"Fuck, why did I faint?" Grace could hear herself talking but wasn't out of the darkness that fogged her brain.

A hand tried to push fingers underneath the necklace, palm gently grazing her chin.. "Looks like someone locked your powers, Grace."

Adrian's face swam into view. His hand accidentally traced down to her collerbone. Sweet Jesus, she thought she'd faint all over again. This boy's touch was night-and-day with the Djinn. She wanted this.

Just as swiftly it was taken away. He must have noticed his touch was drifting. She let out a groan of pure frustration—he took it as if she was in pain, as he helped her sit up. "Are you alright?"

"Seems like you've been asking that a lot today." Grace grumbled, to deflect from what she was denying herself.

"Well, this time it's necessary." He muttered, "this is Hephaestus' craftsmanship. Just how strong are you?"

"I haven't been tested yet. There's nothing to lock away." Her head hurt from the weight of the torc on her neck.

"That may be why you fainted. Those with stronger powers handle it well. Damn, why did they leave you with an ornamental guard when someone is out to get you?"

There wasn't anyone who wanted to do anything to her except a Djinn that wanted to bump uglies, and he had way too much of that going on to need hers as well. But if she could now faint when he messed with her—what was the reason for that? Was he impatient with her? The idea of passing out and waking up to him blew every bit of caution she had out the window.

She slumped against Adrian. "I am scared."

"So am I." He put his arms around her and drew her closer. "I thought I almost lost you."

They stayed on her carpet like that until she became self-conscious again, and pulled away.

One hand pulled back to her shoulder. "Are you ok now?"

"Yeah, for now."

There was a long pause between talk—two awkward kids together, alone.

"Grace?"

"Yeah?"

"The next time anything like this happens again—if you can run away—come find me, alright?"

"Yeah..."

"Come on, let's go watch a movie until your folks get home." Adrian stood and helped Grace to her feet.

They went down to the den where Adrian took off his jacket and sat down next to her with his arm over her shoulder to pull her tight against his side.

Her only regret was that they were this close for the wrong reasons. She was comfortable in spite of that and soon passed out against him. Not long after that Adrian struggled with nodding off until her mother made it home. He fought to wake up enough to report to her.

"Just go back to sleep, honey, a report can happen in the morning."

Not having the strength to protest, Adrian succumbed to sleep once she tossed a blanket over them both.

Eventually all settled in for the night and the house became quiet. That is, all save the Djinn who sat cross-legged on the ottoman, looking at the two children, lost in thought.

~~

Hephaestus called the Djinn back to him in the early morning. "Did you get the necklace on her?"

"It made her pass out—strong ones usually don't. It's the fear—this kid is terrified of me. Are you sure you want to provoke your descendant this much? You will need her, in time."

Hephaestus shrugged. " It's to please my wife. We used to push them to death, not let the weak ones live."

"She is physically too strong and emotionally vulnerable. How many descendants have you ruined over the centuries?!"

The old god smirked. "Just me? I had 3 children make the pantheon before the Roman world collapsed and men no longer cared if their gods were strong. We no longer kill them off because they don't have to serve the people or die. She should be grateful she's alive."

The Djinn growled in frustration, but bowed to his true master. "M'Lord, you no longer serve the people."

"I'm well aware of my uselessness, Djinn. The time is far shorter than you think. Go back to her."

~~~

Bunin The Sane snapped back to his book, left on the floor of Grace's room in the soft dawn's light. He hissed in pain as he emerged from his trap and home.

Wandering downstairs he walked in on an argument.

"Why did you fall asleep when someone did this to my daughter?!" Irene Sterling was cooking breakfast with a rage that would ruin it for anyone without a talent for hospitality. She couldn't burn toast if she tried.

"You told me to!" Adrian aggressively ran his hand through his hair. "When has a temple guard ever had the right to question a damn demigod?!"

"Your status ought to be revoked."

Grace leaned against the corner of the counter studying her nails like she had whole worlds hidden underneath them. "Ma, you may have gone over my head to appoint him, but he is mine, back off."

The Djinn could see that she was shaking hard enough to pass out, but still fought through to stand up to her mother. The amount of trust and fear it took to forge that combination made him want to see this child when she was fully mature, in 10 to 20 years.

"But baby..."

"But baby nothing! Where's Grandpa Hephe?"

"He hasn't answered yet." Irene stammered, not used to her baby being this tough, losing the role of parent for a moment. "Hephaestus has been making them since the Greeks ruled the known world. He may not know a thing about it."

"Well, then you can wait until he gets here and gives his excuses. I'm going to the Great Hall."

"Well, let me feed you first. Hera is such an asshole about meals."

With that, the three settled back into everyday behaviors, showing no sign how upset each person was. Hospitality always "faked it until they made it".