1 The visit

In the middle of the night, Alice stands at her window staring out at the crimson sky suddenly visible in the midnight sky. She holds tight to her chest panting in pain.

"You are finally here…I am sorry for lying to you Christian." She whispers to herself basking in the light of the blood-stained moon hanging above her.

Shutting the window and moving the curtain back in, she plops down on the bed squeezing her pillow as she kicks her feet up in the air when she hear a knock on the door.

"Door is open!" Alice yells.

Alice's kid brother open's the door peeking in the room out of breath, there was visible sweat from his brow. Seeing the look of worry on his face she knew exactly what he was going to tell her.

"Alice, we're going home soon...but the moon is gone?"

Rolling over to my side she grabs the phone from under her pillow ignoring his comment as though he never said it at all.

"Whatever could you mean Nathan?" Alice answered being distracted with her cell phone.

Nathan was born much later than Alice when long after she had pretty much moved out, he is a short kid for his size at ten years old, his blonde hair and fair skin are lighter than Alice's.

He loves to wear superhero shirts and play baseball, probably more spoiled than Alice ever was.

"Mom and Dad can't seem to see it, but I swear It's there!" He yells.

Crawling off the bed Alice strolls over to him placing her hands on his shoulders giving him a smile before skipping down the steps to see no one around.

Nathan bumps into Alice as he trailed after her down the stairwell, the door standing wide open.

"Nathan, stay here!" Alice shouts.

Bolting to the other rooms with quickness, she makes sure they aren't playing a sort of prank on them, Alice dashes outside looking around when she can't find where her parents were.

"Mom? Dad!" She cries out.

A presence makes itself known, a woman gradually walks towards Alice dressed in a black silk blouse and leather pants down to a very modern take on the witch's hat sitting on the top of her pink hair gradually making her way to me through the ruby red sky's fog immersing our surroundings in the dense cloud that had rested on the ground.

"Long time no see Alice... " She says as the vapor rises from her fingers.

"Saniya…"

"Oh, I see you were expecting Everett perhaps?" Saniya responded with a chuckle.

Sticking her fingers out Alice thought she would execute a spell, but instead, nothing happened. Looking to the back she notices Nathan is gone.

Turning around Saniya is embracing Alice catches sight of her little brother in the witch's hands, he looked entranced.

"Saniya please don't do anything!" Alice begged.

"Good," Saniya said with a grin.

Saniya releases Nathan, he snaps out of the enchantment confused and dazed.

Alice kneels caressing his cheek, one could see the fear in his eyes as haze only seems to get thicker as she pushes him back in the house without a word, the witch only laughs louder and louder.

"Now what do you want of me?" She says with a growl.

The witch gawks at her nails shining them against her blouse before looking straight at Alice.

"You know what I decided to take your parents Alice…"

"So you did take them!" Alice shouts.

"Give me the sword of Dusksong Alice and I will return them," Saniya explained holding her hand out towards Alice who stood there embracing her chest silently.

"There is no way I can pull out yet Saniya…"

She lets out a huge yawn motioning forward a large black cat from behind, the large feline produces a loud meow before licking the tips of its delicate paw.

"Oh, I get it your boy toy needs to activate it right?" Saniya says petting her cat.

"Saniya what are doing here?" A voice chimes.

Alice and Saniya twist to witness the man with long white hair dressed in a long blue trench coat, grey vest, and matching pants. He approaches them from behind, he carried a large barret M95 over his shoulder.

"Everett sniping hunters again?" Saniya acknowledges.

"They have been getting too close to the compound lately," Everett states with concern.

He plants his feet firmly on the ground pointing the gun at Saniya. She tips the barrel of the gun down giving a contorted smile.

"I know when I am not wanted…but remember Alice!" Saniya replies hopping on the back of her beast back darting off into the heavy fog.

"Hey wait! I was joking!" Everett yelled.

Alice jumps after Saniya running as fast as her feet could carry her, charging at Saniya trying to latch her fingers onto the large cat's tail, but the creature chortled with delight in spite of her failure to reach them.

The tomcat picks its hind legs up smacking her in the face with its long tail in the process, Saniya motions at her lips giving a faux kiss to the air.

"Saniya giving you trouble again?" Everett asked.

"She…" Alice responds timidly.

Everett grows anxious watching her twiddle her thumbs as she turns away from him peering into the distance.

"Alice?" Everett questioned.

"We can't wait forever Everett! I demand to turn before the chaos moon hits!" Alice argues.

"What happened?"

"She took my parents... it's only me and Nathan now…"

"That's what witches do during the crimson moon Alice, you know that."

"I know...but they want the dusksong in exchange!" She yells.

"Alex hasn't exactly acted willing these days to talk about this." Everett responds.

The door opens to Nathan snooping through the crack, he runs to Alice and Everett.

"Nathan…" She says softly.

"You knew about the sky being red this whole time didn't you?" He argues.

"So you are one of the few who can see this can't you?" Everett requests to know from the child.

They could see the glow of maroon reflected deeply in his eyes as they stood there not completely in shock by his sudden intrusion.

"I can Nathan…" Alice tried to put on a happy appearance.

"Where are Mom and Dad?" he asks.

"Kidnapped…you have to be brave," Everett explains.

"Master Everett!" Alice yells.

"You want to lie to him when he might be in danger?" Everett quarrels.

"No…Nathan, you will be living with me in the meantime okay?" Alice says gently

Alice embraces Nathan before standing up again to see Everett glancing at her.

"Alice please allow me to stay with you tonight..." Everett said sympathetically.

"No, it's okay Master Everett..."

"Alice you should take him up on the offer!" Nathan shouts.

"We can't endanger him too!"

Nathan hushes causing Everett to sigh unsure of how to handle Alice.

"Look, let's talk later. I will have Alex swing by to get you and Christian...it is finally time you both are treated as true members of the team."

"About time!" Alice shouts.

"Here I thought Saniya was changing..."

"My question is what she wants with Dusksong? It's not like there isn't other sword holders in the other clans." Alice asked to herself.