Selene’s eyes fluttered awake as the sun’s rays shone through the large brilliant crystal windows. She felt well, refreshed, despite the dull ache on her side. Rubbing her eyes, she hoisted herself up, crossing her legs beneath her when she heard a crash of silverware hitting the ground. Then, just as quickly, a man with boyish good looks, black hair, and green eyes swept her up in a tight hug. Selene winced.

“Get off already; I haven’t been out that long.”

Sitting in the chair by her bedside, Eris laughed, gently pushing her hair behind her ears. “Actually, you’ve been out for six days. I’m mostly to blame for that, though.”

“No, not really. I chose to step in front of you and take the blade. I would do it again too.”

“As glad as I am to hear that, that’s not what I mean. Here’s the thing, I may have stabbed you—”

“You stabbed me!” shrieked Selene. She punched her brother square in the jaw, sending him reeling off the chair.

“Ow,” he began holding his jaw, “okay, that wasn’t completely undeserved. But I did it to save you—”

“You stabbed me!” Looking around for something to throw, she settled on a silver candle holder, aiming for her brothers’ head. He narrowly avoided it.

“Hey! Listen, the blade had Shadowling magic embedded in it. Selene, it was poisoning you. I had to stab you and call it out. Honestly, it was a bit exhausting.”

“You could have killed me!”

“Actually, for a moment there, I thought I did. You were bleeding quite profusely.” She shrieked and lunged at her brother, grabbing anything to throw at him, pillows, candlesticks, her aim impeccable.

“You idiot! You could have killed me!”

“Yes, act like that’s what I wanted!” Eris dodged a silver plate and grabbed her by the wrist, pinning her arms behind her back. “Selene, I almost lost you. You were dying, or worst. It was like an infection, Selene. Your skin, your hair, everything about you was diminishing. I think you were turning into a Shadowling. I had to do what was best for you!”

Selene sagged against him. “You still stabbed me,” she repeated. “That wasn’t very brotherly.”

“But my reasoning for it was.” Eris kissed the top of her head, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her tightly. “I don’t know what I would have done without you, Selene.”

“Die, probably.”

“Maybe, or go insane.” They both laughed, and he pulled away from her. Selene smoothed down her hair, looking down at her white hospital gown.

“So tell me, I’ve got something to wear.”

“Oh, you do, but you may not like it. As of right now, we’re part of the Royal Court. That means we need to dress like it.” Selene took a few steps back.

“I do not want to wear one of those gowns. Gowns are not my friend.”

“Yes, you’ve said, but you don’t have a choice.” He pointed across the room. “Go wash up and change. I’ll be waiting in my own formal wear.”

“Formal wear does not flatter us,” she said, walking away.

“No, not at all,” he muttered. Selene smiled before stepping into the bathing room and shutting the door behind her.

The bathroom was ivory and gold. There was a large mirror to her left and a small box beside it. She assumed that was where her dress was in. A gift from Ranita, it said. Selene smiled before she touched the big three-sided mirror and noticed that the ivory was etched into the edges of the glass and wove onto the gold frame, mimicking frost.

Selene walked up to the glass windows and looked out. The City of Seraphim was beautiful, radiant like the sun whose light it reflected. Pulling away, she stepped behind the white silk dressing screen embroidered with roses. Behind it lay the white porcelain tub, already filled for her. Climbing in, she used her fire rune to heat it up.

Sitting back, she took a deep breath before submerging herself in the water. Her skin shimmered underneath the water, reflecting onto the surface of the water.

Everything about you was diminishing…

Selene sat up, letting out her breath. Smoothing back her hair, wiping the water from her eyes, she laid back against the tub. Staring at the ceiling as her thoughts swam.

She had almost died.

Brushing the dreadful thought away, she grabbed some bathing crystals, spreading them through her hair and skin.

Her fingers grazed over her still-healing wound as she continued to bathe. Her brother had stabbed her—with good intention, she reminded herself.

Stepping out of the porcelain tub, she activated her fire rune again to warm and dry her body and hair. Combing her fingers through her hair, she unwrapped the present waiting for her. The dress was breathtaking. Made of a deep violet silk and silver tulle, complete with a low off-the-shoulder neckline, it was unlike anything she had ever owned or could ever own.

Staring at herself in the mirror, Selene never thought she had looked so beautiful before, had never really fancied herself the “beautiful” type. Then, a knock startled her thoughts. Selene pushed back her hair and opened the door. She was amazed at how handsome her brother was.

“Selene, you look amazing.”

“Thank you, Eris. Ranita forgot shoes. Personally, I can go without shoes. However, I don’t think that would be acceptable around here.” Biting her lower lip, Selene winked up at him playfully.

“Well, we can’t have that now, can we?”  Eris revealed the prize he was holding behind his back. “I gift from Naavah.”

Taking the Amethyst colored glass shoes awed, Selene slipped them onto her feet. They were beautiful and surprisingly comfortable, not at all how she imagined a pair of glass shoes would feel.

Clicking her heels together, she said, “Remind me to Naavah and Ranita.”

“My lady,” he bowed, offering her his arm.

“Why, thank you, kind sir.” Selene took his arm, and they laughed. All her worries were pushed aside as they left the Infirmary. That was until they turned the corner into the empty hallway. He clearly wanted a private moment with her as he looked around cautiously.

“Eris—?”

He gave her a loving and sorrowful look as he reached into his coat pocket. Then, pulling out a dagger, she watched as shadows writhed on it. It nearly froze Selene’s hand when she grabbed it.

“Uriel ordered me to remove it, and Ranita said it would bring great pain. I wanted to show it to you, though, and let you decide. It was Nivette’s dagger, but now she wanted nothing to do with it. So, Selene, this is what was inside of you. This is the darkness I had to pull out of you.”

Fighting off the numbing cold, Selene weighed the dagger in her hand. Barely a minute later, she heard shoes clicking from a distance. Quickly, Selene replaced the dagger back into his jacket and pretended to fix it and smooth it out.

“Later, I’ll examine it later. Keep it hidden until then.” She adjusted his shirt collar. He smiled at her, and they both turned to see who was coming. It was a maid dressed all in white with glittering wings made of honey. Strands of hair sneaked from under her bonnet, encircling her face dazzlingly.

“I am glad you are well again, Miss Sintas. I hope your wound is healing.”

“Oh, yes, thank you,” said Selene putting her hand on her brothers’ side subconsciously.

“Selene, this is Azelia. Um, I mean—”

“No, it’s quite all right, Eris. Azelia is my true name, if not my name, in this life. Although, honestly, I prefer Azelia to Amelia.” She smiled at him, and Selene swore she saw her brother blush. “In any case, I am Azelia. I am the healer here, one of many. I took care of your wound, and now I’ve come, on the orders of Naavah, to fetch you for your first council meeting.”

“Why?” Azelia’s smile faltered, and her eyes looked at Eris, concerned. Her brother swallowed deeply as though nervous. He was never nervous, thought Selene worried.

“There is a topic of great unrest to the Council. Many Reborns are concerned that our presence here may jeopardize their lives.” Selene saw the disgust on his face.

“But,” she began as she placed a calming arm on her brother, “the Reborns are not better or worse off. The barrier keeps out Vampyres, not Shadowlings.”

“Many of my kind live a blind lie,” began Azelia. “In any case, the Council has requested your presence. Please follow me.” Azelia turned around, leading the way down the hall. Hearing Eris grumble under his breath, she reaffirmed her gentle hold on him, pulling him along.

“They’re all a bunch of fools,” he said as he walked. “The Council, most of all, excluding Uriel, Ranita, and Naavah. The rest are idiots who think themselves better than the rest.”

“They’re frightened, Eris.”

“So are Naavah and Ranita. Ranita is more afraid than ever because of her daughter. But she doesn’t delude herself. It’s the life of a Reborn, to live, die, and be Reborn. It’s foolish of them to think anything can stop death. It’s selfish of them to believe their lives are above others.”

“Eris, be calm. I agree, but if you get too hotheaded, you won’t be helping the situation. All you’ll succeed in doing is put Naavah in a difficult position.”

“I would hate to do that,” he grumbled honestly.

“Good. Now hush, I think we’re approaching the Council Room.”

“You are correct, Selene,” said Azelia. Her hand rested on the doorknob, and she looked at them both kindly, her eyes lingering on Eris a moment longer. “I haven’t been part of the Council for many centuries, but I can tell you that fear rules their hearts. They will do anything to get you to leave. So don’t let your anger get the better of you. Oh, and Eris, make sure that dagger is not seen.” She smiled at their stunned faces.

As the door opened, Selene regained her own composure and pinched her brother. His mouth was hanging open, unflattering, and he took one last confused look at Azelia before following his sister into the Council Room. Eris shut the door behind him and stepped close to her side protectively as the eyes of many high-born Reborns settled on them, unkindly

The room silenced as they entered. Selene suddenly felt very self-conscious about how she looked, thankful that her runes were covered. Eris pulled her along while her uneasiness grew as several pairs of eyes bore into her, following her movements. She gripped her brothers’ hand tightly.

Naavah, who sat on an ornate silver chair at the head of the table, smiled at her reassuringly. To her left was seated Ranita, as beautiful as ever, and on her right was stationed Uriel, standing beside two empty chairs. Selene sat beside a Reborn Council Member, holding her hands together on her lap anxiously, letting Eris sit next to Naavah.

“Well, they’re here,” said a man with dark blue wings and jet-black hair. “Can we get on with it?”

“Learn some manners,” hissed Ranita.

“Hush,” said Naavah. They all obeyed. “We are all here to discuss an issue of great concern among many of you. This issue concerns my decision to bring the Sintas siblings here. Who will voice their concern first?”

“Vampyres broke the barrier around their town,” said a woman at the far end of the table. “Their barrier was rune bound, made by their magic, the first one that was supposed to be impenetrable. So what’s to say that Vampyres won’t take down this barrier! That girl is inviting danger.”

“Vampyres don’t have the kind of magic or power to break the Seraphim’s barrier. It was Reborn magic with the grace of the Goddess. Only with the Goddess’ blessing could they bring down the barrier. But, even then, they would need to have imaginable power,” said Naavah, remaining calm, her voice loud and clear.

“How can you be sure? You do not have the gift of foresight!” said the woman, her voice shrill, her cat-green eyes staring down at Selene.

“She does not,” began Ranita, her eyes blazing with fury, “but I do. Vampyres are not ours to fear.”

“Then Shadowlings! That boy is bringing about the fury of the Shadowlings! He wrote his fate and his life with it. We cannot let his choices bring doom upon us!” Selene saw her brother stiffen.

“We need not fear the Shadowlings anymore than we already do. They had the chance to kill us many times before and have not. I will hear no more of his fate. That topic is not ours to discuss.” Naavah’s voice was cold, unyielding. No one looked her in the eyes.

“They should not stay here,” said a meek voice. Selene looked up at the man sitting across from her, beside Ranita. He couldn’t be any older than she was. His burgundy wings fluttered, giving away his apprehension. “I am accustomed to death. I am grateful to he who has never murdered her. I am grateful to her beloved, but these Shadowlings are far more dangerous now than ever. Our lives are in great peril. I can feel it in my bones.”

“Whatever is written, Abel, is written without our consent,” said Ranita, resting her hand on his carefully and warmly.

“Since nothing has been said to condemn them, Eris Sintas and Selene Sintas are staying until they wish to leave. That is my final word. You are all dismissed.” Naavah stood up and waved the door open. Every Reborn that walked out gave Selene and Eris brief looks of fear and disdain.

“Oh, don’t mind them,” said Ranita waving her hand in a carefree manner. “Not all of them are First Borns like me.” She smiled and went over to Selene, twirling her hair. Selene stood up and almost tripped in her shoes as she rounded the chair. Eris laughed, and her spirits lifted.

“My dear, you do look absolutely gorgeous.”

Blushing, Selene said, “Thank you.”

“Well, we are glad to see you up and about,” said Uriel. “We were beginning to fear the worst.”

“No need to worry, I’m right as rain.” Selene’s stomach grumbled loudly, causing her brother to laugh even more. “However, some food would be nice.”

“Uriel, escort Selene to the Great Hall and ensure she eats until satisfied.”

“Oh, but Eris, are you—”

“Sorry darling, but I have a meeting with Ranita’s daughter.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ll see you later, I promise.” Watching him walk off with Ranita, Selene followed Uriel out. Her brow furrowed when she saw Azelia with the young Reborn Ranita had called Abel. They looked so alike, with the same high cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes. Suddenly she felt like the Reborns knew more than they were letting on, purposely hiding it from her and Eris.