I quickly made my way, in shadow form, up the side of Serena's house. By the time I had gotten there it was already dark, and most everybody had already turned in for the night. The neighborhood was dark and silent, almost with a lingering ominous feeling to it. A slight wind blew gently through the sparse trees rustling up the dead leaves along with the scattered pieces of trash.

Thankfully, her window was open, as if waiting for me, and I was able to glide in easily. Automatically, Serena could feel my presence in the room. She looked up from the piles of papers scattered on her bed and smiled as I reappeared in front of her bed.

"I've missed you. It's been so long since the last time I saw you," Serena said soothingly. She moved the papers away so that she could stand up.

"It's been to long, I'm sorry," I said as I wrapped my arms around her. I breathed in her sweet smell of chamomile and peppermint. I missed feeling the warmth of her body against me. It was intoxicating.

"So what brings you here in the middle of the night? I'm sad to say that I'm not the only reason that you visited me," Serena said quietly with a knowing smile.

"There's been some talk," I started.

"Isn't there always? What's it about this time?" Serena sighed impatiently.

"An old friend of mine came to visit. She feels like something's coming. Some pretty bad news," I told her quietly. I wasn't sure how I could explain it to her since I didn't even know what I was talking about.

"What kind of something? I don't understand. Is the Atrox bringing it?" Serena asked me questioningly. She leaned more into me and pulled me closer.

"That's the thing, Serena. I don't know what it is. My friend mentioned legends of her past, evil things, ancient. She talked about the boogeyman and the Keres. You've heard of them right?"

"Yeah, yea Collin has mentioned them in one of his Greek Myth classes. They're the uh… the winged female spirits who bring death and doom," Serena told me after a moment of thought.

"Well she said that they all came out at this certain time. Every hundred years or so. I'm not certain what they're capable of."

"If they come out every hundred years then how come there's no record of them? I mean we've been able to read and write since the past 200 years. Shouldn't there be some type of history on them or something?" Serena asked as she pulled away from me and began to pace the room.

"See that's the thing. I'm running on very little information and the little bit that I have isn't reliable. The only thing I am sure of is that something big is coming. Something I'm not sure any of us can stop it," I replied despairingly.

"I think you need to go and see Jimena, she might know something. Or at least Pandia might." I offered after a moment of thought. It seemed like the best thing to do. Ever since Maggie had died the girls were left with very little resources of information.

Serena stopped her pacing and looked at me, "Do you think that's the big thing she's supposed to remember? The thing she's supposed to help us stop?"

I shrugged, "Like I said, I don't know. Just go see her for me will you? I want you to be safe. I don't think I could stand it if I lost you too." I walked over to her and pulled her close to me again.

I could feel her pull a little, "What do you mean 'if you lost me too'? Who else have you lost Stanton?" I looked down at her and could see her eyes burning with questions.

I silently reprimanded myself for saying that without thinking. The Daughters still had no idea who Melantha, or Melanie as they liked to call her, really was. Their memories had been wiped clear of her dark secrets.

"Nothing, it's nothing. I just don't want to lose you, ok? I have to go now though. I have to go find more information," I said soothingly as I kissed her forehead.

Serena looked up at me sadly, "But you just got here. Can't you stay for just a little while longer?"

I really couldn't stand to see her look so sad, "I guess I can stay for a little while longer." She smiled brightly as I bent down and kissed her.

I sat alone on the beach once again staring off into the ocean. It was another cool and calm night, no moon so I could sit comfortably. The waves crashing so close to my feet, the foam looked hungry and so inviting.

Maybe if I just take soak my feet. It can't be that bad, I told myself.

"Don't you even dare! I did not work this hard to only have you wake up again." I heard the familiar voice say demandingly behind me.

Immediately, I jumped up, "Melantha! What are you doing here? I – I'm dreaming again aren't I?" I suddenly felt so disappointed. I wanted to see her again so bad, only in real life this time.

Even in the darkness her beauty was obvious. Her hair and eyes still sparkled with the same vivacity. I walked slowly to her taking it all in. I still missed her terribly. I loved Serena but everything with Melantha was different. I missed the feeling of freedom I had with her.

"I've missed you too," she said quietly as she reached out her hand stopping right before she could touch my face. I could feel no warmth from her this time.

I leaned in to hug her but she quickly backed away. I didn't understand, didn't she want to touch me?

"I can't, we can't. The dream world is so strict with rules. You can't touch me, or the water. You can't touch anything really, well besides the sand. Everything can wake you up," She said quietly looking around.

"Why have you come to see me?"

"I have to warn you about what's coming. Even the gods are afraid, things are going to change. You have to warn the Daughters they're the only ones who can stop it." Melantha said rushed.

Suddenly a strong wind blew around us almost knocking me over. Melantha's gown flapped around violently. I could smell something strange in the air.

"Oh no! Stanton you have to hold on. You can't wake up now! I haven't had a chance to tell you damnit!" Melantha shouted angrily. In response the wind only picked up in speed.

Melantha actually looked scared her eyes were wide with fear, "It's coming! It doesn't want me to tell you! Wake up Stanton! Wake up or it could kill us both!" Melantha said suddenly changing her mind as she ran quickly towards me.

"I won't let it! This is my dream isn't it?" I yelled back to her defiantly.

"You fool, nothing can control it," Melantha said ominously, until finally she reached and tackled me.