Uranus knelt over Nieve, his hands capturing my blade and despite how I tried it was a losing battle as he slowly began to stand and forced me back. My arms shook from the effort of attempting to force it down, sweat ran along my spine and the grunt of effort turned into a scream of frustration.

Being in his presence was different to how it was around Gaia and how it had been with Tartarus. You would think the personification of Hell would be dark, terrifying and the source of all your nightmares but despite his obvious power, he hadn't been all that bad.

Uranus wasn't like the other two.

It didn't matter what Gaia wanted, or the threats Tartarus had made. Uranus had to be stopped. Right now, I needed to get to Nieve and since he held the blade as if it was a soft toy and not a life taking weapon, I didn't know how to get him out of my way. Until I did.

Relying on this tension, I used it to brace myself and prayed I didn't regret it later. Taking a breath I adjusted my footing just so, and as he was nearly back to standing, I kicked my foot into his knee. Primordial or not, a body is a body and stumbling from the hit, he let go as instinct kicked in and he needed to balance himself or fall onto Nieve's soon to be corpse. As the momentum of my sword being released had it swinging backwards, I gladly let it go for free hands and to keep my own balance. The sensation of my fist finding his jaw sent a jolt through me, not expecting to actually connect with my target.

Reality sunk in seconds later as my knuckles protested the sudden abuse I'd just given them. It had been too long since I had used my hands this way, and instantly recalling back my weapon from where it had fallen, I created a shield to give me the seconds I needed to slam my sword into Nieve.

Instead it hit dirt and slipped forward as this time keeping my balance was more of a struggle. Furious, I looked to see Uranus rolling his shoulders after rubbing his jaw where I'd hit. The giant form was not quite as big as Tartarus yet as he stopped in front of me, I had to look up. Anger switched to desperation as I caught sight of The Furies standing around a broken, floating Nieve, and in a flurry or orange light, the four vanished.

"No!" I sent everything I had after them but it was pointless.

They were gone.

Nieve was gone.

I glared up at the amused face before me, and for the first time truly saw him. His eyes were dark and endless, scars covered his skin in streaks of silver and gold, more hidden by the beard that hid most of his neck down to his chest. There was a chunk of hair by his ear that I had a feeling would never grow back. His teeth were sharp, bared at me in warning as I clenched my fist, wanting to hit him again. A coldness surrounded this First, a void that reminded me of Oizy as he held the same endless sense of despair that had remained in the air seconds after I had killed her.

He was the embodiment of an endless sky, of a darkness that would consume anything and everything in its path and leave nothing behind but a trail of red and pain. Gaia created, he destroyed. I saw their split, the arguments and the fights. I could see her hiding away her treasure, the first soul, the limitless being they had started to create together but like everything else it hadn't been enough for him. The negotiating to weaken and split these sparks was not as simple as Hecate had described. Nothing about Uranus was that simple. He was the grey in the black and white, existing beyond everything, in a way the other two didn't for they had a place, a home and a purpose he lacked.

"Look at you little Empress." He snarled, making me cringe as I felt his breath and spit on my face. "You tried, and you failed. Spare the lives of thousands more and submit to my cause."

His tone softened, as if he could show some level of empathy on what had occurred despite being the one to cause it. I had no doubt he would do it again and again in a heartbeat.

"You don't have to make it sound like you care. What are a thousand, or even a million lives to you? Nothing. Enough with the games, I'm not a psychotic Fate that can be fed lies based on what I want to hear." I inched closer to him. "I have a place in Tartarus being prepared for you as we speak, submit to me now and I'll make sure he throws in some perks. What do you want, a TV? Private bathroom? Snacks on demand?"

"Tartarus?" His laugh was more of a bark, a wheezing cough following as there was a flash of something in his eyes - doubt, fear, uncertainty - something that was enough to keep me holding my ground despite the urge I had to run, far, far away from him while I could. "That fool-"

"Seems quite eager to see you again. He didn't say much about it, just that should the opportunity arise, to send you his way. Since he was so accommodating, I see no reason why his demands should be ignored. Do you? From where I'm standing, he seems like the one to get behind. You and Gaia could go together, save the rest of us from your stupid games. That's it, you two can be cell buddies!"

"Tartarus?" The uncertainty was clear as day now before he stopped, sniffed the air and suddenly I found myself standing by the new Gaia statue with him. Shit; Cain and Hades were never going to let me live this down. "Gaia."

His rage was so thick and powerful you could feel it as he spun around looking at the new forest. I only glare at him as he looks back at me. I had stared down my enemies, so many that had come before who knew how to intimidate. They were strong, unbeatable. Until they weren't.

It was this I held onto, needing my ego and confidence to grow and not abandon me as internally I was shrunk to the size of an ant that he was about to step on. Being here helped, it was a reminder of why I had no choice but to stand firm. The future was easy to see with it in his hands.

"This isn't Gaia's doing. She's been here, but this." He pointed a finger at me. "You. This was you."

"You tried, and you failed. Try again and Gaia will ensure you suffer the consequences." I threaten.

"She can not do anything." Uranus hissed.

"Not at you directly, I'm aware. Why not try now though, and find out for yourself what will happen." It was a challenge and he stomped forward, his breath reminding me of Sulphur as got up in my face. "Heard of a mentos?"

"Do the Oracles still see you dying, little Empress? They should. Soon. Soon this will all be over and I'll be sure to send what remains of you to Tartarus in my place. Save yourself the pain and do as I say, afterall, it's not just you to think about is it?"

He looks at Blueberry and I flex my hands, the urge to gouge his eyes out my only thought.

"I forge my own fate, and that sounds like a real tempting offer, want to kill off another city to see if that helps make up my mind?"

"Believe what you will. To ensure it happens, I could be swayed to be accommodating also. I'm not unreasonable, if the beast can earn your loyalty, I like my chances." He attempted a smile. "You prefer the dark horse, as they say. The one you're warned to stay away from. Ever wonder why you run to the dark and away from the light?"

I roll my eyes. "Cut to the point."

"You're just like us. Tartarus wasn't so bad. The Underworld doesn't scare you. You like the fight. You were born for it. The path you're on will only lead to boredom, you were not created to be this. One day you will find yourself staring down the new favourite who still believes that there is good in this world until they are either killed, join you in your cause or, you die."

"Sounds like you have it all worked out. Can I take a guess at where you're at in life?" I smile, twirling my sword as I try to remain calm. "Or need some help working it out? I'll go first, it's not joining you in your cause."

"Not yet, but I will only wait for so long. Patience has never been a strength of mine."

And then he was gone.

My hands instantly began to shake, and I forced myself to breathe. Big, noisy gulps of air as the high I'd been running on left me. Alone in the dark, I refused to give in the pressure mounting in my chest or acknowledge the lump in my throat. I barely scraped together enough of my sanity to stop sweating or control the need to vomit when I sensed I wasn't alone anymore.

"Impressive." Gaia mused, a small golden light hovered above her making her appear completely otherworldly. "I did not see it going this way."

"And so you turn up now?"

"What you've done here. I am impressed." She came closer, reaching out to awkwardly tug me closer towards her as if we were about to hug. "What is it you want of me, child?"

"I will do what I can and end this war. He will end up in Tartarus and the Furies will be stopped. You can not fight him, I understand. So I will. But if this happens again, anywhere, you need to stop it. You're everywhere. I found you within the core of this very landscape. You are the Mother of All. Defend your children, your home, your legacy."

She admired her statue. "How do you suppose I do that?"

The casualness of her tone and the attitude that followed grated against what few nerves I had left.

"You've made your own loophole. You do not fight him, there is no need for you to. I want you to simply defend us. This world. The rest. His attack was made to destroy from within, not directly at you but at your creation. I felt him in the dirt, the air, everywhere attempting to take over."

"You stopped him?" Gaia closed her eyes, flowers not yet finished growing or hiding from the night suddenly bloomed around us. "I never underestimated you, what you are capable of. I did make the mistake of not believing you would reach that potential."

"Promise me this won't happen again and I promise you I will do all that I can to ensure he doesn't succeed."

Gaia hesitated. "You ask a lot, it's not as simple as you make it sound."

"So do you and I am aware. Do you think it is a simple decision for me to stand here, with you now, and say this? I am yet to see an outcome where I survive. I feel victory is possible but I am not going to be there to witness it. But I am here anyway. These people, this isn't my world. I shouldn't care but I fucking do. I die and he's right. One day there will be another, even you have made it clear there have been other Empress's, different Fates." I force myself to hold it together, just a little longer. "Do you think it's simple, planning a life you're not going to get to be a part of? Do you think it's simple, asking your parents to look after your baby and your other half because you won't be there for them? Do you think it's simple losing people you care about along the way, that standing on a battlefield covered in the blood of others while dodging corpses is simple? How simple do you think today was for me, coming here to find only more death. These people trusted me, they believed in me, and I failed them. Nothing about any of this is fucking simple and you will step up because one thing I can do, is simply walk away!"

It was a lie.

Walking away from all of it was the one thing I really did have no power over.

"I understand, Elise." She answered softly.

"No. No you fucking don't. What have you ever lost, what has any of this ever demanded from you? A pound of flesh being ripped from your body? Your blood painting the stairs? Seeing heaven and being torn away from it all? Being given everything you never knew you wanted to find out you can't actually have it?" I can't stop.

Nothing is holding me together anymore.

I stomp my foot and the forest alters, I'm breathless as my home surrounds us and in our bedroom, my vision comes to life with morning light and calm. I'm in the rocking chair in the corner by the window, a blanket of blue in my arms, nestled against my chest as I feed him. Cain lazily wakes up and looks over at us, smiling as he gets up, kisses me on the forehead and returns soon after with coffee.

Looking at Gaia she has tears in her eyes, glistening diamonds against her skin that capture the golden warmth of dawn.

"Tell me you understand now." It sounds like a threat, and we leave it behind to stand on a field of red, watching the last of the buildings crumble with the shimmering silhouettes of the ghosts that will forever be trapped here trying to make sense of what just happened. "Tell me, you understand, now."

As we returned back to the forest, gaia looked around and sighed. Slowly she nodded. "I do understand, and we have a deal."

Then she was gone.

Only I wasn't alone for long as in the same moment, Hades and Cain appear. Their essence dominates the area, new light replacing the dark and both are cautious and alert as they look around.

"They're gone." I kept my voice low, not quite trusting myself to speak normally right now.

Cain hasn't taken any time to heal himself, and Hades is just as bad. Dried blood paints their faces, clothes are torn. Hades has a bad cut on his thigh that's causing him to limp. Cain keeps a hand on his side as clearly something is hurting him there.

"What is this place?" Hades asked.

"Uranus demolished a whole village." I flicked Hecate's card to Cain. "Message received."

"And Gaia did this?" Hades frowns.

"No. I did."

"How?" Hades asks as he closes his eyes.

"I connected to Gaia and kind of reactivated what part of her has been dormant in this world to create what it was originally." I told him the quick version, daring to check Cain's side.

"The fuck you did! You can't just connect to a First."

"Hades, you found us in Tartarus where it was snowing. Tell me what I can and can't do." I challenged, but as blood coated my hands my argument left me. "Why aren't you healing?"

"I'm trying." Cain grunted.

"He saved me." Hades peaked between us and as Cain swayed, he quickly positioned himself for Cain to use him as a crutch. "Where the fuck is Apollo?"

Instantly we're back in the Main Hall, only as he starts towards a chair, Cain collapses. Hades barely had hold of him, and looking up Apollo was already rushing around the table.

"I got it." He promises, as he and Hades move him into a better position on the floor.

"Oh you're here, Elise we-" Kara stopped as she came inside, her and Artemis rushing towards us as I looked at the blood on my hands. Cain's blood. "What happened?"

"Apollo?" I whisper, holding onto Cain's limp hand as his fingers don't entwine with mine.

"Um, he's not great. There's something stopping me from getting in so it's taking a little longer than it should." He admits.

"What?"

"We were attacked. They were expecting us, so we literally walked right into their trap. Nieve was having fit, speaking in, I don't even know if it was a language or just her losing her fucking mind. She saw us coming." Hades explains.

"So she gets a vision like that, but I'm not allowed to kill her." I mumble, my hands shaking as I reach out to brush a few bits of stray hair back off Cain's forehead. I kissed his hand, clutching it as if it was a lifeline as he started to look even paler. His hand was cold in mine. "Apollo, please!"

"I'm trying!"

"Try harder!" It was an unfair demand, but I didn't care and so took to yelling at Cain instead. "You too. As if you're giving up now and getting out of everything so easily, we haven't even touched on what the hell you were doing stopping me today."

"That's it, start threatening him. It always makes me eager to come back."

"You're not funny."

"What happened, Hades?" Kara asked above me.

"They'd set up a cage, we literally walked right into it before we could even process it. Our powers were blocked. They hadn't expected us to still be able to fight back, and when we managed to break out, Uranus showed up." Hades groaned, his leg weakening from how he was standing. "He was brutal, and pissed off we'd got out. He intended to use us as a bargaining tool, well, Cain anyway. I was supposed to be sent back, dead."

"Cain saved you?" Apollo asked, and I felt his powers within Cain, changing direction as his skin glowed how his brothers did.

Kara got a chair for Hades, and he slumped down into it.

"He did, and nearly wiped himself out in the process. We were reprisoned when Nieve had another fucking vision about that one." He pointed at me. "She ran off, the others didn't know what to do and then Uranus vanished too."

"You clearly got out?" Artemis asked; I hadn't even noticed she was here.

"We did, but it came at a price. That marvellous fucking idiot got himself stabbed on the spelled, golden cage getting out, then came back for me and saved my life. Again."

Hades awkwardly shifts in the chair so his cut leg is extended. To be honest, it's not looking a great deal better than the cut Cain had. He's pale, tired, and as Cain starts to cough, he looks as relieved as I feel.

"You're okay!" I threw myself at him, only making him cough and groan more as Apollo was the helpful one who gave him a hand to sit up - right before I knocked him back down.

"Did you doubt me?" Apollo smiled.

"I mean, you asked a few too many questions and nothing seemed to be happening to start with, but no. I didn't doubt you." I hugged him next. "Thank you."

"So you all know, I'm still bleeding on the chair." Hades growled, skipping on a glass and drinking from the bottle of whisky.

"No please?" Apollo teased, getting up to go to heal Hades.

Cain stood, his clothes changing as he looked like himself again and nothing had just happened. As he helped me stand, I ended up holding onto him again as I refused to consider any other outcomes, now or earlier. I honestly didn't doubt Apollo, yet there was a numbness inside I couldn't ignore that made hold him even tighter.

Cain could have died.

"You could have died." I mumbled into his chest.

"Only a scratch." He played it off casually; but we both knew it was more than that and saving Hades exhausted him.

That was why he'd hardly been able to fight me back when I forced him and Hades away.

He couldn't.

It also occurred to me then, I hadn't panicked, not completely or even understood what may have just happened. The prospect of this being worse than it was never crossed my mind and it wasn't because I didn't care. I loved him with all that I was, but seeing him injured, cut off that part of me that should have felt exactly how enormous that loss would be. Maybe it was simply because I refuse to give those thoughts airtime. I wasn't going to lose Cain. Apollo would always heal him. All of this did was remind me of the fact Nieve was responsible and she got away.

I also had no idea if she was dead or alive.

He tilted my chin up, distracting me from my thoughts as he claimed my lips. Cain's kiss was slow, gentle - a moment just for us that pulled me closer to him in every way. I felt his fingertips brush along my shirt, following my spine before his fingers are threaded into my hair and I'm lost in him. His smell. His taste. That connection that sparked to life within our bones and dug its claws deeper still.

A life without this.

Without him.

What would that even be?

Nieve flashed in front of me eyes; she looked dead yet her chest shook with each breath. The Furies surrounded her with that orange light that became so bright I had to look away. I stepped back from Cain with a gasp, confusion on his face as my rage returned.

"What is that?" Artemis asked, and we all turned to see what was a very familiar tree in the same pot as the one I had back home.

Two ripe fruits bloomed to life as we watched. Noone moved.

"Pomegranate" Kara slowly walked towards it, picking the fruits. "Hecate?"

I nodded, as Cain answered her. "Guess it came in handy afterall."

Deimos and Zane returned then, both of them looking and walking like cut and paste copies of each other. The room instantly grew tense, more so as Circe and Hermes appeared - Artemis didn't even flinch at that.

"What happened to your leg?" Hermes asked.

"It nearly got cut off." Hades shrugged, inspecting the wound as it was sealed shut before taking the pomegranate Kara handed him while Cain took the other one.

"Looks like we've all been on an adventure." Artemis sighed.

"What did we miss?" Cain asked me.

"What did we miss?" I glared at him. "We missed our chance at destroying Nieve."

"Wait-" Hades stood up, moving closer to Cain.

"No. All I have done for months is wait. Waiting has seen nearly everyone in here die, at least once. It has sent us a wild goose chase with no clear end. Waiting has Tartarus ready to literally unleash hell on all the realms while Uranus grows stronger, the Furies with him and that crazy old bitch managed to get shit together long enough for two visions. One that nearly killed you two, and one that sent her to me."

"You saw Nieve?" Kara frowned, stepping closer yet I didn't want anyone near me right now.

The room already felt too small.

"Yes. I saw Nieve. I saw her taking her final fucking breaths until he pulled me back." I point at Cain, then Hades. "And he got in my way. I beat her. I had her. She is supposed to be dead right now and instead they're healing her!"

"Elle," Cain put his hands up as if I'd consider him a threat, slowly taking a step closer. "Babe."

The calmness of his tone hit every button I had. "No. Do not babe me right now. Everything we had planned, everything we have been trying to achieve. Gaia said we had to get rid of her to bring back the balance and I had her, Cain. I had almost done it. I fought her, I was smart, I worked out how to get to her and I fucking did it. Why? Why did you stop me?"

"We had to." Hades answered.

"What do you mean you fought her?"Apollo asked. "Elise, you can't take-"

"Do not tell me what I can and can't do!" I screamed.

"You've had a huge day," Kara weakly spoke up. "It's late. Why don't we come back tomorrow and-"

"No. Zane, what's happening?" I demanded.

"Orders have been given. The soldiers are being readied, and already convoys are heading out. Some are using portals, those who can are assisting the Others." He looked around unsure as all eyes turned to him.

"Deimos, the dungeons?" I ask.

"Remain empty. You were right. Gaia's involvement has changed the mood already."

"And the people?" My attention goes to Kara.

"Support us. They still believe in you, and are a gift to them from Gaia. It was an easy narrative they were happy to accept. We will mark today as a day of mourning in memory of what happened. They are more eager to celebrate the victory." She sighed. "Elise, rest. Please I beg of you."

Cain and Hades shared a look, and turning to Kara Hades looked completely confused. "What happened while we were gone?"

"I'll tell you later." She rubbed her eye, looking tired. "It's all done."

"No, it's all done when it's over. We haven't even started yet."

"Elle," Cain started and I shook my head.

"Cain."

"Uranus told us that if you succeeded in killing Nieve, her powers would go to the Furies. That is why we stopped you." As soon as he said it, I knew it was a lie. "We can't kill Nieve."

"He's lying. He would want me to kill her then. Why would they be working on saving her if her death gave them her powers?" I put a hand on Blueberry, needing something to anchor me beyond my feelings of anger and betrayal. "He stopped me, and sent her back with the Furies. She is insane, and not exactly the one you want on your team even if the odd vision works in your favour. He needs her alive because so long as she is, he has one up on Gaia. He has a Fourth, she doesn't even have three. Killing her would make it even again, and along with shiny new Fates, we have created a powerful army with Cain and I at the lead. I doubt they have many left to stand with them if attacks like Oizy are all we've experienced."

"You can't know that for sure." Hermes spoke up. "And why are you and Cian leading it? Isn't that why we have a Queen that you wanted us to get behind?"

"Gaia-" I started.

"Is as bad as he is!" Hades growled. "None of them can be trusted. It's what they do, and if you weren't so stubborn and listened-"

"Because I'm young, naive, and reckless, Hades? It's my terrible judgement of people isn't it? Yes, I'm stubborn. Maybe I should listen more. Wait, is it because I am pregnant? I shouldn't be fighting right now either. My bad." I stopped in front of him, shrugging away from Cain as he moved to stop me. "What I am, is done. Gaia will ensure another attack like the one that made a village in the south obsolete can not happen again, while we find a way to get rid of Uranus and the Furies, starting with Nieve. Again."

"So, Elise is calling the shots again?" Hermes smirked, looking at Kara. "Ares will love this."

"Shut up, Hermes." Circe slapped the back of his head making him cringe.

"They're twin flames." Apollo overshared, his tone dry and unimpressed.

All eyes went to us, and Hermes gave a nervous laugh. "I'm not even going to question that. Explains everything."

"It does." Circe agreed.

There was a shift in the room, and everyone seemed to shrink away from us, from me. Artemis just stared, her mouth slightly open yet nothing left her as she sat down at the table.

"What is our next move, Empress?" Deimos finally spoke, his voice firm and unwavering - like him. As I looked over at him, he winked and taking a big breath I managed to smile back at him.

"Find the oldest archives and records you can. I want to know if we can pick the new Fates, and where we were at with the elemental thing. The fours over the threes?"

"We hadn't found much more than what we already went over." Circe shares. "We can keep looking."

"Hermes, portals. Find Athena and Ares, do whatever is needed as we gather our allies."

"As you wish." He agreed easily. That was new.

"We should keep being seen in the cities, and towns." Kara added. "Ensure everything is going smoothly."

New plans were made, routines established and as it neared midnight, I felt like Cinderella's carriage who had just turned back into a pumpkin. I was mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted, so when I let them talk and sat down on my throne for a short break, the pomegranate that appeared beside me had to be a sign.

"Thank you." I whispered, hoping Hecate could hear me.

"And you're going to sleep, and rest, now that we all know what we're doing?" Kara called out, all eyes back on me as I ate my fruit. "Please Elise, it's been a big day."

"Definitely." I agreed, crossing my fingers in my lap. "There isn't anything left for me to do."

"Good."

One by one everyone left, until Zane, Hades and Cain were all that remained. Hades was more interested in his bottle of whisky than anything else, while the other two came to stand over me - like that would make me change my plans. Zane looked unimpressed, as he folded his arms over his chest and gave me his best, don't fuck with me, look which was almost hilarious considering the day I had.

"Go to bed, Sunshine."

"Not a chance."

"What are you plotting?" He asked instead.

"I'm not plotting." I shrug, standing up. "It's already decided. Be proud of me, I made a plan."

"When did you make this plan of yours?"

"Ironically, just now." I pat his chest, pushing through the pair of them.

"Why are you ignoring me?" Cain was instantly in front of me, a silent cloud of fury brewing around him.

"Because you nearly died. Because you thought you were doing the right thing. Because I was supposed to kill Nieve and she got away!" So much for self control.

"Some very good reasons." Hades mused, offering Cain the bottle as he came over. "Before this turns into a post-argument make out session neither of us want to see, what are you planning?"

Cain took the bottle. "Asshole."

Zane laughed before taking a drink after Cain yet Hades was quick to snatch it back.

"I'm going back to Tartarus." I declare. 

Hades dropped the bottle.