Here you go, my lovely readers!

Chapter Fifteen: Raging Fire

Point of View: Ebony

"What would happen if Ebony lost and were to change?" I hear Phoebe fret over me.

Burning. 

I am burning. 

I do not want to change.

My heart...

I cannot let it reach my heart.

It is so close.

I refuse to lose my Phoebe.

The pain flares as an outside force pushes against me, my memories starting to fade around the edges.

'I want you to change.'

I will not change.

I whimper as the venom nearly claws into my heart and curl tighter against father. 

"Ebony?" Phoebe questions.

"Phoebe, he would need to be put down." Artemis whispers.

"What?" Phoebe is in disbelief. 

"The wolves, if they survive such a thing and it is a very big if, become savage and unruly. They do not recognize anyone, not even the ones they are bonded to. If he changes...he has to die." Artemis explains. 

"But, my lady, he is so different, what if he remains calm?" Phoebe argues. 

"Then I would let him live." Artemis says and leaves the tent. 

My memories bleed with the venom as it fills my head. Everything washes over me and drags me through the places I most do not want to visit. Names and places swirl around and I begin to confuse where I am with where I once was. But I remain still and force myself to curl tighter as I keep my heart clean of the venom.

Perseus Jackson's life clouds my vision behind my eyelids and it is trying to take me over. I will not let it. Refuting it is what keeps me away from the change. 

'Change before I kill them.' 

'Kill who?' I am tired, yet restless. 

I can no longer feel my body and I cannot breathe. 

Phoebe.

'Your family, your life, I will take it all away from you. Change and you may stay.'

Liar.

The word comes to me. 

Lycaon. 

His name.

Lycaon is lying to me. If I change, I will lose everything I hold dear now.

'Then change and find the family I can provide you.' 

He can hear my thoughts now. Too close.

I cannot stand proximity. I remember now. Phoebe is different. Phoebe is who I love with all my heart. Artemis is special like her. I cannot be touched, cannot be seen, cannot be heard. He was alone and now I am affected. Do not change into anything.

'Bloom.'

The burning rips through the rest of me and I realize he is making it harder. 

'Let go.'

He is controlling this venom that I have lessened. 

As I have nearly distilled the venom and eradicated it, I cannot keep hold of it near my heart. Something takes away what keeps it at bay and just as it disperses...

It reaches my heart.   

Sorry it took so long, my lovely readers! My life became busier! Here you are!