Eliot decided to close the restaurant early. There were only a few, very drunk, hunters hanging out by the bar and the sun was about an hour or so away from rising. Lovino and Antonio had left a while ago, the latter insisting on escorting Lovino back home– something Antonio always did no matter how many times Lovino told him not to. Much to both Antonio's and Eliot's surprise, Lovino hadn't uttered a single word against it. He merely clutched Lar's note in his hand and headed to the exit, muttering 'hurry up' to Antonio before completely closing the door. Antonio looked baffled for a second before running out of the building, shouting at Lovino to wait for him. They had completely forgotten about Eliot, it seemed.

He would have been offended had he not been so worried for Lovino.

Bella hadn't told him the full story, but he knew enough to know that Lovino had made a deal with some red-eyed demon when he was only ten years old. The demon had apparently been rather eccentric in the details– instead of the usual ten-year rule, the demon offered to wait for the boys to turn eighteen to fulfill the contract – and it bothered Eliot. Demons had a set of twisted values they followed, which was what made them a bit easier to hunt down, but this one was different. This demon had not only been able to keep himself anonymous throughout the years, but also managed to keep a low profile– no sightings or contracts whatsoever. There weren't many demons with the self-control to be able to do that.

If only there were more hunters willing to cooperate. Many from local areas had looked for information as a late courtesy to Julius Vargas, but would not actually involve themselves in such a twisted situation. Eliot could hardly blame him- he himself was anxious about the whole thing. There were too many risks, too many things that could go wrong. It was practically suicidal to even try to fight against such a shrewd demon but Lovino wasn't risking his life for himself. It wasn't even for revenge for his grandfather. This was all for the sake of the youngest of the Vargas siblings, Feliciano Vargas.

It left a bitter taste in his mouth to think that Feliciano knew nothing about the lengths his older brother would go for him, but that was how Lovino wanted it to be. Bella and Eliot had tried to make him see reason, but it was no use. Lovino truly took after his father and grandfather– always putting himself second when it came to people he cared deeply for. He truly was a Vargas, Eliot mused.

After cleaning everything up and locking the front door, Eliot went upstairs to his small apartment. He pulled out a cigarette and a lighter and placed the stick between his teeth as he tried to light his cigarette. He rarely smoked, especially before sleeping, but he felt too jittery and tense. He doubted he could get a goodnight's rest, anyway, what with him constantly thinking about demons and contracts and sacrifice.

Eliot gently ran a hand over the scar on his right eye. "When someone sacrifices themselves for their family," He mused, "it never has a happy ending."

Lovino made his way through the empty streets of the town with his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket. There was a chill in the morning air that suggested the first morning rays of sunshine would soon begin to peak out from the horizon. Soon enough the townspeople would begin to wake up and begin the day oblivious to the creatures of the night that hunters like him faced constantly. It wasn't as if Lovino harbored any bitterness towards anyone because of this, but there were times, however, when he felt put off by their ignorance and wished that monsters and hunters were common knowledge– things would simply be easier if the common people were aware of what lurked around in the dark.

But then he would remember the look his brother wore the night their grandfather–no, the monster that resembled their nonno– had tried to kill them. Feliciano's dilated pupils and pale skin, the tears running down his cheeks and his screams that wouldn't stop until his voice went out, it was all burned into Lovino's memories with a painful clarity. He didn't blame Feliciano for wanting to forget, not anymore anyways. Had he'd been offered the same deal…

"Lovi…"

Lovino stopped in his tracks, his boots making one last loud click against the cobblestone pavement. He turned his head back just enough to catch a sight of Antonio's figure a few steps behind him, halting his steps only when he was right beside Lovino in the quiet streets of the town. Antonio sported a wide smile that Lovino knew meant he was about to say something ridiculous.

"We haven't eaten gelato in a while."

Lovino stared at Antonio dumbfounded. He knew Antonio was horrible at reading the atmosphere, but to think that he was this clueless, "…Are you an idiot?"

Antonio actually had the audacity to look shocked. "Why do you say that?"

"B-because!" Lovino sputtered, affronted by Antonio's oblivious personality. "We have to kill a demon in less than 24 hours and instead of being nervous you fucking think about eating ice cream! Are you even human?"

Antonio's eyes widened. "That's mean, Lovino. Of course I'm human-"

"That's not what I meant!" Lovino huffed. The urge to smack Antonio was increasing with every word the Spaniard said. "It's creepy how calm you are."

"Heh, I'm not as calm as you think." Antonio laughed nervously. "Honestly, I'm scared for tonight. My hands are trembling, see? But panicking won't make anything better. My brother used to say that to me all the time. So, I'd rather think about other things than freak about something I can't avoid."

"And gelato's that thing?"

"I was thinking about your birthday, actually." Lovino's face warmed up. "Eighteen is an important age, after all. I was thinking we could get gelato in the evening since Bella and Lars will want to spend the whole day with you. Oh, and maybe we could go to Rome the next day to get you a present…"

Lovino shook his head but couldn't fight off the slight tilt of his lips as he listened to Antonio chatter on and on about his birthday. There was something about Antonio's optimism that he couldn't help but admire. Though Lovino would never say it out loud, it was a relief to hear Antonio cheerfully talk about the future. It meant he believed that Lovino still had one and that everything would be okay. He was overwhelmed with adoration for the man and his face felt warmer than it had before. "That's bullshit." He eventually said. He turned his back to Antonio and walked away only after seeing the utterly confused look on Antonio's face. " As if I'd ever go to Rome with you, bastard."

Lovino bit his lip to keep from laughing at Antonio's sputtering.

After Antonio had dropped him off on the front porch– the Spaniard never went inside for fear of pissing off Lars– Lovino didn't bother going upstairs to his bedroom and decided the living room sofa was comfortable enough to sleep on. He lied down on his back and closed his eyes, but sleep wouldn't come to him despite how fatigued he felt. There were too many things on his mind.

His birthday was in less than a day and he was dreading every minute that passed that brought him closer to it.

He could still vividly remember his first birthday he had spent with Bella and Lars. It had been a few weeks after Feliciano had been shipped away to Bella's friend in Austria. Lovino, still feeling intense guilt and sadness, had not even remembered it was his own birthday until the late evening. He had been laying on his back in the garden when Bella had come over with a picnic basket in one hand and Lars in the other. While Lars set up the blanket, Bella had given him a hug and gently stroked his hair. The motion reminded him of his grandfather, which then reminded him of his brother, and the tears flowed out before he could stop them.

Bella hadn't been surprised at all. She wrapped her arms tight around him and let him cry on her shoulder until he stopped sniffling. Neither she nor Lars gave him any words of comfort, much to his relief. He hadn't wanted to hear things like "You're grandfather and brother wouldn't want to see you crying like this on your birthday" or "It'll be okay, Lovi, everything will be alright." All he wanted to do was cry out for his nonno and Feli.

Once everything was out of his system, Bella had guided him towards the blanket. The cake had been placed in the center with the words "Happy Birthday!" written at the top center in green icing. Under the words, there was a drawing of three stick figures holding hands– one with a bow, one with a curl, and the other with a triangle for hair. Lars had looked away, slightly red in the face, when Bella mentioned he decorated the cake.

The memory never failed to bring a smile on his face and he was asleep before he realized it.

Lovino woke up covered in sweat, his heart pounding wildly against his chest, and a sick feeling in his stomach. He ran to the bathroom and threw up in the sink until the contents of his stomach were emptied. He looked at himself in the mirror – his skin was as pale as a sheet and there were tears running down his face. He turned the faucet on and splashed some cold water onto his face, repeating to himself that the cry of hellhounds and Feliciano's mangled body was only a dream and nothing more.

He gripped the cross around his neck and murmured a prayer. He stayed in the bathroom until he heard Bella's voice call out to him, followed by Lars's. Lovino pressed his lips to the cross for a second before tucking it back underneath his shirt. He turned the faucet off, grabbed a nearby towel, and dried his face. Bella called out his name again and he responded with 'I'll be down soon!'. He looked at the mirror one last time, relieved to see that some color had returned to his face (his eyes were red but he could blame it on the lack of sleep). "It was just a dream." Lovino muttered to his reflection. "Just a dream."

Nevertheless, his hands didn't stop trembling until an hour later.

If Lovino had learned anything from the four years he had been hunting monsters, it was that it was practically suicidal to take on a demon alone. Fighting in numbers always increased the chance of survival, which was why everyone who had been invited to his birthday party had been a hunter. From where Lovino was standing, which was far away from his party guests (if they could even be called that) as possible, there were about fifteen or so people in his backyard. Some were sitting down and chatting with each other –Lars had borrowed some tables and chairs from Elliot's restaurant and placed them around their backyard – as they ate the snacks Bella had prepared. The Jensenn siblings themselves were sitting down and talking to a few people Lovino didn't recognize. Then again, most of these hunters were strangers to him. The only ones he truly knew were Bella, Lars, and Antonio.

Speaking of the Spaniard, Lovino looked around the backyard and found the man talking animatedly with a few men near the forest. He must have been telling a joke since his audience began to laugh. Antonio laughed along and glanced at where Lovino was leaning against the house. He waved at him and Lovino scoffed but waved back. Antonio beamed and soon returned his attention to the others. Lovino found it odd how everyone in the vicinity appeared calm when there were only about ten minutes left until midnight.

Ten minutes.

Lovino swallowed the excess saliva gathering inside of his mouth and headed towards the refreshments table for a cup of water. He reached for the nearest cup and accidentally brushed the fingertips of a hand that had been reaching for the same cup. Lovino retracted his hand as if he had touched fire.

"Terribly sorry, I would have gotten a different cup had I seen you. " The owner of the hand said. The first thing Lovino noticed about the man was his voice– his words were accented by something Lovino wasn't familiar with. The man was obviously a foreigner, but Bella and Lars knew a variety of hunters from all over Europe so it wasn't anything unique. No, the most striking thing about the man were his eyes. They were green but they weren't like Antonio's. While Antonio's eyes were full of warmth and cheer, his were practically glowing in the night. It made the man look otherworldly, almost ethereal even. Almost like–

"Are you alright?" The man asked him, the concern clear in his voice. "Perhaps you're feeling ill? Your face is a tad red…"

Lovino's face turned a deeper red as he realized he must've been openly gaping at the man. He tore his eyes away to the cup of water that had started everything. "I-I'm fine." He managed to stutter out. "Just-"

"Nervous?" The man supplied. "Afraid?"

"I'm not afraid." Lovino snapped a bit too quickly, if the look of shock on the other man was anything to go by. Lovino resisted the urge to curse; Bella would lecture him for hours for being impolite to a guest. He decided to forget about drinking anything and opened his mouth to excuse himself but the man began speaking again.

"You should be. Afraid, that is." Lovino made the terrible mistake of looking the man in the eye. His body was paralyzed under the fiendish look the man was giving him. The smirk on his face widened into a grin that sent a shiver down Lovino's spine. "Underestimate the enemy and you're as good as dead. I believe that's the first thing a hunter learns, correct? Well, that and how to shoot a gun." The man laughed at his own words. He didn't at all seem bothered by Lovino's silence. "Many believe the two are one in the same. The more weapons one has, the better the chances of winning. These are the hunters that, ah, retire the earliest." The man picked up a cup and took a sip of water from it, breaking eye contact and freeing Lovino from whatever spell had been put on him.

"Who the hell are you?" Lovino demanded. The man simply smiled. His eyes focused on the cup in his hand as he swished the liquid around as if it were a glass of wine.

"An acquaintance of Antonio's. Or perhaps we're friends." He shrugged. "One can never know with him. Where was I? Ah, yes, the incompetence of simple-minded hunters. Weapons are fine and all, but they're just nuisances if the hunter doesn't think. Humans are perhaps the most creative beings in existence and yet they come up with such elementary plans, such as setting up a devil's trap and hoping the demon falls for it." The man paused to take a sip of water and placed the empty cup back on the table. He lifted his head and once again Lovino was transfixed by the delight that danced in the other's eyes.

"There is a point to all this talk." He continued. "Considering it is your birthday and it's five minutes until midnight, I'll cut to the chase– a human is obviously weaker than any supernatural being, both in the physical and mental sense, and yet humans are the ones winning this eternal war. Do you know why that is?" He didn't wait for Lovino to answer, not that he could anyway. "It's because a human is exactly that– a human. A being that's neither angelic nor demonic but a mixture of both. It is one's humanity that makes humans much more threatening than any monster hiding under a bed. Without it, well," The man grinned," you wouldn't be any different than the beings you're fighting. Humans who lose it always have a tragic ending, however those who completely give into it also share the same fate. It would do you well to remember that."

The man pulled out a pocket watch from his pants pocket, opened it, and checked the time. "This information is free of charge, in light of it being a special day for you. I wish you the best of luck at handling the demon, Lovino Vargas. He tends to arrive early to surprise his victims. Do say hello for Antonio for me, will you?" He then said something in a language Lovino didn't recognize, before closing the pocket watch with a loud click.

Lovino felt someone shake his shoulders.

He opened his eyes and saw a very amused Antonio in front of him. "Hello Lovi, did you have a good nap?"

"Nap?" Lovino muttered distractedly, looking around to see that he had somehow fallen asleep against the house near the refreshments table. Bella and Lars were surrounding the table with a few others.

"Sí, you've been asleep for a few minutes." Antonio laughed, though it sounded strained. "…It's almost midnight. There's about two minutes left, I think. We need to be in position"

Lovino nodded and stood up, ignoring the hand Antonio had offered him. As they walked over to where Bella and Lars were, Antonio spoke. "Did you have a nice dream, at least?"

"Who knows?" Lovino shrugged, still a bit dazed from being woken up. He couldn't remember much of it. There was a man, that much he recalled, that had been spouting some nonsense at him and then spoke in a strange language…what had the man said again?

Unconsciously, Lovino muttered the words the man had last said. He missed Anonio flinch and was unaware of the pale, horrified look on his face. Bella had reached for him as soon as he was close enough to the table and dragged him passed several hunters until he was in the middle with Lars. "Do you have your gun? How about your blade?" She fretted over him, making sure everything was in its place. "You remember what to do right?"

"Yeah." Lovino gripped his blade's handle and took a deep breath. "Kill the bastard."

"Language, Lovi." Bella chastised half heartily before turning to her brother. "Lars?"

"Ten seconds." Lars answered the unspoken question, gesturing to the pocket watch in his hand. Lovino stared at the watch and wondered why he felt so uneasy looking at it. He dismissed the thought and focused on his surroundings.

"Five."

It was so quiet Lovino could hear how fast his heart was beating inside his chest.

"Three." Lars closed his pocket watch and a click, the sound echoing in the silence.

"Two." The sound resonated something within Lovino, but he wasn't sure what. Something about the dream he had, about a green-eyed man with a pocket watch and a warning–

"One." Somebody whispered in his ear, grabbing a hold of him from behind, and dragging him away from the others before Lovino had time to scream.