Outside the McDonald's, the person watching Iván was none other than Derek Hale. Last night, he had been keeping an eye on the party where Scott was. When Scott left he sensed something unusual—something coming from a kid named Iván.
Now, after witnessing the encounter with the werewolf, it all started to make sense. The kid wasn't normal. He had something… powerful. Something dangerous.
Magic…
Derek lingered for a moment longer, then decided to leave Iván alone—for now. He turned and headed back to his car, just as police cars rolled up with flashing lights.
"Master, it seems the creep is getting arrested," Lune said calmly, reappearing and settling silently around Iván's neck.
Iván's eyes snapped up as he saw the sheriff placing the man in handcuffs. He leaned slightly forward, trying to catch the conversation.
"You have the right to remain silent…" the sheriff began, reading him his rights.
"What do you think he's getting arrested for?" Iván muttered under his breath.
"Probably a dead body," Lune replied dryly.
Iván shot Lune a look and shook his head.
"Well, whatever it is, he's going to jail—so I won't have to worry about him."
He tapped his fingers on the table, glancing at his sister, who was happily eating her ice cream like there wasn't a single thing wrong in the world.
Having a magical sword was cool and all, but what good were powers if he didn't even know what he was capable of? He wasn't the type to just sit back. He needed answers—he had to know what he could really do.
"Want some? It's good," Sofia said, holding out her ice cream with a grin.
"You know that has a ton of calories, right?"
"So what? Do I look fat? I've got a fast metabolism," she said with a grin.
Iván smiled. Even with everything going on, at least he still had his sister.
"Yes, surprisingly, you're taking all this quite well, Master," Lune chimed in.
"Can you stop with the 'Master' stuff? You make it sound like you're my servant or something."
"Well, I am chained to you," Lune said.
"Okay, let's not get dramatic," Iván muttered, crossing his arms.
"Fine," Lune replied with a sigh. "I'll call you My Lordship instead."
Iván groaned. "That's even worse."
Suddenly, the door to the fast food place opened, and in walked Allison, dressed casually as she stepped up to order. Her eyes landed on Iván—and instantly lit up.
She hurried over. "Oh hey!"
"Hey, Allison," Iván said, giving her a small wave.
His sister paused mid-bite, slowly turning her head toward the newcomer, a mischievous grin already forming.
"Hi, I'm Sofia—his little sister," she introduced herself brightly.
"All this time and you didn't tell me you also have a little sister?" Allison said, surprised.
"Well… you never asked," Iván shrugged. "Wait—you have a little sister too?"
"I do," Allison nodded. "She's been staying with my grandma, but after Christmas, she'll be moving here—assuming we're still around."
"Maybe my sister and your sister could be friends," Iván offered.
Sofia perked up. "How old is she, anyway?"
"She just turned fifteen," Allison replied.
"Yeah… she's two years older than me," Sofia said. "I don't know if we'd get along, so I'll pass."
Iván shrugged. "My little sister could act immature sometimes, but she is very smart—really smart. Her school is even considering skipping her ahead a grade so she might start high school next semester.
"You know I am right here," Sofia said, narrowing her eyes.
"Wow, I didn't realize you were smart," Allison teased. "Your shirt says otherwise."
Cinnamon roll shirt.
"I don't like being called a genius or anything like that," Sofia huffed. "So what if I can solve math problems faster than everyone else?"
"Well, my little sister's pretty smart too," Allison said. "I think you two might actually get along.
Sofia's eyes widened with interest. "Really? What's her main focus?" she asked, taking a bite of her chicken nuggets.
"She wants to find cures for diseases," Allison said. "There's one she told me about—I'd never even heard of it—where people can't leave their homes because their immune systems don't work. It's called CVID. Pretty serious stuff."
"Speaking of diseases…" Lune cut in speaking in his mine. "Did you know, Master, you had early-stage cancer forming in your lungs?"
"What?!" Iván's eyes flew open. "Am I dying?!"
"Don't be silly," Lune said with a smirk. "My power already cured everything wrong in your body—including that. So relax, my dear Master. No virus, no disease, nothing harmful will ever touch you again."
She paused, then added with a teasing grin, "Although… you can still get someone pregnant, so maybe be smart and use protection, hmm?"
Iván groaned and nearly smacked his forehead against the table out of pure embarrassment. His face had gone pale, which caught Allison's attention.
"What's wrong with yo—?" she started, but then her number was called from the counter.
"Well, that's me," she said, standing up with a smile. "Don't forget, Iván—gun range. Set the time and place."
With a wink, she turned and walked off, leaving Iván to silently suffer.
"My, my… she's beautiful," his sister said, her eyes gleaming with mischief like she was already plotting something.
"When are you bringing her over?"
"Sofia, it's not like that," Iván said, flustered. "I mean, yeah, she is beautiful… but I think she's into someone else," he thought aloud.
"Anyway," Iván said, "if you're done, let's head home."
"Fine—but I'm totally telling Mom," she replied with a playful giggle, tossing her trash into the bin as she walked out.
Returning home was easier said than done. Now came the real trouble—the real world and the lives it held.
It was true that I was handling the situation better than most—aside from a little freaking out. But deep down, I should be angry. Angry at my mother. Angry at my father. At the truths they kept from me.
The werewolf. The magic. The truth of the world.
And then the necklace that pulses with strange, mysterious power and the voice that speaks from it.
And now, unknown figures are after it. But I won't let them tear open my chest to take it.
No, my only choice is to understand this power, to master it… and become stronger.
Now, after everything that happened last night… the rush of energy, the sword in my hands—it felt incredible. That power coursing through me felt right.
Iván glanced out at the backyard, placing a hand on the glass door. He closed his eyes, trying to feel that power coursing through him. With each heartbeat, a rush surged through his veins—it felt exhilarating. He chuckled.
"Wow… I wonder if I can heal fast, too. Might be worth testing," he muttered.
"Master, there's no need," Lune cut in. "You do have a healing factor. If you were shot, you'd recover."