When she opened her eyes again, she was before the throneroom; the doors closed just as they had been before Erik had brought her in. "Are you ready Alexandria?"

She turned to Hermes and raised a brow, still in a daze from the events that had just occurred. "Ready for what?"

"You've been summoned, by Zeus."

Her legs nearly grew weak, yet she felt herself numb to new surprises.

This was real, Alex told herself, the pain in her chest was proof enough.

It was real, yet it felt like anything but. "Are you sure you can go in like this?"

Eric's question caused her to huff humorlessly. "I'm not sure of anything anymore."

Eric laid his hand on her shoulder and squeezed in an attempt at reassurance. "I'll be right next to you, alright?"

Alex nodded absent mindedly, watching with a blank stare as Hermes opened the door.

Whatever she had been expecting, it wasn't this.

The hall was empty, empty except for an elderly man standing in the center.

The man looked like a beggar, wearing rags too loose for his body and leaning against an old staff, unthreatening.

But for some reason, Alex knew better.

Eric's hand dropped from her shoulder, and she took a deep breath before entering the hall. "Only her."

The voice was hoarse and aged, but aparently held enough power to make the three behind her stay back. "You may leave."

They dissapeared like that, and the doors closed, leaving Alex alone with the old beggar.

She knew better, because the eagle perched on the arm of Zeus' throne was enough.

"Alexandria, is it?"

She nodded silently.

The man's eyes were a bright blue. "A pleasure to meet you. I must say, your arrival was much anticipated."

"Because of Ares?"

The old beggar shrugged. "Because of him, among other things as well." He paused, studying her carefully. "You seem to have questions. Ask."

"I was in the Underworld."

"Yes, you were."

"How am I still alive? How was I able to come out?"

"Nothing special, Odysseus had done it, Orpheus, Jason..."

"That doesn't count. They weren't fully human."

The beggar chuckled, a deep one, that laugh in stark contrast to his raspy voice seconds ago. "Well, neither are you."

-

"Excuse me?"

The beggar laughed, straightening his hunched posture to stand straight. He towered over her with his upright height, then walked over to his throne. "I remember when you were born Alexandria. The fates had chastised me for my interference in getting your father and mother together, but from what I see, they never would have made you if it weren't for what I had done, even if the first time was an error."

Alexandria frowned. "My mom and dad met because of you?"

The beggar sat in his throne comfortably, his rags now no longer loose. "Of course, well, with the help of Eros, of course. If it weren't for Eros' arrow, your father never would have agreed to this in the first place. Stubborn man he is, sticks to his wife and refuses to stray, no wonder Hera loves him."

"His wife? My father had another wife?" Her mind began to ache with all the information.

"Not another, only one. Your mother isn't your father's wife."

Alex chuckled in disbelief. "Of course she is, their wedding pictures are all over the house."

She gave a real smile at the memory of her mom and dad's wedding picture hanging above the fireplace of their home, the two kissing for the first time as a married couple.

"Oh, no Alexandria. Simon Jacques in not your father, child, or should I say neice. My brother is."

Alex' frown worsened, she was sure she was hearing things now. "Pardon?"

"Alexandria, your father is no mortal. Your father is the Lord of the very underworld you just came from, Hades, ruler of the realm of the dead."