Zero and Nini were traveling in a horse-drawn carriage heading to the capital for three days already.

Nini asked Zero excitedly, "What time we'll arrive there tomorrow at the capital?" ​​

"Early in the morning, at around 7:00 or 8:00 if we don't encounter problems on the road tonight," Zero answered.

Nini smiled at Zero and stared at the amethyst ring attached to her finger. "What my parents are like? Are they good, kind, or bad?"

Zero recalled that Nini's parents always treated him nicely every time his family visited the Helix Vanguard Estate. The ten-hectare property was owned by the clan. Inside the property are six large manors, the residences of the clan's children. The leader of the clan likes to have his family living close to him even if they already have their own family, so they live closer to each other in the same place.

Nini asked excitedly, "Can you tell me about my grandparents, my uncles and aunties, and my cousins?"

"Your grandparents fathered six children. They're living in one place and have their residences or manor as we call them. You have a close-knit family, and you will meet them soon. Right now, your family is already planning a welcome dinner party to introduce you to your relatives. You will meet each of them tomorrow evening. Your whole morning and afternoon are to be spent with your parents and siblings," Zero elaborated.

"How many siblings do I have?" Nini asked. "If I remember it correctly, I got two, right?"

"Yeah, I'm glad you still remember what I have told you before," he said.

"Will they accept me? I've been gone for too long. I'm afraid they won't like me," Nini said worriedly.

"Don't worry about that thing. Your family has been looking for you all these years. They never stop looking for your whereabouts. I am one of the people they hired to find you," he explained.

Nini asked, "After you bring me to my family, you are no longer going to see me?"

"Yes. My job is to find you, and I have already accomplished that. It's about time to continue living my life the way it should be," he answered.

Nini's face turned sad.

"Why are you looking sad all of a sudden? What's wrong?" he inquired.

"You and Granny Menedelia are the first person that I meet after I left my prison. I'm going to feel sad if I can no longer see you. I considered you as my friend," Nini replied.

Zero smiled. "Don't worry, if I will visit the manor, I will look for you to say hello to you," he said.

"Thank you!" Nini spoke, her face lighted up again. "Where are you going to stay after you finished bringing me to my family's house?"

"I'll go back to my parent's house."

"Where is that? Far from my place?"

"Yes. My family's manor was situated at the far end of the city. While your place was located at the other end," he explained.

"Don't forget to visit me from time to time, okay?" Nini requested.

"Sure, I will!" Zero replied.

"Thank you for answering all my questions about the world of humans. I understand that we are shapeshifters and living differently from humans. Why does my family live among humans?" she asked.

"Your family's place is not exactly situated in the center of the capital. It was located in the outskirt area but still part of the city. Our shapeshifters clan has no problem mingling and associating with humans and live among them peacefully. Although our existence is a big secret to humans and we don't reveal ourselves easily to them. It's not prohibited to befriend them and sometimes marry their kind. As long humans treat us fine, then we will treat them the same," he elaborated further.

"I see," Nini said and asked again, "How about Granny Menedelia and Rebecca? What is their origin?"

"Rebecca is a demon, while Granny? I have no idea. I'll ask her if I will see her again," Zero replied.

"Granny can see a glimpse of the future, right?"

"Yeah..."

"It would be nice to see Granny once again. If you will see her again, can you bring her to our place so that I can meet her again?" Nini said.

"Sure! I'll bring her to the capital next time if our path crosses again," Zero spoke.

"Thank you! You're so kind to me!" Nini smiled at him brightly. She yawned and covered her mouth. "I'm going to sleep now," she said.

Zero nodded his head and spoke, "Okay, sleep well. I will look over you."

Nini lay down on the wooden seat and closed her eyes to sleep.

Zero won't dare close his eyes tonight. This is a critical time! He must bring this missing daughter back to her family to complete his mission. He hopes there'll be no ambush or anything of such kind happening tonight so that they can arrive at the capital safe and sound.

...

Meanwhile, across the miles, at Menedelia's place.

The two women were talking to each other in the tiny living room.

Rebecca asked, "Grandma, are you going to the next town tomorrow to continue finding a place to rent for your shop?"

"No need. I have decided to lie low for a while. This is the safest place for you and me, especially that you are pregnant. We still have enough money that we can use for our daily sustenance so let's just stay where we are," Menedelia answered. "I will just continue planting vegetables and crops in the backyard so that it can somehow help with our daily food," she added.

Rebecca's brows furrowed, she asked, "Why did you change your mind, Grandma?"

Menedelia released a deep sigh. "I have a feeling that the maker of that light is hunting me down right now," she replied.

"But why?"

"I was supposed to die in that place, but I survived. And they probably already know that I have seen what they are planning after I read Nini's future," Menedelia explained.

A frown appeared on Rebecca's face. "I don't understand..."

"They will be using Nini to slaughter her own family one day, and I was able to warn Zero about what's going to happen in the future. That's why I told him that the girl needs to be isolated right away from the rest of her family so that the massacre in the future can be avoided. I already told you about that..." Menedelia said.

"Yes, I remember that. The one who kidnaps the baby must be the enemy of Nini's parents, and they want to use her to get their revenge, am I right?" Rebecca spoke.

Menedelia sighed. "That is my initial guess, but I don't know the whole story. I could be wrong. That is one theory that pops up in my mind after learning the girl's future," she said.

Rebecca asked, "So, what if Zero won't believe you? What's going to happen?"

"Well, I have told Zero about that issue. It's up to him what he will do about it. That's no longer my concern. Honestly, I like that guy! He is very generous to me. He gives us lots of money. I hope that when Nini began losing her sanity and massacre her family, he is not with her during that time," Menedelia muses.

Rebecca began yawning. "Grandma, let's sleep now!" she said.

"Okay," Menedelia agreed. Tomorrow she will go to the town to buy more hens and roosters and raised them in the backyard. Those domesticated animals can produce eggs and meat someday.

The two women retreated into their respective rooms and went to sleep.

Meanwhile.

Back in the moving horse-drawn carriage.

Zero was fighting the urge to sleep. It's already past midnight. He rubs his eyes, forcing them not to shut down.

Then suddenly, the carriage stopped moving.

His brows knitted together. "What's going on?" He opened the window and looked at the other carriages ahead and the one behind. The carriages are the escorts that will accompany them to the capital. Inside the carriages are his men ready to defend them if they will encounter an ambush in the road.

The surrounding area is quiet, nothing suspicious.

"Men, what's going on? Why are we stopping in the middle of the road!?" he shouted.

He was greeted with an eerie silence.

No one answered him, that's weird!

He was about to leave the carriage to find out what's going on when suddenly he smells a strange sweet fragrant drifting into his nose. "What's that smell? Where did that come from?" he murmured aloud. The surrounding area of the road was submerged in pitch darkness.

Suddenly he feels sleepy, and his eyes were shutting down on their own accord. He drifted into a deep slumber.

The time stood still.

A bright light that looks like a golden thread entered the carriage through the window and struck Nini's head that lasted for a few minutes.

Then the light suddenly vanishes, and the window closes on its own.

A few minutes later.

The carriages began moving again.

Zero and Nini slept soundly in their carriage.

The next time Zero opened his eyes it was already 6:00 in the morning.

He rubbed his eyes. Damn! He had fallen asleep last night. He wasn't supposed to!

He opened the window of the carriage and noticed that they're about to enter the entrance of the capital.

They finally arrived without any delay!

Fantastic!

Nini opened her eyes and looked outside the window. "It's morning already!" she smiled.

"Yes, it is..."

She asked excitedly, "Did we already arrive at the capital?"

"Yes, we're about to enter the capital, and we will pass buildings and establishments anytime soon," he replied.

"Great!" Nini squealed in delight.

Zero smiled while watching the girl's excitement, it rubbed on him.

Suddenly his mind recalled what happened last night. The last thing he remembered before he dozed off is that the carriages stopped moving. And he smells a strange fragrance that comes from nowhere, after that, he finally drifted into sleep.

'Was that a dream?' he asked inwardly. He got a nagging feeling that its not! But since nothing bad happen to them on the road, he will not think much about it.