Everything happened rather quickly after that little announcement. Clearly Cain had some Daddy issues, which wasn't really surprising since he had issues with, well, everyone. Before I could even ask who that was, Alfie had me in his hold; Portia stood in front of him though I have a feeling that was more for her own safety than ours and Hermes ducked under the table. Cain, who looked as if he might actually explode swiftly moved the realm traveler back into sight and hung him in the air like a starfish.

"Is this a trap?" He demanded.

Hermes barely managed to shake his head. "N-n-no!"

"No one else can get here?"

"You shouldn't even be here!" Hermes snapped rather boldly considering his current position. I don't think I'd be stupid enough to talk back to him right now.

"She stays." Cain ordered, pointing at me.

Maybe I was stupid too. "What? I'm not stay-"

If he heard me, it didn't matter as he started to bark out orders to the duo who could really do with a lesson or two on kidnapping. Amateurs really, letting themselves be followed and found so easily annoyed me. If it was just us, I could have time to think or get something more out of them - instead I was being talked about as if I wasn't even here and was merely some object that had no mind of its own. As Hermes assured Cain again of this places remoteness and safety, I really struggled to believe that since Cain had gate crashed this little party. Though, what if this whole realm thing was like the Kasha's little bubble of a prison. If left alone, could I get myself out here too - it was an idea, and I did have Alfie with me.

"She leaves. I'll kill you myself." Cain finished before disappearing. Great - no pressure to stay now. Right now, I'm pretty sure they believed he was serious about doing just that too.

"Well, that went well." I mused. Both of them only glared at me as they moved to the other side of the room. "Alfie, can you get us out of here?"

He tried, his muscles tense and body quivering, yet we didn't move an inch. The poor thing seemed to be getting into these situations a lot lately and I could feel how stressed he was becoming. "Alfie can't. Keep Elise safe."

"I know, I'm not mad at you, it's okay." I assured him, taking his head with my hands and pulling him closer to place a little kiss above his nose. "So now we-"

Alfie was gone and as a sharp pain radiated in my skull, and back, I barely managed to get a glimpse of him disappearing in a ball of light. It was too bright and black spots clouded my already blurry vision. Opening my mouth I went to call his name, yet instead I screamed as something tightened to near crushing point around my wrists and my arms were pulled roughly upwards.

"Careful!" Portia hissed.

"Sorry." Hermes mumbled and as everything came into focus, I looked up in disbelief as I was now chained against one of the walls. "Hate us later. We're keeping you alive."

"Was this necessary?" Portia was gone and sweet, old Huntington stood in her place, frowning as she looked at the chains that held me. As I saw Alfie crumpled at the other end I started to struggle.

"What are you doing? Let me go! Alfie!" I screamed.

"No one will hear you and he's fine. He might wake up with a bit of a headache, that's all. We need to go and I can't risk you doing anything stupid while we're gone." Hermes wrinkled his nose before reaching over and pulling on the chain. "I wouldn't keep fighting these if I were you. You could hurt yourself."

Clearly enjoying this, he tugged again and sparks of pain shot down my shoulders and around my arm joints.

"Enough." Portia scolded, shoving him away. "He does have a point Elise. We can't take any chances right now and we don't want to anger Cain further."

"Never mind him! I am going to-"

"You're not. Now be a good little mortal and stay the fuck out of our way!" Hermes took Portia's arm and the pair of them vanished so it was just me, Alfie and nothing else.

I'm going to kill them.

First I will torture them, and then I will kill them.

I started to scream my promises of doing just that when Cain reappeared. "Was this your idea?"

"No."

With a wave of his hand I was free. "What the hell is going on?"

"I would like to know that as well." He sighed, looking tired.

With that, he just seemed to deflate and slowly he slumped down at the now barren table. His skin looked pale, dark circles appeared under his eyes and as he ran his hands though his hair and just held his head between his arms - I almost thought he was about to cry.

Well, shit. If he was like this, I'm pretty sure we're all doomed.

"I never left. If they weren't so focused on you, they would have realised that." Cain gave a bitter laugh, before looking at me. "Better to have them think that I suppose."

I ignored him for a second, checking on Alfie who was okay, just out of it for the time being. Unsure of what to say, I moved to sit beside him and hesitantly put a hand on his shoulder. If he did cry, we were screwed because I had no idea what to do with criers.

"I'm fucking stuck here as much as you are, you know. Still think I'm all that powerful?" Yup, we were totally screwed.

"But you got here. Where ever here is."

"I followed you. I barely made it in behind Alfie when he closed the portal. Now I'm stuck here until I do the same to get out. I wanted to follow them, but they were too quick." He sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. "Did you believe what they said, about the Fates  telling them to stop you from sharing the gateway location with me?"

"I dunno. Kind of, until I ended up being chained to a wall." I rubbed my still red and sore wrists subconsciously. Cain noticed and moved to gently put his hands where it hurt. Instantly a tingling warmth took the place of the pain, and yet he didn't let me go.

"I think I believe them. I will go to my realm alone once we are free of this. Forgot the Fates and their meddling. We leave here and then go there. I will return home and you can have your life back." He promised, finally releasing me.

"What will happen to you?"

"I don't know, but I'm ready to find out. Why do you look like that?"

"Like what?" I frowned.

"That. Like getting your life back is the worst news I could have told you."

"We've gone through a lot. I don't like the idea of you going in blind and alone to your doom. At least take Artemis and Hermes with you or something, if you don't want me to go too." 

"Do you want to come too?" He asked a little hopefully.

"I'd rather you didn't go at all." I mumbled, knowing it was a bad idea. Why couldn't he just let this go, stay here and work the rest out later. "Who is your father?"

His face darkened. "I don't want to talk about it."

"I think it's time you did." I pushed. 

Neither of us spoke for what felt like hours and finally he gave a little cough and sat up straighter in the chair. Looking thoughtful, he tapped his chin a few times before leaning towards me. "I will tell you on one condition."

"Which is?"

"You do come with me." He sat back, looking rather pleased with himself and my stomach sank.

"I can't. I have everything here." I told him.

"Your parents are aging. They will die. Your brother, is bound to do something heroic and end up leaving only his name is a new book that will one day become history. Your beloved Tracker?" He shook his head. "What are you really leaving behind? Your demons will travel with you."

"Well when you put it like that." I scoffed. "It's more than that. I belong here. I am as Hermes said, just a mortal. It doesn't matter that I've been dragged into your drama, this is my life. I can't just, leave it all. I want to help you, but if this is how you want to play it, you're on your own."

"As you wish."

Then I decided to play the only card I had left. "Good luck finding the gateway on your own too."

Instantly his eyes narrowed and seeing him clench his fists, I knew it worked.

"I have ways to get that information from you Hunter. I wouldn't be making threats if I were you."

"What are you going to do, chain me up?" I taunted, before deciding not to keep poking the bear. "Is talking about your Dad really that bad?"

"No. I just don't want to." He pouted.

"Okay." We sat in silence once more, and not sure what else to do, I started to drum my fingers against the table. Cain lasted thirty seconds.

"Fine, I'll tell you."

I bit my lip to keep quiet, and to stop myself from smiling in case he decided not to talk after all.

"You know Artemis calls me brother." I nod. "They are my part siblings. This is so messed up. They are also my niece and nephew. Zeus, is my part brother and their sire. Leto, my mother was just another of his conquests."

"Well, all families have their, issues." 

"Yes. Issues." He agreed bitterly. "After the birth of the twins, it was as if the world turned against my mother. So, in order to survive, she went to the most powerful in hopes of finding aid there. You call them Titans, we call them Elders. Unfortunately, one took a particular interest in her that resulted in my conception and so, thinking that was simply her plan all along, she was sentenced to death."

"But she had you first?"

"She got away, I was born only to be abandoned, found by an Other family and raised as their own. He killed her, there was no escaping that. They looked for me of course, but unlike my siblings, I was not born with my abilities so I was able to live in peace for a few years. Luckily, Zeus and our sire were at war with another soon after. I was forgotten, until I wasn't."

"What changed?"

"I got my powers." He shrugged. "I wasn't like the rest of them. Powers have a talent, an area of expertise like Artemis and her archery and hunting skills. It shows from birth, though once I came into mine, I was beyond their abilities. Anything the Powers were respected or famous for, I was able to do too and better."

It wasn't hard to understand why he was so powerful and they feared him. He was like a chameleon of the Powers, a blend of all of them rolled into one. His power was imitation and camouflage. It occurred to me then that was why he was never found as a baby, because even then, just like how he can change his appearance now, baby Cain turned himself in an Other to hide. It was no different to him being Darius or Leo, a sailor or who ever the hell he could possibly want to be.

"Zeus and his war with Cronus, saw the Elders banished into another realm. He was the most dominant of all the other Powers and his victory established his role as leader with no argument. Then I showed up. At first, he was welcoming. I had reached my age of immortality and Apollo and Artemis took me in as their charge. I learnt what they taught me with ease, and more. I knew I was different, so I began to test myself when I was alone. It was then I met, her."

"The Third." I whispered.

"She was Zeus's favorite. I should have known better." He paused, clearly remembering something. "Despite their war and being banished, Cronus still provided council his true son. What jealously Zeus had towards me was exploited by him as he sought only to have me killed."

Cain rubbed his face again before leaning back in the chair. With a wave of his hand a glass of something rum smelling appeared and looking at me, I gave a little shake of my head. With a shrug, he took his glass and had a long gulp.

"Her name was Inana. She came from lands far from our own, centuries before even Cronus existed. The Fates are a mystery, their origins only theirs to know. Her beauty was so different to anything I had seen before, but it was more than just her appearance. There was a great power hidden within her, om all of them it's there. Each vision is merely a glimpse at their full potential, so really, it was no wonder Zeus wanted her. With her at his side, he would never be stopped."

"She chose you though."

"She did. It didn't matter though. Hera saw her as an enemy now, another rival for her husbands wandering affections. It drove him mad she refused him." Cain said, clearly amused and his voice changed slightly so it seemed more far away, which is where his mind must be. This was big. More than I expected him to actually share, especially as I remembered Portia had told me that he'd only mentioned Inana to her once before.

"We used to meet each night, far from the city near where the people who raised me lived. She told me tales of the past, of people I had never heard of and places that no longer existed. Inana, despite her abilities, was a dreamer. She'd tell me tales of a life we'd share in this world and when ever I begged her to leave with me, that we could go and do it, all she would say was that it wasn't time yet. I later found out, that the Fates can not see their own death, but also that all the visions of this place, which were those stories she told, were only ever of me. She knew she'd never be here."

I quickly wiped my eyes as my heart ached with sadness. No wonder he was so anti-love when we had our little chat at the bar. To expect a future with someone, to then have it taken away would be horrible. Despite losing her, he still loved her. It was obvious in the way he spoke, the far away look in his eyes and the tiny smile had just had talking about her. Cain coughed to clear his throat, sipped his drink and I dropped my hands to my lap as he looked back at me, while hoping he hadn't seen my tears.

"They called me *Nku. In our old language, it means sheep." He said bitterly. "It was an insult, the first thing they did to try and turn any who may befriend me away. I heard what they said about me. That I was stupid, a follower. That I had no thought or will of my own. It was why only Apollo and Artemis came forward to claim me. They were close with our mother and felt it their duty to look after the simpleton.  Imitation is supposed to be the greatest form of flattery. Once Hera set me up as Inana, a new followed me instead."

He smirked now, drinking more of his rum. "The Fallen One."

"I apparently did something so horrible, there was no saving me. To mess with The Fates in such a way put a permanent black mark against my name. The Others feared me more than Hades and his Underworld, than Zeus and his mighty lightning bolts. " He scoffed at that. "I became a one man army and I was going to destroy them all."

"What did they call you before Nku?" I asked, slightly off topic.

"Cain. I liked it so here, I kept it."

"It suits you." He didn't answer, just drank some more which was fine by me. 

"Now, long story short, desperate to stop me, dear old Zeus went to, Daddy, and got the idea of trapping me in another realm as he had done to the Elders. Cronus wanted me dead once and for all, but well, here I am and now he is apparently the one behind trying to keep me here. Who knows how Zeus fucked it all up so the bastard got free in the first place. I have to agree with him, killing your problems really does make sure they don't come back to bite you in the ass later."

Cain stood up, took a bow and sat back down. "Does that answer your questions Hunter. Do you feel better knowing of my past?"

"I guess it's time you got back and took care of Cronus once and for all." I told him, choosing to ignore the rest.

"Best idea you've had all day. Just one tiny problem with that." He held his hands up and motioned around the room. "We're stuck here, unless you've miraculously discovered a hidden talent for teleporting through nothing."

"Nothing?" I didn't understand.

"Hermes talent is he can browse through realms and portals, anywhere, anytime. He can go through the voids in time, in that space between worlds. We are currently in a void, which is why we need him to open a passage to another place so we can go. Snake demon over there can't move us for that very reason and thanks to what ever magic they created to block me, I'm kind of limited in that department too."

Then something else occurred to me. "If you're blocked in here, I mean, like on earth. How can you use this gateway to get home?"

"The Fates saw it and ensured that one gateway was unaffected. It's hidden from even Hermes and only one of them will be able to find it." He paused for a second, most likely to add to the drama of the situation. "Which is you, number three."

"Yeah, we're going to discuss that later." Or never. "Why can't you just get Hermes to open you a way in."

"Again, blocked. We ah, already tried it a couple of weeks ago." He admitted.

It was then Alfie woke up and after making sure he was okay, I left Cain drinking at the table to sit with him instead. There was a lot to digest and as I tried to make sense of everything, the thing that bothered me most was how open Cain had just been. Everything had been shared about his time back in his home realm, including a glimpse at his relationship with Inana, which as he talked, I thought was priceless knowledge about him. For months I'd be getting only riddles; bits of information that led me nowhere and told me nothing. Was it really only this discovering of his Dad being behind it that got him talking, plus my constant nail tapping or was there something that I was still missing?

The moment of bliss I had from him being truthful and sharing with me vanished as instead, my paranoia only grew. If there was one thing I was sure of, it was if something was easy, its actually probably not. 

"What are you up to?" I mumbled under my breath, watching Cain as if doing so would give away some kind of clue. It didn't.

"Can Alfie help?"

"I don't think so." I sighed, before calling out to Cain. "How long until we're reported as missing?"

"As long as it takes for them to come back, especially when they can't find me." He answered.

"Think it will give up your, super powerful title if they know you were stuck in here too?"

"Doesn't matter. They are never going to know, unless you plan on telling them?"

"Oh yeah, first thing I'm going to do is ruin your street cred." In the blink of an eye I found myself back in chains against the wall. Thankfully they weren't so horrible this time round. "Hey! I was joking!"

"I know, but they left you like this. Get your snake to get you down, make it look authentic." He was serious, and after a few goes, Alfie had me down again with the added bonus of some shackle bracelets.

We played poker and Uno, which then led to me losing four times in a row so I introduced him to fifty-two pickup. Thanks to his stupid powers, it wasn't as much of a chore for him as I had intended. Food was brought in, we talked about history and the things he had seen. Alfie took a nap and I soon joined him. 

"It's quite extraordinary, you and this demon." Cain mused, creating a cushion for him to sit on while I stepped around Alfie and curled up on his coils against his side.

"Why?" I yawned.

"You should have killed him, yet not only did you let him live, you turned him into a lapdog." He went quiet and I closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep with the rhythm of Alfie's heart beneath my ear. Yet somewhere in my subconscious I heard someone speak, only I couldn't focus enough for it to register properly in my brain. 

"Look at how peaceful my God Killer sleeps. Safe and sound, in the presence of two monsters who would die to protect her."

Alfie lifted his head and looked at Cain. "Alfie keep Elis-sse safe."

"As will I demon. As will I." Cain told him.

) O (

Cain had vanished when I woke and I was positive he was longer here. The smell of pizza was what had woke me up and as Alfie pushed me up onto my feet, I knew Hermes had come back. At least he left me food, but now Cain was who knows where, doing who knows what in preparation of going home. Despite well, everything, I hoped the idiot wasn't going through all of this to only end up getting himself killed.

"You could have woke me up Alfie. Zapped us out of here." I threw him a slice which disappeared quicker than what Cain probably did when Hermes returned.

"Alfie can't."

"Did they do something to stop you again?" He nodded. "I swear, if they hurt you, tell me." 

Another nod. "Alfie sss-sstrong."

"I know. Doesn't mean they can push you around. Alright, so, crazy idea. I want you to do that memory thing you do, and see the gateway. If they come back, take us straight there. If you can."

He nods, although is a little more hesitant. "Why?"

"I'm going in first." I decide. "Logan is going to kill me. My parents will probably disown me. Cain, well he can kill me after Logan does."

"No. Alfie ss-said, no."

"Really? You never say no." We have a stare down and I give in first. "Fine. You were right, bad plan."

I reach out to grab some more pizza, ignoring the drool that's appearing on Alfie's lips. Cain made sure he was fed well when he was still here, so I know he can't possibly be hungry. It's then my wrist starts to hurt again, different to the pain of the shackles and with a groan I grab it with my other hand and look at the stupid mark.

The full moon is glowing red and my wrist starts to black and smoke as if it's burning from the inside. I don't even realise I'm screaming until Alfie lifts me off the floor where I fell, and the whole thing is now looking as though I'm being branded. Burning flesh is all I can smell, and suddenly I can't breath. My throat tightens, I squeeze my eyes closed and I'm stuck in the moment of pure agony. Oh this can't be good.

"Alfie can't. Alfie need help!" He cries, as frozen as I am as there is no where for him to go and nothing that he can do.

I remember how to breath again, and manage to tell him that I'm okay - not that he believes me. My whole arm has cramped, and just when I think it might actually be able to catch fire and burn off, it starts to ease.

"It's time." An old woman speaks and both Alfie and I look behind us at the same time to see one of the Fates standing there. "You're ready now."

Tears still run down my cheeks and I manage to wipe my nose with the sleeve of my good arm before trying to get up. Alfie is instantly between us, hissing and slashing his spiked tail around in warning as he goes into battle mode, only it's all for nothing as she fades away. He waits a minute, maybe two before the spikes are gone and the tip of his tail is now around my waist. When he tries to get us out of there, he can and we end up back in my bedroom.

Instantly I collapse on the bed, my arm still throbbing as I dare to look at the mark again. Black, smoldering skin greets me and as my stomach churns and I wonder if I could make it to the toilet before throwing up, Mum comes in with Annipe.

"Oh sweetheart! You're back!" Yet one look at my wrist has her helping me up and into the bathroom with the demons right behind us.  "What happened?"

"The moon, it's full now."

Logan is calling my name and the thud of footsteps through the house has me looking to the doorway where he rushes by Alfie with Dad right behind me. All words leave him as his eyes drop to my wrist and even though Mum is carefully pouring water over it, he knows what that means.

"Shit."

"Yeah, I missed you too." I say back, letting Mum bandage what I think is now a permanent fixture on my skin. "But yeah, shit."

"Where have you even been?" Dad asks, nudging Logan aside.

"Trapped in a box." He rolls his eyes and clearly doesn't believe me. "No, seriously. I was with Alfie, long story that is now unimportant. Where is Cain?"

"No one has seen him for days, around the same time as you went missing." Mum told me.

"Days?"

"You've been gone for nearly a week." Logan tells me as he takes Mums place at my side. "Sorry, are you okay? Who the hell put you in a box? We've been looking everywhere for you! I thought, never mind."

He puts his arm over my shoulders and holds me close, while Mum ushers Dad and the snakes away.

"I'm fine. To me, it only felt like hours. Either way, we're out of time, I don't know what to do now."

"I saw." He held up my hand and peeked underneath the bandage. The pain was gone now, the burning over and I pulled off Mums handiwork. "Shit Bunny."

"I know." We just sat there for a minute, before I reached over to kiss him. "Disappearing really wasn't intentional. Has really been that long?"

"I don't even care if it was on purpose, you're okay and we will figure something out." He promised.

"I found the gateway Loges, it's why I was taken away."

"You went there?"

"No. I got stuck with Cain. Apparently it wasn't the right time. Fate chicks said so."

"And now is?"

I gave a little shrug and leaned against him. "I guess we're going to find out."

An hour later, my parent's living room was full of my friends and family. I left out some details about who took me, since they were in the room too and the bulk of what happened since I didn't think Cain would appreciate me now passing on his story. To my horror, Raya and Keiran sat on the lounge behind me and it was tempting to ask Hermes to zap them into their own little invisible void room for about the next six months - if not longer. Zane talked about readying the first wave of our make do army, Dad never took his eyes of Cain and I didn't miss the way he fiddled with own golden dagger that he had strapped to his waist.

In the end it was decided to sleep on it. In the morning a decision would be made and as everyone started to leave, I tried to find Cain with no luck.

"He's gone. Did you tell him?" Hermes asked from behind me.

"No. Not yet." I glared at him, my hand curling into a fist as I fought the urge to punch him.

"Good." He vanished and finding Logan in the kitchen, was happy to follow him to bed. 

"Tomorrow, everything changes." Logan said as we got comfortable.

"Tomorrow. Sleep Loges, you really need it."

He did. The stress of my disappearing act, again, left him looking worn out and exhausted, but I couldn't stop myself as I got up and dressed. I'd barely gone two steps outside when Cain appeared, looking as thoughtful as ever.

"I spiked the drinks. Everyone will wake up, better, in the morning."

"Thanks. How long was I gone for after you left?"

"Two days. Once I was out I couldn't even go back for you."

"As if you would anyway." It had been easier for all of them to have me hidden away.

"Hunter." A very familiar voice sounded from the shadows and as V emerged, I couldn't stop my smile. "Shouldn't you be inside. Asleep."

He didn't even look at Cain. 

"I'm more of a night owl."

"Of course you are darling girl, but I know you well enough to assume the fact you're out here with, him, at this hour, isn't due to your nocturnal preferences like some of us."

"Run along vampire. This doesn't concern you." Cain warned.

"It does. You're not the only one protective of Elise." V challenged, and as Alfie and Annipe joined us, so did Ailin and a couple of the other Kasha. Not only that, now I was looking, it was easy to see the way the shadows moved in a very unshadow like way. "We know what really happened, so for now, you will leave and come back tomorrow."

"Tomorrow Cain." I told him, siding with my friends before things turned bad. 

He vanished without a word. 

"You need to be more careful of the company you keep." V told me, clucking his tongue. "Gods and all sorts. I mean really!"

"I know right, vampires and demons." I shook my head, before reaching out to hug him. "I feel like I haven't seen you in forever."

"Well, rather than disappear and worry us all together again, call me. I have email now. Linny even sent me on a few courses so I know how to use that and all sorts of technology."

"Linny?" Ailin coughed subtly, while the other two Kasha with her vanished as well as the shadows. Ai-lin. Linny. It made sense. "Oh. Right. Um, well do you guys really know whats going on?"

"I've had you followed for a while now Elise. I may appear calm, and cool, but it's only because I have all my bases covered." Ailin gave the tiniest of smiles and I had to laugh.

"Sneaky!" 

"She can be." V agreed, and since Ailin seemed to look anywhere other than him, I got the gross feeling something was happening with those two. "How do you feel about a voluntary kidnapping?"

Looking between the pair, I figured I didn't have much choice. "Fine. But no blindfolds, chains or jail cells."

"I'm kidding!" V laughed, finding himself hilarious. "We just can't bring ourselves to trust everything we're being told by, them. Be careful. Now, go inside and stay there. Sleep. Who knows what's around the corner."

"Why are you even out here?" I ask.

"Patrolling." Ailin answered. "Plus, we had a feeling someone might try and sneak out to try and fix things before they actually happen."

"Okay, okay. You win. Good night."

The problem with that is, when I get back to my bedroom, Logan isn't there. He isn't in the house either and everything I know about being calm, focused and prepared goes out the window as instead I start to scream his name and run outside.

"Not funny! Logan!"  Nothing.

I hear V behind me, and Dad, but I don't stop. I make it to the oval as the call of eagle sounds from above me and the giant bird swoops low before moving to the two figures out on the grass.

"No. Logan! Logan!" I start to run even faster and am nearly there when a bolt of lightning sends me flying backwards. Alfie breaks my fall and as the others join us, the light of the portal lets me see my worst nightmare played back to me only this time it isn't a trick. For a second, I think it's Reece stepping into the light, making the sacrifice to save us all only this time, it's worse because it's Logan who disappears into the light and with him is a woman I haven't seen before, with the eagle flying in behind her. Cain appears with Artemis the second the portal closes and by the time I've run over there, they're all gone.

"No! No! No!" Dirt and grass fills my hands, for some reason I try to dig my way after them. "Logan! Answer me!"

Only he doesn't.

____________

*Nku pronounced Ne-ku