CHAPTER 3

As Isis flipped through the book, she found that five other cultures had a star goddess. In Hindu myth she was the goddess 'Arundhati'; in Tagalog myth she was 'Tala'; in Greek myth she was called 'Astraea'; in Aztec myth, 'Citlalicue'; the Egyptians called her 'Sirius'. Isis could find no other mention of her, so she sat the book down on her stand and looked at the time. Isis knew she should head to class but she did not feel up to going today; she wanted to find more answers. Rummaging around in her desk, Isis got her laptop out and started an email to her foster mother.

Dear Mom,

I need to ask you something important. What you can tell me about my life before I woke up to you in the hospital? I would like to know more about myself. Do you know anything about my birth parents? Hope to hear from you soon.

With all my love,

Isis.

Isis felt a chill creep over her just as she hit the 'send' key, and suddenly there was a knock at her door. She adjusted the thermostat a little higher on her way to answer it. As she opened the door she found Traiton standing there.

"Hi, Isis. Aren't you going to class?" He seemed genuinely concerned.

"No, she answered, "I'm not feeling well. Would you mind taking some papers in to our professor for me?"

"Yeah, I can do that," he nodded.

"Would you like to step in for a minute while I get them?"

Traiton smiled and stepped in, but Isis could tell at once that he was uncomfortable.

"Wow," he said, "it's hot in here. Do you always keep your room so warm?"

"Not usually," she confessed, "but I have had a chill lately so I turned up the heat."

Isis picked up her papers and walked over to him, but the closer she got to him the cooler her room felt, until she was almost shivering. Isis handed her assignments to Traiton.

"Thank you," she said, a little shyly.

Traiton looked her in the eyes with a smile "You are welcome. I hope you start feeling better soon." As Traiton turned to leave he turned back. "Is there anything else you need?"

"Well, um, would you get my homework for me?"

He smiled. "Yes, I will. I'll drop it off after school gets out. Get some rest, ok?" Traiton said, and shut the door softly as he left.

Isis sat down by her window thinking of Loki, and her heart began to ache. She felt as if she was going to cry. Then it hit her: maybe, just maybe, she could use her ability to teleport, to get to him wherever he was. Isis closed her eyes and thought about him: his eyes, his smile, and his kiss (especially his kiss). She felt herself move without moving...

When she opened her eyes she was standing in some woods. Looking around cautiously, she walked slowly forward; she heard two masculine voices yelling at each other. Peering around a big tree she saw Loki arguing with a Jotun.

"I will find her," Loki swore, "and we will be together again, no matter what you do!"

The Jotun smiled mockingly. "I assure you, it shall never be," he bellowed, "unless you did as I say!"

"NEVER!" Loki growled.

The Jotun picked Loki up and slammed him into a tree, and when Loki fell to the ground, the Jotun leaned down to his face. "Her pain will be great," he snarled.

Loki looked up from where he lay. "You leave her alone! She is not part of this!" he snarled.

The Jotun laughed, gave Loki a hard kick to the ribs, and vanished.

Isis ran to Loki's side. Sitting by him she carefully rolled him on to her lap, tears running down her face. Loki reached up and touched her face.

"How did you get here?" he murmured in wonder.

Isis smiled. "I thought of you and teleported."

Loki pulled her face down to his and kissed her softly.

With that kiss a strange light appeared. Isis got scared and pulled Loki closer. "I'll keep you safe," she murmured, "don't worry." Loki smiled at his would-be protector and kissed her again, soothingly.

As the light got brighter, Isis pulled Loki closer to protect him.

A tall, dark-haired woman stepped out of the light, looking down at them with a soft smile.

"Fear me not, child. I will not harm you," she soothed. "I am Halastjarna: goddess of comets and shooting stars. Do not be afraid, Isis, I will not hurt him or you. I am your aunt, though you remember me not."

Isis was shocked. All she could do was look at the goddess wordlessly.

"Loki will recover soon," the goddess continued. "You need not worry."

Isis carefully lowered Loki's head to the ground. Standing and walking slowly over to the goddess, she asked, "Do you know who I am?"

The goddess smiled maternally. "Yes, child, I know you: you are Isis, goddess of the stars, daughter to my sister Diana, goddess of the moon. Yes, dear one, I know you well! I have missed you so!"

"Why can't I remember anything?" Isis asked. "I don't remember you, or my mother, or myself..."

Halastjarna smiled and kissed her on the top of her head. "You need your amulet of the moon: It will tell you all there is to know. Losing it caused part of this mischief."

"Where is it?" Isis asked. "I don't even know what it looks like!"

"Go back to where they found you and ask the night sky," Halastjarna commanded. "It will show you what you want to know. The one that looks at nothing but sees everything will help you."

Loki finally stood up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her gently on the neck. "It is time for you to go back, darling," he insisted.

Isis looked up at Loki and shook her head. "I don't want to go back. I want to stay here with you and Halastjarna!"

The goddess hugged her tight. "We will see each other again when the time is right," she assured her, and with another soft kiss the goddess vanished in a flash of light.

Loki wrapped Isis in his arms. "It is not safe for you here, darling, not yet. It is time for you to go back." He kissed her again, gently. "I will see you in your dreams. For now, this is much safer. You need to find your amulet before it is safe for us to be together."

Isis closed her eyes and thought of her room. When she opened her eyes Traiton was standing over her, calling her name! She startled.

"What's going on?" she demanded. "What are you doing in my room?"

"I came to bring your homework to you, and found you on the floor," he said, sounding concerned. "Are you all right?"

Isis started to rise when a voice came from the door.

"Get away from her, Traiton," commanded a tall, dark skinned woman. She had long black hair, a regal bearing, and eyes as dark as a starless night sky. The woman took long steps forward, and Traiton backed away from Isis.

Isis stood up. "I'm fine," she told the beautiful woman, "I had just fainted, I think. Traiton didn't hurt me." She placed a hand on the woman's shoulder and smiled. "I'm ok." Isis turns to Triton. "Sorry I freaked out."

He smiled, "It's ok, and there is no need to be sorry. It's perfectly understandable."

Isis shook herself. "Traiton," she said, "I would like you to meet my long time friend: Saffron Star, from Egypt. Saff, I would like you to meet Traiton...umm...I'm sorry Traiton I never got your last name."

Traiton smiled and held out his hand. "Triton Sciotha: it is nice to meet you Ms. Star," he said.

Saffron looked at him. Taking his hand she only nodded, but when Saffron's hand touched Traiton's a look of pain came across his face.

Traiton let go of Saffron's hand. Turning to the table he opened his bag and handed Isis her homework. "Are you sure that you are ok?" he asked.

"Yes, I am fine," she insisted.

Traiton smiled. "Ok, then: I guess I will be heading out." As he made to leave he turned to Isis. "Would you like to go out and grab a bit to eat this weekend?"

"Yes that would be good," Isis said without thinking.

He smiled. "Ok cool. See you then! I hope you start feeling better." He looked at Saffron. "It was nice meeting you Ms. Star," he said politely.

Saffron just nodded.

Traiton shut the door quietly as he left the room.