Erik

My eyes clouded over not even an hour after the others left for school. Thanatos had gotten some humans to be in the drama department, and after seeing how much I was capable of lately, she permitted my extended absence.

"What's the Master Rune?" I asked incredulously.

Chaos' harsh gaze rested cruelly on me. "The only Rune that Starr does not possess, because it was fashioned for her Guardian. I suggest you find out how to obtain it and get her soul back. She can stay peacefully in the Otherworld until you come home."

I blinked the vision away. A Rune that was designed specifically for me? Finding Starr?

…Was she actually alive?

My brain rejected the thought since it would hurt too badly to get another heartache. The reaction I got in my soul was completely different: My pulse began to race and the new Marks on my wrists burned in response. The two eclipse tattoos glowed softly. I needed her. Otherwise I would die. We all would, in fact. But first, how did I get a vision? The Otherworld was supposed to be sealed off from us!

A faint chuckle interrupted my thoughts. I whirled around, my fist closing around the hilt of the claymore on my waist. Apollo leaned against the wall, smirking. Warmth crept under my skin, urging me to calm down. "For a creature of the night, you sure react well to daylight," he greeted, amber eyes glittering with mischief.

"What do you want, O Great God?" I sneered. "Did you get locked out of the Otherworld?"

His expression abruptly hardened. "Actually, yes. Because I thought I might have the slightest chance to help you find her." I turned away from the steely gaze. "I loved her once, briefly. Then I was content serving as her brother, as Artemis was like a sister and she had you. She still needs you, whether she's dead or alive. I'm going to help you no matter what." He paused. "That wasn't technically a vision. It was more a memory of mine from before I locked myself out."

"Like you have much of a choice now," I muttered under my breath.

Unknown

I looked up as Neferet made her speech. She was a nuisance, but for as long as I had been part of her exclusive team in the Dark Realm, I would not complain.

Sometimes I would get snippets of memory. Randomly and without any relevance, warning, or… Wait. Is that what random means? I had no clue what was what anymore. I had been part of the Dark Force for a few weeks – or months, maybe – but everyone around me said that I'd had an accident. The way the tones implied, it had been horrible; I recognized it as tragic enough to steal my memory. If I had even had a memory.

No, I must have. The snatches of visions, I believe they're called, had to have come from somewhere. I had lived another life, once. Neferet had told me that she had saved me, a Dark creature, from Light: that I had been stolen and hidden far away because I rivaled their greatest power, Asteri, so much. From as long as I had been conscious since then, I had seen no sign of this Asteri girl. Although anytime her name was mentioned, my blood would burn in recognition and hatred. I was meant to kill the girl – goddess? – and Neferet had done so before me.

Cheers of "Praise the Goddess" and things of that nature sailed around me. I only stared at the former High Priestess of Nyx, trying to envision a life on the other side. It brought me great agony within moments, so I veered away from that thought and went on my patrol alone, grabbing my guitar and swords as I did so.

Unknown to the rest of the crowd and even me, Neferet saw my near-black eyes flash gold from her position on the podium. But she would not tell me for a long time to come.

Stark

"Shit!" Zoey exclaimed. I looked up from where I sat. Her eyes were bright. "I can't believe I didn't think of it before!" She smiled when I cocked a brow. She was a little too happy for my liking. Not to mention she just sort of cursed. "I want a Council meeting ASAP. Find Thanatos and tell her I'll be borrowing some students and professors, would you? I need to find the others."

So much for the free period Thanatos had given us. I sighed, wanting to do nothing more than go back to the depot and see Erik. He was planning something, I could feel it. He and I hadn't talked since you-know-what, because we reminded each other too much of her, but what if there was some way…

My thoughts were interrupted as a flash of non-burning sunlight shot down in front of me. Apollo stood there, grinning. And with a flicker of silver-black light, Erik materialized alongside him, as well.

"I heard there was a Council meeting," Erik stated without preamble. There was a new trust in his blue eyes that made me wonder what had happened.

I started walking, trusting them to fall into step. They did. "I was on my way to tell Thanatos now, actually."

Apollo was still grinning, which freaked me out a bit. Who knew what he would end up getting into? "I know you two will be shocked when you hear the news. The others will be, too – once they get a double-header."

"What?" My brain immediately began to think of anything relevant that he (and Erik, for that matter) would be so confident in.

When Erik averted his eyes and pressed his lips together, I had my answer.