Nyx POV

Nyx looked down at her children with a proud smile on her face. All over the world, Fledglings and Vampyres alike were making the moral choices and denouncing Darkness. In England, her children were growing more and more brave by the day. In Canada, the fledglings began to take more risks and trusting themselves. In Shanghai, the vampyres were developing nicely. Then she looked on America to see her Blessed one, Zoey Redbird, when someone made a wrong decision...

Nyx's vision of the world below clouded as she zoomed closer to one child of Water. She gasped. That was not right at all. Erin Bates had done something with the ability to change the world. Forever.

"Erebus!"she called.

He didn't reply. Something deep inside her froze over, worry set in. First, Erin rejected the Chosen one.. then Erebus didn't come as promptly as he usually did. Things were certainly becoming strange.

"Erebus, come here"

He still didn't reply.

Sighing, Nyx turned gracefully back to the floating orb, watching as Erin's image walked across a room towards Aphrodite. There was more than just petty teenage drama to this. She just couldn't figure out what exactly.

"Yes, my lady?" came a voice right behind her ear, causing Nyx to jump and spin around suddenly.

"Erebus," She whispered, forcing the tension she had to slip away from her. The Consort before her chuckled and walked towards her.

"What was wrong, my liege?"

"I don't fully understand, yet."

He frowned, "Yet?"

Nyx stepped towards him, her golden angle, and held his arm to steady herself as she thought. It was true, she loved all her children equally. She just gifted some more than others because she knew they alone had the mental power to harness such power. Erin was one of those children.

Nyx's gaze fell on a mirror nearby. Her hair was also blonde, but she could alter that if she wanted. She could be physically anything... anyone. And at this very moment, she looked like an older Erin. Nyx didn't know why, but it made her feel more alive to mirror a different one of her night children occasionally.

"Nyx?"

"Hmm?"

"What do you intend to do?" Erebus said, wrapping his arms around her waist, and looking over her shoulder towards the mirror.

"I intend to watch," The beautiful goddess replied when their eyes met. Her decision was made, her chess piece movements clear in her mind's eye. She just didn't know who was the other player in this puzzle.

"W-Watch?" The Warrior angel stammered, visibly confused at the sudden change in the mood of his lady.

Nyx smile widened in the mirror image of the two. She felt the familiar ideas of a plan forming. Nature did not allow, nor was it in her wishes, to take away a Night Child's free will. But it did allow her to..test them.

"You know I will watch out for my children, Erebus, always and forever." She said firmly, steeling herself for what she was about to tell her smiling Warrior.

"Always and forever."

"Then I need you to do something for me."

"Anything." He agreed, sounding as eager as Zoey did that first day of her vampyre life. How proud Nyx had been at that moment... she turned her body again, to face the Warrior behind her. There was not a time for remembrance. This was a time for action.

"Find the White Bull of Darkness, and bring him here."

Erebus paled, mouth hung open wide, and stared at her as though she had gone mad.

Humm, what's this got to do with the White Bull? Obviously if you haven't read the later books, you wouldn't understand that. But don't worry. All will be revealed.