Verus amor nullum novit habere modum

"She knows about us, about the doctor's work. She knows too much," I replied.

"I... " Jennifer was sobbing. "I only know that my father wanted a woman. He wanted a son, a male heir. That's all I know, I swear. I didn't know about the doctor or Maysun's mission. Please, let me go to my brother. He's the only family I have left, the only one worth anything."

"He wanted to create a male heir through genetic manipulation. And you say you have a brother of his?"

"Nahuel never got along with my father," Jennifer confirmed. "He always resented him, never forgave him for his mother's death."

"Why would Joham want another male heir...?"

"I don't know... that was something only he and Serena knew," she told us, looking at us.

I thought about it, mulling it over in my head.

"I'm going into the cabin; don't lose sight of her," I told Kaori.

"Yes, my G."

Inside the cabin, there was only a laptop. It was heavily encrypted, and all the passwords were well hidden. Joham had used the most advanced algorithms. While scanning its directories, hidden folders, and suspicious images, I noticed he had been using steganography techniques to hide the data he was working with.

Based on what I could review, he was aware of Dr. Petrov's work, and his ultimate goal was to create a hybrid with a gift. For that, he needed to find human candidates with the right characteristics. He was also advanced in the field of genetic manipulation and had been collecting data from his recent online activities. That was probably how he managed to detect my attempts to find his data.

"He seems to have used different VPNs and Tor, and he managed to catch me using Wireshark, analyzing all the computer's internet activity. He left nothing to chance; he knew I would come for him. He was preparing and constantly moving."

Wireshark is a software tool that allows for the analysis and monitoring of network traffic on a computer or device. It captures and records data packets sent and received on a network, including information like IP addresses, protocols, ports, and packet contents. This provides a detailed view of network traffic and can help network administrators troubleshoot issues, detect anomalies, or identify potential security threats.

"Of course," I thought. "He used different VPNs and Tor, and he managed to catch me using Wireshark, analyzing all the computer's internet activity. He left nothing to chance; he knew I would come for him. He was preparing and constantly moving."

"Leaving my digital fingerprints... very clever, Joham, very clever. But you didn't count on my dear Kaori," I reflected as I extracted the information.

Before leaving the cabin, I destroyed all the hard drives, burned the RAM, the CPU, and threw everything, along with the motherboard, into the cabin, which I set ablaze.

"Well," I said as I walked out. "It's all over for him, my dear Kaori. Jennifer, you can go to your brother. Although before that, I'd like to ask you a question."

Jennifer stood up and looked at me skeptically. With an eye on the saber, I asked her, "Tell me."

I took a strand of Anastasia's hair and held it near her nose. Kaori grimaced and covered her nose. Jennifer smelled the strand and said:

"Female, vampire, mixed diet. Wait... I think I remember."

Kaori looked at me seriously, and I responded to Jennifer, "Go on."

"I could only smell her when I was on my way to the United States, hunting in an urban area in Seattle. I haven't seen her, but I think I recognize the scent."

"In Seattle?" I responded thoughtfully. Why would Anastasia go to Seattle? Why cross to the American continent?"

Jennifer and Kaori just shrugged, and we decided to leave. Jennifer thanked us and headed south. Kaori and I headed to Seattle and sat by a waterfall, in a cave.

We held hands, and Kaori said, "G, I was so scared of losing you. It was really terrifying."

"Well, at least it's all over now, right?" I smiled. "Mission accomplished?"

"Mission accomplished!" she exclaimed, got up, and struck her characteristic pose, which she called the "Sailor Senshi-pose." We laughed for a while. "I don't think I could ever get bored with you," I told her.

Kaori sat back down beside me, wrapped her arms around mine, cuddled up, and sighed, this time in thought.

"What's on your mind?" I asked her.

"I want to go with you, G. But I don't know how long we'll be traveling the world. Wouldn't you like to settle down with me somewhere, together?"

I knew what she meant, though the question was moot. She wanted to be with me, but she also longed to return to Japan. Her dream, her mission, was to go back and serve as a protector in her homeland, and our relationship was changing things. I had to return to Chile, and from there, I had no idea where to go. It was likely I would have to keep traveling; limiting my abilities to just one country meant not fulfilling my purpose.

"Do you mean Japan?" I asked her.

"It could be, but if you prefer, we can consider another place."

"You've put in so much effort, risked your life to free your country from Yui and her followers. And you'd give it all up for me?"

"Of course! True love involves sacrifices and commitments. Often, we have to give up things we like to be with those we love."

I pondered. "And if I give up all this and go back to Japan... forming a group or coven with you there wouldn't be a bad idea, but what about my cousins? Vampires in the rest of the world? My mission? I'm sure I found Kaori for a reason. There must be a purpose behind us."

"G, stop tormenting yourself with your thoughts. Let's go to Seattle and see how things unfold along the way. Okay?"

"Okay..."

With a kiss, we lay down, and I quieted my mind. I put my thoughts aside and let myself be carried away by Kaori's caresses and warmth. Every day in the lives of vampires like us could be our last.

As night fell, we got ready and started our journey to Seattle. I had no idea what we would find there, so we ran together. Every time we ran alongside Kaori, she'd look at me with a teasing smile and run with her arms behind her.

"Why do you always run like that? Is it some kind of more aerodynamic technique?"

"It's like Naruto, G! Haven't you seen it? It adds so much style! Give it a try, come on!"

We stopped, and she put my arms behind me, showing me how to run. I stared at her and tried to imitate her movements.

"Ichi... Ni... San... Ii desu ka?... Sutāto!" She shot off.

"But I don't know Japanese...". It was a race, I followed her lead, using her pose.

"Come on, G, if you catch me, I'll give you a prize!" she looked at me and winked.

She was quite fast and agile, more than me. I tried to catch her however I could, but she managed to evade me quickly. The forest grew denser, and suddenly, I could smell human blood. Kaori stopped suddenly and said to me:

"G, I smell something!"

Before she could finish, a large granite rock hit me, sending me several meters away. I could hear Kaori struggling against two individuals. I managed to free myself from the rock with my hand and the saber, and I saw that both guys had her trapped, one grabbing each arm. They were about to dismember her.

I quickly threw the remaining tasers and activated them. Both were completely immobilized, and I started approaching with the saber in hand. Kaori was ready to decapitate one.

"Wait, love," I said softly. "I want to know what these guys want."

While one of them convulsed on the ground, I allowed the other to speak.

"What are these things? Hey, hey... was it just for food, huh? I thought they'd take our food, nothing personal."

"Well," I said. "If there's nothing more to talk about..." I ignited the blade of the saber and killed the other individual. As I watched his companion being engulfed in flames, the first man quickly added:

"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes... man, yes, there is something. Look, we came from far away, from Canada. We came to make a presence." He paused, swallowed, and continued. "The Volturi issued a call for the execution of a coven couple. They created an immortal child, and for that reason, they will be executed. Several vampires have been summoned for this purpose. Haven't you been called?"

I looked at him strangely and asked, "Who are the accused?"

"The coven from Folks. The parents will be executed alongside their immortal child," he responded seriously.

In an instant, I stopped abruptly. "Something isn't right..."

"What's happening, my G?" Kaori responded.

Some satellite images showed me abnormal activity suddenly concentrating around the town of Folks, Washington. I could notice a large number of vampires near the area. Many covens were approaching, and it seemed the Volturi were heading to the town with a massive number of vampires. I concentrated as much as I could and tried to pick up other sources to gather more information.

"It must be something very important for so many vampires to gather in such a small place. Maybe even a battle is being prepared," I told Kaori about the event and how strange everything seemed.

"We should go, G. If it's something important..."

"Perhaps..." I thought, holding the weapon that Dr. Petrov had placed in the electric glove. But it wasn't just a weapon; it was a chip. And not just any chip, but one with multiple assembly pieces. "Perhaps... the last resort... the vampire annihilator..." Then I looked at one of the smoke bombs. "If I could... use it there..."

"Use what, G? What are those things you have?"

"The last resort... The most powerful thing I have. The man who helped me create my weapons left this for me before he died. He didn't manage to tell me what it was, but I deduced it myself... This... this is... a weapon of mass destruction."

"Oh God, G. And you're carrying that around the world, at the risk of it exploding?"

"No, it only works when all the pieces are assembled."

"But... what if the Volturi or other vampires find out? Do you plan to blow yourself up with that?"

"Um... I don't know. It's supposed to have a time window, although vampires are fast... at that moment, the Doc and I thought of exterminating all vampires, but let's say I wasn't very convinced by the idea. I rather wanted to find Anastasia... No, I have to return to my village."

"I'm not going to a vampire gathering to be blown up by a... nuclear bomb."

"I know it's wrong, but I only have it for a very... very specific case. And as I said, it needs to be assembled to work..."

The man saw the devices and his face reflected visible shock. "Dude... you're crazy... how do you have all these wea—"

I cut him off with the saber and stepped back a couple of steps with Kaori.

"If we go, we don't know what we're facing! Many vampires with special abilities will gather," she exclaimed.

"It seems the accused are forming their own group. They will likely face the Volturi. We could join them. The downfall of the Volturi would be a great victory to start a new life and give hope to humanity. But we don't have enough information about their abilities," I replied.

"G," Kaori looked at me seriously. "If we go, we don't know what awaits us. We barely escaped from battles against Yui and Joham. This is a big deal."

"I'm sure they have a plan." I looked at the bomb and thought, "They probably won't trust us, and we'll lose our anonymity in front of many vampires. We'll lose our best card, the element of surprise."

"So, what are we going to do, G? I'll go with you wherever you go, you know that."

I looked at Kaori, remembering all our moments together and how happy she had made me. But I knew how unfair it would be for her to give up her dreams and missions.

"Tell me the truth, be honest. Do you want to go back to Japan?"

She looked down, then looked me in the eyes and then away. I stood up and searched her gaze.

"Look me in the eyes, please. Look at me. Do you want to go back to Japan? Be honest."

She looked at me with a pained expression. "Why do you want to know?"

"Please, I'm begging you, tell me the truth..."

"Don't do this, G. Please," she hugged me and hid her face in my shoulder, sobbing.

"Don't make it hard for me. Don't avoid me. Tell me," I felt a lump in my throat.

"Yes!" she exclaimed. "Yes! But I want you to come with me... come with me."

I looked around, turned my head. "I can't, you know I can't."

After a long pause, she finally gathered the courage and said to me:

"Are you leaving me, G? After everything we've been through together?"

"Your heart is asking you to return to your homeland, Kaori. I can feel it, I'm not stupid. I can see the melancholy in your eyes. It's not fair for you to give up your destiny for me. You must return and be what you always dreamed. I don't want to clip your wings."

She looked at me, between sobs, and with a slight smile, said, "It was beautiful while it lasted, wasn't it?"

I nodded my head, sobbing, looking to the side and clenching my hands at my waist. "Yes, it was. It was."

"But we have to move forward, right?" she confirmed.

"Yes," I looked down, slowly stopping my sobbing.

Kaori took my backpack and pulled out two wires from it. She created a bracelet for each of us with them. I wound one of the wires several times around my right hand, and the other she tied around her own hand.

"I'll carry mine with me always, G. Remember that I'll never forget you, and wherever you go, I'll carry you in my heart." She put her hand over her chest and bowed to me.

"Likewise, my Kaori. I want you to know that thanks to you, I've learned to love again. You managed to take all the pieces and put them back together. Thanks to you, I can feel and live again."

Before she left, I took the device that had been prepared for communication between Nina and her father, which had never been used, and told her, "If at any time, in case of emergency, you need help, use this, and I'll come for you."

"Are you going to attend that meeting with the other vampires?" she asked worriedly.

"Don't worry, I won't go. I have more important things to do. I need to return to my village; my family needs me," I smiled.

"Then... this isn't a goodbye, G. It's a see you later! Alright?" She waved her hand energetically as a farewell gesture.

I raised my hand and waved. She ran towards me, I hugged her, and held her tight against me. We finally shared one last kiss, then she disappeared quickly into the dense forest.

I pulled up my hood, looked at the wire, and murmured as I read another page of the book:

"Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart."