[Fallon’s POV] "Who are you?" Confusion laced with an odd sense of recognition begins to flow through me as the figure continues to take form. Soon, a beautiful woman with flowing silver hair and almost translucent skin stands before me. Her eyes, which examine me closely, are the same color as the galaxy and seem to draw me into their depths. "Do you not recognize me, Anika?" She asks, seeming genuinely confused. "I’m not," I begin, trying to make sense of what is going on. "I’m not her." "Of course you are." The woman insists. "I have been feeling your energy for quite some time and have waited for you to come and visit me again." As I try to make sense of what is happening, Fineon appears, pulling me against him protectively. "What the hell were you thinking?" He growls, shaking me slightly. "Why would you just run headfirst into possible danger?" "Fineon?" I manage, keeping my gaze on the woman who is watching us with a confused look. "Why don’t you actually take everything
[Anika’s POV]I keep my eyes on the strange man, whose body is half submerged in the pool of tranquility. Who was he, and why was he even here?"Who are you?" I ask, raising a brow. "Are you a spy?"Immediately, I go on defense as Titiana lets out a laugh."He isn’t your enemy." She announces. "If anything, he is the key to making sure you complete what you couldn’t back then."The confusion that crosses the man’s face at Titiana’s words mimics my own. It’s clear that he is just as oblivious to what is happening as I am."What the hell are you talking about?" He growls, beginning to make his way towards us. "And where is Fallon?""Fallon?" I repeat, turning to meet Titiana’s gaze. "Who is that?""Your host." Titiana explains. "If the both of you will please just try to calm down, I will explain everything as I’m sure all of this is quite overwhelming for both of you."That was an understatement.The last thing I remembered was Mateo’s disappointed gaze that met mine before he walked o
[Fineon’s POV]Pain rips through me as I take in the words that Titiana is saying. However, before I get the opportunity to let myself drown in them, Fallon collapses."Hey!" I gasp, catching her before she hit the ground. "What the hell?""Anika is out of energy and unable to keep control," Titiana responds. "And I’ve spent all my energy as well and must go."Even though I still have many questions in regards to what was said and what happened, I don’t argue. Instead, I simply nod and watch as Titiana disappears entirely.Once she is gone, I drop to my knees and cradle Fallon’s unmoving form against me.Staring down into her face, I feel my heart squeeze as Titiana’s words replay in my mind.This was my fault... I was the one who put all of this into motion because of my childish obsession with Gale. How was I supposed to look her in the eyes anymore? I was sure she heard everything and would most likely blame me once she woke up.‘Good job, dumb ass,’ Franz huffs in frustration. ‘I
[Fineon’s POV]I could feel a wave of power press against my skin as Parker decided to take on my threat. Even though it was weaker than before, I still found myself struggling to not buckle under its weight. This bastard truly was strong, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt about whether or not we could defeat him easily."You got lucky last time, boy," Parker warns, mentioning our previous encounter. "But this time you won’t be so lucky."As the words left his lips, the water around me began to move, threatening to throw me about as it grew stronger and stronger as if it were an angry ocean instead of a simple lake."Fineon," Fallon whispers, drawing my attention towards her. "What's that?"At first, I'm confused as to what it is she is talking about, but it doesn't take me long to spot a large tentacle sticking out of the water, making its way towards where we stand with too much force. "Move!"Diving forward, I grab ahold of Fallon, knocking both of us out of the way i
[Fineon’s POV]The world around me faded in and out, giving me only tiny glimpses of the fighting that was going on around me. From what I heard in between waves of agonizing pain, it sounded like the two were handling the threat well."Great," I sigh, letting myself get sucked under again.When I come to next, I can feel myself being lifted by Elleric and Cyrus while more footsteps begin to sound around us."What’s the order, my lord?""What happened?""How could this be so close to home?""None of that matters," Elleric snaps. "Fan out and find my niece!"Find his niece... The words slice like a knife. If I wasn’t mistaken earlier, Fallon was gone, and I knew that Parker was the one who had taken her."Gl…acies…" I try, only to find that my voice is so weak that I’m not sure if I’m heard. "Pa…""Yes sir.""On it."In the midst of the voices taking Elleric’s order, I know that mine is lost, and despite knowing I needed to repeat myself, I find that the overwhelming weakness and pain
[Fineon’s POV]I watch my younger self leave the room and begin to move, following him into the living room, where both my parents are standing with looks of shock on their faces."Mommy?" young me calls. "Daddy, what’s wrong?""You have to hide," my mother responds quickly. "You and Andria both.""Hide?"My mother doesn’t respond as she gathers me into her arms and races up the stairs towards Andria’s room. When we arrive, Andria is already awake and on high alert."They’ve arrived?" she asks, indicating that she was aware of what was going on. "So soon?""No time for questions," my mother responds. "Come on."Reaching out, she takes Andria’s hand and begins to move just as the sound of glass shattering drifts towards us, followed by howls and an intense aura that I immediately recognize as Parker’s."Where are we going?" Andria asks, "Shouldn’t we help dad and the others?""You’re both still too young. You have to leave immediately and find the others."Find the others... Those wor
[Fallon’s POV]My body burns. Groaning, I attempt to move, but stop as something stabs into my wrists and ankles, keeping me from actually going anywhere.Eyes flying open, I stare up at a billowy red canopy attached to four golden posts that hold up a large, luxurious bed."What the hell?" I hiss, blinking a few times to clear my slightly blurred vision. "Where…"‘Mateo,’ Anika’s voice whispers in my mind. ‘We are back with Mateo.’Mateo… The name sets fear racing through me. Ignoring the pain that radiates from the spiked cuffs that rest against my skin, I fight, trying with all my might to break free.‘Don’t fight it,’ Anika urges, causing more alarm to rush through me. ‘Just give in.’"Like hell, I’ll do that!"Panic beginning to flare, I let my eyes scan the room around me, taking in the blood-red walls that hold portraits of scantily clad women rubbing themselves against a man that too closely resembles Parker.‘This is the man you’re in love with?’ I snap, showing her the image
[Fallon’s POV]I don’t waste anymore time as I begin to move, swimming as fast as I can in the opposite direction of the ship that is threatening to drown me. However, before I can get far enough away, something wraps around my ankle.Thinking it may be rope or some other object from the ship, I turn in time to see a beautiful woman with glowing blue eyes staring at me. Her lips that are turned up in a smile are a dark blue, and her hair resembles seaweed.‘Siren,’ Anika hisses, startling me. ‘You need to get free, NOW!’Nodding, I kick out in hopes of loosening the siren's grip, but it simply tightens, and her nails, which hadn’t penetrated my skin before, sink deep into it.Pain shoots through me from the ocean water seeping into the freshly formed wounds, causing another hiss to escape me.‘Anika,’ I call, realizing just how useless I am without Artemis. ‘I need to power your powers again.’‘Why not just let me take over?’ Anika tries. ‘Wouldn’t that…’‘No!’ I snap, cutting her off