Olere's shock of discovering Lore's ability is set aside for now. We hurry to the manor to speak with Cyan and Arline, informing everyone of what Olere has found concerning Ebony Hawinan while Cyan assists me with his wounds. Everyone shares different reactions. Arline looks like she wants to throw her hands in the air and declare that she knew this all along. Draven sits silently, arms crossed in deep thought. Cyan ties gauze a little too tightly on Olere's arm, earning a raised brow that Cyan smiles sheepishly at. Lore's eyes darken with anger, managing to spew hatred that heats the room.

"Where are these documents?" Lore asks, glancing at Olere.

"Locked behind a few casts in an abandoned cellar," he answers. "Not far from where I found them. Holland believes I kept them on me."

"We need to retrieve them to give to Ristain. Our plans can't wait much longer to take effect."

"Ristain of the Red Moon?" Olere gapes. "Seren, tell me you aren't working with them."

"We have to," I argue, not missing the concern in Olere's gaze. "They've done their part and assisted in my rescuing of you. If we wish to fight against this, we must accept all the help we can get."

"They can't be trusted."

Arline raises her hand. "Agreed."

She and Olere both look shocked to agree with each other.

"We don't trust them to have our backs. We will take care of ourselves," Lore interjects. "The Red Moon has the same goal as us, so we're working together and that's something you have to accept. Especially now. There is no room to be picky."

I throw Lore a look that has him giving a weak shrug. He's right, but sometimes he's too blunt. Grasping Olere's shoulder, I give it a reassuring squeeze that does little to ease his tension. He sighs and says, "Fine, but I will go with them to retrieve the documents. I don't trust them not to tamper with anything."

"You can't. We need to retrieve them now and I just got you to safety," I argue, remembering how Holland stood over Olere with every intention to kill him. The thought makes me short of breath. I've lost enough people in my life. I don't know how I'd handle all of this on top of losing Olere.

"Seren's right. You're too injured," Lore says. "And we cannot afford to wait. The Holy Church has realized that we're more of a threat than previously predicted. They are obviously prepared to rush forward with our demise."

"I'll go." Cyan stands, earning an immediate wide-eyed stare from Draven. He looks ready to argue, but Cyan's swift to speak, "Olere can inform me how to break the protective spells. Seren and I are the only others who can break them easily enough and he should stay here in case anyone from the church arrives."

"Alright. Cyan will go to Ristain to retrieve the documents. The rest of us will remain here in case anyone arrives. Our top priority now is keeping the children safe." Lore rises, ignoring Olere's confused stares and Draven's concerned frown. Cyan gives him a reassuring smile that I doubt eases his concerns, but Cyan is the best option. He's strong. He can take care of himself.

Olere looks at me. "Is anyone going to explain how the dhampir can use magic and how Cyan will find the Red Moon when we're likely under heavy watch?"

The next few minutes are spent explaining, while excluding details concerning Lore's upbringing, resulting in Olere's eyes widening to comical proportions. I'm surprised the spheres don't pop out of his head. Arline and Draven have sauntered off. Lore runs his hand gently over my shoulder, then takes his leave, thus leaving Olere and I alone in the living area. Lore mustn't have called anyone to work on the manor. Cyan and him seem to have used some basic magic to stabilize the structure. Can't say I blame him. There's no telling if someone were sent to the house with ill intentions.

"I don't know about this," Olere says afterwards. When he takes a long breath, I'm relieved that he sounds alright. No longer wheezing or coughing, resting comfortably on the couch looking much better than earlier.

"I understand that this is a lot to take in. I wasn't sure how to feel about most of it initially either," I explain. "But we can't remain idle when we now know what the Holy Church has been doing. We need to trust in each other."

"I trust in you," he says, refraining from admitting that he doesn't trust the others. I don't blame him for that. They don't know each other well enough, though I hope that will change. I hope we get out of this together.

"Are we not going to continue our discussion from earlier?" Olere asks. "Your battle against Holland."

"There's nothing to discuss," I argue. "Even if you saw what you said you did, it was a fluke. I don't have that kind of power."

"The Prophet didn't always have it either. Your divinity grows with you."

I don't know what to say, and I don't have the time to think of anything. A flash of blue light garners our attention. Olere and I glance at the windows. The shield shimmers, signaling that there's someone touching it. Olere tries to rise. I push him back onto the couch, insisting he remain in place. Frowning, he gives a reluctant nod. I head for the foyer, finding Lore with a frown on his face.

"They're already here," he says, opening the front door.

"How many?" I ask, following him to the car.

"Not sure, but there's certainly a champion."

"Holland, most likely." And unfortunately. He's hard enough on his own. If they're here, there's likely reinforcements, making a battle far worse.

"Are we truly going to stay here?" I ask as we step into the car. Lore grips the wheel so tightly I fear he'll break it. I rest my hand on his tense shoulder. "I know you wish for the children to stay here where they're most comfortable, but we may not be able to keep the church and the monarchy at bay."

"I know," he whispers, then steps on the gas to head towards the disturbance.

Holland comes into view, standing tall in front of at least twenty holy knights, thirty of the monarchy's soldiers, and ten paladins. They sent a small army that we certainly can't stand against on our own. Holland appears relatively healed too. His jaw's terribly bruised, but the bones are likely taken care of.

Stepping out of the car, Lore and I approach the barrier that will shatter in minutes when this kind of force attacks. They haven't destroyed it yet though and that somehow worries me more.

"Good afternoon," Holland says with a polite, but also somehow sardonic nod of his head. "We've come to arrest the Lord of Seymour Manor for the corruption of a church official, forcing him to attack his own kind, as well as conspiring with the Red Moon."

"I left of my own accord, Holland," I argue. "The Holy Church is well aware of that."

But the church wants to have a believable excuse to give the people for Lore's arrest. As much power as they have, they maintain that power by ensuring that their actions have sound reasoning to the public. Arresting Lore, a relatively beloved and respected lord, must have a good reason and they've conjured one by using me, though I am unsure where they got proof of our involvement with the Red Moon. That may be a lie they're adding, knowing that it'll frighten the public more easily.

"I'm sure Lord Seymour wants you to say that, Seren, but fear not, we'll have you out of his grasp in no time," Holland says while retrieving two rolls of parchment from his robes. "By royal and religious decree, Lord Seymour is under arrest. We will give you five minutes to decide whether you will come peacefully or not. I really rather not risk a battle around the children or for them to see their father dragged away in chains."

My glare intensifies. I look to Lore, expecting him to speak. He says nothing, pivoting on his heel without a word. I swiftly follow him, hurrying to the car where Lore reminds me how much of a hectic driver he is. We skid to a halt in front of the mansion after tearing apart the road from the sheer speed at which he drove.

"Grab whatever you can from the children's rooms; clothes, blankets, toys, whatever may comfort them," Lore orders. "I will retrieve the children and staff."

"What are we going to do?" I ask, dashing inside.

"Take the transporter to the Red Moon hideout. There are too many to fight and I will not risk the children's lives. We will tear those bastards apart another day." With that, he runs towards the school house and I do as I'm told, grabbing a few staff along the way to assist me.

Moments later, everyone arrives in Lore's room. The children's expressions of horror are not missed. Oliver whimpers on Arline's shoulder. The twins grasp each other's hands so tightly that they shake. Darika pats Nalo's back as he heaves anxious breaths. They all shriek when the shield shimmers brightly, telling all of us that Holland is on the attack. Lore rests a hand on Reegan's trembling shoulder while activating the transporter. Hyun Woo clings to my waist. I run my fingers through his hair, hoping to relieve him. Everyone steps through the red mist, unsure if the manor will remain standing by the time we return. If we ever return.

Ristain and Cyan are shocked to see us. Then Ristain notices Arline. He offers her a smile that she doesn't return. She holds Oliver tightly, her other hand rests on Isabella's trembling shoulder. Her gaze shifts about the room, pure rage within them. A rage that comes tumbling out when she hisses, "You never should have done any of this."

Lore looks at her, rolling his shoulders when she growls, "The kids are terrified and will never forget this."

Then she guides those kids out of the room, slapping Ristain's hand away when he barely attempts to grab her arm. Lore gets a tight hug from Hyun Woo and Reegan before they leave. The tension doesn't vanish with them. It lingers over all of us, heavy and suffocating. There's a darkness to Lore's eyes that reminds me of the cellar, of the night I killed Aja. I know what he has done, what he's capable of doing, and how all that rage is now pointed solely at the church.

"Well, Cyan has informed me about the documents." Ristain nods at Olere, bringing everyone's attention to him. "Those will be more helpful than any of us can truly imagine. I've contacted a handful of others to go with us, though if the church has moved this quickly I think we should take a small force of our own."

"Certainly, and use this." Lore sets the transporter on the table. "We can't afford anyone getting caught and we certainly aren't going anywhere now."

Ristain grasps the transporter, observing it as he says, "I'll send word to start the plans once we've had a thorough look at the documents. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner those kids can return home where they belong."

And hopefully forget some of this ordeal.

"Draven, go with Cyan and Ristain," Lore orders. Draven gives a slow nod before joining Cyan and Ristain at the table. I walk towards Lore, grasping his arm. He jumps as if he forgot I was here.

"The children will be okay, Lore. We'll take care of them," I say, hoping to reassure him, to get that look out of his eyes. It frightens me, even if I know we need that kind of anger right now.

Sighing, Lore steps closer to rest an arm around my waist. Pulling him into my embrace, I hold him tight because I know he needs it. So do I.

"Arline's right. They won't forget how terrified they were, how I didn't take care of them as I said I would," he growls.

"Yes you have and I'd like to think, one day, they'll be proud of their father for what he's done."

"You hope they'll be proud."

I bite my lip and hold him a little tighter.

- - ┈┈∘┈˃̶༒˂̶┈∘┈┈ - -

Geesh, our boys can't catch a break. The Holy Church and monarchy aren't playing. They've chased Lore and Seren out of their home. The children are scared. Their plans have been pushed up. Will the children be able to deal with this trauma? Will they all ever return to Seymour Manor and live happily?