My mindless search for an escape from my fast becoming claustrophobic life took me to The Block. I shook my head, what is up with this place anyway? I counted to five, closed my eyes, and inhaled deeply.

''I guess anywhere is better than our house.'' I walked in leisurely, trying to momentarily erase the horrors of what the reality might bring. It's my third time here but it still fascinates me. There is something comforting in the atmosphere despite the fact that this is what houses one of my main stressors― Damon― although it is terribly unknown to me why since he is basically a stranger, to begin with. At least the exhibits will give me a few hours of peace. Slowly, I moved forward looking at all the paintings like it was my first time. I feel more relaxed, less hectic.

I give each and every painting a good minute or two before I finally reached Dr. Hudson's exhibit showcasing different ethnic tribes from all over the world. It's a collection of different items that different indigenous people used from their respective eras. It's fascinatingly diverse yet organic, raw, beautiful. My eyes couldn't get enough of it despite the fact that these are just simple primitive things used for everyday life.

   I'm in the middle of inspecting the Bul-ol jars when I heard a distant clicking sound and it gets louder by the minute. When it stopped, I saw a pair of making me sin red Louboutin shoes in front of the display stand in front of me. I looked up curiously and my eyes traveled from a woman's mile-long legs up to her oval-shaped cake-filled face. I arched my eyebrows in a questioning manner.

''Is there something I can do for you?'' The woman tilted her head a little as if studying me. A meaningful smile played on her lips.

''I'm looking for Damon St. Pierre, you know him. Yes?'' She asked in an accented voice. French, maybe?

''Yes, he owns this place. But I haven't seen him yet.'' She looked at me pensively followed by yet another meaningful lopsided smile. I frowned. Does she know me? 

''Magdalene,'' came Damon's voice, loud and low. I looked at him over Magdalene's shoulder, he looked menacing and dangerous. Magdalene did not bother turning around, she smiled at me brightly. ''I thought I told you to never come back here'' he added, finally standing next to Magdalene, towering over her. She turned her head painfully slow to Damon, completely unfazed by his deathly glare.

''Well, what can I say. It's hard to stay away especially when there is something interesting here'' she stated, looking at me as she drawled the word 'here'. I felt a subdued tension building in my stomach and at the corner of my eye, Damon seemed more agitated.

''Magdalene, get out of here'' Damon ordered through his teeth, but she completely ignored him. Her attention was solely on me.
''Hi, I'm Magdalene'' extending her hand in front of me ''it's nice to finally meet you'' my brows narrowed. Finally? What the hell is she talking about?

Voicing out my thoughts, I asked ''What do you mean?''

Damon said something but his voice was eaten up by another voice that boomed across the whole floor ''stay away from her, one who walks in darkness.'' A man said three feet away. Hands in his pocket, eyes intently focused on me. Magdalene turned her back on me so did Damon. The man walked toward us with purposeful strides.

''Well, well, well. Things just got more interesting. An Erinyes, an Iridescent and an Element.'' She drawled. My brows shot up, how the hell did she know that I'm an Iridescent, and who are the Erinyes here?

''Excuse me Ms. Idon'tcarewhatyournameis, can you please tell me what the hell is going on here? Because honestly, my head couldn't keep up with your charades. You are giving a damn headache.'' Damon and Magdalene both looked at me before exchanging guarded glances. The subdued tension in my stomach is now a nervous ache. Magdalene broke their staring trance first.
''I'll leave these two gents to tell you what you need to know. I'll see you soon.'' She promised, waving a hand at me.

''Not a chance, Erinyes.'' The man said with a tight jaw. Magdalene threw her head back and laughed. My heart dropped as my eyes went wide. Was she here to kill me?

''You Elements are so exaggerated. Ciao.'' When she is finally gone, Damon looked at me and for a brief second I saw his eyes flicker with concern but it's gone faster than it appeared.

''When she comes back tell me immediately and stay away from her. Sh―'' the man cut him off.

''That won't be necessary, I'm her guardian. I'll protect her.'' Damon glared at him but he ignored him ''I'm Lucas Polastry. Dr. Hudson sent me here.'' I suddenly felt nauseous throwing me off-balance. A pair of big warm hands shot up to steady me, it was Damon.

''Can somebody please tell me what the hell is going on for fuck's sake!'' I bit off, Damon's hand tightening on my upper arm.
''Let's go to my office first. You need to sit down.'' Damon offered.

''Unhand her. I'll take it from here.'' Lucas said in an authoritative tone reaching out for me but Damon moved me slightly away from him.

''There is always time for arguments, now isn't it.'' I let Damon drag me while my thoughts consume me.

●💀●

An hour later, four sets of eyes are staring at me. Lucas called mom and Dr. Hudson shortly after Magdalene left the tension in the room is poignant and it looks like nobody's talking anytime sooner.

''Tell me everything I need to know right now,'' I demanded, words slowly enounced, heart, pounding hard in my chest. Damon paced back and forth across his white and black-themed office while Lucas stood there like a freaking statue. Olivia rose up from the leather sofa she was seated at and walked toward me. Slowly she crouched down in front of me and clasped both of my hands.

''Raven, I want you to calm down first'' she said looking straight into my eyes. Gradually, I felt my hands warm-up against hers. I jerked away by the sudden heat but she caught my hands again and held it firmly.

''What are you doing?'' My tone clipped. She smiled at me tightly and I begin to feel relaxed.

''It's an old technique, Raven. We Iridescents can manipulate someone's mood. But it is now forbidden, only a few Iridescents know how to use it after some had tried to use it with bad intentions.'' I was baffled, yet amazed. I never knew that but I guess it comes in handy for situations like this. It did work.

''I'm fine now,'' feeling the tension evaporate. ''Tell me everything, with no prohibitions whatsoever.''

Without hesitation she did what I asked ''Raven, your mom and dad did not leave you because you are born class A. They left because of the Union knew that they're your parents, they'd take you from them''

''But why?''

''To save you, because you belong to a certain group of Iridescents called the marked ones and the Union is more than eager to eradicate them. You are capable of things no other Iridescents can but you are also most likely to be Eris' reincarnation. There are at least two out of twenty born as marked one so I did not panic at the beginning.'' My heart grew heavy, my poor parents. There was still silence in the room, each pair of eyes focused with intent. Damon looked like he's in pain while Dr. Hudson and Lucas look equally composed.

''Mom, can you please clarify the situation, what am I, really?'' My head filled with turmoil. Olivia breathes out, heavily. And I saw Damon's eyes darken as his face harden.

''We are not exactly sure,'' she said, shortly glancing at Dr. Hudson ''until you told me about that dream, it was when I was certain that it is already happening''

''What was happening?''

Dr. Hudson came closer, standing right next to Olivia, placing his hand over her shoulder, supportively.
''Eris, she's the woman in your dream, Raven. It's the onset of the possession.'' My mouth fell, eyes went wide, it was like a punch in the stomach. My mind barely processed what she said and my heart is working overtime, it feels like exploding even with the spell to calm me. A realization hit me.
''That woman who came earlier, she's here to kill me, doesn't she?'' Olivia can't hide her discomfort and I felt my whole body shaking. Damon came closer, his expression gave nothing at all.

''No, she did not, she's here for me. We are both Erinyes, it's a path I do not walk anymore, but with the infraction within our kind they want me back.'' Damon interjected fiercely that the hairs on my nape stood up. My blood ran cold, all this time that I've seen and talked to him, I could've handed death to myself. I shivered. As if he read my mind, he said ''I'm not going to harm you, Raven. I would rather die than hurt you.'' He finished softly, it wasn't just a statement but an oath, a vow and I felt it. My toes curled in my shoes.

He would rather die?
Damn it! I keep reading between the lines with this man and it's either they didn't hear him or they pretended that they didn't. Dr. Hudson cleared his throat. I snapped out of my reverie.

''We've got to move. We don't know what the Erinyes on the other half of the infraction is planning.'' Dr. Hudson said thoughtfully, pressing mom's shoulder in a comforting manner. Mom stood up and held her hands for me to stand up as well.

''Raven, listen to me'' she started, deeply looking into my eyes ''from now on, whatever you do, do not trust anyone―''

''Including them?'' Jerking my chin toward the three men.

''Except them. They are the only person you can trust. They will protect you.'' Thoughts paraded in my head, looking warily at the three male figures in front of me. I still have a lot of questions, especially for Damon, but I decided that it can wait. Because right now, I'm sure as hell that there is a war being waged but when it happens I'm not gonna sit and watch the onslaught of a mythological dispute.

●💀●

New cast member:
Sam Claflin as

Questions:

●what is the real reason behind Magdalene's appearance?

●what does Damon mean? Why is he so guarded yet protective over Raven?

Enjoying it my lovely modern bookworm?
Please tap that damn star-- Raven ❤😘🙌