Chapter 2

both have warmth

but will always be

apart

one day the other

appears within the other

like a woman embraced

by man's arms

someday we can be like

that

perhaps in another planet

in another life

in another time

- Ric Bastasa

So...let's recap real quick.

Apparently, I am the reincarnation of the Goddess Nyx. We no longer have daytime because my twin brother Apollo was kidnapped and the day was stolen. I have to find my "consort" Erebus and save the "day".

Easy right? Except I have no idea how to handle any of this information. All I have is this white stone necklace.

"This must be some weird dream I'm having. There's no way all that just happened. Maybe it's sleep paralysis. Yeah! I'm gonna just close my eyes and everything will go back to normal."

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and reopened them. Nothing changed. It was still dark as hell outside. My bad, dark as the "underworld" since I was apparently some goddess.

I walked over to my window and looked outside. There really was no daylight. It looked deserted as well. Not the usual dog walkers, joggers, and students walking to class. I sighed and walked back to my bed.

I don't know how I got chosen to be this reincarnation. I was just a black girl trying to get a good education and live a simple life, maybe get married, have a few kids. I didn't think that was asking for much.

I looked over at the stone necklace again. It was actually really pretty. A smooth white color, shaped like a crescent, and held in a golden cage. I put it on and headed to the bathroom to see how it looked on me. I took three steps and felt a tingling sensation all over my body. I suddenly felt hair on my shoulders?

Panic rose up. I dashed to the bathroom. What I saw in the mirror was not what I was used to seeing. My curly-coily hair had turned a bright white and elongated to bra-strap length. My irises were now a light smokey gray like I was wearing fake contacts. My skin was cleared of blemishes from the past. Okay, I was fine with that change, to be honest. Instead on my skin were little bright marks and patterns.

Constellations.

I had constellations all over my body.

"This can't be happening…" I whispered to myself, touching my face as I stared at the person in the mirror.

"Be quick my daughter, find your consort and save your brother. There's not much time." A voice in my head whispered.

I didn't even know where to start. How do I find my "consort"? Where is my supposed brother?

"Look to the stars my daughter. They will always lead you in the right path…"

The stars…

I looked at my body and the brightest constellation was Cassiopeia on my right thigh. The star on the farthest right shone the brightest. I went into action. Can't go on a journey without packing a few things right?

Backpack ready, I took deep breath and left my apartment. My first step outside in the dark. My eyes immediately went to the sky, searching for Cassiopeia.

"There it is…"

And I was off to save the day.

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Okay, so I didn't know what I actually was doing. I was just following the constellation eastward in the still of the darkness.

At least I was driving, but it sucked not being able to just search an address on GPS and use that as navigation. Watching a constellation's position and watching the road at the same time is highly not recommended.

I somehow made it onto the interstate heading towards downtown Phoenix. I guess my consort lived close to the city?

I had to look up consort before leaving my apartment. From my findings, a consort is a spouse of a monarch, but Nyx made it seem like he would be more like a protector than a lover.

Either way, I couldn't do this whole "save the day" thing without him.

I pulled off the interstate towards downtown and ended up in the wealthiest neighborhood in Phoenix. Encanto Park.

I drove past a house and felt my heart jump. I stopped and reversed the car. I looked up at the sky and noticed the constellation finally dimmed to the same brightness as the other stars. This had to be it.

I looked at myself in the car mirror. I sighed, I definitely did not look like I could just walk up to that front door. I tied up my white hair and covered up my body with a spare blanket in my car. I couldn't have him freaking out about all the constellations tracing my body.

Moment of truth. I got out of the car, up the walkway and to the front door. Another deep breath. I knocked on the door, hoping it was a guy who lived by himself.

The door slowly opened and a gorgeous man poked his head out suspiciously.

"Hey, um, I'm Kamaria and I think you're my consort."