I stared back at Artemis, barely blinking as she raised her bow. The golden arrow caught the morning light, causing the tip to sparkle. She was showing off, using what should really be art in an expensively decorated home - maybe even part of a new collect at Tiffany and Co, not being pointed at my head. Mum had actually gasped when Artemis revealed her arrows, so did I when I saw the diamonds that decorated the shaft and the oh so sharp head. Now she was actually going to fire one at me. Against the idea, and unable to watch, Mum was currently baking apple pies she apparently would serve at my funeral if this went wrong. I thought that was a little dramatic, but at least we had pie for later.

"Death wish. She has a death wish." Hermes mumbled to my right. "Stupid stupid!"

I didn't bother to look at Logan, who stood right beside him. His silence said enough - he agreed.

"You know, I was reading one those Greek mythology books again and it said that you and Art were actually half-related Hermes." I taunted now. The incest element of his secret love had really grossed me out, but then Logan reminded me - as Artemis had previously too, you can't trust everything you read. "So, she's what? Your sister."

He knew what I was implying and luckily, I hope, Artemis was far enough away she couldn't hear our conversation. Either way, Hermes concern quickly disappeared.

"I hope she spears you through the eye!" He growled.

There was no warning, no countdown; nothing to give me a clue that she was even about to shoot - well apart from the whole raised bow thing. She just did it and the clink of my sword connecting with her arrow filled me with relief as reflexes I had put my trust in came to life. This whole little exercise had been my idea. If I could dodge one of her oh so infamous, never miss a shot, shots - I liked my chances against what ever else these Powers could throw my way. The first time I'd been put the test, I had been unprepared. The second, I kind of was too. This time, I was ready.

"Maybe you guys should stick to the whole mind manipulation thing. Oh wait, that hasn't worked out so well either." Logan shook his head, as Hermes face started to turn a little red and then he smiled. A cocky, you're going to regret that now, kind of slyness poured from it and somehow, I managed to spin, and raise my sword in time to deflect another arrow. "Nice try."

Artemis appeared beside me and clapped. "Well done."

"Thanks!" I took a little bow and she rolled her eyes.

"So modest."

"You have no idea." Logan added, and dropped his arm over my shoulders.

"Can I ask you something?" I looked at Artemis and she nodded. "Why do you all do the mind control thing?"

She frowned at that and Logan and Hermes started to walk ahead of us maybe getting this confused with a chance for some girl talk. "Not all of us can and those who have the gift all vary in what they are able to do. Luckily, Powers can not do it to other Powers. Not even, him. Your Cain."

I didn't like how she said that and quickly moved on.

"I killed Bollocks or what ever his name was because he tried and it didn't work. Hades, almost met the same fate. If he was in my head, shouldn't he have seen that and tried something else?"

"He wasn't in your head, not like Buluc was able to be. Hades power is persuasion and while those gifts do not work on us, even I know how persuasive he can be." She winked, before adding dreamily. "That voice."

"Those eyes." I agreed too quickly. "So you two...?"

"No. Never. Yet when he gets sweet talking, putting all kinds of ideas into your head when there is already a desire within you, well you can see how he can talk you into doing anything. He has the lips of a sinner." She actually giggled now. "Oh Hades."

"Hey, is Apollo around?"

"Why would you ask that?" Her good mood vanished instantly.

"Curious. You guys are twins right, so where one goes I thought the other would too. Plus, I have his dagger. Is he going to want that back?"

"No. That is yours." Was all she said, and walked off to join Logan and Hermes.

"Touchy subject." Cain said as he appeared in her place. "What was that little stunt I just saw?"

"What?" I asked dumbly.

"You know exactly what. And if you missed, not her?"

"Alfie or you or them, could have healed me. We had a back up plan, relax!"

"She was using her golden arrows!" He growled. "Don't do it again!"

"What's with you guys and the gold?"

"You're full of questions today." Cain paused and I looked up to see Logan coming back over. "Maybe another time."

"Or maybe now."

"They're right. You have a death wish." And then he disappeared.

"What was that about?" Logan asked.

"Came to tell me off for being stupid. I wonder what is with them and gold? Golden arrows, swords - seems to be one of the only things that can kill and really hurt them."

"Good to know." He mused.

"Indeed."

"Why do I think you're up to something?" His arm went back over my shoulders as he kissed my forehead. "Oh because you always are."

"I still need to find that gateway to their world. You'd think Hermes could realm travel and I dunno, find us a map or something."

"Sounds too easy." And I had to agree with him.

"Yup. Hey, wanna go to a party tonight? I got an email from Hazel and the coven has some pre-Aquarius full moon ritual thing going on. They might even be sacrificing another goat."

"Goat sacrifice? Count me in!" He said sarcastically. "Think going out is a good idea?"

"No, but what's the worst that could happen?" I smiled.

"Oh, I could think of a few things." Logan frowned. "Actually, a lot of things."

"Party pooper."

) O (

We arrived at the covens mansion post ritual. My parents figured if anything bad was going to happen, with my past, it would be then. Despite assuring them this invovled no sacrifices, me included, they weren't so sure. So to keep everyone happy, we arrived late. I hadn't been back here since Selene was after me and there was definitely a more, drunken mood around the place which suited me just fine and after we sent Alfie home, Logan and I walked hand in hand around the back where the afterparty was in full swing. I was kind of disappointed I hadn't been able to go to one of these before, and couldnt help looking around awe struck.

 Floating balls of light lit up the yar, looking as though someone had managed to trap falling stars and a steady thumping of dance music was being controlled by a vampire who had earphones on nearly as big as his head. More than that, pixies danced around in the air out of time to the DJ's music; clearly lost in their own world. Bartenders stood behind make shift bars, mixing cocktails in ways humans would never be able to since you know, they only had two arms and no magical abilities. It was otherworldly, and I guess it kind of was since we were the closest thing to normal around. Vampires, werewolves, shifters and who knows what else surrounded us; most too drunk to notice what we are or to care if they did.

"Ellie!" Hazel drunkely called, waving at Logan and I before rushing over. The fact she was barely dressed in carefully positioned feathers and fur gave her a rather wild edge. I liked it and felt rather out of place in my skirt and a tank. Her dark hair was filled with feathers and ribbons, all blue and silver and what ever she had marked all over her skin sparkled in the dim light. "I am so glad you came!"

"How did your ritual go?" I asked casually, looking at Logan with a shrug.

"Fine fine. Nothing major, just a few jugs of water poured around and some other ramblings as we paid our thanks to some bullshit cause. Two full moons in Aquarius next month. It's a good time for healing and fuck knows.  But since we're planning on expanding our coven, we thought some additional good juju would help." She laughed. "It's a fae thing, though kind of ironic since you'd think we'd be all up in a devils grill or something 'cause we are aligned to, the dark side!"

She wiggled her fingers and laughed even harder at that. I was way too sober to be at this party and some of the others saw Hazel talking to us they came rushing over.

"Right. Great." I nodded, desperately seeking out the nearest bar.

"Tracker." She finally greeted Logan. "You know what yous need? Shots. I have tequila!"

The pair of us were directed away from the dance floor and over to an oak tree where some kind of tree nymph seemed happy to mix our drinks from the lowest branch.We never quite got around to having those as two wolf shifters took them while we were doing tequila shots. By shots, I mean at least five and just when I thought I couldn't stomach another so soon, the world seemed to spin as Logan was suddenly against me and we found a rhythm with the bulk of the dancers around us. It was hot, and sweaty and awesome. 

The good mood was infectious and during drink breaks, I found a part of me had changed. My top had been ripped to expose my stomach, with similar markings drawn on me so I easily blended in with the coven. My skirt now had a belt of feathers, while my hair was braided and decorated much the same as Hazels. Even Logan hadn't missed out on the dress up, since the shimmery silver powder was now all over his arms in random hand prints and having lost his shirt - all over his chest too. Something resembling an indian chief's headdress found it's way onto his head. It looked hot and I told him so a dozen times as we got another drink.

"I've never been to a party like this." He told me, pausing for a second to enter a staring competition with a werewolf. Tracker one, werewolf zero.

"We're so coming to the next one!"

"What will you be having?" The voice was much to posh for this party. So far the nymphs that seemed assigned to drink duties simply grunted and pushed something our way. Apparently they weren't big on drunken deep and meaningful as Hazel, rudely found out. Too bad this was practically her party and the nymph still hadn't come down from the tree she was chased up.

"What ever." Logan answered him and looking over, I was startled to see how young he was.

"Are you old enough to be serving alcohol?" I asked, trying to sound like I had some kind of authority. Truthfully, right now, I would want to attack me because I doubt I had the ability to beat up a butterfly. "You don't look like you've even reached puberty!"

The boy glared at me, making me think he was indeed older than he looked. "Immortals don't age like your kind."

"You're not a vamp. What are you?" I asked, actually interested. I couldn't work it out.

"Have your drink, Hunter." He put a cup down in front of me, which was promptly snatched away by the demon who had been waiting behind me.

"Hey!"  Logan stopped me from going after it. "Could we get another?"

"Of course." The boy smiled, producing a cocktail shaker out of thin air. The blue mix was delicious, and before I could order another, a vampire walked by with a platter covered in pizza. I let my stomach do the thinking and went after it, yet a drink was never too far away as our weird kid friend always seemed to be there when we needed another.

Dancing with the fae was a lot of fun. Having a night out with my boyfriend was even better. We were safe here, cloaking spells had covered the party in addition to the usual magics that surrounded the house and despite Logans original unease of being around so many kinds of supernatural creatures that may not actually like us being there, even he loosened up as it became obvious no one was there to cause troble. The music was loud, drowning out my thoughts of anything not related to the night. The laughs were being thrown around like the tequila and as I danced with Logan, lost in the middle of the mob, I remembered what being completely carefree and happy felt like.

I liked it.

A lot.

 Hours, minutes, maybe even days later, our favourite bartender appeared beside us in the crowd. One hand expertly balanced a tray of shot glasses and a label-less wine bottle, which he quickly picked up.

"Drink?"

"Ah no, we're moving to water." Logan answered seriously, surprising me and Hazel who had joined us. He moved around, so now his back was facing the guy. 

"What's that?" Hazel asked, ignoring Logan's dismal.

"An elixir of my people, it's quite exclusive since so few bottles are available in this realm. I thought tonight would be a good night to bring it out." He grinned at Hazel and she brought everything he was giving off. It felt, slimy. His tone too perfect, and I thought of what Artemis said about different abilities the Powers have. Could he be one of them?

"What's it like?" She asked interested.

" Absinthe, but much more potent." He didn't seem to young and boyish anymore.

"Pass. Thanks." I interrupted, grabbing her hand as I let Logan lead us all away.

"Ah, what was with that?" She snapped as soon as we stopped.

"What is he? Who is he?" Logan demanded.

"He arrived with, someone. A demon I think, the one with horns that is practically dry humping that witch over there." She pointed at a couple by the DJ set up and it wasn't pretty. "I think he is part fae, vampire or something. What ever. Lets dance!"

Logan gave me a look, but my mind was too fuzzy to care. "You heard the lady Logey, dance with us!"

It took some convincing, but he did and the next time we stopped, Echo -one of Hazel's coven appeared with a tray of green shots. "These are amazing. It's like every fruit got into an orgy and spewed up candy that turned into this!"

Hazel didn't hesitate. "Oh wow. Hunters, you need to have one!"

I did and she was right.

"What is that?" I asked.

"That demon was handing them out. Apparently it's some special drink he got from another realm. How awesome is that!" Her black hair was covered in bits of red, the same sparkly blue powder that was on us, all over her. "I'll go get some more!"

Logan gave a little tug on my hand and a frown was set on his face. "That strange one gave them to her. I don't trust him, please don't have any more. Doesn't something seem, off to you?"

"Too obvious and besides, who would try anything here?"

"A lot of these guys that have issues with what we are." Logan pointed out. "Sure Hazel's group like us, but there are shifters, vamps and who knows what else around tonight. Cain and his lot aren't all we have to worry about, remember?"

"I guess after all the crap we've gone through with them, werewolves and vampires seem so, lame and aren't a threat anymore." A vampire passed then, baring fangs as he did so. "Sorry. You're very dangerous and scary!"

Logan failed at hiding his laugh and the pair of us fell into a fit of hysterical, drunken giggles; his sober moment gone. This night was the best and before long we were back in the middle of the crowd, dancing and singing to remixed music that my parents would know the words too. I'd drunk too much and skipped on the next few drinks that came around, going for the bottled water instead despite the bear shifters laughing at my inability to keep up with the supernatural crowd. I didn't care, I was starting to lose my buzz and a bad taste lingered in the back of my throat. When Logan started to yawn around three am, and the music was starting to be too loud we decided it could be time to get Alfie and go home.

Hazel hated the idea.

"But, it's your first time! You have to stay until dawn. It's funny to watch the vampires freak out and beat the sun home!" She pouted. "I expected more from you Hunter!"

I gave her a long, very wobbly hug. In fact, I wasn't sure I'd still be standing once I let her go, so we just leaned on each as a couple of the other fae came.

"I forgot you're not like the other Hunters. They always  shut down our parties at like, midnight. That's when they're just starting! Who does that!" Ivy began to rant to us about everything wrong with Hunters, Trackers and the Slayers. "But not you guys. You guys are the best!"

Her step forward to hug Logan ended with her spinning around and throwing up. Nice.

"Okay, well, how about one more for the road?" Hazel taunted. "Or can't you handle that?"

"Challenge accepted witch." I teased her back as she narrowed her eyes my way.

"Did you just use the w word at me?"

"I dunno, did I?" I paused. "Witch?"

An eruption of shrill, drunken, feminine laughter exploded from our little group and sure enough, a shot glass was returned to my hand despite the way my stomach churned in protest at accepting another one, even if it was to be the last. Hazel let me go and all the glasses were raised and clinked together; the green liquid splashing out to run down our arms.

"Bunny, you don't look that great." Logan caught me as I drunkenly stumbled, and my shot slipped out of my hand and into the grass. I looked up at him gratefully and smiled. "I love you Logey Wogey, Bogey."

"I love you too." He kissed the tip of my nose and that rush of love warmed every inch of me. Instantly I reached up to be closer to him; whisky scented his breath and the taste lingered on his lips, so I kissed him again, harder - deeper, forgetting all about my no PDA rule. Slowly we broke apart, and with sleepy eyes, Logan smiled down at me. "Now how about we get-"

From behind, I was roughly shoved in the back and we both stumbled backwards. Luckily Logan didn't quite fall and before I could turn around to yell at whoever had just pushed me, someone screamed, then another and as chaos erupted behind us, the DJ cut the music. Spinning around, I froze - the words getting stuck in my throat as I felt dizzy. Hallucinating. I was hallucinating.

One by one, our friends collapsed. Green foam leaking from their lips as their bodies twitched and then became still. The fae rushed in, yelling at their fallen sisters as hands lit up with healing energy and tried to undo what had just been done. I felt frozen, like I was just there, floating and watching. It wasn't really happening. It was a dream. Another trick.

Yet as I found Hazel, every instinct I had told me this was real.

"Hazel?" I stuttered, shoving Logan away from me as I fell to my knees beside her.

I looked around, desperate for someone to appear and tell me it was a joke, but instead magic flowed around us as the fae fought to revive them only it wasn't working. Some of the party goers started to circle around us. Some ran and others lingered on the outside before subtly doing the same as fear took over the atmosphere; this wasnt a party anymore.

"No. No. No." I chanted. "Hazel! Wake up! This isn't, you're not funny!"

I shook her shoulders as the one who had been helping fell back sobbing; their wailing cries cutting deep. Those who could, vanished out of there, while others looked around confused - some angry, but those of the coven only mourned now. One by one they all began to cry, until the last gave up and it was obvious there was nothing they could do.

"Elise." Logan said softly from behind me. His hands on my shoulders, I slowly stood up and turning into his chest, I joined the others as if I was one of them and couldn't stop the tears.

The logical part of my brain that had taken a break sparked back to life. Things like this don't just happen. Someone or something causes it and I needed to find out why. I needed to destroy it, stop it before anything like this could be done again. 

"What, why, Logan, how did this happen?" I stuttered, daring a risk behind me in hopes that something had changed. It didn't.

"I don't know. We'll call Ailin, get her to send some people out here to investigate." He promised, reaching for his phone already.

Slowly getting myself together, I turned from Logan to see six of the dark fae had been affected by whatever this was; Hazel included. My eyes burned and the pain of loss I was already so familiar with returned, but something made me away from their bodies. The weird boy thing, was slowly moving back towards the house - his special other realm drink, tucked under one arm and held carefully with his other hand. As he nervously looked back, our eyes met and he began to run.

So did I.

He made it to the side of the house and nearly to the front when I tackled him to the ground. I was off though, my stomach threatening to release everything I'd consumed tonight, while my balance decided to take a vacation too. We landed badly, well badly for me, and the kick that he sent in my direction left my ribs feeling like tissue paper. It hurt, bad, but as he got up and went to keep running, I grabbed his ankle and tripped him back down. This time I was on top of him, my knees digging into his shoulders as my fists were introduced to his face. He still had the bottle, and swinging it up, managed to hit me in the side near where his foot had already been and as he squirmed, he managed to get free again.

"What did you do!" I screamed at him, once again bringing him down.

We wrestled, throwing hits when we could and one of my biggest fears got confirmed. "It was meant for you! All you had to do was take the fucking shot! You and your friends could all still be together if you had!"

"Who are you?" I demanded.

He chose not to answer, pulling my hair in one rough jerking motion so my head was bent backwards and opening the bottle, the fruity crap from earlier wasn't the smell that greeted me. It was sour and revolting; toxic. His shy grin was more of a sneer now, his eyes wide and crazy as some of the liquid spilled onto my face. "Open wide god-killer. Just a sip, that's all you need!"

My elbow went into his knee and as he stumbled, he managed to keep hold of the bottle. Too bad I also followed up with a kick to the balls. If he wanted to pull hair, I was willing to play dirty too and once I had it in my hands, I ran at him so he was now pinned against the wall. My forearm was pressed against his throat and the panic in his eyes pleased that dark and ruined part of me, that wanted him to suffer.My anger made me stronger, and he was hurting more than I was too. Blood covered his face, his lip already swelling as one eye didn't fully open anymore. Yet he saw the bottle coming his way and sucked in a breath, making sure his mouth was kept shut as I went to give him a drink too.

"Start talking otherwise all of this, will be the last thing you ever drink."

"He sent me to do what the others didn't. You were just meant to take a sip! One stupid, shot!" He blurted, quickly closing his mouth again.

"Who?"

"The King."

"I don't know of a king." Great, was this a new enemy to add to my ever growing list?

"Of the Powers. He rules our realm." He started to cough, blood spluttering onto my arm that I had wedged against his throat to keep him in place.

"So, like, Zeus?" The kid nodded. "So what are you, Cupid?"

"I am not one of them. My name is Ganymede, I was merely an Other. He chose me to serve him and tonight, your foolish friends only made me stronger as they worshiped their killer." He coughed again and as I looked down, I cringed for barely a second at seeing the metal remains of a fence or something, that had been sticking out of the house, now sticking through his abdomen.

"Why did you kill them? They were innocent!" I screamed at him now, eager to make him hurt even more. "What do you mean, worship their killer?"

"They were not innocent and even if they were, this is how it must be God-Killer. You should know that, after all you taken the lives of our kind too. Besides, I had no choice in order to get to you!" He snapped back with a raspy voice. "There will be more to come. You will die and tonight I finally join the stars, my immortality earned."

His eyes began to close as his chin fell to his chest. Furious I stepped back, just in time to notice an eagle circling above us. That was weird, and as Logan joined us, he too looked up just as Cain appeared.

"Save him. He can't die." I ordered.

Cain took one look at the boy and shook his head. "No."

"Yes! He doesn't get out of this that easy!" I wanted to torture him. Make him regret coming here, and doing what he did. I wanted him to suffer and to just, die, wasn't an option.

"Trust me, he won't." Cain looked up as the eagle decided to swoop in low, but Artemis was ready and out of no where her golden arrow pierced its wing. A shrill squawk left it, the bird soaring higher as this Ganymede reached out for it.

"Help! Take me with you!" He called weakly, but the eagle was gone.

Artemis placed a hand on my shoulder as she appeared, and subtly pushed me back towards Logan before looking at Cain. Her face was blank, just like her tone. "You know he will want retribution."

"For a mere servant? No. He has more important things to worry about now." Cain mocked. "Hear that? A servant. A toy and he didn't even deem you worth saving.There is nothing special about you, foolish, foolish boy."

When Cain reached out to touch him, a flame seemed to come to life and swallowed his body and in the blink of an eye, ash fell to the ground in his place with the haunting echo of his scream lingering for barely a second later. Seeing the bottle where I'd dropped it, he then picked it up and gave it a sniff.

"They must be getting desperate. This would not have come cheap." He told Artemis before the bottle disappeared and he looked at us. "Are you okay?"

"Please, can you bring them back?" My rage left me now the fight was over and I couldn't believe I wasted so much time before asking him that. "You can, can't you? Please!"

"I'm sorry. It's not possible." He said sadly.

"We will honor your friends Elise and be sure to know that the death of Aquarius will hurt them as they hurt you." Artemis promised.

I didn't care about that, not now. It was my fault that my friends had been killed, again. Logan hugged me tightly, making it even worse. How did he still love me, after everything in my past and now this? Guilt gnawed at my insides and slipping out of his hold, I threw up until I was positive I would die. That was after all, one solution to this mess, but it wouldn't bring Hazel and her sisters back. It wouldn't bring the hundreds that had already died, and it wouldn't help Reece. I'd gone too far to turn back now, to give them that kind of satisfaction - to make it easy for them. Even so, I wanted to disappear, just for a little while and so I did.

We went home, I showered and refused to let anyone help or heal me. At least for now, and so went to the one place I can disappear and where everyone would leave me alone. I found Alfie and Annipe lingering around outside, and without even telling him, Alfie wrapped himself around me so I was in a cocoon of his coils. Annipe slid over him, joining me in a self enforced solitary confinement and with my snake demons keeping watch, I cried until I passed out. When I woke up, the time for feeling sorry for myself would be over; I'd had enough and it was time to end this once for all.

______________

So we're getting to the final countdown now. Bit of a sad chapter and another addition to the story from the world of Greek Mythology. Hope you're all still liking the story - so many questions about what is to come too!

Who will survive?
Will Cain get back home?
What's the deal with Apollo and Artemis?
How many chapters are left? (I'm not sure, but not too many!)

So many questions... What are some of yours? I hope I haven't forgotten anything that needs to be wrapped up ha ha!! Thanks for reading, and sorry to those who saw the first version before I reposted it xx