The second I enter the hotel room, I wish I hadn't come at all as the arguing that hits me has me blocking my ears. Everyone is shouting. Artemis has a golden arrow in her hand that she's waving around like a wand and she says abracadabra in a second,  I wouldn't be surprised. Logan has lost his appearance and is in full, golden boy, Apollo mode while Hermes seems to be trying to calm them all down, but failing terribly.

No one has even noticed my arrival, and just as I'm about to attempt interrupting them, Hermes steps back, and in his hands, a golden net appears. He is the first to notice me, and he wiggles his eyebrows with a smirk before the mesh is thrown over the four arguing siblings. Freyja screams, Apollo starts to glow, and then they go quiet for a moment which makes Hermes sigh.

"What's with the net?" I ask, standing beside him as the four now scramble around like trapped monkeys.

"I could say it is some magical, rare fortress of doom but it's just some old gold thread I practiced making knots with. It's just a distraction to try and get them to stop arguing. Who likes being trapped in a net?"

Finally, I'm noticed and seeing us watching them has Logan looking childish as he fusses with his corner and eventually calms down enough to work out they can just lift it and step away. Which he does as the trio still thrash around and yell threats at each other.

"We don't get along." He tells me with a shrug. "How's your brother?"

"He's fine. Annipe has decided Same Blood is now hers and Alfie chose to stay with my parents. Drama over."

We watch as Freyr manages to get out and he freezes at the sight of the three of us.

"Brother! Help me!" Freyja demands, and as he reaches out to do just that, he changes his mind and approaches us.

"We better let them out before they kill each other." Hermes sighs, and with a click of his fingers the net vanishes.

Artemis grabs Freyja's hair, yanking down, so the goddess topples backwards. As she falls, she grabs at Artemis jacket, pulling her down with her. I can't help but roll my eyes.

"Enough!" I shout over their commotion, just as Freyja gets a good shot against Artemis cheek while my friend leaves a bloody trail of nail marks on her rivals arm.

"Our, apologies, Godkiller." Freyr bows slightly, and the look he serves Logan with has me on edge. "We never meant any harm."

Logan scoffs.

"No? What was with the stalking then?" I ask, keeping an eye on the bickering pair behind him.

"We were just curious. That is all." He rolls his shoulders and stands a little taller.

He is taller than me, nearly as tall as Logan and he ignored Hermes completely. His beard was thick and well groomed; actually, all of him was. Freyja came to stand at his side, and despite his facial hair, the twin similarities were more significant than Artemis and Apollo. Their face shapes were the same, with broad, square foreheads, the same mass of blonde hair that fell to their shoulders, and in Freyja case, down to her waist in a thick braid. Their height was the same, and despite Freyr most masculine bulk, she wasn't thin or particularly feminine either.

Blue eyes were literally copied and pasted across to the other, but there was something else about them I couldn't quite work out between them. It was more than the freaky identicalness they held with one another. It was a feeling, their presence perhaps now it was no longer being hidden. Wild, rough, and again I couldn't pick it. There was no denying it was interesting to me though and looking between the twins now, I forced a smile.

"About me?" I ask.

Flattery will get you everywhere. I decide to hear them out.

"Why wouldn't we be? We hear tales from across the ocean of the human, the mortal girl that came with the Fallen One. The fates chose you to be their third, and the great Zeus falls by her hand and Cronus groveled at her feet before he met his end." Freyja bows then too.

A tiny bit of misinformation there, but I let it slide.

"Indeed. We simply came to see the Godkiller for ourselves." Freyr nods, returning my smile.

Apollo stepped closer to my side. "You have seen. Now leave. You go against the King travelling to this realm without permission!"

"He is not, our, king." Freyja taunts, flicking back her braid as the scratch marks on her arm are already disappearing.

"You know the rules. Travel between the realms-" Hermes pipes up, only to be shot down by the twins glare.

"Were rules from a dead king. You know as I do that things are not as they were." Freyja smirks. "This is our first visit to the earth realm in centuries. If your king does not like it, then he will need to speak to us about it himself."

Artemis came to stand between Freyja and me, essentially blocking me from view as the two goddesses squared up against each other again.

"You go against the rules, and come to threaten his-" She starts only Freyr holds up his hands innocently.

"We do no such things. We are peaceful by nature, we mean no harm and make no threats!"

Hermes snorts.

"I've read about you, about the other Powers of your land," I tell him.

"You have?" Logan questions doubtfully.

"I have. You have both been well documented in my world for being a god and goddess of peace, fertility, good weather. What is threatening about any of that?" I look between Logan and Artemis, waiting for their protests. I also read up that Freyja was also associated with war and death, but decide not to bring that up right now. "If you say you come here peacefully, I believe you. Welcome to Earth."

I give them a slight bow, and Artemis looks at me like she doesn't know whether she wants to stab me with one of her arrows or slap me. The tension I'm feeling from Logan stops me from looking at him again.

"And you are also correct in saying that there is a new king. New rules. Zeus was a tyrant. I am well aware of the way he ruled and know Cain will be seeking to separate himself from his brother's ways as much as possible." Logan went to talk and holding up my hand, I silenced him. "Tell me, friends, are you the first of your people to journey back here?"

Freyr nods, the smug satisfaction that is shared between the twins tells me they are buying everything that I am selling. It has Artemis opening and closing her mouth, while Logan has gone into the kind of quiet that tells me I am in so much trouble later.  If there is one thing the last few years have taught me, its to keep your friends close, but your enemies even closer.

"We are. We were already travelling nearby to the lands of Cain when our companion, Loki sensed movement across the realms. He tried and was successful in allowing us to pass through." Freyr helpfully shared.

"Well, now you don't need to hide and lurk around. How about we have dinner tonight? Get to know each other better?" I offer.

"Elise, you can't be-" Logan started, not sounding happy with my plans.

"What? I find it fascinating. Finding out about you lot was interesting, but we have actual Norse gods here too!" I spin around to Freyja. "Oh! Here's a thought, what is Thor like? I mean, is he up to Chris Hemsworth level of goodness or-"

"Elise!" Logan growled.

"What? Just asking for a friend!" I defend.

"Chris Hemswroth?" Freyja frowns. "I don't understand."

"Oh, we have movies, um, theatre? About your people. I'll show you." I pull out my phone and google Chris Hemsworth as Thor. "Is Thor like this?"

Freyja laughs, and showing Freyr he gives a little chuckle.

"So, that's a no?" I wonder.

"You are being completely ridiculous. They have broken new and old rules by being here, and you are showing them pictures of mortals?" Artemis huffs. "They should be sent home and punished!"

"But you're all here?" I ask. "Why is it so bad they are too?"

"Because they are not our people and-" Hermes starts.

"Wow," I shake my head at that. "This place can be like, the Switerzland of all the realms. It's neutral. Whatever is going on back in your realm is your business. Here, we all get along. That's the new rule!"

"Your girlfriend will get herself killed. I will have no part in her stupidity, nor will I be blamed for it!" Artemis snapped at Logan, disappearing with Hermes obediently following.

"She has not changed at all." Freyja mused, the pair of them not hiding their amusement.

"So, dinner? Shall we meet here tonight? Try and wear something to blend in." I eye their leather warrior costumes doubtfully. "We have a few things to do this afternoon. Work things, it's boring. You can even have this room. Watch some movies or something."

They nod, and in the time it takes me to show them the TV, and how it all works, Logan stands there silent, watchful and furious. We leave, and I let him take us. Once we again we just through a few locations until we stop at the old house near what had once been the Alpha Seline's territory. The kitchen is clean, the semi-abandoned state of the house gone thanks to some human elbow grease and a lot of magic on Logan's behalf. I can't help feel nostalgic as where we are sinks in, but apparently, I'm the only one as he stomps off down the hall and into the bedroom.

The door slams shut behind him.

"Oh real mature." I sigh, shaking my head as I go to the fridge and grab a can of cola; one I don't have to worry about being stolen away from me.

I sit on the bench and wish I had some bourbon handy to add to it. The stress from the last couple of days finds me and staring at my hands, I half expect them to start glowing red again. They don't, and I flop back to lay down over the counter. Kicking off my shoes, my feet come up next, and I imagine the fit my mother would have if she came in and saw me like this.

The white ceiling stares silently back at me until I have to blink because my eyes hurt. I turn and raise my head slightly to have another drink, and wait because I know he will return any second now and demand answers. Maybe he won't and just hold me for a little bit because he's worked it all out. I could be wrong and have to go down there. I'm too tired to move.

"You okay?" He asks softly, resting his head on his arms as he leans on the counter beside me.

"Tired," I sigh.

"Tell me you have an actual plan, and you're not entirely out of your fucking mind by acting so friendly with, them?"

"Maybe. I have some idea, I think. Did you believe Freyr when he said it was only them here?" I turn to look at Logan, the familiar version of him I kind of feel strange seeing him this way after his little Apollo reveal earlier.

"I do. He's a terrible liar at the best of times, and you eased them right into it. Very impressive."

"You did angry well." I point out.

"I was angry, but I also decided to let you go with it. I had to pretend too you know." He leans forward and kisses the tip of my nose. "And I had to make sure we weren't followed. My sister, well, Freyja gets under her skin. Hopefully, she will calm down and see the method to your madness."

"Freyr seems to get under yours too?"

"It's a twin thing. Whenever we get near each other, it never seems to end well." He gives me that dopey half-smile of his and I slide closer. "We have a tendency to get very competitive with each other. Except when it comes to the Ashvin twins. I like them, everyone does actually."

"That can be a story for another day!" I don't even know who they are and move on. "What do you think they're really here for?"

"You. I thought that was obvious?" He stands, and I sit up, turning to wrap my legs around his waist as I pull him close. Resting my head against his chest, I breathed in his smell and regretted making dinner plans. "They may be here peacefully. It is probably just them here. But, I don't doubt they won't run back to their realm and tell them everything they discover."

"What is there to discover?"

"Cain is not here. His Godkiller has abandoned him, which leaves him vulnerable to attack. Your legend back home is far more significant than what you have discovered in the books of your realm. Perhaps they consider it the other way around, you are now vulnerable because he is not here. Your connection with Art, Hermes and me may sway them away from that idea. If Alfie joins us tonight, maybe we can make them believe you really are a force to stay away from?"

"Art told me about her huntresses selling secrets to their people. Is Cain in trouble?" I look him in the eye, and he gives a little nod.

"No more than any new ruler faces. He has to demonstrate he is not weak and fit for the job. I'm sure they are not the first nor will they be the last in that realm to test his will. The ones that helped put him on the throne will not be quick to move him. It's a happier time over there. He is well guarded and has all the help he needs." It's the most he has told me, and I'm glad to hear it.

"We'll take them to the drop. Get Alfie on the way and put on a feast. What do they like? Are they even close to getting it right in the Thor movies?"

"They got it close enough," he muses. "I wonder what they will think of your Thor. He isn't known for being quite as, glamorous, as your Hollywood man."

"Well, if we get them fed, drunk and amuse them with movies, who knows what we will be able to find out?" I wonder hopefully.

"Will you mind if I don't hide tonight?" Logan asks softly.

"I'm actually starting to prefer you that way." I smile, and he fades into his true self.

I kiss him, sensing his hesitation before he relaxes and kisses me back. I lose my shirt, and after a couple of tries, I manage to make Apollo lose his. I can't help but run my hands over his tanned skin; feeling the way his body reacts as I press my nails against his back. His moan, the way he holds me tighter, the way I feel him against me sends me on a high, and everything fades away. The stress, the worries, the thoughts that run around and around in my mind disappear until it's just him and me.

I need this.

I need us.

"That was-" Apollo finally speaks as we lay entwined on the floor. The softness of the blanket sending goosebumps over my skin as he shifts slightly to face me once more.

"Yeah." I agree.

The sky is darkening outside, and I don't want to leave the little cocoon we created. Not today. Not now. I know what Apollo is going to say before he says it and I shake my head.

"It's time." He says anyway.

I shake my head again.

"Stay here. I'll get everything ready, and come back for you." He offers.

Before I can process it, he's gently placing me into the bath and then is gone. I look around at the bubbles and candles and well, there is no denying dating a god has its perks. It's dark when I emerge and getting dressed, head home to find Alfie. Apollo is already there, and with the bottle of cola in his hand, Alfie listens intently as he talks.

"You're doing a great job here, but tonight, we need you. We keep Elise safe, right?" Apollo asks him.

"Alwayssss keep sssafe." Alfie snaps at him, like the idea he wouldn't was ridiculous. "Mine?"

Apollo opens the cola and hands it over.

"Oh, I see how this works. Bribing him to come to dinner?" I tease, as they both turn to face me. "I can't believe you're using cola to get him to come!"

Alfie shakes his head. "No. Elissse. Alfie wantsss to!"

I sense his panic as he rushes over, the cola abandoned as his tail is around my legs.

"Alfie keep Old Bloodsss safe? Alfie can help Elissse too!"

"Of course. I'm not angry at you Alfie, sorry I was teasing. I know I'm not," I hesitate, unsure how to say it. "I'm not who I used to be, and they need you more than I sometimes do. I'm so happy you're here with the Old Bloods."

He looks at me, tilting his head slightly.

"I love you bud." I give him a hug, and he calms down enough to go for his abandoned cola. Apollo passes me another bottle and Alfie smiles as he takes it.

"Alife lovesss Elise."

Of course, he says that after I give him the cola. Yet soon enough we're all at the closed bar with Paul and the other staff thankful for a paid night off. Apollo turned the tables into a long table, with more food than I think even Alfie could consume covering it. What surprised me was Artemis was fussing behind the bar and Hermes was adjusting the Juke-box.

"We don't agree with this, but of course we can't just sit by and let you get yourself into trouble!" Artemis scolded as she passed me a bourbon. "I'm sure you're up to something, and if my brother is allowing this, well, so be it."

"Thank you." I tell her, rubbing under Alfie's chin as he rests beside me.

It's Hermes who leaves to get our guests and when they arrive, the twins all manage to greet each other respectfully. Having Alfie there was a good decision as they greet him warily and don't let either of us out of their sight for a second. Alfie stares right back, the aura of intimidation not easy to miss as it fills the room and could possibly be why everyone is so well behaved as we eat and drink, drink and eat. Tales from a time I can't even dream of are shared and stories from their realm have them laughing, arguing and reminiscing.

"I don't blame you for you coming, in fact, if I were you, I would have as well!"I tell Freyr as more beer fills his cup.

"You are smart for a girl, especially a human one." Foam stayed on his mustache before he licked his lips. "It is impossible to believe all your read or hear from the loose lips of loose women."

Freyr laughed, a deep sound that had everyone briefly glancing our way. We ignored them, yet I looked at Artemis who subtly made eye contact with me as she sipped her wine as he had to be referring to her huntresses. She easily went back to her conversation with Freyja and no one seemed to notice our exchange. The pair seemed like best friends now when compared to how they had been earlier. It also didn't take any of us long, or perhaps the others already knew, that talking about the Norse people, especially with any hint of flattery pleased them.

"I do love hearing about myself," I smiled warmly at Freyr, boldy reaching out to touch his hand before picking up my own beer. "Especially when you are telling the stories. Please share, what did they have to say?"

Hook.

Line.

Sinker.

He gathered himself up, resting an elbow on the table as he angled himself so Apollo now faced his back. From my position at the head of the table, I could still see him and he briefly rolled his eyes before whispering something to Hermes who sat beside him. Alfie rose up behind me, as if checking that his closeness was okay before settling back down. Freyr paused, swallowing hard before his blue eyes looked me over from head to waist, lingering a little too long around my chest.

"Well, we see the the golden one has made his claim on you. That was no lie, though did you truly make them champion for your virtue? I do not believe he could best his brother in battle." Freyr leaned in closer, clearly desperate for the answer.

"Champion for my virtue?" I repeated, before realising what he meant. "No! There was no, championing!"

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully before glancing at Apollo. "No? I knew he wouldn't have won the fight. Makes sense that part. So, you and the King did not-"

"No. We are friends. That is all." I clarified.

"And if we were to be, friends, what-"

"No championing. No nothing. Just, friends as you are with your sister?" I prayed they were not creepy incest twins and this made him laugh again.

"Friends." He nodded. "What of the Fates then? I hear stories of you being a third. That is why the king favours you so as you are his past love, reincarnated. Tell me, are you a third? I sense something different about you, but as I have never met the fates I am not sure what to expect! You, well, all is pleasing thus far."

His voice changed subtly, a little deeper with obvious hidden meaning. I purposefully mimicked his actions, leaning in closer while knowing his eyes lingered away from my face for a reason.

"No. I am not a third. If I was, would I still be here as human as I am?"

"Indeed you would not be. If not hidden away, I am sure there would be someone seeking to cage you to keep as a prize of their own."

"Would your king do this?" I flirt, running a finger down over my collarbone and across the top of my cleavage.

"Yes. To have that knowledge is to have the ultimate power."

"And is that why you came to see me? To see if I could be taken back as your prize?" He didn't look away as the lace trim of my bar was revealed and my hand stopped there.

"I miss the softness of your people, the women," he mumbled, leaning even closer so I had no choice other than to move back or bump heads with him. "They once referred to me as a god of pleasure."

"You could stay here. I could find you as many women as you desire, but my dear Freyr, tell me," I twirled my finger through his beard before forcing his head up to look at me as our faces were barely an inch apart. "Did you come to take me back to your home as a prize for your king?"

We stared into each others eyes for a moment, and a feeling pulsed through me that reminded me of what happened the other night. Detachment. Power. Darkness. I couldn't process the outcome of the Twins succeeding, being taken back to the other realm by these two.

A prize.

An object.

Something for Kings to fight over.

I thought of Inana, murdered by Hera out of jealously. Cain's lost love. She deserved better. I thought of Adela and Nieve; finally complete. The third was cursed. I had been cursed. Memories of Portia on the steps of Apollo's temple as her sisters were murdered came to me then. She had been through so much already. This was her time. The Third would survive now. None of them would ever be caught and used as pawns in these Powers stupid games again.

"Yes." Freyr said, loud and clear. "We came to take you."

"I am no third. You would have disappointed him." I spat out.

"No. Because everyone knows who you are and what you mean to, him." Each word was so clear and full of purpose. "Powers or not. You will be a prize. They will come for miles to see you. The girl who killed Zeus and the key to taking over what remains of his kingdom."

"Cain will not allow you to do that. You will go to war for nothing. Your people will die, for nothing."

"Not if we have you."

Apollos dagger was in my hand and against Freyr's throat. He simply sat there, staring blankly ahead as though in a trance while my heartbeat thundered in my ears and I could vaguely hear Apollo and Hades calling my name. I blinked, looking around to find the tables destroyed and Alfie holding onto the limp figure of Freyja. Artemis lingered near them with Hermes, and all eyes were on us.

"Hades?" I sat back, lowering my weapon which vanished as quickly as it had come and Freyr looked as dazed as I did as he looked around.

"Freyja?" He called, but he never got a chance to move as Hades knocked him unconscious.

"What are you doing here?" I ask Hades, as Apollo pulled back my chair and was kneeling in front of me. "What happened?"

"Well, one minute we're all fine, the next you've got that asshole at knife point, the rest of us blocked by some kind of shield and Freyjr loosing her shit which got Alfie in defense mode, then he shows up because Portia sent him!" Apollo explains.

"Oh." I manage to say before looking at the two norse gods. "Take them back to their realm. They are not welcome here. In fact, send them to Cain. He can decide what to do with them."

No one said anything for a moment.

"Elise, are you-" Hermes spoke first and I stood up silencing him.

"They wanted a prize to take back to their king. Instead, I give one to yours."

For what ever reason, he nodded and with Artemis help, the twins were bundled together and they disappeared. Hades and Apollo talked quietly to each other while I went and grabbed a new bottle of whisky.

"Go home Alfie. You did good tonight." I tell him as he comes over and reluctantly he leaves too. Hades vanished and then it was just me and Apollo. "Say what ever it is you're thinking."

"You look tired."

"I did it again, didn't I? Lost control of my powers without even realising it." I snap, pouring myself a shot. "Did you hear what he said? What they planned to do?"

"No, you blocked us all out."

"Maybe I'm not losing control of my powers, maybe I'm just figuring them out and I am done with everyone's crap." I tell him as I take another shot and things feel clearer. "No more vampires doing what ever the hell they wanted. No more gods, dragging me into their other world drama."

The feeling was still there, deep within my stomach. The power. The anger. The dark. I don't ignore it now. I realise it isn't something to fear. Embrace it and control it. I had been given a gift and there was no point denying it or trying to act as though it didn't exist.

Apollo says nothing, and pours us both another shot.