With my legs shaking, and arms feeling as though they were made out of bricks, the last zombie fell with a groan. I don't even know how many I had destroyed. My fingers felt numb and were unable to let the hilt of my sword go from where there were wrapped around it. The familiar feeling of pure exhaustion sunk in as I stood and watched the corpse vanish while taking in large, deep gulps of air.

"More." I gasped, turning to face as Hades as he appeared.

"I think you've punished yourself enough for one day."

I finally managed to get fingers loose, and cringed as I wiggled some life back into them. "It's training, not punishment. You offered to help me, so, we keep going."

"No." He said firmly. "You've had enough."

Rolling my shoulders, I watched as he turned to walk away.

"I'll tell you when I've had enough."

He paused, looking unimpressed as he faced me once more.

"You can hardly stand. This wasn't even training, and I let it go on for longer than I should have."

"Even in this state I can still take you on, I'm fine!" I protested, and his eyes widened slightly in disbelief. "Keep them coming."

Hades didn't move, but you could almost hear the gears in his head turning. Finally, he shook his head and took off his shirt. His shoes were next, and I wasn't quite sure where he was going with this. Dark denim hung off his hips as if they had been designed just for his figure and as he closed the distance between us a long golden pole appeared in his hands; the top separating into two like a pitchfork.

"What is that?" I nod towards his stick.

"It's a staff, Elise." He rolled his eyes, turning the fork bit towards me and poking it against my belly. The points were sharp, pinching my skin through the singlet I had on.

"Poseidon just called. He wants his trident back." I mock as I realise that maybe he took my earlier taunt seriously. Was he planning on fighting me now? Shit.

"Your ignorance is not amusing," he sighed. "Well, come on then. You think you can take me on? Prove it."

I couldn't, and that became beyond obvious in the first thirty seconds. My movements were slow and sluggish, the sword too heavy and my body unwilling to cooperate. He wasn't even trying, I knew it, and Hades knew that I did too. Seemingly set on taunting me, Hades danced around from place to place, poking that damn oversized fork all over with the gold slicing through my skin frequently to leave an assortment of scratches and a few deeper cuts.

I felt the rush of my power, a spark igniting and for a few minutes I thought I was going to make a comeback. Then it fizzled out, and I didn't even get a glow on my hands. Nothing. So, did I surrender like a sane person?

No.

Hades clearly had enough after about ten minutes, and while I managed to dodge two blows, I didn't move, even with my powers, fast enough, and his third kick hit me in the stomach which had me on my back. I wasn't getting up again after that, and as he came to stand over me, the staff was thrown down, so each point stuck into the ground either side of my neck. Even if I wanted to get up, I couldn't.

"Nice try. I really thought you were going to get me a couple of times there. I was worried. Shaking in my boots kind of stuff." He taunted.

"Ha. Ha."

It was all I could give him. My heart was racing to the point I was seeing stars, and as he backed off, I rolled to the side and threw up.

"Had enough now?"

I looked up at him and fell back down. There wasn't a part of me that didn't hurt. My skin tingled and burned from the tiny cuts he covered me with. My eyes felt dry, and so did my mouth. Blisters and bruises covered my hands, and I didn't even want to think about the state of my legs.

"No." I groaned more out of principle than anything else.

"Maybe I should have got the stick of common sense to beat you with instead."

"That's, a, thing?" I huffed out.

"No. Not that I'm aware of anyway." Hades shrugged. "Here, drink this."

He passed me down a small glass bottle, and I knew it wasn't water.

"Just drink it." He ordered, the second I went to ask what it was.

So I did as he said, and then I nearly spat it all back out. Bee juice.

"Oh hell no! That was-"

"It has its purposes. You're in no state to argue unless you really want to go for round two?" I barely had the time to answer as I closed my eyes and slumped back down. My eyes wouldn't open. "That's what I thought."

Seconds later I was sitting up and reaching for my sword only it wasn't at my side, and I wasn't on the ground anymore. It was still whatever this little training place was of Hades, and opposite me on a similar lounge chair, he sat casually reading.

"Ah, you're finally awake!" He greeted. A small coffee table appeared then with a water jug and fruit platter.

What a host.

"Finally? How long was I out for?" I go for the water.

"Twelve hours, give or take an hour. I lost track of time." He held up his book briefly as he closed it.

"Is that, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?"

"Yes. Have you read it? I'm quite enjoying this subtle wizards attacks on those horrid children." Hades smirked.

"Hold up. You knocked me out for maybe twelve hours with bee juice from that jerk of a god, and spent that time reading a children's story?" A nod. "Are you out of your fucking mind?"

"You were in no condition to do anything other than rest. You seemed to have some kind of death wish at the moment, so it worked well for both of us."

I looked at him blankly, not entirely processing everything. "Did you at least tell someone, say Apollo or V where I was?"

"And deal with the questions and drama relating to the state you were in? No." He put down the book on the table as I got up, thinking of the ways I could kill him or at least try to. "Portia came by, and she is aware."

"Next time, open with that." I sighed, thankful I wasn't going to be going back to a disaster. Hades may not want to deal with any drama, but he wasn't the only one. Spying the pomegranate, I picked it up smirking. "Aren't you allergic to these or something?"

"Again, your ignorance is infuriating. No Elise, I am not allergic to them." As if to prove a point, he picked up one and the fruit halved itself. Producing a spoon, he simply scooped some of the seeds out and ate them. "They're one of my favourite fruits."

"Fair enough," I shrug, taking an apple.

"You are thinking of the tale of Persephone. Not entirely accurate in this realm, but it was she who introduced me to this fruit."

"Wasn't she your great love or something? No, you stole her and-"

"No. Did you not just hear me? Not accurate in this realm."

"You said, not entirely. There's a difference."

"For one who was of nature, she was far from being the nurturing, mothering kind. She was a wicked girl who did wicked things. And not in a good way, you know?" He frowned. "Eris, Aphrodite and Nemesis were her friends, and that should say it all. Though they turned on Aphrodite and as she had Zeus's favour around that time, he finally banished them from our land. Last I heard they were being hunted by Valkeries after causing trouble with Hel."

"Well, my infuriating ignorance is back, because I only recognise Aphrodite out of all of that." I sigh, unable to keep up with all the powers and their soap opera lifestyles. "Who will come next?"

"Next?"

"Who else do your people have a rivalry with? The Greek and Roman gods and relatively similar. Are they going to be causing some issues? Any more Norse gods going to pop over for a bit of kidnapping? Apollo said everyone likes the Ashvin twins, but hey, should I start learning Hindi just in case they appear?"

My chest tightens, and I can't swallow. The bee juice has poisoned me. No, it was the apple. Of course, it's forbidden fruit! I close my eyes and fight to breathe. I was stupid to think it was over, that once Cain was gone, we could just stick to the demons and monsters we knew.

"We need to keep going. Train me properly this time!" I demand, standing back up. "I could use these powers against Zeus, but haven't really done much since. So, help me do it again. I have to keep training."

The earth began to tremble. Maybe it was just me.

"No. Calm down." He warned.

He sat seated so casually, watching me with the more curious expression on his face. If I could find my sword, I'd change that. I'd make him see that I had to be ready because there would always be someone else, something else and each time they only seemed to be more powerful. The bad guys were just becoming worse and harder to defeat.

Lightning flashed out of the corner of my eye. The battle in the other realm came through in broken fragments. Zeus. Hera. Standing with the Fates. Shit like that isn't supposed to happen. Gods. Actual gods that were so much more than some deranged wolf shifter that wanted to open up a portal.

"Breathe, Bunny." Apollo soothes.

Opening my eyes, he's there, and I throw my arms around his neck. The trembling stops. There isn't any more lightning. I cry until his shirt is wet and my eyes are dry because I just can't create any more tears. I'm exhausted all over again, only in a completely different way and eventually, I let him go.

"Feel any better?" He finally asks.

"Yeah, a bit."

Apollo is here.

We're alone and as I realise that, Hades reappears. "Oh good, it's stopped."

I show him my middle finger, and he shrugs. Apollo keeps me close, not saying anything for a minute.

"I'm not sure what's been going on here," Apollo started only Hades cut him off as he looked at me.

"You never told him?"

"Ah, no," I admit, feeling guilty.

"So you've been here, doing what and not with Ailin learning meditation?" Apollo asks.

"I still see Ailin. But, this is meant to be training time, and he offered and-"

"Training?" He steps away. "Like what you're apparently doing with V and some of the other supernaturals at the Council?"

"Well, yes, but-" I start.

"It was my idea. A safe place to use the full nature of her powers and-" Hades softly interrupts.

"With him?" Apollo snaps ignoring Hades. "And not me?"

"Portia suggested-"

"Well, Portia told me-"

Hades and I both stop as we start to talk at the same time.

"Portia?" Apollo questions.

We both nod. Neither of go to talk again and Apollo closes his eyes as he pinches the bridge of his nose. We weren't supposed to have secrets, but we did. I don't even know why I hadn't told him, well I did; because I knew he wouldn't agree and didn't want to start an argument like the one that was happening right now.

"I'm sorry. I should have told you." I finally say. "This was our first and last session if that makes a difference."

"No, no don't stop." He says slowly. "He is a good choice is helping you. Art is too close, and she has taught you most of what she can already. It would be too great a request to involve Ares."

"I did teach him all he knows," Hades added, a little too boastfully.

"Then he taught you how much you didn't." Apollo retorted quickly. "You've been gone for nearly two days. Ailin is expecting you, probably right about now for the meeting regarding those vamps?"

Glaring at Hades, he shrugged. "Time means little here."

"What happened to telling Portia?"

"I did. I never said she passed that information on."

"She did tell you, right?" I ask Apollo.

"Yes, but maybe half hour or so before he turned up anyway. She also only said you were fine and not to worry."

"Bet that went down well." I mumbled, "I need to go. Like, now. How do we get out of here?"

Hades didn't answer, and instead, we were now standing in the archive room at the Council. He was gone, and Apollo wanted to say more, I could feel the need to yell eating away inside of him. So I did what I was so good at doing, ignored it, smiled and managed to change from my workout gear into something more official and appropriate for a meeting with the Council.

"Are you coming?" I ask.

"Of course."

We start down the corridor and make it to the elevator. I can never remember which floor I'm meant to go to, but Apollo hits the right button, and we stay quiet as we go up to the fifth level. Stepping out, a table of refreshments has a few Hunters standing at it, and no one looks our way. I thought Zane was supposed to be here, but I don't see him and a few of the dark fae appear behind us, grumbling about werewolves as they don't stop their chatter. THey head straight into the conference room, and I'm about to follow their lead when instead Apollo pulls me to one side.

"What's up?"

He says nothing, holding me tightly for a moment. Worry has creased his forehead, and the trouble in his eyes is once again, my doing. Even if it was unintentional this time. If I hadn't been made to sleep, there wouldn't have been anything to worry about.

"You know, you were wearing something like this the first time we met." His mood lightened, his posture relaxing against me.

The pencil skirt was a touch too tight, and the blouse more work formal than I'd worn in years. I was closer to his height now thanks to my heels, and as I pushed him back against the wall this time it wasn't in a threatening way. Bringing up my hand, I gently ran a finger down his cheek and along his jawline before pulling him closer for a kiss.

"I am sorry about what happened," I tell him.

"I'm worried about you Bunny."

Biting my lip, I want to tell him about what Portia told me, but don't.

"I just, it takes time, for these powers to settle in. Portia warned me it would and, well, I'm mentally unstable at the best of times." I shrug. "But I thought that's what you love most about me?"

"Elise, we're starting," Toyo called out and turned around, the last of the mob that had gathered in the foyer, was going in.

I move after her before he can say anything else and we take a seat near the front. No one sits beside us, and as Ailin walks to the podium at the front, silence takes over the room.

"Thank you all for coming today. As you are aware, we are here tonight to discuss the ongoing issues amongst the vampires within our society. What started as an uncontrolled, publicity stunt, has evolved into something much more complicated." She started.

The few vampires that sat amongst us all nodded appreciatively, and it was then I noticed V was here too. He never even looked our way, but I could tell that he sensed me looking at him from the subtle way he would turn his head in our direction, but never directly look. A year ago I was trying to hunt him down, now I just wanted to go back to being friends.

More focused on that, I tuned out slightly as options regarding the rogue group of leeches started to be debated; my own plan included. It was only when someone stood, loudly shouting at Ailin that I paid attention.

"That was not a freak accident. Too many of us were affected. That should be your priority. What if it happens again? Or worse!" The woman protested.

"We have some of our best fae researching the cause of the recent vampire, seizures," Ailin started very diplomatically, only the female vampire wasn't happy with that.

"Someone is targetting vampires!" She huffed.

"And vampires are targeting the general, human population, with the primary goal in officially revealing your species to the world," Someone near her snapped. "It goes against everything we fight to stop. Our world does not mix well with theirs. Salem anyone?"

Some witches in front of us mumbled and nodded in agreement.

"That feels like what is happening now! We are attacked, and no one cares because of a few individuals with their own agenda? The treaty is in place, this council is in place not just to govern over us like dictators, but to also protect us. I do not feel protected!" She growled back, with more vampires in the room beginning to side with her.

I stood before I knew what I was doing. "Did you ever think that maybe it was the Treaty reminding you all of your place?"

All eyes turned to me.

"Excuse me?" She asked.

"Vampires and well, to some extent all of us have been making our own rules. We all do bad things from time to time and don't always follow the guidelines set down by our forebearers. The horrible event that took place was a complete mockery to what the Treaty stands for." I start.

"Which is why we, the council, along with you, Hunters, Trackers, and Slayers, ensure it is being followed." A demon that sat at the front of the room with Ailin and other high ranking council members pointed out. "Are you suggesting, the Treaty, has a will and mind of its own Miss Bunting?"

"Are you telling me that you've never once questioned its origins or power?" I ask him. "That you simply believe a piece of paper is enough to control the whole supernatural population, because of a few higher demons and coven leaders happened to sign it?"

More not so hushed whispers broke out amongst the room with some now recognising me because of his use of my name, while others had never thought to question any of it until now. Ailin's calls for order went unnoticed, and a hint of hysteria filled the air.

There were only two people here that new that will and mind of its own that the Treaty possessed was mine. Ailin met my gaze and shook her head, as she tried again to bring some control back to the room. Apollo merely sat beside me, silent and thoughtful. V like everyone else thought my new found abilities were just a side effect of my visit to the other realm, and my brief positioning as the Third.

Finally, things calmed enough for Ailin to get some control back. A million questions were now thrown at her instead and just like when I discovered the truth about what had gone on, I wondered how we were so unaware.

"How do you know so much?" A werewolf from below us asked, and it took me a second to realise he was asking me as once again, all eyes were focused my way.

"You're the Bunting girl, the one who fought the gods?" His companion asked, her voice high and unsure.

"She started the training camps with that, what was he? The first vampire?" One of the witches asked not so quietly to her friend.

"No, he was one of the banished gods!" Her friend huffed back, and they both sneaked a look up at me.

"Alistair Bunting was there the day the Treaty was signed. My ancestor." I told them, loud and clear. "There was magic involved, there had to be for the document to hold any power and to be accepted. No one recorded the wars that happened post-Treaty, for those that were involved ceased to exist as the Treaty established itself within this world. All that remained was the fear of what would happen if you went against it. I believe, what happened to the vampires was merely the Treaty reminding not just the vampires, but all of us of this."

Another round of questions and whispers broke out, my name being thrown around often. Ailin didn't have to call for order this time as the group seemed to settle all on its own.

"If she knows so much, why isn't she on the Council?" A voice called out above the others. "Surely it makes sense. Especially after all that has happened."

It was easy to find the woman as now all eyes turned her way. For a moment my heart skipped a beat as she looked so much like Hazel, a dark fae that had been killed because of me. Her long black hair was streaked with purple, pale skin and red eyes; the resemblance was uncanny.

"I am High Priestess Ivy. My predecessor, High Priestess Hazel, passed to the next life at the hand of an assassin sent from another realm, to murder the Hunter Elise. Our coven remains an ally to the Hunter and Council, despite the tragic events of our past. It is because of this history, I vote, my coven votes, for the Hunter to join your ranks."

"What?" My mouth drops slightly and looking at Ailin, if she is experiencing any kind of emotion, it doesn't show.

Those with her do. A fellow fae nods, turning to the Tracker beside her who seems to agree. The demon male is outraged and the old Hunter I think I've seen at the Academy from time to time, remains as expressionless as Ailin.

"It is within the rights of our people to nominate any representative they see fit to help lead, govern and serve. High Priestess Ivy, we hear your request," Ailin finally answers. "As all of you here tonight were selected to act and speak on behalf of your species, do any protest the interim allocation of Elise Bunting, to join the Council, should she so accept?"

I looked at Apollo, who seemed just as bewildered by the change of events as I did. People gathered like this, were typically all against me. I had to continuously reminded to be nice to everyone. No one ever wanted my opinion, and even if I gave it, no one listened or took it seriously.

What the hell, was going on?

No one objected, and Ailin turned my way. "As it stands, Elise, until a full vote can occur, will you accept this offer to join the Council?"

"Are you serious?" I ask.

Looking around the room, everyone appears to be.

"Yes, Hunter," Ailin confirms.

The Hazel clone catches my eye, and as I look around again, V even looks this time. He gives a slight nod of his head, and as I turn back to Apollo, he shrugs and squeezes my hand.

"This might be good for you? It could help you find some purpose here now." He wonders.

A few days ago I had a semi-mental break and tortured nearly every vampire around, including all of the ones in this room. Not to mention, managed to block two gods while entrancing a third, that I sent back with his twin to another realm to possibly face death - or worse. I had probably said more than I should have during this meeting, and somehow find myself being offered a massive promotion into a Council I never saw myself getting involved with, ever. Not forgetting the whole little episode with Hades hours before. I wasn't known for making smart choices, and I said I silent prayer that any part of this wouldn't backfire for me.

"Um, okay?" I accepted.

The applause was deafening.