A/N: Well, wouldja lookie here! Lilac didn't fall off the face of the planet and die! *chuckles nervously* I'M SO SORRY. School's a *bleep*! I can't wait for summer break, where this FF (And my PJ one; check it out if you're a fan!~) are all I have to necessarily think about! So, without further ado, the long awaited CHAPTER 40 (or did I lose you guys completely?)! SPECIAL CHAPTER, JUST FOR YOU.

Disclaimer: Don't own anything but my OC's.

Celeste's POV (I feel THIS bad...):

I walked through the dark corridors, the foreboding feeling churning throughout my body.

They had a new mission, just for me. Apparently, it was a 'special' one. The scenarios that were playing in my head were endlessly gory, the thoughts causing me to shiver violently.

"Ah, yes. Celeste. They're waiting for you." Darkie told me, with a fond smile. Over the years, you just comfortable with the people you worked with, even if they were, technically, monsters. Demons. Murderers.

Darkie wasn't so bad, by my standards. But I didn't really have standards, so don't trust me.

I nodded my thanks and threw her a tight-lipped smile before walking through the double-doors, to the auditorium.

"Ah, Celeste. Come, come." A voice greeted me, cold and daunting. "We've been...ah, expecting you for a while."

"I'm sorry Eric. I got caught up in my training." I lied through my teeth, anger coursing through my veins.

From day one (or what was day one to me; the day I started training), Eric's hated me for being such a...natural. I was better at him at his own game, and that pissed him off. A lot.

"Don't be late again, Cee. It's not good for your rep, now it is?" Eric shot back, smirking at the use of my pet-name that only FRIENDS used. Yeah, Eric wasn't a friend.

"Oh come off it, boy." A gruff voice cut in. "The girl was training. You should be praising her, not scolding."

"Yes, Darik. I apologize." Eric reluctantly grumbled, before slouching back into his seat.

"Carrying on." Darik continued, shooting Eric a disapproving look. "Celeste, we have called you here because we have a mission. That you already know of, however we shall now debrief you."

"Clearly, you are our best." Circe, yet another council member, cut in. "It is only right that you are sent out to bring back our next Lady of The Flames."

(A/N: I was gonna stop here, but then I remember the month-long hiatus. XD)

My shock, to say the least, was extremely evident. "T-Thank you, Circe. I shall try my absolute best not to fail."

"You must indeed give it your all, Celeste." Darik replied solemnly. "Promise us, the Underworld council, that you shall not succumb to the whispers of your heart, no matter how tempting."

Now, I was confused. Why would my heart distort my mission? "Of course, your highness's. I would never jeopardize a mission as big as this."

"Good." Circe commented with a small turn of her lips. "Would you like to know who the next Lady shall be?"

"Please."

"Your sister, Alexa Marie Raine."

My heart fell into my stomach. Eric smirked somewhat victoriously. Darik looked apologetic. Circe just looked away. Yet, even if I felt the painful clenching and un-clenching of my stomach, I knew what my answer had to be.

"I'll do it, and I'll do it now."

A/N: There really is no excuse for me updating so late, so I deeply apologize. R/R please? :D I'll update again soon. Promise.