Severin expected to wake up to a sunny morning, but that wasn't what he found when he opened his drowsy eyes.

Dark clouds from last night's storm still festered in the sky, it was almost as if the next day hadn't arrived. The bedroom was dim and the blinds had been pulled apart to let a little light inside. Severin stretched over, when suddenly, he realized that he wasn't in his room.

Severin's tired eyes grew alert and he looked around the room. Zero was sitting in the arm chair, her eyes blood-shot red and her frown was scary grim. She faced the window, just like she was last night, it seemed she hadn't moved an inch since then. Severin looked over the bed and Tom was dead asleep beside Elijah, his leg sprawled over him and his arm over Elijah too. Severin almost laughed when he remembered how his brother was a wild sleeper.

"Did you get any sleep?" Severin leaned up and asked his mate.

Realization seeped into her eyes, she looked at him like she came back to this realm. "No," she answered stiffly.

Elijah shifted beside Severin, when his own eyes opened then too. His soft blue eyes had some life return to them now and he seemed calmer.

"Good morning," Severin greeted first.

"Um, you're squishing me," said Elijah, and it was clear he was talking about both brothers.

"Deal with it," retorted Severin. "We were really scared last night."

Elijah's eyes filled with guilt. He carefully lifted Tom's arm, but Tom still woke up. He rubbed his eyes and looked at them, when his face tensed and he jolted awake. "Are you okay!" he grabbed Elijah. "You scared the life out of me- I mean- us."

Elijah ran a hand through his messy hair when he saw the bandages around his wrist. "I don't remember much," he muttered.

Tom groaned and slumped back on the bed. "It's too early," he complained.

Severin looked at the clock and it was only half past dawn. "You should rest a little longer," he said to Elijah and hoped that maybe Zero would take the advice too.

"I don't-"

Suddenly, Zero rose to her feet making Elijah go quiet. She went to the door and left them in the room. It was clear that what happened yesterday still bothered her.

Tom lifted his head. "Severin, you should probably check on her," he suggested.

Severin would do that, but he let her be for now. Something told him that what she needed was some quiet, rather than him breathing down her neck.

Elijah got out of bed with haste surprising them. He fumbled over the rug and almost knocked over the coffee table when he rushed into the bathroom. They heard the shower turn on right away too.

"I guess it's time to get up," said Severin, as he rolled out of bed.

Tom moaned. "One more hour," he pleaded.

"Get up," instructed Severin. "I was going to take you to work today." Tom groaned little louder now making Severin laugh.

Severin went to his room and showered quickly. He had finished and went to his closet to pick out a suit to wear. He ditched the vest and tie and went for something more casual, and nothing said casual like a simple black suit and matching linen shirt.

Severin had just stepped out the room, when Zero came out of her dressing room too. She was in an ebony leather suit, that clung to her body like a glove. Her hair slightly wet from a shower and it dripped onto the leather around her shoulders.

"Good morning," he smiled at her as he closed the space between them.

Zero blinked a few times. "Um- yeah," she said. "It's not really a good morning."

"Why not?" he jested. "I get to see you in leather, that's good enough for me." He circled his arms around her slender waist and it was divine. She didn't resist, which was even better.

Severin kissed her cheek before he kissed that sweet spot over her racing pulse, the place that emitted the strongest pheromones from her.

Zero leaned into him and sighed. "I'm tired," she whispered.

"You didn't get any sleep last night," he said. "Are you going to be okay?"

Zero took a deep breath, as she hugged him back. She didn't answer and simply stayed with him for a few short moments. Severin didn't mind at all, he stayed however long she needed.

A warmth came from her just before she straightened and stepped away from his reach, facing him with a stern look. She fixed the collar of her suit and held her head high.

"Do you need to go to work today?" she asked.

"Yeah," he told her.

"Alright," she said and moved to go downstairs.

Severin watched closely as Zero held herself with a dignified posture, her strong legs and those sturdy shoulders that carried the weight of the world effortlessly.

"Where'd she go?" Elijah asked as he rushed out of his room, his hair still wet and he was pulling his sweater down.

"Kitchen," he answered.

They both went downstairs, and they found Zero near the sink filling a glass with water.

Elijah flinched. "Is she angry?" he murmured warily.

"She could never be angry at you," said Severin. "She has a soft spot for you, buddy."

Severin watched as Elijah anxiously approached Zero. He faced her back and he didn't say a word, only her name over and over again until she responded.

"Zero," he called out carefully. "Zero."

Zero put the glass of water near a bottle of medication. "Take an antibiotic," she said and moved around him.

"Won't you even look at me," Elijah blurted out.

Zero froze in her tracks. Her cobalt blue eyes that were red looked at him with anguish and strain. "You know how worried I was last night," she said. "I couldn't sleep because all I saw was you."

"I didn't know what else to do," Elijah confessed as he touched his scarred neck.

"Killing yourself isn't the way to go," she said. "I would know... since I've tried myself." They gaped at her. Zero drew in a deep breath. "I'm here for you," she told Elijah. "And I always will be."

"No one told me that before," Elijah's eyes saddened and his voice weakened. "So, I don't know what to do now."

Zero laid her hand on his shoulder. "You don't need to do anything except live your life, because now I'm living it with you," she said.

Elijah's eyes blurred again. "I'm sorry," he cried.

Zero hugged him. "I know," she said. "I'm sorry too."

Severin smiled at them. He had never expected to find himself between a woman who saved whoever she touched and a man who needed her hand more than anything else in the world.

Maya worked in wondrous ways, thought Severin.

In the end, he was glad that Elijah found Zero and that she had his back. Severin remembered his mother and wished she was here to see these two. She would have so much fun teasing Elijah and coddling Zero.

"We should have some breakfast," he suggested.

Severin opened the fridge and took out a bunch of berries and fruit to enjoy this morning. Zero poured some orange juice and Tom arrived then too. He was not happy to go to work, but he cheered up when he saw Elijah back on his feet. Everyone gathered at the kitchen island and enjoyed a bowl of fruit with some Greek yogurt. Zero and Elijah only had coffee, unlike Tom and Severin who were starving.

"I was thinking we should have dinner out today," suggested Tom as he took the spoon out of his mouth. "Don't you think?" He looked at his brother.

Severin didn't really know if that would sit well with Zero. She'd probably disagree, but maybe that's why Tom asked Severin so he could work his charm. And he was just about to when Zero looked at them.

"I think that's a great idea," she admitted while surprising Severin. "We could all enjoy some quality time."

Tom beamed. "Alright then, it's date night," he hopped off the stool and put his dishes in the sink.

"I'll do them," Elijah offered as he got up and went to the sink with his empty cup. He nudged Tom off to the side. But Tom didn't budge, he forcefully stayed to help to the dishes too.

"Cute," Severin mumbled as he saw them together. Severin didn't want to ask but his curiosity got the better of him. "What you said earlier about... killing yourself-" he froze before he uttered the next word.

"Oh, that," she sighed nonchalantly. "It's true."

Severin couldn't believe his own ears.

Zero leaned back, her eyes glowing with an untamed flash of pride. Which Severin thought was strange, since most people wouldn't pride over their darkest moment.

"The first time was when I was seven," began Zero. "I remember that one because it was winter and I was stuck in my shabby house with no money because I couldn't find any work. I think three days had gone by and I hadn't eaten anything nor did anyone care to help. Slowly, I fell into a very dark place. A place that Elijah goes to a lot."

Severin felt his throat tighten, like the muscle itself was chocking him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring that up," he said.

She combed her fingers through her hair. "Telling you doesn't bother me," she said as she turned and faced him. "It seems like that I can tell you everything."

Severin smirked. "I have one of those faces," he gloated.

Zero leaned in. "No, it's your heart."

Severin leaned closer in and laid a warm kiss on her lips.

"Why'd you do that?" she astounded.

"It was about time," he remarked.

Zero grew quiet. "Do you hear that?" she asked grimly, as she turned her head to the side.

"It's probably my heart-" Severin put his hand on his chest- "it's beating pretty fast right now." Zero looked at him and laughed; it was such a sweet sound.

The noise grew and this time Severin heard it too. Zero rushed to her feet and ran to the front door. They all did.

Zero unlocked the door and on the other side was Darren Romero, the man who ran the Maya Sanctuary. He was covered in black ash and his eyes wild with fear. Zero grabbed and anchored Darren bringing him inside.

"The sanctuary," he panicked as he cried, the tears cleaning the soot on his cheeks. "The sanctuary is on fire."

Severin's blood ran cold.

"What?" Zero lost her voice.

"We tried to call you," Darren tried to talk but his throat was coarse and thick with terror. "The phones are dead and yours is too. We couldn't reach you. I didn't want to leave them, but I had to get you."

Zero's anger radiated through her scent, which choked the air out of the room. "Car. Now," she gritted out and ran. Severin followed and so did the others.

Severin saw Zero had ditched the cars and ran straight to her bike. She hopped on and didn't bother looking around her, before she turned the engine on and drove off.

Severin helped Darren into their car and they were quick to follow behind her. No wonder the sun hadn't shined today, it was like it knew that hell was about to break loose.

Severin followed closely behind Zero's bike.

"Darren, what about the others?" Tom asked. "Did everyone get out?"

"Oh god," Darren covered his eyes, that were wet with tears. "The fire was so sudden-" he put his head in his hands- "We didn't know what to do."

Tom shared a worried look with Elijah and Severin.

"Maya, don't do this," whispered Severin. Zero has already been through too much to see another loss today.

Severin pressed on the race and rushed toward the sanctuary. From the far distance, all of them spotted thick columns of smoke, which darkened the sky further. They couldn't see through the smoke and the ground was covered in ash.

Zero stopped and so did they. Severin got out of the car when his eyes feasted on the damage. The flames were angry and fierce as it consumed the entire building. The crackling of the fire overpowered the sound of people yelling to find one another. Darren ran straight to Tyler who was devastated as he stared speechlessly at the fire. Zero ran straight to them and she pulled them away before the weak structure collapsed.

"How'd this happen!" Tyler yelled, his eyes flaming with rage and fear.

Darren shoved a hand through his hair. "I don't know," he cried out.

"How many survived?" Zero asked them. "Where's Diego, Ender, Hagen, the others?"

"We don't know," said Darren. "Everyone was still inside."

More of the building fell and they couldn't believe their own eyes. Severin saw how such a beautiful home was being destroyed in seconds. The fire was ruthless and so was the fear in everyone. There were only a few people standing outside, many lost in the fire.

"We've got one!" A man bellowed from around the building. A little boy in his arms, but what he held didn't look like a body but a corpse.

Zero ran first.

"Oh god," cried Tom. "It's..."

"Diego," said Zero.

Suddenly, the boy's eyes peeled opened. Severin remembered those eyes anywhere, they were bright and beautifully pure.

"Zero," his voice rough.

"Don't speak," she tried to soothe him. "We will get you help-"

"Bad man," he continued. "Bad man...took my friends-" his voice fell and his hand fell too. Zero grabbed the boy in her arms and fell to her knees.

Severin knew right then and there. "Reaper," he said.

"I need to find Hagen," Tyler cried out and he turned to run inside, when the man who helped Diego grabbed his hand. "Let go of me, Shaw!" Tyler shouted. "I need to find my wife!"

"She was the one that helped me get Diego," Shaw said. "Hagen is-" his eyes filled with tears and he looked down.

"No! No, don't say that," Tyler began to cry then. "She's not died. My wife can't be dead!"

Zero laid Diego down and put her jacket over him. She got up and ran into the burning building before anyone could stop her, Elijah ran after her just as fast. Severin saw both of them disappear between the flames.

Severin quickly called the emergency responders and hoped that they would reach them in time. Suddenly, more of the building fell. The entire east side had collapsed and it was visible to see inside the destroyed classrooms and the bodies which fell with the building. Severin had never seen such a horrific scene before. Hellfire was all around them.

Suddenly, when the siren from afar approached, Severin let out a breath of relief. But where was Zero and Elijah? He looked around through the thick ash and couldn't see through his watery eyes.

Another explosion of fire blasted over them, then glass shattered all around them. Severin spotted a figure in the top window, he got closer even though it was hard to breathe and saw Zero jump out of the building, her arms wrapped around someone. Elijah jumped after her with another teacher. All four of them landed on the ground.

Severin rushed over, so did everyone else. She groaned and opened her arms exposing that pink hair, Hagen was in her arms. Elijah let the teacher in his grasp free and she was crying while looking at Hagen. Zero's eyes were masked with grief and so were Elijah's.

Tyler rushed past them to his wife. He grabbed her and called out her name repeatedly, but there was no answer. "Don't do this to me," he sobbed. "Hagen, come back." He held her to him, but there was no response, her body limp and her chest was still as stone.

The fire trucks had arrived and they rushed to get them out of the way. Zero got to her feet and told them what happened and that they may be survivors. Zero was about to get back in there, but they first responders stopped her.

Zero moved back, her hands dirty and wounded laid by her side as her face showed her despair.

The fire finally lessened the moment the hard rush of water rained upon the furious flames. But there was no celebration or relief. As more body bags piled onto the lawn, the more everyone lost a bit of their soul.

Tyler and Darren, a few other teachers stood but that was it. Less than a dozen people had survived. All the kids gone and all the survivors that lived here were gone. Zero stood motionless over Diego's small body.

The fire ended. The lawn was black from the aftermath and there were no remains left. Everything was destroyed.

Severin went to Zero. "We need to get everyone out of here," he told her. "Whoever attacked could come back."

Zero straightened. "This was what Reaper meant," she said. "I took away his slaves and shut down his cages. Now, he burned mine down and took back the kids."

Severin laced his hand in hers. "The others still need your protection," he told her. "We need to arrange a safe house for them."

"My house isn't safe for them," said Zero.

"Then we buy another," he said. "Besides, I already own a few hotels. I can arrange a place for everyone. Reaper can't burn a million-dollar hotel in the middle of Manhattan."

Zero turned and looked at the few survivors who were receiving medical attention from the ambulances parked here.

"Arrange the hotel," she told him. She stepped aside walking towards Darren.

"Hey," Tom came to his side. "This is because of that man, right? Reaper?"

Severin boiled at the sound of that heinous name now. "Yeah," he said, as he pulled his cellphone out and speed dialled his friend. The phone rang and Skyler answered. "I need your help."

Skyler grew stern, Severin sensed it through the phone. "What do you need?" he asked.

"Twelve hotel reservations under anonymous names," he told him. "I need it done right now."

"Consider it done," said Skyler before he called out for his secretary and the phone cut.

Severin ordered a few chauffeurs and cars to pick them up. In under thirty minutes, the cars arrived and the survivors were escorted to the hotel.

A surge of sadness filled him, when he saw the bodies being picked up. Severin looked away, he couldn't see that, it was the same the day his mom died and now again. Loved ones gone in a second. Damn, this world was cruel.