It wan't until Rachel entered the theatre from the back entrance and heard the exasperated cries of her director that she began to wonder what kind of state the production had gotten itself into after she had left. A group of chorus girls ran past her in tears, barely registering that she was there. Eddie's actor Jeremy spoke into his phone in a hushed voice while standing in the wings, though Rachel could hear the words "agent" and "contract" and "disaster". He glanced up and saw her, and when they locked eyes he hung up without another word.

"Rachel Berry, how nice of you to show your face around here." He sauntered over to her, glowering. "You know, I was beginning to think that maybe you had forgotten about Broadway altogether."

Rachel scoffed. "Oh, can it Jeremy. I never 'dropped out', I just took some time for personal reasons."

"Oh, right." He waved his hands in the air with a flourish. "The gods!" he declared in tone of mocking awe. "Please, those loons are just the latest fad. Give them another month and they'll be yesterday's news."

Rachel rolled her. "Whatever you say. I just want to get back on the stage."

"You really think Sidney is going to let you back on the stage?"

She brushed past him, trying not to listen to his comments. Jeremy was always a shit disturber, but she wasn't about to let him get to her today. She marched onto the stage, past the others and directly into the spotlight. It was the most natural thing she'd done all day.

The moment Sidney saw her he threw his arms into the air. "Rachel! There she is!" The producer clambered up the stares and walked towards her. "My one and only goddess!" Rachel smiled and hugged him when he got close enough. "And I do mean that," he continued.

"Oh Sidney, stop it!" she giggled. "I'm still the same girl you cast all those weeks ago."

"Still, in my eyes you are miles beyond those other facades cavorting about the city." He paused. "Speaking of which, no offence of course, how are your friends?"

Rachel shrugged. "They're alright. They're famous now, and that's great for them, but I've decided I have to stop worrying about their lives and start focusing on my own."

Sidney nodded excitedly. "An excellent choice. Yes! Now, I know you've been gone a while but I have no doubts that you'll be able to just jump right in!"

It's not surprising that somebody who has been rehearsing the same role since infancy would be able to run on autopilot, and Rachel Berry did just that. She kept her ears perked for notes on changes in blocking that she had missed, or to changes that the director felt suited the choreography better, but she spent most of the rehearsal thinking about Eurydice.

The plot went as such:

Eurydice fell in love with Orpheus the musician, and he with her. They were due to be wed, but as Eurydice was walking with the other nymphs she caught the eye of a satyr. She tried to evade him, but in doing so fell into a nest of serpents and was killed. Distraught, Orpheus played the most mournful songs on his lyre, and so sad were they that all the gods and mortals in the area wept with grief. They told him to go to the Underworld and try to bring his lover back. Orpheus went on the quest to the land of the dead, and was met with several obstacles. First was Charon, the ferryman, who only gave passage to those who had died and brought proper payment. But after hearing Orpheus' music, his heart softened and he brought the man into the Underworld. Next Orpheus was blocked by Cerberus, the monstrous three-headed dog that guarded the gates. But again, Orpheus played such sweet melodies that Cerberus was lulled into a peaceful slumber. Finally Orpheus was met by the rulers of the Underworld, Hades and Persephone. At first they refused, but Orpheus was so talented and so in love that both god and goddess felt his pain. They allowed Eurydice's return on one condition: that he walk in front of his bride, and not look upon her until they had both reached the land of the living once again. Orpheus began his journey back, and though he wanted to turn around the entire time, he had to trust that his bride had followed him. But just as he neared the exit he could bear the pain no longer, he had to see Eurydice. As he turned he caught the briefest glimpse of her face before she vanished - forever.

Rachel was not Eurydice. She was Orpheus. And she was a musician far beyond what he was. All she needed now was a god of death.

Quinn rifled through the skirts that hung off the rack. "I have got to come to New York more often," she stated as she pulled out one she liked for a closer look. "You'd never get designers like this in New Haven."

"You'd think that'd be different, what with the Ivy League presence and all that jazz," Artie replied with a frown.

Quinn grabbed another skirt and added it to the pile of clothes she was balancing on her forearm. "I guess some of them just don't like straying out of New York. I mean, it is a sort of fashion-central for the states when you think about it." They began walking to the checkout. "Thanks again for showing me around the mall. I'd probably get lost without you."

Artie grinned. "Hey, no problem. It's fun catching up with you, and I like coming to the mall during my down time." He gazed outside the store's doors. "It's got a great atmosphere. Perfect for people watching."

After Quinn paid, they made their way to the food court to grab a quick bite. After spending so much on clothes, Artie treated the two of them to a pair of Teen Burgers and some root beer floats. Sun peeked through the clouds on the other side of the skylight and glinted off the beads of condensation on their glasses.

"So tell me," Quinn said between popping fries in her mouth. "What do you think the gods are here for?"

Artie raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Well, they're clearly not here just for the sake of holding concerts and getting fans. There's got to be a bigger purpose."

Artie shrugged. "Well, isn't that a purpose in itself? To spread inspiration and joy through art?" He took a bite of his burger and swallowed. "I'd be totally down with that."

Quinn let out a small, breathy laugh. "So you're saying you'd be okay with being a part of the Pantheon?"

Artie shook his head. "No, I don't think I could handle the two-year lifespan. It's a shame, really. Everybody loves to romanticize the tragic artist, but if they ever had to live it out then I'm sure they'd freak out."

Quinn took a sip of her float, shading here eyes from the glaring sunlight. "Bragi and Chang'e seem to be doing fine."

"Bragi and Chang'e have reached a higher state of mental awareness, I think." Artie snagged another fry. "And Gabriel too."

Quinn nodded. "Right, the new guy." She pulled out her phone and looked. Earlier that day, it seemed that everyone on twitter had been followed by an account simply titled Gabriel, and he had followed them. A sudden manifestation of divine social media that was impossible to block or message. He simply was. "Gabriel was the messenger angel. He had a tendency to deliver messages to prophets and important people in most of the Abrahamic religions." Artie raised an eyebrow at Quinn, who just shot him a look. "I was Christian for most of my youth, remember? And I've got a theology major, so there."

Artie squinted in the bright sunlight streaming through the skylight. "Does it seem to be getting brighter in here?"

"Yeah, it does..." Quinn trailed off as she glanced around the area. A lot of people held their hands to their face in order to shield their eyes from the glare. Many had moved away from the food court to the more shaded parts of the mall. A small group was growing near a stage that was set up near the escalators. "Artie, is their normally a stage over there?"

He looked where she was gesturing. "Yeah, there's usually some up-and-coming act that puts on a mini-concert here before they go on tour or something. It can be a big deal sometimes. Why?"

Quinn stood up. "I think there's about to be another gospel." She quickly walked towards the crowd, with Artie steadily rolling behind her. They began to maneuver their way through the people, trying to get a closer look. Somebody was climbing onto the stage, somebody clad in beautiful shining yellow, somebody familiar.

Artie gasped. "Tina," he said softly. But of course he knew it wasn't her. She had a new name, and a new look.

Zorja Utrennjaja took to the stage and sang like the sun. She shone, and spread warmth and light in the hearts of everyone there. It was soft as silk and as comforting as a hug.

This is good for her, Quinn thought through all the noise. She deserves to be in the spotlight. It was all she could think before suddenly the tune shifted. Because the sun isn't just peace and tranquility. It can be harsh and fiery and shine like a disco ball. The crowd was consumed by the power and the beat, and what had began as a slow ballade suddenly broke out into a party that nobody saw coming.

Meanwhile, a gaggle of protestors had assembled in Central Park.

"What is this fuckery," Bragi demanded as he looked out at the growing crowd before he began walking towards them. Chang'e floated near him. Sam and Blaine, who had been watching the crowd develop with growing concern, ran in front of the two.

"Whoa whoa whoa guys, let's take it easy," Blaine stuttered. "They don't seem like the people you want to get tangled up with."

"It's fine," Bragi said as he moved past the boys. He never took his eyes off the protestors. They didn't look any different from any mob of angry people he'd seen before. They're signs had generic Christian imagery all over them, and when he was within range he could hear them chanting.

"End! Pagan! Worship! There's only one God! End! Pagan! Worship! There's only one God!"

Fucking ridiculous. Bragi rolled his eyes as he got to the edge of the concert ground. "Hey! Yelling folk! Can you take this elsewhere?" He crossed his arms. "What even are you?"

A well-dressed man, seemingly the leader, turned to face him. "We are a collective of concerned Christian citizens who are trying to put a stop to this before it gets out of hand!" he shouted. Those behind him noted and murmured in agreement. "This Pagan worship is just a precursor to complete societal collapse!"

"Hold up," Chang'e jutted into his rant. "You're saying that the world's gonna go to shit just because there are gods that aren't yours? That's messed up."

"Yeah," Bragi added, "even if we weren't here you'd still be completely offensive and rude. Besides, isn't one of your angels with us in this Recurrence? Gabriel?"

A woman stepped beside the man. "That so-called 'angel' is nothing more than a heretic spreading false gospels to promote dissent among the believers!" She held up her phone. "He is clearly using a virus to force everyone to follow his Twitter account. He is no worse than the false angel Lucifer!"

Chang'e scoffed. "I wish we had Lucifer right now. He'd probably tell y'all how stupid you're being, and coming from him it'd be extra-nasty."

"We are not just protesting for the sake of it!" the man yelled into Bragi's face. "We have proof! When the so-called pantheon convened in 1923 they incited a riot so large that London was nearly destroyed!" He shoved a sheaf of papers in Bragi's face. "If you continue your blasphemous acts then the only thing you'll bring is chaos and tragedy!"

Bragi scowled and smacked the papers away. "Do not disrespect me like that." His eyes narrowed, and for the first time since his awakening he began to truly emanate divine power. He held up his fingers primed for a snap. The crowd had no actual knowledge of what Bragi could do with those fingers, but they backed away regardless. Bragi went on. "And do not suppose that this is anything more than a riot of belief. Just like all of the Pantheon's gatherings over time." His eyes began to glow. "You think that you're special because you just so happen to believe in a certain deity? This world was built on everyone's beliefs being different. The Recurrence is happening because this era needs gods again."

He snapped his finger then, and a shockwave rippled through the area. The crowd went silent and gazed into the distance, each of them suddenly faced with a force beyond what they expected. Bragi smirked. "Do you understand now?"

The man who had been speaking before looked upon Kurt in terror. "Demon! Witch! You've played with our minds!"

Bragi rolled his eyes and turned. "Chang'e, can you deal with these plebeians?"

Chang'e smiled and stepped forward. "Alright haters, here's the deal. We booked this area of the park fair and square, so technically y'all are trespassing. If you come back here tonight then we're just gonna sic security on each and every one of you. In the mean time, you can just float on." She snapped, and the entire concert ground was enveloped in a shimmering bubble. It expanded outwards, and as it reached the protestors it pushed them away. The barrier stretched until it encompassed almost half the park. Try as they might, the dissenters couldn't get past the wall. They shouted curses at the goddess, but she didn't care. This was her and Bragi's territory. They could hate somewhere else.