*Pic- Abandoned Victoria Hall

Recap:

Hypnos stilled his breathing and took a step closer; "The killer struck again."

I blinked, fear rising to my stomach. "Who?"

Hypnos looked down momentarily and back up with hatred; "Zeus."

My knees buckled. "What?" My voice was a shocked whisper- barely audible.

Hypnos shook his head, but didn't say a word. I felt the walls close up again. "When?"

"Last night. No witnesses. No evidence. None, but his corpse."

We shared a long, foreboding look.

Hypnos opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly the flash of a dark blue light ripped through the sky and my black portal opened up in mid-air without so much as a touch from me.

The portal tore open the air and the silver flames licked at the humid hall. Hypnos gasped, but the air was knocked from my lungs as the realisation of what was happening hit me all at once.

Aurora had used the portal-summoner I had given her.

Aurora's in danger.

I roared loudly, shaking the walls with my growl. I instinctively grabbed my brother's sleeve, yanking him with me towards the deep, dark mass of chaos.

"What about Zeu-"

"Forget Zeus! The woman I love needs me! Now, brace yourself!"

'Sometimes we need to do things we don't want to, for those we want more than life itself...'

The Glaucous Corrosion

The time was now.

Thanatos was occupied with the video game- he was too competitive for his own good. I knew he would struggle at the start, but Sonya's smirk would soon fly off when she realises that there's next-to-nothing Thanatos can't do. And do well.

Part of me wished I could watch him play and just stay put- like a good girl, but I had to know what the stranger wanted; not only for my sake, but for the gods too, for Hecate, Trimorphe and for Thanatos too.

If anything happened to him because I couldn't brave the courage to jump...

No.

I wouldn't let myself go down that road.

Sometimes we need to do things we don't want to, for those we want more than life itself. Ironic that for me that one person was Death.

I absentmindedly traced my finger over the pendant that hung from my neck.

As soon as I entered the kitchen, I took my chance- I opened my portal with the careful wave of my palm. It shot open with a ferocious might, sending electric currents off in the form of a bright, cyan-coloured light.

The paintings on the walls shook slightly and I waited as the portal stabilised. The dark, blue faded slightly around the edges, bringing through a clear white. The silver stars flickered, beckoning for me to come closer.

I took a step, not really knowing what I was getting myself into.

Too late now...

I shot through the night sky like a rocket.

The landing was softer than most- I tried to make it as quiet as possible, scared of where I would end up. I didn't know the area all that well, but in my mind I'd pictured the general location.

It worked.

I quickly disabled my force-field. If I had it on, the stranger wouldn't be able to get near me enough to talk- I had to take the chance and leave my guards down, but my other walls were now on red-alert. If he so much as glanced at me in the wrong way, I'd reduce him to ash.

I was inside the abandoned school hall. It was dark, small rays of light flickered through the broken glass of high windows around the upper border of the ceiling. The broken wood spelt out 'Victoria Hall', most of the letters faded to an ominous rusty red. I scanned the hall.

It was overgrown with dark green bushes, ivy and some mossy plants; the smell of damp paper, moss and wilted flowers filling the stuffy place. I felt a sudden dire urge to leave, but there was no point now.

He'd seen me and he was making his way over towards me, his green eyes the same colour as the moss that grew around my sneakers. He looked surprised.

"You came?"

I took in a breath, but it was stale; "You asked."

It was curt and cold- I didn't like being pushed around; especially by a man who I didn't know. I crossed my arms over my chest and waited for his explanation, my hands ready for a quick escape, or a quick defence.

He looked relieved as I stood before him; "Thank you for coming; I didn't think anyone would care..."

My mask faltered. I lifted a brow and narrowed my eyes; "I hope you know that if this is a trap, I have a dear friend you won't want to meet."

"Thanatos." The man said as he nodded with fear in his eyes; "I saw him at the restaurant. Nearly gave up and ran straight back here. He's um... gotta reputation."

"Believe me, I know. So is this a trap?"

The man laughed- he had an odd Canadian accent. "Oh, no miss. I wouldn't dare go messin' with Thanatos."

"You won't like messing with me much either." I said menacingly and the man nodded, wiping the smile from his face. "I don't have much time- why am I here? Who are you?"

He took off his tattered hat and I gasped slightly.

He had small horns on his head and as he looked up to meet my eyes with shy ones, I could make out that his beard was not all hair, but also fur.

I took a small step back; "What are you?"

"Please, miss, don't be frightened. My name is Pan; I am the god of-"

"-the wild."

Pan nodded, his eyes glistening with admiration; "Yes, miss. I am in dire need of your help."

I nodded; "I read about you; you were Hecate's son? Weren't your horns longer- like a goats?" I blushed then, suddenly wondering if that was too forward of me to ask? Who really knew what offended these gods...

He closed his eyes and as he reopened them, my heart broke from the sadness I saw; "It's strange hearing that, forgive me. 'Were'... I can't believe she's gone."

I gulped; "I'm sorry for your loss."

"I was her son, yes. Her adopted son." He explained. "My mother was a mortal and Hecate never had children of her own so... It worked out. She was a kind soul."

"It must've been hard for you, with her being kept on the moon."

"She was never mad..." Pan shook his head with conviction; "She was more sane than any of them. I'd wished they'd let her be."

"Pan," My strong voice regained his focus; "You know something, don't you?"

He nodded solemnly and my heart restarted; "What is the golden mirror? Who are the traitors?"

"Shh..." He placed a finger over his lip and scanned the great hall. Cracks were visible everywhere in the walls, some big enough for things to creep through. The roof was tattered and broken in places and the great field where it was built was deadly quiet.

"I'm being hunted."

I furrowed my brows; "What? By who?"

I looked around the room, but Pan's voice was calming; "Be calm, miss, I do not believe they know of my hideout."

"That's what you think. They could've used you to lure me here."

He stilled, worry reaching his eyes. "They won't try to kill you again- not after learning you're needed for the plan."

I tried to keep my calm; "Talk fast."

"Right, you asked about my horns- I had them cut off and filed down to stubs. It helps me blend in better; to keep them off my track."

I nodded as I walked round the room slowly, taking in the condition of the damp floor and the sound of water trickling down. It had rained here not too long ago.

"Miss-"

"Aurora, call me Aurora."

"Aurora," He fiddled his hands nervously; "I am being hunted, by hired assassins."

"Furies? If so, I killed them all."

"All three?" His eyes were wide with shock and relief.

"Two; one was killed by Thanatos."

Pan's relief didn't stay long; "That is good news, Aurora, but I'm afraid there are others. The Furies had been instructed to kill you, but there is another who was instructed to kill me."

I stopped; "Who is it? Have you seen the assassin?"

"I had a close shave a few weeks ago; at first I thought it wasn't possible, but..." Pan's hand shook; "Her name is Sybaris."

I furrowed my brows; "I haven't heard that name before."

"I am not surprised; she was long said to be dead and turned to stone. She is evil, Aurora, and I am unlucky enough to be her prey."

I sighed with frustration; "Pan, I need answers- explain, everything."

"She is, what your people call, a vampire. The first of her kind. Long ago, she was a beautiful queen. She angered Hera and so the queen of the gods turned her into a monster who feasts on blood and flesh. Sybaris was defeated and turned to stone, but it seems someone has found a way to awaken her."

"Do you think Sybaris is behind these killings?"

"Oh, no, no. She's only a pawn in their game- a weapon in their arsenal. Sybaris wants to hurt Hera, so she will do anything for anyone who can offer her some sort of revenge, but she is to be feared. She has magic too- siphoning magic."

I nodded, suddenly feeling extremely open and unguarded. If Sybaris rocked up here, intent on killing me, my magic wouldn't help much. She could temporarily suck it right out of me- just like she could my blood- and regeneration would take too long.

"They instructed her to go after you then? Why?"

"I know too much. They want me terminated. I'm a leak in their plan."

"Who are they? What's the plan?" I asked quickly, the air growing too sticky. Too close-for-comfort.

"I'm not sure..." My hope dashed onto the wet, moss-covered stone. Pan shook his head; "Before my mother's death she sent a letter with Trimorphe disguised as a raven, which they unfortunately figured out. In the letter she had said that someone had come to her- asking for the golden mirror. She refused him, because she knew what great evil it could do in the hands of the wrong people. She hid it away from them and he killed her for it."

"He? How does she know it's 'they'?"

"He couldn't be working alone; trust me- I know my father."

I paused, the breath knocking out of me. "Your father? I don't know who that is?"

"Wait, I need to tell you what the golden mirror is first- you're the only one who can find it. Hecate left you the clues. They want to keep you alive until you can get it."

"I don't know where it is? I don't even know what it is!"

"Keep your voice down!" He hushed me and the cold breeze floated though- chilling me to the bone. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears. My blood pumped harder.

"It's a weapon that can stop them, along with the sickle, but they have that. Not my father though- he's merely a lackey, but the other two control it. My father didn't kill Hecate alone, he had help."

"Do you know anything more about this plan, or why you're father is doing this? Do you know who they are?"

Pan shook his head nervously, "No, and I don't know the plan at all, but it can't be good. That sickle does things to an immortal that breaks their healing ability and sends their spirit off somewhere they can't escape from- either for forever or merely on their own."

I ran both hands over my face- "What do you need from me?"

"Safety- and I need you to avenge my mother. End this, Aurora, before they kill more-" Pan's words stopped with a ferocious snap and were replaced with a gurgling noise. His arms shot out and I stumbled back in panic as a long stick broke through his chest.

An amused snicker covered the sound of Pan's dying cries, "A tad too late."

My hand flew to my mouth as Pan hit the floor, knees first. The noise of water splashing echoed through the great hall as he fell over- dead, but my eyes were trained on the figure behind him.

Cool black eyes stared at me with silent assurance. Her skin was the colour of mocha and her hair was long, silky and a dark brown. I tore my eyes from hers and watched as she ripped the stick from the demi-god's chest.

Blood drained onto the floor.

I clenched my fist; feeling the fire from my fingertips wanting to shoot out.

The shock of his death held me immobile.

"You look surprised..." Her voice was milky. My hands shook with anger.

"Sybaris, I presume?"

She cackled; her plump breasts moving under the thin strips of cloth she wore. The smell of iron flew in with the cold breeze.

I resisted the urge to heave; "He was wrong you know..." She said casually, as her long, snake-like tongue darted out and licked the blood-covered stick.

I pushed the bile down and tried to start up my force-field. It went up quickly, but only for a small radius until it cut off where she stood. At least I was covered- for now.

"I'm not only after revenge. I want interest too for my long years of suffering." Her fangs gleamed in the orange light.

"You were watching him." It wasn't a question, but she answered none the less.

"Yes..." She drawled; "How observant of you. I thought you'd try to run off again- like you did with those two stupid Furies."

I took in a steady breath, trying to avoid Pan's dead body. He was merely a demi-god, and thus, easier to kill than an immortal.

"You were there, in the clearing; watching me kill them."

"Did you sense my presence?" She scoffed and smiled; "You are powerful, aren't you. I should fear you, but..."

I felt my force field grow smaller. I knew she was siphoning it. I could feel her consume it slowly. I tried to keep the direct area around me stable as she enjoyed the further away bits.

"Oops. Seems your little, invisible wall is cracking."

I held my ground, not wanting her to see my fear. "You killed him; well done. I suppose you'll run along to your masters now?"

She chuckled and the noise made me cringe back into the shadows; "And after all the trouble I've had to track you down and get you alone? Never."

"What do you want with me? You can't kill me; I have the means to find what you're looking for."

"What they are look for." She emphasised the word and licked at the stick again. I felt sick as I watched, not daring to take my eyes from her. "I, on the other hand, wanted to warn you."

"Warn, or threaten?"

Her black eyes glistened; "Cheeky young thing, aren't you?" She moved slowly and I copied her actions; making sure I kept my reasonable distance.

"Find the weapon, Aurora, or your friends won't live to see the end of this year. I've been watching them- closely."

I gulped and for the first time, I felt weak. "There's more in this for you than you're letting on."

She smiled; "Clever- I see why Thanatos loves you."

My heart throbbed at the mention of his name, but then, the thought of him forced back a memory. I carried it with me, wherever I went. The portal-summoner.

I had an escape if things went south- I just had to choose the right moment.

"Leave him out of this."

"Oh, little girl, why do you think I'm so invested?"

I blinked, dreading her words. Sybaris smiled cunningly and took another step. I did the same. "Thanatos killed almost all of my children. When this is all over, I'll skin you with my teeth and drain you dry, you little whore."

"You can try." I sounded more confident than I felt as she hissed, her long fangs blinding me as they reflected off some sun into my eyes.

"They never said anything about hurting you a bit..." Sybaris said as her black eyes seemed to glow; "Paidiá!"

Her shriek was piercing and I had to cover my ears as the walls shook. Some tiles fell from the ragged roof and broke onto the stone floor; one right next to Pan's lifeless body. It splattered blood everywhere as it broke.

I backed away as four ghost-like figures faded through the walls- they looked like flying bats. Sharp teeth, black eyes, long wings and talons; I saw the similarity. They were her children; undead and vampiric.

These weren't the kind of glorified vampires you saw on television, oh no. These were the real deal. Ugly, monstrous and anything but sexy. These were the demons of Ancient Greece come back to life, ready to rip me to shreds.

My force field drained more as she smacked her lips.

My breath was shallow and sweat dripped from my forehead as I forced the walls around me to stay put. Like a thin wire, I felt them snap down, one by one.

Her children screeched with hunger. "Thanatos did the world a favour; your children are hideous."

Sybaris yelled with anger and more tiles fell into hundreds of pieces on the bloody floor. Her figure shifted then- her legs disappearing and her lower body transformed into that of a snake's. Her scales were dark and I watched as claws broke free from her nails. She was a monster.

She slithered closer and I shot back; behind my back I turned the dial of the portal-summoner and the vibration nearly caused me to drop the small device.

Sybaris licked her long reptilian tongue over her fangs, her black eyes endless and devoid of any mercy. "Keep her alive, but leave Thanatos something to remember us by..."

*paidiá- children

Mr. Martin Freeman as Pan and Patricia Velásquez as Sybaris

The reason for his accent is because he's spent the better part of his life on earth, away from the gods. In the northern hemisphere, in the wild.

NEXT UPDATE- 26th of July