*this chapter will contain moon knight spoilers of episode 2*

Lucia Castro hated events, she didn't like the crowds, she didn't like being there faking smiles as she heard stories of psychologists bragging about their research or even witness their loud baldy talks about their patients. The only good thing she could find was the idea of dressing up, looking glamorous and even more gorgeous, but even that had its own uncomfortable moments. Her body was dressed with a silk satin dark green gown, her dark wavy hair had been styled down and the accessories were minor but enough to make the look feel complete to her.

"No, thank you." Lucia smiled at the gentleman who kept on bugging her about getting her a drink, and this was already the fifth time she declined.

The event was a fundraiser to help Doctors find a cure for a disease Lucia couldn't pronounce, and the invitation went to every known Doctor and psychologist, Lucia was actually surprised when she took the invite out of her mail. Even though she didn't enjoy the events, she liked the idea of helping, and even though she wasn't a millionaire compared to the rest here, she could give something.

Michael should've been her date, he should be here guarding her against the drunk men who wanted her for something else outside work. He should be here to have someone to talk to at least and have a bit of a laugh, but she hadn't gotten a plus one on her invite.

"Lucia, my darling." A tall woman made her way towards her, she recognized her beautiful orange tone hair, her body beautifully coordinated with the red tight dress around her, the glowing skin she sort of envy.

"Oh, Mrs. Johnson, nice to see you again." Lucia left a sigh feeling her body relax.

"No Mrs. Johnson, you know what to call me." She said, her arms wrapping around Lucia's skin embracing her gently. "Johnson is my husband, and even though this is his event, I am my own person."

"I'm sorry, Pamela. You organized this?" She asked, taking a sip from the champagne in her hand.

"Yes, I had some help but it was mostly all of my ideas used here." She said proudly looking around the venue. The gorgeous glowing lights and golden colors decorated the place, yellow and black balloons on the roof and decorated perfectly on pillars made the place look rich, or at least richer.

"How did you manage? I mean, are you still with the therapies?" Lucia was surprised when the older woman said yes. "My respects completely to you."

"Thank You, my sweetie, I can't believe how you've grown, it seems like it was yesterday when you were my assistant and now, you are the one giving sessions," Pamela said linking her arm with Lucy's tanned skin. "I've done my research and, have heard amazing things of you, I am so happy."

Lucia was glad to know that her teacher and the person who was willing to give her a job had heard good things and felt proud of her, she knew she was doing a good job, she just needed to hear it from someone whose words would actually mean something.

"I hope you don't mind but I would love your opinion on a patient of mine?" Lucia gently pulled Pamela away from the crowd, knowing that people were around and she didn't want someone to hear, someone who probably might know about Steven.

"Of course, are they an attractive patient who seems to catch your eye?" Pamela joked bumping her arm gently.

"He's kinda cute but you know Pam about—"

"I know, but it is not a sin to look, it is unethical and a sin to actually do something with them, like my husband who is banging his assistant nurse." Her voice said it with such calmness as if were something so normal, but Lucia wasn't going to talk about that, at least not here. "So, tell me, what can I help you with?"

With a deep breath, the young woman stopped her walking, they were far from the crowd near the entrance where the only few people weren't as near, choosing her words carefully trying to not give away any personal information and only focusing on the diagnosis.

"I have this patient who came in for an amnesia case, or that is how we first saw it, but then he mentioned vivid dreams, or that is what I thought, we only had three sessions, I made my research to come to a faint conclusion of Night Terrors and Sleep Arousal Disorder, and are vivid dreams part of this? I know that this disorder can take a maximum of an hour away from your living state, but my patient has told me he has missed days even." Her eyes looked around trying to make sure no one was listening to her conversation or trying to get close to her.

"How many days are we talking about?" Pamela asked, crossing her arms over her chest, the glass of champagne empty now as she had drunk while Lucia spoke.

"He gave an example of a dental appointment, he had scheduled it on Tuesday and when he got there, it was already Saturday."

Pamela sighed looking away, her focus on the wall, seemingly thinking about an answer to give the brunette, only Lucia had her mind with too many thoughts and the only thing that calmed her down was the alcohol in her hand too.

"Have you tried contacting him?" A nod from the woman was given. "No answer?" A shaking head now. "I suggest you try calling him tomorrow, if he doesn't answer, wait a few days, he might come around thinking the day of the appointment when it's not, like the dentist appointment, I would try an MRI scan, and to keep the sessions going, just to see if his brain is okay, that nothing is an obstacle of his memory."

Lucia felt a sense of peace with the answer she had suggested she should try, she closed her eyes letting a small chuckle escape her red lips, looking up at Pamela, she mimicked her smile.

"I can't thank you enough for this, I can't believe I haven't thought of it, my brain really imagined the worst-case scenarios."

"I know, but trust me, if something had happened, you would've found out. Now, let's go back to the event and drink some more of this delicious champagne." Linking her arm again, the red-head was ready to walk away with Lucia, the case was that she didn't move.

"I am actually going home Pam, you know I don't enjoy the crowds, and I want to go home." Lucia added, putting the empty glass on a counter near the door, she hugged the woman and waved goodbye, ignoring the fact it was barely eleven at night, but she really wanted to go home.

The streets of London were already breezy, regretting not bringing a jacket, Lucia hugged her arms, making her way to the corner waiting for the bus to arrive and take her home. She received few looks from everyone inside the bus when it got there, women either judging her or looking at her with awe at the dress, while men looked at her if she were dessert.

Three stops were all she had to endure to get home, taking a spot on the left side of the bus, she glanced outside the window, seeing the city coming to life with people and tourists the city she learned to love with all of her heart and wasn't planning on leaving any time soon.

Lucia ignored the few comments that were made about her aspect, focusing completely on her phone, scrolling through social media and her emails, the second stop she looked up, noticing that everyone was seeing a scene outside, following the same gaze, she could see a drunk man moving side to side throwing punches in white attire, the scene he was doing was actually funny.

He seemed to fight something or someone that clearly wasn't there, opening her camera app, Lucia focused on the guy, wanting to take a picture of it, it was too funny not to capture it and tell Michael tomorrow morning, seeing the photo she hadn't notice that the man had been thrown close to her side, that was until she heard a car honk loudly.

He kept on fighting whatever was standing in front of him, Lucia backed away to the other side but never took her eyes away from the scene.

"And that is why honey, you shouldn't do drugs." A woman said down to her child, Lucia only scoffed at the comment she just did.

When things couldn't get any weirder, the man was thrown and pushed to the window Lucia was just sitting near, thrown about four times until he was given a moment of peace, ready to fight the man was run over, but the damage on the vehicle made no sense.

"Shouldn't someone call emergency services?" Lucia asked turning to look at the bus driver, a few people were agreeing with her, just that no one did it. The crowd got closer to the window, everyone peeking at the man who slowly got up, his hand pounding loudly on the window, the crowd gasped and backed up.

The man in front of the bus was the only person Lucia never imagined seeing, the scruffy messy hair, the lost puppy brown eyes. The one and only, Steven Grant. Noticing he wasn't aware of the crowd, it seemed that he was talking to his reflection, it even seemed that he was agreeing with his reflection on something, lifting his head up Lucia saw how his appearance was shifting slowly, his eyes changed to a glowing white tone, turning around a white attire, cape, and hoodie over his body.

"Excuse me, I need to get out." Lucia pushed through the people, her heart racing at the image of Steven just completely changing in front of them into a new person. "Steven?" She called out, ignored by the man she saw how he was focused on something, she couldn't see what it was.

"Get it out of here." A woman said on the other side of the street, she was talking to Steven, maybe she could see whatever it was, her eyes followed Steven running away jumping over a vehicle, and whatever was following him even left its trace.

"You got to be kidding me." Lucia whispered, taking her heels off she followed along running behind Steven, she had no idea why she was doing this, but her brain just acted and took control over her.

She saw how he was crawling over to the roof, jumping from one to another, and this was the moment Lucia thanked she took track in high school, her legs burning with every impact she took on the pavement, her strides were long and fast, her eyes looking up following the white cape with every jump over the roof, she excused herself whenever she bumped into someone but she always followed Steven.

Lucia Castro should've stayed on the bus, she could've called Steven the next morning, but she had to be curious. Now, she was following and perhaps putting her life in danger as she was going in blind.

Coming to a halt when she saw Steven on the floor, her eyes followed to notice a creature impaled on a fountain and then disappeared like dust. She hid behind a wall, keeping her contact with what was happening only to notice the white attire vanish and bringing back Steven's presence.

"Shit." He exclaimed loudly falling to his knees after searching his coat for something.

Lucia was smart right now on deciding not to move to stay hidden, she saw how Steven was talking to his reflection, giving him words of comfort, and how his British accent was no longer there. She wanted to understand what was happening but there was no context and all was new to her, her eyes followed his movements, how he stood up and passed his hands through his hair and face, how he looked back at the reflection.

"We've always managed to keep a wall between us, but something's changed. The one who controls the body has become stronger."

"Control the body?" Lucia whispered looking down, her mind creating theories of what he was talking about. She kept on listening to his words hoping to pick something up, wishing she could see or hear what or with who he was talking.

"Look, when I am done, when I repay my debt, I swear to you, you will never see me or hear from me again. I promise you. We wouldn't be alive if it weren't for Khonshu. And my servitude is the price that I pay. "It's the one that covers me in blood."

Lucia could've run away right now, she could've walked away or called the police, but she didn't dare to move a muscle, a part of her was terrified he would find her and harm her, the other side wanted to help and hear him.

"I did not, I am protecting her. You don't know what you're talking about." A change in his tone was now showing signs of anger, but the thing that was more of her attention was when he said her. Lucia didn't imagine he was talking about her, but, someone else, someone who could be in danger. "No you did not, Khonshu has his eyes on her, he wants her as my replacement, and I'm never gonna let that happen."

The argument kept on getting higher and it seemed to escalate quickly, the loud bell rang over them, and the plain sound managed to drive Steven to the edge kicking the glass so many times shattering it and looking at the broken reflection, the wind picking up his pace sent shiver down her bareback, and Lucia didn't think about waiting anymore.

"Steven?" Daring to walk out, Lucia appeared to the light, walking behind and closer to the frustrated man. "Are you okay?" She asked with her voice lowering her volume, she noticed how his body posture changed, his back straightening at the sound of her voice.

"I am not Steven." Turning around, Lucia could see his face, there was a hint of confidence that Steven didn't have, his voice was his but not really. "You just be Dr. Castro, nice to finally meet you."

"I'm sorry, who are you?" The brunette asked leaning forward trying to identify something different but couldn't find anything.

"My name is Marc Spector, at your service." He said glancing at the woman, his hand stretched out but not taken by the brunette.

"Was Steven just an act?"

"Not at all, Steven exists, just that he's not here right now." Marc spoke up, his words were clear and he didn't mumble as Steven did.

"Wait a minute, Steven has amnesia, right? I am not going insane, he has a sleeping disorder." Lucia tried connecting dots here and there until it clicked. "Oh god, this is a personality thing, that makes more sense actually. Oh, did you kill that animal back there? Did I just witness a murder?" Lucia was starting to feel her heart beating faster, her breathing getting heavier, and her mouth getting dry. There were too many things happening all at once, the feeling of going insane started happening, the panic powering over her body now.

"You didn't witness anything, Dr. Castro, let me explain." Marc stepped closer to her, however, the woman didn't notice it, her panic kept on getting stronger. "I need you to breathe and calm down," Marc said his voice sweet and calm unlike Lucia's. "Lucia." He said, his hands touching her cheeks and moving her head gently so her eyes could focus on his. "Breathe."

Her body had tended up with his touch, even though she exhaled the air from her lips, her body didn't relax, her muscles strained to fight the urge to give up. She glanced back, seeing the same brown eyes, these weren't lost like the ones she first saw, they had confidence and security written all over, a new personality.

"She's Lucia Castro, Steven's psychologist," Marc said, his words weren't directed to Lucia, he was talking like someone else was there, but his eyes never left her gaze. "And I am sorry he wasn't on his session yesterday afternoon, I had something to do and I took control over him, I apologize." Now, this was a message to her.

"Are you talking to Steven?" He shook his head in response. "Is he okay?" Another shake. "Is he in trouble?" A nod was given. "Oh, god."

"Don't you worry Lucia, I am here to protect Steven from any harm, but right now, I need to get you home, I don't want you to be in danger because of this conversation." Marc's hands left her face, his attention looking up towards the moon, or at least that is what it looked like to Lucia. "We'll find the scarab." He said and after a pause, someone was talking to him. "Then we'll find another way, we'll get to Ammit's tomb first." A sigh left his lips as he glanced down. "I'll do whatever it takes then."

Lucia looked from him to in front of him, trying to understand what was happening around her, just that, nothing made sense anymore, or at least that is how she felt. She kept on listening, not because she wanted to, but because she had nothing else to hear, there was a deal made, and from what she knew as a child is to never make a deal with the devil if she could call it like that to him.

"Where are we going?" Marc asked and stepping aside his eyes looked up following a breeze. "Let me take Lucia to her place, make sure she gets there safely, it's the least I can do, Steven will need her."

"Need me? Why need me?" There was more confusion added to her poor body already, her whole diagnosis on Steven had changed and now she was interacting with the new personality, the one who just said Steven might need her, and she wasn't gonna lie, she was scared to know how or for what was the case.

"He will need a friend in these desperate times, someone who can try and keep him sane, maybe he might need his psychologist back, or if you can't take it, I understand, but a friend would be good." Marc followed the young woman back to the streets, his hand stretched out as a cab got close to them. "After you." He added and got after Lucia.

"Where to on this fine evening?" The driver asked looking at the pair. Lucia gave him the address and tried to calm her nervous shaking hands.

"So, the note that said my office address, was that you?" She questioned, Marc, nodded his head at her, his lips pressed together looking out the window. "Why?"

"I wanted Steven to feel like he had something instead of finding out the truth, I wanted him to be safe, he got too curious and what you witnessed well, that is the start only, Steven is in danger, all I want is to keep control over him, safe, alive and hopefully when this is done, he can have a normal life."

"Do you care about Steven, Marc?"

"I do, he is a good person who sadly is living through hard times." Marc looked back at the brunette, the rest of the ride was quiet, the street lamps shined their way to Lucia's place, and after paying for it, the pair thanked the driver.

"Do you want to drink something? I think that I can do that after your fight and as a way to thank you?" Lucia unlocked the front door of the building letting Marc inside. "Also I kinda want to have someone look around if someone is in my apartment, you already scared me with the whole following me home to make sure I got there safe." Lucia chuckled as she walked to the elevator, clicking her floor number, Marc was quiet and all he did was look around, a few comments to his side probably speaking to another personality she hasn't met.

Her apartment had all lights off, welcomed by the familiar floral scent of her candles, shining the room turning on the lights, Lucia hurried to the kitchen, opening a cabinet and pulling two glasses out, filling one with water and the other with wine she had bought two days ago from the fridge.

"I hope you don't mind I pick another type of venom." She chuckled pouring the clear liquid for Marc and the red tint for her.

"I don't mind at all, I actually imagine that could be useful, as, for your place, it is safe." Marc grabbed the glass, and with one long gulp, the full liquid on the glass was gone in a blink. "I apologize again for the inconvenience that occurred tonight, from your attire you either came from a fun night out." Lucia had forgotten she was wearing a dress a bit too revealing.

"Not at all, I was at an event where nothing interesting was happening." Her lips touched the alcohol, its scent already making her feel dizzy. "I think it would be appropriate to be friends with Steven, he will clearly need someone who he can pour his feelings out." Marc's face seemed to light up at her words, a smile appeared on his face, a grin that Lucia wouldn't lie, she kinda found cute.

"Yeah, I will let him know about it if you don't mind. I thank you for the drink, you are taking this very well too, it is kind of scary if I can say." Marc left the glass on the kitchen counter, ready to walk out her apartment.

"Oh, believe me, I am freaking out on the inside, might actually finish this bottle of wine on my own." Lucia chuckled and followed Marc to her door.

"Can you tell Steven to call me whenever he has a chance, outside from being his psychologist before, I am actually worried about his feelings, I don't want him to go off the edge, I wouldn't be able to lose another patient." Her words were whispers, but Marc was able to listen to her soft-spoken voice.

"I am sorry for your loss, I promise to keep Steven alive so that you two can start a friendship. Have a nice night Lucia, hope o see you again." Marc waved him goodbye and left her apartment, the brunette closed the door heading to the kitchen pouring the rest of her wine, making sure she finished it until the very last drop, not caring if she ended up with a migraine the next day.

Lucia didn't remember how she got out of her outfit and into her comfiest clothing the next morning, she did wake up with a throbbing head, nothing a few pills couldn't take care of. She only had two appointments today, that was all she needed, she could later come home and rest while watching badly rom-com movies and drinking liters of water, until then, she dressed up formally and tried to look alive.

"Morning Lucy, I tried calling you yesterday but I had forgotten you have the fundraiser, someone called urgently asking for a session, a son with his father, they said it was urgent, the son cannot stand his dad after the six marriage and he wants the old man to get it together or retirement home." Her assistant Chloe said leaning forward, whispering the words.

"Is he here right now?" Lucia asked a bit annoyed, she wasn't expecting someone this early, she hoped she could have a peaceful morning. "Did they complete the information board?"

"Only some, the son, Ronald was signing it until his father came and literally pulled him into your office, they are inside right now."

"Thank you, I'll take care of it now, you look nice today Chloe." The small compliment made the young girl smile and returned back to her work. "Morning Ronald and Ronald's dad, my name is Lucia, what seems to be the problem?" She faked her most gentle voice as she walked into her office, noticing only one figure seating across her office table.

"Beautiful office you have here Doctor Castro." A masculine voice said, turning around Lucia saw the older man walking around, gripping tightly a crane that was helping him balance his body as he walked. "Everything is so, white and black." He turned to look at her, his smile was scary to Lucia, something about him didn't give her a feeling of safety.

His son stood up, heading towards the door to close it, and that small action had the brunette gripping the clipboard in her hands tight, the older man limped his way close to the woman, his eyes looking around to every single aspect of the room.

"I know that you've met Marc Spector and that you were Steven Grant's psychologist, so you must know where are they hiding." His cold blue eyes looked at her, his face turned serious and she noticed that he wasn't going to take her real answer, but at least she could try.

"I am sorry, but I just met Marc last night and as for personal information, I cannot share them with anyone." She could feel her saliva down her throat so hard and slowly moving down.

"Well, if you cannot tell me, I will still need you, you must be bait, at least one of those two has a sensitive spot for you." Walking away from her, Lucia's face stiffened, and tried to understand what he was talking about.

"I am sorry, bait? I don't need to be part of anything you are planning sir, if you could just leave—" A sharp pain hit her right in the back of her neck, her vision blurred and the words from her mouth were not understandable, until everything turned pitch black.

authors note!!

this is my longest chapter and I love it that all bye!