Before the Dawn

Chapter Eighteen

The full moon's light reflects off of the rippling water of the river before me. Just as it did on my first visit, my gaze goes directly to the magnificent roaring waterfall to my far right. The water tumbles into the river below, slowly becoming part of the placid flow.

I tear my eyes from the captivating scene when Amora leaves my side. The blonde demigod sits against a tall tree, not joining the rest of the demigods. I look back at her in confusion, feeling naked without her by my side.

Seeing my look, she shrugs. "My goddess is dead. I don't have anyone to contact. I just came because it's really beautiful out here. Well, that and to support you," she tacks on with a smile.

I nod slowly and take a deep breath to ready myself. Turning, I hold my head up high and ignore the stares of the demigods that threaten to crack my armor. I take my place in the circle along with everyone else and nearly let out a yelp of surprise when something furry brushes against my hand.

I look down sharply. Crescendo looks up at me solemnly. The moonlight glints off of her silver fur; an ethereal look. I smile down at her nervously, fisting a hand in her fur for comfort.

"Welcome, young demigods!" Skye's voice booms. "Tonight, you will contact your sire gods. Seek their guidance and the answers to your questions. Learn from them, for the time to do so is coming to an end. "

A hush falls over the crowd filled with sadness and fear. Glances are made to the few demigods that -like Amora- sit outside of the circle. Soon we will all be like them; left to fend for ourselves without divine guidance.

My heart thumps loudly as a sense of foreboding creeps into my consciousness. Something bad is going to happen, I know it.

"Close your eyes, children," Mckenzi says and my heart warms at the sound of her voice. "and let your minds travel to the realm of the gods!"

I let my eyes slide shut reluctantly, not wanting to give up my view of the enchanting full moon. Unconsciousness sweeps me up into it's dark embrace and carries me to the realm of night on swift wings.

The realm of night is exactly how I remember it; gorgeous and beautifully dark. The night sky is above me, below me and beside me, folding me into its blissful aura. Unlike before, however, Nyx and Erebus are not there to greet me. In fact, they're nowhere to be seen.

I turn my head from side to side, searching for my divine parents, finding nothing. I frown and move to sit down, thinking that they must be busy when something moves in the distance. Curiosity overcomes the best of me and moves me forward a few steps, then a few more.

Suddenly the thing in the distance lifts up its head and speaks in a weak voice. "Thanatos."

My eyes widen in horror. My heart plummets.

"Mom!"

In an instant, I'm racing toward her, pure panic fueling me. I drop down on my knees beside her and see that Erebus lies on her other side, clutching her place hand in his. I move into the gap between them, taking in their appearances with wide eyes.

Both of them are unusually pale with dark blue rings around their almost sunken eyes. Their skin is slick with a sheen of sweat. The pair of them look like hell, both looking up at me and dragging in raspy breath after raspy breath.

"Oh my gods," I gasp, hands fluttering nervously. "What's happened to you?"

Nyx's wise blue eyes stare up at me steadily. Her free hand rests on my arm and I can feel it trembling weakly. My father does the same, staring up at me with black eyes filled with fatherly affection. I look back and forth between them, a question in my eyes.

"My sweet Thanatos," Erebus rasps and pauses to drag in a labored breath. "As you know, Bel's poison has made your mother and I sick for quite a while now-"

He cuts off to cough loudly. A pained grimace flits across his face when the fit ceases.

The realization of what's happening to the two of them hits me like a ton of bricks. "No," I say guardedly, praying that I'm dead wrong.

"Our time has come," Nyx breathes slowly.

My world freezes around me. A crack rips through my heart, allowing chunks to break and fall out. This can't be happening; not Nyx and Erebus, not my family.

Tears leak from my eyes, dripping down onto my parents' joined hands. Sorrow grips what's left of my heart and twists. This can't be happening.

"But you can't die!" I whimper childishly. "I just found you. There's so much that I don't know about you."

Nyx smiles slightly and begins to speak but is cut off suddenly.

"Nyx? Erebus? Where-shit," a heartbreakingly familiar voice curses.

I'm too paralyzed by the sound of his voice that I don't turn around; I can't. It doesn't matter, however, because his arms circle around my waist from behind me in an instant, trapping me in his warm embrace. His masculine scent fills my senses and I melt. I lean back into his embrace, too emotionally destroyed to fight him.

"It's happening?" My Warrior asks lowly, then presses a comforting kiss to my temple. I close my eyes for just a moment, allowing myself to be comforted.

"It is," Erebus nods grimly. Declan bows his head and grips me tighter, struggling to accept this just as I am.

Nyx grips my hand tightly, feverish eyes searching for mine. "Thanatos, Arawn, there will be times when your love seems to be in question but you must never let each other go. You must find strength within each other, for you are all the other has in the end," she says fiercely. Her eyes are so bright and intense that I nod tearfully, leaning my head on Declan's shoulder.

She's right, Declan has alwasy been there for me and I know tha the always will be, just as I will for him. I know this because that's what you do for the person you love.

"Arawn," Erebus croaks, the light fading from his eyes. "take . . . take care of her, son."

Declan nods solemnly and says, "I will."

His voice is strong and unwavering but I can hear the sadness buried deep within. Feeling the need to make that sadness go away, I turn my head and press my lips to his cheek tenderly.

"We love you," Nyx whispers as the life leaks out of her eyes and her last breath passes her lips.

Her eyes stare upward blankly just as her husband's are beside her. The Warrior and his goddess lay hand in hand, ready to face whatever death has in store for them, together.

"Mom? Dad?" I cry, reaching out for them like a lost child.

Strong arms pull me back and press me into a muscled chest. I struggle at first, desperate to get to my parents. They can't be dead! They're gods! I push against Declan's body frantically, tears streaming down my face.

"Thanatos!" Declan yells as he grabs my arms to restrain me. "They're gone, Thanatos!"

For the first time in a long while, I stare up at his luminescent green eyes. My heart thuds sadly at the despair I find there. Nyx and Erebus were practically his family, too. He lost them just like I did, I realize.

Shoulders slumped in defeat, I throw myself back into Declan's arms and sob. I sob for my parents and the lives that they left unfinished. I sob for all of the other gods that will soon lose their lives because of me. I also sob for me and the family I never got the chance to know.

I'm not nearly done letting it out when consciousness begins to pull me back to the mortal realm.

"No!" I cry and cling to Declan.

He pulls back to look at me quickly, knowing exactly what's happening to me.

"Where are you?" he demands softly, desperately.

"The Academy. In the woods," I say just as I'm torn from my love and sent hurtling into consciousness.

My last thoughts in the realm of night are of Theo's destruction of the gods. It has begun.