"Ketti…" Aunt Celeste scooped her out of Berto's arms, cuddling her.

"Aunt Celeste!" Marquette cried, throwing her arms around the older woman's neck.

Celeste stroked Marquette's short, white hair. "Look at you, baby. A moon child through and through."

Marquette looked up at Serena. "Did you tell her?"

"No," Serena said.

"Catty? Vanessa?" Marquette paused. Things, people, facts, were missing.

Serena looked at the street. "Tianna's gone, Marq. Kearney's still in Ireland."

"What else? There's something you're hiding from her," Berto accused. She looked into his dark face, thanking him silently.

"Ketti, I'm not really you're aunt. Your parents weren't really your parents," Celeste said softly. "You're not really you."

"Who am I, then?" Suddenly, she was afraid again.

"You are Jessimar, reincarnated. The people that were your parents were really spirits that I had summoned. I think you might know my mate, Aestroth."

"Then…You're Akhet." Marquette's voice was soft and tired. She suddenly didn't worry or care about anything anymore, like the whole world had shifted off of her shoulders.

"And you fulfilled your destiny, little goddess. You're destroyed the creatures I've created, and for that, I can never thank you enough," Akhet said, smiling softly.

Marquette stood up straight. The guys moved to leave, but she stopped them with her soul mists. "Don't leave."

"We don't belong here," Kyle said to her, but he kept his eyes on Catty.

"You four are as much my family as the Daughters are. Please stay."

"Sorry, Marq," Obie said. "Come visit us sometime."

Her bottom lip trembled. "Berto…?"

I'll see you in your dreams, my beautiful death goddess.

Vanessa hugged her first, and then Catty, and finally Serena. They squeezed her so tightly, she thought she would suffocate.

"You have to tell us everything," the blonde commanded.

"As long as you tell me everything." She paused and looked over at Akhet. "Are you going to stay, Celeste?"

She nodded and touched Marq's white hair. "We have much to talk about. Maybe we can give Umbra a physical form out here."

At the mention of the name, one soul mist began bouncing around. The girls giggled at it, and Umbra seemed to preen. Was it a possibility that Umbra was a guy?

xXxXxXxXxXx

Marquette stood in front of the mirror in her room. Her room. But somehow, it just didn't feel right. She missed Samuel and his coyote, and Obie and his voice. She even missed Kyle, bad attitude and all. She mostly missed Berto, though.

She sighed deeply, knowing it could never work. She'd never get over Aidrian or Asheru, but there was another mate out there for her. Just like Berto had pointed out the other night when he had basically broke up with her. She knew he cared for her, but supposed this was for the best.

She touched her ankh, letting Umbra slip around on it and then the moon amulet. A knock at her door startled her out of her daydream. "Come in!" She called.

The door opened, and a red head stepped inside, her long skirt sweeping the floor. "I've missed you, Shadow."

Marquette spun around. Kearney stood before her, her green-and-blue eyes bright with tears. The girls hugged each other, clinging tightly.

xXxXxXxXxXx

Kearney took a sip of her Pepsi, then passed her cup to Aidrian, who took a sip. She wove her fingers with his, and he grinned. Marquette laughed, giving them a knowing look.

Aidrian watched her with close eyes. He could tell that his former mate was depressed. It was never entirely possible if an Anubis child could find a second mate, let alone a third. Her reached over, brushing his fingers across her hand. She smiled and squeezed his fingers.

"I'm sorry about your mother, Princess. How are your brothers doing?" Marquette asked.

"Better. John called me last night; he's engaged now. And Christian is taking over the family estate," Kearney replied.

"Did you tell them…about your parents?"

"It's bad enough that I know. What about you, Shadow? How are you holding up?"

Marquette shoved a fry into her mouth, thinking over the question. "I'm good, considering. I've been making progress with Umbra and Akhet."

Kearney grabbed her friend's hands, staring into her dark gray eyes. This was her best friend, and she was in such awful pain. Anyone could see that. She had wished she was there for Marquette when Marq needed her the most.

Aidrian put his own hands over theirs. "Come on, you bunch of saps. We're supposed to meet the others at Planet Bang. And I know how long it takes for you two to get ready."

Marquette grinned and scooted out, standing up. She bumped into someone, knocking him over. She gasped and squatted down.

"Oh, God. Are you okay?" She asked, mortified and embarrassed.

"No permanent damage," he replied, shielding his eyes to look at her. He smiled, showing off perfect white teeth. "I'm Evan Michaels."

"Marquette Leslos."

"That's a beautiful name."

She stared at him. Evan's hair was a dark brown, kind of long and curly. His eyes reminded her of Hershey's chocolate, they were so soft and warm. He had a nice tan, and it was obvious her was showing it off with his beater on. On his right arm was a tribal tattoo, right where his nice bicep was. And the best thing of all about him was the ankh around his neck.

"Hey, are you into Egyptian mythology?" She inquired curiously.

"Yeah, I love it."

Marq glanced up and saw Aestroth with another guy she could only assume was Ezraziel. She lifted her hand in a slight wave.

Aidrian pulled her ear. "Come on, Marq."

"Hey, Evan, can I ask another question?"

"Sure."

"Do you like dancing?"

Well, that's the end of Legend of Shadow Goddess. Stay tuned to read the next installment of the CotN, Princess of Darkness, Kearney's own little tale of danger, romance, and destiny. Oh, and for all those who don't know, Akhet means soul in Egyptian. Lol. That's a little interesting, huh? Well, talk to ya'll soon.