Days later, the day of Katrina's funeral arrived.
Under a gray sky, her lifelong friends — Léna, Mila, and her work colleagues — stood on one side. On the other, Miria, Asher, Klaus, Bryan, Alix, Eiden, Kira, Axel, Marlie, Gale, Diana, Ray, Isabella, Ikan, Alixia, Henry, Isolde, as well as the kings of each clan, had come to honor her memory. The supernaturals kept a low profile, careful not to arouse the suspicions of the humans present.
An emotional speech was delivered. Then came the moment to place the flowers.
Miria stepped forward first. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she gently laid a white rose on the coffin.
"I promise you, Mom… I swear I'll do everything to avenge you…"
Internally, a darker promise formed: *This is the last time… yes, the last time, Vareck… that you'll take someone I love from me.*
Asher, seeing that she was lingering too long by the coffin, approached gently, took her arm, and led her back to their place.
Then Klaus stepped forward. Tears fell silently as he placed his flower.
"Thank you, Katrina… Thank you for loving me. Thank you for changing me… for becoming a better person."
Gale approached and gently stroked his back.
"It's okay, bro… You have to be strong."
They returned to their places. The others came one by one to lay their flowers. Then, little by little, everyone drifted away.
When the cemetery was almost empty, a hooded figure approached. She laid a flower, then removed her hood. It was Léana. A tear slid down her cheek as she caressed the coffin with a trembling hand.
"Thank you… Thank you from the bottom of my heart for that gesture… even if I didn't deserve it. I'm going to make amends. Just… give me some time. A little time… and I'll repay you."
Then she left in silence.
---
Later, at Asher's house, everyone was packing their bags.
"Ikan, Alixia, have you finished packing your things?" Alix asked.
"Yes," the two children answered in unison.
"But Mom… why can't we come with you?" Alixia asked in a small, worried voice.
"The place we're going is dangerous," Alix replied gently. "You two are going to stay in the supernatural kingdom, with King Valérian."
"What's King Valérian like?"
"Don't worry, my grandfather is very kind," Ikan interjected. "You don't have to worry."
"Okay… but promise us you'll be careful."
A voice rose from the entrance of the room.
"It's a promise."
Everyone turned. It was Kira.
In another room, Miria was finishing her suitcase when Asher entered.
"Are you done?"
"Yes. But… where are we going?"
"To one of the properties I own. This one is no longer safe."
"Alright. And the others?"
"You and I will go with Alix, Kira, Marlie, Gale, Diana, Klaus, Ray, and Isabella. Bryan, Eiden, and Axel first need to go inform the elders of their absence. Besides, Eiden has to drop the children off with King Valérian. They'll be safer there than with us."
"Won't Bryan's father feel slighted that his granddaughter is going to another kingdom?"
"Don't worry. They've already discussed it. They'll take turns. This week with King Valérian, the next with King Astarion."
"Okay. If they're fine with it, so am I."
She closed her suitcase. Together they left the room, Asher carrying his as well. In the living room, the others were already waiting: Alix, Kira, Marlie, Diana, Ray, and Isabella.
"Is everyone here?" Miria asked.
"Almost," Kira replied. "Eiden and the others said they'd follow us."
"We're just waiting for Gale and Klaus," Marlie added.
Suddenly, Gale burst into the room, looking agitated.
"Gale? What's going on? Why are you coming in like that?" Asher asked.
"It's Klaus… Klaus is missing."
A stunned silence fell.
"What?!" several voices exclaimed at once.
"I looked everywhere. Even in the places he might have been… nothing."
"Where could he be?" Ray murmured.
Suddenly, Miria was struck by a violent dizziness. She lost her balance. Asher caught her just in time.
"Miria! Are you okay?!"
In her disorientation, a vision hit her: Klaus, armed, standing near Vareck's castle, his gaze determined and dark.
Miria came back to herself, panicked.
"He's gone to attack Vareck…"
"What?!" everyone exclaimed in unison.
"Is he out of his mind?! Wanting to face Vareck alone…" Ray exclaimed.
"It's the grief…" Diana murmured in a grave voice.
Asher clenched his jaw.
"That's no reason. We have to stop him… before something happens to him."