A cup of coffee burned warmly in Mara's hands, a steady steam rising up towards her face. She breathed in the calming scent and felt her body automatically relax. She sat cross-legged on one of her dusted armchairs with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

It could have been a peaceful scene. If only there wasn't so many inquisitive looks staring at her and an unconscious man lying on her floor.

"Just what are your powers exactly?" the woman, who she now knew as Allison, stared down at her.

"My father code-named me 'Erebus', the Greek premordial deity of darkness." she replied, staring at the still black liquid in her cup, "Though I'm not born of chaos, I'm somehow connected to the darkness just as Erebus personifies."

"And that's how you're able to move from one place to another by using the shadows?"

"Exactly. But it can only be to somewhere I know or where I can see."

"So why didn't you just teleport us here?" Klaus stretched his legs, "My feet are killing me."

"I don't think you would be able to come out sane if I took you with me." She answered. "You won't be able to handle the things in the dark."

Klaus made an 'o' shape with his mouth.
"What about the 'seeing everything' bizz? How's that connected?"

"My power is to conjure up nightmares, or your biggest fears. But before any of that, I have to see what makes you tick. It only happens when I touch someone with my hands, and my fingers just so happened to accidentally grab on to Five when we were fighting back in the house."

"What about your brothers?" said Diego, shining his knife with dish rag "If worse comes to worst, we should know what we're up against."

"You fought them didn't you?" Mara crossed her arms.

"I got busy fighting the one who kept trying to grab a piece of my hair."

"That's Alvi. He wanted that piece so he could control you." she said simply, "Vodoo shit basically."

"Huh." Diego stopped fiddling his knife. "And the rest?"

"One can manipulate the energy in the air, one can control the light that hits your eyes, one can turn water in the air to ice, and I believe all of you already know what Ben can do." Mara huffed. "Are we all sorted now?"

"So you guys are like the edgier versions of us?" asked Klaus as he raised his hand. "Also, if you were born on the same date like the rest of us, why do you look like little number Five."

"I'm not little." The boy growled, glaring at the taller man.

"Did you get stuck somewhere in the time too?" said Klaus, ignoring his brother. "Did you date a mannequin and join a crazy organization?"

"No. Dad stuck me in a giant freezer to improve my powers and kept me there for a few years." Mara shrugged. "At this point, I think he forgot I was even there it the first place until my brothers took me out."

"I guess the old man is still an asshole even in a different timeline." Allison stared out the window.

"You should all get some rest." Mara concluded before the group could ask more questions. She wasn't comfortable in sharing her life as it is. "You guys look like shit."

"Well, it's been a long day." Five muttered, and Mara tried hard not to give him the comfort he was so truly deprived from.

It was another reason why she hated using her powers. It was just easier to kill people when you didn't who they were and what they've been through.

Mara stood up and handed her blanket to Klaus, who immediately wrapped it around himself in a way that you would think he was a babushka from afar.

"I'll be back tomorrow with the case." Mara shoved her hands into her pockets. "Please don't attempt to leave or I will kill you myself."

And with that, she disappeared into the dark.

Her umbraportation had definitely saved her the time of accidentally running into one of her brothers and risking a conversation she didn't want. But as her feet landed back into her room, she locked eyes with the one and only Jesper.

He froze, obviously not expecting her arrival. He stood by her doorframe and looked like he was just about to leave.

Jesper gestured to her hair and signed. "You look horrible."

"Thanks. I'm flattered." Mara replied dryly and she moved to sit on her bed, shrugging off her boots one by one.

Jesper ignored her comment and sat by her side.

"Why are you here anyway?" She asked, turning to face him.

Jesper pointed to the slice of cake sitting on her desk.

"Leon brought home some and told me to bring one to you, but you weren't here."

Jesper looked carefully at his sister, and pulled back her hair. He grimaced as he pointed at the purple ring forming around her neck.

"What happened to you?"

Mara nearly swore under her breath. She loved him and trusted him with her life, but she couldn't bring him into the mess she dug up.

"It was from the fight earlier." She said instead. "I was wearing the uniform so you couldn't see it that much."

He raised an eyebrow, but thankfully he didn't push forward with it.

"I can head back down and get you an ice pack if you still need it."

"Thanks, but I'm okay. Really." Mara gave him a small smile, one that she only showed to him. "I'm just exhausted."

Jesper gave her a look before it softened and he gave her one last small hug, leaving the room soon after.

"Sleep well, Mara."

She didn't sleep well that night.

Mara woke up with a migraine the next morning in a pool of her own sweat. Her bones cracked when she sat up on the bed, and the bruises around her body looked more evident than ever.

Thank God it was a free day today. This meant that her and the rest of the Academy can do and wear whatever they want, while their father goes out to do some questionable shit.

Mara pulled a maroon turtleneck sweater over head and set off to do what she said she'd do.

She rarely ever made an appearance at the breakfast table so she didn't bother, knowing that her brothers wouldn't notice. Mara already an idea what they would be up to on their free day anyway.

Mara walked around the lobby, feeling the marble on her fingertips as her eyes checked every corner. After finding no trace of that stupid case, she moved to the living room/bar.

The place just barely looked cleaned up after yesterday's skirmish. Portraits were still lying on the floor and cushions were still ripped apart. At least the glass had been sweeped away.

She figured at this point her father had found it and kept it hidden in his office. But she couldn't do anything considering that he still hasn't left yet.

And speak of the devil.

Mr. Hargreeves' bustling footsteps echoed from the lobby with a phone to his ear, and Mara quickly hid behind one of the pillars.

"I don't care what you have to do. Just do it." he spoke sharply, "I'm bringing the device to you."

Mara took a peek and saw that he was dressed inconspicuously with his signature umbrella in hand. She leaned forward a bit more and found the case right underneath his grip.

"I'll be there in twenty minutes. Make sure you have everything ready."

He put down the phone and tucked it away into his coat pocket before walking out the door without losing another second.

"Shit." Mara released a breath.

What the hell am I gonna do now?

She peeled herself off the column and pulled at her hair.

Her father kept so many secrets, and he probably is the most guarded man in the entire world. It would be impossible to find anything about who he works with.

Mara was just about to sit down on the bar stool when a familiar blue light flashing from the second floor. She narrowed her eyes, already having a clear thought on who it was.

She disappeared into the shadow of the wall and reappeared behind a cabinet upstairs. Mara could hear footsteps approaching and she soundlessly pulled out a pocket knife.

A glimpse of blue uniform crossed her line of sight and she acted quickly, grabbing the collar and pushing the person into the wall as she held the knife to the throat.

"We should stop greeting each other like this."

Five merely gave her a smirk and Mara only tightened her hold in response.

"What are you doing here? I told you to stay in the apartment." Mara spoke in a low voice. She wasn't exactly keen on explaining any of this to anyone who bumped into them.

"If you really saw everything about me, then you should already know I don't trust easily." Five wasn't even trying to push her back and it bothered her slightly. "You should've been expecting me even."

"Well, I've got news for you." Mara released herself from him and he rubbed his neck. "The case isn't here."

"What? Where the hell is it then?" Five raised his voice a bit.

"I'm still figuring it out. Dear old father found it and took it somewhere." She said, tucking the knife back into place.

Five shoved his hands in his pocket and looked away. He seemed to be in thought.

"Is Dad's office still in the third floor by any chance?"