The hospital corridor echoed with the sharp sound of Katrina's footsteps.
She paced back and forth, her arms crossed against her chest, her gaze fixed on a closed door as if she could force destiny to open.
"Still nothing…" she murmured, her voice trembling.
The automatic doors suddenly opened.
Ray rushed in, his face tense, his eyes scanning the hallway before stopping on the group.
—What's going on? he asked, worried. Where is Miria? How is she?
He had barely finished his sentence when Klaus moved forward with slow, heavy steps, his gaze hard.
— Do you still dare to ask that?
- …How so ? Ray replied, unsettled.
"Don't act innocent," Klaus growled. Just tell me one thing: isn't this all your fault?
Ray frowned, genuinely surprised.
- Pardon ? What exactly are you talking about? If you accuse me, then show me proof.
Before Klaus could respond, a figure appeared at the entrance to the hallway.
Asher.
He was pale, visibly weakened, his wrist bandaged, supported by Isabella.
The group turned around in one movement.
— Asher! Katrina exclaimed, rushing towards him. What happened to you?
Ray only looked at Isabella. His look was a mixture of anger and suspicion.
Isabella noticed it but ignored it.
Asher took a deep breath before speaking:
—It's Ray…
The silence fell, brutal.
—He kidnapped me. He held me prisoner. If I'm here... it's thanks to Isabella. She helped me escape.
- What ?! Klaus roared, turning to Ray. But what came over you?!
Ray took a step back, stunned.
— Are you serious?! Asher is a vampire!
—And then?! Katrina replied without hesitation.
Ray turned to her, shocked.
— Mrs. Katrina… did you know that?
"Yes," she replied coldly. Miria too. She's known it for a long time.
Ray was speechless.
"Besides," she continued, "Miria and I are witches. So… what's the problem?
Ray ran a hand over his face, confused.
—Why... why didn't she ever tell me anything?
Klaus stared at him, unforgiving.
"And you, Ray… did you tell Miria the truth about your lycan nature?
Ray slowly lowered his head. The silence spoke for him.
"There you go," Alix intervened, bitterly. So why should Miria trust you with her secrets... when you're hiding yours from her?
The voices continued to rise in the hallway...
But in Miria's room, the silence was otherworldly.
Lying unconscious, she was breathing weakly.
A shadow formed near his bed.
Fishlegs appeared, a sick smile on his lips.
"Finally…" he whispered.
He leaned down and picked her up with disconcerting ease, holding her against him.
At the same moment, Asher put his hand to his chest.
— No... something is wrong...
Panicked, he stood up despite the pain.
— Asher, wait! Katrina protested.
But he was already moving forward, wavering, followed by the others, confused and worried.
He opened the bedroom door...and collapsed to his knees.
His gaze froze.
Fishlegs was there.
Miria, inert, lay in his arms.
- Miria... Asher breathed, reaching out his hand towards her.
Hearing his name, his eyelids twitched.
She opened her eyes slightly, still lost, drowsy.
"A… Asher…" she whispered weakly, reaching out her hand towards him.
Then—
A breath of shadow.
An unreal beat.
Fishlegs disappeared.
Miria with him.