Shaylee was on Calador's back, arms and legs laced around his waist and neck. She wanted to vomit, very badly. He ran at least twelve times faster than Cooper, and it made her queasy in the stomach. Ryder and Vlarissa had teleported, but Calador had grabbed her before she could go with them. 'We'll get there faster.' He had claimed, 'Besides we can be on the lookout for any- unexpected guests... we don't want those teleporting cheaters to get ambushed. Now do we?' It made sense, doesn't mean she had to like it. 

They were in the familiar clearing that was used for the training sessions. Almost everyone was there, standing around anxiously. Shaylee slid off of Calador's back, and was about to slide onto the floor, when Calvin put an arm around her to hold her up. Her eyes scanned the scene. Penterghast was on the floor, bound to a tree by flaming, purple and green light. It was Ryder's and Calvin's light, she'd concluded. He looked to be knocked out, his head was rolled to the side and resting on his left shoulder. Tom looked to be crying, a slither of tears were streaming down his cheeks. "Tom? Are you okay?" Was the first thing Shaylee managed to say, but then closed her mouth and swallowed rising reflux.

Tom sniffled, waving his hands in front of his face. "Oh yeah, fine. I just had a mint flavoured gum, and now it hurts to blink." Isabella couldn't help but snort, even Ember had to hold back her laughter. Ryder and Vlarissa appeared out of thin air, instantly Vlarissa's eyes narrowed. "Uhm, are we going to talk about the unconscious shadower, that's bound to the tree?"

"Hadn't noticed him." Cooper grumbled.

Calvin rocked back and forth on his heels, "I- I notified the Thorn's..."

Vlarissa's eyes widened, a small gasp escaping her lips. "The Thorn's? But why Calv!? We can handle this on our own."

"No we can't." Melvin interjected, his body pearly white. "This is bigger than all of us, V."

Shaylee turned to Calvin, her voice lowering although everyone would be able to hear her anyways. "Who are 'the Thorn's'?" She asked, watching as Calvin's green eyes drifted down to meet hers.

Calvin let out a long breath, "The Thorn's are a family of 'tribrids' underworlders, who possess three, instead of two, supernatural species. They are the only tribrid family in existence, and they're the most powerful supernatural beings there are. They're genetically Wolf-locks, and Witch-Wolf's, the name speaks for itself." He paused, as a sudden gust of wind flew past them at rapid speed. Goosebumps began to form on Shaylee's exposed skin, with her hair standing up on end. 

"But they were turned into Vampires." As if on cue, another big gust of wind blew in their direction. Making everyone except the River's stumble, and almost fall over. Calador chuckled, helping Casey to his feet. "I love being able to be as still as stone." He commented, as Casey grumbled from the back of his pants being wet from rain water residue.

In an instant three figures appeared in front of them. The first was a man, with broad shoulders and muscular arms. He had long, brunette hair that stretched past his ears and was lightly tousled from the wind. Despite his intimidating physique, he wore a broad smile which showed off his perfect pearls, his brown eyes radiating kindness.

Beside him was a tall, rather lanky man. With blonde hair, that seemed to be thinning. His eyes were a pale blue, and honestly they seemed quite haunted in Shaylee's opinion. He had a beer in one hand, and used his other to balance a small boy on his hip. He had a silver chain dangling from his neck, which had two 'dog tags' hanging from them. Worn tattoos coated his thin arms, and Shaylee noticed a beer stain visible on his grey tank top.

The boy was small, with rather lanky, dangly legs. His eyes were like ones of a doe, they were large, expressive and a deep muddy brown. His hair was the same shade of deep brown as his eyes, his expression looked to be mixed with curiosity, and fear.

The broad man was the first to speak, "Ryder! Haven't seen you since 1918! how're you?" He grinned, moving towards Ryder and engulfing him into a bone crushing hug. Ryder was bent at quite a weird angle, and it looked as though he was struggling to breathe. But Ryder grinned anyway, "Good. How about you Colonious?" The pair pulled away, with Colonious towering over Ryder. A sigh escaped Colonious' lips, and he ran a hand through his luscious locks. "Veloce, has got himself a new 'squeeze'" He paused, "He was very open to her, and guess what? Now she wants to be 'one of us'."

Ryder grimaced, "A vampire?" Colonious nodded, a deep sigh escaping his lips. Cooper and Calador sauntered up to Colonious, "Cooper? Calador? Woah, you guys have changed quite a bit." He gives the brother's both a one-armed hug. "Calador, you're looking good. Haven't seen you since the war."

"War?" Shaylee asked, clueless.

Melvin chuckled, his colour changing to orange. "They mean World War One." Her eyes widened, and she eyed the mysterious, broad shouldered man. "You fought in the war?" Colonious eyes drifted to Shaylee, "Yep. Ryder, Calador and I. Luther fought too," He turned towards the lanky man with a weak smile, "We only fought the first one. Luther did them both." Now that Shaylee could hear him clearer, his accent sounded a mix between Texan and Australian.

Luther stepped forward, setting the small boy down. Luther took a deep swing of his beer, "Yep." Was all he said, before taking another swing. "Greatest thing I ever did, also my biggest regret." His voice trailed off, and the small boy put a tiny hand on his lower arm. The boy turned to Shaylee with a calculating look, "I'm Michael." He said softly, his hand falling from his brother's arm. Michael stared at her for a moment, eyes searching hers. "You feel very anxious." It was more of a comment, than a rhetorical question. He gave her a weak smile, and almost instantly Shaylee's anxiousness began to numb down and slowly fade. It was like someone had turned a dial in her brain, now all she felt was fine.

Shaylee gave him a confused, yet amazed look. "Did you- what?" Michael let out a singular laugh, a light blush sweeping his cheeks. "I can numb, sense and control emotions. It's my specialty." At his words Shaylee grinned, it sounded like a cool ability but also very scary at the same time. Vlarissa huffed, making the three vampire brother's eye her. "Not to break up this cute reunion or anything," Her eyes drifted to the unconscious Penterghast. "We have a problem." Colonious' brows furrowed, as he followed her gaze. Upon seeing Penterghast's state, Luther let out a roaring laugh and chugged a mouthful of beer. "One of her minions?" He asked rhetorically, projecting beer onto the grass. Michael outstretched his hands, his eyes fluttering shut. "He feels determined. Like he's on a mission." He concluded, letting his hands fall to his sides.

Colonious grimaced, and let out a sigh. "What happened?" His eyes flickered between a serious looking Ryder, and a proud looking Calvin.

Isabella emerged from a shadowy corner, with Casey planted at her side. "Sorry Mr Thorn," She started looking between the three of them. "We were out here, just taking in the scenery. You know? Stargazing." She paused, letting out a ragged breath. "He came out of nowhere! Attacked us! Tried to sweep us away in his shadow form. Casey fought him off... whacked him with a falling tree branch." Casey blushed, "Then we called Ryder, and Calvin. They came to help us." Ember cleared her throat, eyes narrowing at Isabella. "Oh! Ember and Melvin came too." Ember's eyes rolled, and she crossed her arms across her chest. "They bound his unconscious body to the tree, just in case he were to wake up and try to escape."

Colonious nodded feebly at her explanation, "Well, I'm glad you're all okay."

Luther edged closer to Penterghast's body, and outstretched his hand as if to touch the light. Luther yelped, and jumped back, blowing on his stinging hand rapidly. "Well. Good news, he won't get out of that." His eyes narrowed at Ryder, and Calvin as if it were their fault his hand was burnt. "Bad news, what do we do with him once he wakes up? Interrogate him?"

"That's the plan." Felix muttered, his expression as sour as always.

Ryan sighed, rubbing his temples. "Let's hope he wakes up soon."

Indeed he did wake up 'soon', around five minutes later of stressing Penterghast's eyes began to flutter open. As soon as his eyes were open, Cooper lent down into his face. "Missed me?" He spat into his face. Penterghast jolted, and thrashed around harshly. His eyes travelled down to the purple-green light that held him against the tree. 

Ryder and Colonious appeared beside Cooper, "You have some explaining to do." Ryder spoke sharply, arms crossing over his chest.

"Un-bind me, first." Penterghast demanded, thrashing around again.

Vlarissa scoffed, "No. You answer our questions, and we'll decide what to do with you."

An eerie silence settled over the group that stood anxiously in the field. Tom let out a soft breath, eyes still watering. "Why were you after Isabella and Casey?" When Penterghast didn't answer, Cooper began to grow enraged. "Answer the question." He started to flash in and out of visibility. But Penterghast was still silent as a mouse, his eyes narrowed. Ember huffed, jogged over and launched her fist back. Her hand collided with Penterghast's nose, making the shadower let out a loud grunt. "Why were you after them!?" Ember demanded, face only inches from his. Shaylee couldn't deny it, Ember was quite good at interrogating. Penterghast huffed, blood dripping from his nose and sliding to his lips. Penterghast grunted, "They're halfies? Are they not?"

"T-that's no excuse." Shaylee piped up, making Penterghast's eyes flicker to her. A cocky smile fluttered across his lips, "It's my whole mission."

"Mission?" Calador asked with a scoff.

Penterghast eyed him, "You'd know. Wouldn't you Rivers?" Calador's face went stiff, "You killed most of her 'minions' at Drake Bay only a while ago."

"We were ambushed!" Ryder interjected.

Penterghast's smile was an evil smirk now, "Does that make killing better?"

A scoff arose from somewhere in the shadows, emerging from the shadows was Antonioette Armani. "And hunting children is better than killing a few nameless, fae's and shadowers?" Although still high, her aunt seemed more composed now. Penterghast's face contorted in a frown, "They killed many of my people."

Antonioette closed the distance between them in one quick red light, "And you've killed many halfies, no?" Penterghast lunged his head forward, but Antionette didn't even flinch in the slightest. Instead she lent into his face tauntingly, "Why are you after us? After us in particular?"

When Penterghast didn't answer, Ember raised her fist again making the shadower's eyes widen. "I was told to hunt you. To eliminate the half-bloods of your little 'community'."

Luther took a deep swing, "But why are you eliminating halfies anyways?"

Penterghast spluttered upon realising who spoke, "Uh- erm- Mr T-Thorn." He spotted Michael and Colonious, his eyes visibly widening. "S-she wouldn't dare come after y-you. Shadowers h-honour."

Michael's eyes narrowed, "We gathered Penterghast." He spoke sharply, "Nor do we care what Provence Cytheris claims she will or will not do to us. We want to know why Provence is doing all this."

Penterghast shrugged, "Blood purity? Power?"

Ryder lent in closer to his face, "I swear I don't know! Please, I beg you. Let me go. I promise, I won't bother you again." Penterghast pleaded, locking eyes with everyone in the field.

"Why should we?" A member of Ryan's pack spoke up, "How do we know you won't come after us again?" Shaylee eyed the boy that spoke up, he was dark skinned, with raven, straight hair.

"We could make a binding promise." Antionette smirked.

Penterghast's eyes widened, but Vlarissa nodded in agreement. "Yes, we'll make a binding promise." She turned to her brother's who gave her unsure looks, "Ryder, Calvin. Let him go." Calvin looked as though he was about to protest, but Vlarissa gave him a deathly glare. Ryder and Calvin sighed, and outstretched their hands.

Shaylee watched on in wonder, as the light flowed off of Penterghast and streamed back into their hands. Penterghast fell face first onto the floor with a thump, he let out a heaving groan. Ember, and Cooper swiftly pulled him up by the arms and held him tight. Vlarissa stepped up to him, her hand in a handshaking position. Ember wrenched one of his hands from behind his back, and yanked it out in front of him. 

Antonioette stepped across from them, her hands placed on theirs. "Penterghast," Her aunts menacing eyes flickered to him. "Do you swear on your life?" She drew the last two words out. "That you will refrain from hunting any half-bloods, in Esoteric. If you break this promise your heart will stop, and you'll die."

Shaylee gasped, as she watched a dark shadow slither from Penterghast. Vlarissa's orange light met his shadow in the middle, with Antonioette's red light winding around their hands. "Is this the only way you'll free me?"

"Yes." Most of the group replied in unison.

Penterghast sighed, "I promise..." Vlarissa's hand dropped, making Cooper and Ember let him go. Penterghast looked around wildly, his eyes fixated on Melvin slightly longer. In an instant, he turned into his shadow form and wisped away. The three Thorn brother's looked around the group, "Thank you for your service." Vlarissa smiled warmly, "It was nice to see you all again. We appreciate your kindness."

Colonious winked, "Anytime." His eyes found Shaylee's and he grinned, "Nice to meet you Miss Davey." He knew her name? Then with Luther saluting and picking Michael up, the three of them whizzed away faster then she'd ever seen.

Ryder's eyes locked with Shaylee, "I think we need to 'fast track' our plan." He paused, scanning the group. "Just because he promised, doesn't mean Provence won't send another agent back for us."