She moved about the little cottage, her dark red hair damp from a bath. The water soothed her muscles, which ached most days, still stretching out from her time in Sheol--the place of death. Altair sat at the solid wood table, a steaming kettle waiting for her.

As she sat down, he poured her a cup, and she wrapped her fingers around it, soaking in the heat. It was her favorite thing to do, soak in heat. She could take it from everything and anything, even Altair, although he didn't appreciate the sensation. He called it a "new gift," though, to her, everything was new.

"Are you ready?" he asked, resting his elbows on the table.

She nodded, taking in a deep breath to steady her nerves. "My name is Phoenix." He nodded in encouragement, so she continued. "I am a Guardian. That means I have gifts that no one else does. I'm...stronger. I'm powerful. I have a...purpose."

"And that purpose is..."

Phoenix closed her eyes, trying to pull the information, feeling it wriggle just beyond her reach. There were so many things Altair told her--told her. Most of it didn't feel like her own. Some things felt so foreign she couldn't keep them in her head.

"That purpose is..." she began, her face scrunching up in thought. "That I'm...a Guardian. Guardians...help. They save people and protect people."

"What people specifically?" Altair remained patient, watching her with those enigmatic eyes. He'd been with her for a whole month, working every day. In the earliest days, he spent most of his time teaching her to walk and retrain her tongue to speak--holding a spoon or brushing her own hair.

She learned quickly, but frustration built each time a task that seemed so mundane to Altair stopped her in her tracks.

"Guardians help protect the royal family, and in turn that's how they help Braskey. My parents are-" she paused. This one was always difficult. For some reason, talking about her family left her confused. Altair kept telling her facts, but they only felt half true.

"Your birth parents," Altair corrected her. For some reason this helped.

"My birth parents are Elyo and Selene--Ancients of the Sun and Moon."

"Very good. And?"

Phoenix pursed her lips, shaking her head. "No. It doesn't feel right."

Altair sighed, leaning back in his seat. No matter how many times they did this, she only got this far. She knew his frustration, knew this was important to him, but couldn't wrap her head around it.

"Ares. Your brother." The hint of anger flashed in Altair's tone. "You can tell me I'm wrong all you want, but you have a brother."

"If I have a brother and this is so important," Phoenix said, spreading her arms out and indicating the cottage, "where is he?"

#

"How long must I wait before you start speaking to me again?" Castor asked, placing a plate before Eric. "The silent treatment is beneath you."

Eric lifted his gaze, eyebrow arched. Thirty days of silence was paltry compared to what Castor deserved. After everything Eric had endured, the one man he'd been closest to had the audacity to demand kindness when he'd lied to Eric since they met.

"I've apologized more times than even I can count," Castor said, rubbing his eyes. "I became Samson to protect you, to be by your side when you needed me."

"And to flirt with with my sister and never tell me who I really am?"

Castor seemed so shocked by the sound of Eric's voice, he didn't respond, eyes wide. Once upon a time, Eric would have taken pleasure in surprising the ever stoic Samson, but nothing mattered anymore.

He stood, ignoring the plate of food as he moved toward the mouth of the cave Castor had hidden him in. He needed to do something--go somewhere. He knew what he wanted. He wanted to find Canya and run her through. He wanted to feel Helena's life vanish as he choked the life from her body.

It didn't matter which died first, so long as they died.

"I didn't flirt with Phoenix." Castor joined him. "That was...unexpected." When Eric didn't answer, Castor sighed. "There's something you need to see."

"I'm going out."

Castor pulled back, an unreadable expression on his face. "Where?"

"I'm not sure." Eric walked off, silently daring Castor to follow him.

#

Roman stood on the balcony, watching the hustle and bustle of Osha below him. Life in the castle still didn't seem normal, but he made do. The icky feeling that he was forgetting something remained.

No matter what he did, the cloud followed him, like an incessant fog. It sat just outside his reach, nagging him to remember. Only at night did he find solitude from the madness.

"Roman?"

He turned at the sound of Aundreya's voice. She stepped up beside him, placing a hand affectionately on his arm. He couldn't remember a time without her at his side, but that didn't feel the same as having always known her.

Aundreya and Helena depended on him. He handled all the matters of the castle. He made decisions based off of Helena's council. People responded well to his decisions, and the city seemed to be thriving.

Aundreya kept telling them as much.

"We've been looking for you. I've missed you." Aundreya rested her chin on Roman's shoulder. "What are you doing?"

"Wondering if Maverick is okay."

"They'll find him." There was an edge to Aundreya's voice. She wanted them to find Maverick just as much as Roman, but he couldn't put a finger on why. Sometimes he could feel it, as though Maverick meant so much to her, but then Aundreya's hands would be in his hair, her lips pressed against his, and he would forget.

Forget.

They had to find Maverick. It was important. The kingdom needed him. The thought of Mav brought an image of others. He could remember their faces for the briefest moment. Phoenix, killed by Eric; Abigail, dead; Noelle, missing; Gwen--Gwen. The image of a beautiful woman, her face streaked with flower, eyes sparkling as she smirked at him. He hadn't known her long, and no one seemed to be looking for her. What had happened to her? Did Aundeya know?

Aundreya lies.

Roman shook his head, eyes opening in a rare moment of clarity. He pulled away from Aundreya, glaring down at her. She glanced up at him and let out a sigh as she rolled her eyes.

"Stop misbehaving Roman. We need to go. You love me, remember? You trust me. You'll do anything for me."

"Yes." Roman blinked, wondering why he ever thought otherwise. "Yes, I do."

And here are our other three! What do you think Eric is up to? How worried are you for Roman? And what about Phoenix? SHE DOESN'T EVEN THINK SHE HAS A BROTHER!!

Tell me all your thoughts and what you think will happen next - or who you're hoping to hear from next. After all, it's been a month since we last saw Noelle...