Marcus stayed on the porch of the Big House for a while longer, taking in the view of Camp for the first time in what seemed like forever. He was noticing things now that he knew would have slipped right past him if he had spent the past few weeks here day in and day out. Even this late, usually there would be an undercurrent of activity. Campers going for a late, and frowned upon swim, stealing between cabins.

But now, there was silence. Not calm, like he had been hoping for, but an anxious quiet, as if the very air around him was humming with a nervous energy. Turning his attention to the forest, Marcus could see that the Fringe was still there, but even less cabin lights seemed to be lit there than around the original horseshoe that the twelve Olympian cabins and their closest Minor God siblings had their cabins built originally. Not that he was surprised.

I wonder how many are left… Marcus finally stepped off the porch and allowed his feet to carry him where they may, letting his mind drift as he did. He had often done this when he couldn't sleep, wandering camp till all hours. He found the quiet comforting, and the silence was helpful in separating his thoughts when they became tangled, as recent events had made them.

He felt like he was at some sort of crossroads lately, and in more ways than one. First, there were the two Goddesses, apparently vying for his dedication. Aphrodite and Lyssa. Love and Madness. Were they totally different? Two sides of the same coin? After all, what brings out more fury than one's loved ones being in danger or threatened? Marcus had felt that first hand. And "madly in love" was a phrase that was used often.

Marcus chuckled to himself. Madly. Maddie. Interesting wordplay could probably be used there. If he was an Apollo kid he may even try to write something about it, but that wasn't really his style. Apollo. Artemis. The twins always had been ones that had affected his life in a multitude of ways, from Maddie to Thomas, but now they seemed more integral. Phillip is a Son of Apollo… No matter how hard I try to keep that thought in mind he just doesn't seem like it… No. If anything, Phillip seemed to take more after his aunt than anything. Slipping between the trees, bow always at the ready. For some reason, Marcus couldn't picture Phillip in broad daylight, though he had seen it plenty of times. In his mind's eye, Phil was forever shrouded, illuminated only by moonlight through the trees. In the same way Marcus couldn't help but picture Aaron with a blade in hand, his glowing aura of victory washing over those around him.

Marcus blinked at the direction of his own thoughts. Could that mean…? Marcus knew that the reason he saw Aaron that way was because he knew him for what he was, Nike's Champion. Marcus thought back through everything he knew about Phillip, but whichever direction his thoughts raced it kept leading him to the same place. Phillip was sent forward… Hundreds of years forward… His bow skills are the deadliest I've ever seen. As much as Apollo is an archer, he's a musician first if the rest of his kids are anything to go by… Marcus shook his head. How had he not seen it before? How did none of them see it? Phil is Artemis' Champion…!

Marcus was so lost in thought that he didn't even realize until he ducked under a branch that he had somehow found his way past the Fringe Cabins and into the forest on the edge of Camp. Taking a moment to get his bearings, Marcus was about to turn around when he saw a shimmer in the shadows under a nearby tree. Cautiously, Marcus reached for his watch and slipped around the closest tree to him, keeping the shimmering shadows in sight.

"Marcus… Marcus!" A voice seemed to call out from them. Marcus stayed quiet, knowing better than to answer a voice from the darkness at night. Especially in these woods.

"Marcus, will you stop being stubborn?" The voice said again, taking on a tone Marcus recognized instantly.

Drawing his pocket watch and flicking it into sword form, Marcus stepped out into the open, keeping his blade pointed at the shadows. "Alicia…?"

"FInally." Alicia muttered. Marcus couldn't believe his eyes. Clear as if she were standing on the other side of a window, Alicia stood, her hand resting on her hellhound Roxie's head. Marcus tried to see what was behind her, but Roxie's frame blocked most of the background. "Was wondering if you'd ever wander where I could reach you."

"What in Hades are you doing Alicia?" Marcus asked suspiciously. He prodded the edge of the window in shadow with his blade, but he met no resistance.

"Hey, don't mess with the image." Alicia scolded. For a moment, it was as if nothing had changed. Marcus was in enough shock that he had acted the way they used to, and Alicia had responded in kind, but now…

"Answer my question. What do you want Alicia?" Marcus' voice dripped poison. As much as he wished they could go back to how things used to be… She threatened Maddie. The thought brought his rage bubbling to the surface again, though he did his best to keep it in check.

"Oh lover… And here we thought we could live like before just a bit longer." Alicia said, her voice wistful. For once, she didn't seem to be mocking. She actually wishes we were like back then… "But fine. Business it is." Roxie growled in the background, perhaps sensing the shift in her mistress's mood, but Alicia calmed her quickly. "I have a message for you. From Aaron."

Marcus' arm fell to his side. "... How are you even able to do this…? Iris would refuse to carry your messages, especially here!"

"That's an easily solvable problem, if you know where to look." Alicia said with a small smile. "Nyx was most helpful when we promised her the destruction of the Olympians. And there's so much more shadow in the world than rainbows, it's infinitely easier to speak through Shadow Messages."

The Primordial Goddess Nyx… Mark another Goddess against us.

"Hello, Earth to Marcus. Gods, I forgot how cute it was when you went into silent mode but right now we don't really have the time for that." Alicia said, looking around her as if checking the coast was still clear. What is she talking about?

"Alright, fine. What is this… message?" Marcus was hesitant to ask, knowing any communication with his old friends could be seen as sympathizing with the enemy… Though Chiron already seems to think I am…

"First, word of your… wrathful moment has already started to spread around here." Alicia seemed to unconsciously reach up to rub her throat, but quickly covered it by draping her arm back across Roxie. "Not that it was much of a surprise to Aaron and Hunter, but Lyssa seemed over the moon to hear that you lost it so completely. So his message on that front was simple. Be careful."

Marcus blinked in surprise. This was the last thing he expected. Aaron is… warning me? Alicia's movement wasn't lost on him, and as much as he hated it, remorse started building in his chest. He couldn't help but look at her and remember all they had been and been through together and for him to go that far, despite their paths splitting so severely…

"I'm sorry Allie…" he said quietly, his eyes meeting hers. For a moment they held each other's gaze, long enough for them both to acknowledge that though they may be on different sides, neither truly wished for the other to suffer. If we have to fight, we will… But I'll at least make it quick.

"The second part," Alicia continued after allowing the moment to linger so he knew the message was understood and accepted, "was a bit more cryptic. Even I don't know what to make of it. 'Don't let your guard down. Power has to come from somewhere'." Alicia shrugged.

Marcus scoffed. He knew that already. All power came from somewhere, that wasn't some big secret. His power came from his father, Aaron's came from Nike, even more so after becoming her Champion. "Right. Thanks for that brilliant piece of advice. Thanks for spilling all your deepest secrets, now excuse me while I-"

"Don't even pretend that you're about to bring this to the horse man." Alicia said with a small chuckle. "We both know you won't. He doesn't trust you anymore, does he?"

Marcus' silence spoke volumes.

"Exactly. It's the way of the Olympians and their pawns. While you're useful, you matter. The second you start to fail, the second you start to go down the paths they don't want you to, you're tossed aside. Imagine how they would react if they knew what 'Minor Goddess' had her eye on you, and why. And even worse, after all that came to light, for you to admit you'd been in contact with the enemy, through a secret channel that they don't have access to, using the Fringe as protection, as they're already mistrusted to the point of nearly being considered part of us already. Face it Marcus, you won't say anything about this because you can't. But don't worry. As a special favor, I'll ask Nyx to let you use Shadow Messages. It's simple really. Simply walk into a shadow and ask Nyx to carry your image to whoever you want. She even does it for free. Convenient huh?"

Marcus was about to protest, to tell her right where she could shove her "Shadow Messages", when Alicia winked and the window disappeared, leaving Marcus alone in darkness again, his head reeling from the discussion. It was still reeling when he finally got back to his own cabin and laid on his bed.

Power comes from somewhere… Aaron, what are you trying to tell me..?