“Dare to say that again and I’ll chop your head off!” Faye said.

“I. Don’t. Bow. For. Abusers. And. Slave. Drivers.” Bette said again.

“Get her.” Faye commanded her troops. Tina was snapped out of her stare by her mother’s powerful voice.

“No!” She yelled and jumped of the wagon and ran to Bette, faster than the soldiers. She stood in front of Bette. “Stop!” She yelled to the men who immediately stopped at dead tracks.

“Tina! What are you doing?” Faye asked.

“I’m saving her.” Tina said. “She doesn’t deserve to be killed, Mother.”

She didn’t know what made her do this. She didn’t know the girl but something inside her told her she had to save whomever she was saving.

“She is a Nox, it doesn’t matter if they live or die. You know that!”

"I does matter if they live or die!” Tina yelled.

“You know what? You can stay here for a month and ‘enjoy’ it here with your new friend. Then you will be begging to come back home. Bye, my daughter… Oh, and happy birthday.” Faye said and made a gesture with her hand that they could go on. Tina clenched her jaw. She hated that woman that she knew was her mother. She heard Bette exhale behind her and she turned around. Just then, she saw a woman, a man and a teenager run over to Bette and they hugged her tight.

“Oh, Bette, why did you do that?” Melvin was on the verge of crying.

“Don’t dare to do that ever again.” Maxine had tears streaming down her face. She had been so scared.

“Oh, baby sis, you can be so stupid sometimes.” Kit sobbed. Little Luther walked to Tina and smiled at her.

“Thanks for saving my sister.” He said.

Tina smiled at him. “No problem, what’s your name?” She asked him. She could barely see him; she wasn’t used to the dark.

“I’m Luther. The one you saved is Bette, my older sister is Kit, my mom is Maxine and my dad is Melvin. Just so you know all our names.” He said with a smile. Melvin also walked over to Tina.

“Thanks princess.” He said.

“It was no problem and please call me Tina.” She told him

“Okay, Tina it is.” Bette also joined but she didn’t smile.

“Why don’t you mind you with your own business. I didn’t need to be saved by you.” Bette spat. Tina hadn’t expected this.

“I just wanted to help; I figured you would rather live than die. I’m sorry for trying to rescue you.” She said back, angrily.

“Bette! You should be thankful. You would be lying on the ground bleeding to death if she hadn’t intervened.” Kit said, sounding angry. Bette looked down and sighed.

“Sorry I just… I dunno.” She said, turned around and walked away. Tina looked puzzled.

“Is she always liked that?” Tina asked.

“Kind of…” Luther said.

“Tina, now you are staying in Nyx for a month, would you want to live with us?” Maxine asked. Tina smiled.

“Yeah, that would be great.” Tina told Maxine.

———