A big kick hit a punching bag while some famous rock songs where at a loud volume on the living room of Croft Manor.

Two fists were in front of a beautiful face; two big brown eyes, her hair where tied in a neat braid and waved with her, another punch came and hit the face of the punching bag.

Lara Croft this morning woke up with the desire to fight, she had a sleepless night just because of a nightmare.

From three months she was doing over and over the same dream: the Strahov, Karel taking different faces: Bouchard, Luddick, Kurtis…

She dreamt also of Cappadocia, with an enormous red and purple light as background

Every figure of diaphanous or colored skin surrounded an albino man with red eyes and a woman with purple skin and yellow eyes. It seems that both of them where looking at her, like she was there. « Apocalypse will come! The Nephilim will Triumph! » those were the words that the man and the woman said together, then these figures jumped into her, make her fall in a black hole, but someone manages to take her hand, squeezing it strongly « Resist! » those were the words, Lara clung to the hand of the man, he helped her to be on the ground.

A woman with very long brown hair and a little girl, no more older then sixteen, from her hand where falling some ice pieces and looked at the Nephilim's with an hard look, same thing the woman.

Lara took her twin pistols from her holster and pointed to them, Kurtis looked at her, biting his lower lip. «Of course, not before destroying this place! » shouted Lara and then she shoot some bullets.

Lara shocked her head and gave a strong kick on the punching bag, making it bounce.

She gave different right-handed punches and a few acrobatics kicks before stopping with the sweat that was going down on her well-built forehead.

The dream was repeating in her head, blurred. Lara sat herself on the sofa and massaging her temples. She had a thousand of questions to do and a thousand answers still to find out. She stopped the music and lift her up from the sofa, moving around the room, with arms crossed on her chest.

Why those Nephilim's said to her that the end of the world is going to be thanks to them and as soon as possible? Why there was Kurtis with her with two unknown women to her eyes?

And also… Why her heart jumped at the through of Kurtis? She was making erotic thoughts about him lately, at the thought of kissing him if she found him safe and sound.

Lara was too proud to admit that she fell in love, but she hid it very well to herself, love was a secondary fact for Lara Croft, nothing more.

She continued to repeat to herself that what she felt for Kurtis was nothing more than a strong attraction, with a palpable sexual tension. Winston once said to her that if she continued to think about him in that way, it was truly love.

Lara took her braid and begun to play with it, until Winston knocked on her door « Yes? » simple like wind the words that exited from Lara's mouth, the old man entered the room staggering, she came closer to him, to make him not fatigue « You have visits » Lara raised an eyebrow, it was only three o'clock in the afternoon and it was a strange hour to have guests. She waved to Winston to sit on the sofa and then she exited from the room.

From the balcony stairs she could see two figures: A man in hand in hand with a blind girl. Lara studied the man, and she jumped when she recognized him.

She came down the stairs, incredulously of who she saw after three months; Kurtis Trent

They found themselves almost immediately face to face, Miranda was looking straight, entering on the role of the perfect blind girl.

Lara couldn't believe in it, she was without words, without air on having him in front of her. The sensations were the same as she felt at Café Metro, she couldn't leave her eyes from his figure « Hi Lara » his words were simple and frank, a smirk was down on his face, Lara's gaze become sweeter and put an hand on his cheek gently and continued to smile, she didn't broke up the visive contact, since she drowned on the blue of his eyes, Miranda studied the behavior of the woman, batting her eyelashes It seems that Lara has the same feeling as my brother for her… thought the girl while Lara moved away her hand from Kurtis's cheek, moving it away and then she gave him a resounding slap to him.

Miranda bit her lip for not laughing at the scene Now I'm sure of it!

Kurtis put his hand on his cheek, it was burning like fire in the feet, obviously he didn't expected a reencounter with tears and hugs and from Lara you could have expected that « What the hell?... Well… Maybe I deserve that. » he said while moving away his hand from his cheek « What do you want from my life Trent? » Lara's words were hard as the rock and a hailstone, Kurtis put his hands on her shoulders, but she moved them away from her, making a sudden movement « Stay away from me! Three months… Three months without having news about you, and now you're here in my home, with a blind girl charged? » she said while indicating Miranda, she felt the rage raising upon her stomach by being called "blind".

She moved away from Kurtis's arm and put an hand on Lara's cheek: « Name's Miranda Trent, I'm Kurtis's twin sister, I'm not blind even if I seem that by normal people, I have vision although I have the prejudice that I'm blind. I'm a Pure Lux Veritatis and that's why I have vision. » Miranda's touch on Lara's cheek was warm and sweet. She couldn't stop staring at Miranda's very black irises. She moved away her hand from Lara's cheek and came closer to the entrance of the Gym, where there was a painting that Lara loved particularly, Art was the secret love of Miranda and when Audrey wasn't with her she studied a possible significate on the painting and the emotion that the painter wanted to give « It must be "The Sheltered Path" by Claude Monet. Painted in 1873. It Is a very pacific painting, It could mean that the person is searching of new worlds and new cultures, of many things to discover. Curiosity makes the host to that person and… I think that you reflect on that person perfectly, Lara Croft. » The adventures was surprised to see the knowledge of Miranda on a painting that she loved so much, she made a little smile to Miranda and then she looked at Kurtis. He took her chin and tried to pull her face closer to his but she moved away, shocking her head and she climbed again the stairs « Winston, prepare two rooms, we have guests »

Lara, after explained all to Winston, was again in the living room, no punching boxes to hit this time, only classical music that was around the room. It relaxed her, it makes her feel calm and free and also without thoughts. Why Kurtis has come? After three months without news about him? Miranda has shocked her, a strong and resolute "blind" girl, with a great confidence on the future and will do anything to free it from evilness and darkness.

She heard footsteps behind her, she turned to see the person's footsteps: It was Kurtis.

Lara shocked annoyed her head at seeing him again, his presence was already intoxicating her without even looking at his face « Well? What do you want? » asked Lara in a pretty rude voice, Kurtis didn't listened to her and put his hands on his back, walking to the stereo and put some music, insistent and sensual. Lara raised an eyebrow, angrily « Well? I can't visit my partner in crime after the Strahov's Events? » he said crossing his arms, making to her a smirk. Lara put her fingers on her temples, her head was fuming of rage and she can't no longer contain it, his voice was poison in her ears, so are his eyes and his face « I've been looking for you for three long months Trent… I didn't find you anywhere » she said while moving away her fingers from her temples, snorting «Also… How can I know that It is really you and that you're not Karel? » she said while crossing her arms to her chest. She still remembers the confrontation at the Strahov, like it was a tattoo, indelible on the brain and on the skin. She couldn't forgive the fact that Karel changed his appearance into Kurtis's, manipulating her mind and doubting that he really existed. Kurtis came closer to Lara, placing an hand on her waist. She placed her hand on his wrist, trying to remove that touch that was poisoning her, but his hold was strong as a rope around the neck « Dance with me… » simple and fleeting words. Lara bit the left part of her lower lip, doubtfully

In the end, she accepted the invite.

They were in the center of the living room, hands in hands, legs that were moving at the pressing rhythm of the tango, Kurtis's hands that were getting her closer to him, while Lara tried to depart from him. She turned and Kurtis took her wrists and turned her again, they were again face to face « Believe me that I was in coma for all this time. » he said while he approached Lara's face, but she was looking at her right , eyes closed and guided Kurtis towards her. She wanted to attract him in a trap and the tango was perfect move to attract him, it was like buying candies to a child « What do you want from me Kurtis? » she asked harshly while she put her leg on Kurtis's waist and her left hand on his chest and her right arm was being pulled from Kurtis and she learned back « I want my Chirugai back Lara, and I need your help » Lara opened her eyes, her gaze became rabid and moved him away suddenly. Kurtis watched her while biting for a moment his lips, then he saw her making a chignon with her braid with a rubber band that she had on her wrist. He unbuttoned his shirt until his mid chest. Lara made a sign with her hand to him to came closer, Kurtis came and took her hips, then he make her arch backward, putting his chest fitted with hers « And for what you need my help? » said Lara while clutched her right arm on his shoulder and he slowly brought her upright, their faces meet again, the tip of their noses were touching and their breathes were closer the one with the other. For Lara, the temptation to kiss him was strong, his lips were inviting her to taste his flavor, she didn't fell such a big temptation. Kurtis took her leg and brought it back to his waist « To find a Temple hidden in Turkey » said Kurtis closing his eyes, she also closed her eyes while she turned on herself, putting her back on the Kurtis's chest, his hands were touching again her hips. He was feeling in harmony with Lara's body, more than when he was with any other women that he had, but Lara was different and he felt it till the bones.

She wasn't a woman that was fascinated by him not only buy his looks, but also on his story behind him, she was an adventurer and mystery was part of her world between dangers and artefacts.

Lara raised her hands till touching his cheeks and caressing them « A temple? » he turned her towards him and they were again face to face, making Lara walking back, his hands still on her hips, the poison of his touch still poisoned her skin but to Lara it didn't matter at the moment, she was attached to him and didn't want to tear away from him « Yes, The Nephilim Temple, You're involved in this as I am. » he said while taking her wrist and turning her again, Lara's legs made an almost split, Kurtis's right arm was tied to her waist, his chin was on her shoulder, while frenetic of the sensuality of the moment, he kissed it. Lara watched him with her eyes almost closed while he kissed her shoulder, Trent's lips on her skin where doing to her a strange effect and felt the shivers down her back while Kurtis put her back upright and turned her, their faces still extremely close to each other. Lara was holding her arm on his shoulders, while the other was free « You're afraid on doing it alone? » she provoked Kurtis while turning her back to him, he touched her shoulder gently for turning again her and they were again face to face. She kept her eyes closed while Kurtis was sensually caressing her shoulders, he didn't mind the question that Lara made in that moment, he was only looking at her while the music was ending. Lara came closer to him, her chest fits with his chest and, suddenly, she lays her full lips to Kurtis's thin lips and the music ended.

His hands still on her shoulders, the eyes closed for the unexpected kiss from her. Lara put her hands on his chest, tasting his human poison, that was poisoning her body and her mind. She broke the kiss softly and looked at him through the eyes, with an hint of provocation in her eyes « You're a coward. » she said with a low voice while tearing away from his body and leaved the room, satisfied of the provocation that she gave to Kurtis.

Miranda had her hands in front of the wall, she took them away suddenly, making a few steps backs and she hit the board of her canopy bed. She had spied Lara and Kurtis while they were dancing tango. She cared for her brother and she wanted to see his relationship with the Tomb Raider.

Miranda sat on the bed, her fingers in a punch through her hair, sighing. Have I made the right thing? She asked looking for a justification for what she has done minutes ago.

Yes, she was justified. She could see secretly her brother's actions since he never talked about his romantic relationships. Even when he was with Elsa he hid it. Miranda never had a love story, for her "issue", so she didn't know the emphasis of a man with a woman and she wanted to get away that damn "blindness" at whatever it may cost. When it will come the moment to show to the world to what she is? That was the question that she asked herself since she was born.

Someone knocked on the door, Miranda went to it and opened it, on the lips of the woman appeared a generous smile while she touched Winston's shoulder and made him enter to her room «Please, have a sit. » she said while taking the silver tray and put it on the mahogany desk « I thought that Ms. Trent would have liked a cup of Tea » said Winston while sitting on Miranda's bed, she shocked her head « No Winston, I'm not that kind of blind… » she said, while taking a lock of her very long brown hair. Winston made a sign to make her sit with her, She didn't hesitate and sat next to him. Miranda studied his face, old and wrinkled, and also his hunchbacked body, tired and stressed for the work. Miranda noticed that Winston was trembling, he began to cough, she gave to him some delicate strokes on the back of the butler « You're OK? » asked her once he stopped coughing. He nodded and looked at the woman with a bitter look « I have a lungs disease Ms. Trent » he said while he put an hand on his chest, Miranda looked at him worried, her eyebrows in a sad expression « I'm weak in this moment, but what's motivating me to continue to work is the paternal love that I have for Miss Croft » Winston looked at her into her eyes. Miranda was touched, a black tear exited from her black eye, that fell on her cheek like a normal tear. « Besides the physical problem that you have Ms. Trent. Think about the love that you have for your brother, he's the reason of your life, am I wrong? » Miranda's face softened. Yes, Kurtis was her hero, more than it was her father. Like any daughter she appraised her father, but with Kurtis she has a special bond, a bond that neither death could break.

In the end, Miranda nodded at Winston's question « Exactly Winston, he's my hero ».

Dark room, with many candles around. Karel was weak, the signs on his skins made him weaker and burned him till his dark and corrupted soul.

His eyes were glowing red as he opened a manhole, where many Nephilim where asleep inside, he took to his arms the body of the Nephilim that he was interested into. The very long and black hair covered the nudities of woman's purple body, her hard look was off since she was in a deep sleep. Karel approached to the face of the woman and gave a light kiss on her lips « Karim… » he said when he stopped kissing her. Karel caressed her face, touching with his fingers the closed eyes, her nose and her lips « I promise you, you will be awakened and we'll bring hell on earth when Lara Croft will find the way on entering on this Temple. » he said while he took back on the manhole Karim's sleeping body, the resting place where all the Nephilim are locked up, the Limbo that the family Heissturm had created. « But for now… » he said turning on his feet at turned back to the manhole and he had three people in front of him. The first man had some European trait and he couldn't be more than forty-seven years old. Graying hair and wrinkles on his cheeks and eyes, dressed with a grey shirt and pants of the same color.

The second one was bare chested, with skeletons on his shoulders and a spear on his hands, he had some tribal pants, on the waist he had a silver belt.

He was a man on his twenties, with black and short microbraids on his hair. The woman couldn't be more than nineteen years old but from her look she looked dangerous; white skin covered in skimpy black and red clothes, and a black mantle, her black hair where loose and she had a Desert Ranger on her side and a saber by black blade. Karel looked at them, one by one, a sadistic smile appeared on his lips « Let's make impossible the lives of the remaining members of the family Heissturm-Trent ».