Blood dripped from Athena’s skin, dripping like crimson ribbon into the ebony pools. She clenched her jaw shut, resolute to not cry out or scream for help. Athena inhaled a sharp breath, before kicking the Nightmare off. It shrieked from the shock of the sudden move, and hissed, creeping towards her again.

  Athena scrambled up the somehow solid inky floors, running away from the beast. Her breathing became uneven, her obsidian hair drooped over her hair like onyx swoops. Black thorned vines dripping with the jet-black liquid, hooked my arms. The vines curled into her arms, hooking them together like she was cuffed and slammed her down. The thorns sunk into her arms like snake fangs.

  The Nightmare wiped its unhooked jaw, its soulless dots for eyes blinked at her with curiosity and pleasure. It let out a high shrill, before rampaging toward her. Athena tried to yank her hands out the vines, but they slammed her hands down again. Pain seethed though her gritted teeth, she was clenching her jaw so hard she thought her teeth would shatter.

  The Nightmare tackled Athena, causing her head to hit the ground, she thought it would be painful.Like hitting solid rock. Instead, her head went through the ink, now it was a liquid. First it was her head, then her neck, then her whole body was submerged. Violet bubbles unfurled from her breath-taken mouth like indigo poison.

  She swiped to hold herself up in the jet black waters, but like she was made of stone and rock she sank. The Nightmare banged its claws against the surface, scratching like it was trying to penetrate the barrier.

  Air began to leave her lungs as she spiraled down and down into the inky pools. She kicked her legs and squirmed in the water.

  She let her white fingertips brush the surface of the water–but they didn’t go through. Instead it felt like she was touching cold glass. The thorned vines sprouted up again, gripping her ankles. They pulled her down into the inky darkness, Athena could still see the Nightmare circling her from above, trying to break the glass, but was failing.

  Blood rose like red ink around her, spiraling in crimson ribbons with the black waters. As the last bubble of breath left her purple lips, someone–blurred by the sudden light of breaking glass, yanked her out.

  She awoke back by the river, coughing icy water onto the sandy shores. Night wrapped a blanket around the kingdom filled with dazzling twinkling stars. Orion still had a firm grip on Athena’s wrist, his eyes shone with worry and freezing droplets fell down his face.

  He opened his mouth, like he was about to do something but nothing came out except heavy breaths. His breath unfurled in a white cloud in front of him, and so did Athena's. She still wore the thin, silky, white dress this time. Except it looked more like a hospital gown.

  “What.The.Hell? ” He looked at me, eyes widening now with concern.

  “Wha–?How, where am I ?” Athena coughed, icy water still dripping from the edge of her lips.

  Orion sat cross legged, looking at the ground. He wasn’t answering her. She needed answers.

  Her bandages–that were wrapped around her stomach and arm– were now soggy and tearing off. She tried standing up, but instantly swayed. Orion raced to her side and steadied her.

  “We should get Andi, you need to be treated again.” He murmured, Athena’s ears rang so she heard him sound muffled.

  Athena faced back at the pool. She still felt like the Nightmare was lurking at the bottom of it. What was strange about the river? The answer;Everything.

  Orion’s hand was rough in hers, but assuring. Athena blinked sleep from her eyes, her body felt weak. She limped back inside to the castle, Orion close-but far enough–to comfort her if she felt dizzy.

  “Why were we down there?” She asked him, voice still groggy with water.

  “I was sitting by your cot, when you started to get really warm. Andi said you had a fever and told me to bring you down to the river. Just to collect some cool water to cool you down. But when I looked away for a second, you disappeared. I didn’t think you were in the river, I thought you went back inside or something. That's when I realized you were in the river..” His voice trailed off, though it was thick with guilt and concern.

  Athena nodded, wiping a bloodied hand over her mouth to wipe trickling water. Her blue eyes looked ahead at the longing hallways. Minutes became seconds as Orion guided her back into the medic room.

  The smell of mint burned my nose much more than the water had, and as soon as I entered the room, Andi rushed to my side.

  “Athena!Orion!What happened?” She examined Athena. “Why are you soaking?”

  Orion sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Its a long story, she’ll just need some new bandages.” He murmured, leaving the medic room.

  Andi instructed her to sit on the cot. Athena sat down blankly and tried not to wince as she took off the bandages.

  “Tell me everything that's happened. Since you found me,” Athena looked at Andi as she delicately and carefully removed the gauze and looked for new ones.

  “Orion was on edge when you disappeared. Shortly after you passed out near Ozzie, you came into my room, and ran out into the Avaler. Then, a week later Orion had sent a patrol along with him to go check the borders. They thought something was off and ventured a little deeper into the forest. That's when they saw you–and your brother, come out of nowhere and pass out.”

  Athena’s gaze drifted over to her unconscious brother, he lay still, he lay quietly breathing. His finger twitched in his sleep, how strange?

  “Has he woken up yet?” Athena’s eyes never left Ares’s hand.

  Andi turned her head over her shoulder, eyeing her unconscious brother. “No, but as I said, he's steady.”

  The once slow twitching of his finger became more rapid–and soon his whole body was shaking. Andi jerked up immediately and ran over.

  “He’s having a seizure!” she shouted, running over to him to help.

  “Athena call for Silvy and Callen!” Andi yelled, voice filled with urgency. “Now!” She hissed.

  Athena limped out the doorway. “Silvy!” She screamed, voice dry. “Callen!” she cried.

  Soon enough, footsteps were heard thundering down the hall. The two new medic apprentices–about a year or two older than Athena– were racing to the door, close behind them was Orion.

  Silvy was a tall girl with brown hair and storm gray eyes. Callen was a boy with blonde hair and brown eyes. They were training to be medic and had started around last year, close to–nevermind..

  Athena was too tired to express her sadness and worry, but deep down she was sobbing, Orion guided her out of the room, leading her to the hallway. They sat down beside one another.

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  “I-I need to get to him!” Athena croaked, eyes glistening with swelling tears.

  “Athena, Andi, Silvy and Callen will handle it. Just wait for no-”

  “I’m done waiting!” She interrupted him, snapping back.

  Athena was standing over him now, eyes dripped with silver tears. She didn’t tell him–no she didn’t want to tell him why she thought Ares was having a seizure. She couldn’t.

  Orion stared at her, the worry in his eyes faded, they sank like a broken ship.

  “Then go,”

  Athena bit her tongue, trying to prevent any other sour comment or retort from leaving. Athena limped into the room, Ares was still shaking.

  She walked over to him, even though Silvy had been telling her specifically not to and that they would help. Athena inhaled sharply as all the other sounds around her became a high ringing. She reached for Ares’s hand, and that ringing became a sharp violin sound..

  Her body went limp, and fell on the floor.

  Athena had fallen on the floor in the medic room, yet she stood in crimson pools with a white ruffled dress.

  Athena’s inky hair drooped over her shoulders as she swayed through the pools.

  Ares stood ahead of her, his hands dug into his head, so hard that they left marks that could make him bleed. His white hair was messy and his icicle blue eyes shook. Blood trickled from the edge of his lips. He was breathing fast and wildly. He wore a white shirt and pants.

  He was knelt on the floor of the crimson pools, each moment he lasted in them they pulled him down an inch more.

  She began to walk over to him, clearly startling him.

  Crystal tears fell from his eyes. As they went into the pools they disappeared. Athena crouched beside him, not caring as the red took her in.

  “For twenty seven years,” he started, voice shaking. “I’ve controlled it, harnessed it, used it. And the one time I get injured, it gets me?” He looked at Athena. “What have I done?”

  “ You’ve lived. Ares. You have power. Power that kills. Will you let it kill you?” Athena asked. “That is a question only you and you alone can answer.”

  Ares tried to rise from the crimson but it pulled him down more.

  “I have no right to speak about this Ares. My power is like yours. Wild and untamed. But we can control it. So tell me, who are you?” Athena stood up, and backed away, glaring at her ‘brother’.

  Ares shivered, hugging his shoulders. “Athena do you hear yourself?I’m your brother for God's sake, you said it yourself, you have no right to speak about power.How do you know we can control it?So please–help me..” He cried.

  Athena stood still. “Take me for no fool, Hubris.” She hissed with clenched teeth. “I am not your sister,”

  Her ‘brother’ began to be fully consumed with the crimson pools, before disappearing completely under them. Athena didn’t flinch, she waited. And waited..

  A pure raven colored figure arose from the crimson pools. “Well done Athena,”

  Hubris’s form still showed as Ares. Except there were now cracks on his face and his eyes held black pools. Athena took a step back.

  “You were fighting him, weren’t you?” Athena asked, dusting invisible dust from her dress.

  “Excellant Athena. I’m impressed, now for a guessing game.”

  The real Ares was tied with the thorny vines of the crimson pool. They trapped him making any movement and covered his mouth.

  Hubris changed his face to look exactly like Ares’s. They disappeared back into the water. And then they reappeared again. Both tied, except the thorny vine covering their mouths retreated.

  “What is this sick game?” Athena hissed.

  Neither of them answered.

  “Athena please, get me out of here.” One cried, tears dripping down his face.

  The other remained silent.

  Athena looked at them, looking for a difference between the two of them. They were identical.

  Finally, the quiet one spoke. “Athena, if you had one drop of sense in that brain of yours, you would run. Leave. Leave.” He repeated.

  The first one was sobbing now. “Don’t listen to him, Athena!You have to help me, I found Octavia! She’s trapped with Hubris! He has her held captive for a reason.”

  Athena stopped breathing when the first one said that. Her eyes widened.

  “Both of you, know where she is. Am I correct on that?”

  “Yes.” they said simultaneously.

  Athena glared at both of them. “Whats the name of your owl?”

  “Solar,” they said simultaneously. The first one said it desperately, the second one said it blandly.

  “ How do your powers work?” Athena let the first one speak first.

  “I have the power to burn things with white fire!” The first one shouted.

  Athena waited for a second response, but the first one never continued.

  Then, she let the second one speak. “I have the ability to burn and heal things. With my fire.”

  The first one laughed. “Insane!” He cried.

  Athena went over to the second one. She began trying to pry the thorny red vines from him. “You’re lucky I don’t have one drop of sense in my brain,” she murmured as she untied him.

  Ares fell from the vines, and Athena helped him up. Hubris–still in Ares’s form–snapped his fingers and the vines retreated into the pools.

  “I won Hubris, now bring us back.” Athena's voice was stern.

  Hubris laughed. “Wheres the fun in that?How about a little game of tag first.” Hubris snapped his sharp-clawed fingers again.

  Athena had her katana and Ares had his scythe. He began counting down from ten. Athena and Ares began to run, not to a certain place but just trying to escape him. Suddenly–the landscape changed.

  Silvery slits of grass sprout from the black pools. Ares-like gravity had shifted itself- was dragged up to the sky. The opposite had happened for Athena, she was slammed to the ground by a figure.

  The figure had the frame of a woman, she had orange colored hair with angry hazel eyes. Pale skin was covered with brown dappled freckles. A bleached, silky white dress that covers about up to her lower shoulder droops from her collarbone. Though it was silky white, red and black stained its edges.

  The woman lunged for Athena, attempting to use a knife to slice Athena. Athena reached for her katana, but the woman took it and threw it away. As the blade clattered on a rocky area a couple feet away. Athena grabbed the woman’s wrists, trying to pry her or kick her off of her. Yet the woman wouldn’t budge. She raised the knife again, before yanking Athena’s shoulder–forcing her to be on her stomach facing the grass– and forced her knife into her back. She created a crimson slit down Athena’s back.

  Athena screamed and cried with pain, trying to throw the woman off her. The woman finally slipped and fell back first on the ground.

  Blood stained Athena’s back. She stretched her arms to grab her back, tears streamed down her face. Athena’s nails seeped into her skin, like something was sprouting from her.

  The woman stared at Athena, hurt flashed in her hazel eyes. The woman’s eyes turned glossy, like she had experienced the same thing.

  A long c r a c k

  Followed as thin bones grew from Athena’s back.

  Feathers, slick and black, coated the bones. Blood slicked out the wild and messy feathers.

  “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?” Athena cried..