Little spindly vines of the flowers danced in the wind around Athena. A warm gust blew her inky hair, curling it at the ends.

  She sat on the wooden bench near the willow tree—reading one of the war diaries.

  Her mother had been giving her side-eyes from inside. Athena could see the skeptical glint in the window panes.

  Athena kicked her boots back and forth as she read. Playing her innocent role. Even if her mother here had committed such, deeds. Surely in the real universe she was fine. This was all Hubris’s doing. Athena knew it.

  The breeze stopped, the spindly vines froze, the curls of Athena’s hair went normal again. A shadow loomed over her shoulder from the right. Athena’s body tensed, every fiber of her hoped it wasn’t her mother.

  But it wasn’t. It was a much, friendlier voice.

  “Whatcha readin’?”

  She turned, her eyes widened. But, they relaxed much faster. It was Quinton. But–younger. He had blonde curls spilling over his face, covering his dark, curious eyes. He had a crooked grin, a small dark space covered where a tooth once was.

  He plucked the book from her hand and lifted it higher, so she couldn’t reach it.

  She got up immediately, attempting to grab it back.

  He read it, as it hovered above him.

  “ ‘ War diaries, journal of Edward Juniper’?” Quinton laughed, tossing it over his shoulder, right into Athena’s hands.

  She flocked her hands and gripped the book to her chest. “Hey!” She argued. “What was that for?”“Oh, my mistake. My name is Quinton Bellwether. Little brother of the infamous Elizabeth Bellwether.” He extended a hand, a crooked grin on his face.

  “Athena, quee-I mean, princess Athena of the Azbeth castle.” She shook his hand firmly, before scoffing and turning around.

  Quinton laughed. “Already calling yourself queen, huh?”

  Athena didn’t turn around, she kept walking, until she noticed she didn’t have her tourmaline ring. She swiftly turned her head over her shoulder, eyeing for a dim crimson glow. And she saw it, in the willow tree, tied to one of the highest branches.

  She noticed Quinton walking away, heading to the training grounds.

  Athena fully turned around. “Hey!” She exclaimed.

  Quinton stopped, turning slowly. “Yeeess–?”

  “Give. Me. Back. My. Ring.”

  Quinton scoffed, sounding offended. “What–? Why would I take something like that and tie-” He was cut off by the war diary, Athena sent it flying past his head.

  “Ring.” She extended her hand and opened her palm.

  He raised his hands, eyes shaking as he climbed the tree, untying the leaves from the ring and tossing it back down. Athena briefly nodded, collected her book and left.

  Quinton had never done anything like that before, was he really that—nevermind.

  She continued her walk. At first, everything was a haze, until she got inside.

  “Athena dear, have you found interest in the book I gave you?” Her voice was like a knife, it seemed basic before it was used to pierce you.

  “Uh–I haven’t been able to read it yet, maybe later!” I tried to run, but she grabbed my hand.

  “But dear, are you sure?I thought you would love something like that?” Her voice was sharp.

  Athena staggered back, hiding the war diary behind her back dismissively. “Well-you see, I was–” She looked around in panic for an excuse. “--I was already reading one book. I’ll get to the one you brought me after I finish this one.” She choked out the words.

  Her mother clamped her silk gloved hands together, a fake gentle smile on her face. “I see, forgive me dear.”

  As Athena watched her mother walk away, she ran to the back of the castle. She would enter through the kitchen’s way. Why was her mother so angry about Ares?What did he do?She needed to know more. The spindly vines brushed her ankles, her hair flew like a night wind behind her. She peeked at the corner of a pillar, noticing a cook talking with a guard outside of the doorway. She couldn’t get through without getting noticed.

  Athena looked around, trying to find something or some way to distract them. She turned her head to a bramble bush to her right, the leaves were rustling. Athena slowly approached the bush, noticing a pair of glowing, yellow eyes.

  Out exited Wren, flicking his tail.

  He wasn’t small, so he was still the same. Did he recognize her?

  He purred, before leaping into her grasp. She chuckled quietly, a plan came into mind.

  -------------------------------------------

  Athena was back at the pillar, peeking at the corner. At her feet, was Wren, waiting for his time to run out. Wren meowed, before trotting out in front of the cook and guard.

  He purred, swaying himself between their ankles. As they both crouched down to pet him, he grabbed the piece of bread from the cook’s hand. He ran off, making sure the both of them were following. Athena used this chance to sneak into the doorway. As she pushed open the door, she whistled for Wren. He dropped the bread, turned and ran back. She extended her arm, using the other to hold the door open. Wren pranced along her forearm, before resting on her shoulder.

  She quietly shut the door, before running back to her room. The kitchen smelled like dough and herb, flour dusted the floor and walls. It was empty though, mostly. About one or two cooks were readying some tea for her mother and father.

  Athena crouched behind a stove, running to the stairs. Wren’s tail flicked at her back, as she almost reached the door knob.

  When– “Your majesty!”

  A cook called from behind. Athena froze, turning slowly.

  “Yes?” She asked.

  The cook smiled warmly, having her brown curls bounce over her eyes. “Would you be ever so kind and take this up to your mother?”

  Athena’s eyes widened. She straightened her posture. “Oh!Uh-well..Sure! Of course,” Athena ran over and grabbed the golden and silver tray.

  The cook bowed slightly. “Thank you!”

  Athena took the tray and began to walk upstairs. She opened the door to the hallway, spilling drops of the caramel colored tea on the velvet carpet. She noticed an ebony coffee stand near the end of the hallway. She hurriedly fast-walked to the stand, placing the tray there and running back to her room.

  Wren lay on her shoulder, flicking his tail back and forth. Athena clutched the war diary. Her shoes thumped on the carpet as she looked left and right for her room.

  She passed the medic’s room, catching a glimpse from Andi. She seemed so young, so curious. But Athena had to focus. Her shoes skittered along the carpet, making it fold up at the ends. She ran down the hall, almost making a maid almost fall.

  Once she reached her room, she locked the door. She searched for the journal of Ares. She kept reading, blank pages, smudged ink, white entries. Nothing.

  Athena was about to lose hope when she noticed a little entry in the margins.

  Dear diary, two years have passed since I wrote in you. So Athena is now two years old.

  My mother blames me for the death of Octavia!She said that I did a ritual or something to curse her! She says my albinism makes me a wizard, a bad one.

  I thought magic would be good, but I guess not. Athena isn’t a normal kid either. Not only is she so tiny, but apparently she has four hearts? People think Eddie is going crazy, so does father and mother. I don’t think so. I was always told to have an open mind, and be positive. So I’m positive he's not crazy.

  But anyways, mother won’t let me go anywhere near Athena..

  I can’t even eat dinner with them anymore!I’m sure this will pass over, I just want it to be soon. I’ll talk tomorrow, goodbye.

  -Ares.

  Athena flipped the page, she found another entry. Wren meowed at her shoulder with curiosity. And she began to read.

  Dear diary,

  I found something I shouldn’t have looked for. A journal.

  I found it in my mother and fathers room. It has magic in it!Black magic.

  I think my mother is growing suspicious of me. I told her I have been reading diaries in the library.

  But that's not all.

  Maybe I should’ve led with this, but..I saw her casting a curse- or a ritual?! I don’t know why, she had this circle with one candle in the middle, and golden dust started to float, she was talking to herself!It was insane. She is insane. I don’t know if I’ll be able to talk again, I hope so.

  But when she was talking to herself, she said,

  ‘He’s a monster.’

  Talk soon.

  -Ares.

  Athena stared in horror. So her mother was performing rituals. She was dangerous. That was the last entry. Maybe Ares was still alive. He could give her answers. But where would she start? She needed more answers. She could snake back to the attic tonight. She looked at the clock on her wall.

  5:54 pm.

  She could leave around midnight, no one would be awake at that time. Not even her mother.

  Wren yawned on her shoulder. She patted his forehead with her finger.

  “Tonight we search.”

  -------------------------------------------

  She sat at the dinner table. Eating her food with no hesitation. She needed dinner to end quickly, the faster she ate the quicker she would be able to search.She took the last bite, she pushed herself from her chair and was about to leave when—

  “Athena?Where are you going, there's still dessert,” Surely enough, her mother said that.

  Athena coughed dismissively. “I’m afraid I’m not hungry. Maybe tomorrow!” She was halfway out the door when her mothers voice became more stern.

  “Athena!” Her hands hit the table. “You will stay here, and eat dinner and dessert with us.”

  Athena swallowed, before sitting back down.

  A cook brought out dessert. Rosewater custard was served in a shallow porcelain bowl, pale and perfectly smooth, its surface dusted with sugar so fine it looked like frost. It smelled faintly of flowers. Clean, restrained, almost ceremonial, and when Athena tasted it, the sweetness lingered shorter than it should have. After a while, it tasted almost sour, bitter. She swallowed, it felt like it was stone. She didn’t even notice the blood faintly dripping from the side of her mouth. Her eyes almost drooped shut. She wiped her eyes. Suddenly, a crimson drop fell into her custard. Her eyes widened at the sight. She coughed into the sleeve of her dress. Crimson blood stained her sleeve now.

  Her mother continued to eat hers, raising an eye at Athena.

  “Little lily, is something wrong?”

  Athena shook her head. Before wiping the blood from her mouth and continuing to eat. What was in here that was making her bleed?Was it poisoned? She couldn’t eat this, she already felt tired, if she ate all of it, she’d be dead asleep before midnight.

  Athena pushed the bowl away from her. Her mother pushed it back. Athena pushed it away again. Her mother pushed it back. This continued for a while. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

  Until her father spoke up. “Athena, why aren’t you eating all of it, I thought you loved this?”

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  Athena couldn’t even speak, if she did, blood would come up not words. Her hands on her lap suddenly dug into her dress like knives.

  She could feel herself getting tired.

  She swallowed her blood, and continued to eat. It was no longer sweet, just sour and bitter. Like eating sandpaper.

  After she ate most of it. She sat up, smiled and ran out. She raced down the hallway, blood dripping like tear drops from the corners of her mouth.

  As she opened the door to her room, she noticed Wren sitting on her nightstand, yellow eyes suddenly wide with fear.

  She ran to her trashcan and spit out all of the blood that dripped from her mouth.

  After most of it was out. She turned to Wren.

  “We’ll have to make a pit-stop on the way.”

  -------------------------------------------

  11:56 pm.

  Athena’s bedroom door was cracked open by her father. He walked over to her. She lay in her bed sleeping soundly, Wren hidden under her bed. Her father sat down on her bed, and kissed her forehead. Before exiting and shutting the door.

  Athena tossed off her blanket. Jumping out of bed. She went over to her door and peeked under it. She could hear her fathers footsteps receding. She grabbed her satchel, putting everything she needed in it. Ares’s journal, diaries, Ann’s journal, and Wren.

  His head was poking underneath the cover of her satchel, and his paws pierced the fabric, he was clinging on. She tied her shoes twice, before peeking open the door. The dark halls were as silent as an empty pond. She shut her door and began to make her way to the kitchen first.

  She silently crept down the halls, about to turn the next corner when-Wren hissed at something. She turned her head, expecting to see just a vase or plant, but no. It was a Nightmare.

  Not a random one. The same one. The same one Athena had faced in a different universe. A different time. It snapped its head around to look at her. Its soulless lit eyes were on her like she was a target board. It had sharper and longer claws, more deadly than ever. Athena couldn’t even exhale before its claw was an inch from her eye.

  Luckily, she tripped over the carpet and hit the floor. The claw swung above, barely cutting a mere eyelash off Athena. Using all the strength she had, as she fell, she kicked her feet up and kicked the Nightmare in the back. Athena tumbled on her back, flipping herself backwards. The Nightmare shrieked in pain, before crouching with anger. Athena got back on her feet, eyes flickering dimly with resolution. Wren leapt out of her bag and unsheathed his claws. He arched his back and lashed his tail. Athena was expecting him to change into the monster–thingy, or hybrid? Whatever you would call it, she hoped he would morph into it.

  And just as luck would have it. He grew to about the size of a tiger, a giant horn began to grow out of his head. And another set of paws grew from the sides of his stomach. He gave a low growl and circled the Nightmare.

  The Nightmare continued to circle Wren. Athena needed to help. No one had made a move yet, but Athena wanted to help Wren if blood was shed.

  She looked to a hallway a little way down, looking for maybe a vase, or something! But no, no vase, no something. Just a coffee table, and a tea tray. Wait, thought Athena, The tea tray! Athena raced down the hallway like she’d done oh-so-many times, and grabbed the tray. She slammed it on her knee and shattered part of the tray. She picked up a sharp piece and shoved it in her pocket, and took the other half of the tray(now with sharp edges) and ran back down the hallway.

  Wren had been fighting the Nightmare. He leapt and barreled on top of the Nightmare. It growled and clawed his side. Wren hissed and bucked him from behind. As the Nightmare lunged to blind Wren. Athena ran in and sliced its eyes. It yowled and slammed her to the ground. Blood stained her newly ripped dress. Wren growled and pierced the Nightmare’s neck, it went falling with a thud. As the dead body went limp, Athena staggered back up. Wren helped balance her, and when she was balanced he returned to normal. He crawled on her shoulder, hiding in her hair. Blood dripped from the side of his stomach. Athena reached into her bag and pulled out a handkerchief. She grabbed him gently and wrapped her handkerchief around him.

  He purred as she set him back on her shoulder.

  “Ok, maybe for now we should avoid them, if there's any more.”

  -------------------------------------------

  Athena continued to walk down the hallways, heading towards the kitchen. She fiddled with the shard of glass in her pocket. Hands shaky but ready to use. Wren flexed his paws in her shoulder, eyes darting from left to right.

  She finally reached the kitchen door, turning the knob slightly. As she entered the kitchen, she immediately smelt something sour. It was strong, and sharp. It felt like even smelling whatever it was could make her nosebleed. And it almost did.

  Wren cloaked her nose and mouth with his fluffy tail. She turned her head slightly.

  “Thank you Wren.”

  She continued her search, if her guess was correct, it would be either in the trash or in a cabinet, stashed behind some spices and maybe sugar.

  Athena crept over to a cabinet opening it. She rummaged through the spices and herbs, trying to see for anything out of the ordinary.

  She searched cabinet after cabinet, but found nothing. Then she checked the trash cans.

  Suddenly, even through Wren’s tail she could smell the scent. As she reached the bottom, she touched something that felt like glass.

  She pulled it out to reveal a small glass bottle. The beige label was almost peeled off, on purpose or accident? She almost couldn’t read the streaked ink.

  Ro??s??e??m??a??r??y?? ??v??e??n??o??m??

  Rosemary venom. The name even sounded sour-like in her mind. Now she needed to do research on this poison, just to see if it was deadly or not.

  She took the bottle with her, the ebony liquid swishing in the bottle. Athena was about to run out, when she heard someone coming in. She grabbed a cup off the counter and hid behind a counter. Athena peeked above the counter to see who it was. It wasn’t just one person, it was two.

  Her mother and a cook. The same cook who had brown curls that covered her eyes. But this once, Athena could see her eyes, and fear twinkled in them like stars.

  Her mother had cornered the poor woman until the woman’s back was against a cupboard.

  “Where is it?” Her mother hissed.

  “Eudoria–please, you must believe me!It was right in the trash where you asked me to put it!” The woman squeaked.

  “That is Queen Eudoria to you! Now listen, Melissa, the tea tray that was shattered in the hall wasn’t by the creature, oh no. It was someone else. I know it. Go get General Elizabeth, make her send guards to check the halls. You're dismissed.” Her mother hissed at Melissa.

  How did Melissa know mothers real name? And how will I make it through the halls with the guards scouring around?! Athena tossed the cup around in her hand.

  But immediately regretted it as it fell to the floor.

  Melissa and Eudoria turned their heads, Meslissa began to walk over. Wren leapt off her shoulder, and sat down. Athena petted his head as she ran over somewhere else. She suddenly hid herself in a cupboard drawer.

  She peeked out one of the doors to see through it. She could hear the muffled conversation.

  Melissa found Wren, and grabbed him aggressively by the scruff.

  “It's a cat, Eu–I mean Queen Eudoria.” She held up Wren.

  He meowed innocently, blinking his glassy yellow eyes, and flicking his tail.

  Her mother scoffed. “Get rid of it!I can’t believe this, who lets a cat into a kitchen?Outrageous!” Her voice faded away as she exited. The door slammed behind her.

  Melissa sighed, then scowled at the cat. Before opening the backdoor to the outside courtyard and violently tossing him outside. He let out a scared squeak, as the door slammed.

  As Melissa left, Athena immediately ran out of the cupboard to let him back in. She slowly opened the door, and let him crawl back onto her shoulder.

  Rain battered down outside, soaking Wren’s fur.

  He clung to her dress like it was a lifeline, shaking his drenched fur. He began to lick his paw and clean his fur as she exited. She stuck the bottle in her pocket.

  She began to make her way to the door, hurrying up the stairs. Athena peeked open the door, Melissa was a little way down, probably heading to the servants quarters. She was murmuring something to herself. Something about Eudoria, and stupid cat, and other stuff Athena couldn’t hear.

  Athena looked to the left and right, before making her way to the attic. Maybe Melissa wasn’t going to get General Elizabeth.

  The dark halls made Athena feel like she was running in caves blindly. Wren-(now barely dry) meowed on her shoulder.

  She turned her head, patting him gently.

  Before continuing her walk.

  She finally found the stairwell to the attic. As she was about to open the doors, she heard a shriek behind her. Athena turned, curiosity etching at her, what could possibly have made that sound?It sounded horrifying, terrifying, nightmarish.

  And she was right.

  The headless Nightmare was running towards them.

  Before Wren could jump off her to transform, she grabbed him and pushed him in her satchel. He was in no state to fight right now.

  He was still losing blood, maybe she should tie it tighter?He meowed angrily in her satchel but she ignored it. She opened the doors, and slammed them shut, running up the stairwell.

  Suddenly it felt like the stairs had grown taller, and Athena had grown smaller. The Nightmare growled at the door, slashing the door repeatedly. Athena could hear the wood chipping away, so she needed to hurry.

  After what seemed like ages, she found the attic doors. But as luck would have it, the Nightmare finally had opened the door, and now it was rampaging up the stairs.

  Athena tried to open the door to the attic, but it was like it wouldn’t budge, was she too small?

  No, she opened it before, she can do it again!

  Using all her strength, she took three steps back, and used her shoulder to slam it open. The door swung open, making a loud bang on the wall. Though her shoulder ached, she immediately went to shut it and lock it.

  As she locked the door, she jumped due to the Nightmare clawing on the door now. The door thumped once, then twice, then continued.

  THUMP.

  THUMP.

  THUMP.

  Until, silence. Had it left? Did it truly leave?Athena didn’t want to test her theory out so she left it be. She brought up an old, rickety chair to hold it shut. Very unsure it would hold the door, but no other options.

  Then, she began her research. Wren trotted off her shoulder, and rested on another chair, flicking his tail with boredom. Athena raced to a shelf, searching for entries, and diaries. And she practically found every diary she didn’t need.

  Juniper Krow.

  Kyla Houdich.

  Marvyn Dervik.

  Calvin Tosswood.

  No one she was looking for. She could look for more diaries from Ares and Ann later, for now she could look for the Rosemary venom research books. If there were any in here, if not she could look in the library tomorrow.

  She searched the isles, the long windows flickered with crystal rain drops. Wren sat bundled up, almost asleep. Athena, when searching found an oil lamp nearby, she clicked it on and placed it near Wren.

  The dim orange light flickered along his calico pelt. As the crystal rain drops battered down on the window, creating a harp-like rhythm.

  After searching countless aisles, she found it.

  Venoms and Poisons. By Martha Dyvin.

  She pulled the book from the shelf and headed back over to her little area by the door. She crossed her legs beside the chair and flipped open the book.

  She searched for Rosemary venom, assuming it would be at the end if it was in alphabetical order. And–she was correct.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Rosemary Venom.

  Rosemary Venom is a widely used venom commonly found in forests and large wooded areas. It is called‘ Rosemary Venom’ because of the rosemary color of the venom. Rosemary Venom has a (if consumed) has a sour and bitter taste. Rosemary Venom (if injected) can feel like fire burning in your veins, symptoms and effects of this may turn your veins black if starting at childbirth.

  The effects of the venom are not fatal but need to be taken notice of. Side effects include:

  Sleepiness.

  Coughing up blood.

  Vomit.

  And(if not treated) possible times of difficulty of breathing.

  Rosemary Venom is extracted by a Rosemary beetle. When said beetle dies, a fungus from its blood system begins to grow on it.

  This fungus is what makes it toxic. If you touch said fungus immediately, at once you must find a medic.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Athena finished the page. Her veins were black, she matched 2/4 of the symptoms. Maybe she could see an antidote on the next page?

  She flipped it. Nothing.

  It wouldn’t matter, she wouldn’t be here for long anyway. She grabbed her satchel and shoved the book in there, deciding to continue her search for the journals.

  She finally got back up and walked back down the same aisles and shelves. Still nothing.

  Athena was about to give up when her foot hit something. She kneeled down to see a chest. The lockhole was empty and it rattled when she tried to lift the top.

  She looked nearby for a key that could maybe unlock it, but the floors were empty except for dust and old ripped out papers.

  Athena searched among the scattered notes and old books, when she found a key. She put it in the key hole, and rattled it some.

  The lock clicked, and Athena slowly opened it.

  She found one journal inside. What about it made it need to be so secret?

  Athena picked it up and read the title.

  Chronicles of Ares’s Ledger,

  Written by Ares.

  Athena flipped the page, it was another one of Ares!

  She read the page.

  Dear diary, it has been 3 years since I’ve seen Athena. I hope she's well.

  My mother said she never wants me in her sight again. I now live with a lady named Melissa in the servants quarters. She's very nice,

  Melissa said she used to be friends with my mother, until she became queen.

  I guess being royalty does occasionally have its downsides.

  But anyways, I’ve been meaning to tell Melissa about me leaving, I don’t think I’ll be able to stay with her any longer.

  I won’t be leaving the castle, I still don’t trust mother. But, I’m not going to say where I’ll be going, if anyone else finds this.

  An explanation finally came into Athena’s mind. Maybe that's why the Nightmares were in the halls. But that would mean Ares is alive, and Athena could find him.

  He would believe her!

  She shoved the book in her bag, and ran over back to Wren. She grabbed the oil lamp and gently put Wren in her bag.

  A new mission was set,

  finding Ares.