Secta ran his fingers across the surface of a magnificent, gold pearl that appeared quite similar to Karmen's. Its coloring betrayed its likeness to its sister as did the air about it. This pearl, Atlas, didn't emit the same solemn authority as Karmen's Pearl; the room seemed brighter and more alive than deep in the caves. It wasn't for prophecy, accepting its role as a messenger from creature to creature, not future to creature as Karmen's Pearl operated.

It was more innocent, more radiant though containing the same power with a smirk instead of a blank expression. I dared not touch it until Secta told me when, remembering with a swallow the last time I went under the influence of the Pearl. I wanted to avoid the horrific seasickness that had crippled me in the bathroom.

Secta's eyes began to glow, the surface of the golden pearl also sparkling to life with a shimmering ripple under the god's fingers. He pressed his hand firmly into the gold, letting it soak and coil over his fingertips before turning to me. "Place your hand on the surface. It will beckon you and I in where we will meet Karmen. Don't be afraid; let the current take you."

I nodded my head before turning back to look at the glimmering sphere in front of me, calling me to touch its lovely surface. Resting my hand against the golden ocean, I closed my eyes and let out a breath.

I let the current take me.

The softest sound of music began to play in my ears as my body sunk into quicksand, dissolving into a golden expanse. A soft breeze caressed my cheeks, the music turning into a symphony that was unlike any other song I'd ever heard before.

No words I knew could describe it, so utterly beautiful and breathtaking that I wanted to hear it play for all eternity. My skin was itching under the light, the light of hundreds of suns on my skin that was almost unbearable but only made me crave its brilliance the longer it shone. The song took my breath away as I felt the current continue to move me.

The music was the current I realized, the light ushering me through the rapids as it placed along my entire body. The orchestra grew louder and louder, pulsing with vibrations I'd never felt that made my ears feel ready to bleed from its strength yet I loved it just the same.

When I dared to open my eyes, I found that I was alone in an open expanse, one that was familiar. I had returned to Gehenna, the place where Karmen and I had wandered to search for my future.

I swallowed, staying put. The last time we had wandered too deeply into the future, which had been miserable to wake up from. But, I let my eyes wander about. The black floor beneath my feet like open darkness was the same as before, yet I saw no fire or elements of glass anywhere. Glass had been everywhere the previous time I journeyed into the Pearl. Had something changed?

"There is the golden child!" Karmen's voice rang out like bells as the sea mare materialized on the horizon, walking towards me with a powerful stride. She looked miles and miles away, but in moments she stood in front of me, hugging my shoulders with a wide grin and light laugh.

"Where is Secta? Are we really back in Gehenna?"

This made her chuckle as she pulled back, softly tapping both of my cheeks. "Oh no, we are not in Brimstone, Nelina." Karmen truly began to laugh now, wiping away tears in the corner of her eyes. "Cosananke e lina diodo!"

"What are you saying?"

"Mother Ananke, a lovely idiot!" Karmen translated with rich laughter. "We are nowhere near Gehenna! My Pearl is the spinner of the future, and Secta's is its sister. She doesn't possess the title to weave or spin, so we are not in the path out of time, the future. The golden pearl is Lachesis and my own is Clotho, but you may know them as Nona and Decuma."

I blinked, "I have so many questions."

"Ask. This is the place of asking. The Goddess provides to those who ask for what they wish."

"There are sister pearls? Who is Mother Ananke? What is a spinner?" I took a breath of air. "If we aren't in Limbo or Gehenna or Brimstone, then where are we?"

Karmen took in a breath, "I shall try my best to answer all your questions, the Goddess willing." She cleared her throat as she started, "There are three pearls: Clotho, Lachesis, and Aisa, their other names being Nona, Decuma, and Morta. They are the gifts of the Goddess Fate to her people in order that they understand her commands and wishes, and see her light in its truest form. These pearls are not the Goddess herself, but likenesses of her in a sense; it's a difficult relationship to explain. Mother Ananke is another title for the Goddess, the mother of the three pearls."

Her words made me draw in a breath, "where is the third Pearl, Aisa, if it isn't with you or Secta?"

"Noxia has Aisa." The look on my face made Karmen pat my shoulder, "the dark goddess can't reach us here even with Aisa."

"That's comforting I guess." I sighed.

"Indeed. Now, you wanted to know where we are, Kate, and I will tell you." A glimmer of excitement ran through her features. "We are in Eirene, the place of complete and beautiful peace! Lachesis neither spins life into being nor ends it; she only calculates a life's length. Hers is a peaceful title to bear that allows her access to this place. My darling Clotho is the spinner not the ender of life, and she is allowed to reach the realm. Secta and I have communicated in this realm for millennia, and Noxia's fury keeps her barred from Eirene. If Aisa were in other hands, ones of honor and acceptance for death, than Eirene would be open to all three Pearls. Fate is wise; those who misuse her gifts are removed from her presence and the tranquility she offers."

"So we are in a realm of peace? Is that not outside time?"

"Smart, Nelina. It is still in the bounds of time as we know it despite being outside of our world and universe entirely. The only way to escape time is to wander in Gehenna, which would lead to your demise at the end of your timeline, and death itself to join the Goddess or eternal damnation. Eirene is no exception to time."

I looked around, the darkness hanging around us making me shiver. "I thought the Goddess was one of love? Why is peace so... dark? So black?"

Karmen only giggled. "This is not what true peace looks like, only the closest thing in the continuum of realms that resembles it! We won't find true peace until we are one with the Goddess. Have never heard of this before? All that we see is a flawed representation of what is real, truly real and perfect in every quality. This peace isn't real peace nor am I the real Karmen or you the true Kate. Everything becomes truly itself in the Goddess just as I will become my realest self when I join her in the heavens."

"Interesting." I mused, still looking at the wide open expanse.

"Perhaps it may be darker here because the pearls themselves are often depicted as old, weary women in mythology. Their representation of peace could reflect their ancient origins!" Karmen roared with laughter. "Oh, dearest Ananke, your gifts never fail to bring me joy!"

I looked to Karmen now, taking a breath. This was already too much to comprehend. "What did you have to tell me? What did you see about my future? I thought Secta would be here with us too."

Karmen twirled a piece of her aquamarine hair. "That old man is around here somewhere. He'll find us if he tries hard enough just as I found you. He needs to surrender deeper into the current and hear the music; he always has struggled to let go." Her eyes found mine. "Clotho granted me a glimpse into your future, one that I am still trying to decipher myself but I believe that you might be able to pick it apart with more accuracy as it is your future not mine."

"I take it that my future is going to get darker or else you wouldn't have bothered to warn me?"

Her eyes grew somber as she gave a small nod. "I am sorry to bring the news, but you have to be ready to face the shadows. Your trials will only grow in ferocity in the years to come, and you must have the confidence to meet difficult challengers. Something dark is moving in your direction, Kate. I cannot tell you how soon you will meet the predator among the waves as Gehenna ignores time, but it is sooner than later."

I wasn't afraid as I continued to talk with the mare. "What else did Clotho show you?"

"I saw a circle in the grass, the outline of this circle blazing with fire. There were familiar faces, people I knew but could not recognize, inside the fire but I was unable to walk into it. Your face became clear inside the ring and you made an advance to cross the flames, but I never saw if you were able to overcome it. The Goddess never reveals all."

"A ring of fire? I'm trapped?"

Karmen nodded her head, "trapped I believe in a place that isn't Gabrian. Or perhaps it could be inside the Guardian Stronghold. I won't make that choice if it would lead to you growing too comfortable when danger lurks there as well. It could be there in some form; keep your eyes open for things that seem off, Kate. Your meraki should give you clues."

I tried to think, studying the inky ground beneath my feet. "Is it better for me to stay inside the circle? Which side is safe?"

"I cannot answer that for you either. My belief is that your entrapment isn't one of protection or goodwill for I was on the outside and you were inside, making your attempt to break from the ring. The signs of that vision point to the ring being a dark one because you are fighting the flames for your freedom. Only you can free yourself."

My mind wandered as I thought. Perhaps this entrapment wasn't even a tangible thing itself. I glanced up to Karmen, "could this ring of fire be my meraki?"

"I don't believe so!" She said with wide eyes. "Why would you believe that?"

"My meraki is still fickle; it won't let me get close to it and yet I am still under its influence all the time, Karmen. It makes me feel things and takes me places that I can't escape on my own. I feel as though... it's trying to overpower me, and I can't figure out how to wield it. The Goddess revealed to me in the Sanctuary that acceptance is the key, but I have accepted my meraki for a very long time. Nothing is working, and I feel powerless."

Karmen only gave me a sympathetic smile as she took my hands in hers. "You haven't accepted a single piece of your meraki if you believe it is holding you ransom like a prisoner, Kate. You may have come to believe in its existence, but you know nothing of its true purpose or its power. You are afraid of it and you are only trying to dominate it. While learning your meraki is a test, it is not the trial I have come to warn you of. Meraki is another of Fate's gifts, her light inside of you that is shining through. You have yet to know the Goddess and love her the way your fellow merakians do, and when you have seen the reflections of her light, it will all make sense. Your meraki will become your own and you will become its own yet distinctly yourself just the same."

My heart constricted, "I've made no progress?"

Karmen patted my cheek, "you are beginning to make some, Nelina. You are so close to getting there; it is your thinking that is holding you back. Open your eyes and your heart to the light; ask! Mother Ananke opens all to those who ask."

The world around me bleed away as the symphony and fanfare overpowered me all over again, the radiance of many suns blinding my eyes in glorious light. Lachesis called me home.