Eris sat outside alone, by the river. He remembered sitting here on sunny days with Selene. Other days with Jeanette. He missed the simpler times, his old life before Vampyres and Shadowlings. Before Death.

“Azelia, where are you?”

“Maybe you should go look for her brother, dear.” Eris turned. Selene was leaning against the tree in the way she usually did, her arms crossed, her face set in a scowl that made her look older than she often appeared to be.

“Sneaky as always.”

“Why haven’t you gone looking for her?”

“Because I can’t, not anymore. She wouldn’t have me.”

“Azelia would forgive you. I think your problem is you can’t forgive yourself.”

“I’m not exactly waiting for that.”

“I don’t forgive you, making that perfectly clear, so I wouldn’t wait around for that. However, I believe it wasn’t all your fault.”

Staring back into the water, Eris smirked. “Good to know.”

“Why didn’t you kill him?”

I wish I had. “Because he wasn’t Pietro, he wasn’t bred from the darkness.”

“Why didn’t you tell me when I came for you?”

He didn’t know how to explain that. How he had taken Jason, bit into his neck with every intent to tear it apart, only to see into his thoughts. Only to see how much he loved Selene. He hadn’t been Pietro, not then. “I hadn’t decided them.”

“I hate you.”

“I sent Nivette to get you. Not my fault, you killed her.” Eris hated himself for Nivette’s death more than anything. He hadn’t believed that Selene would actually kill her.

“Nivette told me nothing.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.” Silence filled the air between them. Hugging the back of his neck, Eris stared up at the starry sky. First, Azelia, and then Nivette, he deserved to be alone.

“Do you really miss her?”

“Every day. I loved her. Not as deeply as I loved Azelia, but I did love her.” He let out a pathetic laugh. “I deserve to be alone. Next thing you know, Shira’s going to die.”

She shot him a look, eyebrows creased in confusion. “You actually care about her?”

“There’s a lot you don’t know.”

“Oh, I am so sick of people telling me that! What don’t I know, what is so damn important that I missed out on?”

Eris looked up at his sister. He could tell her, but he didn’t fully understand everything himself. Especially with the memories rising up. Having shoved them away for too long, locked up in the confines of his head, they made him confused, especially since, as of late, the memories flowing through his head had to do with Shira. Eyes full of love and kindness, not cold and calculating with malice. Looking back at his sister, he wondered how he was going to explain them to her.

“Remember that time when I couldn’t sleep? Because of the dreams I was having?”

“At the royal court?” He nodded. “Yeah, what about them?”

“I still have those dreams. Every now and again. Except I don’t think they are dreams but visions.”

“Visions of what?”

“I don’t know, I wish I did, but I don’t.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“I didn’t want you to worry. You were the only thing in my life that felt right. I didn’t want there to be this line that separated us. Except that happened anyway. Living without you has been hell. Everything is hell.”

“That’s your fault,” said Selene in a gentle voice devoid of anger. Eris stared back up at the stars, at the glistening stars and moon.

“I know. Now everyone has to suffer. Shira…she wasn’t always like this, so cold. I don’t know how I know that, but I do. She supported me when I said I wanted you back, even going as far as to threaten Lilith, who opposed. I don’t think Shira cares much for her anymore.”

“The damage has been done, Eris.” Her footsteps lightly pat on the ground as they made their way to him. Sitting down next to him, Selene pulled her knees up to her chest. “Lilith has gained too many followers,” continued Selene.

“You could dispose of her.”

“Yeah, I know. I already threatened her with death. But I can’t. Well, that’s a lie, I don’t want to kill just because anymore. To protect and defend, I don’t mind, but I will not kill her just to settle a score. I don’t want to be the Head Hunter anymore.”

“Well, I can’t remove her; she wouldn’t respond kindly to that.”

“You just don’t want to die,” chided Selene, her lip lifting up slightly to reveal a smile.

“Well, yes. If I die, she becomes Coven Master, and then you really would have to dispose of her. I would rather you killed me.”

“Good to know. If you piss me off again, I will. Oh! Well, there’s a thought. If I become Coven Master, I can dispose of her, and I wouldn’t have to fear her Darkling goons.”

“Are you really going to kill me?”

That’s when it happened. Selene laughed, just like she used to when they were kids. It was music to his ears. “No, I have no desire to become Coven Master. I want a simpler life, one that involves not having to look over my shoulder.”

“As long as Lilith is in charge, you’ll have to.”

“Oh goody!” Selene laughed again despite the severity of the news. Eris enjoyed her laughter and wondered how long she would laugh.

“You know, there’s this restaurant on the street where the home was,” Eris said, changing the subject.

“Is it good?”

“Yeah. Great steak sautéed perfectly with the most delicious roasted potatoes on the side. They have the finest blood in the city. It’s a good place.”

“What’s it called?”

“The Lit Fire Bistro.”

Selene laughed again. “For a place that sounds delicious, they sucked at picking a name.” Eris laughed in agreement and continued to talk to his sister. It felt like old times, talking and laughing, having her scold him. It seemed like days had passed when he used to stroll into her room and bother her endlessly because he was bored. A sad thought trickled through him as he wondered if she would go back to hating him when she saw the truth.