Part 6

The morning was clear, and the birds took flight, taking advantage of the good weather. The inhabitants of Sorine began their daily routines, and the market in the main square was starting to set up. Long hours had passed, and poor Nasai hadn’t heard anything from her sister. A sleepless night had left her with noticeable dark circles under her eyes. And just as she was about to give up and contact the police, the unmistakable creak of the front porch echoed through the house.

Without thinking twice, she got up from the hallway bench and rushed toward the door, her face streaked with tears. Slowly, a small freckled face with a guilty expression peeked through the door.

“I’m home. What’s wrong?” Yuna asked, worried when she saw her sister’s tear-streaked face and pushed the door open to step inside the house.

Realizing Nasai’s state might be due to her having been missing for an entire night without giving any sign of life, Yuna’s face filled with shame and guilt once more.

“Well, I know I…”

She tried to explain when her sister cut her off, throwing herself at Yuna and enveloping her in a tight embrace, tears flowing freely.

“I…I thought something had happened to you,” Nasai managed to say through her sobs.

“Oh, come on, crybaby. Relax, I’m perfectly fine. Can’t you see?” Yuna tried to reassure her, returning the hug and gently stroking her back. “I’m sorry, little one. I know I made you worry, but everything’s okay,” she continued to soothe her, not entirely convinced of her own words.

Yuna continued comforting her little sister until Nasai’s heart finally felt at peace.

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The colors of the sunset peeked over the horizon. The last songs of the blackbirds bid farewell to the sun, which left behind a beautiful winter landscape as it set.

The mansion, as always, felt abandoned due to its large size and the small number of people living in it. Inside Vincent’s office, silence reigned, accompanied by the crackling of the wood burning in the fireplace.

Vincent Dokovic, seated comfortably in his brown leather desk chair, kept his gaze fixed on the flickering flames, deep in thought and calm. Moments later, his younger brother entered through the door, and upon noticing Vincent's reflective state, he immediately understood what had happened.

“You let her go,” Patrick accused, seeing his brother lost in thought.

“I couldn’t stop her,” Vincent defended, lifting his eyes to meet his brother’s.

“You know they'll attack her again.”

“I know. But all in due time. She will come to us willingly,” the elder Dokovic replied, rising from his seat with the intent of heading to his massive library and resuming his reading.