Following the second funeral for Arianrhod, the guests of Epona's Temple prepared to depart. Stationed beside their carriage, Cuchulainn delayed his wife. "I need to have a word with you," he announced. "Arianrhod informed me that Finegas might have a shattered soul. So I'll actually be going to MacCallan Castle for awhile."

"Cuchulainn, you are not a High Shaman! You would be better off sending me in your place."

"Are you kidding me?" he asked loudly, causing some nearby guests to look their way. He stepped closer and lowered his voice. "Do you not remember how our soul retrieval went?"

"Yes…"

"I am not sending my wife to have casual adultery with my brother."

"There are more ways than one, Cu. And if I recall, you only married me to aid me on the quest to drink of Epona's Chalice so I could become a High Shaman. And to help people like Finegas!"

"I don't feel comfortable with this, Brighid."

"Well, maybe you should ask yourself how Finegas feels. If Arianrhod was right, you have a shocking deficiency of compassion."

He sighed, throwing his head back. "Fine. But we both go, and I want to monitor the soul retrieval."

"Alright. And what of Rosaine?"

"I'm not going to decide that for her." He turned his head, watching Rosaine approach; and she looked inquisitively at their beckoning faces.

"Would you rather see MacCallan Castle with us, or go home by yourself?" Brighid asked.

"Are you breaking your union?"

"No. I have to check on my brother."

Rosaine's answer came swiftly. "I have to go home," she said, sounding uncharacteristically nervous.

"Very well. We'll see you before the next full moon." He mounted Brighid, and she lay a hand over each of his legs. Kicking into a gallop, Brighid carried her lifemate from the temple grounds. Officially returning to the Centaur Plains by herself, Rosaine sighed and climbed into the carriage that had transported her and her father to Epona's Temple, while her mother had run alongside. Gathering the reins, she lashed the whip above the horse's head, harmlessly frightening him into a gallop; then sank against the luxurious cushions with a sigh of pleasure.

There wouldn't be many more moments of peace; moments where she was granted her privacy. She had been named Epona's Beloved. Soon she would have an assistant, and even more people worshipping her very existence. Like she needed less space to breathe! Of course, she always had the option of forcing herself into behaving like her nasty great-great grandmother, the Goddess Incarnate Rhiannon MacCallan. She didn't want to, but there were already so many things she was doing and would do that went against her wishes. Really, what was one more thing?

No, she couldn't do that. Epona would not want her to. Her parents would not want her to. And perhaps of the most importance, she was not that girl. She could be caked in ten pounds of makeup…it wouldn't make a difference who she was inside.

Her new, predestined life as Epona's Beloved better be very rewarding indeed.

Kaina studied the mirror, scoffing again. It looked so common, so uninterestingly ordinary. But a High Shaman did not lie; especially in the presence of one bearing the Goddess-granted gift of Second Sight. Her words had to be truth.

The guests were leaving; she could hear the commotion outside. There would only be a legion of 1,000 armed centaurs and her High Shaman grandfather. Kaina doubted even her demons would go up against that, and Lochlan doubted it as well; for she was free to roam about the room. It was still locked, but her only likely visitor was also Fomorian.

There was a second reason Kaina was free today; she was preparing to abscond into the dismal Wastelands. Forever. Lochlan would barricade the entries and prevent her from ever harming anyone, even if the madness did claim her. It was her choice. It was the only way. At least, it had been until last night. Now, there was another way to keep her loved ones safe. A way onto another planet. Surely that was enough space between them. After all, what if Kaina found a way past her father's obstacles? What if someone else destroyed them, not knowing their purpose?

Being Fomorian, she was going to live a very, very long life. She would likely outlive the strength of a simple barricade.

The planet would not be hers alone. There had been a woman. There could be many more. But then again, their lives did not matter to Kaina. All she cared about was here in Partholon; and to ensure their safety from her, the only logical thing was to leave. So Kaina placed her hands on the glass. Impulsively, she closed her eyes and imagined a door.

Her head was quickly filled with visions that she didn't have to conjure. Visions of Arianrhod's bloody death. Visions of her pinned to the floor, her neck gushing like an obscene fountain.

The dark whisperings stirred in response to the images. Kaina lurched away from the mirror and fought for control. Reining in her madness, she raised her hands to try again.

And the door unlocked. She dropped her hands and spun around, watching her father enter the bedroom. "Hi, Father!" she chirped brightly.

He tilted his head in wonder at receiving a greeting from someone with whom he lived. "Hello," he echoed, his confusion obvious. His talons clicked on the tile as he walked to his bed. "Are you still planning on traveling to the Wastelands?"

"It seems best." She nodded, walking away from the mirror in an attempt to discourage her father from recognizing her intentions.

"Then I shall accompany you."

Kaina stopped, lifting her head. "Really?" she asked, and felt an unaccustomed rush of disappointment at never being able to discover the world mentioned by two highly honorable people.

"Of course."

"But—you are part of Clan MacCallan!"

"It will be a simple thing to renounce my membership."

"But…but Mother swore you in," Kaina blurted. "On your betrothal night!"

"As long as you live, Elphame will always be with me. Clans are easy enough to form, but blood is not so easily replaced."

Kaina demurely folded her wings, listening to her human thoughts whirl. "Right."

"Let me find Midhir and say goodbye. You should come, too. It is only proper," he insisted.

"No, I…I need a bit more time to myself." She wouldn't meet his eyes.

Lochlan nodded in understanding. Kaina had always preferred to grieve in privacy, so he didn't think much of it. She had spent her entire life believing she was alone, and had finally attended a family reunion that was, to say the least, disastrous; and she was arguably responsible. Of course she needed time to herself. So he let himself back out.

Kaina turned back to the mirror and raised her hands, touching the cold glass. Again, the memory of Arianrhod's death flowed unbidden through her mind. But this time she felt something, a bizarre movement, beneath her hands. She gritted her teeth and pushed the demons away. Do not disturb me in the temple of my Goddess!

Feeling her human half emerge victorious, Kaina smiled, keeping her eyes closed. Like a reward to her efforts, she felt the quiver again beneath her palms. And suddenly her hands sank into the glass. Warm air brushed across her fingers and her entire body tingled in anticipation. She allowed herself to fall further into the Divide. Eyes still closed, she spread her arms as if to part a curtain; and heard a sudden noise, like a strong wind blowing through a tunnel. She could feel her hair blowing across her shoulders.

Kaina pushed herself against the mirror and suddenly fell forward, without encumbrance. She fell forward, eyes flying open as the hot air poured over her face. She landed hard, her calves submerging into a cool river that took her off-guard. The smell of dirt and grass met her nose. Filled with pain and in a state of shock, she rolled over and stared up at the sky, breathing hard. Strange lines of straight, smooth darkness intercepted the sky; like it was breaking apart. Shattering. Like a soul. Like the Goddess had a shattered soul. Could that happen?

Kaina realized she was hyperventilating, and fought for breath. Was every aspect of her life going to become a struggle? She felt absolutely drained, which did nothing to dispel the shooting pains that overwhelmed her exhausted body. She squeezed her eyes shut, thinking solid color might reduce vertigo. Splotches of color flashed against her eyelids; and though she lay on the ground, she was suddenly overcome with an inexplicable falling sensation.

Then her knowledge of existence was consumed by darkness.

On the other side of the Divide, Lochlan returned to the abandoned bedroom and knocked. "Kaina, I'm ready."

No response came. He opened the door and looked around, then retreated down the hallway.