The pain that rippled across my stomach and down between my legs, had me stopping outside the main hall. The column that highlighted the steps inside was a welcome sight and leaning against the cool side of the stone, I managed to take three deep breaths. Since when did it get this hot here?

"We have to talk about what we are going to do if he decides to join us ahead of schedule." Cain practically whispered, blocking my view of the doors as he stood in front of me.

"It's not going to happen."

"Elle, you can't know that."

"My body. My rules." I mumbled, refusing to acknowledge that maybe, on some level what he said made sense and this was a chat we needed to have. "We have some sense of a plan. There is nothing to say."

We should get inside, it had to be cooler in there. Instead, I thought of Medusa, the dark, damp coldness of her labyrinth of caves and the tiny little urge that I should go back, now, planted itself in the back of my mind.

"What did you think I'd come for?"

"Refuge."

I didn't need refuge. I needed to find Uranus and wrap him in a pretty golden bow to send to Tartarus.

"I'm not giving birth underground in a cave or by some creepy dead tree in an alternate realm." I snap, glaring at Cain.

"That's not what I said, or even what I'm thinking." He cautiously defended, his hand pausing as he reached out to touch mine. "What do you need? Right now."

I followed his gaze, surprised to find a stub of my fingernail bleeding as I made my mark on the stone. The pain in my stomach eased, and instantly changed positions as my hand cramped.

"Ow," I shook it off, welcoming back the feeling as pins and needles filled my fingers. "I just need a minute."

In seconds we were in our room, the bathroom tap on as he washed my hand. "How many years would it take for you to talk to me again if I locked you away in the Underworld?"

"All of them."

"Good thing I'm a patient man." The towel was soft and as he dried away the water, all I wanted to do now was curl up on it and take a nap. "I'm serious, Elle. It's just us here. I need to know what's happening, to plan our next steps. I can't believe you're fine, and that it's nothing."

"I think I'm going into labour." The words came out faster than I thought possible.

Cain held his breath, slowly nodding as he took a second to fold the towel and sit on the bench beside us. Did he have a plan for that?

"Okay."

"Okay." I agreed, before turning to throw up in the sink, right as the uncomfortable ache took it up a level - again. "Or it could just be more practice runs for what's next."

I paused, wiping my mouth as he closed his eyes, noticing his whole mood shifting as he stood there. Tension flooded every inch of Cain's body as he muttered something under his breath and there was murder in his eyes as he looked my way again.

"Hermes is trying to find us, Apollo, too." He groaned. "Fuck."

"We knew they would after what happened with Art. Just, like, um I can. You know what, I'm fine." I'd been in a lot worse positions than this, and I was mentally stronger than any pain I had to endure in the past despite feeling completely incapable of handling what was coming.

"What?" Great, now some of that frustration was directed my way.

"You heard me. It's over. Just that whole, Pterodactyl labour thing Doctor Katie talked about. I'm a little tired, that's all. Let's go. Maybe we can fit some dinner in?" As soon as I moved, he blocked my way.

"No."

"Yes?"

"No. Come on, Elise. Denial isn't going to get you through it. Self-sacrificing isn't going to be your end game this time. I need the truth. Facts. Fuck them, fuck this world. Let Tartarus fucking release his worst because I will find a place that will just be ours and not a single other being will be able to touch it. You are not fine and that is my priority. You are the only reason why I am still here and a part of any of this. I don't have your levels of empathy nor do I have your interest in anyone's wellbeing outside this very space."

"You do, now who is in denial?" I taunted.

"No. I don't. If the big three turned up and said burn this fucking world down and everyone in it, and we can just walk away, live out our lives however we wanted, no follow-up and that's it. I would do it." He stepped closer, looking as if he really would. "You think you know the darkest parts of my past, of my soul. You think you know what I've done. If that were true, I'd be just another monster you'd have to survive. I'd never be allowed to get this close. To touch you. That's the truth."

Goosebumps raced along my skin as his finger traced the length of my arm. I forced myself to swallow as his presence surrounded me. This wasn't playing fair at all, only as his mouth met mine I saw it.

A room fit for royalty and on a throne the Empress now sat with a baby in her arms and her sword still poised at her side. Surrounded by vines and trees, they glistened with the eyes of my equally vengeful snake companions. A prison for life in a world of the dead

"How many years would it take for you to talk to me again if I locked you away in the Underworld?"

"I thought you only wanted truths, and that's a fucking lie." I challenged, refusing to fall into whatever trap he was attempting to set as I poked him in the chest. Hard. "Remember, the darkest parts of your soul are the same as mine."

"That's not-"

I silenced him with a kiss. "Lock me in the fucking Underworld, and I will be sure to prove to you that I am capable of far worse than even you can imagine. I'm fine if not a little dramatic."

Everyone was gathered as I appeared in the main hall and the storm in Apollo's eyes only grew as he saw me. He didn't need to say a word, the speech he would have prepared in Artemis's defence would likely end up making him sound like a broken record. Not tonight, Apollo.

"Clearly that chat went well." Hades muttered as I passed.

Because I was all about grace and this was war, I pushed down on the back of the chair he lazily leaned back on, instantly sending him crashing to the floor. My sword was at his throat before the squeak of surprise even left him.

"Did you have something to say?" He didn't flinch. "No? Maybe your time should be spent where it is wanted. Get out."

I kept moving, looking over the table and noticing someone was missing. This only confirmed that whatever Apollo was building himself up to say had little to do with any chance of making dinner plans.

"From the look on your face, I am positive you're about to beg me to see some kind of reason and be nicer to your twin. My mind is made up." I turned to where Circe sat by Deimos, seeing the conflict in her eyes which was so much like his. "Smile. No one is dead. Yet."

"Where have you been?" Kara attempted to keep her voice neutral, but the hint of hysteria was impossible to miss. "And Cain?"

"If we are missing together, do you want me to answer that? I'm not shy, but there is enough of the wrong kind of tension here already." I met Apollo's gaze and reluctantly he sat where Hades had been. "But since you asked, he's a little tied up right now."

"The Furies have been sighted. Ares caught sight of them in the battlefields and we think they were looking for Nieve." Hermes blurted.

I froze. Ares wasn't here.

Instantly I was with Ares, who didn't look surprised to see me as he finished his beer in one large gulp. "They're gone."

The office was small, basic and bare with a dirty, worn suit of armour on a mannequin in the corner.

"How gone? When did you see them?" I demanded. He looked at his glass and pushed it to the side.

"About that long ago. Hermes couldn't track them, they left no energy trail, no sign of which doors they came in by." He sighed, looking defeated. "It doesn't matter we couldn't find you. They didn't come for a fight."

That didn't make me feel better, not even as Cain and Hades appeared which only made the small room feel even tinier.

"What did happen to Nieve's remains?" Ares asked softly, looking only at me.

Instead, I glared at Cain. "There isn't any to worry about."

"They know she's gone now." Cain only confirmed what I was already thinking.

"And with nothing to show for it. They will want a sacrifice in return, but was it enough to start the fight we have been waiting for?" Hades added. "We have little weakness that they can prey on at this time."

"I'm not so sure." Cain looked at me. 

"Artemis." I gasped, finding her in Apollo's room quicker than I made it to Ares. "Art?"

She looked as beautiful as she always did, propped up by pillows with a lush fur blanket wrapped around her. Her eyes narrowed, and a quick wipe of her cheek with the back of her hand saw her sitting up a little straighter. She would be their target, the tempting promise of revenge on Circe would surely sound good to her right now.

"You listened to him? Oh, thank you, Apollo!" She gushed. "I know things were not ideal, but-"

"Apollo did nothing. That's not why I'm here."

Her face fell. "What?"

The trio soon joined us, and I could see her fear digging its claws into her mind with each second that passed. Turning back to them, I shook my head.

"No. I already told you to go away, and you can disappear with him." I point at Cain and Hades. "Ares, I want every resource on alert and anything out of the ordinary is to be reported. This changes everything."

"Elise, I'm not leaving when-" Cain started.

"Careful. I might be pushed into locking you up somewhere safe." I snapped, which had Ares and Hades leaving instantly. "Or should we just keep playing a game of hypotheticals?"

"I wasn't doing anything! I said it in jest. Mostly. Depending on how certain things decided to eventuate." His eyes lowered to the hand on my stomach before suspicion crossed his face as he came closer, lowering his voice as he didn't want Artemis to hear. "You saw something again, didn't you?"

"No." I lied.

"Elise." He pushed, the warning clear.

"Go away, I need to talk to Artemis." Of course, Apollo joined the party then. "See, the fun police is here so you know I'm not going to do anything stupid. For now."

His curse disappeared into the air and turning back to face them, I smiled.

"What are you playing at?" Apollo frowned.

"Me? Nothing. What about you?" I look back to Artemis.

"I'm the victim here!" She gasped.

"No, you're not. You are many things, but a victim is not one of them." I sat beside her on the bed. "I don't want this. I want the amazing, goddess of a sister I first met, I want the legend my world worshipped, the friend who taught me to shoot her golden arrows. Please tell me, this petty, shell of woman is not all that remains of you. That I am not a truly naive fool, because I saw you as something special and this version of you, here and now, is the real you."

"You thought I was special?" She frowned.

"Art, you were a statue that came to life in front of me."

"It's all I heard about for days, after," Apollo added, catching on. "It drove me mad what with, Artemis this and Artemis that."

Artemis seemed to think this over. "It does not matter. They will talk. Circe has achieved her goal, and removed me from my people."

"No. She forced you to see who she is because you didn't understand and wouldn't listen. Your ego is what brought on your downfall." I added sadly. "They do not see it that she won, as in this situation, there is no winner."

"Exactly. I can't go back."

"Of course you can, if you want to that is. Accept her victory, graciously. Put this behind you both, and move forward together." I sighed, keeping my hands on my stomach. "Otherwise, you have fallen and are not who I thought you were. I have no time or patience for ones I can not trust. I can't make those mistakes, I have too much to lose."

"It's exactly as she says Artemis. It will only make them respect you more if you choose that path." Apollo encouraged.

"I need time to think." Artemis pouted, leaning back into the pillows before rolling over so her back was facing me. "You can both go."

"Of course." I got up, forcing a sharp breath which I held as I went to Apollo. He was focused on Artemis as I slowly let it out and as he turned my way I forced a smile.

We walked out of the room and down the corridor in silence. The sitting room at the end was empty, with only a few candles set out on the tables for light and I just felt tired. When did I last eat?

"That was a lot gentler than I was expecting. Good thing Cain and Hades are getting your anger focused on them." Apollo moved to the sofa and sat down, patting the space beside him. "She'll do as you said."

"As I said? Whatever happens, is all her idea."

"Sure it is. I'm sure that was part of a bigger plan. Have you had dinner?"

"I don't even know what time it is to know what the right answer should be."

"That's a no, then." A small table appears, and the meatball-filled subs on it have my mouth watering. "What did Cain do?"

"Thought about getting me locked away in the Underworld. Again."

"They only do it, we all only do it because we want you safe. He has more reasons than anyone else."

"I know. I just hate that like its an instant default plan. Have you ever seen a dragon tear necklace?" I start eating, my hunger taking full control.

"No, but I've heard they are so beautiful, people can go blind looking at it for too long" Apollo groaned. "Oh no, he got you one didn't he?"

I can't help but laugh. "No, but I have seen one. That fact would have been good to know."

"I guess I am just as petty as Art sometimes. I like hearing he isn't perfect all of the time and can also do things that annoy you."

We had all come so far, but in moments like this, the urge to apologise and fix everything didn't completely go away yet now I also had a much tinier urge to give in and do it. We'd all said our parts to one another, and found some solid middle ground. Everything was still fresh, and given enough time these awkward moments would no longer exist at all. Until then, they did and despite seeing him happy with different women and men, that was the future, not now. The silence we finished eating in managed to find its way back into that comfortable place we were creating between us.

"I can't let the Furies use her hurt as a way in. I'm trying to make sense of Hecate's messages as I feel, different, these days. Nothing is ever as black and white as I wish it was."

"It's not just Hecate messages. You seem different." Apollo mused as we made the slow walk back towards the Main Hall. "There's something more, complete about you that wasn't there before."

"Maybe I'm finally getting that whole, pregnancy glow thing I hear so much about but have yet to discover."

"You mostly just look tired, but I dunno. You do seem older in some ways. I can't quite work it out though. It's like when I can check energies, and heal, you've always had this strength but I don't know. Only half of a piece. You don't feel like you're missing anything anymore. Maybe you're maturing."

"That's almost insulting. I'm tired, older and maturing. What are you going to think of me when I hit thirty, or two hundred?"

He laughs and shakes his head. "That's not how I meant it."

Before I can respond, Gudrun manages to stumble out of nowhere, smelling like beer and covered in feathers. She falls against me hard, so I nearly trip over against Apollo who manages to keep us both upright.

"Gudrun?" I offered her a hand and helped her stand from where she'd fallen, despite Apollo attempting to stop me. "Are you okay?"

"This is pretty." She holds my hands tightly, inspecting the engagement ring on my finger before burping. The smell makes me want to vomit. "How rude. Rude how. I am, apologise Empress."

"I can get her back to her room if you want to go ahead?" Apollo offers, yet as he touches her arm, she pulls away from him hissing.

"You're not her bonded." Gudrun snaps at him. "Where is our Emporer, Empress? Burning. Bright. Together. Brighter than some. Congratulations!"

She throws a handful of feathers into the air.

"Um, I will take her." Yet she suddenly runs off into the dark and gardens, her screams unmissable as we both freeze.

"Bonded. It's a celebration. What a beautiful union!"

"What is she talking about?" Apollo hesitates. "Bonded?"

Well, shit.

"It's not how it sounds." I cringe, knowing it's exactly how it sounds and why she'd do this. "Well, it is."

He ran a hand through his hair, tugging on the ends as he spun on his heel and started after Gudrun.

"Apollo?" I called after him, and as I went to chase after him he came back to me.

"Bonded. You just didn't stick to your little mortal traditions, but went all in and bonded!" He yelled now, a new anger mixing with disbelief. "What were you thinking? Oh wait, you probably weren't. You never do. He just throws it out there and -"

"Stop," I warn. "It was my idea. He said yes, to me. I knew exactly what I was doing, and so did he. It is love, Apollo. He is mine, and I am his. That's it. I don't need to think. I don't need to be told, or made to feel bad over something that makes me so happy and complete."

"This changes," He hesitated.

"Nothing for us." I made it sound like a promise. Taking his hand in mine, I squeezed it. "Like the pregnancy, there would have been a time for us to share with our friends and family, when we were ready. This is still only our news."

He squeezed my hand back before tugging me closer into a hug. "You're right, but I need to process this, just how I did that."

"I understand." I hug him tighter. "Are we good? I can see Art considering whatever the Furies put down, but not you."

Or could I and I just didn't want to know if he could do that to me, to us.

"We're good. I promise."

"There you are!" Hermes had us parting, looking like he'd just run to find us. "I did it. I found them!"

"The Furies?" Apollo asked, clearly not believing it.

"No. Your common fucking sense. Of course, the Furies." He gasped, struggling to get his breath back.

"I need-" I started, stopping as Cain, Hades and Zane appeared behind him a second later.

"Ares. Let's go." Cain ordered.

This was it. 

We found them.