lines and dynasties that the original Moonchild Moonlight Moura produced. The Fortunada Dynasty hails originally from Lunaria; although they are found all throughout all of the Cosmos Colonies, since they practically helped build Lunaria, and the other Moon Belt and Celestial Colonies themselves after they left Neveah. And it was noted that all of the children were practically savants in music and all the arts. The Fortunadas are obviously in control of the music industry both for the Cosmos Colonies, Dorierra and Neveah. They produce a lot of the music for the film industry.” He offered as Alessio and Nicolo’s eyes went wide and their eyebrows rose in pleasant surprise as giddy, delighted grins threatened to be full blown smiles because there was a very good reason ‘fortune’ was in their name because they made a mint in that industry and were the second richest dynasty of all dynasties of all moura kind. And the way that they watched Adora danced, definitely lended to that. 

“The next most likely family is from Neveah and they specifically asked us to keep an eye out for anyone from Neveah who was ‘caught up in the pilgrimage’. But it lists only names, not ages but the list of names and specifically the order of the children closely resembles Adora’s family, but we only have the parents and the children, nothing else as far as genealogy. But the information simply states that the father was a leading doctor and scientist in the study of biology. The mother is a dragon trainer. And that all five of their kids were both into dragons and music, like all 5 of them had very promising careers in music- same as the Fortunadas.” Calvio offered. 

"What is the other family that they match from the Cosmos Colonies?" Nicolo asked as he sensed that Calvio was trying to avoid it. Calvio gave a bit of a grimace as he hesitated as fear seemed to creep in and start to bloom in his chest and on his features. 

"The other family line they match is... of… The Shadowend Family Dynasty. And they absolutely are the Prime Meridian Family Dynasty Line, the mother is also noted to be the heir apparent, except it’s not her first daughter that is her heir apparent, she’s chosen her second daughter to be the heir apparent after her." The messenger revealed as that revelation caused Nicolo and Alessio and the other guards and specifically captains and commanders in ‘the service of the Vitale family’ specifically in service to Nicolo- all of them all around Alessio and Nicolo inhaled sharply as a cold fear practically felt like a spike being driven into their cores before pits the size of millstones fell into thier stomachs.

There was usually a clear distinction between a dynasty family and a family legacy and to have both was seen as a very great achievement for a family line to have both.

The Shadowend Family Dynasty was both. However, it was clear that that family legacy was achieved because the Shadowend Family Dynasty had been the Shadowend Family Dynasty in the sense that something that was unique to them and them alone and only they could have had the extremely clever and brilliant but also scheming brains, ambition and tactics to have achieved it with a general- ‘do whatever it takes, by any means necessary, make it happen’ attitude, single minded determination and drive that was stronger than any other instinct for food, clothing, shelter and procreation. It made them both the smartest of the moonlight mouras who were also known to be smarter than sunlight mouras. But that also made them very distinctly predatory, cunning, ruthless and exploitive, but in a way that no one else who had any dealings with them in person saw or suspected, until after- they were manipulated to do whatever it was that the Shadowends wanted to be done, handing over the fruits of their labor into the Shadowend’s hands, ‘because it just made sense’ for them in the moment. And only after thinking it over after, came a clarity and a perspective of what had really happened, and what they had really done and the implications and the meanings and what the Shadowend family members had really done too. But to call them out for it was usually much too dangerous to do. And would be inviting them to change from seeing you as a ‘useful, helpful friend’ to a ‘problem that needed to be resolved before disappearing from sight’ in a very ‘out of sight, out of mind’ sense. 

And while most dynasties and legacies were seen as great achievements, for that particular family dynasty? Because they were both, it demanded the highest respect that was absolutely motivated by fear. Fear of doing something that would catch their attention in the way that you could ever be a threat to their plans that were never clear to anyone but themselves, until after those plans became reality, or an interesting problem for them to solve. Fear of what they could do, fear of what was really in that whole dynasty’s legacy. Because there were things in the legacy that one only got doing the kind of business with the kind of morally and ethically 'gray' that others would see as pitch black and soulless, and heartless with a ruthlessness that not even the humans had had as their greatest predator in The Great Hunt ever had. 

Their power as The Dynasty Family of all moura-kind? Absolute, unquestioned. They also had wealth that was rumored to be in exponential amounts when compared with the other dynasties. Even the Fortunadas, as the second wealthiest dynasty, was rumored to only be a very small fraction of the wealth that the Shadowend Family Dynasty had. Even the wealthiest monarchies in the world were a fraction of even the Fortunadas. But the Shadowend Dynasty was richer and more powerful than anything else on and in the supersphere, in all of its past and present. They were the “unofficial” world power, the epitome of de facto rulers in the world.

It was... a feeling, a power felt even more than it was known and much more than most could even comprehend and the rumors of the weapons they could yield made every soul shudder in fear. Only the members of that family dynasty knew what they really had and they refused to talk, much less specify just how much they had, either in wealth, legacy or especially power and how strong that power was, but assuming they simply had 'all of it' was probably the safest and most accurate conclusion one could come to. It was implied that it was so large and so complete that it would be a waste of anyone else’s brainpower to even attempt at something a normal person’s brain could never do, and that was to try to understand and comprehend just how gargantuan and complete and all consumed and saturated and intensified, concentrated and potent it was because no one had any real frame of reference to try in the first place.

Some, if not most of those ‘pilgriming families’ went no contact with the generations they left behind. And many in those various yet great family dynasties that were left behind, could hold very large rewards for any who just had information about their missing family members. Not necessarily reconnect with them, but just to know, just to have proof that they were still alive and that they were ok, and they had not fallen prey to any other, or needing and wanting to know if the colonies they tried to move to, had been besieged or not, which the longer this break in dynasties lasted, and more sieges kept happening, it was becoming more and more common. There were a few families so far- who did have members taken captive, or held for ransom. And those grandparents did not hesitate to make sure that those ransoms were paid, and their family members were freed and returned home safely.

But, it also meant destruction for whoever had been dumb or desperate enough to do so in the first place. These were not simply rumors, but known as facts, that once those family members were returned and healed and or restored and the families were reconnected, others in their dynasty and home colonies, destruction was immenent. Because those affected family dynasties specifically called upon the Shadowend Dynasty to come and do what they did best- take revenge and deliver retribution- to who had captured their "extended family members" and where they had been kept captive at - those Shadowends came en force and turned themselves into living weapons by making a line of connecting moonlight mouras from the sky to the ground, it's very own, living, breathing lightning rod, and if there wasn't weather for a thunderstorm for lightning? They somehow made their own weather. Storm clouds just popped into existence instantaneously.

And the resulting storms had the highest concentration of lightning no other natural storm could ever have, even heat lightning storms. And that lightning rod of moonlight mouras- channeled that lighting itself in overlapping sections of focused beams, sometimes in sequence, sometimes all of it all at once, creating an inverted tornado shape of continuous lightning strikes like beams of lightning right from their palms, their eyes, and even their entire wing span over the place. The purpose was to kill everyone there, some, being fried to crisps or actually exploding from the power and force of it. That 'living lightning rod' was there to level the place so that everyone there, who were compliant and condoning the moonlight mouras being in captivity- were buried in the rubble of their own dwellings. It was no longer, the loss of life being the punishment. It was death to all involved and total destruction of where those who dared to do this- lived. Because the Shadowend Family Dynasty was supposedly living proof of possessing and wielding god-like power but as the gods of vengeance and destruction, somewhere between a demi-god and an actual, literal god or goddess. It was…horrifying. They were damnation and destruction incarnate.

After the first instance that this happened, especially after the second and third instance, those Shadowends made certain that everyone in the whole supersphere knew what the current 'price' was for having the audacity to capture a moonlight moura, or any moura for that matter. That what had happened before to those now dead and buried bastards would happen to them too if they were ever guilty of it.

But that also led most to believe that who was really, actually hunting those ‘pilgrims’ even though being ‘a pilgrim’ was the last thing they really were, they were fugitives, they were refugees, they were fleeing and seeking asylum wherever they could. For reasons no one seemed to know while rumors varied wildly. But even referring to them as anything other than pilgrims could get the attention of hunters, who could be in their vanished state right alongside you. And you'd never suspect it until there would be a small ripple in the air and then instant death because hunters hunted in these ‘vanished’ and ‘invisible’ states or especially ‘shadowed’ states, were the Shadowends themselves.

And only other moonlights who, thanks to those bejeweled eyes, could actually see if there was someone there in those invisible, vanished or especially those shadowed states, but it was like their eyes had to switch ‘lenses’ in a sense like a nictitating membrane but instead of on the outside of the eye, it was on the inside, which helped moonlight mouras have a range of vision that not only saw several spectrums of light but also several magnification powers of vision too. From microscopic to telescopic thanks to the jewel-like structures in their eyes that for anyone looking at them thought they had striking gorgeous eyes, but only those who knew about the differences in biology would know about one of the many wonders of moonlight moura anatomy that differed from sunlight mouras, who could switch to ‘eagle eyes’ or ‘missile hawk eyes’ when they wanted to see at great distances. Moonlights had a similar power and ability but instead of the eye itself shapeshifting. Their eyes simply shifted and changed their shape to engage the various components inside their own eyes, never the eye itself. 

But even among moonlight mouras, the Shadowends had the brightest, the most intense, the most beautiful eyes of all moonlights and it also meant that their visual powers were also that much more enhanced. And it was clear they were using those enhanced powers to be the hunters or “seekers” for the “pilgrims”, because they were the most predacious of all the moonlight mouras and were obviously very good at it. And were using weapons that still weren’t identified or understood. But the parent and child generations of the various Shadowend dynasty families were the first to disappear and the first ‘to go on pilgrimage’. But it was clear, the family they tried to leave behind were the same family now clearly hunting them down, one colony, one network of colonies at a time, very systematically and the proof was that the dead and dying colonies were in their wake. 

It had been 6 years since the announcement and after year 3? They were being hunted down to be dragged back and some could and would commit suicide instead of going back but that also guaranteed the death and destruction of the colony too. Which meant that whatever they were fleeing from home was something so evil and so dangerous, that obviously needed these moonlight mouras in these family dynasties to operate. It had to be related to their bloodline. That was the only explanation anyone could come to. And that Shadowend ‘do whatever it takes’ mindset now included killing colonies, not killing the sunlight mouras in them, but the very cities, the very mountains where the mouras carved out their homes from, the very rock and dirt beneath their feet and all around them. It was in the actual location itself by a means no one could really understand, only see the results of. And while they were accused of ‘crimes’ against the moonlights who ‘visited on their pilgrimage’, anyone with a brain could see that it was because they had tried to shelter them and the only real crime they committed was in truth, harboring fugitive moonlights, and had been caught doing so. 

And all of that was called to mind and rested heavily on the minds and hearts of the Vitale Gentlemen. Nick had done everything he could to prepare his colony and his family for this. But for the last year especially- the Shadowends had become exceptionally brutal and were actually inciting various other mecha species to lay siege to any suspected colony, so that while the Shadowends hadn’t technically killed other mouras with their own physical hands, their hands were drenched and bloodstained with the deaths of their brethren all the same, moonlight and sunlight alike. 

Which was why Nick had reached out and done what he could with both known and secret allies to make his colony and their network and others around the aperture as strong of a defensive fortress as possible because the threat of the equinox bringing the Shadowend Hunters en masse was still a very real threat. However, time would only tell if they had done enough. But again, others had been lulled into a false sense of security before in the last 6 years too and had been trapped too many times and nearly snared countless more times. And it was always really hard for any colony to prove that they were genuine, and not a clever trap either. 

Which meant how the Vitale Gentleman reacted could dictate whether they as individuals and as the next generation of their own dynasty and the Magnatto Colony itself - would live or die. But especially to be harboring fugitives that were Shadowends from the other hunting Shadowends? That had proved to be a fatal decision because Shadowends were one thing, a mecha species popping into existence in the middle of a colony to destroy it from the inside out and hack through a colony of mouras, the same way murder hornets did to bee hives was another. That’s what had happened to various colonies and Ottovio was just the latest and closest one so far. 

But it was a choice that Nicolo was determined to make anyway. Because the hunting Shadowends needed to be stopped, whatever they had that made those families flee in the first place needed to be destroyed before it could ever be turned on and used, by any means necessary. But with the Shadowend’s power going so unchecked for centuries… most doubted even if the rest of the world banded together to try, it wouldn’t be enough. It wasn't up to him to stop it, he was just hoping to give support to the people who could.

Because there was a small glimmer of hope, there was a resistance force, who were rumored to possess a power and an ability to strip even a Shadowend of all of their powers and abilities and expose them for the monsters they had pretended not to be for the last 300+ years. But it came at a cost. A member of the resistance usually died protecting a colony from any number of Shadowend hunters. And with their deaths, it put a protective shield around the colony itself that would destroy any mecha species to make them impervious to the mecha species popping into existence in the colony even though how to make those shields without causing the death of a resister was still being worked on and the tests over the now dead colonies weren't that encouraging or promising. However those warriors in the resistance had very specific names, like Strata, Starta, Sparta, and other such things within their names. But there was one thing, if that name had the name Strike in it, especially if any form of ‘Shadow’ was with that ‘Strike’? Oh, those were a very precious few but also, the most feared and hunters usually avoided colonies if there was a rumor if a ‘Striker’ was there, because they were supposed to be the most elite and better in every way than the Shadowends could ever be. And because the Shadowends were trying to use DNA sequences to enhance themselves, so had the resistance, but they had other sources to enhance themselves to become any Shadowends’ worst nightmare, but in so doing, often had similar features, the most notable being the eyes. So that if you had a Shadowend and a Striker side by side, you'd never be able to tell who.

But even the Strikers could only do so much, they were enhanced but they were still only people too and had limits themselves and were a precious few in the resistance, but even they had given their lives to protect others. Which meant that for the last 3 years, any number of the resistant forces were dwindling and the Shadowends were simply waiting them out. The Shadowends had the numbers to deplete this resistance. And keep this up for years, decades if necessary, but that would guarantee the death of the sunlight moura as a race too. The resistance could defend against Shadowends, or an artificial siege, not both. And the Shadowends always camped out nearby to see if they could flush their moonlight brethren out too. Like a predator setting the forest on fire to feast on prey the flames flushed out for them. 

This was quite literally the worst case scenario, either Adora was an angel or a demon in disguise as Nick looked out to see Cesario and her continuing to dance and laugh and she looked perfectly lovely and that’s what made her potentially so dangerous and they needed to handle this with caution. 

"If she and the rest of her family really are of the Shadowend Family Dynasty, they of course will be owed every respect, will not be shunned, but will not be swarmed either. For surely, the implied threat and potential harm associated with them will be enough to keep everyone else at a respectful distance while also being respectful in their dealings with them too. Even us. Even especially us. If we are ever marked, it's the end of the colony, not to mention ourselves. So, everyone in the entire family will be made aware, so that no one in our family makes a misstep to ever do anything that would warrant a mark by the hunters. Tell all parents and grandparents and so on that when it comes to their children and grandchildren especially the ones that are in here with us and in their family’s age group, because they can lack the ability, maturity and wisdom to be discrete or act or react… appropriately. The name Shadowend must not be told to them, nor should any hint at all that they could potentially be moonlight either or that they’re pilgrims in any way shape or form, and that the only instruction the children should be given about them is that Adora and her family are transplants from Ottovio that was besieged recently and to be kind, considerate and welcoming and to excuse any oddities about them or their behaviors or anything else as simply having a different upbringing from a different colony and to give them the benefit of the doubt. They are moura same as us, whether they be moonlight or sunlight should not mean they are either more or less deserving of kindness, understanding, sympathy, respect and dignity that is owed to all. But to otherwise mind their manners, to not be rude, or cause or take any offense either and to be gracious and respectful.” Nicolo began. 

“Even with all the preparations we’ve done our best to make in the last 6 years, we need to be as careful as possible. But also, if what we have done to prepare for any hunter to come to our colony is enough to shield us and them, and if they can find a safe home here, even if we’re able to defend Shadowends from Shadowends, the others might come here seeking refuge too. Thankfully we still have that quarter to offer all of them if need be. But specifically, for Adora and her family- for now- if we as a family and a colony can offer for them to seek refuge here, but simply as mouras, and not anything else until we know anything more." Nicolo slowly and carefully specified. 

"Would we, or should we ever reach out to the Shadowend Family back on Lunaria to let them know that they're pilgrimaging family are safely here? That reward would set us up for… And surely we wouldn't suffer if…” Calvio posed as Nicolo and Alessio both shook their heads no emphatically and glared at Calvio for even uttering such traitorous words.

"Absolutely not! Because they have already been hunted by their own flesh and blood, their own family. The last thing we should ever do is reach out to the Shadowends on Lunaria or any of the other Cosmos Colonies. No, we can never do that because the family here would see us betraying their confidence in their own ability to be hidden in plain sight. They have most likely moved to and from so many colonies, escaping siege or their own hunters, not to mention seekers, that they are most likely very weary of every age of colonies. But so far, no 'middle aged' colony has earned a mark. Only the nearly ancient ones or especially the new younger ones, in their immature exuberance. There is more benefit to letting them keep that secret for as long as possible and we can treat them with the whole 'unless you tell me outright we're gonna pretend that you're just like everyone else and simply accepted in this moura colony for simply being mouras’ in fact that is the very sentiment, attitude and mindset should be especially communicated to the entire family." Nicolo specified.

“And to do so, would lead those hunters straight for us and them. No reward is ever worth the lives of the rest of the colony! Much less theirs!" Alessio snarled angrily.

"We need to do all we can to protect them. They’re the priority. And make sure that that also gets communicated, that no message, no contact in any way shape or form should be sent to anyone anywhere about Adora and her family and for the love of all that is holy, no pictures should be taken of them either or posted or anything, especially selfies where they could potentially be in the background.” Alessio added. 

“That was going to be my next point, thank you for making it Alessio. Agreed, absolutely no pictures of Adora or anyone in her family should be taken, nor should anything about them, either specifically or vaguely be communicated. As far as media is concerned, they’re blacked out and make sure that on our data stream, we filter them out. The moonlight data stream though should be brought up, that should they need it to contact… whoever, that they’re able to, but do not give the name of the data stream connection to them or the password or anything until we know for certain. But it should be made ready and kept ready nonetheless.” Nicolo added. 

“Otherwise, they should be protected and be made the priority even over us and any and every interest we had before they came here. Colonies can be rebuilt, it's just rock. The people living in it though, can not be replaced, and no colony can get rebuilt if there's no one left alive to do the work itself.” Nicolo specified. 

“However, if she really is Neveahan, or even a Fortunada, then she’s a direct descendant of the original Moonchild-moonlight mouras, on her mother’s side. She and her family could still have Neveahn blood running through her veins and on their tongues, it was witnessed that they spoke Nevehan to each other as they were trying to settle here and move into the house they were able to rent so far, and if they’re from Neveah, there might not be anything to worry about at all! Because Neveahan mouras have never been a danger to anyone else, only protective and defend colonies against hunters. They have ties to the resistance. And if Adora is from the Neveahan family, then that means that the colony has a potential link to the resistance too.” Calvio respectfully countered as Nicolo and Alessio still carefully considered that.

"Then why bring up contacting the Shadowends on Lunaria then?" Alessio questioned Calvio suspiciously.

"I was just thinking of what we've already spent, might get recouped." Calvio tried to excuse.

"Give me your phone." Alessio demanded as Calvio handed it over before Nick pulled out a special device and from his pocket and set it on the table as Calvio's phone was put inside before the device locked the phone inside of it and began scanning.

"Sandro, Matteo, double check their work." Nick ordered before two others used a 'door' Nick made for them to leave the space.

"Continue." Nick urged Calvio who simply gulped and looked back down on his notes.

"Just, if they're Nevehans, they're salvation. That's all I was trying to say." Calvio excused.

"True. But, even those in the resistance are an even more precious few that need to be protected the most. I’m sure they’re most likely still caught up trying to free the recaptured moonlights back at home or securing the few safe havens they’ve managed to create. But it doesn’t matter who they’re descended from. The Shadowend Family Dynasty is rooted in the same Moonchild-family tree, they're just another branch of it, just like the Fortunadas, just like nearly all of them in and out of Dorierra. And both are rumored to be very closely tied and connected to Neveah as a whole. But either way, an invitation to take refuge here is made either way, and the invitation for the others to come will be made as well, hopefully by Adora and her family when the time is right for such an invitation and would be safe and appropriate or needed by them. Because for us to make it now, would not be good, and would not bode well for us or the colony. Because only the worst ulterior motives would be attributed, and we'd get mistaken for trapping them- and at the very least identifying them, which again would most likely lead to their departure and would earn us a mark." Nicolo allowed with a nod. 

“How the hell did they make it all the way here?” Nicolo wondered aloud, because Lunaria was literally on the other side of the supersphere and it was still too far away from any equinox and even Ottovio was just over a half way point, so that they had to travel there, the long way around the supersphere. 

“Well, according to a neighbor who helped them settle in, they had spent most of Adora’s lifetime and most of their other children's lifetimes in Ottovio too. But then once it was rumored that Ottovio was in the possession of moonlight mouras it was besieged by a mecha species, or at least, that is the rumor right now. This is the farthest that any moonlight moura has travelled from the Cosmos Colonies, or even Neveah especially during a non equinox flight, specifically the Moon Belt that we know of. But once the spring equinox comes, they’ll have a straight shot back to the Cosmos Colonies and Neveah. Specifically Lunaria and vice versa.” Calvio warned as Nicolo and Alessio shared a whole conversation of meaningful looks and subtle facial expressions within a matter of seconds between each other.

"Why do they match both the Fortunadas and the Shadowends?" Alessio asked thoughtfully. 

"The Shadowends were supposed to have two sons as their eldest children, but three daughters and then a third son after the daughters. The Fortunadas however, are only listed as having three eldest daughters and one younger son and then rumored to have a 4th daughter, but no name was given." Calvio specified. 

"Then why do they match both?" Alessio asked. 

"Because that same neighbor was told that the two eldest sons had married and settled down on their own already. So they actually do match both reports of the missing families from the Cosmos Colonies. And because it's still two eldest sons, followed by three daughters, then a younger son and a younger daughter, and now, another on the way, they technically match both but only in this respect, well, two actually." Calvio specified. 

“They don't list them because of the strength of the female line, many moonlight dynasties in the Cosmos Colonies do not name any son before a first born daughter on the reading, the Fortunadas could have had 6 or more sons that would have never been named. All of them probably do. And there's always a gap between the first and second daughters, to allow the mother to be born again in the ashes to get her second daughter a first born as well, just in case the heir apparent needs to change to the spare. It's why most moonlight mothers only last for what looks like 3 rebirths instead of 5 or 6. They still get 6, but for only half as long.” Nicolo reminded them. 

“What’s the other way they match both?” Nicolo asked Calvio. 

“Actually, for all three families it was noted that the eldest daughter either was or is married. For the Fortunadas, her husband stayed behind to help them stay one step ahead of the hunters, the husband from Neveah died so that they could get away, which made her a widow. But for the Shadowends, the oldest daughter got divorced. But it was also noted that she was pregnant at the time and the divorce, instead of killing her by a broken heart. It killed the baby instead.” Calvio specified as Nick breathed out in defeat. Well, fuck. If Estelle was a Fortunada? She was still married, just traveling with her family, it was heartbreak otherwise. Well, no one got out of the world unscathed. It just meant that he could potentially be ‘barking up the wrong tree’ in a sense. Damn. 

"Is it possible that they're both? Or even all three?" Nicolo asked because with just that difference of children, that followed the same pattern, and that second respect was far too similar to ever be a coincidence. 

"While it could be possible, it is not probable. Because the Fortunadas are supposed to be able to pass as sunlight mouras. The Shadowends can do no such thing, because they apparently are fearsome to behold, everyone who has seen the Shadowends before and during and after their living lightning rod said they looked the same throughout but clearly had fearsome, sharp and intense features. But yet, most can't make themselves look away either, at least that I’ve been told. And from here, Adora does not look at all monstrous, she still looks practically angelic. But the family from Neveah has had great difficulty in the ‘pilgrimage’, because of their leanings on technology and electronics and dragons, of which they could not take any of the dragons with them without it being very obvious and have only gone to the most advanced of the other colonies, so that they could lean on that technology and electricity to power their tech. Because they are supposed to have enough technology on them that their weight is doubled. But then again, there was a rumor about how they have special pockets on their person that allows for them to carry it all on them somehow that doesn’t make sense. But it was also noted that those from the Cosmos Colonies have actually done the opposite, they’ve only gone to colonies who haven’t gotten the technological push." Calvio reasoned as they all turned to see Adora and Cesario still dancing and laughing and smiling. 

“Probably to be protected from the very technology the Cosmos Colonies have weaponized. What else?” Nicolo asked before the device beeped and opened up before Nick looked from Calvio to his phone as his permission for him to take it back as Alessio stared Calvio down as he did so though.

“That’s all I was able to find out on such short notice. But, it should be noted that her father, Russ is not moonlight moura, he’s been the one to pay for everything so far, he was seen turning sunlight moura gold himself several times, he must have ran out of moura gold or silver to give to his family for Adora to turn any electrum herself, and it is that detail alone that fits the Fortunadas best, because the Fortunadas’ family group, was noted to have had a sunlight moura father, who was also supposed to be a musical prodigy himself. Whereas the family from Neveah, the father is not a moura at all, he’s Neveahan through and through, but the mother is a moonlight. But the Shadowends, both parents are moonlights, specifically the Shadowend father - who was named LaRoux, was supposed to be a genius of technology, not music. And their mother- Isabellica is known as one of the best fighters the Shadowends have ever had. All of them were never noted to be musically inclined, but their fighting style was the only art form they ever pursued and then easily excelled at. It was noted that their second oldest daughter was a prodigy in the art of war and fighting and a proper warrior, a demigoddess of war if there ever was one, to the point that they renamed her from Valhena to Violente, because she apparently was violence incarnate. Thus why she’s chosen as Isabellica’s heir apparent, before all of this went down.” Calvio clarified.  

“What were all the names for the Neveahans, the Fortunadas versus the Shadowends?” Nicolo asked before Calvio handed him the list of names of both families as well as the list of names of what Adora and her family were going by here along with age estimations before handing him the other pages but subtly tapped his forefinger to a section of pages that were folded the opposite way that Nick used his thumb to move up the other folded pages to see ‘Nightmare Fuel’ written on them as he went ahead and read them and did his absolute best to remain composed and stoic as his breath ever so slightly shuddered since Alessio had watched Nick’s brow furrow slightly before he turned the pages and flipped them open and Alessio saw ‘Nightmare Fuel’ written on them but needed to give Nick time to read and process what was written on those pages. 

“And what are the names that Adorabella and her family are going by here again?” Alessio asked, just to make sure he could remember them correctly but also to give Nick more time to read them as Nick’s eyes got just a hair wider but his pupils were being blown wide as it was clear Nick was trying to measure his breathing. Now Nick understood Calvio's comment. It wasn't about the money at all, it was to avoid what was written in here. The latest news from their sources that tracked the movements of the Shadowend Dynasty as a whole and Nightmare Fuel was sadly, a very fitting name.

“Adora’s father goes by Russ, mother’s name is Isabelle, oldest son is Raphael, goes by Raph, second son is Leonardo, goes by Leo, oldest daughter simply goes by Estelle, second daughter goes by Vahnah, obviously third is Adorabella, goes by Adora, her younger brother is Mahlo, youngest sister is Tasarah, and she’s pregnant with another boy and will be naming him Tristonar. And their last name is Castella.” Calvio informed them. 

“Well, we could reach out to them, based on the fact that they’re one of the first or at the very least, very, very few from Ottovio who have sought sanctuary here.” Alessio murmured to Nicolo who seemed to nod after he finished reading the nightmare fuel pages, refolded them and then turned them the way they had been before and pressed the pages between his palms as he pressed his palms together as his fingers came up to steeple over his lips as he thought all of it through for a moment, letting his mind practically race through all the possibilities like chess moves, before he pulled out his notebook and wrote down the previous points and then used them to create something of a script for the messengers to give to the rest of the family then carefully detached the page from the notebook to place it on the table then did a gesture to bring everyone in his team together to hear what he would say next, to get the orders they would need to carry out immediately after he would give them. 

“First, a warning that they could still potentially be moonlight, and while it may appear that they're Fortunadas, the Shadowend connection should still be clearly communicated, because an air of caution and respect as well as expectations for what to do and how to act are carried the most with that family line, and should be used for all moonlights over all. That needs to be shared with everyone in the family using this as a template. I am currently having official messages printed off on the official stationery, sealed with the official seal and then they all need to hand delivered to the head of every household in The Entire Vitale Extended Family along with that script. The others will hopefully learn from our example and discern why themselves, for they are intelligent enough to draw such conclusions themselves. So there is no need for them to be informed, because the chances of them kneejerking a bad reaction is too great at present. She subtly revealed herself to us, it needs to stay with us and us alone.” Nicolo slowly but very clearly specified as it was clear he was doing his best to use the best and concise wording to give the biggest impact and communicate the most as the page was passed, as they all got pictures of it while Nicolo went ahead and got into his app to create an official message to be printed up and prepared as he added extra details and instructions and made sure the message would be communicated but that if anyone didn't know the specific lingo of the Signoria, they wouldn't quite know what to make of it but all members in the Vitale Dynasty, in and out of the Signoria would instantly know what the message truly meant. And would know how to act and react and what and most importantly, how to communicate it to their families.

“Second, see if anyone else from Ottovio has come here for sanctuary, or if they could even be invited to stay here so that Adora's family is not alone would be best. It would not be seen as us singling them out if we did something directly with them and only them and not anyone else. Have funds made available and given to the priesthood to be given to them so it looks like the whole colony welcomes them and accepts them simply for seeking shelter and sanctuary here like any other moura, but make sure they do so privately and discreetly but not publicly.” Nicolo specified.  

“Third, see what they need and give discounts so that they can purchase what they need themselves, but the discounts should not be that big or steep, because again, that would tip them off that they have been identified. Fourth, try to find a suitable place for them- if at all possible, if their current housing is not acceptable or comfortable, or if they're cramped and trying to make it work when it doesn't naturally suit their needs and tastes.” Nicolo added. 

“Why not invite them to the quarter we've reserved for them?” Calvio asked. 

“Because it was constructed to almost be a replica of the Neveahan and Cosmos Colonies style of housing, with all the creature comforts of the Cosmos Colonies and Neveah combined. It was specifically built and tailored to moonlights. To let them in there now, they'll think it's a trap or that we are working with the Cosmos Colonies. They'll see it as a cage to lock them up in for the equinox flight. They'll panic and bolt and we will get marked.” Alessio answered as Nicolo nodded in agreement. 

“So, let's try to, very subtly, and discreetly make their stay and residency here comfortable, warm, welcoming and inviting, but not to a degree where they feel that they are being forced to take that invitation or can’t say no to it either. And it would be logical and reasonable for them to stay where they would be safe, warm and welcome and have a small, minor edge on others that wouldn't be obvious or attributed to them potentially being moonlights, or Shadowends or Fortunadas, but simply as the Castellas. Otherwise, unless they tell us otherwise, we’re going to assume they’re sunlights and wouldn’t need or want the moonlight housing. There, four objectives. Get them done. Alessio? Do you have anything to add?” Nicolo urged before Alessio shook his head no before Nick simply slid his foot on the ground subtly and brought the barriers down so that everyone left to do as Nicolo ordered because Nicolo shared some of his authority with Alessio who was just as intelligent as he was handsome, and often had great ideas and usually thought of things that Nicolo either hadn't thought of or hadn't considered but once they left, Nick brought the glass barriers back up to talk privately with Alessio. 

"Calvio wasn't motivated by money, it was motivated by fear." Nick informed Alessio.

"Yeah, I could see he was lying about it when he said it. He'd rather the others think he was getting greedy rather than incite panic." Alessio nodded in agreement.

"I'm sure the others appreciated the theatrics though." Alessio added with a shrug as Nick rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“How the hell did they make it all the way here? And how did they get here so fast? Ottovio is a 2-3 week flight away. Ottovio was besieged last Friday night and into Saturday and was broken by Sunday night. And according to Archie, the family arrived here on Monday of this week. That’s 2 and a half days, not weeks, days. How the fucking hell did they make it all the way here from there, that fast?” Nick asked. 

“Well moonlights do fly faster than sunlights.” Alessio allowed. 

“Yeah but usually twice as fast, not seven times as fast. If they were “normal” moonlights, they would have done that in one to one and a half weeks.” Nick argued. 

“Well, I hate to say it, but that kind of leaves it to Adora either being Shadowend, maybe Nevehan, but also a chance of her being resistance too. So that’s either a 50/50 or a 2/3rds chance of Cesario dancing with salvation rather than damnation.” Alessio offered. 

“Well, at least thinking like that, I guess. But if Calvio, Fernando and Dominic all triple checked the reading, I know Dominic knows how to check the back pocket. So if he and Fernando and Calvio all triple checking all of it, so 9 times over and not seeing Adora and her family anywhere else other than the front where we have the traditional moonlight dynasty reading, and the Nevehan back but not in the back pocket, there’s no way she’s resistance, so that just leaves us with either Shadowend or Nevehan, unless they’re… I don’t know, a family that never got recorded in the first place.” Nick almost rubbed at his eyes before he stopped himself. 

“The contacts giving you trouble again?” Alessio asked. 

“Yeah, I think they’re getting worn out or something.” Nick admitted. 

“And you won’t be able to get a new pair until the equinox.” Alessio recalled as Nick hummed in agreement. 

“Then it's a good thing I brought my extra set. I put my current set in before I came back.” Alessio fished them out of his pocket and handed them to Nick who sighed in relief.

“Thank you so much Leo.” Nick gratefully thanked his brother as he took them and then carefully took out the ones he had been wearing out and took a moment to let his eyes rest before he finally got to rub at them before he put in his special eye drops to help his eyes tolerate the lenses themselves before he put the new ones in and breathed in relief to open his eyes only to realize how his previous pair had degraded quite a bit. No wonder he had barely seen Adora before. There was no way those contacts would have let him see her as she really was. And now that he was looking, holy fucking shit was she a marvel, but at the same time, it was damning too.

“Have you tried to look at Adora without them?” Alessio asked. 

“Yup, did you notice her actual aura is visible and her tattoos are brighter and are pulsing?” Nick answered with a sigh as he just kept watching Adora with Cesario. Gosh she really did seem like just another teenager having fun. Just… an extraordinary one. 

“Yup. But did you see how Cesario has changed too?” Alessio prompted before Nick cut his eyes to Cesario before his eyes got wider. 

“Since when does Cesario have an aura too? And since when does it match hers? Like a perfect mirror and copy too?” Alessio grinned.

“I… no one mentioned that we’d get the aura too.” Nick frowned slightly as Alessio immediately put his phone into flight mode and looked at the page of apps that now showed up and pulled up a special set of notes and looked through them. 

“Yeah they did.” Alessio grinned and showed his brother the note from years ago that Alessio had taken. 

“Oh damn.” Nick breathed before he did the same to his own phone as the three pages of apps showed up as his jaw dropped slightly but a small but powerful smile took it's place. It was just one more thing about Moonlights, when they met their true mate, that was known to happen, the couple would "align". And Nick's eyes glazed with tears. Both happy yet with a sweet sorrow all the same. Seven years of waiting and it was happening. It was just happening to Cesario instead of Nick, yet, he could and would be content with that.

“Maybe it was meant to be for Cheesy Chez.” Alessio grinned smugly as Nick handed Alessio’s phone back to him. 

“Looks that way.” Nick had to admit as that actually helped him feel less panicked about this and more hopeful that life as they knew it was about to end. Just change. It didn't matter if she was Fortunada or Shadowend or Moonriver, moonlights were fiercely protective of their mates and their families. If Cesario was becoming Adora's they had a chance, a good fighting chance. Yeah they were both incredibly young, but that just meant they'd be that much more adaptable.

“Were the names of the other families similar though?” Alessio asked before Nick just handed him all the pages of Calvio’s notes before Alessio handed the Nightmare Fuel ones back to him without opening them.

“Can you just give me the summery of that? Like just the fuel but without the Nightmare?” Alessio asked before Nick took a deep inhale and knocked back what was left in his glass and grimaced, not in the burn but in the nauseating horror and exhaled then took another deep inhale and seemed to break on that exhale and just look… resigned.  

“We’re looking at an apocalypse.” Nick said simply with a shrug, not looking at Alessio, just off into the middle distance which honestly scared the shit out of Alessio. Nick was the strongest person Alessio knew and if Nick looked resigned and broken by it but said it as if it had already happened? Then that meant it was going to happen.   

“Ok, now I’m afraid to ask, but I need a bit more clarification. How?! How is there an apocalypse?” Alessio asked worriedly. 

“The Shadowends found a way to turn every moonlight into living weapons like they are without having to be Shadowend at all. Basically giving all moonlights the same attack powers they have and are now also working on having mind control but just for moonlights. Like, turning moonlights from mouras, to… a hive minded swarm of predators but in a moura form. It’s like they’re hurrying an apocalypse for mouras, sunlight vs moonlight instead of sunlights and moonlights all being mouras. Or, I don’t know, mouras against the rest of the world. Give every realm something to fear at night, lurking in every shadow that will give every being with even a pinch of divine either a run for their money or send them running. Making mouras from beings of heaven and fire to pure hell and fury. No wonder the heavenly moura are staying the fuck out of it and are all 'you guys brought this on yourselves for leaving the clouds' while also pointedly telling the Shadowends that they're neutral and would stay out of it so they don't have the Shadowends looking at them like they're a problem to solve either, because they've already seen them do it... for who knows how many times." Nick answered with just a shrug and a subtle shake of his head. 

“Fuck.” Alessio hissed as he drained his glass and refilled it, letting that burn keep him from shuddering in fear too before he refilled it again. 

“And if that ‘great weapon’ the Shadowends are rumored to have, it would make sense that it would be something tied to their genetics, their lineage, something to be passed down through the family line. It would make sense that that weapon, instead of being used and targeted on an enemy, if they targeted all moonlights instead? That would be worth fleeing over. That would be worth leaving everything and everyone they know behind to keep that from happening. Because if it’s tied to the lineage, the weapon won’t work if there’s no one there to aim it and pull the trigger. That’s why they’re being hunted and being dragged back, that’s probably why the refugees are committing suicide because they’d rather take their own lives than take…who knows how many others, and the other sunlights either having no idea or willing to die if it means other mouras as a whole have a chance at surviving or fighting or something.” Nick mused with another long pull from his glass.   

“Yeah, that would, sadly, make the most sense.” Alessio had to agree as he did the same, but actually shuddered, no matter how much the whiskey burned. 

“But until we know one way or another, we’ll just… let that be for nightmares and not… part of the waking world until we know or get confirmation or whatever. Ok, let me…see these names to see if there’s any similarities.” Alessio urged as Nick refilled his own glass again and topped Alessio’s glass, as it sat on the table while he read. Nick got his glass back up to his mouth and sipped on it while Alessio read over the notes and the names as Nick continued to think deeply about everything while Alessio was building his own puzzle in his head about this situation. 

The Castella Family was made up of Russ and Isabelle, oldest sons Raphael and Leonardo, which they were rumored to be 25 and 26. Oldest daughter, but third child was Estelle who was 24, followed by Vahnah at 19, Adorabella at 17, Mahlo at 15 and Tesarah at 12 with Tristonar on the way. But if they were really moonlight, it would make sense that  Raphael was actually 28, and Leonardo was actually 26 if it followed the same pattern as the younger kids. But all were spring births.  

The Neveahan family whose last name was Moonriver, the father was named Russel, mother Yahsabella, oldest son, Rohan, second son was Laroch, first born daughter Esther, second daughter Valarouse, third daughter Alliahdora, third son Malowh, forth daughter Tessa. But no ages. Ester was married to Ryzen, who died so that she and her familiy could get away and used a hologram to lure the Shadowend hunters away from them.

In the Fortunada family group whose last name was Fortunesta. The father was Roussel, mother was Serriah-Ysabel, oldest daughter was Stella-Tallevera who was also 24, second daughter Andarina-Verra who was 19, third daughter Bellimari-Adora 17, only son- Mahlo-Allivare at 15. But then that damning extra detail- Stella-Tallevera was still married, she fled with the rest of her family, her husband Embry-Reneri stayed behind and is keeping them one step ahead of the hunters. But they had all summer births. 

The Shadowends however, their last name was Shadowstark. Father- LaRoux, Mother- Isabellica, The oldest son was named Rasiphe-Roxo who was 28, the second son was named Niculado- Leandro 26, and the first daughter is named Jacquelle-Torrevella aged 24, second daughter- Valhena-Violente, aged 19, 3rd daughter, Belladonna-Marina, aged 17, third son-Tristao-Mahlo, aged 15 and 4th daughter is unnamed but also not aged. The oldest daughter Jacquelle had been married too, but she was 3 and a half months pregnant. When she was about to leave with her family, her husband not only divorced her on the spot but instead of her dying of heartbreak, the baby did. But there was a word associated with this divorce that was clearly a nenani word but it was noted that the ex husband died with that word repeated but with another nenani word and then Violente’s name. There was something there. They would have to investigate it later. But they all had fall births. They were all literally the same age, the only difference was spring, vs. summer vs. fall births. Only 3-6 months separated them from each other. And it wasn’t that hard to hide or change that kind of detail of when your birth season was. 

And all Alessio could do was take a long inhale and exhale as he looked at all four family names, on four different pages, put into a square on the table and looked at all of them, comparing all the names and ages seeing far too many similarities between them. They were all in that same 3-6 month window. 

“Shit, this can go either way. But you’re right to suspect that they’re actually both and hell, especially all three. You still have a Russ for the dad, an Isabelle for the mom, Raph versus Rohan for the oldest son, Laroch vs. Leo for the second son, Torrevella or Tallevera for the oldest daughter, or hell, Estelle versus Ester or fuck- Stella, that's literally a nickname for all of those names. Plus- Vala, Vera or Valhena for the second and Bella either way or even Allidora for Adora, and literally Mahlo is the only name for that son, whether he’s the only son or the 3rd son. And Tessa and Tesara are also super fucking close. There’s no way those names of all three of those families and Adora’s family names are that fucking closely related, the chances of 3 separate, distinct families having that order of children, naming all of them so closely in the same sequence. They have to be both, if not all three- and if nothing else, fuck they might just be Shadowends. But the fleeing Shadowends have always been rumored to leave before any hunters arrive or any besiegements could happen. If instead of claiming they left Ottovio when it was besieged, they may have left for here a week or two ago. That would mean they didn’t travel all this way in just 2.5 days, just a week and a half as usual for moonlights.” Alessio realized with a groan as he rubbed his face with his hands, careful not to rub his eyes in comparing the four lists of names. Far too many similarities to be coincidence as Nicolo could only nod in agreement, clearly thinking over something deeply into his head as he used the Nightmare Fuel to actually fill in some blanks and fill in the ‘how’ to a lot of events. 

“What do you think of the possibilities?” Nicolo asked Alessio as he thought it over for several long moments before he turned his gaze back to Adora as they both sipped from their whiskey glasses, savoring the burn to keep from shuddering in the chill of terror. 

“Well, if she- by a longshot is a Fortunada, or even Moonriver- does she have a male cousin? Because Victorina needs a husband. Surely a moonlight would be able to turn electrum to keep her in the lifestyle she’s become accustomed to.” Alessio snorted a teasing laugh into his whiskey glass before he took a sip, that got Nicolo to snort a laugh too in his own tumblr glass of it as they rolled their eyes at the notion but took sips in a subconscious synchronization too before Alessio took pictures of the notes to keep on his own cellphone and handed the notes back to Nicolo who took them and placed them into his breast pocket on the inside of his suit jacket. 

“That’s a recipe for disaster if I have ever heard of one.” Nicolo dismissed with a chuckle. 

"But seriously, is there anything that you see that I don't about any of this? About all of this?" Nicolo pressed. Anxious that he hadn’t seen something that would be vital about this situation. 

"Honestly, not right now. I know we’ve tried to prepare for every possibility. But I have a feeling it still may not be enough. We need to reach out to our contact in Neveah and get more explanation about that widowhood of the Moonriver one, but especially that divorce of that oldest Shadowend daughter. Something about that does not sit well with me at all, like, it would have to be really bad if the Shadowends had put nenani words with it. But that still doesn’t erase the fact that if the Shadowends really did found a way to turn themselves into living weapons, and now that they could also potentially turn every moonlight into a living weapon, just like them without being Shadowend themselves? Wouldn't it be in the realm of possibility to turn one of them into sunlight from being moonlight? Or even I don’t know, normal Neveahan?" Alessio murmured. 

"That's what I was thinking! That's why I had them include both in the information to the family." Nicolo nodded in agreement.

"And, the Shadowends, if they could do that much, don't you think that they would also be able to 'pass' as sunlights as long as they aren't threatened? Because, the Shadowends that have been on that crusade, came in- already on the defensive and offensive. They came in knowing they were about to unleash hell. But it's only after a threat that the Shadowends come forward and come out of whatever dark shadow they were in before that most never see that there was a shadow there in the first place. Adora is not threatened right now, if anything she's happy and appears to feel perfectly safe. Especially with Cesario, the lucky bastard, because she is very beautiful. Granted, just a bit young for me, and way too young for you, but still, she has that 'soft, girl next door' kind of beauty going for her." Alessio reasoned.

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. You can't read the feathers if the wings haven't been spread." Nicolo reasoned as Alessio nodded in agreement. 

“Are you sure you don't want to read the rest of nightmare fuel now? Because it had details that may help you see things I don't.” Nicolo offered the other pages to Alessio. 

“Nope. Not yet, not right now, let me keep my hope higher for the night at least, I’ll read them tomorrow though, after I sleep on it tonight.” Alessio shook his head no before Nick let Alessio have his power to control the ground back as Alessio put the barriers back down. Because neither really had much else to say, because they both needed to think. 

Alessio took a careful look at the club, how the flow of people was flowing while also seeing if there was anyone else that was new before he glanced at the door, just as two new young women had gained entry, there was a subtle luxury to how they were dressed too, that if you had an eye for it, you caught it, when most wouldn’t see it for its own subtlety, but upon entry into the club. One was in a dark black fabric that shifted green that looked like dragon scales when she moved, a halter top for the top but pants instead of skirt but she was holding something in each of her hands tightly, her hands like fists at her sides. Her hair was braided tightly to her head, which showcased how she had an undercut, shaved and tattooed, which was the most badass thing Alessio had ever seen in his life and when she had turned, there were two stylized dragons down each side of her spine as the ink of the dragons. The dragons were in black ink on her skin but had very vivid blood red eyes that practically pierced him, but not with fear, with interest. She had that ‘femme fatal’ edge to her but she had to be the most devastatingly beautiful woman Alessio had ever seen in his life. 

The other though, was much more traditionally feminine, she had that ultra feminine aesthetic, but was very much the epitome of high class, highborne lady with subtle glamor that looked effortless. She was dressed in a stunning pink dress that was actually almost exactly like Adora’s had been. Except that it was strapless and the sheer pink muslin wrapped around her chest and upper arms, made it look off the shoulder, showing off a stunning sweetheart neckline to her dress. But it was practically the same style and overall silhouette. But instead of paisley as a pattern in purples, blues and greens, it was all various shades of pinks, magentas and mauves in flowers and flower petals. Her hair hung in the most gorgeous curls too and she might as well be the demigoddess of beauty itself, as Nicolo felt that there was no woman in the world more beautiful than her. 

“Oh hello Gorgeous!” Alessio grinned as he nodded to them as both he and Nicolo instantly stood up when they saw those young ladies cross the threshold and came closer to the railing to get a better look at them since they were walking out of their line of sight, and almost under their railing again as they seemed to walk to the west wall but then came back to the center, but still in the same line of the entrance. They looked like they were familiarly connected to Adora as they scanned the people immediately around them, before they scanned the balcony, each of them taking one side of the room from the back to the front. From the south wall towards north, the one in pink taking the west wall while the one in black and green took the east wall. 

“Wow.” Nicolo breathed before the girls slowly turned from having their backs towards them to the sides, so that they were back to back and then slowly turned towards them again. 

The one in green and black made eye contact with Alessio and the other in pink made eye contact with Nicolo at about the same time as the Vitale gentlemen offered the two young ladies their most charming smiles. But for Nick, it was like they both had that tingle of recognition but Nicolo could not for the life of him remember where or when or how he had seen her before but looking at her now, now there was this ‘oh, there you are, the love of my life I’ve been waiting all my life to meet, and by the heavens, you’ve been worth the wait.’ look and feeling and instinct and a magnetism that pulled Nick forward a few more steps. Nick let out a laugh, but it was from his exhale, not with his voice as his jaw dropped as hers did too but only to exhale and inhale better as they practically mouthed the same 'hi' in greeting which only made them smile at each other again. It was happy and relieved as she seemed to put both of her hands over her belly, her lower belly specifically before the one in green and black elbowed her and her smile fell as she seemed to remember what she had been in the middle of doing as her smile turned apologetic before she lifted her gaze as her face became worried as she searched the third floor from the center towards the west again towards the back. 

The one in green and black though, had given Alessio a forced polite but weary, and yet somehow challenging grin of a smile, that if she had shown teeth, probably would have had ‘fuck you’ practically written on her brilliant white teeth, that was a ‘I’m being polite but push me or test me and I will not hesitate to destroy you’ kind of grin, that was almost a smile- that Alessio found himself practically chomping at the bit to answer such a challenge, before the ladies had moved their gaze up to the third story then quickly up to the fourth and once they had, returned their attention to the rest of the club as they gave each other a meaningful look but without saying anything before they split up, the one in green going down the left side of the club while the other in pink went down the other before Nick and Alessio looked from them to Adora. 

“Fuck.” Nick and Alessio both closed their eyes in defeat. 

“Shit, those are definitely Adora’s older sisters here to drag her away.” Alessio stated. 

“Yes.” Nicolo nodded in agreement. 

“Would it be worth interfering for Cesario’s sake?” Alessio asked as his gaze flicked to Cesario on the dance floor as the sisters seemed to snake their way through the various groups of people in the club, like water flowing around stones but had only gotten to the eating area by that point and Cesario had moved Adora to the middle of the dance floor as the crowd encircled them and because of Adora’s height, Cesario was blocking her back as she had leaned into the front of him for them to move together and with everyone else in heels or being taller than them, they would be invisible from the ground floor. 

“You can try. But he would need to do so, in such a way to not trip the older two off that the younger one is in any kind of danger. But if they get to her first, I hope Cesario knows to back the fuck down. Those older sisters can take her by force and it’d be chaos at best, possibly a massacre at worst, you didn't read Nightmare Fuel, I did. There’s no time to clear everyone out, even if I move that ceiling off for them to fly out. They’d never react in time. So if and when they come to you for help to find Adora? You need to help them. Like actually lead them to her. Do not give them the run around, no games whatsoever, because they could kill you too because then they’d see you as a threat to them and her too. And then you need to help Cesario not get his ass kicked or get killed, because he’s already protective of her.” Nicolo offered as he tried to think of what he could do. There was no time to do any of it though. They could be seconds, minutes at most away from making contact. And there was just no time to either clear the club out without a stampede and even if he slid the roof off for all of them to fly out, there was just no way they’d listen or take the warning seriously. Because they’d think the alarm was just another layer to the music as he started to turn his hands into the ‘emergency evacuation signal’ before Alessio reached out and stopped him. 

“Stop, Nick. Stop. Don’t throw it yet. Chances are, it’s a false alarm, maybe the fact that Adora is glowing put them into alarmed state because maybe she’s not supposed to do that or show that or whatever and it's a big misunderstanding. I'm sure that's all it is. But I am calling dibs on the one green, cause I know you love- a pretty in pink anywhere.” Alessio urged his brother with a wink as Nicolo rolled his eyes but couldn't fight a small grin and nod in agreement before Alessio left his side. 

Once he had, Nicolo looked back out and didn't see them at all anymore and now all he saw were a plethora of shadows for them to hide in and move all throughout the place and covered his mouth with his fist, as his jaw clenched, feeling panic, that he was about to watch something horrifying and he had never felt more powerless to stop it as he couldn’t even make out Alessio in the crowd either as he just kept searching, waiting for screams, waiting for panic, waiting for a disaster. But, just as he was about to throw the signal to have an emergency evacuation again, it was like there wasn’t a physical touch per say, but… something similar. It was more of a sensation. It was as if someone had put their hand to the center of his chest and was silently shushing him but in a way to calm him down and keep him from panicking or worrying but also like there was a reassurance with it. Like there was no threat, there was no reason for alarm or reason to fear for anyone or fear anything happening in here that would cause any harm at all and that there was no danger at all and it was like this touch took the vice around his chest off with it and lifted the burdens from his shoulders while they were at it and gently walked him backwards just a couple of steps as he simply closed his eyes, steadied his breathing and recentered and became grounded again as his face finally relaxed as his body over all seemed to exhale and relax for the first time in... forever.  

All is well. 

Nick had no idea how or why he thought that or felt that. But there was this peaceful, reassuring calm, that there was no threat to anyone as he looked around and while he didn’t see Cesario and Adora, just as he felt that sensation on his chest withdraw, he did finally see Alessio talking to the one in green and black, in that passage in the far left corner where the private booths would start behind them between the back of the DJ booth and the private booths. But she didn’t look angry or upset or threatened, or even threatening. In fact, she was laughing, as was Alessio. And the one in pink was talking to two security guards on the right. He must have subconsciously spotted them or they were in his peripherals while he had searched the center crowd. And while he could only see her profile and her gestures as she seemed to shake their hands and gesture as she talked and was smiling brightly as she did so as her curls moved with her head movements as it was like a waterfall of blonde curls, in that classic glamor style. So maybe they did make contact and all was well after all? Obviously Alessio had been right, it was just a misunderstanding and they had been worried and alarmed for nothing. He could only hope.

“Okay, so before we go in there is something I got to tell you.”

              Sam stopped for a moment, giving her best friend a curious look. “Okay, I feel like you say that every time we meet one of your ‘special friends’. I mean I am super excited, but I am also kind of worried now. This isn’t going to be anything like the extreme sports guys, is it? I mean I am ready for anything, but I just got my hair done.”

              Gilby chuckled. “Nah, the Hanks are their own kind of crazy and Freddy is far more chill. But…”

              “But what?”

              “I’m trying to figure out how to say it. It’s kind of hard to put into words without sounding crazy.”

              “Gilby,” Sam said, placing a hand on Gilby’s shoulder, “I think, after everything that has happened, we are past you sounding crazy. I mean you could tell me that bigfoot is real, and I would probably believe you.”

              “Funny you should say that” Gilby said, walking to the door and opening it for Sam, “just please understand, that Freddy might look intimidating but he’s really a cool dude and he is really good at picking out ice cream flavors.”

              Sam laughed. “Okay, I might like this guy already.” As she stepped into the bar, she found herself looking around for an interesting person. “Okay where is this- wholly big foot!”

              Gilby smiled as they stepped in behind Sam. “Yeti actually.” They held up a hand and waved it. “Hey Freddy!”

              A large blue hulk at the far end of the bar looked up and gave them both a wide toothy grin. He toward over everyone in the room and was clearly trying to hide a lot of hair under his large sweatshirt and ball cap. He didn’t seem to mind the weird looks he was getting either. “Cool kid!” Freddy said as he jumped from his seat and within a few strides was lifting Gilby up into the air and into a crushing hug which had the sound of a few bones cracking.

              “Oof!” Gilby cried as they felt their back bend.

              “Ack! Sorry!” Freddy said easing up his hold on them, “I guess I got a little overly excited.”

              “Nah it’s all good,” Gilby said patting his chest, “I actually missed your hugs, which are not only cozy but a free chiropractic session as well.” As Freddy placed them on their feet again, Gilby gestured to Sam. “Freddy Yeti this is Sam.”

              Freddy smiled as he held out his hand. “Nice to meet you Sam. Finally get to meet Cool Kid’s cool best friend.”

              Sam was still wide-eyed as she regarded the blue fuzzy giant in front of her. She took the hand which engulfed hers. “It’s…well it’s nice to meet you too Freddy,” she said as they shook hands (Freddy having to do little movements), “and may say that this is one of the coolest nights of my life! I mean I’ve seen a few things hanging out with Gilby, but you are so incredibly awesome! I am meeting a real-life yeti!”

              “And getting to eat with one,” Freddy said, still beaming, “come on over, I got us a booth and already ordered a few orders of cheese fries!”

              “You’ve already ordered cheese fries?” Sam asked, eyes growing even wider. “Gilby, I love him so much.”

              “Well, I hope you’re proud of yourself.”

              “Shut up.”

              Scandalabra let out a huff as he crossed his arms. “Don’t take that uppity tone with me mister! I’m not the one who royally botched this mission and now bleeding out!”

              Jon could argue with his other half there. He had really fucked up this time. He brought up his hand again to look at his blood which was hard to see against his dark gloves though was still probably seeping out of the wound in his chest. Funny thing was it didn’t really hurt any more, which was probably a bad sign. He normally was better than this, getting in and out without a scratch. He was the pewter justice after all, the man counterfeiters feared most. He had a reputation to uphold. And yet here he was, on the ground, mortally wounded. Damn, the fucker had come out of no where. He had still beaten the guy but…Jon sighed. No, use in thinking about it now. At least he had managed to pull himself out of the building and into the night. Now he lay on the grass looking up at the sky above which was dotted with millions of little lights. “Stars are pretty tonight.”

              “Are you serious right now?” Scandalabra asked, from his seat next to Jon. “We’re dying, I say we because you are taking me down with you bastard, and you are stargazing?” There was another huff of annoyance as Scandal shook his head. “We could have been a hair sylist you know! We could have put our creative skills to use while getting all the most delicious gossip and not constantly in life or death situations! But NOOOO! We had to go with your plan and become the ‘pewter justice’! What kind of stupid name is that anyway?”

              Jon chuckled, wincing as the small action hurt a whole lot. “Too late now,” he said.

              “You could call them you know.”

              “Who?”

              Scandal rolled his eyes. “Anyone really. There is a whole house of people you could call to come and save your stupid ass.”

              “And do you really think they would come? As I remember you were the one to burn those bridges.”

              “Gilby then. Surely they would-“

              Jon shook his head. “No.”

              “Jon-“

              “I’m not calling them.”

              “They would come.”

              This was very true. Gilby would come. Gilby would come even if he wasn’t dying because the kid was far too helpful for their own good with their big blue-gray eyes and cute little smile. Jon could still picture all the little things about them, remembering back to Bev’s bar, that night when he had actually decided to play nice and help. Gilby had joined him at the bar, stood next to him and asked:

              “Are you drinking a beer?”

              Jon shrugged. “I like beer.” He gave them a side eye. “Is there a problem with that?”

              “No, I guess I just expected you to have like some kind of fancy cocktail or something.” When Jon didn’t answer they continued, giving Jon a soft look. “Anyways I wanted to say thank you, for coming to help Beverly. It really was great.”

              Jon took another sip of his beer, eyes glancing over at the party of people gathered at the other end of the bar where the redheaded bartender was entertaining. He was perched at the other end, keeping his distance and still being present. A part of the crowd and yet feeling like a singular object in a house filled with people.

              “I also am glad that you decided to continue playing Scandalabra.”

              Jon turned to Gilby with a raised eyebrow. “I thought you said he’s ‘a bit much’?”

              “He is,” Gilby confessed, unable to meet Jon’s gaze as they awkwardly began to play with their hands. “But he…he kind of grows on you, especially now that I actually get to see you being a nice guy for a change.”

              “Me? Nice?” Jon brought the back of his hand to his forehead, bringing forth Scandal’s voice with all the dramaticness he could muster. “My dear, I am no merely nice! Out of all the objects here I am the most incredible! The most extraordinary! For I am the one the only Scandalabra, the most scandalous in this entire house!”

              Gilby giggled. “Yep, there is no one like Scandalabra.”

              “And now for the most scandalous question of all,” Jon continued, grinning behind one dramatic hand, “who do you like more? Scandal or Jon?”

              “Both,” Gilby answered without hesitation, “I mean they are both you so I like you being who ever you are comfortable with.” Then with a blush they added: “But I kind of like Jon’s sexy voice more.”

              Jon’s eyes widened as he looked at Gilby. The way they looked so cute and awkward…fuck why did that turn him on so much. There was just something about that sweet little lamb look that made him want to pounce. He moved closer, leaning in as he spoke as Jon: “Well then, wanna blow this joint and have some fun.” He loved the way they turned instantly red, looking as if steam was going to come out of their ears.

              “I-I have to help Beverly tonight,” Gilby said holding up their hands, “so it’s going to have to be some other time, sorry!”

              Jon noticed they didn’t say no. He smirked. “Hold you to that.” He watched them go back to the group, still flush. Gods, he hadn’t realized before how he loved to watch them. He was used to watching an listening, best way to get all the gossip. But there was something about watching Gilby laugh, get anxious, play with their hair…Everything committed to memory without even needing to try. Jon leaned back against the bar and just watched, wondering when he had fallen so hard for this awkward bean. And when could he get them alone so he could…

              Joh was shaken from his memory as he heard a buzzing from his pocket. Fighting against the pain he reached into his pants and pulled out his cell phone. He blinked at the name on the screen. It was Gilby.

              “Well speak of the lover,” Scandal chuckled. “No use in denying it now lover boy.”

              Jon said nothing as he hit the answer button, bringing the phone to his ear. “Yes?”

              “Jon? Hey! It’s good to hear your voice.”

              Jon felt a tug on his lips. It was good to hear them too. Gods, they sounded so good right now.

              “Sorry for calling,” they continued, “I know we disccused you would be doing the calling, being pewter justice and all, but I don’t know why but I had this weird feeling I should call. It was just a weird feeling I had and if this is a bad time I can-“

              “No,” Jon said, voice gentle, “I’m actually glad you called.”

              “Are you okay? You sound…off. Not in a bad way just-“

              “Just tired.” Jon looked up at the stars above him. “Doing some star gazing. The stars are beautiful tonight. Kind of remind me of you, all twinkling and stuff.”

              “Jon, you sure you okay? If you need me to come to you I can, I just need to-

              “I love you.”

              There was a pause on the other end. He didn’t often say it, which he probably should have but it never seemed to come out.

              Jon continued, pushing past the sudden pain in his chest as he spoke. “I love the way you smile, all fucking cute and stuff. And I love the way you care about things and people.” Jon winced as he tried to find the breath for the words. “You’re a bit of sunshine in a world of fucking darkness and fuck what I wouldn’t give to kiss you right now.”

              “Jon?” Gilby’s voice was hesitant. “Jon why does this sound like-“

              “Take care of yourself okay. Love you so fucking much.” The world started to get dark around the edges as the phone slipped from Jon’s grasp. He smiled as their voice faded along with his consciousness.

              “Jon? Jon? JON?!”

…

              Jon awoke slowly. The world came back to him, one sense at a time. Sight was filled with bright light. Smell was filled with clean and antiseptic. And hearing was a constant beep of machine. As his eyes adjusted, he realized he was in a hospital bed. There was a bandage on his bare chest. And seated beside his bed was a large man in a cowboy hat. “Able,” he wheezed.

              Able looked at him and smiled. “Howdy and welcome back from the dead Scandal.”

              Jon blinked, brain slowly processing. “How?”

              “Gilby,” Able answered, “sent messages to the group chat panicking that something had happened. Luckily Mac had trackers in all our phones, which is probably unethical but helpful in times like these. We scrambled and got you help just in time.” Able tipped back his hat, allowing to Jon to see the concern in his warm brown eyes. “It was touch and go there for a bit though, if we’d been any later and you would have deader than a possum on a highway. The doctors had to pump you with a lot of red stuff for all the stuff you had lost.”

              Again Jon blinked. “You came?”

              Able’s brow furrowed. “You think we wouldn’t? Scandal, you are one of us. Yeah sure you were a little annoying back in the day but really, we don’t leave our own to bleed out somewhere.” The smile returned as Able nodded. “Beside Gilby was pretty insistent on helping and most of us know it’s impossible to say no when that make that face of theirs.”

              Oh yeah…Gilby…

              “Where are they?”

              “They wanted to stay till you woke up, but Dasha managed to convince them to go get something to eat as well pick you up some things from your apartment. They’ll both be back soon.” Able tipped his hat back giving Jon a knowing look. “Gotta warn ya, you’re going to have to deal with some hurt feelings from worried people, especially Gilby who probably will insist on taking care of you. Plus the rest of us who have promised to keep better tabs on you ‘Pewter Justice’.”

The note came her way that morning, delivered by Hoove with a sneaky grin. Maggie was curious about the get-go. Her detective senses tingled as she looked at the folded paper with her name on it. However, when she opened it…it was blank. Did someone forget to write the actual note? No, it wasn’t a simple mistake; this was deliberate. Maggie had to investigate! At first glance, the paper seemed normal, a simple sheet of 5x7 printer paper, supplied by Penelope, no doubt. But there was something, a smell. Maggie couldn’t quite place it at first, but it seemed familiar. It was…citrusy…Wait! Maggie’s eyes grew wide as she realized what it was. She couldn’t believe that as an avid tea enjoyed she would forget what a lemon smelled like.

              She enlisted the help of her closest warm friend, the fireplace. Dante was happy to help, offering a little heat from his fiery hands. It didn’t take long for the words to start appearing on the paper. Invisible ink! Of course! The person sending the message knew that lemon juice, while invisible at normal temperatures, can become visible under gentle heat. It was very clever, to say the least! To say Maggie was intrigued was an understatement. She read the note quickly.

              Hey Maggie,

              He helped Freddy clean out some stuff and came across a lemon. Don’t know when I got that, but it made me think of an old detective series I read as a kid where they used lemon juice kind of like invisible ink. I know you like good mysteries, so I figured I’d give you a small one. Hope you liked it!

              Sincerely, your partner in crime,

              Gilby

              P.S. You are still the cutest magnifying glass I know. Can’t wait for our next tea date. Maybe I’ll bring what’s left of the lemon. XOXO.