"I know what you're thinking."

Xix looked down at her girlfriend. "What am I thinking?" she asked with a smile.

Iris returned it. "You're thinking that this can't possibly last." She rolled onto her stomach. "You're wrong. This can last forever." A sly smile. "If you want."

Xix laughed. She pushed chocolate-brown hair from Iris' face. "I do want this to last." Her smile faultered as she glanced toward the covered window of their home. "But there are things I have to do."

"I know," Iris said. "It's a big day today. You have to be ready for it."

"Yeah." Xix rolled from the bed to her feet, moving slowly toward the closed window. She pulled back the curtains, flinching away from the light of the three suns momentarily. "It's a very big day."

Iris hugged her from behind, resting her head on her girlfriend's shoulder. "Are you sure you're ready?" she asked, concerned.

"I'm sure."

"What if they find out? About you, I mean."

Xix turned, meeting Iris' sea-green eyes. She pulled away from her grasp. "I have to go," she said, walking to the door. "I'll be late."

Iris sent her a soft smile. "Be careful."

"Always."

Xix twisted the doorknob. She pulled the door open and stepped outside.

The dark stone of her front porch became silver ice as Xix moved forward. She pulled her shawl around her shoulders for warmth, the temperature having plummeted suddenly. 

Xix glanced over her shoulder. Her home was so far away! She turned back to the sight before her. Frosted and frozen ruins of some an ancient castle. She frowned. That had not been there earlier . . . 

Footsteps crunched in the snow and ice behind her. Xix spun around. There was nothing there. 

She climbed the stairs to the entrance of the castle's ruins, holding her arms out to keep balance on the ice. She reached the top, cautiously pushing open what remained of the wooden door. Light streamed in from the holes in what used to be a ceiling. Xix closed the door behind her, picking a direction and walking in it. 

The sound of the door banging behind her made her spin on the spot. A shadow stood where she had been. Its red eyes - if those were eyes - landed on her. Xix ran. 

Hands grabbed her as she tumbled through one of the doorways. Ema hauled her to her feet. "Did you see what it was?" 

Xix shook her head. "A shadow. I think. I thought I saw it outside but there was nothing there when I looked."

"Shadows," the Fae nodded, unsheathing her knife. "Stay close." 

The two women moved through the everlasting room slowly. 

"Why is it after me?" Xix asked.

Ema stopped, facing her. "Because it knows who you are." She cocked her head to the side. "Did you really think you could keep it a secret?" When she didn't answer, Ema sighed and took her by the hand. "It's only a matter of time before everyone finds out. You might as well come clean." 

"I don't know what you're talking about," Xix started slowly.

Ema sighed again. She twisted on the spot, looking at something behind. "We can't fight it. Not yet." 

Xix dared to look. It was the shadow. It looked humanoid . . . 

The shadow lowered itself onto four legs, moving faster than any humanoid ever could. 

"Run!" Ema yelled.

Xix ran. She didn't know where she was going. She could only hope it was away from whatever was chasing her.

The end of the room was coming up. There was no way out. She was trapped! Xix spun round, her mind beginning to panic. She had to escape from whatever was chasing her. A growl sounded from behind. The shadow was right in front of her. Xix took a step back. Another. Her hand grasped fabric. She stepped behind it. The growl vanished.

Xix took in her new surroundings. It was the balcony she'd been on mere hours ago. The one connected to the Lyriumian Palace. Two woman sat on lounges around a small table. Xix moved toward them. As one, they looked up. 

Amneris smiled harshly. "It figures you would come here."

Naiu sighed, twirling a strand of hair around a finger. "Be nice. She was supposed to be my next chosen."

"An Acheron with your power?" Amneris let out a sharp laugh. "That would be the day the world ended."

Naiu only sighed again. "Sometimes I wonder how Naka did not choose you to be his Guardian."

Amneris placed a hand over her heart. "Insulted. Very insulted." She turned her attention back to Xix. "You're still here? Shouldn't you be off destroying worlds? That is what your power's for. No wonder no one could control it."

Xix sped past them into the nearest door. The world around her turned dark. She was alone, walking on dimly lit water glowing beneath her feet. A cave of some sort? The growl from the castle echoed around her. Xix ran from it. Something was glittering in the distance. The way out? She ran toward it. 

It was not the way out.

A large polished black stone reflected everything around them, including the glow from her own power. That was what she had seen. A giant mirror. Xix cursed under her breath. There was no way out . . . 

Something appeared in the mirror. Xix stepped toward it.

Her own reflection appeared, mirroring each move she made. Xix stood still. Yes, it was her but something about her was wrong. 

Her reflection grinned. It was not the way she did. This one was dark. Shadows streamed from her form like smoke. They surrounded her, covering her features momentarily. They left nothing but glowing red eyes. Xix recoiled from her own reflection. She had been the shadow. 

Naka's face appeared in the shadows. He looked between Xix and her reflection. Her dark self. "This is what you fear becoming." It was not a question. 

"I'm not a bad guy," Xix said, unsure of why she was telling him this, "but my family - it doesn't have the best history. All of them took on your power. All of them became evil."

"Evil is such a strong word," Naka said.

"You know what I mean." Xix brushed her fingertips over her refection's face. The shadows parted. "I don't want to be like them. I won't become a villain."

Naka stepped out from the mirror. For the first time, Xix saw him entirely. For a God of evil, he was surprisingly handsome. She had been expecting some cliché villainous look. A heavily scarred face perhaps, or lots of warts. Maybe a mustache. 

What she had not expected was a man who looked about her age, skin a few shades darker than her own with deep brown eyes, wearing a black suit and well-polished shoes, adjusting a blood-red tie with his shoulder-length black hair tied neatly at the nape. 

He must have noticed her surprise. Naka bowed deeply at the waist with a sideways smile. "It's your choice in the end."

"What is?"

"Taking on my power. It was the same for your ancestors."

"Until you became bored," Xix said flatly.

"Well, yes." The look on the God's face could have almost been mistaken for guilt. "They went through the same process, however they couldn't control my power."

"So you controlled them."

He nodded. "Yeah. Basically."

Xix circled him. "So, hypothetically speaking, if I can control your power, you won't overtake me."

"Yes." That smile returned. "Hypothetically, of course."

"And if I can't control it-"

"I overtake you and you end up like your father." He shrugged. "Simple."

Xix shivered at the thought. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she could hear someone calling her name. She closed her eyes, focusing on the sound. For a moment, she was back in the Silent Core's Chamber. White light was attempting to break through the shadows. That same voice cried her name. 

Xix opened her eyes again, back in the reflective cave. She knew what she had to do. 

She eyed Naka. "Let's make a deal."

The God blinked, surprised. "No one has dared make one with me in person," he said.

"If I fail to control your power, you will overtake me and try to destroy the worlds. So, let's say I can control your power. If I am able to do so, you will let me use the power to do what I wish." 

He crossed his arms. "What do I get out of this?"

"Claiming your power means I become the Queen of Terpola, correct?" He nodded. "Well, not only will I allow you to join us on this mission to Atlantis, but I will also make you my official main advisor while I'm on the throne for matters which involve your power." She spread her arms. "You get a say in what I choose to do."

Naka's eyes narrowed. "You want to use my power to do what you want but you also want me to have a say in what you do."

"Put simply, yes."

The God begun to shake. Then, to Xix's surprise, he tipped his head back and laughed. A proper joyous laugh. "You really are something else."

"One more thing," Xix said. "Assuming I am able to control your power, that means we will be spending a lot of time together. I would very much like to get to know you."

He stepped forward, looking down at her. "You want me to be your . . . friend?"

"Yes."

"No one has ever asked that of me before."

"As you said: I'm something else." Xix held out her hand. "Do we have a deal?"

"Very well." Naka shook her hand. "Now, brace yourself."

Naka's form returned to shadows. They surrounded Xix, spinning around her body. The shadows were sucked into her body. 

* * * * * * * * 

It was quite a sight from the outside. 

Amneris and Naiu watched on in amazement as the shadows they'd been trying to break through moments ago vanished inside the woman's body. 

Her eyes shot open, entirely red. 

Xix let out an inhumane scream. 

* * * * * * * *

Amneris barely spoke loud enough for the Goddess at her side to hear. "If this goes wrong, what will happen to her?"

"Naka will overtake her body, she will be lost to darkness, and you will be in a situation similar to when you faced his previous host," she answered just as quiet.

"In other words, kill her before she leaves."

Naiu's head whipped around. "Have some faith, Amneris. Xix is stronger than she appears."

"I know. I know. Just . . . precautions."

* * * * * * * *

Xix stopped screaming. Her head lolled forward. She swayed on her feet. 

She glanced down at her hands, daring to move them. They were still her own. She took a step forward, hands still held out before her as they wreathed with crimson fire. She clenched her fists. The power vanished. 

Xix looked up at Amneris and Naiu. 

She laughed. It was the most relieved laugh she had ever made. Her body was still her own. Her voice was still her own. Her soul wasn't trapped in some eternal darkness. 

Naka hovered nearby with a look of approval, though it was clear he was just as surprised as he was. She'd done it. In all honesty, she hadn't thought she could. But she had. 

Xix was now the Guardian of the Silent Core.