3:00 A.M.

XXIV

Not even a drop of needle before his eyes can make him blink. It's as though time had slowed down as we waited for the next move.

The guards stood in sheer astonishment on their friend who is sleeping soundingly on the cold rooftop floor.

"Were you hurt?" Auberon asked, his voice sounded authoritative. Gone is his friendly approach towards me. He spoke like a man his age, not using formalities with me anymore.

I shook my head.

"Who is he?" Lucas whispered to me.

I looked at him and mouthed 'later'.

"What were you doing here?" I asked, my eyes darting from the guards to Auberon. I had to make sure they weren't coming for us again.

He shrugged, "Boss said to wait here."

"My father told you? Why?"

I never would have thought Dad would go for Auberon for help. I mean, I know he's supposed to be my brother but there were a lot of other people, why him?

"I don't know myself. He instructed me to follow and escort you." He explained, all the time not tearing his eyes from the guards standing in front of him.

He looked at them as though their his priceless possession.

"Please, hurry and go now. More might be on their way here." He said.

"I can't just leave you. You won't be able to handle them all."

He didn't answer and instead launched himself towards the remaining guards. I tried to keep tabs of what's going on but he was so fast.

His movements were clean but precise.

The first guard threw his fist at him so did the second but he was able to dodge those with ease by adjusting his feet and crouching before giving the same fast blow to the first and a clean roundhouse kick to the second.

The others didn't waste any time and had lunged, punched and kicked him all at once. Just like the first two, he was able to apprehend them within seconds while not even sweating a bit.

I had sensed something was off with him but I didn't expect him to be skilled in fighting. Was that why he seemed to be someone who had gone through a lot because he actually did?

Just who are you, Auberon Kazan?

He's supposed to be my mysterious, cunning brother but now, while he saved us and fought the guards, there's a shadow of a man standing tall with pride coming from him and I can't help but feel respect.

Did Dad knew about this? Was that why he sent Auberon to help us?

He stood straight and adjusted his coat before looking at us with an arched brow, "You were saying?"

I didn't know what to say. I looked at the guards who are all sprawled across the cold floor and immediately felt guilty.

"Did you have to knock them out?" I asked, still looking at them with pity.

Auberon only shrugged. Lucas then stepped forward and offered his hand to Auberon.

"I don't think we have been introduced, I'm Lucasinto Roscoe."

Auberon lit up, suddenly back to his smiling, Clark-Kent self, "I recognized you Mr. Roscoe. I'm Auberon Requiroso, I work for the FOULKE Empire."

Lucas nodded, "Requiroso, are you perhaps Italian?"