Jason stared at the little burgundy velvet box in his hand. He hadn’t exactly gotten around to talking to his mother, and he knew why: she was purposely keeping herself busy. Right about now, Jason was ready to scream at her in front of everyone; at least then he could say everything he needed to say to Miranda, too.

Taking a deep breath, he grasped the little box. Jason continued to lean against the white counter in the empty kitchen, waiting for his mother, who would enter carrying yet another tray of food. She would need to come in eventually to grab the last tray of food. If she thought for a moment that serving as the party’s own waiter would keep them apart, she was sorely mistaken.

The kitchen door swung open, letting in the party noises —the laughter and holiday music, a compilation of harp and piano. Seeing the startled look on his mother’s face, it took all of Jason’s willpower not to greet her with a smug smile.

“Jason, what are you doing here?” she asked, avoiding his gaze as she busied herself by reorganizing the already organized food on the platter.

“Mom, we need to talk.”

“Jason, it’s the holiday—”

“I don’t think I should marry Miranda.” The words just flew out, taking with them the heavy weight that had been on his shoulders. Finally saying it aloud confirmed that it was the right decision.

“Your father and Laura have been saying the same thing,” she said, wiping her hands down on her pink plaid apron. “Your father brought up ancient history, and Laura said her daughter was Reborn, as if that was possible. What would you care to share?” She crossed her arms and stared at him, her mouth set in a straight line, her eyes wide with fury.

“Mom, there is so much you don’t know about our family history.” He stopped talking as she scoffed and rolled her eyes, returning her attention to the tray.

“What does that matter?”

“Pietro, Mom, Pietro matters. Haven’t you noticed? I mean, you can’t be that blind! I am reborn, except I’m different. I have his face, his gift—”

“Stop it.”

“No, I won’t! You need to listen to me! I have his face. I have his gift, and sometimes I even have dreams that I am him. Do you even know how he died? I can tell you. He was stabbed—”

“Enough!” she exclaimed, finally giving him her full attention. “Only Reborns are reborn, witches can’t be, and as for Pietro, yes, I know how he died. His wife—”

“Is Miranda. Miranda is Katherine, inside and out. Even her mom thinks so.”

“No. You are not him, and she is not her.”

“Oh, come on, Mom, are you really that blind?” He tried to keep his voice level, tried not to yell, but he was losing his patience. Why couldn’t his mother just understand? “I mean, you have to be to not see what we all see. Besides, I don’t love her, I love someone else.”

“Really?” The disbelief drips off the word like dew on a rose. “Then why didn’t you say anything? Does this person love you back? Why aren’t you with them right now?”

“It’s complicated, Mom.” “Jason, there is a girl in the other room who loves you and wants to be with you. If you and this other girl can’t be together, then move on.” She picked up the tray of food she had reorganized twice and prepared to leave. “Besides, it might save everyone a lot of heartache.” Jason watched her leave the room and looked at the box in his hand. A part of him wanted to throw the damn thing down the sink and walk out of his house. Then he thought about what the Goddess had said, and maybe his mother was right. He had three choices when he thought about it: bring sorrow into Selene’s life, risk death, or give Miranda his heart. He looked down at the little box.

Shoving his hand in his pocket, he left the kitchen. Miranda kissed his cheek gently, obviously not snooping into his aura. He smiled down at her, happy to see that she was changing, even if it was such a tiny change.

Picking up a sparkling glass filled with Dia Elixir, a gold-shaded champagne that sparkled in the light, he looked down at Miranda and thought of what they could have. Even he had to admit to himself that it made him happy. His mind, however, returned to thoughts of Selene, about how much he loved her, about her brilliant, slight smile and big, purple eyes that spoke volumes of love and happiness and sadness more than words ever could.

Jason cleared his throat, and everyone looked at him expectantly.

“I, uh, would like to say that this has been a good holiday.” If only, he thought. “I love being home, and I love being around people with whom I love being.” He put his drink on the white stone shelf above his fireplace and got down on one knee. Time seemed to slow, and his heart felt like it would burst from his chest. A part of him hoped it would.

“Miranda, will you marry me?”

“Oh, Jason, of course!” She engulfed him in a kiss, and Jason—once again—wished that he hadn’t come home.

***

Jason sat on the edge of his bed. The walls were still a pale blue, and his sheets were still a shade of royal blue, old and a little scratchy when he slept. Once upon a time, he would have found them comforting, but those days were long gone. Now he felt like the walls were closing in on him. Jason couldn’t breathe; he needed to get out.

All packed up, Jason ran from the room, skidding to a stop on the stairs as his father held a travel mug out.

“Tell Selene I said hello.” His dad handed him the mug, hugging him, shoving a wad of cash into his coat. “There is a train due to leave the station in a few minutes. I’d run if I were you.” Jason smiled at his father as he ran from the house and down the sidewalk.

“You don’t have enough time.” Jason skidded to a stop, nearly slipping on the icy ground. There was Vega, her hand held out. Jason didn’t hesitate to grab it, letting her drag him into darkness. “Don’t let go, I’ll have you at Noir Tower in just a moment.” Even in the darkness, her voice was soothing.

Then the world opened up before him, and he stepped out. Looking back, he saw Vega smiling at him, leaning on a dark doorway. “Hurry up, you have a train to catch.” The doorway closed up on her, and Jason, feeling free, ran to catch the train.

***

Selene slept in one of Jason’s long-sleeve shirts. It smelled just like him, musty, warm, like the woods after a rainy day. All she had was what she had run off in when she lied to her brother. Why pack? Eris had been too glad to see her run off, and she didn’t want to raise any suspicions.

Tossing and turning, thoughts of her brother kept her awake. What was he planning? How did he know? Why did he kill those people?

She looked out the window at the moon high in the sky. A daunting feeling filled her stomach. She blamed it on the timing. The night of the Eclipse was coming, her anniversary of her second birth. It was a spectacular sight when one moon went in front of the other, and they turned a deep red. A sight only came once every three hundred and twenty-six years. It was a sight that always gave Selene a bad feeling. Tossing again, staring at the ceiling, she felt justified in feeling the way she did.

“You worry too much,” came a sing-song voice, like a mockingbird. Selene sat up and looked towards the door. She of the Light stood there smiling innocently. “You should leave the worrying up to me.”

“Why are you here?”

“To ask you a question.”

“Then ask away, your brightness,” she said, rolling her eyes, only slightly annoyed.

“Testy aren’t we. Oh well.” She sighed and looked at Selene, her white eyes studying her, sending shivers down Selene’s spine.

“Selene, would you sacrifice love to suffer no sadness? Or would you welcome tragedy to have love in your life?”

Selene knew what was going on. This had to do with Jason and her brother. Selene swallowed down the lump that had grown in her throat.

“No, I would rather love and lose.”

“So you would suffer to love?” Selene nodded. “Ah, so this is your destiny. What a great and beautiful creature you will be.”

“What do you mean?”

“You will be the light in the dark, Selene.” Her light faded, taking with it her physical form. Selene pulled her legs up to her chest and held herself tightly, fighting the urge to cry. And then, she heard a lock click. Selene walked carefully to the hallway, on the balls of her feet so as not to make a sound, grabbing her dagger as she made her way. She nearly dropped it when she saw Jason enter, kicking the door shut behind him.

“Jason? What are you doing back so early?”

“I made a mistake. I stupidly asked Miranda to marry me. I was trying not to be selfish, but I can’t; I just can’t marry her. So I rushed back here, making sure that what I am about to do and say are not mistakes.”

Selene stood there shellshocked and confused. “You’re not making any sense.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” He laughed as he walked over to her in just three strides. “I was told marrying Miranda would save you, but I can’t. Call me selfish, but I can’t marry someone I don’t love.”

“Jason,” she began, only to be cut off by his lips pressing against hers. This time, Selene couldn’t fight it, and she didn’t want to. Dropping her dagger to the ground, she melted into the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer to him.

Jason felt bad snooping in her head, but he had to know, had to make sure that she loved him, not Pietro. Swimming through her thoughts, he saw. She loved him, not because of who he resembled but despite it. Pulling away briefly, he rested his forehead against hers, still holding her close.

“I love you, Selene.”

“I love you too.” Jason gently touched her face, seeing the worry in her eyes. “We’ll figure something out,” he said before kissing her again.

***

Jason opened his eyes, loving the sight of Selene next to him. Last night had been beyond words, different from anything he had ever shared with Miranda. With Selene, everything had felt perfect, felt right. He closed his eyes, taking in the scent of her hair. She smelled like Gardenias.

“Are you awake?”

“I am a Vampyre, I don’t require sleep.”

Jason laughed. “Don’t you like to sleep?”

“I do.” She looked up at him, her purple eyes rimmed in red. She was like a beautiful rose covered in thorns.

“You’re beautiful, you know that.”

“I hadn’t been told.” She laughed and lay her head back down on his chest.

“You look more beautiful when you smile. You’re always so serious.”

“It’s easier to shut off rather than feel.”

“I’ve noticed.” He hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head. “Selene, I have something—” Jason didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence when a series of knocks echoed on his door. He watched Selene get up and dressed in the blink of an eye, dagger in her hand. She was wearing one of her black leather pants and a blue and black corset. Walking up to her, he thought her hand was turning blue.

“I’ll get the door, just stand behind me,” he said. Selene nodded reluctantly as he made his way to the door.