"Ash!" Styxx threw open the doors to the marbled temple, his chest tight in panic. Panic that he hadn't felt in a long time. Panic that only happened when he lost someone dear to him.

It took a few minutes before Acheron appeared before his brother. Styxx froze instantly, seeing the paleness in Acheron's skin.

No, no, no. What is happening?The twins stared at each other for what seemed like eternity before Ash spoke.

"You can feel it too?" Ash's silver eyes held anguish.

Styxx had to lick his dry lips just so he could speak. "What happened? What's going on, brother?"

Ash quickly crossed the few feet between the two of them. Reaching out, Ash jerked him into his arms and they held onto each other for a full minute.

"Marissa was taken," Ash whispered. "And no one knows who took her. We thought it was Stryker, but Apollymi has confirmed that he wasn't anywhere near the human realm when she was taken."

Ash felt his brother freeze in his arms. He knew the Chthonian in him was demanding justice.

"We have to find her." Styxx said in a ragged breath.

"We will." Ash pulled back from him. "And when we do, we are going to tear that bastard apart."

Styxx nodded in agreement. "We need an army."

"The Dark-Hunters have been rounded up. They're all willing to help."

Styxx shook his head before his brother could finish his sentence. "No, Ash. I'm talking about a real army. Beth will help us. The Egyptian Gods will help us."

"Styxx, we could be creating a war between pantheons."

The doors flew open, barely hanging onto their hinges.

Ash gaped as Set stormed into his domain, fury radiating off of him.

"Is it true?" Set demanded, his eyes dark.

Styxx and Ash gaped at each other before gaping back at Set. Beth rushed in, hair flying everywhere as she ran. "I'm sorry!" She squeaked at the men. "I knew something was wrong with the way Styxx flashed out so I asked my father to come to find out what was wrong! I didn't mean for this to happen!"

"Is it true?" The god repeated.

"Yes." Styxx finally spoke. "Depending on what you're asking that is. Yes, our sister is gone. Yes, I ate the last batch of cookies that Beth baked."

Bethany coughed hard, trying to cover up her laughter.

"The daughter of the destroyer was taken?" Set ignored Styxx's sarcasm.

Acheron sighed, "Yes, she was. We have no idea where she is. We can't track her for some reason."

Set's eyes narrowed, "Let me see what I can do."

Everyone inclined their head to him as he faded out of the room.

"Couldn't he have just flashed in here without destroying this place?" Ash asked sarcastically.

Marissa woke up to the worst headache she had ever had. She didn't even bother opening her eyes. She had to be hung over. It was the only explanation. But she couldn't remember drinking anything.

What kind of a party was I at? I bet Nick was involved. He knows how to party.

Finally, she mustered up enough strength to open her eyes.

Immediately, she regretted it.

The walls around her looked like black wax. It was like someone had melted a giant candle and fashioned this cell out of the leftover wax. The bars looked real, and had spikes all over them.

Am I in hell?

"Yes." A voice spoke from the behind the bars. Slowly, Marissa sat up, her head reeling. Deciding walking wasn't a good idea, she slowly crawled closer to the bars.

"Who are you?"

The person did not move, nor did it speak. Marissa pursed her lips. "Too hard of a question? Okay, are you male, female, or an unknown entity?"

She could feel her unknown person smile, "Male and unknown entity."

Riss snorted, "Oh, so you're the fun type of person."

The man chuckled. "Is there a type that isn't fun?"

Rissa placed her back against a waxy wall and brought her knees to her chest. Wrapping her arms around them, she laughed. "Of course there is. If you're a grumpy person, no one will want to be around you. If you aren't kind to people, everyone will think you're a dick. If you kidnap people, some might hate you." She cut a glance at the shadows, knowing he was out there somewhere. "You understand?"

"Aren't you cute."

Riss huffed in irritation. "I am the night, dammit. There is nothing cute about the night."

She could sense the man frowning at her. "Isn't that a meme?"

For some reason that shocked her. Whoever this man was, he knew about up-to-date things, which meant that he was either old as shit, or young enough to have grown up in her world.

"Yes, it is a meme. How did you know that?"

"I know things."

Apparently.

Marissa tried to find him, but was having issues. The darkness outside of her prison seemed surreal.

"Are you a god, mystery man?"

The air around her became a few degrees cooler. She had hit a button, she was sure of it.

"No."

"You hesitated!" She pointed towards the shadows. "You are a god! Who are you? Hades? Zeus? Apollo?" She hissed the last gods name, knowing the pain it had caused her brothers.

"I sure as Tartarus am not Apollo!" The man was clearly offended. For some reason that made her smile slightly. Thank the Gods for that one small mercy.

Leaning her head against the wall, she sighed. "If you aren't Apollo and are here for revenge, than tell me who you are."

The shadows didn't speak for a few minutes. "I'm afraid I cannot. Just know that you are safe here."

That made her frown. "Safe? From what? The Daimons? I can handle those bastards. I have for years."

"No!" The voice hissed, seemingly closer to her bars. "Not from those pathetic wastes. There's something bigger out there that is after you. But you are safe here, with me."

Over my dead body.

"Safe? I don't even know who you are! How does that make me safe? When my brother's find me-"

"They won't even think to look here. For now, you are stuck with me princess. But soon you'll be free again."

As soon as those oh so comforting words were muttered, Marissa could feel the man pull away.

"Wait!" She shouted, jerking herself to her feet. The second she did, she could feel darkness consuming her. She watched helplessly as the floor rose up to meet her and her world faded away.