Valerie had disappeared into thin air. She hadn't come home or gone to the hospital this morning to treat her patients.

Darya was biting her nails, Valerie's disappearing being the only thing on her mind. Her grandmother shrugged her shoulders as she stood beside her. "She's probably just by the ocean again. Wouldn't be the first time she lost track of time."

She set a layer of seaweed on the bruised shoulder of the patient in front of them. The patient immediately quieted their whimpers.

Midsummer Night, the shortest night of the year, was quickly approaching, and Darya's cousin and a few patients had decided to celebrate it by putting up decorations all around the hospital. Blue, gold and white ribbons were placed everywhere; butterflies made by paper and a dash of magic flew in the air; sunflowers and flower crowns stood beside lit candles. The sun's warmth had given the Swans more strength to heal, sharing its wealth, and Darya felt her soul and heart glow.

Honey cake and pie were being baked, and a pair of younger patients were waiting outside the kitchen doors. She slipped past them and entered the large room.

Her aunt, who worked at the kitchen, greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. There were a great lot of chefs around her. After the Swans had begun assisting at St. Mungo's, they had convinced the people working there to hire witches and wizards, not house-elves, to make the food for the patients.

When her aunt had turned around, Darya managed to steal a plate with honey cake without her noticing. Hiding it behind her back, she made her way out again and set off toward the staircase.

Twisting the doorknob to the yellow door on floor three, she smiled wide. "Good morning, Amalia," she said gently.

However, her smile disappeared quickly. She bit the inside of her cheeks to keep quiet. Amalia was not alone. Beside her bed sat Riddle. Both of them were grinning, but his smile did not reach his eyes.

"Good morning, Darya," he said, turning to her.

Quickly, she put her plate aside. "You can't be in here, Mr. Riddle."

"Oh, don't mind me," he said with his sugar-sweet tone. "I was just visiting Amalia."

A horrible look spread on his face. He knew her patient's name. He had managed to get into her room. He must have given her a gift, for a new teddy bear was laying on her chest. Amalia's trust was not hard to earn, and it was obvious that Riddle wanted it. Why did he want it?

"Mr. Riddle..."

He shot out of his chair. "Alright."

A steady hand reached out to ruffle Amalia's hair, and the young girl giggled. Darya's stomach was doing somersaults. He could have strangled her right there. She knew he had the strength to do it. He probably wouldn't regret killing a vulnerable child.

Darya immediately stepped forward, ready to push him away. In response, he grabbed her arm. Suddenly, the world around her was made of flashing colors.

Everything was spinning, and she pressed out every cuss she could think of, desperately trying to jank her arm away from his grip. Her lunges squeezed, her heart and head throbbing, she realized that he was Apparating them far away from St. Mungo's Hospital.

Gradually, the smell of fish began to enclose her, and she could feel the sun burn the top of her head. In this heat, it wouldn't take long before sweat would be dripping. He finally let her go, and the flashing of colors stopped. Taking a step back to get away from him, she found herself stepping away from the ridge of rocks he was standing on, and onto sand. Her heels sunk deep into it while glossy eyes looked around. They were standing on a beach - not just any beach, but the one close to her home; the one her family spent their days by.

"Take me back," she whimpered, not even looking at him. He was standing behind her now, while she was looking around the beach. "Take me back to the hospital now."

"I want to speak with you," he answered calmly.

They were not alone. A group of sailors rested a few meters away, a larger sailboat stranded beside them. Their clothes were torn and soaked in water, and they sat there, ripping them away from their bodies. One of them, however, was sitting still, pointing a fat finger at her and Riddle. His eyes were wide and white. There was no doubt that he was a Muggle, terrified for what he had just seen: two people arriving there out of thin air. Sometimes Muggles would pass by the beach and manor, and the Swans would have to hide their magic.

Darya could hear Riddle jump from the rocks onto the sand. Slightly turning her head, she saw him walking to stand beside her, his hands dug deep into his pockets. "Good day, gentlemen," he said. "You alright there?"

Every sailor turned to them. She was startled by the sight. There were five of them and they all had cuts and blood on their faces.

"Aye," the one who had pointed his finger said. "But don't ye tell me-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Riddle had drawn his wand from his pocket and aimed it at the seamen. With a crooked smile on his face, he made them paralyzed before he deleted their memories.

Darya turned away. He continued to curse them for a few seconds. What he did, she did not know. She had never heard the Latin words he whispered. It must have been Dark Magic, and he said them so easily, curses were like a snake's venom flowing out of his mouth.

A wave crashed against the shore. Drops of water splashed up and stained her white dress. She could not Apparate away from him, but she could always swim. Not transform - she needed her mother's magic to do the Transfiguration properly - but she could still swim.

"I supposed you'd be better than me at handling sailors," he said, walking to stand beside her again.

"And why is that?" she tested him.

He let a wave reach his shoes. "Your grandmother, Ashera."

She almost jumped. "Riddle, please let me be. I don't understand what you want from me. If it is my powers that you want, you could have asked any other woman in my family for help. I'm not even as skilled as they. Why do you hunt me?"

Putting his wand back into his pocket, he began, "you are doubting yourself, Darya." She didn't like it when he used her first name. "I see something special in you."

Darya didn't look at him. She looked at the sea. It was navy blue today.

"I first read about your family fifteen years ago," he continued. "But it wasn't before I heard your name that I decided to seek a Swan."

"And now you want me to help you?"

"I think you have misunderstood my intentions, Darya. I want to help you. I can sense your need for significance, ambition, determination... And your blood is noble. I know you have already heard of me. You know what I do. Don't you think that if we work together, we can do great things?"

She took a moment to imagine how he would react if she answered his question honestly. He would probably be furious. He was trying to manipulate her - that was clear. With his looks and charms, he was presumably used to fool everyone and get whatever he wanted. However, she wouldn't let herself fall for his lies. She cared for those he had hurt. He disgusted her. But she could not show that disgust. He would do whatever it took to break her if she did. He would hurt her. Or worse: hurt Amalia.

"You said you'd let me think about your proposal," Darya whispered to him.

"And think you have done," he said. "You still haven't said 'no' because you know deep down that we are unstoppable together."

What did he want her to do? Heal his soldiers?

"I'll give you more time to think." She looked at him while he spoke. "But first, I wish to show you what your future could look like." He showed little emotion. "Did you receive my gift yesterday?"

"It was you!" she cried out. The dress had not been Valerie's.

"Did you like it?"

Looking down, she chose that she didn't want to give him the satisfaction her yes would give him. "What would I need it for?"

He turned to stare out at the sea. "You'll wear it tonight."