Watching the table, the mood was dark. No one seemed to appreciate my plan, or lack of one. Zane's' mind was in overdrive, obvious from the way he wrote furiously in his notebook while Ares and Athena did nothing to hide their judgement as they clearly wondered if I had lost my mind.

"So just to get this right, you want us to simply turn up at the scene of your vision and are hoping a surprise visit, which isn't guaranteed thanks to Nieve being on their team, will give us the advantage." Deimos slowly questioned.

"Yes." I agreed. "Why do you all look as though you think it's a terrible plan?"

"Because it is." Zane mumbled under his breath.

"Everything I've ever done has been spur of the moment, not thought out and involved me completely winging it. Why would or should this be any different?"

"Because it is." Ares huffed. "This isn't you coming in at the last minute, this will be the first step to instigating a war against Uranus, and his Furies. It could last years, and sending everyone in the first wave-"

"Will hit them hard and fast when they're least prepared." I push.

"The Empress has spoken then." Artemis adds dryly, inspecting her bow.

"Are you scared, Elise?" Aphrodite asks softly, making me wonder if she was.

"No. I'm impatient." I hesitate, deciding to go with the big sell. "And I am known for my recklessness and impulse decisions. We've wasted so much time trying to make a plan, do things in a way we all agree on and why bother? Hecate often said to be successful, I would have to be myself. This is me, being me. I thought about it a lot last night. What would Elise do and here we are."

"You're going along with this madness?" Apollo growled at Cain who managed to blend in with the rest of the group a little too well.

"She makes a point. Her whole life has been one big, what the fuck is she doing now, moment for most of us, so why should this be any different?" He sighed. "With everything we have learnt, there doesn't seem a clear way to defeat Uranus. The Furies, well, they were defeated once and Elise has nearly killed them twice. If we can separate them from Uranus, we could stand a chance. We don't know where he is, but we know where they are. For whatever reason, they have set up their base in that cave. Our spies know this. Without a Seer to confirm the visions we have seen have changed or even remain the same, that's all we've got to go on."

"I don't believe a word either of you are saying." Hermes declared.

"It doesn't matter what you believe." I roll my eyes. "This is how it is."

"It's our lives you are gambling with." Hermes looked at Cain now, as if trying to work out what was really going on.

"Kara?" Apollo had the whole table turning their attention on her. "I agree with Hermes. Be our Queen and the voice of reason right now. Whatever those two are wanting us to believe can not be-"

"It's true. We spoke about it last night." She agreed quickly.

"What?" Athena frowned.

"Incase none of you have noticed by now which is hard to believe considering how you've all constantly dismissed me since the second I arrived, I am not the one in charge here. Elise has been to Tartarus and held her own against him. She has Gaia following her orders. Hecate made her into our Empress." Kara stood, pointing at me. "It's always been about her. You of all people, Apollo should know that."

There was a part of me that threatened to crumble. I could tell them the truth, I could apologise for nothing - for all the things I didn't have control over and what I hadn't even done. I could let the doubts in my mind win, convince myself I couldn't do this and that I wouldn't ever win another battle again. Guilt made Kara's words sting in a way I knew they shouldn't, and as I felt the weight of the group land on me, Hades eyes met mine and he gave the tiniest of nods giving me the reminder I needed that I had nothing to be guilty about.

This was the right move.

We had a plan.

I closed my eyes and focused on what I could remember of the painting Matt had created. It wasn't hard, the scene came back to me like a memory already lived. Every detail was as clear as any fight I'd ever been in so far. The sounds of the Valkyrie armour, of weapons being unsheathed and the power tainting the air with static electricity that filled me with a purpose. I felt alive. The wind that blew was like ice against my hot skin, whispers from the past slipping by my ear as it passed.

"Elise!"

I blinked, not even sure who had said my name but a different kind of worry was on their faces now.

"My word is final. We leave within the hour." I turn to leave and Zane is up, behind me in an instant without me even needing to say a word.

"Stop!" Ares bellowed. "What is this madness that Kara is not joining us?"

"She has no reason to. It's why I apparently exist. Kara is Queen, and she will remain here to do as she is required."

"That is the most-" He started.

"I'm sorry. Did Zeus attend every war with you? Was he the one organising your soldiers, leading them in battle, giving a fucking pep talk to keep them going when things got hard?" Ares opened his mouth and then managed to shut it just as quickly. "She is capable of defending herself and her kingdom. Be thankful you are even able to join us. I should leave you here to ensure she has assistance if needed."

"You are actually going along with all of this?" Apollo asks Kara.

"I am. I told Elise she has my support and so, this is me doing that." She answers firmly.

"And where are you even going, Empress? If we need to go, shouldn't we-" Ares clearly isn't done yet.

"I need to speak with my Guardian. I expect you and Athena have things in hand or do we have a problem Ares?"

No one moves; I don't know if they even breathe until he gives a tiny shake of his head. "No problem."

"Cain and Hades will assist you as needed."

I keep walking, and this time no one stops me and a second later I'm in my room with Zane. I didn't realise I was also holding my breath and practically falling onto the sofa in the corner. I'm not sure what to think about the rapidly growing greenery or my snake friends that seem to be taking over. Zane observes, but says nothing.

"Are we actually about to do this now?" He asks cautiously.

"No." I admit.

"So, what is everyone about to get ready to do?"

"Exactly what I said, but the Furies won't be there. I wasn't lying when I said we didn't know where Uranus was. They were based there for a short while, but all have gone into hiding. I was going to ask Gaia for a heads up, but what I am planning should give me the answers I want."

"I ah, made notes." He held up the notebook. "A few things to give you some kind of plan to move forward with."

Of course he did. "Thank you."

"Did you want me to stay with Kara?" Zane sits awkwardly on the end of the sofa, his eye kept on a small red and white snake that was cautiously heading his way.

"No. You are my Guardian and if history has taught me anything it's that I need you. Kara is going to check on Matt, and his visions. Just in case."

Zane thought this over. "So who is here? I know Gaia is protecting the lands, but I wouldn't put it past someone attempting to do their own little coo in everyone's absence."

"I will be."

"You're not going with the rest?"

"No. Cain and Hades will be, and the story will be that I am biding my time to make a real entrance."

"You think they will turn up here, in an attempt to take it over?" I could see him trying to work out what was actually going on and failing.

"No. At least not Uranus, and not the Furies. This would stink of a trap to me if the roles were reversed. Kara is important to me, and Nieve knows that. She has no issue in exploiting my weaknesses, plus the bonus part is, she is also losing her fucking mind. So if she were to get a vision of Kara being left alone, while the rest of us are miles away, distracted and waiting for a fight that will not come-"

"What if it does?"

I had considered this but my gut was telling me it wouldn't. The way to push them into action would be to really piss off Uranus and this was the way to do it. Keeping Nieve with them seemed more like a way to get on Gaia's nerves, and even these lot weren't immune to the pettiness the ones that came after them perfected.

"Then I guess we're in for a very busy day." I shrug.

"This really is madness, Kid." Zane looks at his notebook, and then sits it down beside him which gains the little snake's attention. "Your kind of madness."

"Great. So I need you to focus only on going with everyone else. Let every thought and action be as though you are preparing to follow them into battle. Do not think of me or anything else, other than getting ready for the fight. The portal Hermes will make will take you to where you need to go."

"I'll be ready." He stands and I move with him, holding him tightly. "You sure about this, Sunshine?"

"I have to be. I'm glad you're here Zane."

"Me too."

I let him go and send him back to his room, staring at the space he was just standing in for a second before sitting back down. I'm not alone long, the same snake I'd found in my bed soon around my arm. I rub under his chin, expecting it to talk or do something to verify that everything I've just put into motion was the right thing.

"Elle," Cain joins us, earning a glimpse into the black mouth of my new friend as it hisses at him "Eat."

There is fruit, nuts and a sandwich on the plate; as well as a crushed cookie topped doughnut that makes my mouth water. "I'm still full from breakfast."

"She says, reaching for the doughnut." He leans over, kissing my forehead before stepping back. "Zane agree?"

"He's got my back." I mumble, forcing myself to eat the fruit before picking more of the cookies from the icing.

"I hate that I won't be there with you."

"What is it everyone always says? We all have our role to play." But I hated it too. "It won't be for long anyway. Once she turns up, Hermes will let you know. Did you tell him?"

Cain nods. "He is going to stay between the realms to risk being detected by her. Once he senses her movements, he'll do it. I'm surprised Kara agreed and was able to lie so well today."

"She understands." Finally,

"Are you expecting her to find anything new from Matt?"

"No. I hate putting them both in that position too." I could practically feel how awkward her appearance at the hospital was going to make him.

Nevermind the pang of my own guilt over making Kara feel like she's failing me by finding out his visions have been little more than chaotic messes lately. Ailin had found him the help he needed, yet as he healed, his mind seemed to have given up making sense of the so-called gift that had been unlocked with his talent now going to waste like the canvases of angry streaks and swirls of globby paint. Maybe one day he could be guided in a different direction, losing the fear from having visions and instead controlling them in a way he'd never been able to do.

"Elle, babe. Are you okay? You keep disappearing. What's got you so distracted, apart from the obvious?" Cains now in front of me, the plate where he'd been sitting and the snake partly up his arm as they both look at me with a similar sense of worry.

"I was just thinking."

"About?"

"Matt and Kara."

"Okay? It was your idea to send her away, to keep her safe when, well if, Nieve does turn up."

That annoyed me. "She will turn up, and I feel a little guilty for wasting her time."

"How do you know you're wasting her time? He could have had visions since we've been here?"

"But he hasn't."

"How do you know?" He frowned.

That surreal, floaty feeling came back. "Didn't we know he hasn't been having visions, not clear ones anyway?"

"No, babe. We haven't."

"I'm sure we did."

"Elle, if you're not feeling-"

"I feel fine." I insist, leaning forward to kiss him. "I wouldn't do this if I didn't. There's too much at risk right now. For all of us."

His left hand leaves my knee to rest on my stomach. "This isn't what I thought it would be like."

"I tell you what though, I am looking forward to our next one. I am going to sit around and do like, nothing, and rather than hate how this is changing my body, enjoy every damn second. I want the whole shebang too. Those baby classes, and a lame baby shower, and a birth plan like Rayas with Taylor Swift and mood lightning and a frigging unicorn to throw glitter around like confetti when he's born."

"Next baby?" His face lights up at that.

"Oh yeah. We both suffered by having siblings. This kid ain't getting out of it so easy." I stop, realising how that sounded. "I mean, he'll get to experience the joy."

"And suffering."

"Only not on your level, let's keep it a little mortal themed, okay like learning to share your toys and having your brother pretending not to know you in front of their friends when you start going to the same school." I smile, kissing him again and let my mind drift back to the vision that keeps me going; sitting at home in the rocking chair in the corner, covered in early morning sunlight with a bundle of blue blanket in my arms. "We're so close, Cain. I can feel it."

As he went to answer me, he instead groaned and stood up. Hades appeared a second later.

"You're being summoned. Ares is having a moment that requires your audience, mostly before the Valkyrie castrates him. Or worse.." Hades looks between us. "I would be sorry about interrupting whatever this is, but I also don't care. Is that a snake?"

I look down as Hecate's present leaves Cain to land in my lap and begins to slide across my bump. "Yes."

"Redecorating?" He looks around slowly.

"Not by choice, but it's growing on me." I wait for any reaction, because surely that deserved at least a half smile or fake laugh.

Nothing.

"Fair enough. Cain?"

"I'll see you soon." He promises, kissing me one last time.

"Be careful. Both of you."

Hades softens slightly. "It's not us you need to be worrying about."

And then he's gone.

"I love you." I tell Cain, not sure if he heard as Hades blinks back into existence only to have them both disappear now. "Good chat."

I eat my lunch, take a small nap and then a shower before returning to where the hoards have gathered. Cain and Hades, with Ares, seem to be directing the army in all sorts of directions and Zane is there too. He talks to Athena briefly who then takes control of Ares and the divides within the gathering are becoming clear as some kind of format to this madness kicks in. It's just how the vision appeared; the Valkyrie coming up and over the gathering blur of faces. My friends are clear and defined at the front as I see Aion and Hermes commence opening a portal for them all to use.

It's then Kara finds me, joining me on the balcony to watch as they begin to leave.

"Apollo wanted to speak to you before they went." Kara tells me. "He's furious at Cain. And me."

I watch the lions gather with Circe, the looks Artemis and her share are more like a promise that a storm wasn't just brewing anymore but almost upon us.

"We can speak later."

"He only says what I am thinking. I can't leave you, knowing she's coming." Zane separates from the crowd, heading our way. "Elise, please."

"Go sit in the main hall, your Highness. Your kingdom needs you now, more than ever" I dismiss her, keeping my focus on the vision and Kara sitting alone on her throne yet as Zane approaches, I quietly add in. "Thank you. Be safe."

Zane and I stand there as our people vanish from view, our allies follow and as the Valkyrie move Hermes leaves his post and appears in front of us. I hate that I miss Kara already. I'd love nothing more than to do this with her, but I am not alone.

"You know the plan?" He nods, and I step closer as for the first time in all of this, I'm faced with one reality I didn't want to acknowledge. I rest my hand over Blueberry, his gaze dropping to the same spot before looking back at me. "And as we discussed earlier, you know what to do if plan b comes into effect."

Hermes hesitates, and if I didn't know better I'd think he was about to cry as his eyes become glossy and a not so subtle shake of his chin follows. "I will do what I have to do."

"Thank you, Hermes."

I turn to Zane and smile. "Guardian."

He doesn't return it. "Empress."

I leave them, taking a seat on Kara's throne instead and think of her sitting here. Angry, alone, anxious - I think of what is happening on the field, of the great gathering of our allies forming an army that has not been seen in recent memory.

And I wait.

And I wait some more.

And just when I'm positive, patience can now be added to my ever growing skill set, Nieve appears as if she were a reward for my good behaviour. No, her appearance was expected, the look on her face as she took me in is the reward.

I smile. "Hello, Nieve."

Her white hair is in even more of a matted mess than the last time I saw her and due to the way the simple slip of a dress fell off one shoulder, I could see the sores on her skin. Confusion caused her to stutter, a boney finger pointing my way yet as she stepped forward, an invisible force tripped her up bringing her down to all fours. My stomach churned as the stench of decay wafted my way and the incoherent mumbling that followed didn't sound like she was thrilled with this change of events. This time when she looked at me, her eyes glowed with a bright white light, and as she stood, the marks on her skin began to heal and the cloak she'd worn when I first met her appeared. From the darkness of the hood that now hid her wrinkled face, they were all I could see of her.

"We waited a long time for you, Elise the Hunter." Her voice hit something locked away, she didn't sound how I expected her to yet it was still very familiar, raspy and ancient.

Before I could process it, she was in front of me. Her hands were cold and her grip wasn't tight yet as I went to tug myself free, I couldn't move, not even as one grey claw of a fingernail scratched against the moon phases forever set on my wrist. The tip of her fingernail pinched against my skin, the pressure increasing until a tiny drop of blood began to swell up from within the full moon.

"You were marked for great things. Your destiny was seen. Decided."

"Are you still caught up on that?" I rolled my eyes, catching the twitch of her lips as she barely contained her rage.

This time I am able to free myself, and her lithe frame sways almost as if the coat was too heavy to wear. As if proving the point, the hood slipped back and the Nieve I first met was now the one glaring at me. Well, it was an improvement.

"Insolent creature!" Nieve hissed.

"Rude." Her attack barely made the protection I had in place react, and standing I forced her back and down the steps. Looking down at her, I held my sword. "I'm just about done with this shit, Nieve. It ends now."

I sensed her attempting to leave, my powers blocking her own as she tried again and again and whatever glamour she had in place to look less mummified was being chipped away. It was the scratch marks and bruising down one side of her face that had my lunch threatening to come up and the pity I didn't want to feel for her only grew as I saw how they'd got there. It was her hand that reopened those old wounds as she scratched the same spot, while her ranting was pure nonsense now, or maybe in a language from a time I never knew.

"I wanted to enjoy this, but I feel I'm only doing you a favour and putting you out of your misery." I hesitated as I sensed Zane's arrival.

Felt Hermes come and go.

Cain was nearby.

Her eyes still glowed as she turned my way and the power that radiated out from her was intoxicating, drawing me in closer. It felt familiar, and without thinking I moved towards it, towards her as my vision blurs.

Everything is gone.

The main hall is replaced by wide open emptiness and spinning around I see the circles on the rock wall. Red dirt floated up from the earth, each speckle of sand so clear to me from where I stood within a frozen moment from the past. The shrubs that can't rise as easily as the sand shake back and forth from a wind that I can't feel, and in the cyclonic mess random bits of leaf and twigs swirl around with the dust from the outback.

"This place," I whisper, turning to see Nieve without Adala by her side where she should be.

Lighting strikes, only this time I am expecting it. I remember the shock as it hits, the power that follows. It's here. I found it. It started here. I feel the heat of the bolt hitting my chest, invading every inch of my body and beyond as I'm thrown backwards from the force of the hit. The shock makes me gasp, or maybe the pain yet there isn't either as it's not like it was before.

I see white; a world of white and just as I try to make sense of it all the light fades and it's Nieves eyes I'm looking into. They're red, bloodshot and pupils dilated. The skin around them is flaking and wrinkled. I'm not in the desert, I'm not in my realm. Her mouth opens revealing crooked yellow teeth before her lips curl in a snarl.

"I was right. This one only has war in her blood. We doomed ourselves, and so I shall do what I should have done from the moment you were conceived!" She roars now, and I barely managed to stop one of those claw-like hands from scratching across my chest. "You will die. All will be as it should be! The world will be cleansed of the curse that you are."

An old lady and a pregnant woman - what a pair we must make. Just like last time, I could preempt each one of her attacks as if I'd lived this fight before. While my power surged, I couldn't seem to get the best of her how I expected to be able to and I wonder if the little flashback down memory lane had something to do with it.

Had becoming the Third been the start of it all?

Were our powers alike because of this?

No - Gaia came to mind, then Hecate. Fates were of Gaia's creation; weren't we all. It didn't matter, not now and the old hag moved faster than you'd think she'd be capable of. Her strikes contained a dangerous amount of force. Thankfully, like last time, she had less success in guessing my next move than I did hers, and when the next waves of power were deflected, her attack failed yet again. An angry hand lashed out, and my sword was ready, claiming her hand as it had before. I didn't hide my smile of satisfaction, basking in the success of her scream as Nieve clutched her fallen limb to her chest.

"I'm getting a real sense of deja vu, Nieve." This time Tisiphone wasn't here to stop me.

I was going to remove her head from her body next, and yet my blade never got close as she managed to block me. This was different, everything felt different as she dropped her hand and stood up. Pure rage and determination stared back at me as the ground began to tremble. I ignored the cramping in my side, not giving her the time to do whatever it was she was planning as I let my powers free. It was like pushing against a wall and in the end my hands were glowing in a way I hadn't seen for some time as my stance mimicked her own and we threw everything we had at each other. The walls began to crack, the roof trembling as much as the ground. This building wasn't made to last for something like this, and it was more than the palace being impacted now. I could see the nearby town shaking, buildings there not as strong as this already crumbling. Glass broke in windows, and people flooded the streets unsure of what to do and where to go.

The change of scenery happened seamlessly, I wondered if Nieve even noticed as I somehow managed to get us away and to the battlefield that had been formed to last. For the first time ever there was something familiar waiting for me here, beyond the death and memories that had fuelled my nightmares for months after leaving them behind.

Tartarus.

This place was hell, from a literal hell and there wasn't time to process why this actually made me happy. Nieve growled, the sound primitive and desperate; the weight of her attack began to weigh down on me and beyond her eyes and her hand glowing, all of her did now. The cape was forgotten and as I eased back, something else took control of her now. Her presence changed. Everything changed.

Nieve had left the building.

Her voice became the sound of the demon in a horror movie, an echo in itself as if there was more than just one person talking which may be likely as I watched on and the light formed two singular shadows behind her.

Three Nieves.

Awesome.

"We know all. We see all. We control all." They murmured, the golden thread looping around each of their hands as Nieve seemed to fade completely and only these three beings of light remained. "We see you, Elise Bunting. The one who shouldn't be. We decide your Fate and your life ends now."

The scissors in her hand are black and across the stump of an arm, the golden thread of life floats down across her torso. Everything stops; breathless I keep a hand on my hip as the one thing that isn't giving up is the cramp in my side as my power pauses. Yet I can't take my eyes off the scissors; they water from the brightness of the three and the sense of despair that follows as the blade catches the thread. My cramp stops. I release my breath and draw in another as she cuts down.

Nothing happens.

I feel my wrist burning, and looking down at my tattoo the same golden light as the thread now outlines the moon symbol. Her confusion is clear, they mumble to themselves as again the weight of their power increases in the space around us. The ghosts here hide, even the dead do not wish to get involved in whatever is happening and from the trio the shell of a woman emerges enraged. Bloody spit pools at the edges of her mouth, the three lingering behind her protectively.

"You do not control my Fate." I tell her firmly.

The snakes from my room are here, emerging from the dirt with blood giving their scales a wet sheen in the silver light. Nieve screams, clawing more at herself than the lithe, curling bodies that overcome her. I have my moment.

I take it.

My blade settles within her stomach and I push it beyond. Closer than I ever wanted to be to her, I lean into the force of my hit and feel the blade shiver with glee as it gets its feed. The snakes cover our feet, moving further across us and into the light that has them balling back together into one ball of energy that Nieve grabs for despite everything, only aiding me in as practically forces herself off my blade. Next time I stab her, its in the back.

Bones shatter within her spine, yet her one good hand manages to touch the light and she absorbs it back into her. Just how it happened the other night, my blade now seems pointless as her body seems little more than a paper bag. Black goo replaces the blood on my sword and she rolls over to look up at me with unfocused eyes.

"Die!"

Her blast is instant and there is no time to react as I'm thrown backwards. I landed on my shoulder, hard and whatever was there dug in deep. I barely get a second to think, let alone brace myself for landing or to roll, ready to defend which I doubt I could even do at this point anyway. Despite my shoulder, a moment of clarity gives me a chance to work out that I'm okay. Zane's hand is in my face, and I get up sensing Hermes has been here.

He stopped my fall. Almost.

He brought me Zane.

Then Zane is gone, and reaching behind me I try not to scream as I pull out whatever I had been impaled on. The split bone in my hand makes me want to heave, more so at the sight of my blood decorating it. I feel the sticky dampness of my clothes against my skin and know I'm still bleeding but right now, it doesn't matter. I fix my shirt, thankful the black would hide the blood and use what power I have to numb it out.

Do better, Elise.

Zane is defending not attacking as Nieve moves with as much power and agility as my Guardian. That bitch got lucky, and slowly moving closer, I circled around. Zane was hardly even defending now, yet it wasn't with her powers she fought him with. Her blade was black, and even one handed she moved it with ease I was almost envious of. It was a weird choice considering, no attempt at cutting his thread or worse?

Did she know who he was, what he could do?

I saw Zane stumble, his foot slipping in the dirt yet it wasn't in error - something was in the dirt and Nieve would trip up on the unclaimed skeleton as Zane did. A blink later, it happened and I was ready. Giving her back the same kind of blast I had been treated with, her fall was not aided as mine had been. She fell with a sickening thump, her head disappearing behind her body as she fell and rolled. Broken and angled in a way no body should ever be, my blade went through her neck. I screamed as I hit her, again and again yet only her laughter came as my reply.

"The Great Father has blessed me." She croaked, her voice still haunted and on repeat as each word echoed around her. "You will not kill me. I am too powerful."

She rose up like we were in the fucking Exorcist and I heard each bone in her neck crack as she forced it back into its rightful place.

"Challenge accepted." I muttered, prepared for her next attack but damn it if she wasn't right.

There was power here. New power.

"What do we do?" Zane asked.

"Well, I'm mostly interested in proving her wrong."

"Not a great plan for survival."

"It is if she dies first."

The next few minutes go by much the same. I stand firm, feeling like I'm doing little more than fighting against myself as Nieve matches me move for move. I controlled Tartarus. I forced Uranus from the land. I am more than this pathetic old witch and as Zane attempts to assist in his own way, I reach for him as if I would reach for Alfie, for my sword, for any weapon I had within my reach as it was Tartarus in my head now, as clear as my next move would be.

Just be sure he would be willing to die for you.