In recent weeks the interventions of the members of the Council had become increasingly frequent and complicated. The Hunters were more numerous than usual and equipped with new and dangerous weapons. They looked as if they were assembled from scrap, unconventional. The only certain thing was that the liquid that leaked from inside them put the Nerys out of action for a few minutes as they were not always able to avoid the jet.

Saving the Nerys was becoming exhausting and tiring. Council members were often forced to ask others of their kind for help. They couldn't use their skills constantly, they needed to stop and take a break to rest every now and then.

Nathan had started to participate more actively in the rescue missions, even though he was still not able to do much. He could control the Hunters remotely, but not more than one at a time and not for very long.

Usually it happened rarely, but, in the last few days, even the night interventions had intensified. The Council members had lost count of the number of times someone had knocked on the door of their rooms, waking them up in the middle of the night. Pajamas were becoming their new uniform. There was no time to waste changing clothes, they barely had time to go down to the basement to wake Ellen.

They would gather and Jeb would quickly take them to the location. 

That evening they didn't even have time to go to their rooms after dinner. As they were leaving the kitchen, Jeyson – who was starting to wash the dishes – told them to stop. «We have to hurry.», he closed the sink and advanced towards his companions. He gave the coordinates and, without another word, Jeb catapulted them to the location – in Vienna, not far from the opera house

From the cameras, there didn't appear to be many Hunters, so they were truly caught off guard when the other suited individuals ran up and surrounded them. Oswald and Megan had failed to sense them in time due to fatigue.

Sam did her best to protect her friends by wrapping them in an electromagnetic shield. Unfortunately, however, the two kids, who they had rushed to help, remained in the clutches of those shady individuals in black suits. It was clear that was just a trap. They had been careful to avoid being filmed by cameras, to surprise them upon their arrival. The Hunters knew they would come to rescue those Nerys in danger, and they wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to capture them all.

«What do we do?» Richard asked as the Hunters began firing wildly at the barrier. «We can't just abandon them here.»

«They're just kids, if we leave they're screwed.», Jeyson looked at Dawn to his left. The girl had a thoughtful expression. She was pondering what the right move was. They couldn't open the shield without risking being hit. They needed something that would put all those Hunters out of action, that would make them stop shooting and give the members of the Council time to rescue the two frightened kids unharmed. Their little animal ears twitched as the Hunters held knives to their throats. If Ellen had wanted, she could have made those knives explode, but the shrapnel could have injured the two Nerys. And Dawn would never ask her to blow up people, no matter how despicable they were, she didn't want her friend to live with that memory for the rest of her days.

«Could you get into their minds?» Jeb asked Nathan next to him.

Nathan looked around, but there were far too many of them. He wasn't able to do that much yet, not in a situation like that. He had only succeeded once, but no one was shooting at him. Once the shield was opened and weakened, he wouldn't have time to make an attempt, he just had to succeed or the others would be in danger. It was a responsibility he couldn't take on yet. He shook his head. «I don't think I can do it, I'm sorry.» he said and then let slip out loud that it would be better to bring Tess next time.

Oswald gave him a light pat on the shoulder to reassure him. «You've come in handy before.» he whispered to him.

«Sam, loosen the shield. I'll handle it.» Dawn declared.

The rust-colored hair girl created a small opening at the top of the shield, where shots from enemy weapons could not reach any of the Nerys inside.

Dawn closed her eyes. Making the earth tremble was out of the question, or it would also harm the two imprisoned Nerys, so she concentrated on their vital energy. Within seconds, all the Hunters collapsed to the ground, simultaneously. Dawn opened her eyes and Sam completely dissolved the barrier, for a few minutes the Hunters would remain unconscious, lifeless.

Richard and Chelsea ran towards Caleigh's two little descendants, and as soon as they rejoined the group, Jeb set out to take them back to the Nemlyth.

Richard left his sister to look after the two Nerys. She tried to reassure them. She told them in German – their language – that everything was fine, and that they were their friends. Then, even though it was quite late, she took them with her to look for accommodation.

«Dawn!», Jeyson barely had time to grab her before she collapsed to the ground.

Then, almost simultaneously, Sam also began to stagger in exhaustion. Oswald supported her and she thanked him. «I can do it.» she said, but she was clearly lying. Her eyelids struggled to stay up, she was the one forcing herself not to pass out. She didn't want to seem like a damsel in distress.

Dawn, on the other hand, had no choice, she fainted and Jeyson had to pick her up and lay her on the sofa, with the help of Ellen, who was keen to reassure Nathan. «Don't worry, she just needs to rest. She'll wake up soon.»

Nathan nodded but, from his face, it was clear those words had not comforted him. He wasn't worried, more than anything else he felt guilty. If only he had had more control over his powers, he could have, at least in part, helped Dawn, and halved her burden.

«We'd better go to sleep.» Megan said. «We're all too tired, we haven't stopped for a moment since this morning.»

Ellen nodded. «Yes, let's go.», she agreed but she knew that Nathan wouldn't move from there. She put a hand on his shoulder and smiled at him, then she left the room. The remaining members of the Council did the same.

Oswald insisted on dropping Sam off first, in case she still felt weak, even though she had told him she was fine.

Richard was the last to leave. He said goodbye to Nathan and then walked through the door and left them alone.

Nathan knelt at the foot of the sofa and then sat down on the floor. He stayed to watch over her. He looked at her unconscious and hated himself for not being able to help her. He couldn't get out of his head her gaze before using that power she hated so much. Manipulating vital energy was the skill she tried to use as little as possible, which she hated more than controlling the elements.

Chad's sudden appearance at the door broke the silence.

«What happened?», when he saw her lying, he hurried to reach her. He bent to the floor, slightly pushing Nathan away, to make room in front of the sofa. He took her hand. «Is she okay?» he touched her forehead with his free hand.

Nathan wanted to push him away from her instantly, but he knew he couldn't let jealousy drive him. «She just used her powers more than usual.» he simply responded standing up, he couldn't see Dawn, because of the boy who had come between the two of them.

Chad shook his head. «I always told her not to use them too much, that they lead to consequences, even for her.»

Nathan inevitably remembered the first time he had almost seen her cry, when Dawn had told him about the repercussions and downsides of their abilities. He thought that maybe it was Chad who had put those beliefs in her head, which had pushed her to repress her powers so much. Not that it wasn't true, their powers also had negative aspects, but it wasn't right she would end up hating herself or not wanting to use them anymore. They were still part of them.

«Hey.», Chad helped Dawn pull herself up as soon as he saw her opening her eyes again. «How do you feel?»

Dawn, still confused, she brought him into focus. «Chad, what are you doing here?» she asked as she looked at Nathan out of the corner of her eye.

«You didn't answer my phone, and I came looking for you. I didn't expect to find you passed out.», Chad tried to take her hand and she jumped up.

«I'm fine, now go back to the dorms. You shouldn't be in this wing of the institute. It's for Council members only, and it's late to be wandering the corridors.» Dawn pointed out. «You know how my father feels about rules.»

«He would make an exception for me.»

«He wouldn't, not even for me.» Dawn insisted. «I'm going to sleep anyway, see you tomorrow.»

Chad sighed. «But it's becoming impossible to see you.» he whined like a child.

«Rescue missions are necessary.», Nathan finally found the courage to intervene in that conversation.

Chad nodded. «I know, but she could give them up for once.»

«You should know I hate sitting idle. I want to intervene.», Dawn smiled at him. «See you tomorrow.», she walked towards the door and Nathan followed her.

As they walked, Dawn watched him out of the corner of her eye. She was trying to figure out if he was upset by Chad's presence. She brooded so much she feared he might hear her thoughts. She finally decided to reach out her hand for Nathan's. When he felt her fingers brush his, he intertwined them and they continued hand in hand.

Dawn kept glancing at him. It was clear there was something going on in his head but he couldn't find the courage to say it. «What are you thinking about?» she asked him.

«Your powers.» he declared, not looking towards Dawn.

«You feel guilty for not helping me, right?»

Nathan shook his head. «No. Yes, well that too, but that's not what I wanted to tell you.», for a moment he looked for her with his gaze. «I think you should think less about the consequences.» he told her.

She stopped walking – without letting go of his hand – and he did the same. Dawn began to stare at him perplexed. That was a statement that came out of absolutely nowhere. She thought that maybe, while she was unconscious, he and Chad had talked about something.

Nathan looked her straight in the eyes. «I know they have a negative side, but that doesn't mean you have to stop using them. They're part of us, and we use them for the good of others. So it's always worth it, even if there are repercussions.», he gently took her other hand. «Medicines also have contraindications, but that doesn't mean people stop taking them if they make them feel better.»

Dawn smiled. She knew what he was trying to say. He wasn't entirely wrong, actually. She just found very strange the fact that he suddenly wanted to make a speech like that, that he made a real speech, with so many words. She was usually the one trying to cheer him up. «Wow… since you have your abilities back, you have become really wise.», she laughed again and then started walking and he with her. They held hands until they were at the door of Dawn's room.

«Good night.» he said as Dawn entered the room.

«'Night.», she kissed him quickly and then closed the door behind her.