Zeus tossed and turned around in his bed, lost in his new recurring nightmare.
His lightning shadows swirled around him, extending and spreading without exceeding his room.
He was in a dark place that was almost like purgatory, darkness spreading endlessly in every direction with no hope of light.
He heightened his eyes, and began running, taking several twists and turns. This maze was not new to him.
He paused suddenly, walking cautiously across the floor so that he will not trigger any trap.
Far ahead inside a cell covered in darkness, Raven sat huddled, her head buried between her knees, her hands wrapped tightly around her legs.
"Raven." Zeus called it to her, his voice echoing, but she did not react. He tried to get closer, but the distance kept increasing like it always did. "Raven, its me Zeus."
He knew her to be strong and fearless, but in there she looked weak and small.
"Raven, wake up." He screamed, running through when he bypassed all the traps. He heard the sound of chains dragging through the floor, but he paid no heed.
He ran into it, the chains tying around him while he tried to escape his grip, and then flinging him back to the far end.
He sat up quickly, his fists clenched tightly. He stopped, his brows squeezing in confusion.
Dark purple light -almost black- surrounded Raven, with thin strands of light within, all of them floating up slowly disappearing into the ceiling. It was her divine essence, her core energy.
He was shocked, this was the first time he was noticing such.
He stood up and raced towards her, but the distance increased.
He turned his lightning into a rope, and threw it towards the bars, the ends wrapping around it tightly.
He lifted from the ground, the rope shortening, bringing him closer to the cell.
"Raven, can you hear me? Get up quickly, they are draining you."
He heard a viscous growl, a large beast from passage on the right side of him, hitting him to the other end before he had the chance to move.
Zeus moved back, as creatures began forming from the darkness, beasts greater than the ones he had seen in the dome, their teeth's sharp and jagged, their eyes a bright shade of red.
He stood up and manifested his staff, lightning crackling around him together with the shadows.
One snarled at him, lunging at him when he did not retreat, and he fought it with all his might, destroying it. But it only dispersed, and came back together.
The others came for him, many more forming from the darkness and joining the rest.
"Shit." He exclaimed, fighting them.
They regenerated the more he destroyed, their claws striking him, leaving deep cuts on his body. He tried to push them forward so that he could get to where Raven was, but it was no use. They walked on the walls and pulled him back.
"Raven, can't you hear me?"
The beasts pulled him down to the ground, surrounding him. He tried to use his staff to deter them, but they all snarled at him.
He looked up, his face a picture of shock as a beast jumped and landed on him.
His power exploded, destroying them all.
He watched them regenerate again, and blasted them off.
He ran to her cell, shaking her frantically. "Get up. We have to get out of here." But she was still, like she had been sealed in.
A pair of claws tore into him, as he fired a little amount of power at her.
He saw her head raise, their eyes locking as he was pulled away. "RAVEN." He called, his hands stretching out to her.
He woke up, his chest panting rapidly.
He turned on his bedside lamp, inhaling deeply as he sat up on his bed, and gently dispelling the air from his system.
He sat still for a while, his body drenched in sweat as he waited for his breathing to even out.
The memories of the dream clung to him, new scars on his skin as a reminder of what had just transpired.
He flipped his blanket over, getting out of his bed into his bathroom.
He splashed cold water on his face, leaning on the sink and staring into the mirror as the water dripped down his face into his clothes.
'Its just a dream.' He reminded himself, but he knew it was otherwise.
He moved away from it, going into his shower cubicle, and took a shower, heading downstairs once he was done dressing up.
It was still dark outside, too early for breakfast.
He walked through the main door, intending to take a walk around the grounds, when he noticed many new security guards patrolling the perimeter, their divine weapons in plain sight.
'What was going on?'
"Hephis." He called, turning to their butler who stood discreetly at a corner. "What is going on? What is with the many new faces?"
He asked, pointing towards the guards.
Hephis looked at him somberly. "There was an attack yesterday evening sir. The assailant fired near the palace, and so the lady called and informed the chief security guard to increase the security detail."
"Really?"
"Yes." Hephis continued. "A few were killed, and several were injured."
Zeus hesitated, a flicker of concern crossing his face. "I will be going for a walk." He said firmly.
Hephis nodded, his eyes watchful. "I will inform the guards, Sir. Please make sure to stay within the palace grounds."
And Zeus walked away.
*** ***
It was still around the first watch when Serine assisted by Merva made their way down the corridor heading for Serine's chambers.
Merva's hands were wrapped around Serine's waist to support her weight, as Serine walked slowly, her movements labored.
Merva saw the concern on the face of one of the guards that patrolled at night. "She is fine." Merva said to the woman reassuringly. "She just needs some rest."
When they got to Serine's door, Serine placed her hand on the door knob releasing the force that kept it locked. The door swung open, and Merva guided Serine in, towards her bed.
The surface of the water shimmered in the dark. Serine sank into the water with a sigh, her body resting against the jelly bed inside.
Merva hovered over Serine, her hand entering the water to help smoothen the hair from her forehead, and also out of curiosity.
She lifted her hand out of the water, the liquid falling off her hand like paper.
'Wow.' She said In her mind.
The exhaustion, and creases on Serine's face began to release, and she turned over on her bed, her face in her pillow.
Merva moved away from Serine's bed, her gaze sweeping across the place.
Her exhaustion was also kicking in.
She spotted a couch and walked to it, sinking into the softness as she lay down.
The room grew quiet, the only sounds around being the soft him of Serine's bed.
Merva's eyes closed, her breathing slowing down as she drifted into a place in her mind.
Her eyes opened up quickly.
'Minerva.' She called, standing up.
She was in a sterile white place with darkness at the edges.
'Merva i am okay..' She heard Minerva reply immediately, a mirror image of her appearing.
'What of you?' Minerva asked back.
'I am okay.' Merva replied.
They both hugged each other and parted.
'What happened yesterday?' Merva probed, she was concerned.
'I am not sure. I woke up in that cold place, and before I could regain my bearings, something fired at me. It was trying to kill me.' Minerva replied.
'What?' Merva exclaimed, why would anyone fire at Minerva. 'Did you find out who it was?'
'I tried searching for it, but I could not find where it was coming from.'
This was a serious issue, Merva and Minerva looked at each other, Merva thinking about it, but she had no reasonable reply.
'But how did we get separated?' Minerva asked her, her face marred by confusion.
'It must be because of the realms separating from Dogan. I think that is why.'
It was truly plausible, they both agreed on that. And besides, there was no other reasonable answer to this.
'But it hurt you didn't it? I felt your pain when I came back.'
'Maybe it is because the realms are not yet free from Dogan. We will know in a few days time when the seal is fully broken.'
And that was the end of that.
Minerva smiled fondly, reminiscing about her own independent form.
'What?' Minerva asked.
'You should have seen me yesterday. I saw my own form, I think its better than yours.'
They began bantering about it, throwing insults at one another. The situation escalating to them wanting to prove it.
Merva stood up from the couch, walking into the door by Serine's vanity. There, they could fully see themselves.
Minerva partially separated from her, standing inside of the mirror.
It was her own reflection, but with a different color of hair, and more defined facial features.
'We look almost the same.' Merva remarked, the both of them laughing in wonder.
Minerva shifted suddenly, her wings down, her hand flat against the mirror with her talons going up, and her intimidating horns completing the picture.
She looked at Merva, waiting for her to do the same. And Merva did.
Their differences did not stop at their hair and softer features on their face.
Their horns, and wings were all different.
Minerva's horns were more prominent and intimidating, while Merva's own was more subdued.
Merva's wings were also different, her own had real feathers instead of shadows.
'No wonder the transformation hurt so much, I was bearing pain for two.' Minerva said, checking out if there was any other difference. She shifted her talons for a moment. 'Ah. No wonder, you got kitten talons.' Minerva commented, laughing.
'MINERVA!!!' Merva screamed in her head, laughing as Minerva struggled between closing her ears and not.
'What was that for? I can hear you loud and clear, you didn't have to scream.'
'But you called my talons kitten talons. An eye for an eye.' Merva laughed again. 'That must have hurt.'
'Should I try it on you?' Minerva threatened.
'No. No don't.'
The mood changed into a sentimental one, their hands placed on each others own.
'You took after Mother.' Merva commented.
'And you took after Father. Well... You almost did,' Minerva said. 'Since we mostly look like mother, but we got his eyes.'
'We did.' Merva repeated, sniffling.