Shaylee's breath was shaky, but she didn't even hesitate when Vlarissa suggested they look for him. They hurried out of the diner, like a pack of headless chooks which earned a lot of confused looks. But Shaylee couldn't care in the slightest, they had to find Cooper.

As they exited Peter's and into the chilly abyss of winter, Shaylee laced her arms through the varsity jacket and following after Vlarissa they made their way up the side of the diner, towards the back where the restrooms would be on the inside.

As they rounded the corner, they were met with an unlikely scene. The Shadower was pressed against the wall, with Cooper holding the scruff of his shirt. Cooper launched his fist back, and the sound of bone colliding with flesh sounded. Shaylee winced watching as the Shadower man's head smashed against brick, there was a glint in Cooper's eyes but she couldn't quite put her finger on the emotion behind them. "Who are you?" Snarled Ryder, as he was the first to reach them.

Cooper launched his hand back again, colliding with the man's jaw. As the rest of them halted by them, she got a better look of the man. His eyes were sunken, brown orbs, he had a greying beard and his hair was shaggy and past his ears. "Are you okay?" Vlarissa asked Cooper, her tone worried. He nodded in response, his gaze fixated intently on the man. Her eyes drifted to examine Cooper's knuckles which were perfectly fine, it was like it didn't hurt him at all.

"Who. Are. You?" Ryder repeated, snapping Shaylee out of her trance-like state. The man smiled evilly, his eyes flicked to Ryder. His evil smile turned lopsided, "Penterghast." The man stated shortly, his eyes flicking to everyone in the group, everyone but Cooper. Penterghast cackled upon seeing Melvin, "Ah, ghost boy." Penterghast said as if he knew him, Shaylee watched as Melvin shrunk back and her mouth suddenly went dry. "You know him?" Shaylee heard himself ask smally, the man's eyes flick to her and he looks her up and down, delight crossing his features. Subconsciously Shaylee pulled Cooper's jacket closer, trying her hardest to cover the exposed parts of her body. "Ah, the prophecy girl."

Cooper's eyes flick from Penterghast's expression, towards Shaylee's disgusted one, and he punches him again. "Don't you dare look at her." Cooper bellowed, making Shaylee shrink back behind Calador for comfort. Penterghast had a black eye now, but without looking at her, he answered. "I'm one of the reasons he's dead."

Silence settled upon the group for a moment, as his words sunk in. This man was one of the men who killed Melvin. "Y-you killed o-our brother?" Calvin's voice broke through the silence, his voice sounded a mix between a sob and whisper. Shaylee analysed his face, his eyes were glazed over, his lips parted subconsciously as he eyed his twin's killer. "C-Cooper m-move." Calvin whispered.

Cooper hurled around, his hand still holding onto the Shadower. "What?"

Calvin's nostrils flared, and green light began to form against the lining of his skin, threatening to spill over. His eyes turned the same grass green as what flowed around him, instead of eyes- were glowing, green light. In a split second, Calvin had moved his left hand and thrown Cooper off of the Shadower and into a pile of trash cans. He had used his green light to pull Penterghast towards him and held him tightly by the throat. Calvin lifted his singular hand, now possessing un-human strength, Penterghast was struggling under his grasp and attempted to turn into his wispy, shadow-self. But to no avail, he was too weak. "How dare you." Calvin snarled, and as Vlarissa attempted to reach out and stop him Ryder held her back.

Penterghast's legs were flailing now, and he began to scratch up Cavin's hand in an attempt to pry them off himself. "C-Calvin d-don't p-please." Melvin stuttered, "F-forgive h-him. I'm o-okay." Melvin's voice was small and vulnerable. Shaylee's eyes flickered over to him, to see him cowering behind his big brother Ryder. Her eyes found Calador for a moment, watching as he moved to help pull Cooper up from the pile of bins and trash bags. "FORGIVE HIM!?" Calvin yelled, hurling on his brother now. Green fire wisped around him, humming against his body as a constant reminder of the power he possessed.

Vlarissa thrashed out of Ryder's grasp and stood off to the side, helpless, with her arms crossed over her chest and eyes averted, Ryder reached out and pulled Shaylee behind him, making her stumble slightly from the sudden pulling movement. Ryder's body was planted in front of her like a shield, protecting her from any aftermath they might endure.

"Why should I forgive him for what he did to you!?" Calvin yells, the orbs of swirling green light he had for eyes fixated on his twin now. Penterghast was heaving heavily, his face beginning to purple. "Because I have." At Melvin's words, Calvin dropped Penterghast out of surprise. The light that flamed against his skin, simmered then disappeared completely. His eyes became actual eyes again, his lips were parted and eyes widened in shock. "Y-you've fo-forgiven him? F-for what he did to y-you?" Calvin stutters, gesturing at the ghost before him.

Melvin nodded feebly, a small smile on his face. "I've lived over a hundred years, I've had more than enough life." Shaylee watched from over Ryder's shoulder, as Penterghast heaved, pleading to entice oxygen into his lungs. His hands were cupped around his throat, and he looked up at Calvin with hatred in his eyes. "I'll end you boy." Penterghast spoke gruffly.

Vlarissa took a step forward, an orange orb of light ready in her hands. "Not on my watch."

Penterghast shrunk back, but it was Shaylee who moved forward, past Vlarissa and up to the Shadower. Her hand extended and he looked at it blankly. "Who do you work for?" She asked bravely.

"And we'll let you go if you tell us." Calador said, speaking for the first time. "Or would you rather take on a few warlocks, a witch and a few hybrids?"

The shadowers nostrils flared, and shoving Shaylee's hands away he stood up on his own accord, leaning back against the brick wall. "Who says I work for someone?"

"So you're here on your own accord?" Cooper spoke up, "Why bother with us?"

The evil smirk had returned, "Maybe I despise your dirty blood."

But none of them felt offended in the slightest, it was all things they'd heard a thousand times over. Everyone except Shaylee, who was slightly shocked that someone would say such things. Calador put both hands to his heart, a fake look of admiration on his features. "Thank you." Melvin snorted subtly at Calador's comment.

"You work for her, don't you?" Vlarissa asks, the orb dying in her palm.

"Provence."

At her name, Penterghast's confidence faltered for the slightest second, in secret indication of a response. "Yes?" Cooper prompted.

Without hesitation, the shadower wisped into his shadow form. The familiar dark mist fanned out, and twirled like a tornado. In a blink, the shadow mist was gone and so was Penterghast. A silence settled over them, as they absorbed the fact that Provence was watching their every move. She wanted them dead. Wanted Shaylee dead.

Shaylee's voice was the first to break the collective silence, "Does Provence know?" She shuddered, "That I'm Titanus' daughter?"

Vlarissa turned to her, putting a soft hand on her shoulder. "You'll have to ask her yourself." Vlarissa turned to the rest of the group, her eyes knowing, but filled with fright. "Shaylee's training starts tomorrow." And in silence, they held hands, a circle forming. Orange, green and purple light surrounded them all, taking them to the Shayne's with an empty stomach and a full mind.

Her phone's ringtone sounded, as she flopped on the bed in one of the Shayne's spare rooms. It was her mother's response, the response of her asking if she could stay at the Shayne's overnight. 'Alright,' It read, 'Just be safe.' The last words crept themselves into her thoughts. Safe. What was safe anymore? Now, it was just another flimsy definition, for another flimsy word. The room around her was decorated with tan, white and pale yellow. A plant sat in the corner, with a small, vintage dresser beside it. The room was sort of a contrasting yet familiar theme of her own house.

The bed beneath her was a Queen bed, and bared yellow, silk sheets. A soft knock on the door made her jolt up, dropping her flip phone in the sheets. Vlarissa opened the door, and peeped inside. She had a soft smile despite the circumstances, "I've just settled the River's in Ryder's room. Are you alright?" Shaylee nodded awkwardly, "I'm okay. The bed's very-" She paused, her hand grasping the soft silk. "Comfy."

As she further studied Vlarissa's expression, she saw that her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. A contrast on her features Shaylee was yet to be familiar with. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay? I don't mind-" As Vlarissa repeated her words, an evident vulnerability edged into her voice. It seems like Vlarissa was asking not just for Shaylee's sake, but for hers as well.

"If you want too." Shaylee smiled.

"Alright, I'll be back." Vlarissa let out a subtle sigh of relief, and skipped off into the hallway again.

Shaylee flicked off the lamp from beside her, and settled under the covers. The door creaked open again, the only light in the room being from the hallway. The subtle light illuminated Vlarissa's warm expression, in her arms was a bag of jumbo marshmallows and two tall, red cups. "What's in the cups?"

A grin was on her face now as she responded, "Red wine. There's a bottle in the side table as well."

She watched Vlarissa settle beside her, throwing the bag onto the silk and handing her one of the cups. Shaylee sipped her drink, feeling a wave of burning delight flood down her throat. It was cheap red wine, she concluded. It was a similar brand that her mother drank, except richer, and more heavy. Shaylee looked over her red cup, as the girl beside her teared open the marshmallows. "Y'know, the fact you keep wine in every inch of the house, is very telling."

An eyebrow raised, her muddy brown eyes trained on Shaylee. "And what's it telling you?" She asks through a mouthful of marshmallows.

"That you're the sanest person in my life."