Rowen blinked in slight confusion when he felt his cell vibrate. 'Who's notifying me?' He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. 'An unknown text? From whom?' Rowen was about to put it away, but then another one came across, and it made him freeze. 'What?' Rowen glanced over at Cye and showed him the text on his phone.

Cye glanced at Rowen in concern. The text said, captured Nephilim along with a picture of Kaye. Cye felt his heart race. Kaye was, or it seemed to be unharmed, but it didn't show her location. Then the two of them saw another text come across. It said to meet outside in fifteen minutes. The two glanced at one another. Was this a hoax, or was it real?

Rowen kept his voice low, "Keep it together, Cye."

Ryo and Sage looked at them, "What's with you two?"

Rowen showed Ryo and Sage his cell and then put it back into his pocket.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ryo asked with a deep frown.

"I'm going to do what the text asked of me," Rowen replied in a quiet tone.

"I'm going with you, Rowen," Cye replied in a matter-of-fact tone. "None of you can talk me out of it."

"I don't like it, but fine. The two of you meet up with this mystery person. But be on your guard." Ryo warned, "We are surrounded by assassins after all."

"No need to remind us, Ryo. Now how to leave without rousing Sana's suspicion?" Rowen inquired, but then he saw Cye storming towards Kento and Sana.

"Kento!" Cye exclaimed as he charged at him head-on and tackled the orange Ronin to the ground.

To say the least. Kento was surprised by Cye's sudden attack, and the two of them got caught up wrestling around on the floor, knocking things off of the long table. Plates and food flew all over the place. The table cloth got tangled up along with the two rumbling on the ground.

After Sana called for security, the two were separated and faced off with one another.

Cye glared at Kento, "I can't believe you! I thought you and I were best friends! What you did to me, to Kaye! It's unforgivable!"

Kento was about to reply as he got to his feet but then saw Rowen get a hold of Cye. "Gomen, I'll take him outside." he yanked Cye along with him towards the front door.

Sage and Ryo watched as Rowen escorted Cye outside and then turned their attention to Sana and Kento. "We apologize for Cye's outburst. He hasn't been the same since, well, the news. Plus, we haven't heard from Kaye in over a week. Cye is still trying to work things out."

Kento felt his heart twist with guilt. But he had to keep up the facade. "Yeah, well, if Kaye doesn't want to be in contact, more in likely she won't."

Ryo and Sage glared at him.

"What? You know it's true." Kento replied in a bored tone as he crossed his arms.

"Wow, Kento, you're a piece of work. I thought better of you," Sage responded in an icy tone.

Kento raised a brow, "Oh really? Coming from a player like yourself, Sage. You have numerous girls fawning over you all the time. I think you're jealous because I found someone before you."

Sage was about to charge at Kento but stopped in his tracks by Ryo as he held him back. "It isn't worth getting into another fight Sage. Come on. We need to check and see if Rowen was able to calm Cye down." Ryo directed Sage towards the exit. He glanced back at him, "I hope you know what you're doing, Kento. Once you figure things out, let us know."

Ryo turned his back on him and then walked towards the front door.

Outside, Rowen and Cye made their way to the meeting place from the text Rowen received. He glanced around and didn't see any security cameras in the area. But in the pitch darkness, it was hard to say for sure if they were being monitored or not. "It's close to fifteen minutes."

"Whoever sent the text better show up soon," Cye said as he glanced around as well. He started to feel more on edge about the meeting.

"I'm right here. I was making sure it was clear."

"Why don't you show yourself, Ammon?"

Sana's son dropped from the tree. He studied Cye and Rowen. "How did you know the text came from me?"

"A hunch, but what we want to know is the texts you sent me are they real? Is Kaye all right?" Rowen asked as he kept his sights on both Ammon and Cye.

Ammon nodded, "Yes, the texts are legit," He turned his attention to Cye, "Your sister is unharmed."

Cye blinked as he stepped back in surprise. "Wait, how did you know?"

"The Jade Thorns do extensive research on their targets before they engage in the mission," Ammon replied in a matter-of-fact tone. "It's also how we know Kaye is a Nephilim and has mystical armor. As well as the rest of you."

"If you know all of this, then why? What possible reason..." Cye started to ask.

"Because my mother and her private assassins had their first run-in with magic a little over a year ago. They received their powers and became addicted to getting more. It's true what they say about power and corruption." Ammon replied in a quieter tone.

"Fine, but you still haven't answered about the location of my sister. Where is she? What happened to her?" Cye asked as he started to feel impatient.

Ammon shook his head, "I won't tell you Kaye's location. But I will tell you my mother's private assassins put a spell on her. It's a suspended animation spell. Close to the kind you and your friends were under when you fought Talpa during the Dynasty Wars."

Rowen thought over what Ammon told them, "Does Kento know about all of this? Is it why he's acting the way he is?"

"For the most part, yes. Kento knows about Kaye being in suspended animation. He has no idea of her location either. My mother is keeping Kaye as an insurance policy to keep Kento in line. She knows full well he still loves her. Sana is counting on the love for Kaye will keep Kento loyal to her and her alone."

Cye's eyes narrowed, his fists clenched, "Your mother is a piece of work."

"Tell me something I don't know," Ammon replied with slight amusement.

"I'm going to take a shot in the dark for a moment. Let's say, for argument's sake, humor me here, will you? Sana somehow threatened Kento into marrying her. Then she threatened Kento with Kaye's capture. All for the sake of what, gathering more power? But what I don't get is why you text me and not Cye? Plus, how did you get my number?" Rowen inquired as he studied the boy.

Ammon nodded, "Yes to your questions about the marriage and threatening. Also, as my mother wanting to gather more power is easy to see. I texted you because out of all of your friends. You seem to be the most level-headed of the bunch. I couldn't risk Sana figuring it was me."

"Why are you trying to stop your mother? Why help us?" Cye asked.

"Sana killed my father. I want revenge against her. It's the only way I came up with doing so. Within the short time frame, I had at the moment. I still haven't figured out her long game yet. But she did have me set up base here in this mansion when she and Kento were getting married."

Rowen frowned, "Alright, but how was she able to get him to marry her in the first place?"

"I had to do a little more digging, but from what I found. Sana threatened his family. As well all of you, if he didn't marry her she would have each one of you killed one by one. Sana would have started with his parents. It's why she sent a small group of assassins to monitor. She had them send a live feed of his family to show as proof to Kento. He had no choice. Sana called off the hit, but it was after the ceremony. My mother is no fool. It is why she then started her contingency plan with the insurance policy with the capture of your sister. Now, do you fully understand?"

Cye and Rowen looked at one another. Their minds whirled with the information they received. Just as they were going to turn their attention back to Ammon, he disappeared. Cye and Rowen looked around. There was no trace of him anywhere Ammon vanished.

"Cye! Rowen!" Sage called out for them as he and Ryo searched for their friends.

"We're over here by the statue Sage," Rowen called back.

"Rowen, what do you make of what Ammon said? Is what he told us the truth." Cye asked him with even more confusion than before.

"I'm not sure, Cye. You're the one we look to for people telling the truth or not." Rowen replied as he kept a watch-out for them. "What do you think?"

Cye shook his head, "I'm not sure. His story seems sound enough. But his vibe seems off. I'm not sure how to explain it."

"When we get home, we'll have a lot to go over to try and figure this out," Rowen said as he waved over Sage and Ryo.

Sage and Ryo hurried to them, "Are you two ok? What happened? What did you discover?"

"We're too exposed out here. I'll fill you both in when we get home." Rowen said as he took the lead back to the jeep.

"Cye? Are you?" Ryo started to ask in concern.

"No idea. But Rowen's right, we need to get home." Cye replied as he walked past him and followed after Rowen.

Sage and Ryo glanced at one another with a deep frown. They hurried after Cye. Then the four of them found the jeep and drove home.

Kento stood on the second floor and watched his friends leave. It was getting impossible every day to put on this act to his friends and family. He wasn't sure how much longer he could do this. But he had to. Sana still has Kaye hidden somewhere, and her threat to Kaye's life was still in play. Kento wanted so much to yell and start tearing the mansion apart brick by brick until he had the whole place destroyed. 'Kaye, my angel. I feel myself being torn apart from the inside. I'm doing the best I can to stay strong, but this is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Furthermore, I feel like I'm going to lose it. I never wanted it to be this way. I should have fought against her from the beginning.'

'Kento...' A familiar whisper drifted into his mind for a split second. His eyes went wide. 'Kaye...' He didn't understand why at the moment he heard her say his name, but she did. Even though Kaye's voice somehow reached his mind. Kento knew without a shadow of a doubt it was her voice reaching out to him. 'Kaye, please, if you can. Speak with me one more time. I have to know for sure it was you.' Kento closed his eyes and waited for his plea to be answered.

'Kento... I'm... With... You... Always... Love... You...'

'Kaye! I love you too.' Kento declared mentally. He opened his eyes and felt a tear starting to brim. He raised his hand and wiped his eyes. It is what he needed. A connection with her, something, anything to know he could stay strong. Kento had no idea of how this was possible, but at the moment, he didn't care. He heard from her, not once but twice. Their bond is even more enduring than he realized. Hearing her voice was what he needed to boost himself up.

"Kento, ah, there you are. I've been looking all over for you."

"What do you want, Sana?"

"It seems your friends left a lasting impression on the housewarming."

"Yeah, well, it wasn't all surprising to me."

Sana raised a brow at him, "Oh? I guess it wouldn't be surprising for your best friend to flip out and attack you head-on as he did. But at least they had the good sense to leave before something else happened."

Kento leaned forward on the railing, "They needed to blow off some steam is all. It's going to take time for them to accept things as they are right now. What did you expect? They'd be open about our union?"

Sana studied him, "No, I suppose not. As long as you remember..."

Kento glared at her from the corner of his eye, "I don't need you to remind me of anything. I understand full well what's at stake."

"Oh and Kento, the next time I reprimand my son. Don't interfere. You may be his stepfather, but I am the authoritarian in this family. Do we have an understanding?"

"Of course, you're more than welcome to it," Kento replied with a slight smirk. He pushed off the railing and turned his back to her.

"Where do you think you are going?"

Kento stopped and didn't bother glancing back, "I'm going to see Kaye in the viewing room. You did say I could go and see her anytime I wanted. If memory serves."

Sana thought about it and then gave in, "Fine, I'll have Ammon waiting for you. He can take you to the viewing room."

"What about you?"

"I have other things to take care of at the moment,' Sana replied with a sharp tone and walked away from him.

Kento gave an internal whoop as he was on his way to the secret corridor in the living room where Ammon stood.