Astraea

As soon as Brylee and Briony came home, they immediately went to their 'private space' as Bell told them so.

When they reached their 'private space', Brina and Bell were already there sitting on the work desk.

When Brylee and Briony were seated they could already feel the intense glare coming from Bell. She knew what they were up to.

"I thought I warned you," Bell said in a cold voice. "And of all people, Uncle Lorcan? Really?"

Brylee pouted her lips. "We just wanted to help."

"Did he ask for your help?" Bell asked sarcastically.

Brylee and Briony shook their heads.

"Because he doesn't need your help. Now stop focusing on other people's life. You have a life of your own."

"But some people cannot tell when they already need help. That's because they thought that they can when in fact, they can't." Brylee retorted back earning him a glare from Briony and Brina.

Bell's face becomes stern.

"Uncle Lorcan always likes to be in control of the situation. He doesn't like the feeling of being under the wing of other people. If you insist on helping him when he is not asking for it, he might lose his grip and the situation might get out of control. So, back off."

Bell's voice was low and slow yet intimidating.

Brylee bit her inner cheek and nodded her head.

Briony cleared her throat. "Uhm...where's Bianca?" She asked when she noticed that Bianca hasn't arrived yet.

"She'll be here in a moment. We have to talk now before she gets here." Brina said in a soft voice.

Brylee and Briony looked at each other with a frown.

"What do you mean? Briony asked.

Bell leaned her back on her chair and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Now that Bianca is with us as a bounty hunter and we are now hunting as a team. We should be careful with our actions." Bell said solemnly.

The silence in the room means that Brylee, Briony, and Brina understand what Bell is talking about.

When Bell was five years old, she was already stubborn and hot-headed, she ran out of the house when she got scolded by their father. It was raining at that time and there was also thunder and lightning.

Apparently, she was accidentally struck by lightning. She was sent to the hospital and the doctors said that it was a miracle that she didn't sustain any injury. She was not even hurt or traumatized.

But later on, Rowan and Daniella realized that it was not an accident. Because it turns out that Bell's body could attract electricity. And then later on, as time goes by, Bell learned how to manipulate it.

Rowan and Daniella kept it a secret even to their other daughters.

But then, they didn't expect to discover that their other daughters would also possess special talents.

Briony was only one year old when they learned that she can heal herself. They discover it when she falls on her high chair and sustains cuts on her forehead. Daniella panicked at first but then she was surprised when she watched the cut on Briony's head gradually disappear.

A year later after they discover Briony's talent of self-healing, they see Brina healed her dog that was accidentally scalded with hot water.

Then, later on, it was Brylee.

As a parent, finding out that your daughters possess such unusual skills, they became worried and scared for the welfare and safety of their daughters.

They fear that someone might discover their special abilities and people will start to treat them like they were some kind of freaks.

But what they fear the most are people who would see them as lab rats.

At first, they thought of hiding them, far away. Away from the eyes of the public. But by doing so, they know that their daughters may feel outcast and different.

So instead of hiding them, they decided to treat them like normal kids. And they lived like one.

Rowan hired experts to teach his daughters different kinds of self-defense so that they could protect themselves if someone would try to harm them. By doing so, he also discovered that all of them have enhanced physical abilities. They are faster and stronger than normal people.

Fortunately, the experts he hired didn't suspect them. They were just amazed at Rowan's daughters and thought that it was in their genes since Rowan is a known fierce and ruthless soldier on the battlefield.

The knowledge that four of the Villan sisters have a special talent or rather, powers were kept to themselves.

They even kept it from the youngest of them, Bianca, in fear that she would be scared of them or she will treat them indifferently. They also fear that Bianca might feel to be the odd one out.

Until they all grow up, Bianca was kept in the dark.

All those years, the four of Villan sisters had mastered using their powers. And they become more familiar with it when they become a bounty hunter.

They wanted to find a way to use their powers practically and reasonably. And seeing their Uncle Lorcan as a bounty hunter became an inspiration.

But now, that they have to work alongside Bianca, it seems that they have to keep themselves from using their powers in the presence of her.

"I understand." Brylee was the first one to break the silence.

They heard Bell sighed heavily. "I know it's going to be hard. And I, myself know that I cannot prevent myself from using it. But at least we should be aware of her presence. Maybe we can, as long as she doesn't notice it."

Among the four, Bell would be the most to be in trouble. She is a hot-headed impatient person. She never runs out of casualties and at least two of them will be electrocuted. It would be quite impossible for her to restrain herself.

While Brylee won't have any problem at all because she rarely uses her power unless she got into a physical fight during her hunt. But it is very rare. Brylee adheres to her Uncle's teaching that as much as possible try to catch criminals using persuasion and intimidation or rather, persuasion and sweet talk since Brylee is not as intimidating as Bell.

"Sorry, I'm late." They heard the voice of Bianca and they all shut their mouth.

"It is very unusual for you to be late. What have you been up to?" Brylee asked with curiosity.

Bianca walked to her chair and shook her head before sitting. "Nothing." She said timidly.

Her sisters look at each other while Bell eyed her intently.

Bianca has always been mysterious to them. But these past few days, she seemed to be more bothered.

"Have you been training?" Bell asked Bianca. She was talking about self-defense and hand-to-hand combat.

Bianca nodded her head. "Yes."

When they were young, they all trained together. And they know that when it comes to her speed and strength, there is nothing unusual with Bianca.

But when Bell and Brylee became busy with their work, Briony and Brina started college, they started to train separately considering that their schedule won't coincide.

"Good. When are you free?" Bell asked in a strict tone.

Bianca raised her head and looked at Bell. "Huh?"

"When are you free? I'll watch you train and then maybe with could start with the basics of hunting." Bell said.

"Uhm...is that necessary?" Bianca asked. Brina who is sitting near her noticed that she is fidgeting with her fingers under the desk.

Brylee chuckled. "Of course, Bianca. Do you think Bell would let you hunt without the knowledge of at least the basics?"

"Well basically, all we need to do is track and apprehend the fugitives," Briony said casually.

"And to do so, one must have a sharp wit, knowledge of the law, and negotiation skills," Brylee added pointing at her temple. That is what she is good at. Thou not intimidating, she is good in negotiations and persuasion.

"But sometimes, those fail so we use weapons and close combat skills," Bell said leaning on her chair.

"But for Bell, sometimes means all the time. Not because persuasion, intimidation, or negotiation fails but Bell is just too impatient to do those things so she just skips those and would rather resort to violence to capture her target." Brylee blurted out. She had already worked with Bell in some of the missions and she had seen her style. Bell is like a war-god.

Bell cocked her head at Brylee and raised a brow.

Brylee grinned at her. "Am I wrong?"

Bell just rolled her eyes at her.

"Brylee is right, you are too violent Bell. I think it is better if we help with training Bianca. After all, hunting is not just about force apprehending." Although Brina was being straightforward to Bell, her voice was still soft.

"We'll help you learn how to investigate a private investigator, tracking and arrest and control technique. We'll also teach you about the laws." Brina continued while looking at Bianca who was silently sitting and listening to her sisters. Though she is studying medicine, she is knowledgeable about laws. That's what you get from being a bookworm.

"And of course, connections," Briony said.

"Connections?" Bianca asked, confused.

"With the bondsmen, of course!" As a social person, Briony had already built a good relationship with the bondsmen.

"She doesn't need that," Bell said indifferently.

"Of course she needs that, she needs to build a book of business by forming a good relationship with the bondsmen. In that way, we will get more assignments. Marketing ourselves and our services will get us more work." Briony said ardently then winked at Bianca.

Bell huffed audibly. "That should be Uncle Lorcan's job now. And besides, skills are more important than connections. A bondsman will only look at your success rate more than the number of coffee you drank together."

"No," Briony shook her head. "Skills and connections, dear sister."

Thou Bianca doesn't seem indisposed, she watched her sister bickers with amusement. She is looking forward to spending time with her sisters that she hadn't done for a while.

But thinking about hunting with them, she became anxious. That is not what she hoped for. She wished to hunt alone.