Eris sat in bed fuming. Most of his furniture lay in pieces around his room; he didn’t really care. Every time he thought about Selene and the secret she had kept, his anger flared without subsidence. He just wanted to scream at her. All those people he killed, he had done it to try and buy himself time to figure out the Jason/Pietro situation. But no, it had all been for nothing. Eris dug his fingernails into the palms of his hands. He didn’t bother to look behind him at the sudden appearance of Shira.

“Did you know?”

“I was forbidden from telling you. Negal made the whole council swear an oath. It’s unbreakable. Mother thought about breaking it, but instead she gave us our loophole, now it’s broken, all on its own.” Her grin was simple, closed, stretching from ear to ear.

“So Negal knew.”

“Yes, and Ettore and Vega have been watching over Jason for quite some time now.”

“Can you kill him?”

“No, both Those of the Dark and Those of the Light have forbidden it. He’s off limits, my dear.”

“So who created him!” he yelled. “I will not have Selene suffer again!”

“That I don’t know Eris. You need him for that.”

“Then tell me where he is!”

“Forbidden Eris.”

“Then how do I find him?”

“Well, I wasn’t forbidden from following his friends.”

***

Selene lay in bed with Jason, curled up tightly to him. Every moment with him was a precious one, every moment she loved and cherished. She listened to him stir and open his eyes.

“Do you ever sleep?”

“I haven’t lately.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed.” Music filled the air, and Selene fixed herself on the bed as Jason reached over for his ConEx and answered.

“Hello?”

“Turn on your ResoScreen right now.” Jason bolted up in bed at the urgency in Cecilia’s voice. Jason fumbled around for the remote when it suddenly turned on.

“Magic,” muttered Selene, leaning forward.

“Cecilia, what’s—” he broke off when he saw Miranda’s smiling face appear on the screen. He waved his hand, raising the volume.

“Miranda Leina, a Senior at Silver Sintas University, was found dead early this morning. Her neck was snapped, and preliminary reports say that the blow she took was instantaneous. There are no suspects at the moment, but reports say Miranda was adamantly against Vampyres, and stressors may have forced her to hunt a Vampyre and attack.

“Miranda was a Touched Born and is survived by her parents, one of whom is Second in Command of the Royal Armada, Reborn Laura Leina. She will be arriving later today to claim the remains.”

“She was in the Shadowrealm.” Jason jumped, early falling out of bed. Sitting on his nightstand, next to Selene, was a dark and bleak-looking man with unwavering broody eyes.

“Selene?”

“He’s a friend…I think. I haven’t seen him in roughly two thousand nine hundred and sixty-two years.”

“Sixty-three,” corrected Void. “I was staying out of it, but she,” he said, pointing at the screen, “disturbed me. There are some things I disapprove of my Goddess doing. Katherine is one.”

“Why was she in the Shadowrealm?”

“She was with Evida, and Evida is working for Shira, who—”

“Who is working for Eris?” Selene swore

“I already alerted Ettore and Vega. They removed their protection to allow me in and to alert you. Although I don’t know much of what’s going on.”

“Do Shadowlings ever knock?” said Jason, fumbling as he put his jeans on. Both Selene and Void answered “no”.

“Should I ask why I haven’t heard from you?”

“Do you truly want to know?”

“Hello? Jason? Selene?!”

“Futuo.” Jason snatched up his phone from the bed. “Cecilia, I’ll call you back. Just call me when Laura—”

“She already called me. How did she have my  number?” Cecilia’s voice rang out through his ConEx.

“I don’t know—”

“She wants you and Selene to meet her at the morgue. She’s bringing your dad.”

“Okay. I’ll talk to you later then.” Jason hung up, tossed the phone on his bed, and, resting his hands on the bed, looked up at Void. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know yet.”

***

Jeanette jumped when she bumped into Eris. His eyes were darker, more threatening. She stopped being scared of him a long time ago, but now, staring at him, with his darkened eyes and firm mouth, made her feel more frightened than she ever had been.

“Where’s Selene?”

“I-I don’t know,” she lied. “She went off, didn’t tell me a thing.”

“Look for her. I want her back here.”

“Very well then. I’ll gather the Hunters, and we’ll go fetch her.”

“You do that.” Jeanette watched him disperse into shadows, looking more like a Shadowling than a Vampire. A chill went down her spine. When she was sure he was gone, at the very least, not watching, Jeanette ran to Blake’s room, slamming the door behind her.

“Futuo Jeanette!” picking up the book he had dropped. “Ever heard of knocking?”

“Eris wants us to get Selene. Now.”

“What a coincidence,” came a voice. Jeanette and Black jumped at the sight of Void. “Selene sent me to get you. I think it’s a bit urgent that you meet her at the city morgue. Room B. You should hurry, and there’s no need to be discreet; the Witches there are expecting you.” He turned to leave, but Jeanette stopped him, placing a cold hand on his even colder shoulder.

“Can’t you take us?” He stared at her hand, causing her to remove it promptly. Blake stepped up, close to her side. Void looked over his shoulder at her, his black irises emotionless.

“I suppose it would be safer that way. Stay close to me.” A space in the wall turned into a swirl of darkness. Jeanette uneasily made her way through, Blake close at her heels.

Jeanette stood close to Blake, holding his hand. The place was, even for a Vampyre. Most things didn’t feel cold or hot; she was dead, technically speaking. Nevertheless, this word made her bones cold.

“Welcome to the Shadowrealm.” Void walked off ahead of them, leaving Jeanette and Blake to follow. The realm was deathly quiet compared to her world. There was no life, only a faint wind that blew through the air like a soft whistle. The sky was darkened by clouds, shrouding the world in a dim light. It was bleak and gray, and not even a bird nor cricket made a sound. Beneath her feet, the grass looked like fine silver.

Seeing this world, Jeanette could understand their hatred for the Reborns. If she had to live here, hearing a song that never stopped, she would go insane. It was a curse to live for eternity in a world such as this.

“All right, we’re here.” He waved his hand and went through another black portal. Jeanette hurried after him, eager to escape his world, gripping Blake’s hand tighter.

Jeanette entered a room where two reborns stood along with Ettore, Vega, Selene, Jason, James the enforcer, and two other Witches she didn’t know. Selene was staring hard, unwavering, her hands gripping the table, creating slight dents, at a body on the table. Jeanette, moving over to Selene’s side and letting go of Blake, nearly gasped at the face of the dead girl.

“This is Miranda, Jason’s ex-fiancée. Her neck was broken, instantaneously. Laura, her mother, said it was Eris, and after reading it, I agree.”

“What does the letter say?” asked Blake.

Selene almost smiled. “Dead mom. If you’re reading this, then I’m dead. Murdered or suicide. I have recently found out that Jason is involved with the Hunter leader, Selene Sintas, the woman who killed my ancestor. I know this family has always been thankful to her, and in a way, a part of me was too. I think that small part of me, and you, are the only things that have made me different from Katherine.” Selene paused, reading ahead quickly.

“But I’m her, I know I am. I know that in some twisted way, I have been Reborn. Those of the Dark did this to me, but She of the Light came to me once. I never told you because I was sure it was a dream, but she told me that in a way, I would help her chosen Light Bringer save two souls. It was so long ago, I barely remember. I can’t forgive myself, though. I know that I should be happy for Jason and Selene, and I am. I am, which is why I don’t understand why I’m about to do what I do. Maybe it’s a twist of fate. I hope you can figure it out someday. I think it may be Katherine.

“I’m going to find Eris. I’m going to tell him about Selene and Jason. I know they’re keeping it a secret from him. I’ve done my research. I know he won’t be pleased. Something or someone tells me he won’t.

“I’m sure he’s going to kill me, and I accept my death. It’s what I deserve for being her, for being an abomination. I shouldn’t have been reborn.

“Mom, tell Jason I’m sorry and that I, Miranda, am happy for him and Selene. Please tell Selene how sorry I am. I wish I could stop myself, but I can’t. Please forgive me. All my love, Miranda Selivra.”

Jeanette wondered how many times she had read the letter. She wanted to hug her, but her muscles tensed up. She did not want to be touched.

“That was not my daughter’s name,” muttered the Reborn across the table.

“No,” muttered Selene, “Selivra was Katherine’s maiden name.”

“She was losing herself,” said the female Witch with the chestnut hair, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Selene?” Jason gently touched her shoulder. Jeanette shot him a pitied glance.

“He knows, then, doesn’t he?” It wasn’t a question; it was a statement. Selene’s back straightened, and she let go of the table to clench her hands. Her violet eyes never left Miranda’s face.

“Now what?” asked the tall, bulging male Witch.

“We hide you, all of you.”