Erik

Traveling wasn't so bad when Apollo could transport everywhere. Aurox provided what little sanity I had left; Zoey and her circle were careful not to talk to me too much, at the Vessel's word. I was too busy freaking out inside. I wanted to know how the hell we could get to the Rune without the Otherworld open to us.

"None shall pass!" a voice boomed. We stopped on the stone steps to a temple that was actually on Earth, one that Apollo claimed was probably the last connection to the Otherworld. A statue came to life, stomping down from its pedestal and fixing us with a literally stony gaze. If we had to fight, we would lose. Badly. "Who dares seek access to the Master's Shrine?"

Are you kidding me? "The Master himself," Apollo responded, nudging me forward.

The statue frowned at me. "Then you must endure the trials. Many have tried to impersonate the Master. If you do not succeed, you do not enter." It beckoned me forward.

Against my better judgment, I joined it at the top of the stairs. A trapdoor fell open under my feet, and I let myself fall with the rush of air. I heard her voice in the drop. Wincing as I landed and rolled several yards, I staggered to my feet. The impact was jarring enough. Apparently I had to survive some trials to prove that I was really myself. If I hadn't met Starr, heard the prophecy, or just about any other freakish thing that had happened in her presence, I would understand the need for such a test. But I was on a time limit.

The Guardian's Claymore burned in my hands. I tore through opponent after shadowy opponent, the underground tunnels providing an endless supply of them. They gradually developed faces. I did my best not to hit anything that had the face of a friend/ally. Although when I sliced through Aurox's Dark reflection, I was not all that sad.

Her laugh drifted to me from an opening in the wall. I assumed I had passed the first test. As corny as it was, my heart ached when I heard the laugh, and all I wanted to do was get this over with. I knew that Stark was successful on his end, which meant I had to hold up mine.

Everything else, fights and riddles and the like, passed in a blur. "Welcome, Master," the same voice bellowed after I was finished. Honestly, I did everything from muscle memory and instinct. It seemed too easy, though.

Recognizing the dull, cloudy light from outside the Shrine, I walked down the final tunnel. Greek words were carved into the door. I blinked; they changed slowly into English.

When the time is right, a sacrifice will help your fight.

I shivered with foreboding. The door groaned as I pushed it open. The statue was once again inanimate. My friends all looked up at me. "No." I shook my head violently. Even if it meant saving my Starr, I would not sacrifice one of my group now. Apollo rushed inside to see what had me denying everything I accomplished already. I was halfway into the forest surrounding the temple before I sensed someone coming after me.

Of course it was Damien. Ever since the incident on Skye, he and I had been close friends. It seemed like so long ago that we stood together at Jack's pyre, but I knew that my old roommate helped us out a lot.

"I'm not killing any of you," I said before he could open his mouth. "That's the one thing I won't do, even for her."

Damien looked at me with a sad smile. "Erik, when Dragon died, he released us from the Death-revealing ritual on Grandma's farm. He knew he needed to protect the fledglings as he'd always done, and doing that one act loosened Darkness' grip on his broken heart. He sacrificed himself for Anastasia. If I do this for you now, I'm not just doing it because I want to see you get better… I want to see Jack again as much as you want to see Starr. Will you let me?" His expression was hopeful, the air around us light with his faith and affinity.

I blinked back tears. I had cried enough for one lifetime, maybe four. "Is this really what you want to do?"

"Love and Light and life," he responded, holding out his hand.

Gripping his forearm, I echoed, "Love and Light and life." I smiled sadly back at him. "Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again, Damien Maslin." His own eyes were misted over with withheld tears. I knew my face mirrored his. I also knew that this was what he thought best for himself and for me, that there was no stopping him.

"Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again, Erik Night," he parroted with an unwavering voice. "Say hi to Starr for me." He pulled me into a tight hug. "I love you both. Don't forget that."

Like I said, I wouldn't cry. Biting my tongue happened to be the only way I stopped myself from doing so. I buried my face in my oldest friend's shoulder.

"Erik, Damien?" Shaunee. When we broke away from each other, cheeks dry from unshed tears, she wore a hardened, solemn mask. "Apollo says it's time."

The three of us moved in tandem. I kept my chin high. Damien had made his choice. He never decided things only for his own reasons. This time, though, he finally got something out of it. I couldn't deny him the afterlife with Jack.

Zoey held out an athame to me. Where she got it, I wasn't about to ask. "It's infused with spirit," she informed quietly.

"Thanks," I responded, walking past her with Damien at my heels, "but I'm not the one to do this." I glanced at Apollo. He nodded and froze time for everyone except me, Damien, and himself. Otherwise they would all try to follow us. That made two – only three left. I hoped we wouldn't need them. "Ready?"

"Always."

Apollo snapped his fingers at the Shrine's guard, who sprung to life in order to lead me and Damien inside the temple. The god stayed outside.

The Master Rune was a collection of seven or eight tiny stars. I could vaguely make out the shape of a pentagram in their design. It began to glow in my presence. A portal took shape above it to provide Damien access to the Otherworld. The statue lowered an axe similar to one executioners would use. I glared at the weapon and emitted a low growl. The Shrine's guard exchanged it for a simple blade, even though I could not tell if it was a long dagger or short sword.

"Step forward, young sacrifice."

Damien closed his eyes as the blade dug into his stomach. He took a deep breath. Then he uttered the words that had haunted me for days:

"My death, my sacrifice, is not in vain
Let the Master Rune bring forth tenfold pain!"

A semi-familiar burn blazed across the back of my neck. The Rune on the podium flashed blindingly. When I could finally see again, it was gone, and so was Damien. The portal was still open, though; I caught a glimpse of Jack's bear-hug as Damien rejoined his boyfriend. I smiled through the grief that threatened to overwhelm me. The statue was gone, too, but I knew that it was outside, ready to defend my home against trespassers. I ran my fingers along the back of my neck, where the fire had disappeared with the Otherworld's Light.

You better be worth it.

As soon as time was unfrozen, I realized I was standing taller than I had in weeks. "Guys." I grinned wickedly as they all turned to me curiously. "Time to raise some hell."