[ 49 ] 2031

Though it had taken a bit of planning and a lot of compromising on both ends, the Shifters and the Hunters finally came together to form a truce. The Shifters had always been the prey while the Hunters were the predators and they still didn't really like each other. But they decided to tolerate each other rather than being at each other's throats all the time. 

It was like there was something within them, a chemical urge to hate each other. Even the mere sight or smell of the other sent the other into a rage. They had similar abilities, and were similar in many ways, while the hunters were better and stronger than their opponents. The Shifters had been created in Canada, and the Hunters came from the jungles of Mexico. Now both sides had expanded to different parts of the world. So much so that it was difficult for each side to even keep track of everyone. The Hunters were more controlled, since they trained and operated under Arthur Vega's supervision. The Shifters were far more disorganized. There were so many of them that it was difficult for Hazel to look for and control everyone.

But when Jack and Hazel--on the Shifters' side--gathered with Arthur, Michael, and Harley on the Hunter's side, she promised she would to her best to get some form of control over her people. They all knew it was going to be difficult, which was why Michael had decided to help her as well. 

It had been decided at the meeting that like the hunters, she would have one person in charge in every area possible, to keep the peace. Arthur would have his hunters there as well, so as to have a balance of authority. Every new shifter and hunter had to be registered in a database that was available to both parties and no one was above the law. Anyone who was caught breaking the rules established would receive a punishment from both organizations. This was what they all decided was the best way to proceed. Harley knew there were probably bad people with the hunter gene, just like there were bad shifters out there. 

It was also agreed that both species had to keep their powers a secret from the humans, unless it were a trusted family member who would not say anything to anyone else about it. 

Lastly, it was decided that the meetings would take place every five years with a representative from each area from both sides. They would discuss the changes in the last couple of years and potential ways to improve the co-existence of both species with each other and with the humans. Michael was the most happy about it because it gave him the opportunity to be on good terms with his family, the hunters. But it also made him feel better about being with Hazel. He knew the hunters didn't accept her at first. But now that he had gotten to know her, Arthur liked her as a daughter in law. And he absolutely adored his grandchildren--Daisy and Kristianne. They were his little girls and they adored him too.

Things seemed to be pretty much peaceful for several years, with the occasional rogue shifter or hunter that needed to be dealt with here and there. But things started to go south when there were strings of murders in the big cities, and surveillance footage of the people murdered showed that they had willingly gone with strangers they didn't know. Arthur immediately knew that it had something to do with either his people, or the shifters. But he had such a tight control over the hunters, as well as their unrelenting loyalty, that he couldn't help but think that it was indeed the shifters that were behind it. 

He had conferred with Hazel, but she hadn't heard anything from her people. Still, Arthur was starting to feel like her control over the shifters was merely an illusion. Perhaps they wanted her to think they were loyal to her when they were out there committing crimes and murdering humans. That brought them closer and closer to being exposed to them, which didn't entirely seem like such a bad thing, if not for the fact that there were people like Kenneth Barnes out there. He was a scientist that had abducted both Dempsey and Harley in order to experiment on them and replicate their powers. Powers like the ones they had could be even more terrible in the wrong hands.

There was something every night on the news. Serial murders in Sydney, serial murders in Mexico City, Montreal, everywhere. Dozens of people were dying per week and no one really knew who was behind it. The police wanted answers and they were looking for someone to blame.

For at least two hundred years since the two species had been created, no one really believed in the supernatural. It was something they only saw in movies or television shows. No one believed that there were actual people out there who could control others with their minds, compelling them to do their bidding. No one thought that there would be people who could jump through dimensions and time, or who could see into the future by merely touching another person's skin. All of that seemed ridiculous, but it was real. 

Perhaps if people were to see the proof, they would start to believe it. But Arthur didn't want to find out. If there was one more thing to discuss at the next gathering, it would have to be to capture the shifters or hunters responsible for what was happening and bring them to justice. 

"The string of mysterious murders in Sydney have continued and the authorities are yet to identify a culprit. As a result, the mayor has issued a city wide curfew in the residential areas. More at 11pm." 

Arthur Vega heaved a frustrated sigh as he clicked out of a news bulletin video he had been watching. There were fifteen years of peace between both sides, which now felt a bit short lived. A part of him was certain it was the shifters who were doing this. But for his family's sake, he didn't want to accuse them blindly without having any proof. His beloved nephew Calum was a shifter. Michael's wife Hazel Quimby was a shifter. He didn't doubt that there were good people like them out there. But ever since their try for peace, he thought that maybe it hadn't worked out after all. He also didn't want to generalize or stereotype because he had been stereotyped all his life when he was growing up, and it had made him a bitter person. He didn't want to do the same thing to someone else who might be innocent.

There was a knock on the door to his office and he looked up to see Harleen pushing the door open slowly. She smiled at him brightly. Even after fifteen years of marriage, she was still as bubbly as ever and he still fell more in love with her with each passing day. Harleen had been a bit sad for Aaron because it had taken him so long to get over their relationship. But he had finally found a good woman to be with and the four even went on family outings with the kids together when they were in town.

Behind her, he could see the heads of their kids standing behind her. Kellin and Ivy were sixteen and Kellin looked so much like Aaron that it was uncanny. It was like he, Billy, and Kellin were triplets if they had been born at the same time. Ivy looked more like Harley and Harleen. But their personalities were opposite to the people they looked like. Kellin was more quiet and serious like his older sister Harley, while Ivy was more bubbly and peppy like her brother Billy. Then there was Bobby who was only fourteen, but he looked more like Arthur and his side of the family.

"We're heading over to Calum and Harley's place." Harleen informed him, which was his cue to get up and go with them. 

They still lived across the street from Harleen and Arthur, and they had their five kids. After Niall and Andrea got degrees and went into their respective fields, they bought a house on the same street. They were all neighbors now. Calum told them that they didn't have to move, but with such a big family like the one they had, Niall and Andrea thought it was necessary to move into a space of their own.

Arthur nodded and got up from his chair, joining them out in the hallway. Ivy immediately went to link arms with her father. Though he wasn't biologically her father, it sure felt that way to him. He was absolutely smitten with her and she with him. "So dad...aren't you forgetting something?" She grinned up at him, since he was much taller than her. 

"That's right. Just give me a moment to get it." Arthur mentally kicked himself for having forgotten their present and turned back to go towards the library when she reminded him. She then stopped him with a giggle escaping her lips.

Gesturing to the youngest brother walking in front of them with Harleen, Arthur noticed the black velvet gift box beneath his son's arm. "I told Bobby to grab it, since Kellin and I can't even lift it up." She frowned a little as she spoke. Arthur understood what she meant. As the biological children of Aaron Quinn, they didn't inherit any supernatural powers because the gene came from the father. That meant that though Harleen was a hunter, Aaron was human, and by consequence they were human as well. To a normal human, certain shifter or hunter items were far too heavy for them to carry.

The five of them left their house and made their way across the street to Harley and Calum's house.

Harleen rang the doorbell and Harley came to the door. She smiled wide when she saw her parents and her younger siblings at the door. Moments later, she was joined by Calum who had a ten year old Liesl in his arms. She was pretty small for a ten year old, but Harley warned him not to keep doing that because she wasn't a little girl anymore and she needed to get used to it. Nonetheless, Calum couldn't say no when his little girl asked to be carried around. 

"Its so great to see you all." Harley beamed, as though she hadn't seen them in a long time. She had seen them just that morning.

But in truth, as a marine biologist and as a full time hunter, sometimes she was out at sea for a few days at a time and didn't get to see her parents. Then there were her hunter duties which had her out of the country for a few days as well. Those were the most difficult since the kids had to stay behind because they had to go to school. But she and Arthur had talked a lot already about the future of her children. They were all growing old enough to be a part of the family business, and she wanted to have long talks with each of them to see how they felt about it.

She pulled each of them in for a hug as she led them inside the house. 

"Dio!" She called loudly into the house as her parents and younger siblings sat down in the living room. "Diego! Your grandparents are here!"

Her son Diego wasn't the only one who came downstairs after hearing that they had visitors. Twelve year old Narda came running down the stairs. The twins Hiram and Giorno who were almost fourteen were next, and last was Diego. 

They all said their hellos and waited a couple more minutes for the rest of the guests to arrive. Niall and Andrea came with their lovely daughter Saoirse who was fourteen years old. Michael and Hazel came over to visit with their two daughters--Daisy and Kristianne. Next were Paul and Dempsey. They had three kids of their own. Three boys--Mats, Toni, and Bastian. Dempsey was excited to visit her friends, especially because she said jokingly that back home she was always outnumbered as a woman. 

Once everyone arrived, they had a few games and activities for everyone. Diego invited some friends from school, a couple of his mates from the soccer team. Calum ad Harley had mind controlled them into leaving the party early because they knew Arthur had a surprise for Diego. It was his fifteenth birthday after all and it was the age the hunters had decided was proper to start their training.

When he was opening his presents, Harley instructed him to open the one from his grandparents last. When he finally got to it, he pulled the lid open to reveal a silver gun with his name engraved on the side. It was like the one he had seen his mother carry. Though he had never seen it up close and had never even touched it. Harley never let the children around it because it was a weapon and she didn't want them getting hurt. 

Diego sucked in a surprised breath.

"Its a symbol of what you were born to be." Arthur explained to him with all the wisdom and serenity in the world. "Its up to you if you'd like to become a hunter or not. The choice is yours. But you will have to sacrifice many things. You'll have to leave school, your family, and the outside world for two years."

"I'll do it." Diego replied without so much as a second thought. His parents had told him from the start what he was, why he could do the things he could do.

He was also told that one day he would have to make the choice. To become a hunter and uphold the family traditions, or to continue living his life like a human, and vow to never use his powers for anything bad. The choice was clear to him. He had been born an hunter, and a hunter he would continue to be. 

-

okay guys. 

this is another little peek into the future. so there are two more updates for this store. please stay tuned and keep commenting and voting. it really means the whole world to me.

no long author's note today because im kinda tired. i couldn't sleep last night. and then i waited for my crush after work because i didn't really want to go home. its hot af here in la and my job has ac. so honestly i was more compelled to stay in the building than go home after work right away.

thank you all for the support! it means a lot.

-clary