The puppet Evida sat in bed, clutching her heart, what was left of her heart anyway. Long ago, her dear dark goddess had asked her for her help in trying to retrieve Nuri, her once beloved son. Evida, missing her dear friend, had obliged her Dark Mother’s wishes. The cost was half her soul. No longer was she complete, only a puppet on strings being worked on by her goddess. But Evida didn’t mind. All she wanted was her lost friend, and the price she paid was worth it.

Dear child of mine, why do you weep?

Evida gasped and sprang from the bed onto her knees. “Beloved Goddess, I do not weep. To weep is to be weak, and I am not weak.”

Good. But something is troubling you; what is it that troubles you so?

“I–I would like to know when I will be whole again. It feels like there is a hole in my chest. Void,” she paused, trying to grasp some emotion, to no avail, “Void no longer loves me. All I want is my friend back.”

Dear dark child, you will be complete once again and even have a mate, one far better than Void. You will be my warrior and lead my war.

“And Nuri?” Evida felt the patience of her Dark Mother flare, bearing down on her, pushing her to the ground.

Nuri is gone! You will forget about him. Regarding him, death is my only order. He needs to die. Do you understand?

“Of course, beloved Goddess.”

Good. One more thing, enlist the help of that darling Lilith. I want eyes on everyone.

“Of course, mother.” The presence of She of the Dark left her there alone in the darkness of her room. Evida was climbing back onto her bed when her bedroom door sprang open. Void entered, staring down at her. Even if she wasn’t whole, her love for him was.

“Who were you talking to?”

“Mother.”

A look of despair filled his otherwise stoic face. “Why do you let her manipulate you? She tore you apart.”

Evida walked to him, her feet stepping lightly on the cold ground. “She is still my creator, my goddess, our mother, and she assures me that I will be whole again.”

“It’s just another one of her lies. We all see it.”

“It’s not a lie,” she said, cupping his face, trying to make him understand. “She said…I believe her Void, my husband—”

Void grabbed her wrists tightly, angrily, and pulled them off his face. “I am not your husband, not anymore.”

“Why Void?”

“Because you are not the girl I fell in love with.”

“But I will be!” screamed Evida, pulling her arms away from him. “Once she has him in her clutches, I will be.”

“Evida, that doesn’t matter, you still won’t be the same. You are willing to sacrifice another’s happiness for my own. I would rather die.”

“You might.” It was a statement, one Evida made devoid of tone. It was not meant to sound like a threat, but it sounded that way anyway.

“I hope Selene has the strength to defeat you.”

“Why do you care so much about her?”

“She’s my friend.” With that, Void stormed out of her room. Standing alone, she watched him walk down the empty hall. It was clear that his love for her was gone.

***

Lilith filed her blood red nails. She was not pleased with the return of Selene, just when she was getting close to him. She picked at the dry skin on her lips, wishing Selene were dead. Damn her. Damn him, she thought with more resolve.

Eris had returned to the way he was when she first met him. She had detested his kindness but found him easy to manipulate, and he had saved her life right when she needed it most. Now, he wasn’t easy to manage or control. Now that Selene was back, he would not do what was in her best interest.

Lilith gasped at the possibility of no longer being Head Hunter. The thought of Selene reclaiming her position made her blood boil. Lilith loved the power she had, the control she had over Blake, Jeanette, and the others. Blake especially. Crossing her arms, Lilith let her foot tap nervously against the ground. Her mind was not in a happy place.

“Evida? Shira? I need to talk to you.” The room darkened as Evida pulled herself out of the shadows. Lilith looked around, but there was no sign of Shira. After a moment, Lilith realized she was not coming. The remaining shadows flickered in reflection.

“Where’s Shira?”

“She will not come; she is no longer beckoned by you.”

“And why not?”

“Because her heart is whole.” Lilith stared at Evida strangely. There was actual emotion in her voice. It was sadness. For a moment, she actually looked human, making Lilith wonder what was going on in the world of the Shadow realm.

“What do you mean by ‘her heart is whole’?”

“I mean what I say, Lilith. Do use your brain. You must have one to have lasted this long without your lineage being known.”

Lilith’s poisonous cat-like eyes narrowed. “Do not mention my lineage.”

“Then do not attempt to threaten or intimidate me. I am a Shadowling, the last true Shadowling of the originals. Do not begin to think you are above me. I could kill you without a second thought. As everyone likes to point out, I am a puppet, I don’t feel anything.”

Swallowing her rage, Lilith leaned back into her chair, submissive. “I need your help,” she said, swallowing her pride.

“You want Selene out of the picture. It just so happens that my Darkling Goddess wishes the same thing. Since we have the same goal, we shall help each other to attain it.”

“Why—”

“That is none of your concern, Lilith.” The room chilled at the sharpness of her tone, at the familiar emptiness.

“Very well then.” Lilith paused briefly to gather herself. “So am I to believe that you have a plan?”

“We are to forget about Eris. He will not fall into darkness.” Her black eyes looked straight into her own, sending shivers through her body. “We are to focus on Jason and Selene.”

“Selene will not fall into a trap.” Evida’s lips curled into a smile. “It is not a trap. It is destiny.”