Jesse's P.O.V. “Your mother told me you’ve been training with darkness.” Sebastian held me back after class to talk. “Yeah, over the weekend. Umbra and I have been practicing and I’ve gotten it down, mostly.” I felt proud of the fact. It had been a tiring weekend, but it had produced results. Not only that, but it had somehow brought our family closer. Percy handled that part. “Be careful with it tonight. The blood preys on the darkness in your heart, bringing out your darkest desires. Don’t let the darkness call to you when the moon emerges. Surround yourself with good,” he advised. “I’ll take that into account. Thanks for the warning.” I told him. “You seem to be doing better, Jesse. Did that book I gave you help?” I had forgotten all about that damn book, but Sebastian seemed to want to be part of the reason I seemed better, so I let him. I nodded my head. “Yeah, thanks for that.” “I am glad it helped. It is important to know when to ask for help.” “Mhm.” I was slo

Ares’ P.O.V.“I did it, Ares. Last night, I finally did it! I can help Auggie now, so don’t worry, okay?” Andy told me with a smile. I noted the dark circles that encased those sky-blue eyes. She had stayed up late working on this. I didn’t mean to put this kind of pressure on her. I felt guilty, but I really needed her. This is the only way to make sure they stay safe. I'm not prepared to lose her or Auggie.“Please forgive me for asking you to do this in one day. I knew if anyone could do it, it would be you. You’re strong, Andy, one of the strongest people I know. I am not sure how you always keep that smile on your face no matter what is happening, but I hope it never fades. Thank you for your help today, my sweet elf.” I kissed her forehead, hoping to implant those words in her mind. “Any time, my air. I am here for you, whatever you need, whenever you need it.” She flashed me her radiant smile, the one that wrinkled the corner of her eyes. Nova, Auggie, Andy, and I all sat ar

Nova’s P.O.V. Andy gave chase to Ares, and I gave chase to her. We were both being stupid, separating ourselves from our group, just as the witch wants I am sure. I couldn’t help though, thinking of Andy in these dark woods alone. She is strong, but she’s not used to not having a light. She doesn’t have the same darkness inside her as I. I have grown used to the cold chill of darkness when I use my siren. It seeps into your bones and calls for more. It is greedy and cruel, feeding off your darkest impulses. Andy doesn't know how to handle darkness, all she knows is light. Normally, her light can snuff out the darkness, but in a place like this, I don’t think it’s possible. The evil in the air is almost palpable. I can feel it calling to my sea witch siren now, the pull is so strong, growing the dark magic inside me. I had to pause for a moment to focus on pushing it back down. “Nova!” I heard Andy call out to me in the dark. “Andy?” I called out to her again. Her voice sounded

Ares P.O.V. “You’re not the boy I cursed,” the witch said, as she leaned down to inspect me further. Her brows pinched in the center, and her eyes narrowed as she looked at me. She stood forward again, only tightening the grip of the darkness that I could not even budge. I even tried rewinding time on it, but this darkness has always been darkness. All I did was make it more potent by rewinding time on it. I was stuck, wrapped the same way mom wraps her victims in a cocoon of shadows, only this isn’t shadows, it is pure dark evil. “You hold the curse, so you must be his son, and he must be dead. Pity, I wanted to toy with him when he got older. I guess I waited too long,” she sighed like she really was that disappointed. I wanted to speak, to ask all the questions that were racing in my mind, but she had the darkness wrapped around me up to my nose. I am honestly not sure how I am even able to breathe right now. Her eyes continued to scan me, as if to memorize every part of my f

Andy’s P.O.V.I saw Ares run past me, knowing full well what I had to do now. I gave him a warm smile, willing to die for the man that looked like he had just faced death itself. The earth opened beneath me, allowing it to swallow me whole. I caught a glimpse of the darkness trying2 to make its way towards me before I closed the earth over me. I created the same bubble I had done with Nova, only I could make it larger and dig myself deeper, getting further away from the dark. I traveled on in the direction that Jesse and Ares had run, stopping about 50 feet later. This is where Ares said to wait. I counted to 300 before I opened the earth above me, allowing a surprised Auggie to fall in. I closed the earth before us, grabbing his flaming hand with my coated dragon scale hand. His flames still stung me, but not nearly as badly. Auggie shifted back to his human form, to not cause me further pain. “We have to run. She’ll be digging to find us. When we are about 50 feet away, you should