The night whispered a warm invitation, beckoning them to surrender to its embrace, even with the sun faded into the abyss that replaced it, the heat lingered.

There had been whisper from those in the community, for weeks now, whispers of the control that seemed to be slipping every day. Of course, they were right, but Levi planned to keep them out of it until he had the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the situation. He stood in his kitchen, his lips moving in the habit of talking to himself through the reflection of the dark window, or it would have seemed. He was cognizant of the fact that others had suspicions of a larger matter, his eyes locking onto another pair reflecting back as he spoke with growing haste.

It caused a sense of unease when he would speak to himself, an unsettling sensation spreading through the room, a chill up the spines of those who would listen, a 'please excuse me' as they make their ways to a safer spot to regain a sense of ease.

A nasty habit. One that Levi had no plans to abandon, not when he had so many words to say.

"Levi?" In the reflection of the dark window, his eyes left the other pair, and to the bright green ones, then back to the others, but they were now gone.

He straightened himself, pulling on a smile as he faced the young man. A love, one that a father might ever experience for his son, or so he assumed since he never had children of his own, washed over him. A comfortable warmth that kept Milo there with him, despite his own fears of what might transpire to him or, and perhaps more, what he would do.

"Yes, my son?"

Milo would avoid Levi when he would hear those whispers in a language that had died before he was even in the world. Everything had made him uncomfortable. Levi's soul work was expected to be feeble and his working capacity minimal, but he defied the odds and managed to connect with the deceased. He had no knowledge of any other worker who had the ability to carry out that type of work, therefore the only logical explanation was that he was either speaking to himself or he possessed more strength than he admitted. The fear of being controlled by Levi and not being present in the world had kept him away in the past. It was not until he was broken beyond repair, he dragged himself home, and there he stayed.

"He wasn't at his house." Milo made an effort to overcome that distressing sensation. "I doubt he had been there for a few days."

"Yes, as I feared." Levi turned back to the window. "We need a plan in place, Jason has been known to attack, and I sense that my chances are dwindling with him."

"I can check the other houses, I know you do not want them to know of his escape, but I can knock on the doors and ask about their supplies."

"We did that last week."

"You had Nya do it last week, I can say I'm double checking her work."

"Hey." Nya slipped into the room; her hands on her hips as she pouted. "I did a thorough job; they would be more suspicious that you waited a week."

"I was out of town on business, they are aware of that." Milo folded his own arms across his chest. "I can say I was busy until today to double check."

"Going out of town for a hook up, don't forget to mention that."

"Nya." Levi interrupts right before Milo is able to yell, his mouth open, the words on the tip of his tongue, his eyes find Levi, and he shuts his mouth. "Milo, now is not the time to argue. You can go and tell them that if you please, but make sure you are checking if Jason is there. They won't be hiding him, but he will probably..."

A powerful sensation seemed to burst from the night, making his head spin. He hunched over, gripping the sink to prevent himself from falling. It lasted a mere second, but it seemed interminable as he regained his breath. His eyes turn to the other two, Nya seemed to have lost her footing, as there, she was sitting on the ground, the arm of Milo around her, pulling her into where he kneeled, her forehead resting on the middle of his torso, his free hand on his head. They felt it too.

It took them a little longer to recover before Milo was helping Nya up and turning to Levi. "What in the hell was that?"

"I haven't got an idea." Levi looked back out the window with the impression that he had the ability to discern the cause of it.

Milo was aware that he was lying, he had experienced that once before.

But he doesn't push, not now that Nya was there. Later, when he got back. Now was not the time to get Levi alone.

"Okay." He threw the man a glance, one that conveyed that they were not done there, then to the girl. "Stay here, it's not safe out there right now, I'll be back soon, hopefully with Jason."

The heat reached out for him as he stepped out the door, wrapping him into the stillness. The hill remained silent without any wind. He was overcome by a fear reminiscent of his childhood, when Christianity was in its infancy, and he would venture out into the calm nights, sensing life fading away like a dying star. But he would see the proof of living life, a momentary relief until the next warm night.

It rung in ear there, millenniums later than his boots crunched up the gravel towards the nearest house, his heart racing, his mind telling him to turn around, go to Nya and make sure she was okay. But, on the outside, he remained composed, his hand lifted to the door.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Movement inside settled him, and the door was pulled open. A fresh wave of anxiety chilled him as Anya stood in the doorway. Her smile brought on a misery to him. "Milo, hello."

"Hi," His voice cracked slightly, and he cleared his throat just as Chester came to her side. "Hello. Nya was about last week checking on supplies."

He forced his eyes on Anya, he had fancied her a few years back, even extended to take her out. Milo would say he was a humble man, though humble men would not say that, and Milo was no exception. When she turned him down with a simple no, but thank you, he had a sense of being attractive, strong for a nonworker, and, above all, held a high status with the biggest names. Taken aback, he left without a word, something that, even there, embarrassed him. He had an aversion to being impolite to women, but his mind had suddenly become empty, and without any other solutions, vanished into the darkness.

She vanished the following night, leaving him in silence, and he realized his rudeness had driven her away. He made amends with it and moved on.

Until she was back.

A little over a week later.

With a mate.

Chester was not particularly attractive, he was dim, when asked a question, he would ask three more in its place, unable to understand what was needed of him, and more off, he would laugh at the most inopportune times. He would be there, in complete silence, others speaking softly, and he would burst out with a loud, obnoxious laugh.

Milo struggled to find a reason why the witty, strong, beautiful Anya would extract this from a nest and bring him into her home.

Except for the obvious.

He was a worker.

He was strong in his work of nature, nothing compared to that of some others Milo had crossed before, not even close to Quincy Keaton, but he could work. Milo was once told nature workers were on the same level as the nonworkers, something that had become clear to him as they were treated as so, but with their tranquil personalities, they let it roll from their shoulders.

"Yes, we were asked, and even got our supplies just a few days back. Thank her for us." Anya smiled.

"I will." Milo took a step back.

"Mys." Chester's unfortunate nickname for him stopped him from turning from them. "Did you sense that as well?"

Milo was aware that they must have experienced that sensation within themselves, but he deliberately shook his head. "What do you sense?"

"Nothing," Anya waved away Chester. "Nothing, he got dizzy, that's all."

"An, you said you..."

"Chester, can you go and set up a movie for us to watch, I'm in the war mood tonight."

"Oh, yes, I know the perfect movie!" He turned away, letting it leave his head, and headed deep into their home.

Anya shut the door, standing outside, and pressed her back against it, directing Milo a certain expression that she used when she became aware of his emotions, the expression that indicated she was about to ask for a favor. "Milo."

"I need to check on the others."

"The entire community likely sensed it, and I'm certain you did as well."

"I'm not sure what you speak of."

She pushed herself odd the door, now standing straight. "Milo, are you now lying?"

"No, no I'm not."

"Right, you're on his side."

"Anya, what in hells are you talking about?"

"Levi." That caught him off guard, and he faced her full on. "You cannot be that dense."

No, he was not. He had his suspicions about his father, beyond that of the strength of his work, it was a greater level. The lies, or more likely, the secrets. He had been lied to more than he would be proud of, but the secrets that had been kept from him burned an anger into him, another big reason he did not care to stay with Levi for lengthy periods, the biggest one if he were to be honest with himself. He always believed that numerous secrets were concealed from him and that he was likely being deceived. Milo would not be surprised if Levi, in fact, was aware of what the jolt was.

He was more surprised that the others were now aware of this. It should be, after all, Levi was known for his secrets, but he wished that they would remain in the dark of it, though as he looked at Anya, he figured they had known for a long time now.

"I..." He shook his head, looking down that hill, his mind with the others who would want answers too. "The truth is, I really don't know. I, too, am left in the dark."

Anya let out a long sigh. "You're just a dog to him, you know that, right? Nothing more than a pet than anything, and yet you blindly follow that man. I knew of you, back during the Great War, and imagine my disappointment to meet you."

It cut deep, but he refused to let it show. "Who I am now, and who I was before, does not matter."

"It does, it really does. You have no wiggle room; you need to be strong until the world swallows you up."

"Why?" He finally snapped, and Anya took a step back. Anger filled his veins, and yes, he wanted her to fear him, to see he was much more than the level she had set him at before. "Say it, tell me why?"

"It's... it's just that..." She forced her eyes on him, standing her own ground, though she refused to take that step back up. "You know why."

"Because I'm a nonworker? How pathetic. I am not defined by that, all you workers aren't as strong as you think. I have taken down the strongest workers with my own hands."

"We all knew you had help with a worker at that."

"How dare you?" He took a step forward, and she took one more back.

"I will report you." Her voice shook.

Milo pressed his palms against his face, holding back the explosion threatening to shimmer up behind him. He counted to ten, and when it still sat, he counted to ten again, then again before he could lower his hands, refusing to avert his eyes from her now. "I need to continue."

"I will tell them, all of them, of this, of the lies you are keeping." But her words caused no reaction as he continued his walk down. "We will be leaving tomorrow night."

That did stop him, to glance behind, to inform her that they would end up in a nest again. But she had already left, the door slamming shut before he had a chance to fully turn around. Fine, he thought, leave, but he stood there thinking of the lies he would have to tell every single person on the hill. No, he needed to clear his head before that. The woods behind the houses were so inviting, a cover, and when he came back up, he would check the other houses.

As the shade of the trees covered him, he was unaware of the coolness of the sultry summer night enveloping him. His steps were slow, the night quiet, and he finally experienced a sense of clarity in his thoughts. When he settled in New Hampshire, the one thing that he loved was the colors of the trees, especially the oaks. The scarlet oak spread across the area, but the hill only had one, the rest cut down and refurbished in making the community, and he had loved it since day one. That night, he plopped down in a crook between two roots and let his mind race.

What if the rest followed suit, they all refuse his explanation, just get up and leave? The possibility of everyone leaving and the community ceasing to exist was looming. He didn't care about that, as he looked down, his arms propped up on his legs, he had that itch to go too. He had been staying for a specific purpose, one that required him to feign concern, as the community could be dissolved by tomorrow.

In private he had spoken to Jude, a few years back, Jude had reached out, and Levi forbade it, but Milo took the bait. He experienced a mental exhaustion, completely depleted from pretending to be someone he wasn't, yearning for his freedom, his resilience, and authority over his own life. There, he should have known the true condition of the call, but he was too blinded by his own needs. He didn't see what was in front of him.

Bring the girl with, was the condition that snapped him out of it. The girl, the one he risked his life for, the one he would have died for that day.

Nya.

He would never admit, but he loved her, loved her more than any other woman in and out of his life, loved more than the stable relationships he had, more than he cherished any other kite, a love he only experienced when he was alive, the love he held for his own sisters. No, that's not true, he loved Nya more than his sisters, he loved her as an older brother would love and protect his younger sister.

But those words would never slip from his lips, not of the fear of a misunderstanding, but more of an understanding. He did hate her, that much was true as he went to retrieve her. All he saw was the potential strong worker, scared and worthless. A mind worker at that.

But no, it wasn't true, and time and time again, she proved him wrong. He wasn't sure when he realized he loved her as his sister, but it was not after three years.

A car pulled onto the street, turning his head towards the road.

The deep regret to push her ripped at him, made him sick, made him hate himself. He knew his decision was wrong before he even tried it, but he wanted to see for himself.

Footsteps moved from down a few houses over, and towards him.

Why did she have to be a mind worker?

Almost the same sensation crossed over him, bringing him to his feet.

She stood across the street, focused on her phone. He was sure she would pass on by, not notice the hill, but something tugged at him, and her face turned. Not on him, no, he was too far back in the trees, but up the hill. Without thinking, she crossed the street, and he couldn't help but take a few more steps down. Was she the reason for that reaction? Who the hell was she?

With her face against the fence, her eyes scanned the houses, counting, and he took one more step as the tugging pulled on him. But it was a mistake.

Her eyes caught him, and he thought of running to let her convince herself it was a trick of the light, but there he remained. What was it about her?

"Oh, uh, hi." She took a step back.

The pulling sensation alerted him, and he turned around, briefly considering the option of running, but no, he was Manius, he did not retreat from humans. Catching her face again, he seemed to relax, as if he knew it would be okay.

"I was trying to get cell service," She held up and shook her phone. "I didn't mean to be weird, it's you have a nice community, and I was caught off guard."

Did he speak? No, right? Was she aware of kites? Was she a hunter? He moved nearer, staying informed, but requiring understanding.

"Do you go to my high school?"

What? No. If she possessed the knowledge, she wouldn't ask ridiculous questions about them.

"Thea!" Another voice boomed from down the street, and once her eye contact left him, he was free. Without thinking, he turned and walked back into the shade, knowing she wouldn't be able to see him.

Thea? There is a chance that it is her name, but it is more probable that it is a nickname. Athena? Dorothea? Theodora. He was aware that it had to be, but as he ascends the hill it was not her name that affected him. He continued without pause, bypassing all the houses, without stopping to check in, he proceeded straight up to his destination, and forcefully pulled open the door, allowing it to slam shut behind him.

"Who the hell is the girl?"

"Girl?" Nya anxiously settled onto the couch, the TV blaring in the background, a comforting ritual she always turned to when consumed by fear. But Milo didn't even look at her, his eyes burned int Levi who stood at the table. "What girl?"

Levi was a master at lying, Milo thought, his work might not be of soul, but lying. He did not do the obvious signs, looking away, fumble with his hands, his voice maintained normal, no sort of stutter, he just looked to Milo as he did every day when he spoke. "I'm sorry, but what girl?"

But it lied in his eyes. Milo could see the lie just beyond reach. "The girl, Thea, I'm guessing they moved down the street in that empty house. Who the hell is she?"

"I was aware that a family was moving down there, the father having arrived last week, but other than that I am unfamiliar with who she is."

"We had that moment," Milo waved his hand back to the door. "They felt it too, Levi, do not tell me that was a coincidence."

"I am not making any such claim, but I agree it is something we are to investigate."

"How old was she?" Nya was now at Milo's side.

"What? How the hell would I know?"

Nya turned to Levi. "I have those classes with Charlie, I could compel her to have her bring her along." She turned to Milo, hand on her hip, attitude in her tone. "How old would you guess she was?"

"She's in high school, that much I do know."

"Perfect, I'll have Charlie look out for her. Are you sure her name was Thea?"

Milo glared at Levi before turning from that place, and left. Not his room, but the door down the tunnel to his shed. There he paced, and paced, and even paced some more. He heard Nya leave and consider going up to Levi and demand to be told what was going on. But once Nya closed the door as she arrived home again, and Milo had made no plans to go up there, he pulled out his phone. The action itself stopped him right in the middle of his pacing line, and he opened the contacts sat, two in total. One he pressed down on and pressed the phone to his ear.

"Hello?" It was not the voice he wanted.

"Where's Jude?"

"Who's Jude? I think you have the wrong number."

"Listen, I will come and hunt you down, rip your throat out of your mouth with my own hands. Get Jude on the phone."

"Ju-Jude." He cleared his throat to hide the fear in this voice. "Jude is away right now."

"Tell him to call Manius back." He pressed down on the hang up before giving the man a second talk. Briefly scanning downwards at the other number, the one he desired to call, an old friend, someone he had formerly mated with. He chose to let the screen fade to black, employing the past tense for a reason.