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September 14 - September 17, 2025
And she smiled as she sang, “Who will be left standing when Chaos comes to reign?”
“Do you always need to be such a brat?” Luka asked, reaching to help her to her feet. She was about to spout something back, but the moment his hand connected with her arm, the bond did something…weird. She stumbled, and then his hands were on her waist, steadying her. And gods, he was warm. Which had her remembering waking to him wrapped around her while she was curled into Theon. Then she was hot.
“The bath is about ready. I can help you in.” Her eyes went wide. “You’re going to… I’ll be naked,” she blurted. His godsdamn lips twitched, and she wanted to punch him right in the face. “Most are, in fact, naked when bathing. That is kind of the point.” “Won’t Theon be upset?” Luka shrugged. “Perhaps.” “And you don’t care?” “I am not going to delay your comfort for him. If you, however, are uncomfortable with being naked around me, you can wait for Theon.” Her brow furrowed. “I don’t care if you see me naked.” “Then I suppose it is settled,” he answered.
“You brought snacks?” “Those are for me.” She couldn’t stop the bark of laughter. It hurt her chest, but it also felt good to laugh. “The doughnut too?” “Especially that. You can have the crackers,” Luka said, and the corner of his mouth tipped up in a smile so small it could barely be called one, but it was there. “Ass,” she muttered.
“Do you think I can make it snow?” she wondered aloud.
“There will be an assessment,” she murmured. “I know, beautiful.” “But I suppose there will be light there,” she mused, trying to comfort herself. “Tessa.” It was just her name, but she could hear the note of agony ringing in it. She turned to look at him once more. “None of you will be there. I’ll be alone.” His eyes momentarily fell closed, and she could feel his helplessness down the bond. It was interesting, watching him experience something she’d felt so often because of him.
Call it a feeling, instinct, intuition. She didn’t know why it mattered. She didn’t understand why she’d been waiting for him to pull her into his arms. She didn’t understand why she’d wanted him to. It had to be the bond, but that had been different for a while now too. She didn’t understand any of it.
The female never spoke to her. Not unless instructed by Valter. “Forgive me for not trusting you.” Eviana only shrugged a slender shoulder, returning to her nearly clean plate. She didn’t appear to have any issue eating with her glittering black mask in place. Then again, she’d been doing this for… How long had she been Valter’s Source?
“And what will we do?” Eviana looked over at her, turquoise eyes emotionless as always. “We stay with the other Sources, within reach of our Masters.” It was a pointed statement, and Tessa could hear the underlying warning.
“Will those Marks still work? Will you feel him…bonding with another? Hear his thoughts when he’s with her?” It was Tessa’s turn to still, something inside her balking at the mere idea of Theon with someone else. The bond. It had to be the bond. But the flash of lightning outside the window, followed by the rumble of thunder, had more than their little group turning to the sudden change in weather.
She slowly lifted her hands, showing them her bands still in place as she said, “Interesting weather lately, wouldn’t you say?”
Oralia said, reaching over and adjusting Tessa’s mask. “How do you always look such a mess?” “I don’t know,” she murmured,
But her eyes fell to his wrist where the Achaz Mark stood next to the Celeste Estate and wind element markings. He’d been there when she’d woken in Lord Jove’s manor house. He’d said things she hadn’t forgotten, even if none of it made sense. Dex noticed her stare and lowered his arm, hands sliding into his pockets. “I’m still on your side, Tessa. You know that, right?”
One female with silver hair tipped her head back, a laugh falling from her lips as her partner spun her around. His black clothing was elegant, threads of red and gold along the lapels of his jacket. His gold and silver mask matched hers, and Tessa frowned. She was clearly Legacy, but was he? They both had rings on their fingers, but those were not Union Marks on the back of their left hands. The only Marks that went there were Source Marks. She had other Marks on her bare arms. Some black. Some a faded silver.
Tessa’s power strained, thrashing against the bands. Another crack of thunder sounded, and she didn’t understand. It had never been like this. Before it had been a slowly building ache in her bones, but this was different. This was her magic wanting something, demanding she take it. She didn’t understand why it was suddenly so restless, so uncontrollable. It was as if it was being drawn to something, and Tessa didn’t know what.
“Need to talk about it?” he asked. Russet-colored eyes met hers, and why did he always care? From the moment she’d met him in a hotel lobby, she’d felt relaxed around him. Calm and composed, as if she could simply exist without the anxiety and expectations that constantly plagued her. “You’re a Pax Legacy,” she said in realization. He smiled softly. “Not quite, but close enough.” “Pax is the god of peace and serenity,” she said warily. “That’s why I always feel that way around you.” “I’m flattered, fury.”
“Those bands won’t contain you much longer.” “How do you know that?” she asked, all her previous suspicion coming back in full force. He bent to retrieve the mask she’d dropped at some point. Handing it back to her, he said, “Because chaos can’t be contained.”
Glowing violet eyes met his, a mixture of desperation and malice radiating down the bond. He could feel everything she was feeling. The clever thing had figured out a way to block their bond for short periods of time, but it seemed she had lost that control when her power suddenly decided it wanted out. He could feel her panic and her helplessness, her fear and her agony. The desire to simply give in.
Her light crawled along the darkness coating his skin as if it were looking for weakness, seeking a way in.
The small smile on her face was terrifying as she whispered, “Too late.” She lifted a hand, her fingers combing through his hair. “Don’t you see? It wants out, and I can’t stop it. No one can stop it. No one can stop chaos when it comes to reign.”
I can feel it. She finds it safer there.” He turned to look at his closest friend. “She finds it safer to let her power have control than to learn to harness it. We failed her.” “Then let’s fucking fix it,” Luka retorted, stalking forward.
“You want to play?” Luka asked her. She’d gone still, her head tilting in a predatory manner as she watched him walk backwards down the path.
here, clever tempest,” Theon said, following Luka’s lead and letting his darkness trail him as he moved past Tessa. “We’ll take you somewhere.” Her eyes narrowed, but when he sent a tendril of dark mist to her and let it slide along her throat and under her jaw, that wicked smile returned, and she started to follow.
She was in the center of the arena, and she turned to face them. Energy flickered in violet glowing irises. Lifting a hand, Theon could only watch as she showed them the other band. “These trap us,” she said, and her voice wasn’t hers. It was otherworldly, somehow dark and light. Wild. Chaotic.
Her light collided with power, and the force of it sent him flying into the arena wall. He felt the agony in his side that was likely ribs cracking, but he scarcely registered the pain. Because her power hadn’t crashed into his darkness or Luka’s black flames. It had collided with flames of pure white, shadows and something other dancing among the fire. Two figures had appeared out of the very air. One in black clothing that was…not modern, but somehow elegant and fitting for the male. Fine gold and red thread ran along the edges, and he wore boots that Theon was certain had a knife slid down
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Looking between Theon and Luka, she said, “I cannot tell which one of you belongs to her.” Belonged to who? To Tessa?
“I know you think it feels freeing to let your power have you, Tessa, but what have I told you from the very beginning? I want everything you have to give. Your power does not get to have you. I do,”
“I can’t breathe in the dark. I need the light,” she whispered in agony as she leaned into him even more, her power struggling and thrashing. “But too much light can blind you,” he countered. “You still need the dark to find the balance.” “In all things, there must be balance,” she murmured. “Beginnings and endings. Light and dark. Fire and shadows,” he recited in kind.
But Luka was suddenly dropping down beside him, and she turned her head to look at him. Something else in her seemed to settle in his presence. “Are you back, little one?” Luka asked, and she nodded. “Good,” was all he said before his eyes flicked to Theon.
Theon knew exactly who they were. Or at least, who she was.
“Tell him the female from the mirror is here.”
and Luka was pulling open the door. “See!” the silver-haired female exclaimed. “He looks just like him.” The same male from the night before was rubbing at his brow. “Not the time, Scarlett.”
“I’m Sorin Aditya. This is my wife, Scarlett Sutara Aditya.” Scarlett had started wandering around the room, looking at various items. Luka seemed to have decided she was the bigger threat,
“Luka Mors.” “Mors?” Scarlett repeated, finally looking up from the lamp that seemed to fascinate her. “Interesting.” “Why would that be interesting?” Axel asked. She shrugged. “I was expecting a different surname.
Cassius is my Guardian. Cyrus is his…mate? Husband? I don’t know what you call them here,” she replied.
Scarlett gave him a simpering smile before turning her attention to Axel and Kat. “And she is your…” Her head tilted, a silver braid falling over her shoulder. “Sorin?” “I know, Scarlett,” her husband answered.
“And she just told you she is not from this realm.” She set her empty glass down on the end table before propping her chin in her hand. “Did you not notice she has the same magic you do? It appears you are not the only Arius Legacy in the room, Master.”
“Am I understanding that he is your Source?” “Among other things,” Scarlett agreed. “How?” Tessa asked, leaning forward to peer around Theon. “Where are his Source Marks?” “On his forearm.” “All of them?” “All of…” Scarlett’s brow furrowed. “There is only one Source Mark.” When the room stayed silent, she asked, “How many do you believe there are?” Still silence lingered until finally Theon said, “Four. There are four Source Marks.” “I assure you, there are not,” Scarlett said, shaking her head.
“Your father sent me.” “My father?” Tessa breathed,
“How could you, a Legacy from an entire other realm, know who her father is?” “Because he’s my uncle,” Scarlett replied. Then she added, “He’s also the son of Arius.” “Oh, fuck off,” Axel scoffed. “You expect us to believe— That would make Tessa the granddaughter of Arius himself.”
Scarlett gave her a soft smile. “Arius magic is not just shadows and darkness, Cousin.” Cousin. She swallowed thickly at the idea of blooded family, that fragile seed of hope that this was somehow true growing a little bigger.
“And the white flames?” Luka asked, and Tessa felt Theon’s irritation that his Guardian appeared to be encouraging this. “From my mother. Or rather, my grandmother, Serafina,” Scarlett answered.
I do know Arius and Serafina started a war because of their love. Or rather, they caused the continuation of one.” “You speak of the Everlasting War,”
“Your sister is a Witch? Doesn’t that make you one?” Axel asked. “That wouldn’t make sense if she has Arius magic,” Theon argued. “But she also has gifts of Serafina,” Axel countered. “Which shouldn’t be possible. Legacy only get gifts from one bloodline,”
“I am not a Witch,” Scarlett said, as if indeed annoyed by their constant questions. “And if I were full Legacy, I would probably only have one set of gifts. My father was an Anahita Legacy, but my mother is a goddess, which alters a few things.” “Your mother is a goddess? As in a daughter of Arius and Serafina?” Theon asked. “Yes. Saylah is the goddess of shadows and night,”
“Your father is Temural, god of the wild and untamed,”
“From what we’ve been told, Arius and Serafina violated some sort of accord when they chose to be together,” Sorin said. “If what you said is true, and Serafina was at one point supposed to be with Achaz, that would fit. Temural and Saylah were kept a secret from the other gods for centuries. When they were discovered, it only escalated an already tense situation.”
“You will find the gods keep more secrets than the Fates,” Scarlett said darkly. “They play games, and if you let them, they will use you to further their own position and achieve their own goals.”
“I am many things, one of them being a World Walker.”
Scarlett’s head tilted to the side. She did that often, as though she could hear something the rest of them couldn’t.
