The tension is not just palpable; it's thick, heavy, almost impenetrable. The door to the office is securely locked, with a cloth tightly wedged through the keyhole and another blocking the space between the door and the floor. The room is engulfed in an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of our collective breathing, the relentless tick-tock of the clock on the wall, a gentle breeze outside as well as the faint rustle of the wind over the rainbow on the other side.

In the high-backed leather chair behind my father's desk, Iris sits, idly toying with her fingers like an impatient CEO. The Erotes, standing beside the rainbow, exude an air of equivocal mundanity, their existence suspended in a delicate equilibrium. Echo, stationed like a vigilant bodyguard behind Iris, twirls her pen deftly, and Emfri leans casually against my Dad's locker, staring at him.

He in return fidgets with his fingers as his arms rest by his chest in a withdrawn fold. His sock-covered feet tap silently against the wooden floor as he desperately seeks distraction from the unyielding, Gothic satyr who is silently holding his judgment, possibly against each of the humans in the room.

I'm sat next to my father, not sure how to feel. Iris appeared out of thin air before we could fill in Cain with all the secrets behind the veil. The tension thrived when they walked in on my father claiming the absurdity of this whole situation. In a feeble attempt to offer solace, I place my hand on my father's knee, but it's as effective as trying to calm a storm with a whisper.

Vianney props himself against the exit door in a nonchalant demeanour. Next to him stands Cain, arms folded by his chest and his breathing louder than the howling wind during a storm.

"I'm dreaming," Cain utters, rigid and provoked. He can't even look anyone in the eye as he shuffles restlessly as he tries to make out whether the creatures he's seeing are real or mere products of his imagination.

"Echo, check his pulse," Iris orders, squarely looking over our heads at Cain.

Without moving, Echo scrutinises the man. After a brief pause, she responds in her soft, melodic voice, which seems to naturally replicate a series of echoes from an original source. "Too fast. Running!" Her subsequent words become closer together, creating a legato flow of repetition that makes them harder to distinguish as echoes, unless one listens carefully.

"Vianney, sit him down," Iris commands authoritatively before slowly rising from her chair. She locks her gaze onto my father and greets him with a curt nod. "Good to see you present, Sir Stamatios," she says, her hands resting on his desk as she leans forward slightly.

"It's Navy," my father replies solemnly.

Iris scoffs dismissively, her demeanour regal. "Mh, so you say." She straightens up, moves past the desk to the side, and perches herself on its edge, still addressing my father. "You are demoted, Navy, and I'll have your daughter oversee matters in your stead, while you, in all humility, assume the honourable duty of monitoring the rainbow from this end."

My father stands up, bringing himself to eye level with her. "No! You've already exposed my daughter to enough danger. I'll do as you ask from now on."

"That's the problem, Navy. I've never asked you for anything other than that one thing, help. I gave you free will with the understanding that whatever you do from then on would bring me a step closer to Valentine. 'Rewrite your fate,' he said, 'rewrite we shall.'"

"I never agreed."

"Well, your daughter did. You of all people should understand the meaning of fate," she retorts sharply. "The rules have changed," she continues. "There's passage to the other side whenever but with a chaperone from my side. You, sir, will never cross over that rainbow. Your duty is to remain here, guard it and ensure that no one other than you, the Athenian and Kendi lays eyes upon it."

She leaps from the table and returns to the chair, every movement exuding a commanding elegance.

"Why do you even need humans? You are better off in your realm, confronting your ghosts. Let us be," Cain implores in a state of panic.

Emfri interjects as he walks towards Iris, his tone carrying an air of authority, "I'm sorry we didn't inform you earlier, Athenian. Mortals," he states matter-of-factly. "You are our ticket to the underworld."

"What does that mean?" my Dad inquires.

"It means," Emfri goes on to explain, "that immortals can't make it past, unless, we have mortal souls to ferry through. If we can't get past, then you have to go in alone and get Valentine."

"What if he doesn't want to come back? Why—why—why am I even here? I'm out. This is too crazy."

Cain stands up to leave, but Vianney stops him with a firm grip on his shoulder which sends him sitting back down. Vianney looks at me, wiggling his eyebrows in a playful stunt, obviously provoking my anger.

"That's why I need access through. And I can't be certain whether I can twist my threads if I don't find Medea, make her reveal where the underworld is and have that bastard of a ferryman cross us through. I can't know if you all become incompetent, convicts or prostitutes. We need a clean cut. I need my Valentine!"

Iris falls to her chair, weeping, but her tears fail her once more. I consider revealing the impending threat but now doesn't seem to be the right moment. I bite my lip, observing as the Erotes gather around Iris and start rubbing gentle circles on her shoulders in unison.

"She has something to say," Echo reveals, echoing my apprehensive movements.

Damn you, Echo!

"Speak, child," Iris interjects, her voice brittle.

"I—," I falter, fidgeting in my seat. "It's probably not the best time to say this but..."

"Out with it," Alonov says without looking at me.

"Make it quick. Precise!" his brother Fermon adds.

Recovering from the startle, I begin, "Someone whispered to me that The Order is..."

"Navy, honey! Are you in there?" my mother interrupts, knocking at the door. "Why is this door locked? Are you in the dark? Navy!" Panic drips from her voice.

My dad looks at Iris, waiting for a go-ahead but she remains reticent, her index finger pressed to her lips.

"Navy, please. Open up. Kendi is missing, again. I'm worried she might be hurting herself. Please don't make me worry for you too." Her sobs soften as her insistent knocks grow weaker and weaker. "Don't do this to me, again, please."

"At least let me..."

"Wait! Give us a second. Everybody, up the rainbow."

I hesitate.

"You too, Kendi." Iris gives me a pointed look.

I gently take my father's hand, offering him silent reassurance that everything will be alright, and then I follow Cain up the rainbow. Once we are at the Overlook, the end of the rainbow on the side of the earth follows us through like the stairs from a plane. We stand there, aligned in a somewhat crumpled row like children waiting to get into a bus.

"We wait," Iris whispers, standing at the end of the rainbow.

"There's a wall in front of you we've just walked through? I'm tripping, innit?" Cain is losing it.

"Kendi, put your Athenian in line. Once he's completely out of it, we won't be able to bring him back to sanity," Emfri orders.

"Has this happened before?" I ask, concerned.

Vianney shakes his head, his arm sneaking around my waist. "It's a theory. Humans can't handle what they've believed is mythical to be real. It might drive them to madness, and there's little we can do to prevent it."

I slide his hand off my waist and take a small step back until I encounter a solid chest, the person teetering on the edge of control. "Why didn't it happen to me?"

"Because I showed up in a form your mind can comprehend, and you were psychologically prepared to face a world you've only read in books, gradually introducing you to one thing at a time. Your boyfriend here..."

"He's not my boyfriend," I snap. "You insisted he be here."

"Yeah, 'cause you don't know what lies at the end of this rainbow. I won't always be there, Midnight," Vianney taunts.

There's an awkward but short silence, a flirty Vianney, with a smug smirk plastered across his face watches me with wonder and amusement.

"Was he because he was drunk? My father?"

"There was something different. Even if he hadn't been drinking, I doubt he'd be surprised," Iris replies. "Now, please, calm him the fuck down!"

Before I could turn to tend to Cain, an arrow whooshes past us, piercing through the invisible wall and into my father's office. Instinctively, we all duck down, more arrows hurtling towards us.

"What's going on?" Iris shouts, struggling to be heard amidst the chaotic barrage of arrows aimed at our heads.

I swallow.

An arrow lands perilously close to my hand, its metal tip etched with the word 'MEN'', a mark that seems familiar, perhaps glimpsed at during my visit to Dry Bones.

"Uh, guys. I think it might be the best time to tell you that The Order has been set out for bounty," I finally admit.

"Should we clap?" Alonov deadpans, glancing at his brother.

"Yeah, why not?" Fermon replies and they both begin to sarcastically clap their hands.

"You've got to be kidding me," I mutter under my breath.

"You think to tell us now?" Echo echoes Iris' words, a touch of reproach in her voice.

"Well, the other day that we were together, I didn't see the point in warning you after what you did to me."

"I never wished that upon you, Kendi. Isn't this a bit petty?" Iris counters.

"Petty? Because of me we almost died. I almost died," I emphasise, acutely aware that I am the only mortal among this posse. Now including Cain.

"Well, enough bickering ladies. We need to find a way out," Vianney suggests.

"We have to go back to earth. It is either that or we run toward the arrows," I say.

The Erotes, still mockingly clapping, break into laughter, as if my revelation is the height of absurdity.

"I rather charge toward the arrows than explain to another mortal we actually exist," Emfri murmurs, audible that everyone hears.

"No!" Echo shouts vehemently.

"We will jump from the rainbow," Iris decides firmly.

Cain laughs hysterically. "You can't be serious. Is—is this what we are doing now?"

"There's a Mirage further up ahead the Overlook that stretches beyond and beneath this rainbow. We need to move deeper to create the illusion before we make the leap," Iris explains with urgency.

"What's that to say when they decide to follow us?" I ask.

"It will buy us some time. We have to run after the mirage, literally."

Before I could dispute, Emfri who's at the start of the line, runs as fast as he can, reaching a certain point, and then he jumps over, unhesitant.

"Good, follow him!" Iris acknowledges.

Echo, without a missing beat, follows and jumps. I hear a slight scream as she leaps, an alarming tone to her soft, velocious voice. The brothers and Vianney follow suit, jumping after them as quickly as they can. I share a look with Iris, who silently assures me to trust her.

With a subtle nod, I, the designated Cain keeper, lift the grown man with all the strength I can muster, place his hand over my shoulder and stumble towards the Mirage. The arrows keep flying, hard to evade when an over two hundred pounds man weighs on my shoulder.

I see a water reflection up ahead as I struggle to stay alive. We stumble just at the point where we slip and fall from the ethereal arch, which now seems more realistic than the soft-pillow clouds we fall through.

A grunt escapes Cain's lips as we land, but I land on top of him. There's grass at the point of impact, greener than envy. Gentle splashes of water meet our skin, and a cool breeze filled with the scent of the sea and the forest accompanies it. For a moment, I forget the position I'm in, close my eyes and let the cool air quench the pores of my skin. I can feel a smile on my face form, the satisfaction of receiving cool air during a hot summer. It is fresh, light to inhale and soothing to exhale. It is like therapy, the kind celebrities seek in exclusive retreats.

And then I relieve it. The tantalising intimacy I experienced in my head earlier. The familiar touch on my waist, the overwhelming scent of mandarin.

The world around us blurs when I finally open my eyes. The only sound I can hear is of the waterfall a few feet from our fall. His face is calm, eyes staring at me with a known velocity of beauty and admiration. Cain looks pleased, taken aback, even impressed. I'm like the gold he just dug out from the soil, once believed to be a myth until he cast his eyes on it for the first time.

Someone clears their throat, breaking us from the reverie I wasn't sure if I was enjoying or not. Like a snap out of hypnosis, I clear mine too as I get off Cain, tripping against his thigh and landing on the soft cushion of grass in the Mirage. I don't have time to process all of it when Vianney shouts, "She's hurt!"

I sit up and look over to the water. Echo is floating, an arrow sticking out of her back. Vianney is by her side, trying to carry her weight out of the water.

"Leave her!" Iris heaves behind us.

"But..." Vianney tries to argue.

"I said, leave her!"

Vianney throws on a defensive look as he reluctantly draws himself away from Echo. He joins Emfri and The Erotes by the riverbed. We wait! At least that's what I think we are doing.

Suddenly, Echo emerges from beneath the waters, gasping as much air as she can to compensate for the lost one. She screams, the loud connotations echoing through the forest, a testimony of her agony. She rips the arrow from her back in one swift motion, then angrily snaps it in two before throwing the pieces behind her in defiance. She walks toward us, and Emfri helps her out.

"Narcissus?" she calls out as she steps in front of Cain.

Cain, in a mental bender of his own, perplexed and seeming as high as a kite, knits his eyebrows as he lets Echo embrace him, snaking her hands all over his torso.

"Don't you remember me?" she asks, following the expression on his face.

It suddenly softens as he welcomes the cool touch of a stunning nymph.

"You do!"

"Hallucinations," Iris confirms. "The waters here have a healing effect but cause hallucinations. And your boy here is out of it. They will be for a while." She holds her staff firmly. "We cut through the forest. We might reach Dry Bones by morning."

"I'll scout!" Emfri offers before running into the darkness of the night.

I join to step beside Iris as we eventually follow through. The Erotes are behind us. Even their breathing is in sync, not too loud, not too silent. Just right. Vianney remains behind, as usual, perhaps to wade off any dangers that may follow us from behind. And then, to our right, walking slowly and love-struck like middle-school teenagers, Cain and Echo, hand-in-hand.

I pretend it doesn't bother me, even if I hate that it does. Cain may be losing his mind, but the way he's paying attention to Echo right now does not sit well with me. It was a fling. A moment of highness we both were at the time, but I enjoyed it. I miss it.

"Tell me about Valentine," I say to Iris, trying to distract myself from once-upon-a-time feelings.

Her staff squelches the soft cushion of the grass beneath our feet.

"You should have dipped your feet in the mirage waters. I'd love to see what hallucinations you may harbour." A small smile tugs at her lips.

"You're deflecting!"

She heaves out a heavy sigh of exhaustion. "Because where will I begin?" She scoffs amused, her eyes catching a ray of moonlight, dilating by the mere reminiscence of her lover. "We met at a temple in Dry Bones. I had just stumbled upon one of his many illegal marriages."

"Illegal?"

"Yes. Unions not many people sanctioned. He saw the need to unite those couples in defiance of societal patriarchy and norms in the name of love. He figured, why should we wither away in unions that wring dry our hearts and souls due to a lack of love?"

She glances back briefly before continuing. "It was at first sight. From then on, I would constantly visit the temple just to see him. We rendezvoused frequently, and he showed me what love could truly mean, you know. We spent a great deal of time together, and I memorised his habits, his mannerisms, his way with words, how he'd twitch his nose when deep in thought. Or how the small toe of his left foot wiggled when he was happy. How he swallowed his saliva so loudly when anxious. That's when we knew that we were soulmates."

"But your father," I implore.

She nods slowly. "My father, King Stamatios, never approved because he was a mortal and a rule-breaker."

"Wait! Your father is Stamatios?"

"Was, yes."

"Why did you give my father your father's name?"

She shrugs, unperturbed. "It was instinct. The first name that came to mind when he declined the simple courtesy of introducing himself. Perhaps it suits him well because he is as stubborn as my father."

We trample further in a moment of silence, pondering the words of the goddess.

"How'd he die?"

"Died when the prison collapsed."

"No, no! I meant your father. King Stamatios?"

She nods again. "Died the same way Valentine did. In the same cell, no less. Some call it karma."

"The King was imprisoned? Why?"

"He faced numerous accusations, from corruption, embezzlement of the kingdom's fund, financing the Eunuch farm and worst of all, accessory to Medea's crimes. None of which I can ascertain as true. After sending Valentine to prison, he had me work as a maid in my own castle. You can say we weren't then on any speaking terms or never traversed the same hallways nor shared a table again."

"I'm sorry about that. All of it."

"Valentine is the sole reason worth clinging to in life. I know it seems like I'm figuratively running after this mirage, but what else is there for me to live for?" She chuckles softly.

I inhale deeply. "I think Valentine would be thrilled to come back."

She smiles. "Fingers crossed. And hey, I'm sorry I got you into the conclave. It was never my intention."

I nod reluctantly. "Yeah, Vianney kind of had me let you off the hook on that one. It's fine. I understand. I wish my Dad would do too."

"He'll come around. It was my fault, bestowing him such a load when he wasn't ready."

"No! It's like you said, you found him for a reason. And that reason is empathy. But he is so in over his head that he can't seem to grasp that."

There's a whistle in the night, of winds we think, filling the silence that had fallen upon us. The snapping of twigs and the satisfying crunch of dry leaves underfoot fill our ears as we make our way through the Mirage forest. However, they become intense for a brief moment. Iris and I turn our heads to have a look at the sudden hurried shuffle of feet. Vianney approaches, the arrow Echo had snapped earlier in his hand.

He stops beside Iris, showing her the symbol, 'MEN'.

"Men?" I ask, puzzled.

Vianney shakes his head as he tries to control his breath. "No, not men. Mu Xi Nu. It is a fraternity."

Iris takes the arrow from his hand and traces the symbol on the tip. "They must have put a hefty price on our heads if this fraternity is going through the trouble of finding us."

"Why? What's so special about men?" I throw a jab of jest, ignoring the weight of the situation.

"Not men, Kendi," Vianney grunts. "These people are death as they call it. Assassins working for The Weavers. We must have something they need."

Iris turns to me swiftly, trying to read into my eyes to see if I've comprehended the entire situation.

"We are still going back to Dry Bones, aren't we?" I say, anxiety creeping into my voice.

She nods, breaking our gaze and looking up ahead. Her chest rises and falls rapidly, her breaths quick as she gradually succumbs to anxiety too. "There are special arcanes we need to hire in search of Medea, and they are only on my side of the rainbow. Without their help, we might as well forget Valentine. And you know I can't do that."

I nod in understanding as the shuffling of feet on the ground behind us becomes more intense. "They found us."

"We can't outrun them!" Fermon chimes in.

"No! With a limping mortal and two deadweights, our chances are nil," his brother, Alonov ascertains.

"What do we do then? We can't give in!" I speculate.

"The only way out is through. We have to let them catch us and take us back to Dry Bones." She is now regaining her composure, her face lighting up in decisiveness.

"That's absurd, Iris. What if they have instructions to kill us? That was the last thing The Weavers commanded, was it not?"

"If we don't fight, they won't kill us," Iris insists. "Bloody hell, they can't until they get their hands on..." she trails off.

"I say we try our chance," I counter, "We can find a cave or a hole to hide until the sun comes up."

"Mu Xi Nu, Kendi! Ruthless hunters, assassins, and very adept at their arrows. We can't hide from them," Vianney replies coldly.

I inhale deeply once again, clenching and unclenching my fists by my side.

"What do we have that they want?" Fermon asks, this time his question with an intonation. That is a first.

Iris dramatically turns to look ahead in the direction we were supposed to go and mutters under her breath. "Fuck, Emfri!"