Cecilia sat in the guest room, her temporary residence, although lately she was beginning to wonder just how temporary it really was. She sat by the window, staring out into the stormy sky, where rain pelted the glass, cascading down and turning the outside world into a blur.

Despite the rain, though, she could still see the moons high in the sky, one in front of the other, both turning red. She scratched her hip, where her rune was glowing and itching. At school, there would be a special ceremony for this occasion. A moment in time where magic was the strongest and Witches were most powerful. Lying her head on her knees, she wished that she could step out of the house and feel safe.

A knock came at the door. Nicholas entered, offering her a warm smile.

“Dinner’s ready.” His voice was husky, low. Even now, it made her heart race.

“Oh, okay.” She stood up, fully aware of how intently he was looking at her. Being alone together was starting to take its toll on him.

“You all right?” he asked, standing next to her, hands hanging idly behind his side.

“Just tired.”

“Maybe you should skip dinner and get some sleep.”

“No, that wouldn’t help. I should eat.”

“If you’re sure.” He held the door open for her to pass and shut it behind her.

“Nicholas, do you have a bad feeling?”

“For a while now.”

“Well, yeah, but I mean, oh, never mind, I’m probably just paranoid.”

“Let’s hope that’s just it.” Nicholas held her hand and pulled her along, lacing his fingers with hers. Cecilia still had her bad feeling, and it began to gnaw at her stomach.

***

Lilith watched as they got settled for dinner. The Shadowling Evida stepped up to her side.

“We are ready,” she said, her tone empty and chilling.

“Good.”

“Remember, Lilith, Eris said not to kill.”

“I know,” she sighed. “Such a pity.” Lilith flickered her fingers and sent a little flare up into the sky. Her comrades slunk from the shadows encircling the house. They had spelled the area around the house with dark magic, a skill they all excelled at. She heard them mutter the spell she had taught them, the spell she would soon be joining them in, as she silently made her way to the top of the house, to the center of the dark circle.

From her pocket, she pulled out a smooth black stone. It was a rare stone, one that could only be purchased in the Darkling district or special orders through the Witch society. But why go through all that red tape? She was using it for dark magic anyway.

In the palm of her hand, she crushed the stone while she focused on Selene’s power, on her magic. The rain made it stick to her hand, but with fire, she burned it, sending a puff of smoke into the air that circled around her unnaturally.

“She of darkness, break this spell, sever the hold. Shatter the bind, split the protection. Let the darkness in, let it swarm and seep into the folds of light. Destroy the spell! Shatter her rule!” Her rune on the back of her neck was burning, throbbing against her skin, but it was worth it to help Eris break Selene.

She watched the thick cloud that enveloped her fall over the house. She could see it seep into the cracks; the dark circle lit up with an eerie green light. The air was filled with shattering glass and screams.

***

Cecilia ducked under the table, screaming. All around her, glass shattered, filling the air with sharp shards. Peeking out, she saw the place on the wall where the rune had been, which had exploded, leaving a hollow piece in the wall. Her bad feeling had been right. She felt Nicholas pull her close and lift her up from under the table. The Witchlings Zoë looked frightened, with her irises dilated to see in the dark. Jason’s father, Uriel, grabbed a sword that hung on the wall. His wife huddled close to him. Soon, shadows appeared, forming into Vega and Void. Both held swords.

“Get down!” Cecilia fell to the ground, cutting herself on the glass. Looked at the others, she knew she wasn’t the only one. A swarm of Shadowlings appeared, and Cecilia caught sight of something she thought unimaginable. A Reborn fighting alongside two Shadowlings. The sounds of fighting made her flinch.

“We need to get out,” said Nicholas in her ear, still holding her tightly. She nodded and looked at Uriel, who was lifting up his wife. Zoë stood up quickly, reaching for her. In the time they had spent together, Cecilia had grown fond of her. Together they made their way through the darkness that had come, through the house that was falling down. Cecilia thought the house was going to collapse on her, and when she saw what was outside, she wished it had.

Before her stood almost a dozen Vampyres, none of whom looked friendly. The blond at the forefront looked especially frightening.

“All this trouble for three little witches, a Reborn and a Witchling.” Her eyes lit up. “This is so much fun.” As if on cue, the Vampyres charged. Cecilia cringed, thinking this was the end, but none other than Ettore was at their aid. He snapped one’s neck and fought off the others who quickly charged at him. Watching them fight, Cecilia noticed a pattern. They were not trying to kill him; they were only trying to slow him down, keep him busy. But why?

Her thoughts were distracted by a running Zoë. She charged at the blond, moving almost as fast as a Vampyre, catching the blond off guard. Cecilia ran to her aid, pulling away from Nicholas, knowing she couldn’t handle the Vampyre on her own.

“Cecilia!” Cecilia spun around at the sound of her name. She caught sight of one Vampyre attacking Nicholas. She ran to his help, using a fire spell to get the Vampyre off. Clutching Nicholas and spelling a fire circle around them, she ripped off a piece of her shirt and placed it on his neck to stop the bleeding.

“Are you okay?” He didn’t answer her, only stared ahead of her. Looking around, she saw all the Shadowlings, her friends. That was where the attention was, not at the mortals. The realization dawned on her. She was about to shout out her answer when she saw what Nicholas was staring at. Zoë, screaming, a hand around her throat, fangs on her arm. The Vampyre met her gaze, her eyes a poisonous green. Cecilia watched her friend fall to the ground.

 

Zoë fell to the ground, convulsing. Her blood was hot, burning from within, and her body felt cold. She knew she was dying, from the inside out. Clutching her arms, she stared up at the Vampyre who was licking her lips.

“Now look what you made me do. I was under orders not to harm you guys, just distract the Shadowlings.” Her green eyes surveyed the area with a vast amount of glee. “It’s going brilliantly if I do say so myself. It’s a pity you’re going to die. I’m like a snake, you see, my fangs, my nails, even my blood, are all laced with poison.”

Zoë wanted to scream in agony, but bit down on her tongue hard, tasting blood. She would not give this bitch the satisfaction.

“S-Selene will k-kill you.”

“I doubt it. I was under Eris’ orders.”

“Sh-she will s-still k-kill you. A-and believe m-me, when sh-she’s done w-with you, y-you will w-wish you we-were already d-dead.”

“And how would you know that?”

“Because, Lilith,” she said happily, sparking a bit of rage in the green eyes, “y-you said s-so yours-self. You’re a snake, j-just like h-him. And she d-did a-away w-with him d-delighf-fully.”

Lilith’s eyes flared, and Zoë could see something in her eyes break. “Just die already.”

“Sh-she’ll kill you, j-just like him.” Zoë relished in the anger in the eyes as her heart began to slow. Shutting her eyes, she thought of Blake, muttering his name with her last breath.

***

Jeanette and Blake sat together in the library. Eris hadn’t left the Coven once. Jeanette didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. The door suddenly swung open, and Eris strolled in, a serious yet charming smile on his face that made her skin crawl.

“I need both of you to get to the Hunters Chambers. I have the rest of the Hunters gathered there already. There’s something I need to talk to you people about quite urgently.”

“About what?” asked Blake, unmoving.

“Selene. Perfect timing since she’s off investigating that Roamer situation.”

Jeanette exchanged a worrisome glance with Blake. “We’ll be there in a second.”

“Why not come now? Come on, we’ll walk together.” Eris winked at her as he turned toward the door, holding it open for them. Jeanette didn’t like this, and her dislike grew as a sickening feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. He looked like he used to, like the boy with no care in the world who thought the world revolved around him. And yet, there was something beneath the smile, something menacing, something threatening that she did not trust.

As they walked, Jeanette hoped that the matter of urgency was Jason. She hoped he wanted to confide in them, that way they could ease his troubles. Hoped that he wanted to repair what he was slowly chopping away at.

Jeanette spared a glance at Blake, whose jaw was clenched tightly. He didn’t trust Eris, but to be fair, he never really had. However, up until recently, even Blake would trust Eris when things concerned Selene. Those days were long gone. Jeanette could hardly blame him; their friend Eris seemed to be gone.

Jeanette and Blake continued to follow Eris down the curvy hallways. In the distance, Jeanette could see the Hunter’s door approaching. The bad feeling she had earlier was growing in the ice-cold hallway. When had the temperature dropped? Why had it dropped? These were questions she asked herself as she futilely rubbed her arms for warmth. She was a Vampyre, undead.

“After you,” said Eris, opening the door. Jeanette walked in cautiously with Blake close at her heels. Eris shut the door, stepping in.

“What’s so urgent?” asked Jeanette.

All familiarity vanished as he sneered at her. “Well, first, I would like to applaud you all for helping Selene keep Jason a secret. Bravo. Second, I just wanted to let you all know that I know where Jason is, and I’m going to get him. You can all stay here.” Eris turned to leave, but Jeanette and Blake lunged at him. Eris easily kicked Blake across the face, knocked him back against the wall, and gripped his hand around Jeanette’s throat. She thrashed about like a fish out of water, only to find his fingers clenching down tighter.

“All of you sit down, or I will crush her throat. It may not kill her, but the healing will be excruciating, I’ll make sure of that. So sit down.” Jeanette looked over at Blake. His eyes were blood red, fixated hatefully on Eris. He looked like a feral cat as he reluctantly sat down.

“The Shadowlings—,” began Blake, quickly interrupted by Eris.

“Are all busy keeping Jason’s home safe from a bunch of Vampyres and Shadowlings. They just attacked. Not to mention, Selene is very far away from Nephilium. Believe me. Now, just sit tight,” he said, slamming Jeanette to the floor, leaving the room in a swam of shadows. Jeanette lunged at the door, trying to open it despite its glowing edges.

“Jeanette, stop,” muttered Damien. “We need to dispel the door first.”

“We won’t be able to,” said Eno. “Eris has the Eclipsing rune, and it’s the night of the Eclipse.”

“None of us is powerful enough to undo that spell or Selene’s magic. There is no way for us to reach out to anyone. We’d need to dissect this one, then the ones around the house, and by the time we’re done, if we manage it, it’ll be too late,” said Blake, hanging his head in his hands. “There is only one other person we know who is just as talented, and that’s Lilith. If they attacked, then that means the one and only person who could have possibly, maybe, saved us is on the other side.”

“And it’s the eclipse,” repeated Eno. Jeanette flinched as Blake punched the table, swearing as loud as he could.

“We failed her,” she mumbled, slumped against the door. She could sense him on the other side of the door, could feel him there, listening. “She’ll hate you.”

“I know,” came his voice.

 

Eris pulled away from the door and stared at it for a brief moment before walking away, his hands tucked into his denim pockets. Shira was waiting for him near the end of the curved hallway.

“She’s almost near the Roamers. Should I wait for her?”

“Yes.” Eris submerged himself in shadows, vanishing into Nephilium.

***

The rain was slowing Selene down. Weighing down on her head, soaking her hair and clothes. The ground was muddy, making it hard to keep her footing. The rain was messing with her sense of smell, heightening the smell of the earth around her. The mud swallowed up her foot, dragging her down, but she easily caught herself on her hands. Her runes itched and burned like they did every eclipse. Looking back at her foot, she yanked it out, hitting her knee on a rock, hidden by moss and mud. Groaning she stood up, allowing the rain to wash the mud off her as she continued on her way. Sniffing at the air, she caught a whiff of the Roamers scent and ran off. Her breath caught at the sight she discovered. Both Roamers lay next to one another, neatly placed, dead.

Selene made her way to the bodies, examining both. Their necks had been snapped, their hearts were gone.

“About damn time. Here I was beginning to think I may have hidden the bodies a little too well.” Selene spun around, facing a black eyed Shira. The Shadowling had her arms crossed and was leaning casually against a tree. The rain didn’t seem to touch her.

“You did this.”

“Yup. All me. But I was acting under orders.”

“Whose?”

Her insidious grin widened. “I think you know.”

“Why?”

“So that he could get Jason. Your brother finds you predictable. He knows Jason was in Nephilium, and he’s on his way to kill him.”

“He wouldn’t,” said Selene, trying to convince herself rather than contradict Shira.

“Oh, but he would.” She waved her hand, and a dark portal appeared. Selene stared into the darkness. “If you’re fast enough, you just might be able to stop him.” Selene stood there, unmoving, her breathing erratic. Shira’s laugh echoed through the silent forest. “Tick tock, Selene.” Her laughter rang in Selene’s ears as she ran through the portal…

 

Eris’ boots squeaked against the tile floor. He was walking up the stairs silently, leaving watery tracks behind…

 

Selene’s feet pounded down the sidewalk. Her arms pumped at her sides, and she willed herself to go faster and faster. Turning a corner, she saw the apartment in sight. She ran faster through the rain, storming through the entrance.

“Please don’t let me be too late,” she muttered over and over again.

***

Eris walked down the hallway, tracing a finger across the wall and the door, and approached apartment 2306. He could feel the magic around the apartment, could smell it in the air. Eris had never been great at magic, but right now, he didn’t need to be. Placing a silencing spell on the hallway, he studied the door, gently placing his hand on it before blowing it in, shattering all the spells Selene had up.

Eris stepped inside, examining the plain apartment. The walls were plain, with not a single decoration. It didn’t look like anyone lived here, but he knew he was here; Eris could smell him. He smelled different than Pietro.

The living room was the only room that was really furnished, with a small coffee table and a ResoScreen. Eris leaned against the white wall and stared at him. He looked like Pietro except…

“You’re Eris, aren’t you?”

Nodding, Eris answered. “Yup. I think you know why I’m here.”

“I’ll fight you.”

His statement made Eris laugh and grin. He knew his fangs were showing. “Go ahead.”

***

Selene’s feet pounded the floor beneath her. She slipped, and her body slammed against the cold and hard tile floor. Selene scolded herself as she tried to keep the tears at bay. Stumbling back onto her feet, she ran, calling out her brother’s name.

“Eris—!” Her voice cracked when she saw the door in pieces. She tried to move, but her feet stayed pinned to the threshold. “J-Jason? Eris? Ettore!” The tears were spilling down her cheeks. She gripped the busted and bent doorway and pulled herself in, forcing herself to move. Every step she took felt like she was carrying weights. Her feet were heavy as they dragged her into the apartment. It was a disaster. The few tables and chairs were thrown apart, and glass and drywall littered the ground, crunching beneath every step she took. The lights were all busted, humming and flickering above her head. Selene sniffed the air and smelled only Jason and…

She ran to the living room, where the ResoScreen was barely holding together, and the sofa and table were in pieces. Her breath caught, and her knees finally caved in, slamming against the ground, when she saw the pool of blood on the floor, bits of it splattered over the wall and furniture.

Her body shook with rage, and her body grew warm. She willed the power within her to stay hidden, if only for a moment.

“Shira,” she said, knowing full well that the girl was watching.

“Yes,” she said, peeking her torso out from the shadows.

“Take me home.” Selene stood, her fists clenched, her head held high. The sparkle in Shira’s eyes added to her anger. How dare she play with me, thought Selene, making her way to her.

“Very well.”

***

Selene approached the cave, her anger flaring more and more. She hated her brother, shoved away all the good memories, all the times they had played and laughed together; all the times they had sat together on the roof and by the lake. All the times he took care of her, from when she was sick to when she was injured. That boy who used to be her brother was dead. The thing that had replaced him was a monster.

Selene passed the Hunters’ Chamber, wishing she could break his magic. It was a sad fact that she could not, she admitted, make her way to the Grand Chamber. Using her magic, she blew the doors open, as though they were on fragile hinges. He sat on his stupid macabre throne with its ghastly ornate decorations in expectation of her. Her heart raced as she made her way to him, clenching and unclenching her fists.

“I was beginning to—ugh!” Selene punched him in the face and then punched him in the gut. Stepping back, she threw a kick at him, a kick he caught with his hand.

“Selene, let’s not fight,” he said, using his other hand to wipe the blood from his lip.

“Burn, brother.” She used his weight against him, launching her other foot into the air, kicking him across the face. A surge of fire trailed it, causing him to scream and let her go. Twisting her body in the air, she landed on all fours, drawing out her long dagger. The cold stung her hand, sending needles of pain up her arm.

“Dammit, Selene, what are you trying to do? Kill me?”

“Yes,” she said, then lunged. Eris stared at her angrily, sidestepping her attack in a crouch to sadly catch her and throw her against the ground. Ignoring the pain, she stabbed her dagger into his leg, tripping him while he tried to make his way from her. She pounced on him, yanking her dagger from him, holding it to his heart. The blade barely scraped against his skin when he caught it, holding her at bay.

“Selene,” he began through gritted teeth, holding her back, “anger is an unflattering look on you.”

“I hate you!”

“It was for your own good.”

“I loved him!” She felt the blade pierce his skin.

“And what of me! I’m your brother!”

“No, not anymore.” Staring down at him, her anger subsided, replaced by grief. Staring into his jade-green eyes, she felt her own violet ones fill with grief. Look after your brother…

Selene jumped off him as the voice of her father echoed through her skull.

“Selene?”

“I hate you. I will live the rest of my life hating you.” Sheathing her dagger, she stared at him. “I will let you live, but I’m leaving. I’m leaving you and the Coven. But if you come after me, I will kill you. If you send anyone after me, I will kill them. I’m letting you live because I promised Dad I would look after you, but you are dead to me. If I see you again, I will kill you. Goodbye, Eris,” she finished wiping a tear away from her cheek. Running out of the cave, into the rain and night, she did not look back.