We stood in the presence of The Three Oracles of Wrathful Vengeance, and it scared the living crap out of me. Last time I was here, I forgot my entire life.

"I won the bet! Y'all owe me big time," Promise said.

"What bet?" Echo asked.

"We do it for wars, people, conflicts, etc.," a voice whispered.

Winter was her name if I remembered correctly. I couldn't forget her striking green eyes and white hair.

"You didn't have to tell them that," the hooded oracle said.

"Nightfall, lower your hood for our guests," Promise said.

Nightfall analyzed us, and her glance stopped at Valentine. She sighed and lowered her hood.

Her curly ebony hair framed her face, and yellow eyes contrasted her blue-tinted skin. She was supernatural, a real monster.

"Don't stare," Nightfall said.

"We need to get out of here," Dusk said.

"You have to give something up," Winter said.

"They've lost enough," Promise said.

"Rules are rules," Winter said.

"I'll offer you a deal," Echo said. "Take my memories, and give Raven hers."

Winter chuckled. "I won't accept that."

"Her memories are influential, Winter," Nightfall said.

"And she doesn't even remember her name" Promise said.

"You know my name?" I asked.

Nightfall nodded. "We're not obliged to tell you."

"That wouldn't be fun to watch," Winter said.

"We have enough time to talk to y'all," Promise said, "I'll take Dusk and Cora."

Dusk and Cora stepped forward and followed Promise, awkwardly glaring at each other.

"I thought she'd take us," I said.

"Me too..." Echo said.

"I'll take the cat," Nightfall said.

Valentine jumped from Éclair's arms and followed her.

"Echo and Raven," Winter pointed at us.

"That was assumed," Arvin said.

Echo and I followed Winter towards another part of the forest.

"Cold enough for you?" Winter asked.

"Why did you want to talk to us?" Echo asked.

"You're meant to fulfill the prophecy. My sister won't make it easy for you," Winter said.

"You and Nightfall are sisters?" Echo asked.

Winter nodded. "Promise replaced our older sister after she was killed."

"By my mother?" Echo asked.

"Her top assassin. He's after you next," Winter said.

"Why?" I asked.

"If you had your memories back, you'd know," Winter said.

"Isn't that against your rules?" Echo asked.

Winter chuckled."Nightfall broke many rules already."

Winter went to a glowing waterfall and filled a bottle.

"What's that?" Echo asked.

"Drink it when you're ready," Winter breathed into the bottle, "You'll get your memories and learn what we told you."

Echo took my hand, and I drank the liquid.

Memories flashed before my eyes; sounds whirled around me.

"That painting's beautiful," Zolona said.

"I didn't know you played violin!"

The three oracles lingered in the forest. Winter and Nightfall were there with a third figure. Her light blonde hair was wavy towards the bottom, and beautiful light blue eyes captured her expression.

"V..., you're a part of a huge prophecy. That's why we called you here," the oracle said.

I couldn't hear my whole name, but I knew it started with V.

"Destiny, telling her is dangerous," Nightfall said.

"She doesn't know. It isn't fair," Destiny sighed,"Ver..., you have to listen to me."

Nightfall left the cove. Valentine watched.

"Go to the real world after you find the boy," Destiny said.

"What boy?" I asked.

"You'll know when you see him. The two of you were good friends," Destiny smiled.

"I'll try my best."

"He'll have The Mark etched on his hand," Destiny said, "You and he will take down a great evil with the help of many. You have to defeat the darkest evil of the century, if you so choose."

"That doesn't make sense," I argued.

Destiny sighed, "It will in due time."

I walked off.

Nightfall returned and nodded to Valentine. After I couldn't see them, a scream pierced the silence. I ran out of the forest and into the castle, spooked.

I entered 4758's room out of breath.

"Hi, Veroni..., how are you?" he asked.

"I don't know who else to trust."

"Just tell me," 4758 said.

We entered the Forest of Unknown Darkness.

"What are we doing here?" 4758 asked.

I sighed. "To find Destiny to tell her I did what she asked."

"Where is she?"

"Just beyond those..."

A twig snapped behind me.

When I turned my head, 4758 vanished.

"4758? 4758, where are you?"

My lip quivered, eyes scanning across the landscape. He was gone.

"This isn't a joke," I said.

Valentine sat front of me.

"Stupid cat, Go back to hell," I said.

The cat laughed at me. He laughed at me.

Someone grabbed me from behind.

"You won't accomplish the prophecy if you're dead," the person said.

Isla held a knife to my throat, her hair frantic. Sage stood beside her.

"Give up the prophecy, and I'll spare your father," Isla said.

"Father?" I asked.

Isla nodded. "I expect you to be smarter than your mother."

"I can't give this up! I'm supposed to stop you," I said.

Sage's eyes showed pity. "We don't have to kill her, right? Killing the boy would solve it too."

Isla spoke, "She knows too much."

"I could wipe her," Sage said.

"Do it, Sage," Isla lowered her knife and walked off.

I glanced at two shadows: one of Valentine, the other another figure. Valentine's shadow shifted before my eyes from a cat to human.

"Sweet Dreams, Kaira," Sage said.

She snapped her fingers.

I jolted back to reality.

'The silver bracelet... Valentine's matched the same one from the figure, but that's impossible!'

"The assassin is a shapeshifter," Echo said.

"How did you know that?" I asked.

I still held his hand. We both watched the memories.

I blushed. "Sorry about that."

"It'd explain why Valentine tried to kill us, and Sage got in on lockdown," Echo said.

I sighed. "I doubt it's real. I could've been hallucinating it."

"Your name's Kaira?"

"I wasn't expecting it to be so elaborate."

"Valentina named you after all."

"Let's head back."

We walked back to the group with Winter. Dusk and Cora chatted, and everyone else looked bored. A scream yelped from beside me.

Valentine flung Echo to the ground. The cat clawed towards his feet, and Echo struggled to get up. I grabbed his hand. Valentine went into the shadows behind a tree.

"Nice to see you again, Kaira. I hoped we'd meet under different circumstances," a voice said.

"You're the one in the cloak from earlier," I said.

"I'm sorry it has to be this way, but you're journey ends here." his voice was a rough like sandpaper, yet young.

Echo drew his sword. The blade shook in his hand. "You won't hurt her."

"Be worried about yourself. You'll never complete your role," he said.

"F-Fight me..."

"You... care about her..."

A knife was thrown at me. Sage's company was closing in.

To my surprise, I wasn't hit. I teleported away.

'Holy crap. My memories must've let me remember this.'

"If I'm the Chosen One of a prophecy, I'll accept it with open arms," Echo said.

"You really want to fight me, huh? If I die, so be it. You won't hurt anyone," the figure said.

Dusk's eyes widened.

"Sugarcakes and candy... I don't know if he can win," Cora bit her fingernails.

Dusk smiled. "Why fight him when you can fight me? You scared?"

I grabbed. "You're one of Echo's good friends."

"If anyone can beat this monster, it's me," Dusk said.

"Be careful..." Cora said.

Dusk nodded.

He carried the most weapons: two knives and two guns. He smiled the figure's direction, and shoved Echo out of the way.

"Y'all have to go," Promise said.

"I'll meet you on the other side once I take care of this by-blow," Dusk said.

"You called me a what?" the assassin said.

"It'll be okay, Raven," Echo blushed.

"Do you think Dusk..." I looked back at him.

"I'm just glad you're safe."

"I don't want to lose you, and you're pretty terrible."

"How else are we supposed to complete the prophecy, right?"

"Right..."

Promise opened a portal for us. I wrapped my hands around my body. My feet trudged closer to the portal. I didn't want to leave. This was my home!

"It's okay," Echo said.

"See you on the other side." Cora disappeared from our gaze.

Sage's forces closed in, but the masked girl was nowhere in sight.

"Don't interrupt," the figure said.

He stepped out of the shadows covered by a hood.

"Act Two, Scene Final," Dusk said.

"The part that shows worth doesn't come from those corrupted by dark magic. Haven't been on your meds have you?" the figure asked.

"That prevents violence. Unluckily for you," Dusk said.

That's when a knife barely avoided my head.

"I'll keep it open as long as I can." Promise's nose bled.

"Together?" Echo asked.

I gulped. "Sure."

Echo and I walked into the portal. Dusk was my friend. I didn't want to leave him behind, but if I had to choose between him and Echo, I'd choose the latter.

I didn't want Echo to have to go through another death. Dusk was confident. I had to trust he'd be victorious.

"I still have something to tell you, you know," Echo smiled.

My heart skipped a beat. "Just let me know when."

When was all I needed.

'Did Dusk defeat the assassin? What the hell does Echo want to tell me?'

It drove me nuts just thinking about it. I guess Dusk was right when he said love was an addiction. It consumed me from the inside.

I was hooked.