Nyx's expression darkened as she looked over the yard and through the back window. She was cataloging our supernatural refugees. "Those who remember why the original Pleiades were stripped of their celestial status have taken notice. Ancient powers that have been sleeping since the last great magical purge are beginning to wake."
"Shit," I muttered. "We've got Lyra planning to blow up the continental ley lines and powerful beings preparing to crash our party. We've accidentally sent out dinner invitations to every ancient nightmare in existence. Artemis, please tell me you're not here to lecture me about proper magical protocols."
"Actually," Jean-Marc interrupted, "they might be exactly what we need."
Everyone turned to stare at him like he'd announced his intention to juggle live grenades. "How do you figure that, genius?" I asked with strained patience. I loved my son, but I could not see how we needed these gods, making things worse.
"Look at the readings," he said, spinning his laptop around. "When they manifested, the anchor network's range expanded exponentially. We're not just monitoring this area anymore. Wecan see magical disturbances across the entire globe. And maybe even other realms."
Artemis moved closer. "The boy is right. The network now spans both mortal and divine realms." She glanced at me with something that might have been approval. Or hatred. It was hard to say. "Your son's innovation, combined with your raw power, has created something never seen."
"Which means we can track the corruption network's true extent," Asterion said grimly. "What your enemy has built reaches far beyond this single plane of existence."
Nyx's hands started to glow as she reached for the monitor. I held my breath, watching the ancient power make the screen flicker and dance. Magic and technology normally didn't play nice together. My witchy friends had put a lot of effort into making the two work together in unprecedented ways.
"Here," she said, pointing to the spreading patterns now visible across the enhanced display. "The corruption extends through seventeen different dimensional layers."
"She's been systematically weakening the barriers between realms," Artemis observed, her silver eyes blazing with fury. "Every major supernatural disaster of the past century bears her signature."
"She's a clever bitch," I snarled, watching the scope of Lyra's operation unfold across the display.
"Because of this, we can see the pattern," Asterion said. "And more importantly, we can see how to break it."
“Something is happening,” Jean-Marc muttered as he began typing on his laptop. "The network is showing massive power redistribution," he announced. "Everything's being funneled into a single location that's... well, that's not good."
"Lyra must be gathering it to make her final move," Aidon growled as his power exploded out of him.
"The coordinates place it in a pocket dimension anchored to oceanic ley lines," Jean-Marc replied. "Maybe she's created a floating fortress outside normal space. I bet that’s why we can never find her."
"She’s made a sanctuary hidden in another dimension," Nyx said immediately. "They’re nearly impossible to detect or assault through conventional means."
"Your enemy is preparing to force an artificial eclipse," Artemis blurted as she looked to Aidon. “She’s powerful enough to do what my enemy couldn’t.”
Thalia stepped forward, looking troubled. "We can stop her. If I sacrifice myself, she will not succeed.”
Nyx's gaze sharpened, focusing on Thalia. "You carry the bloodline. You’re the one stolen to fuel her experiments. From what I recall, the prophecy speaks of a willing sacrifice. It did not demand death."
"What's the difference?" Thalia asked.
"The difference," Asterion interjected, "is that sacrifice can take many forms. Power, immortality, or magical ability. None requires mortality."
Hope flickered in my chest. "You're saying Thalia might not have to die?"
"Prophecies are about interpretation, not absolute fate," Artemis replied. "Especially when divine intervention is available."
The back door slammed open, and Nina charged out. She had her phone in her hand. "Mom! The anchor system just went completely insane, and there are reports of-" She stopped dead, staring at our visitors. "More supernatural family members? Or should I be worried?" She was getting used to Aidon’s parents visiting so she recognized the gods’ divine power.
"We’re family," Asterion smiled. Somehow, the expression carried warmth despite how he’d greeted me. Nina could winanyone over. "You must be Nina. Your magical resonance is remarkable."
"The next generation," Nyx said approvingly. "Strong and uncorrupted."
"Should I be flattered or concerned?" Nina asked suspiciously.
"Definitely flattered," I assured her. "What were you saying about reports?"
Nina glanced at her phone. "The Aurora borealis phenomenon is happening in broad daylight across multiple time zones. The network is detecting massive magical disturbances wherever the lights appear."
Jean-Marc's laptop chimed with incoming data streams as she spoke. "The disturbances are following the energy streams."
