The warm water poured down Athena's back. She had just finished undressing, and shivered as she adjusted to the temperature difference between the air of the bathroom and the confined space of the shower. Letting the water slightly soak her tired frame, Athena closed her eyes and sighed. The water was so warm that she could feel the steam enter and leave her lungs as she breathed. Though Athena was still herself, she could sense that she wasn't whole . . . she could feel the wolf part, the vampire part, the matrixa part, and the muse part of herself all at the same time. When she looked at her body, it seemed like she was looking through space and form, seeing all the sides of herself that was bound by terribly powerful magic. Her hands were claws and human-like hands at the same time. Her hair was the black and brown mix that she'd dyed it, but it also wore the color of the Parisian wolf and the beautiful Bengal tiger's stripes. Despite seeing herself so bare and all her forms exposed in such a manner, Athena smiled. What was happening to her was quite common among those like herself—or somewhat like herself— in Xaphania and the supernatural community. It was called a "healing" shower, and the method that very powerful magic used to recharge itself. Athena hadn't taken the time to have a "healing" shower in a while, and decided that now would be a good time to do so—if she hadn't thought it would be a good idea, it would be relatively easy to cage all of the magic inside herself and restrain it for another while. But Athena rarely chose to do this; for her, washing the soul was more important than cleansing the body; she also needed some time to think about all that was bound to happen and approaching quickly in the next few days and weeks.
As she opened her eyes, Athena was astonished to note that her eyes had changed their color. From the moment she'd arrived at the Academy, until a moment before, Athena's eyes had been black with a minor red rim around them, if she was hungry for blood. Now . . . they were much different. Her eyes were a brilliant lavender color, and showed no signs of her vampiric roots. Athena was definitely still a vampire, though her eyes no longer indicated that that was so.
My natural eye color . . . Athena thought, as she hesitantly moved her right hand to make sure what she saw in her eyes were real. The eye color I had when I was alive. It's back. That means . . .
Athena knew immediately what the return of the eye color of her mortal form meant; it meant that she was truly in love with Logan. The love she'd found with Logan was the pairing that the gods had intended for her; she would want no one else for the rest of her life. Until now, Athena had thought that that legend about herself was only a myth; she'd seen herself staying with Lestat until the day one of them died, or eternity— whichever came first. Now she knew that Lestat wasn't her destiny. Logan was. She was meant to be with him, and to have a family with him. She felt freer than ever in that moment, though a small part of herself was amazed at how she had fallen so quickly for a mutant that, such a short time ago, she had heard of as "a ruffian" and "a good for nothing" and that she had herself called "a rogue too far gone too help" after hearing a story about him. She had finally learned what an old werewolf saying meant: don't judge a person until you've looked them in the eyes and howled at the moon with them, and nuzzled their fur. She felt like she held a part of him within her, and that he'd held her for eternity after that night under the stars they'd spent together. Now, they were destined to start a family together.
Thank you, mama, Athena smiled, as she sent a prayer of thanks up to the dead mortal mother that had left her behind. In the case of immortals, soul mates were arranged by the parents—more often than not, mortal—that had left their sons and daughters behind. Athena was happy, and thought that her mother couldn't have chosen a better person in the world for her precious daughter.
But Athena, as she rubbed the lavender soap into her skin, was worried about what her family back home at Xaphania would say. Logan was the man she was destined to be with, this much was true. But would her whole family accept it? Athena already knew that Ewan wouldn't, but he wouldn't say anything . . . she had him wrapped around her little finger for the rest of his life— or her life, whichever one of them died first. Because matrixs were worse fighters than matrixas, matrixas would appoint matrixs to take the post of first matrix. Athena, since the day she knew she wanted to try for the position of first matrixa, had always kept close track of matrix fighting tournaments. Matrixs from all over the supernatural world would enter the competitions that were mostly in Germany, just for the chance that some excellent matrixa might notice them if they won, befriend them, and make it possible for them to place. However, matrixa were always hard to please, and only a handful of matrixs throughout the years had ever actually impressed a matrixa watching a competition. Athena had been impressed by Ewan's tenacity and technique. She had taken him under her wing with an unusual amount of kindness and even trained him a few times— though she had never given away a single secret that was part of the matrixa tradition. However, just because she'd trained him a few times, people said that Ewan moved like a woman— a high compliment in that society, in which the word "woman" implied "matrixa". Athena had gone out on the limb for Ewan, almost letting a bit of her own aura rub off onto him, and eventually naming him first matrix. She had allowed her own brother to have the second spot, and given it to a man that she knew very little about socially.
At least, Athena wished she didn't know much about him socially. Thinking back on her actions, she knew that she had no one but herself to blame for letting herself date Ewan and feeling for him— for however short a time. She had let herself spend an almost obscene amount of time with him, and had let him court her. Still remembering the bouquets of flowers that he had bought her and the vacations that they had taken, Athena pounded the shower door. Damn human sensibilities, Athena cursed, when I'm not even human. Even when I was alive, I was never human. Why do I act that way? Athena had despised her vulnerability of that time, when he'd taken complete control of her and treated her, though chivalrously, like a prize to be won with all his favors. She hated both herself and Ewan for it— though she showed more of her hate to Ewan. Athena never wanted to be that damned giggling human-matrixa ever again. She wouldn't even be like that with Logan . . . Athena felt wild with Logan, and felt that he gave her strength. They would fight their own battles, though each one felt that they had each other's support until the very end. Athena knew that what she thought was true as she let out a terrible siren yell. She yelled to release the energy of the aging muse within her; it wasn't as audible as the yell of her animal forms, but rather at a frequency so high that only another muse or siren would hear it. It felt good to yell, and to cleanse a part of herself that was rarely used nowadays. Athena grabbed the lavender oil as she stopped her siren wail, and started to wash herself with it.
However much she hated her past relationships, Athena realized, she had to move on. That's what Logan had told her. Soon, she would change the world, the selves of her past would be burned away, and the strong self that she was now would move on . . . with Logan by her side. Athena, though nervous about the coming days, was sure that nothing would be easy. There was even some doubt that she would succeed in her final war with Siete—with that demon Loki helping him—but she knew, if she succeeded, that the world would becoming truly whole and good again, and turn into the place where she could make a home for her family . . . with Logan.
Athena felt a warm radiance in her heart when she thought of Logan. He would always be her strength, and there were no words that could describe what he'd become for her already, in such a short time. Her relationship with Ewan had only been a few months, but hers with Logan would be much longer. A lifetime . . .and more.
She let the heat of the shower permeate the skin of her natural form and all her selves, letting her subconscious be content with the image of Logan and her future in its eye. A fluttering feeling darted through her soul, and Athena shuddered as if she were cold in the steamy shower. Athena looked into the shiny shower door, seeing her reflection. Flashing herself her trademark vampiric smile, she knew that her relentless and perseverant nature hadn't been lost with loving Logan. He claimed just a part of her heart and soul, though large; she had the rest of herself to offer to the world and continue to fulfill her mortal mother's wish that she would become the best she could possibly be.
Athena shut off the water and opened the shower door, really shivering as she felt the temperature difference between the steamy shower and the room temperature bathroom. Grabbing the towel that had been on the silver rack next to the shower, Athena dried herself off. She gathered her magic selves together, wearing her natural matrixa form, and went to get dressed. She wore the towel that she'd used to dry herself off, letting only the dry side touch her skin. Athena padded barefoot out of the bathroom, and used her own magic power to shift open the door of her own closet. Suddenly, in the most remote corner of her mind, Athena noticed something. It was just faint, but she was certain that something was awry in the school. It was, at most, two minutes later when she finally put her finger on it.
Her father, Lupin Solcannis, had finally come to Xavier's academy. She would have been happy and overjoyed, but she realized that he was talking with Logan. Athena couldn't recognize what the conversation was about—after all, though she'd taken a shower, Athena hadn't had quality blood in a few months. The amount of blood determined what type of magic she could do— the better the blood, the more powerful her magick was. Right now, she couldn't do very powerful magic, since her only source of blood had been Xavier's shots. Even they weren't satisfying Athena's hunger, but only staved it off for another day, when she would take it again. Athena had a feeling that her brothers, if not the vampires who came, would bring sacrifices to her out of respect. She would do anything to taste the blood of a human untouched by immortals—preferably one who was a bastard of a criminal. Like her Dark Mother had taught her when she'd been chosen to succeed Akasha, Athena only feasted on those who'd committed crimes. It didn't matter how large or small—though she did prefer murderers or those who'd done worse things—a suitable person to kill for reasons of blood had to commit a crime.
However, another thing that Athena had been taught was how to ignore hunger, which she did well as she grabbed her favorite black leather trench coat, as well as a black shirt with the words 'Kill one another' on the front, and a pair of leather pants that neither flattered or poorly distorted Athena's figure. After pulling on her clothes, Athena went downstairs to see Logan and to have breakfast with him as she had promised, though she hadn't had a drop of blood yet and was even paler than usual. Sighing as she wore her most comfortable shoes, she yawned and went carefully down the stairs.
Going to the place where she'd left Logan, Athena smiled as she found him there waiting patiently for him. Deciding to indulge both of their rambunctious side, she was careful to sneak up on him. She didn't let even one of her muscles cause the floor to creak as she almost floated over to Logan's back and started to tickle him. He didn't laugh, but rather he sprang up out of his chair and started to tickle her. Athena let him, laughing loudly until she started to cough. Logan sensed that enough was enough and ended his tickling session with a quick and hard kiss on Athena's supple lips. He touched the skin on her cheek and realized that she was colder than ice. "Athena," Logan said, a concerned tone in his voice, "what's wrong?"
Rising from the floor, which Logan had tickled her down to, she only said, in a somewhat weak voice, "Oh, I just haven't had my blood yet. I'm always weak when I don't. But I hate injecting it like Xavier has me do. I wish I had thought to bring some nice warm blood wine. But I didn't think beforehand, and now I have to suffer. I can't possibly take blood from anyone here . . . not even if they were willing. No one here knows how to overpower a vamp—especially not one like me." Athena coughed, using the back of her hand to cover her mouth. "But those damn shots hurt." Logan helped her up, and said as he let her go first to the kitchen, "Do you want me to help with them?"
Athena smiled as Logan followed, and said, a bit of her arrogant vampire nature shining in her eyes, "It's fine. It's something I have to deal with on my own anyhow. My family should bring me some blood sacrifices and volunteers to help with the hunger soon, though." Athena smiled, and Logan noticed the beautiful, fresh lavender eyes that now made the face of his girl even more beautiful. As she walked past him, he also noticed the sheer length of her hair. He had never noticed that her hair reached almost to the top of her hips. Now, though, the black and brown tones of her tresses had vanished; Athena's hair was now a stark white and black, the while highlights almost matching the white of Athena's skin. All Logan could do for a few minutes was stare at the improved beauty of his Athena. When she noticed that he had stopped walking, Athena nimbly spun on her heel and cocked an eyebrow at him. "Well, slowpoke? Are you coming, or not?"
Logan's arrogance shone through his brown eyes, and he ran as quickly as he dared towards Athena, who raced him to the entrance of the kitchen. Athena had beaten him by a fair distance, but when they both reached the entrance of the kitchen, neither cared who had won.
Athena had been wondering, since she'd gotten out of the shower, how her father had treated Logan and how he felt about her and this mysterious American mutant together. She wanted desperately to find her niche, her place, her home in this new world that had formed around her, and hoped that the people she'd come to love through the years would accept whatever made her happy.
But as Logan kissed her passionately against the wall of the kitchen, she could sense that he'd found acceptance with her father. He'd joked, laughed, and connected with the person who made her whole Xaphania career possible. Athena could sense the sheer satisfaction and comfort in Logan's kiss, intermixed with the love he bore in his heart.
As Athena gave herself over to the moment, even as she and Logan sat down to a breakfast of toast, butter, and pancakes, she knew that her family wouldn't cause a single problem in her life—not anymore. At that moment, she was proud to wear the beautifully white highlights in her hair, the same color as that of the Parisian wolf whose form she bore inside of her. Athena was proud to be accepted as a wolf, and to sing their song, even though she wasn't one of them in her blood.
Athena found comfort in having her own moon song, and to be able to sing it however she chose— and with the man who her heart had chose after so much yearning.
