"And then," Emma laughed, "He charged down the stairs bellowing like a madman, and it was so hilarious because I'd dyed his hair bright green and his skin pink."

"Very funny," Alex grumbled. "Almost as funny as the look on your face when I replaced all of your clothes with pink dresses."

"Speaking of that, I still have yet to get back at you for that. Kendra, any ideas?" Emma asked.

They were lying on the roof of the house, after climbing out the attic window. Their bodies were tangled together as they watched the sky turn gold, pink and blue with the sunset. Alex and Emma were going on about their prank wars on each other, and it helped distract her from thinking about Seth.

Kendra smirked. "Oh, I have a few ideas in mind. After all, you can't grow up with a brother like Seth without learning a few things." With that, she leaned over and whispered something in Emma's ear.

Emma let out a loud laugh. "That would be amazing, Ken. You have the materials?"

Alex eyed the two warily. "What's going on?"

Emma gently patted him on the head, as if he were a small child who didn't understand. "You'll see Alex, one day, you'll see."

The girls laughed while Alex glared at them. "I swear to God, Kendra, please don't start another prank war. I think I had enough of that from Emma."

Kendra smirked evilly. This was why she was related to Seth. "It's on, Alexander, and the girls are teaming up," she mocked.

Alex clasped his hand over his heart dramatically in faked terror. "I'm so scared, please take mercy on this poor man here! I mean you no harm!"

Emma grinned. "Too late, Alex. You shouldn't have started this. Sweet things always have the darkest thoughts," She muttered, looking at Kendra.

"Sweet thing?" Kendra asked, one eyebrow raised, smiling slightly.

Alex leaned closer. "Haven't you noticed how you're so nice and kind and innocent? Or the way you seem to make people feel better just by being near them? Or the way you value their lives more than yours? Or the way you seem to draw people to you like a flame to a moth?" His blue eyes seemed to pierce Kendra. He leaned closer

And closer

And closer

And closer

Then fell.

He collapsed on the roof, but it being slanted, he started to roll off. Emma screamed in worry, and scrambled to grab a hold of him. She desperately latched on to his ankle with both hands, hooking her feet over the edge of the roof. Kendra slid down the roof until she was reaching the edge, balanced herself and began to haul Emma back onto the roof, using every ounce of strength and adrenaline she had in her.

"What happened to him?" Kendra asked worriedly, after she'd pulled both of them back up. Alex was laying spread-eagle on his back on the roof, a thin layer of sweat covering his forehead. He was pale and looked feverish.

Emma narrowed her eyes, examining him. "Shit. Shit, this is bad. He was poisoned. By a dart, in his neck. Get the others up here. Now!"

Kendra swung herself off the roof, dangling by her hands until her feet found perch on the attic windowsill. She climbed down recklessly, only having one hand clutching a support at a time. She slid inside the window, and charged down the attic stairs. "GRANDPA! GRANDMA! TANU! ANYONE!" She screamed, running through the halls to the study.

They were all in a meeting, and once they took in her flushed face, looks of worry came over them.

"What's wrong?" Grandma Sorenson asked.

Kendra gasped for breath. "Alex, we were on the roof, he was poisoned by something, he needs help!"

The adults jumped to their feets, grabbing their stuff. "Lead the way," Vanessa ordered.

Kendra hurried out into the hall and back up the attic stairs. When she reached the attic, she saw Emma climbing through the window with Alex slung over her shoulder. Emma carefully put him down on the bed. "He's been shot with a poisoned dart, in his neck, I don't know who or what shot him!" Her hands fluttered frantically, pushing Alec onto his side, exposing the left side of his neck, where a small feathered dot was embedded in his skin.

Vanessa walked forward, plucking it out of his neck. She brought it close to her eye, trying to identify the thick dark purple liquid on it. She brought it to her nose and sniffed. Vanessa's eyes widened. "This is not good. This is belladonna poison, mixed with hemlock and nightshade. Something else as well, I can't tell."

Tanu came forward, standing next to Vanessa. "That something else, is demon blood. Vanessa, do you have any creatures that could heal this? I don't have any antidotes to this, aside from temporarily slowing it."

"Do it, or he'll die!" Emma shrieked.

Tanu looked at her. "You understand, that if we give him this potion, he'll be in prolonged pain?"

Emma's face turned sad, but nodded. "It's better than him dying."

Tanu walked to where Alexander lay, opened his mouth, and poured a light silver concoction in his mouth.

"What do we do?" Kendra asked, panicking.

"None of us have anything to counteract the poison. We'll have to go out and see if any of the creatures have any idea on how to cure this --" Grandpa started, but was cut off.

"That won't be necessary." A new voice joined the cacophony of worried voices. It was light and female.

None of them had noticed the attic door opening.

And none of them had noticed the tall, lithe, pale and inhumanly beautiful woman standing in the doorway.

Everyone sprang into a defensive position. "What do you want?" Emma asked coldly, holding a dagger in each hand.

"There's no need for that." The woman waved a dismissive hand. "I'm merely here to help him."

"How did you get past the wards around this place?" Kendra asked warily.

"Old magic." The woman crossed her arms, shifting her weight. Her pale blonde hair fell in her eyes, and she irritatedly tucked it behind her ear. Only then did Kendra notice the ring of gold around her eyes.

"Lysandra. It's nice of you to finally show up," Emma snarled. "And what do you want with my brother? How do we know that this isn't a trick to just kill him? How do we know that you weren't the one who poisoned him in the first place?"

"The answer to that is simple." The woman gave a lazy smirk. "Why would I want to harm my own descendants?"