"You'll be separated by gender. There's four to each room. Grassi, Hoying, Kaplan, and Olusola; you'll be rooming together. Your room is at the top of the tower. Sorry but your parents requested it." The four boys drug their suitcases up flights of stairs and through the door way.

4 beds sitting across from each other with 4 desks on either side of the room greeted them when they walked in. Avi and Kevin took the two on the right with Mitch and Scott took the other two.

Kirstie was fortunate enough to room with Esther and her friends. She was happy.....for awhile at least. Mitch would be lying if he didn't admit it upset him how easily Kirstie saw through him. Sure he wasn't walking around in a wig and tutu but he wanted to appear more masculine. He knew his last name was ammo enough for bullies but the overtly feminine son of the worst thing to ever hit America, super easy pickings.

"Are you ok?" Scott asked, helping him move all of his things. Mitch looked over at the other two boys who had became fast friends. He sighed and shook his head. "How did you know I was gay?" Scott stopped and looked over at him. He blushed when he locked eyes with the pretty brunette he was unbelievably attracted to. " I didn't? I hoped and figured."

"You hoped?"

"You're the prettiest boy I've ever seen. I'm not one to stand up for someone but I just kind of want to protect you."

"Because I'm little, fragile, and feminine looking?"

Scott sighed and sat on his bed. He ran his hand through his hair and looked up at him. "Because...I don't know. It's not the way you look. I just do. Why are you so worried about it?"

"If Kirstie could see it, everyone else can."

"You're scared?"

"Of being picked on? Yes. I-"

Kevin spoke up then, not really trying to eavesdrop, "I mean, to be honest, people will be deathly afraid of you."

Mitch furrowed his eyebrows, "Why?"

"Giovanni did horrible, unspeakable things to people. He killed Kirstie's father. You're his son. No one knows what you're capable of... You don't even know what you're capable of. Your dad, the both of them, were fragile looking too. One grew up to be one of the greatest wizards there is. And the other? The freaking 'Dark Lord'."

Scott and Kevin stared at Mitch for a while. He swallowed harshly and turned around. "I'm not Him."

"You're not. But that's not gonna stop them from feeling that way."

::::::::

"Jonas, what are you not telling us?" Mike was surprised when Kanipe asked him, Michael, and Rick for a meeting with Oluwole. He had been explaining how since Giovanni and his band of undesirables, security was tighter. Kanipe sighed and took his glasses off, shooting a glance to Oluwole.

"We have intel that Giovanni's first lieutenant, Davis Moellhausen, is close. He was seen about 10 miles from here. And-"

"WHAT?"

The fathers jumped up. Rick began yelling, "You two promised our children were safe!"

Oluwole threw his hands up, "they will be."

Suddenly it clicked in Mike's head. "Mitch, Scott, and Kirstie are younger than Avi and Kevin. They should have been invited years ago. What's your plan?"

Oluwole's shoulders dropped. "We believe Giovanni may be trying to rebuild himself. The mere fact we're even having this conversation is more than enough to be ready."

Kanipe spoke up. "I know about the threat, Grassi. We both do. And I truly believe Mitchell can beat him."

"Have you seen my son? He's small! He's timid and quiet. He has the whole fucking world on his shoulders at any given time. You're telling me you're gonna train my sweet innocent Mitchell to beat the one man I couldn't? Sure the group as a whole was easy. But that man is stronger than he looks."

"He can't do it without the others."

"And Kirstie? How do you explain that, though she had been told he died, Luiz switched sides?"

Oluwole slammed his fist on the desk. "The prices don't matter. Once they're done with him, they will be legends."

Michael paced the floor. "Wally, will our kids die?"

The question received no answer. "I'll ask again...WILL. OUR. KIDS. DIE?"

Oluwole glared at Michael. He sighed and nodded, "more than likely.."