“Memories are the key not to the past, but to the future.”

  Corrie Ten Boom, Dutch Author

  The Academy’s residence reminded Milly of the homes at Research Station Omega, only this one was a single, massive building three stories high and far grander in stature. Comprised of solid white marble and colorful glass mosaics, it looked like a palace meant for a king rather than the collective home of the Archipelago Research Alliance’s best and brightest.

  Situated at the far edge of the Academy, the palace contained hundreds upon hundreds of living quarters, each with an unobstructed, eastern-facing view of the great sea beyond their narrow island. The window shutters – thrown open to catch the salty ocean breeze – had none of the wear and tear she seen at Hephaestus’ father’s home.

  The upkeep of the palace is flawless. Even with my enhanced perception, I can’t see a single spot with peeling paint or chipped glass.

  The western facing side of the complex was comprised of open-air corridors that allowed access to the rooms and easy movement between them. Exterior staircases gave access to the upper corridors, which were filled with stone benches and potted plants that faced towards the courtyard and the Academy’s many classrooms, libraries, and laboratories.

  It resembled a Greek palace mixed with a Mexican resort, though Milly had only ever seen such things in books.

  There were a few rooms still lit with candlelight despite the late hour – researchers so engrossed in their work that comforts such as sleep were secondary to their pursuit of knowledge. The gentle murmur of late-night conversations wafted into the interconnected courtyard of the campus. Ornate fountains and perfectly manicured gardens dotted the landscape. Colorful pathways – each telling a different story of their history – wove their way from building to building – wonder to wonder. Small amphitheaters were scattered throughout the grounds which, at daybreak, would fill with researchers ready to teach and students eager to learn.

  Hephaestus picked his way carefully through the interconnected courtyards, cautious to stay out of sight. Milly – soaring high above him, hidden within a cloud of her own making – watched him duck low outside open windows and turn a corner if he heard someone coming.

  She didn’t get the impression Hephaestus was trespassing on the grounds – in fact, he carried keys to the gates he passed through. But it was clear he wasn’t supposed to be seen – a quiet, out-of-sight second-class citizen that kept the Academy running without being noticed.

  It wasn’t like that at Research Station Omega, but there were so few of them. Here, it seems that class dynamic is entrenched in their society.

  Eventually, Hephaestus turned off the main courtyard path and bounded up one of the staircases to the second floor. Milly, her cloud visible against the full moon, watched him tiptoe across the tile and tentatively – apologetically – crack open the door to Oracle’s residence and step inside.

  Milly waited until she heard the click of the closed door before she abandoned her cloud and descended to the room’s eastern balcony. A quick snap of her fingers created a thin marble shelf just beside the open balcony doors – close enough to peek inside but stay out of view. Milly landed on the shelf and settled in to eavesdrop.

  “Hephy, is that you?” came Oracle’s sleepy groan from the bed. “How’s your father?”

  “He still grieves for my mother,” came Hephaestus’ whispered reply as he quietly removed his boots and placed them onto the mat. He sat at the edge of the bed, and it creaked under his weight. “I fear he has no desire to move on from that grief either.”

  Milly peeked through the balcony entrance. The young, golden-hair woman with bright orange eyes had sat up in bed and wrapped a supportive arm around Hephaestus’ waist. Wearing a thin lacy nightgown that dipped low off her shoulders, she leaned up and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek.

  This was Oracle – the goddess Milly had seen in the first memory orb on the beach. Only this woman didn’t have the intense hidden power Milly had felt even through a memory. She appeared weak. Almost frail.

  “You’ll introduce us soon?” Oracle prompted Hephaestus, leaning her head against his chest. “I want to meet him.”

  “You will, Oracle. I promise,” Hephaestus sighed, stroking her golden hair. “I wanted him to be in a better place when you met him… but I’m not sure that’s going to happen anymore. Mom’s death hit him hard.”

  Curious, Milly activated her Detect Life talent. A blinding flash of intense light shot forth from Oracle, as if Milly had just stared directly at the sun. She turned off her talent and ducked back around the corner, rubbing her eyes until her vision returned and the black spots faded.

  She’s not like Hephaestus and the others. She’s not tethered to the black orb. It’s actually her – the goddess. Luna’s mother. I can see it now – Luna’s resemblance to Oracle and Hephaestus. Oracle made Luna in their image. A true daughter. Only Oracle doesn’t remember Luna. She doesn’t remember anything.

  “Did you get any sleep?” Hephaestus asked as Oracle tried to stifle a yawn.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “I… don’t want to fall asleep without you,” Oracle admitted, her fear evident in her tone. “And the medical team needs someone to record my… screams.”

  “We’ll figure this out, love,” Hephaestus comforted as he lay down on the bed and guided her to do the same. They lay together, staring into each other’s eyes. “You’re going to be okay, I promise.”

  He can’t help her. But maybe… maybe I can.

  The room grew silence, and Milly waited until the gentle snoring of the lovers reverberated through their bedroom. Withdrawing the Oracle Tear from her inventory, she leapt gracefully onto the balcony and glided into the room, floating an inch off the marble tile to stay silent.

  I could leave her here, in the arms of her lover and future husband. Blissfully ignorant of the lives they once led. It would be a kindness. But… it would also be a mistake. I wear her Gown of Moon and Stars. Her Spectacles of Hidden Design. I named her daughter. There is so much that connects us and, coincidence or not, it is a connection that might help my family survive. Cally, Passi, Rain… all our lives might depend on what is locked away within her mind and within her Tears.

  She approached the bed, and saw the slumbering Oracle nestled in her lover’s arms, muttering in her sleep. Milly clutched the Tear in her palm, took a deep breath, and held the Tear towards Oracle.

  Nothing happened.

  What the hell? Is there an on switch? Maybe it needs to actually touch her? I… shit!

  Oracle’s eyes shot open, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.

  “It can’t fail! The thirteenth! The cycle must end, and the Nexus must be restored,” Oracle shouted to no one. “Hephaestus, how could you leave me behind? Our daughter… she was to be our child…”

  Hephaestus shot up at the sound of Oracle’s screams and reached for the notebook on his end table. He began to frantically write down what Oracle was shouting, until he spotted Milly standing over his beloved.

  “Umm… hello,” Milly said with an awkward wave. The tear began to shine with soft blue light.

  Hephaestus shot forward, leaning across Oracle’s screaming form, and grasped Milly’s wrist tightly, to pry the Tear from her hand.

  She barely felt Hephaestus’ grip.

  Shit, so much for doing this the easy way.

  “Who are you? What’re you doing in our room?” Hephaestus shouted over Oracle’s yells. “You! You were at the tavern tonight. What did you do to my lover?”

  “I’m here to help her,” Milly said calmly, as she gently but firmly pried Hephaestus’ fingers from her wrist one-by-one. His eyes grew wide at her show of strength, but it wasn’t enough to dissuade him.

  Hephaestus tried to leap over Oracle to tackle the witch, but he’d hardly moved when Milly pushed him back down to the bed with her telekinesis. The massive Oriane struggled against the invisible bonds, frantic with protective fury.

  “Please, calm down Hephaestus. I’m not here to hurt you or Oracle,” Milly insisted, trying to salvage her plan gone wrong.

  “Calm down? What did you do to me? What are you doing to her? Are you responsible for her nightmares? Someone help! Someone mmmfff…”

  Milly snapped her fingers and, reluctantly, formed a muzzle of air over Hephaestus’ mouth to stop his cries for help. No matter how loud he screamed, all that emerged were whispers.

  An expensive little spell, but useful. Sorry Hephaestus, but this is too important to play fair.

  The Tear flashed, and Oracle, still half-conscious, suddenly stopped her screams and was drawn towards it, recognition in her eyes.

  That’s it. Come on, Oracle.

  “What… what is that?” Hephaestus stammered, still struggling against his bonds.

  Milly lifted the Tear off her palm with telekinesis and floated it over to Oracle. It hung before her, captivating the goddess who stared at it with wide-eyes.

  “A piece of her,” answered Milly sympathetically. “A piece of who she really is.”

  Oracle reached out for the Tear with both hands, like a child reaching for their mother. The Tear broke free of Milly’s telekinetic magic and shot forward, burying itself into Oracle’s forehead. The goddess screamed – so loud that Milly had to muzzle her as well – and she collapsed on the bed.

  Hephaestus struggled violently against his bonds and Milly, afraid he might hurt himself, released her telekinetic hold. He knelt over Oracle’s prone form.

  “She’s… she’s alive,” Hephaestus said with utter relief. Milly could see the man trembling as fear began to overwhelm anger. “What did you do to her?”

  Milly touched Oracle’s shoulder and channeled Healer’s Touch. The goddess’ breath steadied, and her body relaxed. The healing traveled through Oracle and into Hephaestus, and the man stammered in shock as old scars and injuries began to heal.

  “The Tear was always hers. I’m just… well, the delivery person, I suppose,” Milly answered. “I’m hopeful it will restore some of her memories – or at least stabilize her mind enough to stop the nightmares. There are probably more Tears out there – more fragments of her mind to restore. But this will be a start.”

  Milly sat down on the side of the bed to appear non-threatening. “But we won’t really know anything until she wakes up.”

  Hephaestus watched as a scar across the back of his hand faded away in a matter of seconds. Oracle was calmer now – soundly sleeping for the first time in days.

  “I don’t suppose there’s any change this is just a drunken fever dream?” Hephaestus asked hopefully.

  Milly gave him a sympathetic chuckle. “I’m afraid not. It’s all terribly real – for all of us.”

  “Just what is going on?”

  Milly rose from the bed, her healing complete. She glanced at the yet-to-be god with sympathy as he clutched his lover’s hand tightly.

  “She’ll be asleep for a while. Come, Hephaestus, join me on the balcony, and I’ll explain what I can.”

  Milly floated over and plopped herself down on one of the balcony chairs. Lifting her veil, she gazed out at the beautiful, moonlit ocean and wondered if their real home had been as beautiful as this artificial one, or if Cizen had embellished it. She took a deep breath of cool, salty air, trying to calm her anxious heart.

  Well, that was a disaster, Milly. You get an F for stealth. But it got the job done. I hope. I guess all that’s left is to wait and see if it worked.

  There was a loud crack from inside the bedroom, and Hephaestus joined her on the balcony. He slouched his massive form into the stone chair beside Milly and lay a makeshift club on the ground beside him – a leg torn off the wooden chair at Oracle’s desk.

  “You can keep it with you if it makes you feel better,” Milly commented without taking her eyes off the ocean. With her toughness, she was certain he could smash her over the head with it and she’d barely feel the blow. “I don’t mean you or Oracle any harm. I’m just trying to help and get home to my family.”

  Hephaestus gave a harumph and left the club where it was. He studied the witch, and, to his credit, barely flinched when he saw her unveiled face.

  “I am no researcher,” he started, his voice stoic. “I am just a simple maintenance worker. But I shall do my best to understand what has happened to the woman I love. I am ready.”

  Milly took a deep breath and began.

  “Let me tell you about the God Contest…”

  The Non-Canonical Aftermath: