Disclaimer: No money is made off this; it is purely for pleasure and the sake of writing. Plot and most characters belong to me, except for some gods mentioned, but who owns the gods anyway? Some concepts in here belong to others; due credit is given at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 2

"Angela? Is that you, child?" came the greeting upon her arrival home. After Terris' unexpected proposal of marriage, Angela had run straight home out of shock and fright. She didn't answer her mother as she normally did.

Celestine, her mother, left the kitchen to see what ailed her daughter. Even to a blind man, the resemblance between Celestine and Angela would have left no doubt that the two were related. Similarly built and colored, the only difference between the two was the color of their eyes and the wrinkles on Celestine's aged face.

A frown creased on Celestine's face. As she herself had blue eyes, her daughter, taking after her father, had dark eyes. The emotions that went on inside Angela often remained hidden and secret.

"Child, whatever ails you? Come, sit and speak with me, dearest." Angela left the door and went to her mother's arms immediately. Celestine let her daughter take comfort n her soothing presence.

"Oh, Mama...what am I going to do?"

Celestine frowned. "Do about what, little angel?" The childhood nickname brought a watery smile to Angela's face. She thought back to what happened at the forest. With Terris waiting there, so expectant for her to say "yes," Angela realized she couldn't. Although they had grown up together and loved each other like siblings, Angela found herself running away, leaving Terris behind, confused and calling her name. Slowly, she began to recount the story to her mother, watching as Celestine's face expressed fondness, shock, and, finally, understanding.

As Angela finished her tale, she noted the last look on her mother had. The empathy was definitely unexpected. She had expected her mother to be disappointed, upset, even, with her for turning down such a young man like Terris.

Celestine was contemplating about her daughter's situation. In fact, it greatly resembled a situation that she herself had been in, involving a certain young man destined to be Angela's father. She led Angela to the inner room, specifically, to the altar that held the family heirloom: the Balances of Eternity.

"My child, look upon the Balances. For generations, they have foretold the destinies of our kinsmen. Now, it is your turn. Learn of your destiny."

Hesitantly, Angela stepped up to the altar. She placed her hands on it, one in each scale. The shock of thoughts, memories, and feelings overwhelmed her.

Amidst the swirling aura, thoughts began to slowly crystallize. She saw her mother, much younger, kneeling...her mother with a man, dark and mysterious...a solar eclipse...a phoenix rising from the ashes...two men in shadows, one light, one dark...and finally, darkness.