Rehearsals ran longer than expected, and by the time we finally took a break, exhaustion was settling in. My muscles ached, my throat was dry from all the singing, and Jade had all but collapsed onto the floor with a dramatic sigh.
Ezzy, Jade, and I were still catching our breath when our comm crystals pinged simultaneously.
"Group chat," we said in unison, exchanging tired but curious looks.
I sat up, opening the chat, and sure enough, pictures started rolling in. There was only one possible reason for this.
"Brightforge High won!" we squealed, the exhaustion momentarily forgotten as we clapped and kicked our feet excitedly.
Without missing a beat, we fired off a string of congratulatory messages to the guys, the excitement still buzzing in the air. My fingers moved quickly, but as I scrolled through the flood of pictures, my focus started to shift.
One shot in particular made me pause: Riven, mid-play, muscles tensed, his expression sharp with concentration. Damn. He looked hot.
I swiped through more, each one stirring something in me I wasn't quite ready to name. And then, I found it, my favorite so far. Riven, shirtless, his sweat-dampened t-shirt slung casually over his shoulder, looking effortlessly cool and unfairly attractive.
My lips parted slightly as I stared at the screen. Okay. So this was unfair. Without thinking, I typed into the chat:
Athena: …Well, would you look at that.
Barely a second passed before a new message popped up.
Jax: What a bad bunch you are. You never even added Riven to the group chat. Wait, I'm adding him now.
My stomach dropped. Oh. No.
Ezzy gasped, eyes wide with delight. "Athena, tell me you did not just thirst over Riven right before he got added to the chat." I was too busy having a full-on crisis to respond.
Jax: Welcome to the group, Riven!
My brain short-circuited as I stared at the screen, fingers hovering uselessly. I needed a miracle. A way to delete messages from existence. A time machine. Anything.
Then, the typing bubble appeared. Riven was typing. Oh. Stars.
Riven: You checking me out, Athens or just appreciating good form?
Ezzy let out a dramatic gasp, clutching her chest like she'd just witnessed the most scandalous event of the century. "Athena. Oh my gods. He did not just say that."
Jade, on the other hand, was grinning like she'd won a bet. "Oh, he's smooth. I like this for you."
Before I could even attempt to form a response, another message popped up.
Riven: Not that I'm complaining.
I stared at the screen, my pulse hammering in my ears. Heat crept up my neck, and before I could think of a comeback, another notification buzzed. This time, it wasn't in the group chat.
Riven (Private Message): I knew seeing me shirtless did things to you ;)
My breath caught in my throat. A slow, knowing smile curled on my lips as I typed back.
Athena (Private Message): So what if it did?
The typing bubble popped up immediately.
Riven (Private Message): You're getting real bold, sweets… I like it.
Athena (Private Message): Bold? Oh, Riven… if you think this is bold, you really haven't seen anything yet.
A pause. The typing bubble flickered, then disappeared. Then flickered again. Like he was debating his next move.
Riven (Private Message): Oh? Then show me, Athens. Or are you just teasing?
I bit my lip, as I typed out my response. Two can play this game Riven.
Athena (Private Message): You say tease like it's a bad thing… but we both know you love it.
His response was immediate.
Riven (Private Message): Sweets, if you keep talking like that, I promise you, next time I have you in my arms, teasing will be the last thing on your mind.
Heat curled deep in my stomach. Oh. Oh.
My fingers hovered over the screen, my heart hammering against my ribs. I should probably stop, should probably reel it back in before this got completely out of hand.
But then again… why would I do that?
Athena (Private Message): Big words. Think you can back them up?
This time, the response came slower.
Riven (Private Message): Oh, Athens. I don't think. I know.
I dropped my comm crystal onto my lap, my face burning as my stomach did a stupid little flip. Ezzy and Jade, who had clearly been watching me this entire time, wasted no time pouncing. "What the hell did he say?" Ezzy practically shrieked, leaning over with wide, expectant eyes.
Jade crossed her arms, smirking. "Judging by that look on your face, I'm guessing it wasn't just some casual response." I grabbed my comm crystal and shoved it into my bag before they could snatch it. "It's nothing."
Ezzy scoffed. "Right. And I'm the Queen of the Omniverse."
Jade grinned. "Athens, you're in so much trouble." They had no idea.
I pushed myself up, stretching before slinging my bag over my shoulder. "Alright, I'm heading out. It's getting late."
Jade smirked, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Uh-huh. Sure. Totally not running away from this conversation."
I shot her a dry look. "Believe what you want. I don't fucking care."
Ezzy snickered, and Jade just winked. Shaking my head, I turned for the door and stepped outside. The sky had deepened into streaks of violet and crimson, the last light of the day stretching long across the campus grounds.
Just as I reached for my comm crystal to check the time, it buzzed in my hand. I didn't even have to look to know who it was.
Riven (Private Message): Get home safe, sweets. And dream of me.
I stared at the words, my pulse betraying me with a sharp, quick beat.
I typed back quickly before I could think too much about it.
Athena (Private Message): You too. Talk to you later.
Slipping my comm crystal into my pocket, I exhaled and picked up my pace. The exhaustion of the day was weighing on me, and the thought of getting home and collapsing into bed was tempting. Instead of taking the usual route, I veered toward the shortcut through the forest. It was faster, and right now, every minute shaved off my walk felt like a blessing.
The trees stretched high above me, their canopies swaying gently in the evening breeze. I was already halfway through the trail when something made me slow my steps. A faint sound, almost too quiet to notice at first. But as I strained to listen, I realized it was more than the rustling of leaves. Whispers.
I turned my head sharply, scanning the darkened trees. My heart thudded against my ribs as a familiar tingling sensation crept up my arm. The Ancient Rune. Damn, I had almost forgotten it was even there.
My breath hitched. It was glowing faintly beneath my sleeve, a warmth spreading through my skin. The whispers grew louder, surrounding me like the wind was carrying voices just beyond my reach. Then, something brushed against me, soft, like fingertips trailing over my arm. I sucked in a sharp breath, every hair on my body standing on end.
And then, right by my ear, the whisper came, low, haunting, and impossibly close.
"Find me."
A cold shiver shot down my spine. My body froze, caught between the urge to run and the need to understand.I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering.
"Who's there?" I whispered back.
The atmosphere thickened, charged with an invisible force. An unnatural stillness settled over the forest, pressing against my skin like a warning. My pulse quickened as I scanned my surroundings, every instinct on edge, bracing for the inevitable.
Just as I moved to step forward, a blinding light split through the darkness, striking my vision with a searing intensity. A sharp, burning pain exploded through my skull. I gasped, then screamed, clutching my head as agony splintered through me. My knees buckled, the world spinning out of focus.
When the pain receded, I forced my eyes open again, only to find I was no longer alone.
Glowing figures surrounded me, their forms flickering like embers caught in the wind. Their faces bore intricate markings, glowing symbols etched into their skin like remnants of something ancient. The air around them shimmered, pulsing with energy, as if the very fabric of reality bent to their presence. But it was their eyes that unsettled me most. They were cold, piercing and filled with judgment. What the actual fuck?
A woman stepped forward, her presence commanding. Long white hair cascaded down her back, twin braids framing her striking face. There was wisdom in her gaze, but no warmth. When she spoke, her voice carried through the space like a ripple in time, ancient and knowing.
"Love binds, trust guides, but beware the unseen blade, carving fate. From the back, it strikes, and destiny is left to bleed."
Her words coiled around me, sinking deep into my bones. A warning. A truth I was not sure I wanted to understand.
Another figure stepped forward, her stare sharp as a blade, as if she could see through my very soul. For a long moment, she simply studied me, then spoke with quiet finality.
"Our job here is done, our promise fulfilled. The path was shown, the warnings given. What comes next is yours to decide, Athena. Be wise in the choices you make."
A heavy stillness followed, the weight of their words pressing against my chest. Then, as if they had never been there at all, they were gone.
A sharp, searing burn flared on my arm, right where the Ancient Rune had always been. I sucked in a breath, my fingers trembling as I pushed back my sleeve. My pulse pounded in my ears as I watched in stunned silence as the rune erupted into flames.
Golden embers licked across my skin, burning but not consuming, as if it were being torn from me by something unseen. My breath came in shallow gasps, panic clawing at my throat as the markings that had been with me for as long as I could remember began to vanish before my eyes. Just before it disappeared completely, a whisper, low, haunting, and inescapable, brushed against my mind. "Find me."
And then, it was gone. The rune. The warmth. The fire. All that remained was a hollow ache deep in my bones and the fading echo of what had just transpired. I stood there for a long moment before I finally forced my feet to move. The forest, once familiar, now felt foreign, like the ground beneath me had shifted in ways I couldn't yet comprehend.
I wrapped my arms around myself as I made my way back home, my steps slower than usual, my thoughts a tangled mess of unease and uncertainty.
I finally reached the edge of the forest, stepping onto the familiar path that led home, but everything felt… wrong. My arm still tingled where the rune had burned away. I pushed back my sleeve, but there was nothing left. Not even a trace. By the time I reached the house, the sky had deepened into an inky violet, the last remnants of daylight fading into the horizon. As I reached the front door, the sound of footsteps behind me made me glance over my shoulder. Lara stepped up beside me, her brows drawing together as she studied me.
Her expression twisted with concern. "Athens…?" she murmured, stepping closer. "You look pale. Are you okay?" I hesitated for half a second before nodding. "Yeah. Just tired." The lie slid off my tongue too easily, but I wasn't about to explain… whatever the hell just happened in the forest.
Lara didn't look convinced. Her eyes flicked over me, lingering on my face like she could see straight through the exhaustion I was barely holding together. But instead of pressing, she just sighed and reached for the door handle. "Come on," she said, pushing it open. "Let's get inside." I didn't argue. I just needed to get to my room, be alone, and process it all before my brain completely short-circuited.
Lara yawned beside me, kicking off her shoes. "I'm gonna grab something to eat. You sure you're good?" I forced a small smile. "Yeah. I'm just gonna head up." She gave me one last searching look before nodding. "Alright. Night, Athens."
I murmured a response and climbed the stairs, my breaths steady but shallow as I reached my room and shut the door behind me. The moment I was alone, I exhaled shakily, pressing my back against the wood. My hands clenched and unclenched at my sides, the reality of what had just happened crashing down on me.
I pushed off the door, my movements sharp and restless. My fingers trembled slightly as I strode across the room, yanking open the drawer of my desk. I wasn't even sure what I was looking for, something, anything to ground me. My eyes landed on a blank sheet of paper, and without thinking, I grabbed it, snatching a pen as I dropped into my chair.
The words spilled onto the page in frantic strokes, as if writing them down would make them easier to understand.
Love binds, trust guides, but beware the unseen blade, carving fate. From the back, it strikes, and destiny is left to bleed.
I hesitated, my breath unsteady, then wrote the second message.
Our job here is done, our promise fulfilled. The path was shown, the warnings given. What comes next is yours to decide, Athena. Be wise in the choices you make.
I stared at the ink, watching as it dried, solidifying the reality of what had just happened. The words felt heavier now, as if they carried the weight of something far beyond me.
I swallowed hard, pressing my fingers against my temple. What was I supposed to do with this? What was I even supposed to understand? I sat there for a while, the silence of my room pressing in from all sides. My thoughts churned like a storm, looping the same questions with no answers. I didn't know what this was, or why it was happening now. All I knew was that something had shifted, and the rune, the vision, the prophecy, they weren't just warnings. They were pieces of a puzzle I didn't even know I was meant to solve.
I took a quick shower, changed into something comfortable, and climbed into bed. I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling. Sleep didn't come easily. The questions clawed at me in the silence. Who were those figures? Why now? And if the rune was truly gone… what did that mean for me?
Eventually, exhaustion won. And when sleep finally took me, it dragged me into a world of red skies and whispering trees, of silver eyes in the dark, and a voice that wasn't mine, echoing again and again: Find me.
I woke late the next morning, tangled in sheets and half-formed memories. It was finally the weekend, a mercy, really. No early alarms, no classes, no pretending to focus when my head was somewhere else entirely. I sat up slowly, rubbing my hands over my face. Whatever yesterday had been... it wasn't done with me yet. My mind still felt like it was treading water in some deep, unseen current.
By the time I made it downstairs, the house was quiet. I didn't expect to see Lara, not really. Besides our very brief exchange yesterday, Lara and I hadn't really been on speaking terms. Not since the last blowout. The silence between us had started growing roots, thick, tangled, and far too heavy to cut through.
She wasn't in the kitchen, and her bedroom door was closed. For all I knew, she'd already gone out to see him again. And I was done trying to talk her out of something she didn't want to be honest about.
Still, I couldn't shake the unease curling in my gut. I was supposed to meet Safyrr and Zarich tonight at Safyrr's house to go over the Council's progress on tracking Cole. And whatever they'd uncovered… it had to be something.
So many things were happening all at once, and I couldn't wrap my head around it all. It was too much, like threads pulling from every direction, threatening to unravel everything I thought I knew. But one thing was clear, they were all connected. Somehow.
I grabbed a quick breakfast, the silence in the kitchen unfamiliar and heavy. Saturdays used to be so fun. Lara and I would spend them together, doing absolutely nothing and everything all at once. Getting used to the quiet was harder than I wanted to admit.
I rinsed my plate and leaned against the counter, debating what to do with the rest of my day. With rehearsals on hold until Monday, and no real plans to fill the day, my thoughts unsurprisingly drifted to Riven. We hadn't exactly defined what was going on between us, but I knew one thing: I wanted to see him. Before I could talk myself out of it, I picked up my comm crystal and sent him a text..
Athena: Hey… you free today? Thought maybe we could hang out for a bit?
I stared at the crystal for a moment longer than I should have, waiting for that familiar typing bubble. It never came. I sighed, pushing off the counter. Maybe he was busy. Maybe he hadn't seen it yet. Or maybe I was getting ahead of myself again.
I slipped my comm crystal into my pocket, the unanswered message still weighing on me more than I cared to admit. The house was too quiet, the silence stretching longer than it needed to. Sitting around waiting wasn't going to help, and honestly, I needed clarity about everything. I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door. If anyone could help me make sense of this chaos, it was Safyrr. And right now, I couldn't wait until tonight.
As I walked down the long driveway, the hum of an approaching engine made me glance up. Zarich's car came into view, sleek and steady as it approached. He rolled to a stop beside me, the passenger window lowering with a soft whir. "Jump in," he said, resting one arm casually against the wheel. "You're headed to Safyrr's place, right?" I paused for half a second, surprised, then nodded. "Yeah… how'd you know?" He gave me a knowing look, one corner of his mouth twitching. "Call it Safyrr's intuition."
No further explanation needed. I opened the door and slipped into the passenger seat, closing it behind me with a soft click. I buckled in, glancing out the window as he pulled back onto the road with effortless ease.
We drove in silence for a while, the kind that wasn't awkward, just easy. I kept checking my comm crystal, even though I told myself not to. Each time, the screen stared back at me blankly. No response from Riven. I turned it face down on my thigh and sighed.
Zarich didn't say anything, but I saw the flicker of a glance from the corner of my eye. I knew he'd noticed. Of course he had. Zarich missed nothing. Still, he didn't ask. Just let the silence stretch out like a quiet comfort, his hands steady on the wheel, his presence solid and dependable beside me.
We pulled up to Safyrr's house just as the morning light filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the worn stone path. As I reached for the door handle, he glanced over, his tone casual. "I'll catch you both tonight." I gave him a small nod. "Thanks for the ride." He offered a half-smile, then eased the car back down the lane.
Before I'd even made it to the front step, the front door swung open. Safyrr stood in the doorway, one brow arched, her silver-lined gaze already fixed on me. "Well," she said, stepping aside. "About time. Come in, Athena."
I stepped inside, the familiar scent of herbs and old magic wrapping around me like a cloak. The door clicked shut behind me, sealing out the rest of the world. Safyrr moved ahead without another word, her long braid swaying down her back as she led me into the main room.
The space was exactly as I remembered, dimly lit with soft, golden glowstones lining the walls, shelves cluttered with ancient tomes and vials that shimmered faintly under the light. A low fire crackled in the hearth, casting dancing shadows across the wooden floor.
"Sit," she said simply, gesturing to the cushioned chair by the fire.
I lowered myself into it, still clutching my comm crystal, though the screen remained blank.
Safyrr watched me for a moment, then turned to pour two cups of something warm and fragrant. She handed one to me, then settled into the chair across from mine.
"Something's changed," she said, not asking, just stating, as if she'd felt it in her bones.
I swallowed hard, wrapping both hands around the cup. "The rune," I said softly. "It's gone."