Ethan was listening to the snake's plane, he had only met the protector once, yet he wasn't able to see whatever that creature was. He only saw a very strong light but his appearance was invisible. Also, the voice was unrecognizable, besides that he could still feel a strong presence coming from that light, whatever the protector was it must be a very powerful creature to emanate such a powerful aura without the need of revealing its appearance.

The snakes planned to affect all the animals and create an army, then they would bring all the animals affected to the supernatural creatures underworld, to help them to get free as many demons as possible and take control of the entire world as that happened in the past.

Despite the plan seemed very concerning, Ethan still doubted that was everything they were planing, he was sure there was more under the surface.

Ethan walked closer to the snake he turned the chair in opposite direction and sat leaning his chest on the chair's back.

"Ethan you should do something for us." One of the snakes said seeing him joining them.

The snake who doubted his loyalty earlier smirked, "so maybe we can test your loyalty." The creature added receiving a glower from Ethan.

Ethan swallowed down, he gazed at both the snakes but their facial expression didn't seem willing to accept any excuse or any refusal from him. He took a deep breath, "what do you want me to do?" he rested his head over his hand as he sighed.

"We need you to check on John. He's behaving very weird recently, he killed one snake earlier and we think he may have asked something before he killed our friend."

Ethan widened his eyes unconsciously as he heard John asked the snake something, concerned the snake told his brother about him, he didn't want John to find out he was working with them.

"You have found out for us what he discovered." A snake added gazing at Ethan suspiciously trying to decipher if he was trustworthy or not.

"Alright." Ethan breathed out driving away from his mind the irrepressible urge to roll his eyes.

"Now!" the most suspicious snake said glowering at Ethan who clenched his fist under the table, he really hated that snake. Didn't he know what Ethan was getting himself into only to prove he was trustworthy?

"I have all the time, If I do it n..." Ethan tried to make them change their mind but both the snakes shook their heads refusing Ethan's effort to postpone his task. He eventually gave up,

"Alright then."

Ethan disappeared right after to appear in front of the castle, 'you can do it' he repeated to himself inwardly to find the motivation and to gather the courage to talk to John without being discovered.

He knocked on the door, there were only a few maids that day and all of them were busy cleaning so William was the one who went to open the door.

"Ethan there you are!" he exclaimed. "Come in! John just arrived!"

Ethan offered a smile as he walked inside, John was sitting on the sofa with his legs open and resting his hands on his knees.

He gestured with his hand as he saw his brother walk in, Ethan returned the wave and he sat down on the sofa with him.

"Are you alright?" John asked, he received a nod as an answer.

"William..." Ethan started before clearing his voice, "our father," he rectified, before taking a long breath "told me you went to haunt a snake yesterday. Are you alright?" He asked John who barely lifted his gaze to meet his, he seemed lost in his thought.

"Yes. I was too instinctive, I will try to resonate more next time." John replied hinting at a smile.

"Did you notice something weird about the snake? May he got stronger?" Ethan inquired tilting his head as he waited for an answer which was late to arrive as John took a deep breath.

"No, but I found out something worst." John lowered his voice to whisper to his brother without his father to hear him.

Ethan frowned his forehead as he leaned closer when John continued, "the snake told me about Sharon. She is working with them but that snake also mentioned the existence of someone called protector. Do you know what kind of creature could be called like that?" John asked still distracted by his thoughts.

"The protector?" Ethan pretended to be shocked and forced a grimace of shock like if that was the first time he heard that name.

"I have never heard of someone called protector before," Ethan concluded having John breath in resentment as he pulled his hair back. "Me either."

Silence fell between them for some seconds until John finally gazed at him, "I have a piece of great news. I may have found some people who can ally with us to beat them."

Ethan unconsciously narrowed his eyes hearing John using the word 'us', little did he know Ethan was the one he had to keep an eye on.

"Who are them?" Ethan asked.

John smiled, finally genuinely as he seemed more relieved about that news he was going to tell, "the maids who work for me at Kratez."

Ethan smiled too, seeing his brother happy made his heart melt.

William joined them on the sofa, he sat in the middle of them and opened his arms spread, to hug both his sons.

"I love seeing you happy together. The best gift a father can receive is seeing both his sons getting along together." He whispered with his eyes sparkling in joy and a brittle voice. John and Ethan gazed at each other in the silence, John's eyes were shining in commotion too, he was glad to see his whole family reunited and his thought was reserved for Roselyn and the new family they will create together.. He smiled at the beautiful cheerful vision.