The mix of voices wouldn't have been enough to compete with the usual level of noise in the Valkyrie bar. Thankfully Eric had put up a big do not disturb ward around the place and it was likely not going to be opening up tonight. The crowd was still impressive though.

Everyone was here or about to be.

Cain, Zane, Jordan and the Van Helsings sat in one corner with Sam. Someone, probably Cain, had produced a deck of cards and a serious-looking game of poker was taking place. It must have been the afternoon for it, as The Magician was wielding his cards in front of his daughter and a few of the chosen Valkyrie that Kara had called in. Lycaon had used Hermes to bring in Paytah a few of his pack and seeing them all didn't bring the usual joy. No to mention the odd looks Paytah was serving me with so I figured I'd stay away for the time being.

On the outside, you'd think I had organised a party to end all parties. Ailin and V worked on their laptops at the quieter end of the bar, choosing to work while they waited. Eric sat opposite them, perched on a bar stool as he too tapped away doing something that looked important. Much to his annoyance, despite not saying a word about it, I sat on the wooden bar top on my own, pretending to look as busy as them on my phone when really I was throwing little red birds at an army of pigs halfheartedly trying to beat my old scores. Alfie was asleep below my feet, which was a blessing as his tantrum over not being permitted to raid the store room for 'brown bubble water' had gotten old fast.

"This is quite the gathering." Deimos appeared beside me out of nowhere, and I nearly dropped my phone as I was positive he just gave me a heart attack. "Sorry."

"More like the god of fucking surprises," I growled before launching myself at him. "I've missed you."

Hesitantly I feel him hug me back; major progress.

"One might think we are about to go to war again." He muses as we part.

"One might be right." I sigh, before searching the room. "Where's Kara?"

"She's coming. I had a head start as I needed to do something first."

"Like attempt to send me into an early grave? Who needs enemies."

His lips twitch ever so slightly. "Perhaps. You miss her."

"I do."

"You haven't been back for months, there is no reason for you to miss her you know. The portals work both ways." I look at him and he shrugs.

"Deimos, do you miss me too?"

"That is not what I was implying," He blushes ever so slightly but I see it and as our eyes meet, he knows it and quickly looks away. "Cain is well?"

"You could go and ask him for yourself?"

"Again you seem to imply that I might hold a certain level of fondness for you all."

"I promise I won't tell anyone." He makes a grunting sound yet is still walking towards the table. A chair appears for him, and he drops down between Cain and my brother.

I don't miss the look of pure terror on Sam's face which slowly faded as a hand was dealt his way in the next round. It made me want to burst their little man bubble and go join them in their straight-faced, friends but not friends circle of joy.

"Complicated creatures aren't they?" Eric smirks as he comes up behind me. "You've certainly got a mix here."

"It's only going to get," I stop as Kara appears on the stairs and the non-stop chatter of Artemis behind her. "Worse?"

It only takes me a second to forget about everything and everyone when I see the state Kara has arrived in. She only left a couple of hours ago, and after Lycaon told us what he could, we never got a chance to catch up or chat but she seemed okay.

Had something already happened?

"Ah, definitely worse." Eric frown, clearly thinking the same as me.

"Kara what-" I start yet gives my arm a tug as she passes and I obediently follow her into Erics' room. "What's going on? Are you alright?"

I rub my arm, the red handprint there is evidence of how tightly she had grabbed me while bracing myself for the bad news.

"Sorry." She mumbles. "Frigg was waiting when I got back, and everything is fine. But, we've been talking lately and has convinced me it's the right idea. Now with everything going on now, it might not be the worst timing or exactly the best timing. I just, it's a big ask, I've been thinking about it for the last few days and I know I need you to do this with me. I can't imagine asking anyone else." She rambles, looking even more stressed as she stands there.

I breathe again.

This isn't about the Furies.

"Is it to do with hiding a body?" I whisper. "Did Aphrodite finally piss you off enough that you finally chop-"

"No. Besides, I can take care of my own dead body situations." She rolls her eyes.

"You have those situations, what is going on over there?" I'm joking and Kara smiles, almost.

Deimos must be rubbing off on her.

"It's stupid, and irrelevant to what we now have to deal with and what you're already going through, but I think. No, I want to-"

"Oh my god! Are you finally going to put Deimos out of his misery and-" I can feel myself relaxing even more, even though I'm silently cursing her for the dramatics.

"No!" She groans, yet her cheeks flush red as they always do whenever he gets mentioned.

"Well, I'm down with anything. Whatever it is, ask away."

Kara begins to pace, her tension clear as she fidgets with her hands, picking at a fingernail that wasn't broken as she walks back and forth. I stay quiet as she is clearly still thinking it all over, and I start to think I shouldn't have so willingly offered my company if this is how hard it is for her to actually say.

"I'm going to go and visit my Mum. I want you to come with me." Well, shit. "Why do you look like I just told you I did kill Aphrodite?"

"Because after this little pow-wow is over, I was going to ask you about doing the same thing."

"What?" She froze. "Why?"

"Lesser of evils? Not that I think she's evil. I was all for calling her a fairy godmother."

"You want her help with the Furies." I could see her brain thinking this over. "Who else was on your evil list?"

"Medusa and the Fates."

"Oh right, wait. Medusa?" Cain chose then to knock, peeking around the door as Kara looked like she was one more name drop away from a meltdown. "Give us a minute and tell Art to shut up!"

"Okay." He disappeared.

"I was going to tell you about it, but then the Blueberry drama happened and I just, it's been a big few weeks okay!" I revealed my new sword and her mouth dropped. "She gave me this."

Kara hesitantly reached out to take it from me, adjusting her hold a few times with a frown. "It's a little awkward, isn't it? Not easy in the hand. What is this made of?"

"Unicorn horn." I watch that sink in.

If someone had said that to me I would have laughed and up to about five years ago I never would have believed them either.

"Impossible! No one other than-" Kara stopped, reacting a little differently than I had expected. "Fuck. Off." She stared at it with wide eyes. I'm not sure if she was scared or in awe "No, seriously. What the actual fuck, Elise!"

"Long story."

"After this is finished, your baby daddy can disappear and you're mine tonight. I want to hear every single detail about how you got this. You know that whole sword in the stone story your world talks about?" I nod. "I grew up with tales just like that, only with items like this. It's a fairytale. This is not just a sword, I mean Hecate was involved with the creation of this. Hecate who never gets involved with anything."

"Another fairytale comes to life. First the Furies, and now this. Coincidence?" She slowly hands it back to me, not seeming as excited as before.

"Are you going to tell them about Blueberry too?" Kara asks softly, shivering as my sword disappears.

"Cain doesn't want to, he literally has a list of reasons to keep it on the down low and that was before the Furies. And well, I feel I owe it to my parents to tell them before the rest of the world finds out." I shrug. "It's not going to stay hidden forever."

Not so subtly, I put my hand on my still flat stomach and Kara's is soon on mine.

"Cain is right. Blueberry will change everything." She steps back, looking as stressed as she did when she arrived. "Will you tell Apollo?"

"Not tonight." She gives a little nod.

"They're waiting, come on."

I watch Kara go and hesitate. What are we doing?

Gathering our friends to what, brainstorm ways for us not to die? Ask them to fight a fight that again, was not theirs to face? It had seemed like a good idea when Kara mentioned it; she was a Queen now. She had to have a clue about the right thing to do now, didn't she?

"It's your party and you'll hide in this stinky Mage's room if you want to?" Portia looks around, not hiding her disgust and sure enough, the gang really is all here now.

"Why am I not surprised to see you?" I sit on the end of the bed which makes her look even more unimpressed. "I didn't think this would be your scene."

"Well, a mass gathering of all my favourite people was something I could hardly ignore. Is a change in leadership underway?"

"You're the Seer oh mighty Maiden. You tell me." And then against my better judgment, the words came out before I could stop them. "Have you ever heard of there being a Fourth?"

"Of the Fates? No, there has always been three." Her eyes captured mine, a question lingering in the depths of the darkness that stared back at me. "Why would you ask?"

"I was just hoping there might be, as you three suck and I'd like to speak with the manager or anyone else at this point." I shrug.

"Why are you getting everyone together?" She demanded instead.

"Why are you here?"

"I want to know what's going on."

"I'm getting in my birthday celebrations now because if next year is anything like this year-"

"You're lying."

"You can join us if you like, I'm sure what's about to be announced will be great gossip for you to take back to Adala and Nieve." I guess the decision on which Fairy Godmother I'd go to first just revealed itself. "I just have to know, one thing. No games. No lies. No secrets."

"I'll consider it."

I stood up, walking towards her which instantly made her tense. Her eyes narrowed on me as she looked me up and down, her pale face set to stone I was worried it might actually crack. My sword appeared in my hand, already so familiar as I felt the heartbeat in time to my own. There was no hiding the gasp that left her or stopping the way her porcelain skin appeared even more colourless than before. I started to count.

"Elise, what is that?"

One

Two

Three

"It's just a sword, Portia. Don't pretend you've never seen one before." I felt the air get colder, the other two of the three appearing in front of me as Cain came in too. I didn't even get to count to five. "I'm glad I have all your attention. Thank you for coming."

Cain stood behind me; we already knew this would be a possibility and to his credit, he was right. The gathering would get their attention. My sword would be the final part of the bait and they took it, hook, line and sinker.

"As I said, you're welcome to join us on one condition," I repeat.

"Do you know what you wield?" Adala gasped, her eyes trapped on the blade.

"Condition? We do not take orders from you, girl!" Naive growled. "Do you dare disrespect us so? Do you forget who we are?"

"No, Crone. We know all too well who you all are, and it's for this reason, we seek to call a truce." I didn't look at Cain, knowing how we must appear to them as it was written all over their faces. We were the enemy right now. "I gave you a third, we destroyed your enemies, I found you the most worthy of Queens-"

Neive looked like she was about to blow steam out of her ears as I said that, even going as far as to stomp one of her bent, old feet on the floor.

"It was supposed to be you, you stupid, stupid girl!" She screamed. "That which has been seen, can not be unseen. You and your cursed existence was ours to claim!" A boney, crooked finger pointed at Cain. "Not his! Not this creature with his equally cursed creation who only destroys all he touches. You are ours. The key to so much more than merely opening a forbidden portal to the other world."

"The only cursed creature I see is the three of you, and if you do not let this go, it will only continue to consume you. I am not owned by anyone, and this feud between us needs to end," I lean back ever so slightly; Cain is like a wall behind me. "Will you please consider a truce?"

"Never." Neive spat, disappearing.

The Mother and The Maiden looked at each other, and Portia reached for Adala as it looked as though she was about to disappear too.

"Help me understand. What is she talking about?" Portia begged, her voice tight with emotion.

The fact it wasn't anger surprised me more than I'd admit. Daring a look up at Cain, he was concentrating on the pair, and I wished I could hear his thoughts.

Adala sighed, her shoulders slumping. "We had a vision, a long, long time ago. She holds so much faith in it, she is blinded by what will not now ever be. Inana tried, oh that girl tried, to show her another way, but she is stubborn to her core and would not even hear her."

She looked at Cain, a sadness clinging to her that made me want to give her a hug.

"Did you, Adala? Did you listen to Inana?" I asked, feeling Cain's hand pressing on my hip to keep me in place as I went to step toward her. I moved anyway, sharing a cautious look with Portia as I stopped beside her.

"No. I wanted to believe her, that there was more. That there could be, oh it doesn't matter." She dropped her eyes to the floor, and I reached out to put my hand on her arm, another on Portias. The action seemed to surprise both of them, yet Adala wouldn't look at me now.

"We are about to go out there and warn our friends that another threat is on their way. We are going to ask them to fight with us, fight for me, against it." I start.

"Who is coming?" Portia frowned.

"The Furies. Erinyes or something. Do you know of them?"

Portia shook her head, a fake laugh following. "They are a myth."

"No, they are not." Adala snapped, suddenly coming back to life as she glared at me. "How do you know this?"

"Lycaon was woken from his rest when they were released," I started before she held up her hand to stop me.

"We go, now!" Adala grabbed Portia, the pair of them disappearing.

"Fuck." I turned to Cain. "I thought we had them."

"We do."

"What did I miss?"

"Adala knows what Inana did. She was lying and whatever this means, I'll bet you anything she's going to make sure Nieve listens this time." He sounded so sure, I wanted to believe him.

"Did she ever say anything to you? Inana I mean, if she knew something massive like this, was there ever like a, heads up sweetheart, shit is about to get really bad in x amount of years?" I tensed as he put his arms around my shoulders. "Shit, can I even ask things like that? It's weird, isn't it. I know it's-"

"It's fine. She never did. In case you've missed it, anyone with the sight can be rather vague and what will be, will be about things." He places a whisper of a kiss on my forehead before I lean into him.

"Matt wasn't. He painted pictures." I mumbled.

"He's retired now isn't he?"

"Yeah. Shame though. Would have loved a comic book to read about how we get through this."

"When it's over, maybe you can write it."

"Ah, please tell me I'm not going to regret coming in here," Eric called out, and turning around, he came in with his hand over his eyes.

"Yes, I know. Everyone is waiting." I sigh, suddenly feeling exhausted.

"You okay?" He asked, looking around as if he expected something to jump out from the mess he lived in.

"Peachy. Let's do this." We follow him back out and everyone goes quiet. The whole room is focused on us and Eric skips away, quickly hiding back behind his bar and I want to join him.

"Hey, everyone." I give a little wave and see the Van Helsings cluster together, whispering something that Jordan leans in to hear too.

Artemis, Apollo and Hades stand with Deimos, each group seeming to cluster together. The earlier mingling is forgotten as the cards are now put away and the music's turned off. It's suffocating in here, their concern and worry taint the air and the staring isn't helping. My throat feels tight, cramped; I can't swallow, I can't breathe. My ribs ache as pain shoots around my torso and the bones are squeezed even tighter than my throat only it's not actually happening and the warmth from my hand spreads up my arm. Black spots disappear and Cain now blocks the room out of my sight.

Worst fucking timing for a panic attack.

"I got this." He whispered.

"We got this," Kara added, coming up beside him. I manage a nod as she points out the werewolf King and Cain lead me to a chair at the bar where Eric has a glass of water waiting.

They still all look at me; concerned, worried, nervous but Kara claps and her voice is loud and commanding as she takes control and all eyes fall on her now.

"We can't do this," I whisper to Cain, stopping him as he goes to join her. "Not again. They can't."

"Let them decide."

"No. Do you know how many times they've all nearly died because of me, of us, and things they did not have any part in? Cain, please. Don't tell them"

It's too late as Kara starts talking, and then Lycaon does too.

"Stay here, you don't have to ask them to do anything. They still need to know what's coming, Kara and the Powers will need to be ready, to protect the others. Everyone has a responsibility to their people." Cain squeezed my hand, leaving to join Kara as Artemis threw a bunch of questions at him.

I didn't hear a single one of them, my heart pounding in my ears as Alfie rested his head in my lap. Empty cola bottles littered the floor around him and even they blurred and twisted into nothing as instead, I closed my eyes, holding onto him as we were thrown into the middle of another war. Three figures stood on the horizon and not ones I knew, but they were there for me. The fighting was pointless. It always was as in the end, it came down to one moment, one decision, one wrong move.

Cain and Kara navigate things with everyone so well. Their words just noise as I cling to Alfie like the lifeline I know he is. Who even knows what they're saying? It still feels surreal, yet here we are, all together, talking about something we know nothing about. Something dangerous and deadly is on its way and suddenly there are chicken wings being put on tables, pizza to beers being poured and the music is back on.

"You okay there, Bunny?" Apollo's familiar voice snaps me out of my trance and looking at him, he smiles. Alfie hisses at him, and he doesn't even blink.

"I just, yeah." I returned the smile. "How are you?"

"Better than you I'm guessing." He opens his arms and I take him up on his offer for a hug. Barely a second later, I'm sandwiched between the twins as Artemis joins in.

"Missed you! How come you never visit?" She pouts, taking the drink Hermes hands her a second later before she points at Apollo. "Is it because of him? It is, isn't it."

"Thanks, Art." He rolls his eyes, making her smile.

"I've just been busy. Pissing off mythical legends and other such things, you know how I roll." I shrug.

"Right. Kara mentioned girls night after this, so you can tell me about a small chunk of it later. Keep the, dating my sibling, part to a minimum okay?" She winked and left us as quickly as she had come.

"You seem different," Apollo says a second later. "How are you though, really?"

"It's probably just because I cut my hair last week and Zane's got us working out pretty damn hard at the moment. I think I'm actually enjoying workouts these days, he likes to push me because apparently being a Power means he can. Oh, and Ailin hooked me up with a decent therapist finally, so apart from, well this, things are good. Honest." I don't miss the look he gives Cain; jealousy and hurt, which still manages to hurt me a little as well. "You're okay?"

"Yeah, Bunny. It's been boring without you around though. I thought about coming back here a few times but wasn't sure how you'd feel about that. Kara said to give you some space." He sighed. "It's hard sometimes."

Well, just you wait for the next bomb drop, Apollo.

"Visit whenever. You're welcome here, honestly, and well, it's going to be and awkward. Probably a lot of that actually, and I can't change or fix that for any of us. That has to be something you learn to deal with."

"I know." He sighed. "I do. Just when I see you, you're right. It's fine."

Before I can reply, I notice Deimos has changed his attire. Still all black, but the coat looks like he is about to go into a blizzard and looking at the others they all do. Apollo is suddenly up, and his clothes change too.

"Well, that's my queue."

"What are you all doing?"

"You really weren't listening were you?" Apollo frowned, that hint of scolding not going unnoticed as I searched for Cain.

He stood with Eric and I quickly went over him, tugging off the hood of his jacket as Deimos joined them

"What is happening?" I demanded.

"We're going to the mountains." He says it like I should know that already and clearly, it wasn't obvious to everyone I spaced the fuck out for this meeting.

"We are?"

"No, we are." Eric motioned around the guys.

"For your first meeting of supernatural boy scouts I hope?"

"Elle, you're staying here. Have your girls night." Cain frowned. "If they're after you, you are not going onto that mountain."

The werewolves joined us next, and I cringed at the weird sniffing thing Paytah did had him looking at me in a way he'd never done before. No bear hugs. No weird, little female comments. He simply looked between Cain and me and stayed back.

That was not good.

What did he know?

"Now might be the only time to go on that mountain!" I huffed. If they'd retrapped them, it would make sense to go check it out. Whoever suggested that needed a gold star.

"And we will be able to take care of it, right?" Eric hit Cain's arm and he quickly nodded. "Look at our little army. This guy, Deimos, the others." That earned a few glares his way. "No offence, I included myself in the others. These two are enough to withstand anything, let's face it, we're simply going as witnesses."

"Speak for yourself," Apollo mumbled, while Hades joined us just in time to add his death glare to the rest heading Eric's way.

"Then I should be able to go too!"

"Why are we excluding this one?" Hades asked, earning an elbow from Cain. "What? If we know one thing it's that she can do more than handle herself in battle?"

Cain just shakes his head, the pair entering a conversation of raised eyebrows and squinty eyes.

"Elise," Kara said patiently from behind me. "Think this through. Logically, it is better for you to let them check it out and hopefully put an end to it before it's even anything. It's you they want, why would we just hand you over or even give them an opportunity to take you, or worse?"

The urge to scream was cut short as a rolling wave of nausea hit, and the stale beer smell of the bar made my throat burn.

Message received little Blueberry.

"You know this means the, girls can do it to movement, is being set back by like a century." I snapped at her.

"It's a risk I'm willing to take. Especially if it means we don't have to go into that cold and you can fill the rest of us in on what we've been missing lately." She winks.

"Are the mortal ones coming? The red head and the other one." Artemis called out. "Or is the one with child staying home?"

"That's whose home we're going to!" Kara answered, clearly low on patience for Artemis already.

"I'll be back before you know it. I promise." Cain pulled me aside, dragging me up to the Valkyrie VIP area and out of earshot. "Elle, I beg you and all that is and all that is yet to come, please stay here. Stay safe." His hand rested on my hip, subtly grazing my stomach. "We, need you to stay safe."

"There's only so many times you can use that against me because I show you what I can and can't still do. Cain, I'm not fragile. I won't break. I can handle a walk in the cold with your little boy's club. I mean, in nine months I might think you're right and be happy to sit it out, but- "

"I know. I know what you're capable of and you could easily handle the boys club out there on your own, but Elle. please. We're just checking it out, trying to see what we're up against and hopefully ending it before it turns into anything. Then we can go back to eating donuts and wondering what the Fates are plotting next." Cain was playing dirty. His kiss was slow, deliberate; a subtle bite of my lip as he pulled away. "You are everything to me. That blueberry in your belly, something else entirely. I am terrified of losing you, both of you, and I can't help wanting to go caveman on every single thing that could make that happen. Let me do this. Please."

My stomach churned again. "You're too much. I'm nauseous from how ridiculous that was."

"From that or blueberry?" I feel those tingles and breath a sigh of relief. "Better?"

"Much. I hate this, Cain. If shit goes down, I will be saying I told you so for at least the next century." I pout, which turns into a glare as he realises he won.

We rejoin the ones that remain and all eyes are on us again.

"Ready?" Cain asks Hermes.

"That's it? No fight?" Apollo raises an eyebrow. "Come on Elise, don't be stupid about this."

"I'm not, jerk. Enjoy freezing your balls off and you all better come back in one piece. I'll also accept ice sculptures because at least then I don't have to listen to you talk anymore."

"Nice. Risking our butts for you and all we get is, enjoy your frozen balls." Eric mutters.

"Yeah well you're not known for making the best decisions and I'd bet my frozen balls you'll be doing something to either follow us or try and get their first."

"Enough with the ball talk!" Kara snapped, but I ignored her.

"You have no idea what I will or will not be doing, Apollo." I answer calmly. "There are good arguments for me not to go. Saving your asses is a likely and also good argument, but I'm slightly outnumbered-"

"That has never stopped you before. Do I need to go over every-time you've ever acted on impulse and made everything worse?"

"Oh please do, it's been a while since you've giving me a stern talking about my flaws and stupid behaviour. Grab a chair everyone, we're gonna be here a while!"

"Elle," Cain started only Apollo turned him.

"Surely even you are not as stupid to think she's just gonna listen and do what you told her to do."

"I understand that would be how it appears to you,"Cain shrugged.

"Yeah and you know why, because I know her too." Apollo hissed.

"This is just, awkward," Artemis whispered to Kara behind me.

"The difference is, Elise has no reason to prove herself to me. To anyone here, not anymore. I trust her, the agreement we just came to," before Apollo could argue back he kept going, taking a step towards him that had Eric and Hades taking a step back. "And I don't tell her to do anything. I ask. Nicely."

Apollo looked between us and I could see the way he had clenched his jaw.

"Open the damn portal, Hermes!" He hugged instead and turned around which seems to make everyone let out a breath.

"Cain, I-" I didn't know what to say.

What do I say.

"See you soon, promise." He grabs my hand and kisses my knuckles.

"Okay."

They're all dressed like they're heading to the top of Mount Everest and as Hermes open their portal, I want to say something more and instead pray no one can see my tears. Fear, a new, deep and cold feeling of terror hits me then and it only gets worse as I see Jordan and Zane join them.

They weren't part of the deal.

"No-" Kara stops me as I reach for my brother, and he vanishes through the portal. "Let me go. He's fucking mortal. They don't have powers!"

"I know, but they love you. You can't stop them."

"Fuck this macho bullshit!" The portal is fading. "Alfie, you got this?"

He nods, his scales bristling before he launches himself through.

Feeling out for them, I can't sense anyone in this world. Of course I can't. They aren't staying here are they, but they had Alfie so that was something.

"Men are the most fragile creatures of all, Elise. Haven't you worked that out yet?" Artemis gives me a look of pure sympathy, before holding up two bottles of Bollinger. "Now, girls night?"

I don't get to argue anymore and instead I'm standing in Raya's living room. It's not quite dusk yet, but there are candles lit and bread, cheeses and dip on the coffee table.

"Oh this is so nice!" Raya gushes. "No toddler, no husband, just the girls and I just found this non-alcoholic champagne! Tastes just like the real thing!"

"That's just sparkling grape juice." Meghan frowns, like the thought of no alcohol in something is disgusting. Normally I would agree at a time like this.

"Want to help me in the kitchen?" Raya asks and I follow her as the others get set up in the living room. "Who knows?"

"Just Kara."

"Penny?" She whispers.

"No, she's honeymooning."

"Ok, and things are really good between you and Cain?"

"Up until five minutes ago when he let Zane and Jordan go with them." Raya shrugged. "Hand over the sparkling grape juice."

"And you're ah, Morning Feelings?"

"Cain has the magic touch. Healing powers, who knew." I sipped the liquid, disappointed it really was just fizzy juice. "This is terrible."

"Get used to it." Raya laughed, enjoying it way too much.

"Elise, come tell us Medusa!" Kara called and the rush of questions that followed made me groan.

"Your lying!" Artemis hissed.

"Would I, your Queen do such a thing?" Kara mused as I took a seat on the sofa next to Artemis. Ailin looked like she'd rather be anywhere else, and Meghan was much the same. "Oh damn, Eric will kill me. I forgot to close the bar. Start, I'll be back before you know it."

"Yes, start. What did she mean when she said Medusa?" Artemis demanded.

"Exactly that. Cain took me to see Medusa, kind of. It's a long story." I sighed.

"We have time." Ailin pushed, suddenly interested.

"Yeah!" Raya agreed.

"Well, since I was in the market for a new weapon, Cain figured there was only one place we could go and it wasn't Rumpels."

I had a feeling Kara's disappearance was not bar-related, and by the time the others had heard about the adventure, she still hadn't come back.

I was going to kill her.