Selene didn’t know what to think. Could it really be Jason? She looked back at her brother, not knowing what to think, until her rage blinded her, sending her fist at him, knocking him back.

“You bastard!” she screamed, wrapping her fingers around his throat, digging her nails in. “You could have said something!”

“You killed every messenger I sent,” he said prying her hands off him. “Your fault sister dear, not mine.”

“Fuck you.”

“Oo, today’s profanity, mother would disapprove.”

“You’re one to talk.”

“Selene, please stop this.”

Hearing Jason’s voice shook her to her core. Looking back at him she had to make sure that it was him, really him. It was him, her Jason, giving her a pleading look. It was truly her Jason, not a replica. Only there was an arm draped on him, with long blood red nails touching the surface of his neck. Letting out a subdued growl she forgot about her brother.

“Get your hands off him,” said Selene, her fists clenching.

“Those aren’t my orders Selene,” said Lilith. “Besides, I’m Head Hunter now, they follow my orders.”

“Wanna bet? I’ll still rip your heart out, and some of them will let me,” she said nodding in the direction where her friends stood idle.

“I don’t doubt that in fact, I’m sure one most certainly will. I mean I did kill his girlfriend after all. That Witchling was certainly fast. What was her name again? Zoë?”

“Lilith don’t antagonize her. If she wants to kill you, I’ll let her.” Selene smiled at the voice of her brother sticking to her side. “Now get your hands off him,” he ordered.

Selene watched Lilith glare at Eris then turn it upon Selene as she slowly pulled away from Jason, gently raking her nails across his neck.  Her eyes fell on Jason and watched him look over her shoulder hesitantly. Screw it, thought Selene throwing herself into his arms, finding lips pressing hard against his, opening his mouth, winding her fingers through his hair. It really was him. Jason was flesh and bone, no longer a memory that haunted her dreams. His strong arms wrapped around her waist and move up until they cupped her face, then her wrists to pull himself away. He looked down at her longingly before returning his gaze past her shoulder. Selene followed, catching the site of her brother grinning. It wasn’t a typical smirk, though, something about it was wrong and told her that something was wrong. There was a time when she would have worried, back when she cared.

“Selene, there are certain—”

“Save it Eris, I am not returning to the coven.”

Suddenly, his jade green eyes turned red and hard. “You don’t have much of a choice Selene. If you want to be with him, you will return.”

“Screw you.”

“That’s disgusting Selene,” he said grinning broadly. Selene pulled away from Jason to lunge again, but his arms wrapped around her waist tightly. Staring up at him confused, she wondered why he, of all people, was protecting her brother.

“Let me talk to her, Eris.”

“Fine, talk to him. Either she returns, or I kill her.” The tone was so nonchalant, like he didn’t care, as though she didn’t matter. A pang of pain struck her, and she knew it shouldn’t considering she had planned on killing him, but it did nonetheless. Despite everything, he was, and would always be her big brother, he was meant to protect her not threaten her life. Would he actually kill me? At one time the answer would have been a no, but now she was sure he meant he would kill her just as she had intended on killing him. Except, Selene loved him, always would. Eris was her big brother.

“Eris,” hissed Jeanette.

“It’s her choice.” Eris met her gaze, his eyes returning to their bright jade color. “You have until the second moon reaches its high point tomorrow night to convince her.” Turning his back to her, he walked off leaving her alone. Lilith walked by, sneering at her as if saying ‘see, you aren’t that special to him either.’ Watching the Vampyre’s filter away one by one they all left, even her old comrades giving her smiles of welcome. All except Jeanette.

“Selene?”

“Huh,” she turned away and faced him. His body was more relaxed, more like himself.

“Kiss me.” She didn’t need to be told twice.

***

Knocking on her door woke her up. Her dark purple shades blocked out as much sun as possible depriving her of the time of day. Lifting her head to look at her clock she saw that it was early, but not too early. Under normal circumstances, she would already be awake. Last night had been anything but ordinary.

“Selene,” called Lily, “come on wake up! Breakfast is ready.” Selene listened to her walk away from the door, and instead of getting up she laid back down and onto Jason’s chest, smiling blissfully at the memory of last night. He even smelled the same.

“She sounds like Cecilia.”

“She looks like her too. Except she has Nicholas’s eyes.”

“Wish I could have been there.”

“I took pictures. Uriel gave her away. It was nice and small. Just us, the Kings Garrison and the few Shadowlings we could trust. Gabrielle refused to smile and complained about her dress the whole night. For people who were in hiding, we really made the most of the night.”

“Selene! Ettore is here! He says the barriers down! Selene!

Jason laughed. “You should get up. I would like to meet them.”

“I don’t know what will happen. Right now, they are probably hoping I’m here in this room alive. They knew Eris was coming.”

“Then let’s go. Besides, I know you have a stash of blood. I sort of need some.”

“How did you know I have a stash?”

“I’ve been watching you.”

“For how long?”

Jason looked away, turning his body from her. “Since you killed Nivette.”

“And you didn’t say anything,” she exclaimed fighting hard to keep her voice down as she spun out of the bed. “Dammit Jason! I thought you were dead and all this time you were alive, watching!”

“You don’t understand, I didn’t have a choice! I felt like I was dead. God, you don’t know what it’s been like!” He ran to her, tightening his hold on her cheeks, holding her steadily. “It wasn’t living Selene, I barely felt alive.”

“Except you were.”

“Dammit Selene.” Jason forced his lips onto hers. It was painful, forceful and carried with it his thoughts and memories. All his sleepless nights of watching her — begging her to catch sight or smell of him — through the centuries. Every moment he longed for her to see him flooded her mind. It left her breathless when he pulled away.

“That was not living Selene,” he said still cupping her face. “We should get dressed and have breakfast. It sounds like they are really beginning to worry.” Selene smiled and held his hands close to her.

“I missed you so much, Jason.”

Peeking out of her door, she pulled Jason along after her. She could hear her friends muttering in the kitchen.

“Are you sure she’s here?” she heard Lily ask. “I mean she’s never gotten up this late before.”

“I have a good reason,” spoke Selene entering the kitchen, tightening her hold on Jason’s hand, afraid to let go.

“Selene—” Lily stopped herself and stared stunned at Jason.

“Lily, Luke, I would like you to meet Jason.”

“Holy shit,” swore Luke.

“Oh my heavens,” said Lily at the exact same time. Lily stepped forward and poked Jason on the arm. “It’s really him!”

Biting her lower lip to stop from laughing she merely smiled. “Yes, turns out he’s alive.”

“Eris never killed him?” asked Luke. “Why didn’t he tell you?”

“Her brother is a bastard,” said Ettore staring at Jason. “Sit down Jason, it’s breakfast time. Good to see you’re alive by the way.” He stared down at him like he was something to be wary of, Selene didn’t understand it, nor did she like his dark tone.

“Oh yes!” jumped Lily. “We’ve heard so much about you! Can you tell us about our grandparents?”

Selene smiled while Jason laughed. “Of course.” She was happy again. Selene knew that it would be fleeting, but she would enjoy every second that passed. Sitting down next to Jason, Selene returned her gaze to Ettore, who stood as far away from Jason as possible in the small kitchen, his arms crossed. Ettore’s casual and careless demeanor was gone, tightened, stern and stiff like Void, while he stared intently at Jason. Chills ran down her spine when his coal black eyes met hers.

***

“Ettore,” whispered Selene while she crept onto the roof of her apartment building. She needed to speak to him about Jason, about why he had stared at him the way he had. Ettore knew something that, with her luck, would undoubtedly shatter her happy reprieve.

“Yeah?” Selene spun around and faced him. With his back to her, he leaned on the wall of the building, staring off into the city that shined in the light of the setting sun.

Her eye’s scrunched up, studying his haggard expression. “What’s wrong?”

“If I tell you will you listen? I mean really listen to me.”

“Of course.”

Ettore let out a bitter laugh as he turned his gaze to look at her. “Okay then. You realize you were a mistake right? You weren’t supposed to exist. You threw off everything.”

“What are you talking about?

“She of the Dark manipulated her brother, He of the Grey into making you. She of the Light found out and stole you away, put a bit of herself in you to save you from her sisters corruption. It’s why you can’t be tainted, it’s why when the dagger struck you instead, you were dying. Everyone feared you would turn, but you can’t be turned to the dark, the light within your soul won’t let it happen. However, once darkness is in you, it’s not easily removed. You were supposed to be his corruption but ended up being his savior. But what’s done is done, and She of the Dark is not easily stopped.

“She of the Dark bound your soul to Eris, but She of

the Light purified that bond and made it unbreakable. So my mother, the Dark Queen, brought Pietro into the mix, wound what left she had of your creation to his heart, sickened him, poisoned him, did what her sister did with you to Pietro, making him her tool of darkness. And it worked.”

“What do you mean it worked?”

“He stirred up your darker passions, your ambition, your talent. You can’t be tainted, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be manipulated. You were supposed to get rid of that dagger. Not keep the damn thing.”

“You’re not making any sense. Does this have to do with my return to the coven.”

Ettore sighed. “I wish I could tell you more Selene, I really do, but old laws bind me. Jason was born of the light, something that would come and go, fill your life with joy, make you come to terms with the things you did. Not be turned. He is Pietro reincarnated, he was Reborn, and all Reborns remember their past. Pietro was of darkness, and once darkness is there, it cannot be removed. Jason is too close to the darkness that poisoned Pietro. Going back isn’t going to be easy.”

“Why not?” Everything he was saying scared her and the look he gave her, the grave look his coal black eyes gave her said nothing better. “You can only save one from darkness Selene. Only one. And the lives of so many hang in the balance of that choice.”