5 hours until the full moon
AVA
At 7pm on the dot, I burst into the clearing to see Elijah waiting for me, just as expected. I shifted
back, standing opposite him, not really caring that I was naked.
I dropped my guard, making sure that my scent would be all over this clearing if anything were to
happen.
“Oh, Avelina,” he drawled. “You really did grow up to be a beauty, didn’t you?”
I didn’t answer, instead, I just stood and watched him. The longer I silently watched him, the more
agitated he got.
“Avelina,” Selene whispered in my mind. “From here on, I’m limited on how much I can help you, my
child. As soon as you truly confront him, you’re on your own, I cannot interfere.”
“Selene… What should I do? How do I… win this?”
“Avelina… There are no true winners tonight. You live, as do your mates. But sacrifices will have to
be made before the night is over.”
“What sacrifices?”
“Your lover will have to make a choice, Avelina. A choice that will cut him deeply for the rest of his
life.”
“Oscar? What choice?”
“I cannot tell you, my child. Certain events are fixed moments in time, and this is one of them. The
choice must be made, a price must be paid.”
“Can fate not be thwarted?”
“If anyone can thwart the fates, my dear, it is you and your Kings. But that is not something that can
be foretold. Even now, your thoughts and choices are changing the future, blurring the future. As are
those made by your Kings. Avelina… you are all moving faster than expected, from here, I cannot
help you. Good luck, my child. One way or another, I will see you soon.”
She disappeared from my mind, and I couldn’t feel her anymore.
One way or another? So either I succeeded and could speak to her again, or, I died?
I thought I wouldn’t die tonight?
Fuck.
The sun started setting as we stood there, just watching each other. As soon as the sun actually dipped
below the horizon, the clearing was surrounded by orange and red light that reflected off the water,
our skin, and the trees. If I wasn’t standing in front of a psychopath, I’d be admiring the view right
now.
Sadly… the individual standing just a few metres in front of me was planning to mark me against my
will tonight, so there’s that.
I sighed. I knew that I needed to let what was going to happen actually happen for the next few hours,
but I didn’t know if I’d be able to stop a lot of whatever it was. The man was crazy. At this point, I
had no idea what would happen.
It suddenly became clear though… when a dart hit the back of my neck, everything went dark, and I
crumpled to the ground.
CALLUM
“Fuck!” I shouted. “Something has happened to Ava.”
The pained look on Oscar’s face said that he felt it too.
“I think she’s unconscious,” he replied, voice low, like he was struggling. “I felt Artemis,” he
growled. “I felt Artemis lose consciousness.” His eyes changed colour as Dionysus pushed to the
surface. “She fought so hard,” he whimpered.
“Oscar, Dionysus,” I cupped his face, watching him intently. “I promise we will get Ava and Artemis
back.”
I saw Oscar fight to get control back, and when he did, he let out a deep breath and nodded.
I sat down, letting my head drop into my hands. “Selene… I know you speak to Ava, and I know
you’ve spoken to Oscar. I could really use your help,” I whispered in my mind, hoping that I’d
somehow find her.
“My son,” she replied. Her ethereal voice in my mind felt strange, uncomfortable almost, but
somehow still reassuring. “I am here with all of you every step of the way. Avelina is doing what
needs to be done to allow her destiny to come to pass. I can no longer speak to her tonight, but I have
faith, you should all have faith, that she is strong, she will prevail.”
“So what do I do?”
“You wait, King Callum. When it is time, you will know.”
“So I just sit here?”
“There are things that you can do in the meantime, my son. Avelina’s guard will be able to help you
make a difference to the tides of war. As soon as it is time, Avelina’s protector and her lover will be
reunited with her. Together, the two of you by her side will make it through this evening.”
“Why can’t we feel her?”
“The Rogue King has developed a poison especially for Avelina. She is currently unconscious, but
will not be for long. In the meantime, she is safe. He will not touch her. There are certain situations
tonight and every night that are set in stone, my son. The timings for Ava finding him and him making
his move are some of them.”
I didn’t respond, not really knowing how to.
“As she told you, my son. She will wait for you where red and blue meet, above and beneath your
feet. She’ll see you again when the crimson flames hide away for another day, and the night sky shines
with splashes of silver.”
“Midnight?”
I felt her agreement.
“How much before midnight do I need to be there?”
“My child, there are certain things I cannot tell you, that the fates do not allow. You will know. The
protector and the lover will know when the time is right. When darkness falls and hope feels thin,
when shadows press and doubt seeps in, fear not because love will find its way.”
“That’s Oscar’s prophecy?”
I felt her nod.
“Yours, my son…
Through battles fierce and trials long, Where shadows gather, dark and strong, Her protector walks
the weary road, Bearing the weight of the heavy load.
With every step, a challenge new, Obstacles that block his view. Yet through the storm, through endless
night, He never falters in his fight.
And when the final hour draws near, When all is lost and ruled by fear, He’ll rise above, through
blood and flame, To save her soul, to speak her name.”
With that, her voice just disappeared.