[hoc est bellum]

Night rolled in like fog upon Camp Jupiter, carrying war with it. The Roman training ground had quieted for the night, another day's preparation for battle completed, but tension still hung in the air like a storm about to break. They were waiting for the other shoe to drop, and upon that evening, no one knew that it was about to.

            Tessa meandered her way through the valley, chased out of her guest room by anxiety. Pre-battle nerves were always terrible, but pre-battle nerves unaccompanied by an actual battle were even worse. She'd taken to the cobblestone streets, and the stars kept her company as she walked off her worries.

            Tessa's mind had become a maelstrom of thought. With this battle against the Masks on the horizon, she was worried she wouldn't be able to think straight. After her coma, she'd been doing better, feeling more like herself than she had in years. But upon discovering that Luke was her half-brother, it felt like all the progress she'd made had been in vain. He had a hold on her already, but being her blood made things a lot more complicated.

            What if it came down to just her and Luke at the end of it all? What if killing him was the only way to free her friends and save her camp? Would she be able to do it?

            The cobblestones beneath her feet turned to soft grass, and with alarm, Tessa looked up. Her heart twisted in her chest; in her absentminded daze, her memory of Camp Jupiter had led her to the Garden of Minerva.

            Tessa tensed, looking around the Garden. It had once been hers and Kaden's point of refuge from their academics and lives as demigods, and they'd sit at Tessa's fountain and talk and laugh and eat and study and the thought of it made Tessa's stomach hurt. And yet...      

            Hesitantly, Tessa walked through the blooming garden, watching the enchanted plants and flowers wistfully as she passed. She wove her way through the garden to the center, where her fountain was, and stopped in her tracks. She wasn't alone.

            Kaden didn't seem to notice she was there. He was sitting on the rim of the fountain, absentmindedly twisting his father's ring around his finger. The gold glinted in the low light of the evening, reflecting off his stormy emerald eyes.

            Tessa felt her heart stop as she watched him silently, lips parted in partial shock. She debated turning around the way she'd come and pretending she was never there, but the other part of her wanted her to step forward, get his attention, and fix the problems between them once and for all.

            Maybe it was Tessa, maybe it was the Fates, but Kaden glanced over his shoulder and saw her. His expression shifted, matching her own. He got to his feet, looking flustered.

            "Sorry, I didn't know you—"

            "I was just leaving—"

            Upon realizing they'd spoken over one another, Kaden and Tessa both laughed sheepishly, looking everywhere but at the other.

            Kaden cleared his throat, hesitantly lifting his gaze to Tessa's. "Can't sleep?"

            Tessa chewed on her lip, debating whether to lie or not. She nodded, fiddling with the ends of her hair. "That's one way of putting it."

            Kaden quirked an eyebrow, but Tessa shook her head. "Don't worry about it. Sorry to interrupt you."

            "Tessa, wait!" Kaden stopped her as she turned on her heel. And she whirled around to face him, her heart pounding in her chest.

            Kaden looked breathless. "Can we talk?"

            Tessa flashed back to the last time they talked, and how it had ended with her sitting through a storm, tears down her face. She forced the memory from her mind, nodding with a purse of her lips. "What about?"

            Kaden opened his mouth to speak, then shut it. He scratched the back of his neck. "I...I'm sorry about what happened that day."

            Tessa inhaled slowly, forcing herself not to dwell on what happened too much. She feigned a smile. "Don't be. I was in a bad place, I shouldn't have just..." She waved her hand lazily.

            "No," Kaden shook his head, taking a step forward. "I shouldn't have done what I did. It was wrong. I'm sorry."

            Tessa held up a hand. "Kaden, please. We've got more important things to worry about than our relationship issues."

            That struck a chord with Kaden, apparently. His demeanor shifted, and he tensed. "Tessa, we can't keep filing this away for later. What if there is no later?"

            Tessa bristled, tearing her gaze from Kaden's emerald eyes. "Kaden, I don't see what there is to discuss anymore. We know where each other stands."

            Kaden made a sound of frustration. "How did we manage this before?"

            Tessa laughed wryly. "We weren't as messed up before," She offered. "Our problems back then seem so miniscule now."

            "No, but you still had anxiety. I still had my family problems. We managed to find each other and stick together," Kaden's voice was soft, and when he met Tessa's gaze, the sincerity in his eyes almost shattered her heart. "Where did we go wrong?"

            Tessa pressed her lips into a thin line, fighting back tears. "We grew apart," She tried. "I guess we couldn't keep each other stable anymore."

            "That's not true," Kaden said fiercely.

            "You said it yourself!" Tessa countered, taking a step forward. "That's why we took a break."

            "Exactly," Kaden mirrored her movement, walking towards her. "A break. So why do we act like we hate each other now?"

            There was less than a foot of space between them now. If Tessa wanted to, she could reach out to run her hand down his arm, touch his face, run her fingers through his hair. She was breathing heavily, so was he, and yet neither of them said anything.

            "Kaden," Tessa shook her head, looking down. "I don't understand. Now, you're telling me you can't bear this whole charade. A few days ago, you were telling me that we needed to be apart to heal. What's the truth?"

            An arc of electricity ran down her skin when Kaden ever so gingerly pressed a finger beneath her chin, raising it to look up at him.

            "I still love you, Tess," Kaden whispered, his eyes filled with sorrow. "And the truth? I don't know the truth. We've got a lot of history, a lot to deal with in the present, but while it doesn't look like it, I'm just hoping for the future."

            Tessa searched his eyes, feeling her own fill with tears. She was overwhelmed, unsure of what to do, but Kaden must have been thinking the same thing. She raised herself up on her tiptoes, and he bent down, and their lips brushed together in what was too long of an absence.

            It felt like being lost at sea for so long, and finally getting a glimpse of land. There were still a lot of hardships, a lot of obstacles in the way, but the possibility of security was in range. You just had to keep swimming for shore.

            Tessa reached up with a trembling hand, pulling apart from Kaden for just a second. His eyes fluttered open, his hand snaking around her waist to pull her closer. They both met one another's gazes, timid and unsure. There was still so much between them; would they ever be resolved?

            A sudden rush of wind flew at them, and they sprang apart. Tessa watched in shock as out of nowhere, Adhara Wren materialized before her and Kaden, looking like she'd just seen a ghost. There were cobwebs in her dark hair, dust over her clothes, but energy flickered around her.

            The daughter of Nemesis arched a pointed brow. "Was I interrupting something?"

            Tessa and Kaden looked at one another sheepishly.

            "Never mind," Adhara sighed, sounding like she'd just run all the way here. "How fast can you get everyone together for a meeting?"

            "Pretty fast," Kaden affirmed, already digging out his phone. "Why?"

            "Because," Adhara began. "I've got news that might just save your lives."

~~

            Ten minutes later, their makeshift war council had assembled. Mark had taken to sleeping on the floor; Reese and Imogen looked confused to see Adhara; Kaya and Alex just looked straight up disheveled, but Tessa decided not to ask.

            "Adhara?" Reese made a face. "What're you doing here?"

            "She's got news," Tessa answered in place of the daughter of Nemesis. "But thank you all for meeting up with us."

            "It's our Principia, Tessa," Alex rolled his eyes, suppressing a yawn. "What'd you think we'd say? No?"

            Tessa felt her haunches raise; having Alex back meant verbal jabs and punches again. She slid her gaze over to the son of Mars, whose shaggy hair was pointed every which way. "I don't know, seems like you and Kaya were otherwise preoccupied."

            Alex's dark eyes widened fractionally; Kaya's cheeks burned. Tessa smirked. It takes two to tango, Deven.

            "Anyways," Adhara said, her voice puncturing the tension in the room. "Dale and I have made a discovery that could change the course of the battle tomorrow."

            "Tomorrow?!" Everyone said in unison. It even woke up Mark from where he was sleeping at the base of Alex's statue. He snorted in surprise, but turned over in his sleep.

            "Yes," Adhara managed. "But let me finish."

            And so Adhara explained her story of how she and Dale had investigated hidden passageways within Luke's mansion, and had found his right-hand man, Kane, at the end of it. Apparently, Kane had been talking to some chained spirit, updating it on plans to overthrow Luke.

            "Don't we want that, though?" Imogen wrinkled her nose. "Having Luke out of the way could disrupt the whole Mask system."

            Adhara shook her head fiercely, combing the cobwebs from her hair. "No, it won't. Luke doesn't have much real control over how the Masks operate. That's all Kane."

            "How?" Kaden asked. "What sort of powers does he have?"

            "I have no idea," Adhara answered. "But if he's planning to raise Typhon, then we've got more problems on our hands."

            "No kidding," Alex huffed a breath, folding his arms over his chest. "Typhon's powerful enough to destroy Olympus, should he get there."

            "But what does Kane want? Why would he raise Typhon and overthrow Luke?" Tessa asked, turning to Adhara.

            The daughter of Nemesis put her hands up in confusion. "I know what I know, but Luke's...unstable as of now. Dale and I believe that Kane's behind it."

            "So what do we do?" Reese dragged a hand through his blond hair in exasperation. "The Garden opens at sunset tomorrow, that gives us less than twenty-four hours to gather our forces."

            "The legion's ready," Kaya assured the son of Apollo. "It's just a matter of divvying up command. We'll be ready."

            "Besides," Kaden began. "Flynn was telling me about how he and Amelie are working on something to disrupt the Mask's trances. Eli gave us gadgets to keep us safe, but the least we can do is keep our friends safe too."

            "Is Eli finished working on the earpieces?" Tessa asked.

            Mark mumbled in his sleep, half-asleep. "After I sent Chase off, he seemed pretty proud of them so I'd say so."

            Tessa rolled her eyes; trust Mark to be half-asleep during a strategy meeting. However, Adhara's attention fell to the son of Iris on the ground. "What do you mean by sending Chase off? Where'd you send him?"

            "To infiltrate the Masks," Mark yawned. "Kid wanted to prove himself after Aether killed his pop."

            Adhara's eyes widened. "What?! Wait—you sent--? Aether killed--?" The Nepalese girl cursed in her language, then took a deep breath to center herself. "Okay. That's fine. He'll probably be killed, but it's fine."

            Mark snorted. "You're telling me."

            "Mark," Tessa chided. "Not funny."

            Mark put his hands up in surrender, rolling over to the other side. "Keep it down, I'm trying to sleep."

            Tessa rolled her eyes, but returned her focus to the others. They were all standing in a ring, watching one another with the sort of intensity that Tessa supposed was a result of their godly blood. Because right now, they weren't the human part of their demigod status; they were their godly equivalents, readying for war.

            "Adhara, how many Masks are in Luke's army?" Alex asked, averting his dark eyes to the daughter of Nemesis.

            Adhara shrugged. "About a hundred odd demigods, satyrs, nymphs. Even a few mortals. But if Kane plans to raise Typhon, we'll have an army of storm spirits to deal with as well."

            Tessa, Kaden, and Kaya all wore matching gazes of realization.

            "Of course," Kaden groaned. "How did we not realize it?"

            "What?" Imogen asked.

            Tessa ran a hand over her face in exasperation. "Kane's been the one recruiting storm spirits, holding their father, Typhon, over their head. The mugger Kaden and I encountered was one of them."

            "And that explains why the storm spirits attacked the legion instead of the Masks," Kaya blew out a sigh. "We're idiots."

            "You have your moments," Mark grumbled, flopping onto his other side. Seriously, if he was trying to sleep, why did he keep contributing to the conversation?

            "Well, now we know what we're up against," Reese's eyes were focused, like rings of blue fire. "The legion and Camp Half-Blood all have hundreds of fighters. We'll stand a chance."

            Imogen nodded along to his words. "And with Eli's gadgets and the cures that Flynn and Amelie made, we can subdue the Masks even faster."

            "That still leaves Kane, Typhon, and Luke to deal with," Adhara countered, no doubt playing Devil's advocate. Literally.

            "Luke's mine," Tessa spoke, the severity in her voice like a rumble of thunder.

            Kaya arched a brow at Tessa, and both girls held one another's gazes. "Think you can handle it?"

            Tessa merely gave a wry laugh. "If you think I can't, then you don't know me at all."

            For a moment, Tessa was worried that Kaya still saw her as weak, unstable, a coward in every sense. But even from across the room, Tessa saw the subtle impression on the daughter of Trivia's face; she understood.

            "Should we wake the legion?" Kaden asked.

            Alex pursed his lips, glancing at Kaya. "I'm not praetor anymore, Kayak. Your call."

            Kaya chewed on her lip, and the room held its breath. "We'll wake the centurions, as well as the Senate. Let them know that war comes tomorrow. They can command their cohorts in the morning."

            "Where's Eli?" Reese asked, starting towards the elevator along the back wall.

            "Probably asleep at his work table," Tessa figured. "Why?"

            "If he's got the key to keeping our brains intact, I want to make sure they're gonna work." Reese called over his shoulder, jogging into the elevator and disappearing out of sight.

            "Wait, what about you and Dale?" Imogen queried, locking eyes with Adhara.

            Adhara blinked. "What about me and Dale?"

            "What are you guys going to do? If Luke and Kane find out you've been working with us the whole time..." Imogen's voice trailed off.

            A pang of fear shook Tessa's heart at the thought of Dale in danger. She knew that Dale was powerful, and could handle herself, but against Luke and his unstable abilities? Kane and his plans for regicide? She shivered, forcing the possibility from her mind.

            "We'll be fine," Adhara said matter-of-factly. "Don't worry about us."

            "They've made it this far," Kaden quipped, a joking tone in his voice.

            "Yeah, but what if?" Imogen pressed. "How will we know if something happens to you guys?"

            Adhara's violet eyes flickered like lightning. "How about this: if the battle's won before it's begun, then you know Dale and I have done our job." She sighed. "I need to get back. Before they notice I'm gone."

            The daughter of Nemesis waved her hand, and a portal began to open.

            "Adhara," Tessa spoke up, snagging Adhara's attention. "Thank you. For everything."

            The Nepalese girl held her gaze for a moment, her dark-red lips pursed as if she was trying to form words. Then, just when Tessa was sure she'd turn without a second look, she spoke, "We better win after all of this. Playing the spy is quite taxing."

            And with that, Adhara stepped through her portal, disappearing from sight. In her wake, the rest of the demigods dispersed, heading to prepare themselves for war.

Tessa was soon the only one left in the Principia's foyer, with only Alex's moot statue to keep her company. In less than twenty-four hours, she'd be on a battlefield for the first time in three years. Her life would be on the line for the first time in three years. Her friends' lives, Camp Jupiter, Camp Half-Blood, the citizens of New Rome. Sanctity and security was once again a bargaining chip on the table, and after so much tragedy, it was up to her and her friends to see that they weren't traded away.

With a new air of determination, Tessa looked up at Alex's statue. There'd been a time when she couldn't bring herself to look at it for too long, still feeling guilty for his death. But now that he was back, now that his life was once more up in the air, the statue stood for something else. It stood for sacrifice, honor, duty. For three years, Tessa had avoided those three principles like the plague.

But now, they were her mantra. In less than twenty-four hours, she would ensure that no one and nothing would hurt her, her friends, or her homes ever again.

And so, Tessa turned on her heel, adrenaline pumping through her veins. She drew Tempest, relishing the feeling of familiarity that came with the weight of the sword. She swung the bronze blade in practice as she stalked towards the door, into the courtyard beyond. She shed the remnants of her reluctant, avoidant self, and emerged into the night a new version of herself, a version that she hadn't been in a very long time; confident, powerful, brave.

Luke wanted Tessa? Then here she came. And for the first time in three years, she was ready for whatever her enemies could throw her way.

~~

            Mount Tamalpais was, on paper, picturesque. It towered over San Francisco and its surrounding area, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The sky seemed to wrap around it, in shades of deep cobalt blue tinted with soft orange as the sun dipped towards the horizon. Soon, this lush mountainside would be disheveled with carnage, the aftermath of a bloody battle. But for now, it stood in a pregnant sort of silence, anticipating the battle ahead.

            "Pre-battle jitters?" Reese asked from beside her. The son of Apollo was fiddling with an arrow, one with a sloshy, glowing vial attached to it.

            Tessa shook her head, snorting. "Sure, let's call it that." She nodded to Reese's arrow. "What's that?"

            Reese held up the arrow as they marched down the narrow mountain road. "Flynn and Amelie's cure. If I aim these properly, then we'll be able to subdue the Masks."

            Tessa bit the inside of her cheek, wondering if she could jack a few arrows to use on Luke when the moment came down to it. She hadn't been given any of the cure to use, most likely because Tessa's only duty was to find Luke and...from there, she'd figure it out.

            A flare of nervous energy swirled in her stomach, and Tessa forced herself to focus on the horizon. The more she thought about what she was going to do, the more she second-guessed herself, and second-guessing herself in battle was a one-way ticket to the Underworld.

            Instead of dwelling on the possible fratricide looming over her shoulders, Tessa focused on the legion around her. About two hundred soldiers walked among her, veiled by a few children of Hecate and Apollo as they marched along the mountain. It had been a tricky situation to handle, but in the end, the First and Fifth cohorts were chosen to fight, with the Second, Third, and Fourth defending Camp Jupiter. Ten cabins from Camp Half-Blood had been portaled over to fight as well, with the other half defending Camp Half-Blood. As well as demigods, the resistance was made up of nymphs, satyrs and fauns, Lares, and Hannibal, the war elephant.

            But judging by what they were going up against, Tessa only hoped it was enough. She looked around at the faces of the campers, wondering what they'd think when the Mask they ended up encountering wore their friend's face, their sibling's, their crush's. Would they falter?

            Tessa couldn't think of an answer in time. Because right as she turned her head, watching as the legion approached a grassy meadow on the mountain, a large ball of fire arced through the sky right towards them.

            "SCATTER!" Kaya shouted, throwing up her hands. A blast of magic shot up into the air, deflecting some of the blast.

            However, fire was still raining down on them. Tessa and Reese leapt out of the way, and a majority of their number did the same. The rest were already countering the attack, with magic or arrows or anything else their demigod abilities allowed them.

            "How'd they know we're here?" Reese exhaled, drawing an arrow.

            Tessa surveyed the terrain, and her eyes widened. The grassy meadow had shifted, and where it had once held nothing but a few trees, a large garden of glowing plants took its place. A towering tree of golden apples stood in the distance, with a hundred-headed dragon slumbering at its foot.

            And beyond the garden, nestled against the mountain, was Aether's mansion.

             By now, the legion had entered the garden, dispersing into their various attack formations. Everything was eerily silent in the Garden of the Hesperides, with only the sounds of two hundred odd soldiers wading through the tall grasses and plants.

            "I don't get it," Mark hissed, jogging up to Tessa. "If they launched that fireball, wouldn't they be here to counter us?"

            Tessa never got a chance to answer. Because just as she opened her mouth, chanting filled the air like thunder on the horizon. And as if on cue, the doors of Aether's mansion flew open and the Masks raced out in blurs of black and white, ready to fight and kill.

            Tessa drew Tempest, eyes locked on the Masks. Adrenaline began to pump through her veins as she quickly brushed her free hand over her left ear, ensuring that Eli's earpiece was in there and ready to be activated. The Masks were getting closer, closer still, but their lines held.

            "Hold!" Kaya shouted atop her Pegasus, magic flickering around her as her violet cloak billowed in the mountain air.

            Tessa tightened her grip on Tempest, looking to her side. Reese drew an arrow, meeting her gaze with a nod. On Tessa's left, Mark and Kaden stood, drawing their own weapons and awaiting the moment to disperse.

            "NOW!"

            And they raced forward into the battle, the way they had countless times before. A roar of battle cries erupted like a volcano as the legion engaged the Masks, and all hell broke loose.

            A Mask hurried towards Tessa, but she met it with a slash of Tempest. The Mask leapt aside, swiping towards Tessa with a fist but Tessa reached up, stopped its fist, and with all the force she could muster, twisted its arm around. A crack filled the air, and Tessa used the moment to slam the butt of Tempest's hilt into her opponent's pearly mask. They went down, and Tessa hurried forward.

            Kaden grunted as he stabbed what looked like an arrowhead into one of the Masks. A glow shimmered from the stem as the Mask went down. "One down," He said to Tessa.

            "Ninety-nine to go," Tessa exhaled, looking around. A quintet of Masks were closing in on them, and Tessa and Kaden stepped back until they were pressed up against one another.

            "You guys really like to get to the point, huh?" Tessa quirked a brow, eyeing the Masks in her view.

            They began to chant, and Tessa felt a slight tug in her mind but the sound of gears whirring in her left ear disrupted the Masks' powers. Tessa smirked as the chanting stopped. "Sorry, you'll have to think of something else."

            "Surrender's pretty popular nowadays," Kaden chimed. "Maybe you should try it."

            Tessa felt her smirk widen. "Kaden, go left!"

            In one fluid motion, Tessa and Kaden spun around one another, catching the Masks that the other was facing off guard. Tessa slashed with Tempest, eliminating one target. She spun, bringing her sword down on another and finishing them off with a kick.

            "Tessa, duck!" Imogen called, and the daughter of Poseidon had enough time to do as she said before an Imperial gold arrow sailed across her head, landing in the third Mask.

            Tessa, breathless, got back up. She whirled around and saw Imogen standing on a garden wall nearby. Tessa nodded, Imogen nodded back, and the two girls got back to their fights.

            Kaden had taken out his Masks, and turned around to meet Tessa. Their midnight confrontation, their break, everything was scattered to the wind in that moment. All that mattered right now was their victory.

            "We need to find Luke," Kaden breathed, scanning the battlefield.

            Tessa looked around, watching as storm spirits and Masks alike ravaged the battlefield. Greeks and Romans alike held them back, and advantage on the battle was truly up in the air. But if they got to Luke before Kane did...

            "We need a way inside," Tessa ducked as some sort of explosive went off nearby, holding an arm up to deflect the debris.

            "Think he's in his mansion?" Kaden asked.

            "I'm not sure, but it seems like as good a place of any," Tessa scoured the battlefield, and with Kaden at her side, hurried through it.

Weaving around fighters and spirits alike was truly an effort, but it wasn't the chaos that halted Tessa in her tracks. It was the woman fighting her way towards the mansion, cutting aside Masks and storm spirits as if they were toys.

Tessa felt her stomach sink. "No way..."

"What?" Kaden asked. He slashed at a Mask approaching him with his sword, eyes on Tessa. He looked away for a moment to administer Flynn and Amelie's cure.

Tessa marched through the battlefield, walking like she would wake the Underworld. She stalked towards her mother, gripping a silver bow that she used to sweep aside enemies.

Tessa had never seen her mother fight, but Sera Brennan had been the reason for this all. Her strength became Tessa's, and vice versa. The former Huntress was a force of nature as she swept aside her enemies, and when she was through, hair whipping around her face and her light eyes wild, Tessa merely sighed.

"What are you doing here, Mom?" Tessa folded her arms.

Sera whirled around, meeting Tessa's gaze with an equal amount of sass. "Same thing as you."

"Do you have any idea what your being here could do?" Tessa rescinded, watching her mother incredulously.

Sera's gaze was steely, and Tessa fought a smile; the apple didn't fall far from the tree. "Yes, actually. It's called winning the battle."

Tessa scoffed, rolling her eyes. She was about to fire back another comment, but spotted a Mask creeping up behind her mother. Suddenly, her battle senses kicked into gear. "Mom, behind you!"

But Tessa was already moving. She ran, kicked off of the stone wall of the Garden, and sailed over her mother, knocking down the Mask behind Sera. "Kaden!"

"On it!" Kaden called from nearby. He tossed Tessa an arrow-head, which upon further examination Tessa noticed was just an arrowhead-shaped vial of glowing liquid. Tessa didn't miss a beat, stabbing the vial into the Masks' arm.

"I could have handled that," Sera tilted her head.

"Like you handled this?" Tessa got up, motioning to the battle around her. "Please, do go on."

Sera shook her head. "Are you going to help me or not?"

Tessa hesitated, but while holding her mother's gaze, held her free hand up to her earpiece. "Eli, we need a way inside the mansion."

A sudden burst of static was her response. "Go through the back garden. You'll find an open-air foyer which will take you inside."

"Roger that," Tessa dropped her hand, heaving a sigh. She repeated Eli's instruction to Kaden and her mother, keeping an eye on the battle.

"Let's go," Kaden insisted. "We're wasting time."

Sera shook her head. "I should go. This is my mess to begin with."

Tessa narrowed her eyes. "Don't try to be noble on me, Mom. It's not gonna work." She swung Tempest around in practice. "We've got a battle to end."

"Tessa, what are you going to do?" Sera insisted as Tessa turned around.

Tessa resisted the urge to stamp her foot on the ground. She whirled around, intensity in her eyes. "Mom, I love you, I really do. But right now, nothing you can say or do will stop me from doing what needs to be done."

"And that is?"

"Cleaning up the mess you made," Tessa said, venom lacing her words. "I'm going to kill Luke."

Sera pressed her lips together. Tessa could see her mother's intuition at war with itself in her eyes. Sera gave a curt nod. "I'm coming with you."

"With all due respect, you can do whatever you want, Ms. Brennan. But we need to move now," Kaden grabbed Tessa's arm, and even though it was a spurring movement, an arc of electricity ignited Tessa's nerves.

And despite it all, Tessa, Kaden, and Sera sprinted through the battlefield, skirting around the mansion. Eventually, they reached Luke's garden, and after surveying it for Masks, infiltrated it.

"Think Dale and Adhara are okay?" Kaden whispered as they ducked inside.

Tessa looked around, taking in the gilded decorations of Luke's mansion. The whole thing had once shimmered with gold and silver and bronze, but now, it just seemed dark.

"If we don't move now," Tessa said softly. "They won't be."

The trio hurried down the hallway, Eli in their ears telling them where to go. Apparently, Amelie's magic had not only torn down Luke's barrier, but given them a look inside. They navigated through the empty palace, and were rounding a bend when suddenly, footsteps echoed from beyond the wall.

Tessa's eyes shot open in alarm, but her battle senses kicked in. She gripped Tempest's hilt and waited, listening to the footsteps—whoever it was, they were running. Then when the moment was right...Tessa sprang.

Dale shrieked as Tessa leapt out into the hallway, Tempest an inch from her face. The daughter of Demeter held a hand to her chest, breathing heavily. Her gold irises were lit up in both shock and fury.

"Really?" Dale managed. "That's not cool, Tessa. Not cool at all."

Tessa lit up at seeing her best friend, and pulled her into a quick embrace. "Oh my gods," She managed. "How are you okay? What's going on? Where's Luke and Kane and Adhara?"

Dale shook her head. "I was trying to escape. I needed to find you guys and warn you."

"Warn us?" Kaden echoed. "About what?"

Dale looked over her shoulder, and Tessa could see the alarm growing in her golden eyes. "Kane's trying to overthrow Luke. Adhara told you that, right?"

"Yeah," Tessa confirmed. "He's raising Typhon."

Dale nodded. "I warned Luke. He knows what Kane's about to do. We have a plan set up—"

"We?" Tessa squawked. "You both are a we?"

Dale made a face. "Not like that. But if you guys barge in there right now, we won't stand a chance. Kane will know that we're onto him, and he'll unleash Typhon regardless."

"But if we don't, more innocent people are going to die," Tessa countered, her heart pounding in her chest. "This is just great."

"Where's Adhara?" Kaden asked.

"Trying to defuse the situation," Dale answered, fiddling with the ends of her braid. "Like I said, we can't go in there."

Before Tessa could say something, she felt a tug on her mental bond. She didn't see anything, thankfully, but a voice echoed around her head.

"Hello, Tessa," Luke spoke in her mind. "I've been waiting for you."

Tessa felt a coil of ice slither around her heart. She eyed the walls with suspicion, wielding Tempest. "Feeling's mutual, brother o' mine. Care for a reunion?"

"So, you know," Luke laughed softly. "I was wondering when you'd figure it out."

"Had a little help from our mother," Tessa forced the words out. "She's here by the way. If you want to see her."

Silence on the other end. Tessa felt the bond shattered into a million pieces, and she winced, as if glass was piercing her brain. She bit back a groan, eyes blazing.

"He knows we're here," Tessa managed. "We need to go."

But they wouldn't get the chance. At the end of the hall, the large golden doors swung open, and a glow filled the hallway. A figure emerged from the light, each footstep a thunderous beat of Tessa's heart.

Luke came to a stop, but Tessa knew it wasn't really Luke. His eyes were a bluish silver, and a corona of light shimmered around him. Aether was in control; Aether was her enemy. And Aether was who she would kill. Not Luke.

"Well, well, well," Aether's voice was somehow both thunderous and melodious, like an angel's. "If it isn't my family. I see Jared isn't with us."

Tessa glanced carefully at her sides. Dale and Kaden stood with their weapons drawn, awaiting Tessa's command. But on Tessa's other side, her mother stood in a seemingly trancelike state.

"Luke," Sera breathed.

Aether slid his glowing gaze over to Sera, and a serpentine smile laced his lips. "Hello, mother. Proud of me, yet? Actually, don't answer that. I know what you think of me, considering you abandoned me."

Sera shook her head, taking a tentative step. "I didn't abandon you, Luke. It was for the best."

Another figure emerged from the light, and Tessa watched as Kane approached. Adhara ran out as well, watching the situation unfold with wide violet eyes.

"She's lying," Kane spat. "You know this, milord. She is the reason for all of your suffering."

Tessa rolled her eyes. "Doesn't 'groveling servant' ever become a tiring role for you?"

Kane met Tessa's gaze, and there was something in the way he looked at her, the wild look in his eyes, that unsettled Tessa to her very core. "Does 'pompous hero' ever get old for you?"

"No, actually," Tessa said simply. "I make it work."

"Luke," Sera continued, taking another step. "You don't know the whole story. I needed to let you and your father go. It was for your own good."

Aether raised a hand, light glowing from his fingertips. "I could vaporize you right now. I could destroy all of you."

"Then why don't you?" Kaden taunted. "Too afraid?"

"Kaden Thomas Gray," Aether mused. "Lost your father, lost your brother, lost your girlfriend. Maybe losing your life will be a fitting end to all of this."

"I swear to the gods," Tessa said, stalking forward. "If you lay so much as one glowing finger on him, I will kill you myself."

"That's not very nice to say to your brother, is it, Tessa?" Aether met Tessa's gaze as she approached. For a split second, she could see the blue through the silver, and felt something within her falter.

"Trust me," Tessa said, her heart racing in her chest. "You're no brother of mine."

With a defiant cry, Tessa swung Tempest towards Aether. The leader of the Masks merely held up a hand, and Tempest flew from her hands.

"Is that the best you've got?" Kane folded his arms across his chest.

"No," Dale chimed from behind Tessa. "We are."

Suddenly, the windows of the hall shattered as the plants outside came surging in. Vines, leaves, flowers, everything came flooding in at Dale's command. She knocked back Kane, and Aether's right hand man flew back against the wall.

"I've taught you well, Dale," Aether managed, but Tessa could hear the frustration in his voice.

"Luke, please," Sera beseeched. "Don't do this."

"Don't listen to her," Kane's voice was practically a guttural roar. "She's a filthy, lying whore."

"Hey!" Tessa bellowed. "Don't you ever speak to my mother that way again."

Kane got to his feet, a sadistic smile on his face. "How about you make me, puny heroine?"

Tempest had yet to return to Tessa's side, but that wasn't the only weapon in her arsenal. Seeing as Dale had brought in a jungle's worth of plantlife, she had water to access too. She only hoped she could still control it—she hadn't tried in so long.

Tessa spread her arms, summoning all the power she could muster. She felt that wave of energy spread around her, grabbing onto every bit of water within the plants. A wall of water materialized around her, and for the first time in a long time, Tessa felt like herself again.

"Just remember," Tessa chided. "You did ask for it."

And with that, she shot her hands forward, the wave responding to her whim. Water flooded towards Kane at storm-like speeds, washing him away. Tessa, breathless, smirked at her power.

"Feel good to be back?" Kaden asked.

Tessa grinned, looking back at him. "You have no idea."

Aether filled the room with an unbearable light. "Idiots," He bellowed. "You have no idea what you're up against."

Dale grabbed Tessa's arm, whispering into her ear. "This isn't supposed to happen. Luke should be fighting Kane by now."

"Maybe Aether's in too much control," Tessa countered, wincing at the light. "We need a new plan."

"Take out Kane," Dale decided. "We have to."

Tessa nodded, and as Tempest returned to her hand, she broke away from Dale. Explosions echoed around her from outside, the heat of battle intensifying. But they were so close to a victory. They just needed to defeat Kane, then Luke, and everyone went home happy.

Right?

"Enough of this!" Kane roared, stalking towards them again. "Kill them!"

"You do not get to tell me what to do, Kane," Aether admonished.

Kane barked a wry laugh. "You fool. You have no idea of the power I possess."

"You," Sera muttered. "I've seen you before."

Kane was beginning to look fuzzy, like he was going out of focus. "You're right, Sera. About a lot of things. You didn't do this to your son. I did."

Tessa's eyes widened, looking to her mother in shock. Sera's eyes were wide open in horror, her face pale. "No. No, it can't be."

Kane grinned. "It is. Been a long time, hasn't it, Sera? You thought you destroyed me. You were wrong. And it cost you so, so much."

"Mom," Tessa hedged, watching as swirls of darkness began to cloud Kane from view. "What's he talking about?"

Sera only shook her head. "The curse," She muttered. "He's the one who cursed us."

Tessa knit her eyebrows together in confusion, but when she turned around, the darkness had faded from around Kane. Only now, Kane wasn't in his place. A man in dark clothing, with splotches of blood lining the hems, stood before them. His hair was long and greasy, his face sallow and pale. And his eyes looked like those of a serial killer's.

"Menoetious," Sera managed, her voice regaining some steel to it.

Tessa's eyes flew open at that. It couldn't be...

"The Titan?" Kaden echoed, bewilderment on his face. "The same Titan that—"

"—Killed Madi's mom and friends." Tessa exhaled, feeling her heart clench. "Yeah, that's the one."

Menoetious chuckled, standing up straight. He cracked his knuckles, cracked his neck. "Feels good to be back."

"Be gone," Aether commanded. "Enough of this."

"Agreed," Menoetious said. "So take off your silly costume, boy. And let me do all the work. Like I have been."

Menoetious waved a hand, and the light faded from around Aether. His cloak flew off, leaving him in a t-shirt and jeans. And for a split second, Tessa thought that Luke's curse was gone. Only then, Luke started screaming, writhing in pain.

"Luke!" Sera exclaimed and rushed towards her son's side.

"I'm afraid you can't help him, Sera," Menoetious chided. "Remember that curse? That's what is killing him now."

"Why?" Sera roared. "What would he ever have done to you?"

Menoetious smirked. "Nothing. But after all, your last name does mean sorrow. So why not let you suffer?"

Tessa felt like she was somewhere else, watching this from another person's eyes, another room. She felt like she was standing on a precipice, with the Fates watching her. What happened now would make or break their victory, their camps, their lives.

"Everything that has happened, has been because of me," Menoetious spoke, brandishing his arms like weapons. "I destroyed Jared Knight's mind, I filled Luke's head with madness and hatred. I was the one who bonded Aether to his soul, and I will be the one to destroy your line forever."

"Fat chance of that," Tessa interrupted, fury beginning to pump through her veins.

Menoetious slid his serial killer eyes over to Tessa. "And here is the reason why. Child of the sea, I have been watching you since that day in Delphi all those years ago. The prophecy chose you, and for that, you will suffer."

Tessa took a deep breath, trying to still her nerves. "Why?"

"Because," Menoetious drawled. "Violence is what makes this world go around. The Titans, my brethren, are imprisoned. But I remain. Seems like every year there's a new conflict, a new war, that calls my name. Ares might be the god of war, but I am the embodiment of all that it inflicts."

Luke continued to cry out, but Tessa blocked it out. This is what mattered. If she lost focus now, she'd lose everything.

"Haven't you wondered why your life has been full of tragedy? Your quest to find Deimos, Orion's regiment, Vinny Maxwell turning against you all. Doesn't it baffle you?" Menoetious taunted, circling around Tessa. "It's because of me. I instill violence, I instill hatred, and so long as there is both in the world, I will never die."

Tessa felt her heart stop. He was the reason why everything that had happened to her—all the pain, sorrow, tragedy—happened. Fury began to well up in her heart like a tsunami, reaching its crest.

"And this?" Menoetious gestured to the war outside. "This is only a fraction of what will become of humanity when I unleash my plot."

"Project Maelstrom," Kaden answered. "It was your idea."

"Clever, son of Venus," Menoetious drawled. "But yes. Those deaths are my own. And even those will be miniscule compared to the destruction I will wreak."

"What is it with villains and doing a whole lot of talking?" Tessa snapped. "If you're going to fight, then fight."

Menoetious smirked. A flash of light shimmered near his hand, and a sword materialized. "As you wish."

And he ran. Tessa sprinted towards him, and with a feeling like lightning striking the mansion, their swords met. Tessa slashed and swiped and ducked out of the way as the Titan stabbed his blade at her. Tessa was a good fighter, but would her rusty skills be enough to keep her alive against a Titan?

Menoetious' blade swiped across Tessa's upper arm, and Tessa bit back a hiss at the sting of pain. She slammed her elbow out, shoving the Titan away. She spun, bringing Tempest down upon Menoetious, and managed a cut along his shoulder.

"I expected more from the daughter of Poseidon," Menoetious growled.

"Funny," Tessa huffed a breath. "I could say the same thing about you."

Menoetious roared, and Tessa threw herself back into the fight. She wasn't sure what else was happening in the large hall—she could see glimpses of Dale's power, flashes of Kaden's gold sword, rays of odd light coming from Luke—but she couldn't afford to tear her focus from the fight.

Menoetious kicked out at her, and Tessa fell to the ground. She was bleeding, but the adrenaline pumping through her veins was enough to nullify the pain. "I'd love to kill you now, half-blood, but I'm afraid I have other plans for you."

The Titan spread his arms. "Typhon! Awaken!"

"No," Tessa muttered, fear stirring through her.

An earthquake like force shook the mansion, and something began to materialize in the hall. The vaulted ceiling shattered, raining down glass and gold, as a figure like a thunder-cloud formed. Typhon.

"Rise, my old friend," Menoetious greeted. "Rise!'

A crackle of thunder answered the Titan. Tessa could see a man through the clouds, the mist and the lightning forming hands, a body. The earth continued to shake, and Tessa found herself back in New Rome, as the city began to deteriorate. Because of him. Because of Project Maelstrom.

"Let's finish off these pitiful humans," Menoetious bellowed. He raised his hand, but before either he or Typhon could get a chance, a burst of energy hit the Titan and he went flying.

Adhara stalked into the room, her heels clacking against the tile. Energy radiated around her, sending locks of her hair flying up as if carried by wind. "I don't think so."

"You," Menoetious snarled, getting to his feet. "Do you realize what you could have done?"

"Yes," Adhara said simply. "Typhon hasn't finished forming yet, so disrupting your enchantment on it will disrupt its forming."

As if on cue, Typhon unleashed a thunderous roar. Tendrils of wind began to unravel from around it like miniature tornadoes; the earth continued to quake.

Menoetious roared, and Adhara began to shimmer. Tessa wasn't an expert on Nemesis' powers, but whatever Adhara was summoning seemed to work. She shot another ray of energy at the Titan, but in a brilliant flash of light, the Titan disappeared.

            Typhon dissolved, but Tessa got the feeling that Menoetious had taken the father of storms with him. She cursed, getting to her feet.

            "That's gonna give us hell, isn't it?" Dale wondered.

            Tessa shook her head. She couldn't manage words right now. She hobbled over to where her mother was comforting Luke. His eyes were blazing silver, but his voice was entirely human. Blood was leaking from a wound over his heart, and Tessa found herself touching her clavicle over her armor, at her own wound.

            "I'm so sorry," Luke choked. "I...I didn't know."

            Sera's eyes were filled with the tears of a lifetime hidden away in secrets. "I know, baby. It's okay. I'm so sorry I left you."

            Luke shut his eyes, tears slipping down his face. When he opened them, his eyes were blue, with a corona of silver around his pupil. His eyes widened upon seeing Tessa. "You need to stop him."

            "I will," Tessa managed, fighting the weirdness of the situation. Luke reached out for her, and Tessa gripped his hand, his grip like steel. "How can we stop him?"

            "There are files," Luke managed, blood beginning to bubble up around his lips. "Files that Vinny Maxwell has access to. Find him, and you'll know where they're hidden."

            "Where what's hidden?" Tessa insisted.

            Luke took a ragged breath, grimacing. "The...the sources of Typhon's power. He may be unstable now, but once these sources are powered, he'll be at full strength."

            Tessa nodded. "Okay. Okay, we'll find them."

            "I can't believe it," Luke's eyes were faraway. "All this time, I thought I was in control. Kane was torturing me the whole time."

            "He was a Titan in disguise," Dale offered quietly. "There's no way you could have known."

            Luke grimaced again. "I'm...I'm so sorry."

            "It's okay," Sera smoothed his hair back, tears falling from her face. "You're okay, Luke. You're okay."

            Luke met Tessa's gaze again. "Stop them." His eyes fluttered shut.

            And as the aurora of the sunset faded from view, casting the ruins of Aether's mansion in indigo darkness, Luke Knight's eyes didn't open again.

            Sera let out a sob, lowering her head to her son's chest. Tessa pressed her lips into a thin line, staggering to her feet. Kaden reached for her, but she brushed past him. Dale and Adhara locked eyes, avoiding Tessa's.

            Tessa made it to one of the shattered windows, watching the battlefield. Her mind was a storm of thought and emotion; she needed to distract herself. The battle was still raging on, and in the distance, Tessa could see a smoky figure materializing.

            "Typhon didn't disappear," Tessa called out, her voice scratchy. "He's in the Garden. We need to go."

            Tessa, Kaden, Dale, and Adhara started for the door, but Tessa turned back to her mother and Luke's body. "Mom?"

            "Go, Tessa," Sera's voice was silent. "I need a moment."

            There was so much Tessa wanted to say, wanted to do. But she needed to fight, she needed to help her friends. And so she begrudgingly followed her friends out of Aether's mansion, leaving behind a former Huntress and her eternal sorrow.