The Rise of Venus

Alas, Victory!

Song: Lord of the Rings Music and Ambiance by Ambient Worlds

"We must move quickly," Fergus ordered. "The Autumnal Equinox is almost at its end."

My heart leaped to my throat and I sprung to my feet. After making sure the guys were able to carry Reign and Sky, I herded everyone out the cottage. As we trampled through the forest, the blaring white sky became brighter until I was forced to look away. If this was the signal for a day coming to an end in the outside world then I wasn't keen on wasting another minute.

Fergus urged us into the riverboat, using his magick to take us across. The ride was rocky with how wild the river was rushing and I constantly slammed into Flora.

"Make sure not to let any of it get into your mouth," Fergus warned us. As he spoke a light spray of river water showered us with the enchanted liquid. I kept my mouth clamped shut.

"How did you enchant the river to test us like that?" I asked.

"I didn't," Fergus replied. "Neptune did."

I whirled around, stunned by how the old God was involved in this. "Neptune?"

"Neptune is the God of all waters. Enchanted or not," he explained. "The water in that river, it shows you your deepest desires. And then, at the last minute, it takes it all away."

Why did that sound familiar?

"Neptune's Mirror!" I gasped at the sudden realization. When we reached the shore I helped Leo carry Reign out before he tossed him over his shoulder.

Fergus explained that Neptune actually created his mirror using water from the river. Neptune's Mirror showed whoever gazed upon it their hearts desires. It also took it away once the user dared to hope it would be real.

"If that's true, then why didn't Catherine go mad when she looked into the mirror?" I asked. "Or you for that matter."

Neptune's Mirror was literally in the bedroom they once shared. How had they gone all that time looking into it day by day and not have lost their minds?

"We both already had all that our hearts desired," Fergus said. His quiet voice broke at the end but he showed no other signs of breaking. Much like Pride, his walls of protection were back up. "The mirror can't tempt you if there's nothing to tempt you with."

Meaning that we would have to be especially careful with who we sent to retrieve it. Each of us were drawn to individual artifacts that brought out the worst in us

I craved the Dagger of the Mind because I desired knowledge. Sky wanted the Ring of Love to manipulate whoever to love her back. Most likely her father. Pride was drawn to the Blade of War because of his loyalty to his Pack. With the blade by his side he'd never lose another battle; all victories would belong to him at the cost of his own life. Reign succumbed to The Chronicle, damned by his own love of reading and curiosity.

With none of us interested in the Apple of Eternal Life, that only left three artifacts to tempt Flora and Leo. The Slippers of Discipline, Neptune's Mirror, and the Ever Burning Torch. With Jack dead, it complicated things by trying to riddle out which artifact would've called to him. Flora, in my opinion, was a bit of a wild card. Would she be tempted by the slippers that could bend anyone to her command? Or would she reach for the torch that promised the light of rebellion never died?

I didn't know.

However, the one thing I was sure of was that Neptune's Mirror would be Leo's artifact to overcome.

I learned from Leo's journal and his mannerisms. The topics that made his smile fall were cemented in my brain. I didn't know everything about my Mate. But I knew enough to know that if Leo looked in that mirror, he would see Ava. Not as the sick girl that killed herself when they were pups. But more as the little sister he watched the sunrise with and shared milkshakes.