Everyone had questions and there were answers I could give, only where did I even begin? Doctor Katie didn't have the same issues I did in being vocal with what was currently happening as she disposed of her gloves and gave me some kind of privacy back by going over to her computer. She managed to avoid looking at Cain, which was impressive because his mood was as dark as the clouds outside which I didn't think was a coincidence as more thunder had the windows shaking.

"You're practically full-term, Elise. Well done on making it this far." She finally spoke as I sat down between her and Cain. "But, you are two centimetres dilated. Not a huge issue, and it could mean nothing or,"

She quickly typed something, concentrating as her words lingered in the air.

"Or what?" I huffed, daring a brief look in Cain's direction. He didn't even blink.

"Or you could be well on your way to going into labour." The screen went blank as she turned back to us, smiling. That ended pretty quick. "It's hard to know at this time. You're not displaying any other signs and it's completely normal for your body to be starting to prepare and adjust itself for the upcoming birth."

"Of course it is." I force a smile, taking Cain's hand in mine and giving it a hard squeeze. "Completely normal. So, there are ways to promote labour and things you can do right? So-"

"I don't think we need to worry about inducing you just yet and-"

I shake my head, cutting her off. "No. Best place for him at the moment is where he is. We think. So, anything you can do to like, undilate me? Should I keep my legs crossed, do more handstands because you know, gravity?"

Doctor Katie frowns like she didn't quite understand what I was asking before she laughed. "Good one. I'm sure with the birth so close, it's scary. Especially as it's your first."

"No, what's scary is I have to go back to another world and still work out how to stop the Furies and send Uranus to Tartarus in what, a week, two, three if I'm lucky while knowing everything down there is preparing to open up for the melon to join the fruit salad of my fucking life." I snap.

"Oh no. Elise, I'm sorry, I-I- never," she stuttered, her face turning red as no further words came.

"It's okay. It's not your fault. Everything is just, a lot right now." I can't even smile this time. "Thanks for the checkup."

She just nods as we leave and the silence remains until we're back at the Valkyrie bar. I'm surprised to find Zane with Eric, especially since when we left not even hours ago he was practically dead. There is no reason to hide here, the sob that leaves me gets their attention and I'm in his arms in seconds.

"Just took a little longer than usual, Sunshine." Zane mumbles against my hair, before slowly letting me go. "Are you all good? All of you?"

He glances at Cain, and then back at me. I manage to nod as I wipe my eyes; the outcome I refused to consider of what our battle with Nieve could cost avoided. Eric hands me a couple of napkins, as I try to calm myself down.

"What do you remember?" Cain asks him.

"Dying." Zane sighs. "Got the full white room treatment. Again. No door this time, so figured I'd have to wait it out. That old Crone was a lot stronger than I expected. I'd never felt a hit of power like that before."

"Hopefully you won't have to do it again with the Furies." Eric slaps a hand down on his shoulder empathetically. "Doubt any of you will get away with it that easily though."

"What about before that?" Cain asks dryly. "Did you see Nieve before she died?"

"No, I was just on the ground looking up at her and in the second I realised what was about to happen, it did. Then nothing until I woke up." Zane looks at me. "What happened, everyone's been vague with the details. I came to wait for you, it didn't feel right not being close after everything."

"No one knows any details because I don't know what to tell them." I admit. "I killed Nieve, I didn't just kill her, I destroyed her. It wasn't exactly my proudest moment either. They're all working on what happened to her powers, and trying to reach Gaia for answers I don't have. It wasn't like three little balls of light floated around us like a fucking fairytale and then shot off into the night to find the next three chosen ones."

I thought back to the shadows that had swarmed her corpse once I finished with it. The golden thread that turned to ash and instinctively rubbed my wrist as it ached by the mark the last lot of Fates had branded me with. Had killing her severed all ties I once had or any that lingered from my own time as the third?

"You're doing it again." Cain took my hand, turning it over where the scar was hidden under the ink of the tattoo. His flurry of healing whispered across my skin like a delicate kiss. "I can't sense anything that needs healing."

It hurt, or maybe my mind was simply playing tricks on me. The pain that had come with becoming and then giving up my place as a third had been intense. The trauma I'd refused to acknowledge completely or even at all clearly chose now as a great time to return and if I had time, I'd gladly stop by Richard's office for a bit of therapy to see if that helped at all. Now wasn't it and I tugged my hand free.

"It stopped. I'm fine."

Eric was looking at me how Zane now was too. Subconsciously I touched my hair this time, and then kept a hand on my stomach. "What?"

"You think she got the Powers?" Eric practically whispered.

"That's ridiculous." I groaned.

"Wouldn't she be different?" Zane asked.

"Exactly." He got it and despite a weird little flashback down Zane's memory lane last night and a ton of thoughts that seemed to belong to Portia, I felt the same. Nothing had changed power wise, and since waking this morning, I had been daydream free. "It was probably some damaged part of my brain deciding to fuck with me using all that undisclosed guilt I have about Portia being dead now Nieve is gone. They were just really vivid dreams."

"Vivid dreams like what?"

"She had a flashback to when you arrived at Huntington's after the fight ended, completely spaced out and then had a ton of dreams last night that seemed to be from Portia's perspective." Cain filled him in and I really did not appreciate the hint of sarcasm. "But, she's fine."

"Maybe I spaced out because I'm fucking two centimeters dilated and preparing to birth an actual baby the size of a freaking melon while I had been fighting Fate, literally, which including skipping lunch and my designated snack times. Apparently, there isn't even time for protein fucking bars when you're in a fight for your life. I can do a lot of things, but monitor my blood sugar levels!"

All three of them seemed to freeze at my little outburst and with a sigh, I pushed past Zane, mumbled bye to Eric and headed for the portal. I barely stepped out when Kara was already in front of me.

"Matt was a dead end." She folded her arms across her chest, flinching slightly as I sensed Cain behind me. "And he told me you knew it would be. His visions aren't so visual anymore. At least not for the rest of us."

"What?" I didn't understand; I'd been so sure Matt was in recovery and no longer painting.

"He still has glimpses of visions in his dreams, most he can't remember and he isn't all mad painter, anymore with them as they leave as quick as they come. He did remember that you would be sending me to visit him as a distraction while you killed Nieve."

I stood firm. "Why is this so surprising to you? Without actually spelling it out, it's exactly what was implied when we had our chat. Everything went according to my plan, and Nieve is no more. Now when the Furies next make a scene, we-"

The bang is unmissable and the aftershocks have the ground trembling as Cain joins us, before another loud bang as Zane appears. We all freeze, before heading in the direction it had come for and finding Deimos, he doesn't look happy. He gives a small nod to Cain and instantly stands by Kara.

"I warn you, it's a mess out there."

To prove a point, there's another bang as a large column from the garden lands not far from where we'd gathered. I'm positive I hear multiple lion roars behind the cracking of stone, high pitched screams and sounds of something magical hitting shields. My stomach sinks as I have an idea on what is going on and sure enough, more broken pillars and fencing greet us as we dare go closer; the sight of the gardens partly on fire comes next. Circes nymphs wrestle with Artemis's huntresses, while the lions have gathered to one side. I see Artemis first, the sun catching the diamonds on the shaft of her arrow which is about to be fired towards Circe.

"Oh, fuck." Nevermind the Furies, Circe and Artemis posed a different issue. I looked at Cain, needing some kind of idea on what to do. "Do we stop them?"

"No, let them go."

"You can't be serious. How does this make us look to everyone else?" Kara huffed.

"Most have stayed, certain the field will be the new battle point. A few Valkyrie may be found, Hermes was here." Deimos answers awkwardly.

"They stayed?" That made me uneasy.

"I'm sure you can call them back if-'' Deimos paused, Cain blocking us from whatever Circe was summoning to throw at Artemis. "You wanted."

"No." I took in the fight, impressed at the hold Circe had against Artemis but remembered her own home, and the power she'd held there.

She wasn't like us, but she wasn't one to be underestimated which Artemis had clearly done. The words thrown out were unrecognisable, the symbols painted on her skin and in the space around her reminding me more of something I'd seen the dark fae use in their rituals. Hecate had trained her; mother of witchcraft, magic that was loaned - not their own.

"Artemis will lose this fight." And I dread to think of the reaction when she did. "I want Apollo here. He can be the one to tell her I told you so and then, maybe, she'll be more open to change and moving forward. He will need to heal her."

"What makes you think Art will lose?" Kara asked.

"Circe has more of a point to prove. This is beyond whatever triangle started because of Hermes. This is her proving her worth and position here, while showing Artemis hers."

"What started it?" Cain asked Deimos who just shrugged.

"Kara and I were discussing her trip, when we heard the commotion."

Hermes appeared, his eyes locked on Cain who simply stared back at him. "I had nothing to do with it."

"Looks like you're not keen to stop them either." I pointed out.

"How can I? Any time I get close to them, I get attacked. Let them kill each other for all I care!"

"Nice, Hermes."

"I was merely walking with Artemis when Circe passed. Art said, a few of her usual taunts and Circe slapped her. Next thing I know," he waves in their direction. "Chaos."

"Circe knows a good defence, it took Hades and I a touch of effort to break down her wards when we first met." Cain muses. "I don't think she'd be entering this battle unprepared."

"This can't be happening." Kara sighed. "Well if no one else is going to end it, I guess I will."

"Not your fight." I warn Kara.

"It is about to be."

I put my hand out to stop Deimos as he attempted to follow Kara. "Not yours either. Go get Apollo, Hermes you too."

'You're not going to stop them, or Kara?" Cain asks, sounding genuinely curious.

"You said to let them go," I glanced up at him. "I trust your decision, and agree. You may need to help Kara now she knows she should have stayed out of it."

His eyes darken, right as Kara's cry of surprise is heard. The arrow that had been intended for Circe was now instead planted into her shoulder. Zane curses behind me, and looking at Artemis her focus is taken from Circe and instead to her Queen.

"You knew?" Cain asked, though it sounded more rhetorical at this point.

"Call it intuition. This has been brewing for too long for it to stop because Kara said so." I shrug.

Circe doesn't miss her opportunity, and her strike against Artemis is hard and fast. She drops the tricks, opting to use her body now as her fists slam into the goddess again and again. I can feel her rage, her pain, the heat of her blood as her body presses Artemis into the ground with little to no intention of letting her up.

Artemis barely responds, weakly attempting to defend herself as whatever Circe etches into her forehead seems to leave her powerless with no way to fight back this time. The nymph's clap and encourage their mistress. The Huntresses are forced back by the army of lions, and hesitate to attack the beasts in fear of the retribution that would follow.

"Will you stop her now?" Zane asks, clearly uncomfortable with what's going on.

"No."

I didn't need to as this fight was over. The more unresponsive Artemis became the more Circe began to withdraw. I go over to them, and sensing my arrival Circe completely stops. Her face is a mix of sweat, blood and tears; all of her is. Her usually pristine gown is torn and the skin that is revealed now is bruised and broken yet I have never seen her look more in control or beautiful. There is doubt in her eyes as we look at each other, her body has yet to relax and her fire is still burning deep within.

"Never again will any Power think they own me. That I am lesser than they are." Her voice is hoarse, yet determined. "I am not the weakling they think I am. You will not judge me for what happened today, I did what had to be done."

I hold out my hand to help her up, and after a few tense moments, she takes it.

"I will not judge you, Circe." Hours ago I had stood over the corpse of Nieve and tore it into pieces. It didn't matter that she was already dead. None of her could remain while I do.

As she stood in front of me, I saw a glimpse of myself staring back. I knew how she felt, I understood maybe more than she'd ever realised and reaching out to the gash above her eyebrow, I wiped the worst of the blood away from there before hugging her tightly. After a moment, I felt her arms against my back as she held me in return and I wasn't sure if it was her tears or mine I now felt on my skin.

I felt her fight. The struggle. Years of being deemed as unworthy, and not enough. The fire to prove the world wrong had never burned stronger within my friend yet the glimpse I got of myself was nothing compared to the life Circe had led. I thought I knew pain, for myself and for those around me, but I'd never had to face the monsters she had. With Cain at my side, I knew I never would.

Slowly I let Circe go to look down as Artemis grabbed my ankle, her hand trembling and weak. Her head turned up towards me despite her eyes closing due to how swollen and bruised her face was becoming. If I hadn't been here, I doubt I would have been able to tell who this even was, since Circe had left Artemis's face unrecognisable.

"This has been your lesson to learn, Artemis." I tell her, and walk away.

Apollo appeared in front of us then, Deimos and Hermes a second behind him and as he looked behind me to Circe, I shook my head.

"If she doesn't change, she is to leave. I will banish her if that is what it takes."

"Elise, what are you-" He starts, but I keep walking ignoring the new commotion behind me as I head up to the main hall.

Kara is rubbing her shoulder, the wound healed but not yet forgotten leaving her mood obvious yet her face is unreadable as I pass by. Cain nods just behind her and then heads over to his siblings. He'll either be the voice of reason the twins need now, or divide us all over again. Circe was behind me; the lions padded along after us with a rumbling of conversation taking place we weren't included in.

No one else follows us, and nothing else is said. Circe stays silent as we enter the main hall yet as we approach the thrones, we both stop as the smell of the ocean is on the breeze and the doors slam shut behind us. The black snake rises up from my chair and nestled within his nest of coils, is one very large, red, pomegranate.

"Hecate approves." I tell her, letting the snake slide up my arm and tossing her the fruit. "You need this."

She inspects it slowly, a hint of guilt appearing on her face. "Elise, I-"

"I understand. I'm sorry it got to this point, but if they do not listen now, I will make them." They just wouldn't like anything I had to say.

"Thank you."

"Go clean up, your nymphs will likely be waiting for you." I smile and she manages to return it, leaving with the lions a second later as if nothing had happened.

If only that were true.

"I can feel you lurking. Show yourself." The order was clear, and Mixcoatl appeared in front of me.

"Empress." He greeted cautiously, the silver hair in his bead catching the light as he bowed towards me. "I merely wish to congratulate you with your most recent success. May we all sleep easier knowing Fate is no longer held in the hands of a mad woman."

"What if her successors are worse?"

'Time will tell." He smirked, his claws grating into the mass of dreadlocks on his head; a single feather fell from the headdress which Gudrun snatched up.

Her sudden appearance startled both of us, but we didn't acknowledge it nor did she as she clutched the feather to her chest like it was the most precious thing in all of existence.

Mixcoatl appeared to be amused by this, looking as if he was going to say something to Gudren yet his reddened teeth bit into his lower lip instead. "Time will indeed tell."

Then he was gone.

"Do you miss your wings, Gudrun?" I asked, bringing my legs up underneath me as I attempted to get comfortable.

"Not as much as I miss the woman I was when I had them." She turned to me, moving closer as the feather was tucked within her dress. "What is it like, Empress?"

"What is what like?"

"Being this woman that you are today, as opposed to the one you were last year, last month, last week?" She looked at me expectantly, yet her eyes moved between my face and my hands that were resting on my stomach. "What is it like to hold that babe within your womb?"

"It's nothing how I thought it would be." I admit, reaching for her hand I give her a little tug so she's closer and place her hand where mine had been. "I thought I figured it all out at one point. I wasted years avoiding who and what I was. Once I accepted that, then it all changed again and again until it was just me. Cain was right, I spent a year trying to work out who I was and just when I thought I'd done it, it turns out I wasn't even that girl anymore."

Gudruns mouth opened as Blueberry moved, her eyes shooting up to meet mine in a mixture of awe and disbelief.

"I miss who I used to be, but nothing stays the same and I wouldn't want to go back to being her either. Once I realised that, it got easier. We are all changing. Everyday we are different versions of ourselves." I shrug, letting her hand go yet she didn't move away. "Why did you do it, Gudrun? Nothing about you makes me think you should be exiled, or that you would have betrayed your sisters as they believe."

"The truth only matters if it's what you want to hear. Unlike you, regret weighs heavy on my shoulders and mind. Perhaps if I could go back, be louder. Heard. You do not need to ease my burdens, Empress, acceptance makes it an easier load to carry."

I sighed, and she stepped away. There was something so familiar about the look she gave me, I had to smile. "You remind me of Medusa in so many ways."

"It's due to our great beauty, I am sure." She smiled back.

"You know her?"

"I knew her. She was different back then too."

It's then that Cain appeared and Gudrun only smiled wider as she looked between us now. That was fairly brave of her considering the mood that came with him, and a second later, Kara joined us.

"Gudrun?" Kara frowned. "Why are you here?"

"Think nothing of it." The old woman hobbled down the stairs, which only seemed to annoy Kara even more. "Take care, Empress."

Cain and Kara didn't wait for her to leave, back to glaring at each other in an instant yet I focused more on how the Valkyrie seemed to improve her posture and speed with every step until she walked out as she wasn't a broken old woman. Interesting.

"She is hurt and now a prime target for Uranus." Kara snapped, earning my attention back.

"So be it." Cain answered coldly. "This is part of the job. Tough decisions have to be made, and clearly you are not willing to do them."

"I don't get a choice in the matter!"

"You've had your chances and proven time and time again that you can not-"

Kara cut in, boldly stepping closer to Cain. "Because your way is so much better? I refuse to continue this cycle of corrupt power and death."

"This is war." Cain's hands curled at his sides, yet he stood there more casually than I probably could have considering the way Kara was yelling at him. "Sometimes there is no other way."

"Elise, help me out here." Kara turned my way.

"With what?" Playing dumb clearly wasn't the best move as Kara rolled her eyes. "I meant what I said about Artemis."

"Why? How? All this time and effort around the burning as one bullshit and you're willing to do as he says and actually banish her? The Elise I thought I knew, would never have allowed this. It's part of what drove you to come here in the first place!"

I saw Gudrun by the doors, thinking back to the first time we met. Hecate had gone to her, not the other Valkyrie. She'd done what she did to see herself exiled, her wings removed and reputation destroyed; living in isolation, broken and declared mad. What had really happened for her to give up everything how she did?

Would I end up like her?

Am I already?

"Elise?" Kara waves her hand in front of my face and looking at her, Hecate's face stared back at me before disappearing. "Are you okay?"

I sighed. "Just thinking."

"Did you hear anything I just said?"

"I think it would be better for you if we pretend I didn't." I warn.

"Are you kidding?" She snapped.

"I don't think she is." Cain unhelpfully added, taking my hand as he moved to lean against my chair.

"I'm not talking to you. She can answer for herself."

I stood up and I notice Kara flinch as we faced each other. "You're right. I can. So what part of what I've said do you not understand? Artemis and her fight with Circe is unnecessary and quite honestly embarrassing for her. Yes, Circe is different from Powers. Her history is no secret, but it doesn't make her less than them. She was rejected, abused, and had her life taken from her. She was controlled and used in the games of others and yet, she is here. She and hers stand and fight with us. Her loyalty is still unwavering though none here deserve it. And Artemis could not let that go. Whispers still follow her down the halls wherever she goes. Yes, I once came here to stop a war and I am still here, fighting for the same people that whisper about me. I have been seen as unworthy in the same eyes as she has and-"

"You threaten Artemis because you sympathise with Circe? I understand, and I like Circe too, but following in his footsteps isn't the way to handle this. His influence on you isn't helping anything right now and you're too close to the problem to see that!"

"Why are you so quick to try and make this all Cain's fault? I'm not like Circe, because unlike her, I knew what I was walking into and still did it. His influence keeps me calm. It's what makes me stay standing here when I want to run and hide or burn the whole fucking world down because I have had enough of it all. You should be fucking thanking him for being at my damn side and making sure I don't lose myself anymore than I already have, because you know what's changed me Kara? You know what replaced the Elise you first met? These powers for starters. Dying, right here, after stopping Eris."

We both look down at the stairs, but I don't stop.

"You know what else happened, you were there. The attempted attack once it was over, thinking I could go home and live normally, be normal. Finding out I got pregnant. Realising it will never, be, over. Seeing Uranus destroy a whole town. Facing Tartarus. Finally killing Nieve. If I didn't change, Kara. I'd be dead by now and you know the worst part in all of this? What didn't change was our friendship and how I felt for you. I stood at your side and I was your biggest supporter, I believed in you. You accepted me once, just as I was when no one else could. You became my best friend. A sister. This may be hard to hear, but through all this, you've changed as well, and I guess we both don't like what we see in each other now."

"Elise." Kara starts but I shake my head.

"If Artemis can not resolve her issues with Circe and continues to act as a childish bully, she is gone." I glare at her. "Cain did it to keep the ones closest, away. Safe. I'm doing it because I am so fucking done and just do not have it in me to care anymore. It's not his influence you need to worry about."

She looks at him, but we both know she isn't getting any help. "It's been a lot, but this-"

"Stop making excuses, Kara. I am not stopping you from being the leader you want to be and I am still here, risking everything to ensure you will continue to have a place to call yours. That this world exists after Uranus is gone, for you all of you to live the dream I fucking gifted to you. "

My words cut, I practically see where each one hit as clear as the marks that remain from Artemis's arrow on her now exposed shoulder. I can't even bring myself to feel bad about it.

"Please, if you'd just listen." She begs, her tears being wiped away as quickly as they appear.

"I don't have the luxury or time to listen anymore, unless you know where the Furies are hiding but I'm so close to working that out myself I doubt it will matter." I took a step closer, well aware of the snake on my arm as he slid under my hair and around my shoulders. "See to your people, ensure everyone is on the same page, and wait for further instructions."

"Just like that then?" She asks, her voice trembling as she stands taller. The tears stop.

"Exactly like that."

Kara looks at Cain, then back to me before giving the tiniest of nods and disappearing. Before I can even take a breath, he's there behind me, ignoring the hiss as the snake is removed and put down on the chair. It's his hands on mine around my stomach that I feel next, his body against my back as his face is by my neck.

A kiss just under my ear that makes me shiver.

Another on my cheek that makes me sigh.

Turning to face him, I put my arms around his neck and hold him as close as possible.

"I love you." It's barely a whisper but I know he heard as he kissed my forehead.

"I love you." He murmurs against my lips before kissing me. It's slow, gentle. Loving. "You know where the Furies are?"

"You're not going to say anything about what just happened?"

"I think you said it all."

"The Furies will come now Nieve is gone. Uranus has no choice other than to send them. I crossed a line by killing her. It's not about finding them now, it's about them finding us."

"We're ready." The intensity of his gaze leaves me breathless, just how the kiss that follows does. "What else are you planning?"

"Nothing too interesting, but I think it's time we visit Medusa."

"You want the Wheel."

"I want to be prepared." I step back, inspecting the new ache in my arm only that it wasn't in the same place as before and instead, the thread that Tartarus placed onto my body throbs like a vein as it sparks to life. "Because Uranus will come when they do not return."

Cain smiled. "Let him, and we will end this once and for all."

"That's what I intend to do."

"We, Elle." He promises, yet Matt's vision plays on my mind and I force a smile, before kissing him again. "Together."

"I know."

Looking at my arm again, I can only see myself sprawled out on the ground looking at it from a different angle; dirty and smeared with blood as it stretches out away from me, reaching for Alfie and missing Hermes' hand that I just didn't grab in time to be saved.

"Elle?" Cain forces me to look up at him.

"Let's go see Medusa before anything else happens." I had no doubt Zane would be back to lurking around, and Deimos will attempt to make peace one way or another. "The others will be looking for us soon and I don't want to deal with Apollo yet."

Cain nods, the unspoken words lingering between us only instead of pushing us apart, I'm kept closer against him than ever before. Another kiss that feels like a promise, a clue that he knows what I am thinking and will not allow it to happen. It's the determination and fear in his eyes as I breathe him in. Strength and power. My Emperor, who will not accept any less than what he demands and bows to none other than his Empress.

"As you wish, my love."