IX

HAZEL

For some reason Hazel felt so…exposed. Her thoughts seemed loud—reverberating within her head to the point she thought she might be thinking aloud.

She couldn't breathe. She couldn't look. She couldn't be here of all places. She'd made a deal with the enemy already. She was in league with Gaia! And here she was in the temple of the Olympians—under the watchful gaze of the gods.

And there was this other feeling…this feeling that something much darker was at work here—corrupting her, goading her, whispering things to her. So coaxing, so silvery, so serpentine, that she couldn't get enough.

Light shone down from the ceiling of the domed temple—golden and piercing. She turned to look at Noctis who knelt before the dais in the center of the circular space. His black hair reflected against the light of the temple taking a golden streak. His downcast eyes—serene and sad as ever—slowly rose to stare at…Artemis.

The goddess looked heartbroken—her silver eyes close to tears. Something passed between them and Hazel knew she couldn't win. She couldn't beat the goddess if she was in love with Noctis—not when Noctis and Artemis already shared a bond.

Noctis looked resolutely back at the Huntress. He smiled before looking over at the rest of his friends. His eyes rested on each but only briefly. The son of Neptune shrugged care freely and stood up, staring at the light above.

Artemis' eyes widened as a mark of some kind formed upon Noctis' forehead. Hazel couldn't see it properly but something told her that it wasn't good. Then the sign disappeared. Warmth returned.

But the goddess' stare still lingered on Noctis' forehead as if she could still see it.

Hazel heard an intake of breath. There was a murmur from above as if the gods were conversing. There was a rumble of thunder followed by a flash of lightning far off in the distance. To her left, Octavian and her friends stood stock-still as statues, observing nonplussed.

Something had happened there right before their eyes. But they'd missed it.

"What's going on?" Reyna asked confused. "Were not the gods going to inspect Noctis?"

Noctis brought his hand to his forehead, his eyes narrowed as if in concentration. Artemis rushed to his side, clasping his arm, and looking at him intently. He glanced blankly at her for a moment as if he didn't know who she was. His eyes flashed red for one split second but Hazel caught the stare—it wasn't Noctis'. It was someone else.

Noctis shook himself, murmuring something that couldn't be heard by anyone except Artemis. The goddess took a hold of his hand that was clasped to his forehead and pried it away. His forehead looked fine to Hazel and the rest of her friends shifted uncomfortably out of confusion.

"What's going on?" Reyna repeated urgently. "What is wrong with him?"

Hazel looked from her friend back to Noctis. His eyes—it was his eyes. They glowed now, a deep red, like blood—rich and chilling upon sight. They weren't Noctis' anymore. They flickered and faded like the lights of a dying candle.

Artemis didn't look around. Thalia took a step toward her as the goddess stared intently at Noctis. "My lady…?" she reached out but hesitated before withdrawing.

The goddess looked agitated. Her face was pale. "How did he get inside?"

Noctis shook his head, confused. "I…I don't know…" he stared at his hand. "So much power…and it was from this source…from this thing."

Octavian stiffened. The former emperor's eyes narrowed. "What is going on?" he looked over Noctis. "He looks fine to me…"

"Nothing." Noctis muttered. "Yea…nothing is wrong with me." he took hold of Artemis' hand from his arm, staring at her. She looked fiercely back at him, not letting her gaze go. "Let's go." He led her away, leaving the temple behind. His eyes had that let's-talk-in-private look about them.

The others followed behind, clueless as to what had happened.

Soon the temple was almost deserted.

Hazel looked back at the dais. Something caught her eye. "Let me check on something. You guys go on." She told the gang.

She walked up to the center of the room and bent down.

There it was.

Before the dais where Noctis had knelt.

There was an imprint of some marking…some symbol.

She looked closer, tracing the figure, thoughtfully.

Hazel left the building, shivering. She didn't know why. It wasn't cold.

Maybe it was the fact that she felt the gods' eyes watching her intently back then at the temple—reading her mind. Those eyes prying into her deepest, darkest secret.

Maybe it was the fact that something came over her at the time. That whispering—so silvery, so deceiving.

Or maybe it was because of that mark…that engraving that Noctis had left behind. That Reversed Pentagram.

I am deeply sorry for not updating for so long. I know this one is short but there are longer chapters to come. I kind of wrote this one in a hurry so it's not that great. The grammar. The wording. All of that might be a bit off.

Tell me if there's anything wrong with this. Anyway thank you. And until next time.