[spero meliora]

Lazy rays of sunlight filtered in through the windows of the Library of Athena, but even sitting in the panes of light they cast on the floor, Reese didn't feel any warmer. In fact, the whole room seemed to have taken on an otherworldly chill, one that settled into their bones, captured their nerves, and ceased to let go.

Seated nearby were Imogen, Kaden, and Tessa, all looking varying degrees of nervous. The latter seemed to be on the verge of vomiting; Tessa looked pale, like she'd just seen a ghost. Which, as Reese dwelled on it, she had. According to the minimal information he'd heard from Tessa before a quartet of other specialists swarmed her, she'd had visions of Aether.

"What's taking them so long?" Imogen stretched on the divan she was sprawled across, her silky hair flipping over her shoulders.

Kaden, casting a sidelong glance at the daughter of Cupid, shifted from where he was leaning against a bookshelf. "Running possibilities on mental exams with magic can't exactly be a simple process, Imogen."

Imogen merely shrugged, examining her nails. "They can at least try to be quick about it. Who's to say that Aether and the Masks can't see through Tessa right now? We're in our headquarters."

Tessa shot Imogen a look, but sighed. "I don't think that's the case."

"Then what is?" Imogen mused.

No one answered her. Frankly, no one knew anything substantial to even counter her theories. Everything was on the table, and at his girlfriend's ideas, Reese peered across the room at the investigation board. If what she said was true...

Reese's worries were cut off by the sound of rapid footsteps. He got to his feet at the same time as the others, suddenly alert, and watched as four figures ascended the staircase to their level of the library. Flynn, Amelie, Marcellus, and Irene—a daughter of Dionysus—were all racing towards them. When they finally reached the landing, they looked like they'd all just evaded capture by some very dangerous enemy.

"We have," Flynn wheezed, waving around a clipboard. "The results."

Tessa stalked forward, urgency in her stance. "And?"

Amelie rested a hand on her husband's shoulder, taking the clipboard from his hands while Flynn caught his breath. "When I cast the examining spell on you, it gave us enough information to go on. You reported displacement, appearing in Aether's chambers and ancient Delphi, right?"

Tessa nodded. Reese knit his eyebrows together.

"Delphi?" He speculated. "What were you doing there?"

Amelie cut off Tessa's answer before it could begin. "Irene and Marcellus both worked their magic to determine whether you were falling into one of two possibilities: madness or mind control." She took a deep breath. "And you fell into neither category."

Tessa exhaled in relief, but she didn't look thrilled. "Then what were my visions?"

Marcellus took a step forward. "Tessa, I found similar patterns in your brainwaves from when you were in your Curse-induced coma. While you're awake and better than before, it does appear that you're experiencing some sort of side effect that we hadn't found before."

"What do you mean?" Kaden asked, stalking over to where Reese and Tessa stood.

"It means that there's something Tessa isn't telling us," Marcellus said, a sympathetic look in his eyes. "She knows a bit of information that we don't."

Reese averted his gaze to the daughter of Poseidon, who was staring daggers at the son of Somnus before her. "Tessa? What's he talking about?"

For a moment, Tessa didn't speak. She tensed, then retreated back to where she was sitting. "When I was in my coma, I was pulled out by...a figment of my imagination, I suppose. It was the remnant of myself from before the quest, back when I still hoped and dreamed and wished." She laughed wryly. "I relived some of my most imperative memories, in order to break out of my coma. However, my mind was hijacked during this experience.

"I ended up in Delphi, only a few thousand years ago. It was the same place that Vinny had spirited me away to on the mission through time a while ago, but instead of facing the Oracle and the prophecy, Vinny summoned the Masks. He meant to either kill me or destroy my sanity, whichever came first. I was able to break from his mental clutches and wake myself up, powers restored, but apparently, he didn't leave without purpose."

Imogen inclined her chin, jade eyes narrowing in realization. "I was wondering what Vinny meant in Aether's lair. He left you something. Something in your mind."

Tessa sighed, but nodded. "Now I know what it is. Some twisted mental bond between Aether and I."

"But you're not under any sort of mind control from him," Irene chimed, her voice like the tinkling of little bells. "So it's not that sort of a mental bond, I suppose."

"But it's something," Tessa squared her shoulders, looking at the four demigods who had raced in. "What else do you know?"

Flynn glanced to his comrades before returning his attention to his patient. "There's good news and bad news. Which do you want first?"

"Good news," Chorused Imogen and Kaden.

"Bad news," Said Tessa and Reese.

Flynn blinked, clearly amused. "Alright then. Well, the good news is that Aether can't control you with this bond. You'll be able to see what he shows you, but he can't make you do anything. The bad news...we're not sure when these visions will take place, or for how long."

Tessa pursed her lips. "They've only lasted a couple of seconds."

"But what if they last longer?" Kaden countered, his arms folded across his chest. "If he has this advantage over you, if he pulls you into a vision in the middle of a fight..."

"Nonetheless," Amelie interrupted, flashing Kaden a look. "You should be fine on all fronts. If anything, we should see this as a gift rather than a curse. Whenever Aether tries to pull Tessa in, she can pull just as much information out."

"We'll have leverage," Reese marveled, turning to Tessa. "What did you see the last time?"

Tessa scowled. "You're making it sound like I'm the Oracle."

"No, but you're as close as we can get to it," Imogen patted Tessa's shoulder. "Now what'd you see?"

Tessa shook her head. "I was in the big ballroom of Aether's mansion, and he said that we'd meet again soon." She met Reese and Imogen's gazes. "That's it. Nothing pressing."

"At least we know one thing for sure now," Kaden said, walking over to the investigation board. "Aether wants you for something, Tessa. We're just not sure what."

"And that's supposed to be a relief?" Tessa scoffed, eyeing the son of Venus. "Glad we know I'm not insane, huh, Kaden?"

Kaden whirled around, an unreadable look on his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, the light of a portal filled the Library of Athena. Everyone stood at attention, weapons at the ready, but Reese watched in disbelief as a slight figure emerged from the cosmic energy.

"Hope I didn't interrupt anything," Adhara Wren mused, a burgundy gown billowing with each step she took. "But greetings, godlings. I come in peace."

~~

Reese got what he presumed was the short explanation, which frankly, was more than he could stomach. Apparently, Adhara was working with the Masks on an inside job to destroy them, and had arranged the Masks' meeting to coincide with the rescue mission into Aether's lair. Now that Dale had been taken, Adhara was also working to keep Dale safe.

"Now that that's out of the way," Adhara said flippantly, fiddling with the ends of her curled raven hair. "I have a message for you from Dale."

"Is she okay?" Tessa demanded, turquoise eyes shining.

Adhara nodded curtly. "Yes, yes, she's fine. Rather angered, but fine nonetheless."

"Is she hurt?" Reese pressed.

Adhara met Reese's gaze sharply, her violet irises swirling like mist. "You all can either hound me with questions, or I can tell you what Dale wanted me to tell you. I don't have much time." She swept a gaze around the others, daring them to interrupt her. "Now, as I was saying, Dale wants you to know that there's no use trying to find her."

"What?" Tessa, Reese, Kaden, and Imogen exclaimed in unison.

Adhara held up a hand. "The mansion moves, making its true location known to only a select few. It's protected by a barrier, fueled by the Mist, that prevents anyone from entering or exiting except on certain occasions."

"What kind of occasions?" Imogen folded her arms across her chest.

"The Enlightening," Adhara responded. "Given its importance to the Masks."

"Sorry, what's the Enlightening?" Kaden questioned, looking as baffled as Reese had ever seen him.

Adhara tensed, suddenly avoiding their gazes. "It's the ceremony that you all witnessed on the day of the vernal equinox. I'm the one who decides when they occur. The ceremony...it's when Aether turns his prisoners into Masks."

Kaden nodded in understanding. "That's why Madi was the only one in the cell block that day."

Adhara exhaled. Reese supposed she hadn't been expecting that sort of quick understanding. "Yes, among other reasons, but I'm sure you already know."

Amelie stepped forward, an inquisitive look in her eyes. "If the barrier is made of Mist, maybe I could find a way to breach it?"

"If you could, I would be very impressed," Adhara cast a look at her old friend, a glint in her violet eyes.

"Adhara," Reese snagged the daughter of Nemesis' attention. "Did Dale tell you anything else?"

The raven-haired girl nodded, her hand bunch in the swishing fabric of her burgundy dress and then dropping it absentmindedly. "She...she wants you to know Aether's identity."

A hush fell over the room. Reese could hear footsteps downstairs but he didn't bother to think much of it as he and everyone else stared down the daughter of Nemesis.

"How does she know who he is?" Tessa asked in disbelief.

Adhara spread her hands. "I don't know. But the man you seek is named Luke. He is blond, with blue eyes, and dresses rather sharply." A misty look filled her gaze. "This information changes the scales."

"No, really?" Imogen drawled, a spiteful look in her eyes. "How do we find this guy?"

Adhara held Imogen's critical look, clear malice in her own. "You don't. He rarely leaves his lair."

"Maybe Tessa's mental bond can help with that," Marcellus theorized, pointing to the daughter of Poseidon.

"How on earth would that help?" Tessa rebuffed. "'Hi, Luke, the jig is up. We know who you are?'"

"That's one way of approaching it," Flynn concurred. "But I doubt it would help."

Adhara took a breath. "I'm running out of time. There's more to say, I just don't think—"

Footsteps echoed from the stairwell, and everyone turned to see Mark step onto the landing. He didn't seem to notice any of them, Adhara in particular, as he shoved past.

"Sorry to interrupt the meeting, I just need something..." He murmured, weaving through the small crowd.

"Mark," Adhara managed, her voice sounding like it was strangled.

The son of Iris turned, and his almond eyes widened. "Adhara...what are you doing here? I thought you were in Nepal."

Adhara tensed. "I..." She looked away. "I've taken up residence elsewhere."

"Where?" Mark took a step forward. "I've been trying to contact you for weeks. Months, even."

"Adhara's working with the Masks," Tessa said smoothly. "She's on our side."

Mark looked like he was about to explode at that. "What?"

"Mark, I promise I can explain all this later, but not now." Adhara said quickly, unable to meet his gaze. "I've had my own work to do."

"You know that they took Dale? That they've taken so many people?" Mark whispered. "And you still work with them?"

Reese tried reaching for Mark. "Mark, get a grip, she's helping us!"

"She helped you three escape during the raid," Kaden added, walking over.

Mark swatted Reese away, only looking more hurt. "You knew we were there and you didn't try to help her?"

Adhara shot Mark a neutral look. "I serve when the balance shifts. That day, it shifted in your favor. I'm helping Dale."

"And if it shifts again?" Mark's expression was one of utmost betrayal, and it was almost painful to watch. "Where will you turn then?"

"Mark!" Tessa barked. "Enough."

"What is it with all of you?" Mark erupted, pivoting to face everyone. "You're so eager to get information, you don't care where it comes from. Dale could be dying, she could be a Mask, and none of you care. You're all taking your sweet time on this. Getting advice from people like her." He jerked his chin in Adhara's direction.

And despite all the venom, Adhara took a step forward. "What are you implying, Mark? That I'm a traitor? That I'm wrong? That I'm evil?" Each step of hers echoed across the marble floors, and despite her short stature, Adhara was radiating a queen's strength.

"Keep in mind it was me who helped you get out of your mess a few years ago. It was me who helped find the Labyrinth entrance to rescue you. So how dare you try and accuse me of being on the wrong side of all this?"

By now, she was hardly a foot away from the son of Iris, staring daggers at him. But when Reese looked closer, he saw just as much hurt in her gaze as Mark's.

Mark scoffed, turned on his heel, and stormed down the staircase.

Adhara blew out a breath, and judging from the way she avoided everyone's gaze, she was trying not to cry. "I need to leave. I'm out of time."

"Adhara, you can't leave now. There's still more you have to tell us!" Kaden tried.

The daughter of Nemesis muttered an incantation and with a zap of unseen energy, a portal began to unfurl like tendrils of smoke. "If I don't leave now, Vinny and Matthew and Kane will know I'm gone and they'll no doubt know where I went. If you want to keep your camps safe, you'll let me go."

"Wait!" This time it was Imogen trying to stop Adhara from leaving. "During the raid, Vinny mentioned something about Camp Jupiter. How he had something in store for it. Do you know anything about that?"

Adhara met Imogen's imperative look and sighed, looking away. "I don't know, but I do know that if I don't get back to the Mansion now, both camps will be up in flames by the end of the week."

Imogen didn't look satisfied, but she nodded and stepped away. Adhara cast one last glance around the demigods staring at her in a mix of expressions, then stepped through the portal. It disappeared in a flash of light, but when Reese looked away, the daughter of Nemesis with all her messages and mysteries had disappeared.

~~

Camp Half-Blood was in a state of limbo. After the events of the vernal equinox, no one really knew what to do with their time. Half of the campers seemed to commit themselves to following their head counselor to daily activities, while the other half was committed to the war effort. At times, Reese would catch people watching him, or his friends, as they passed, the way that some people would watch a darkening sky as a storm approached. Everything was in a state of flux, with a historic group of demigods at the epicenter of it all once more.

Right now, Reese got more of those looks as he hurried down the trails from the Library of Athena. As the others worked to try and make use of Adhara's messages, Reese had excused himself to go find Mark. The son of Iris was no doubt still mad at him, mad at Adhara, mad at the world, but they needed to be united it they were to defeat Aether.

As Reese bounded through camp, he seemed to find Mark's trail of wreckage as if he were a tornado. In what was presumably his wake, Mark had left behind confused looking campers. One of them, Bianca Windsor, saw Reese approaching and walked towards him.

"Mark?" Reese asked.

The daughter of Aphrodite nodded, her auburn curls bobbing from her ponytail. "He seemed really upset. Did something happen?"

Reese looked back out over the valley in Mark's direction. "Too many things." He returned his focus to Bianca. "What are you and your cabin up to right now?"

Bianca's cheeks dusted over a rosy pink. "We're working in the armory right now."

Reese knit his eyebrows together. "I didn't think that was on the Aphrodite schedule for today."

Bianca seemed to buck up some courage, and where she was normally a very anxious and timid girl, she met Reese's gaze full on. "We're trying to help the war effort. If Kaden can shake the stereotypes surrounding Aphrodite and Venus, then we plan to follow in his footsteps. In all your footsteps, really."

Reese blinked at that, pleasantly surprised, and looked around at the central part of the valley. Now that he looked at it, he could see more and more interactions between cabins. Sitara Chaudri was working alongside a child of Hecate, going over blueprints. Parker, another son of Athena, was scribbling down a report while a son of Ares examined a new set of spears delivered by a proud-looking Jesse, son of Hephaestus. The Forges were working non-stop, and sure enough, some of Bianca's siblings were carrying a cart of helmets to the armory. Chariots were being repaired and tested in the arena, and archers were firing nonstop at the targets.

And despite the mess, Reese felt pride as he looked over his camp. Everything felt as if it had been disheveled, uprooted, but looking out at the legacy he and his friends had created, had inspired...

"Thanks, Bianca," Reese patted the daughter of Aphrodite's shoulder before taking off down the trails to find Mark. That son of Iris wasn't getting away with his anger any longer. Not when there was something all around them just as strong, if not stronger, to take its place: hope.

~~

Mark had taken refuge in the amphitheater, it seemed. As Reese was passing, he spotted a figure out of the corner of his eye and sure enough, Mark was slouched in the front row of seats, staring at the fire-pit like his life depended on it. Reese sighed and marched down the steps.

"If you're having a staring contest with the pit, I think you're winning," Reese called in an attempt to be amicable.

Mark tore his gaze away and towards Reese, and he narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?"

"Peace," Reese said, approaching the son of Iris. "Being angry with me will get us nowhere."

Mark scoffed, a wry smile on his face. "Too self-righteous and proud to accept people being mad at your actions?"

Reese tilted his head. "No, I'm too decent to acknowledge when I did something wrong and try to make up with those I hurt."

Mark didn't look convinced. He turned his attention back to the fire-pit, as if staring hard enough would open a portal right into where Dale was being kept in Aether's lair. "She needed you."

"She needs all of us." Reese corrected. "More precisely, she needs all of us to work together."

Mark glared at Reese. "Working together has cost us a lot lately, don't you think?"

"No," Reese confessed. "Because I just walked through camp and saw the epitome of teamwork. We're Greeks, after all. Our success, our strategy, is all centered around working as a team."

Mark snorted. "Where'd you get that line?"

Reese took a deep breath. This wasn't as easy as he'd anticipated.

"I don't want any part of a kumbaya around a campfire," Mark said, getting to his feet and stalking towards Reese. "I don't want any more waiting around for signs or clues or theories when we already have evidence. I don't want to keep doing nothing when our people need us! When Dale needs us!"

"We could have helped Dale had you not sent Adhara away," Reese retorted and Mark flinched.

"Don't say her name," Mark warned.

"Adhara," Reese stressed. "She came here at Dale's request. She was helping us. And you demonized her. Just like you demonized all of us."

"Be quiet, Reese." Mark asserted, gritting his teeth together.

"You're being a coward," Reese continued. "You're driving away those that need you most. Those that love you most. We're your friends, Mark, stop treating us like enemies!"

"I said, SHUT UP!" Mark spun around and his fist sailed towards Reese's face.

Reese didn't have enough time to react. Mark's fist met with his face, and he staggered backwards. Breathing heavily, Reese abandoned all pretenses. "Looking for a fight, rainbow boy?"

"Already found one, sunshine," Mark spat, cracking his knuckles.

Reese bellowed and charged as Mark did the same. Reese swung, but Mark leapt out of the way, grabbing Reese's arm and twisting it. Reese roared in pain, but used his momentum to Mark over. Mark, always agile, spun on the ground, knocking Reese down as well.

Reese's heartbeat echoed in his ears, red filling his vision. He and Mark grappled one another, punching, hitting, scratching. Finally, after Mark got a few hits in, Reese managed to pin the son of Iris down.

And then something shifted within Reese. Some primal instinct kicked in as Reese lifted his fist and brought it down upon Mark's face. He was seeing red with each hit, with each protest. Something twisted, something dark pumped through his own blood as Mark's ended up on his knuckles.

"Reese, stop!"

The next thing Reese knew, he was tackled to the ground. He spat out woodchips and blood as he rolled on the mulchy center of the amphitheater, looking up at Imogen, Tessa, and Kaden as they intervened. Imogen held out a hand, and Reese took it, hauling himself to his feet.

"What the hell is wrong with you both?" Tessa demanded, seething.

"He started it," Mark spat out blood.

"Wouldn't have had to if you didn't—" Reese stumbled, suddenly feeling drained. He looked down at his hands, seeing blood, Mark's blood, on his knuckles. "What did I do?"

"You beat Mark within an inch of his life," Imogen stressed. She ripped a piece of cloth from her t-shirt and started wrapping it around Reese's fist. "What's up with you? I've never seen you this violent."

Kaden escorted Mark out of the amphitheater, looking steamed, with Tessa in their wake. Reese watched as they left, and didn't speak until they were gone.

"Imogen, I need to tell you something," Reese winced as Imogen examined his face.

"No duh, Sherlock," Imogen retorted, jade eyes analyzing his face. "We need to get you to the infirmary."

"No, I need to talk to you now," Reese stressed, grabbing Imogen's hand and staring into her jade eyes. "It's important."

Imogen was silent for a moment, resolute, but she nodded. "What is it?"

Reese felt his heart begin to beat faster. "I've been hiding something for you since...since the War."

Imogen's eyes widened. "What?"

"I had reason to," Reese said quickly. "I didn't want you to find out a-and think differently of me."

"Fat chance of that," Imogen quipped. "But Reese, I trust you and you need to trust me. What did you hide?"

Reese shut his eyes, suddenly back in the alternate universe. When he opened his eyes, Imogen's desperate gaze incited the words to flow. "I killed my alternate self. That's how I survived for so long. I had him tied up in the closet, and when it was time for me to escape, I killed him."

Imogen didn't look too fazed. "I...you did what you had to do. Tessa killed the General. We all 'killed' our alternate selves." She rambled. "It was war. You did what was necessary."

Reese shook his head. "For the past few months, I've been getting these bouts of sickness, of pain. I don't know what triggers them or why they came, but after Tessa's coma, I asked Flynn indirectly, and he said it could be..."

"It could be what?" Imogen asked, concern in her gaze.

Reese sighed. "It could be a result of my Achilles curse. The curse keeps me from getting hurt, so when the after-effect of destroying my alternate-self came about..."

"It started effecting you in different ways," Imogen concluded. "Reese, why didn't you tell me? I could get you help!"

Reese shook his head, suddenly frightful. "Gen, I'm going to hurt someone. Whatever effect this is, the Curses made it worse. It's been happening more often, and it's what made me lash out at Mark." He sighed, looking at his trembling fingers.

"Well, how do we stop it?" Imogen asked. "I'm not a doctor, but Flynn is. Kaden is. They can help you!"

"You can't tell anyone about this, okay? They'd never let me fight."

"You sound like Tessa."

"Well, now I see her perspective too! Besides, there's something else," Reese exhaled. "Flynn said that left unchecked, this condition could result in madness."

Imogen was stony-faced with concern and frustration. "So what do we do?"

Reese looked around the amphitheater, as if each section of seats possessed a new possibility. "Flynn mentioned some ancient cure that could stop it. We just need to find out what it is and I should be okay."

"And how do you propose we do that without letting anyone in on this?" Imogen dragged a hand through her hair. "Reese, we need to tell someone."

"Gen," Reese pleaded. "We can't. Not until we have the cure."

The daughter of Cupid was hesitant, but she nodded. "Okay. We won't tell."

Reese exhaled in relief, kissing Imogen's hand. "Thank you."

"But you are heading straight to the infirmary," Imogen lugged him to his feet. "Crazy curse or not, you're bleeding in a lot of places."

"Really?" Reese joked. "Didn't notice."

Imogen cursed at him, but Reese found himself grinning. Something had definitely shifted—the odds, the Fates, whatever—but Reese knew that despite it all, they were one step closer to everything they needed. Reese's cure, Aether's demise, Dale's return...it would all be upon them soon.