Her headaches were getting worse and worse. Her own memories have been slipping away from her more and more each day. Athanasia could barely remember her own mother's face by then.

       The things she had done… It wasn't like her. She knew she'd never hurt Zephyria.

     Why did I hit her?, Athanasia interrogated herself internally, as she remembered when she first saw Zephyria again.

     Athanasia tried to rub her temples in a soothing motion, hoping to ease her pain.

       That did nothing for her.

      Athanasia tried to recline as her eyes started to feel heavy.

       Exhaustion. That's what it was.

       Athanasia sighed, running her hand through her hair, coming to rest it on her neck.

      She stopped almost instantly.

      At the base of her neck was a bump.

      Athanasia ran her fingers back and forth over it. She took a deep breath before taking her blade to the back of her neck. She had no hesitation whatsoever when carving into her own flesh.

      It hurt–that was true, but she ignored that fact.

     Athanasia set the blade aside, gripping what sat near the mouth of the wound. She pulled it into view and examined it—it was a wolf fang of some sort. Little carved symbols were etched within it.

      Athanasia clenched her jaw angrily.

     For so long, she had had continuous headaches… she acted out of turn… black outs too.

        Athanasia had never supported Lucifer's cause, but somehow, no matter what she believed, she couldn't ever act the way she wanted to; she was forced to play along with Lucifer's sick game.

       Athanasia knew what had happened now. Her questions were answered.

       She had seen this exact thing happen before in an acquaintance of hers—Chiaki.

       Everything was clear in the demon's mind.
       Lucifer had gotten a powerful witch to enchant her.

       Athanasia growled.

       Once she returned to Xogrecyre and retrieved Jasoslav and Lukyan, she'd make Lucifer pay.

─┉─¡! • !¡─┉─

       Athanasia swallowed as she slowly turned around. "Zephyria." Athanasia felt like a deer caught in headlights. No matter what she did, she couldn't move. "It's been awhile." She swallowed once again.

         "That it has," Zephyria said.

         The hellfire torches lit up the Siren Queen's face so beautifully.

          Athanasia could feel her heart rate elevating with every second that passed.

       Let's just hope my face isn't bright red, Athanasia thought to herself.

            "How are you?" Zephyria asked the demon.

            "Each day is taxing… Very exhausted…" Athanasia began. She stopped for a second, trying to remember her past. "Though, I can't rest. Ilrok needs to pay for what he did to Druid."

       Athanasia didn't even need to look at Akachi, Jasoslav, and Lukyan to tell that they were confused.

       "I hope you do make him pay," Zephyria commented. "He may be your father, but that monster should never be forgiven for his actions."

         Silence fell upon the two for a moment.

         The silence forced memories of the past upon Athanasia; it was like a tidal wave, hitting her all at once.

        The silence was loud in the bed chambers–the silence echoed.

          "Ilrok's next move is my top priority," Athanasia said.

        "If it's yours…" Zephyria began. "Then it's mine too." The siren pulled herself closer to Athanasia.

       The demon could feel Zephyria's breath upon her lips.

       "Is that so?" Athanasia started, somewhat amused.

       "What?" Zephyria laughed ever so slightly. "Can't a siren have a heart?"

          Silence trickled in for the shortest moment possible.

          Athanasia lurched forward, her lips crashing and into Zephyria's.

          Zephyria instantly eased into the kiss, tugging away at the fur pelt draped around Athanasia's shoulders.

           Athanasia's hand slid down to Zephyria's hip before she pushed the siren backward onto the bed, collapsing on top of her.

         "H-how's Kvasir?" Athanasia's voice had wavered for a moment.

         "He's been doing your work," Zephyria laughed a little. "Demon hunting and all of that. He's a good boy, really—he's so much like you that I often forget he's my kid too."

        "What are-" Lukyan began before Akachi hushed him.

        "Athanasia," Zephyria began to say. "Who are they?"

         "Dwarven colleges of mine," Athanasia was quick to say.

          "I didn't think dwarves lived around these parts," Dasha Sklairova's voice rang out as she approached.

         Athanasia's gaze drifted over to Dasha.

         "This is a friend of mine," Zephyria tried to tell Athanasia. "Dasha Sklairova."

          Athanasia felt Jasoslav tense behind her.

         Dasha's amber gaze drifted past the Swedish demon and fell upon Jasoslav. "What's your name?"

          Jasoslav swallowed. "It's um…" He faltered. "Y-Yakim Markov, m'lady."

         "I've seen you around here, haven't I, Yakim?" Dasha asked.

         "Probably," Lukyan began. "He's a Count of his kingdom, so the chances you've seen him before are high."

       "What about-" Dasha stopped. "Wait."

        "What?" Slight amounts of fear edged in Lukyan's voice.

         "You're that Athenian prince I've heard about, aren't you?" Dasha questioned.

         Zephyria's eyes grew wider. Anyone around could tell she was entertained by what was happening. "An Athenian prince, huh? What's your name then?"

       "Akakios Helios," Lukyan said, quickly trying to make a name off the top of his head.

   Koios approached the group with Akuppi-Adad–whom he had been speaking with a few prior moments before to–following. "This is some Samhain party, isn't it?" Koios said to Dasha and Zephyria.

         The two women he was addressing turned their gazes toward the Slavic deity of fate and time.

        "That it is," Zephyria said in response to Koios's comment.

         Akuppi-Adad tilted his head away to another part of the large room after making eye contact with Jasoslav.

         Jasoslav and Lukyan exchanged glances before they, Akachi, and Athanasia slipped away with Akuppi-Adad.

      "Koios told me what's happening," Akuppi-Adad told the group in a low tone. "I know those two… they're persistent–Dasha especially." He paused. "If you're to stop 'evil', the last thing you need is to be wiped from existence because you're conversing with past versions of your mothers."

       "That's the problem," Jasoslav began to tell the Vampire King. "They've been following us for a little while now."

       Lukyan nodded.

       "You may lay low in my palace for now. It should halt their conversations with you, effectively saving you and…the realms," Akuppi-Adad said.

       "Alright," Jasoslav said.

       Athanasia started to walk away, but Lukyan grabbed her arm. She stopped, looking at the boy.

          "Where are you going?" The young siren inquired.

          "If you're going to be safe, I might as well patrol…" She paused before adding, "to ensure that Lucifer hasn't sent anyone else after you. After all, the last time I checked, Decimus was still on your guys' trail."

          Lukyan let go. "Okay. Be back soon then."

          "Just a couple of moments ago you guys didn't trust me," Athanasia started to comment. "But now you don't want me to go."

       "I don't know who we can trust with everything going on," Lukyan began to tell her. So… I'm just taking a leap of faith and hoping for the best."

       "Well," Athanasia began. "I hope I won't let you down."