Chapter 1: A Restless Night

"No, don't!"

Celeste sat up in bed with reaching arms, not sure what she had been reaching for. For a moment, she just sat there. Eventually, her breathing slowed and she calmed down slightly.

With a weary sigh, she got out of bed. It had been a while since she had had the dreams. She had taken the absence to mean that she had recovered her memories. Rubbing her arms, Celeste realized that it was bothering her that it appeared the dreams had come back.

She walked quietly through the apartment's living room, hoping not to awake Mara. Although she doubted that a cup of tea would help, Celeste entered the kitchen and momentarily blinded herself with the fluorescent lights. Distractedly, she filled the kettle with water and set it on the stove.

Waiting for it to boil, she tried to remember the contents of the dream. However, it wasn't much, mainly flashes of color and a struggle of some kind. She had no idea what it meant, but for some reason she knew that it wasn't a mere nightmare.

"Got enough for a second cup?"

With her heart in her throat, Celeste whirled in the direction of the voice. Mara smiled as she propped her elbows on the counter. Nodding, Celeste retrieved another cup from the cabinet.

"I was trying not to wake you," the redhead stated.

The girl shrugged. "I'm a pretty light sleeper. Bad dream?"

"I don't know," Celeste replied. "I can't remember much about it."

"You're probably better off."

The kettle whistled. Celeste fixed herself a cup of tea. She was surprised when Mara again asked for a cup as well.

"I thought you hated tea."

"Well, since I was awake, I thought that I should join you."

Celeste smiled. "I'm glad you did, Mara."

"Do you two know what time it is?" Selene demanded, wandering into the kitchen. "Shouldn't you be asleep?"

"Sorry, Selene," Celeste said, scratching behind the cat's ear, "but we couldn't sleep just now."

"Yeah, sorry," Mara echoed, petting the feline as well. "I still can't believe I live with a talking cat."

The cat glared at her. "I'm more than just a talking cat," she scolded. "I'm here to help you."

"You sound so much like Luna," Celeste said, giggling. "Is Diana the same way?"

"I don't know what you mean," Selene huffed, "but thank heavens, you aren't like Usagi."

"No, we're as different as night and day," Celeste agreed. However the words tugged at something at the back of her mind. What was it?

Mara yawned, pulling Celeste from her thoughts. "Well, I think I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight, Mara. Thanks."

Nodding, she replied, "Anytime." Then, she headed to her room.

Selene watched the girl entered her room before turning to Celeste. Yawning herself, the redhead was tidying the kitchen back up but leaving the cups to wash in the morning. She could feel the cat's eyes on her as she moved.

"Should we talk about your dream?"

Celeste paused in her work before stating, "There's nothing really to talk about."

"But it was more than just a nightmare, wasn't it?"

"It could be," Celeste admitted reluctantly. "I just don't know."

The cat sat, gazing out the window thoughtfully. "Let's hope it's not."

"No, don't!" the girl begged, pushing the strange woman away. "Please, leave me alone." Sobbing, the dark-haired girl continued to run deeper into the alley.

With a weary sigh, Boreas folded her arms and merely watched the girl attempt to flee. She had been searching for Hecate for months and with no success. Once more, the young girl with dark hair was not the One.

"Strike out again?"

Boreas glared in the direction of the voice, not surprised to see the tall man with dark blue hair appear from the shadows. "What are you doing here, Zephyr?"

"Aeolus is tiring with your ineffectiveness."

"I will find her again."

He smirked. "After all these months, you don't seem any closer."

"If I didn't have to waste time with you, maybe I could find her faster."

"Yes, I'm sure that he will find a reasonable excuse." With that, he disappeared into the shadows.

Boreas summoned her latest creature. The scorpion-like monster awaited its orders, its eyes gleaming in anticipation. Watching it, she smiled.

"Enjoy yourself," she said. "She's yours."