"Nice," I commented as I saw down in the grey seats next to Chance as the sleepwalking driver drove a bus full of us an our former inmates down the NYC streets. "So let me get this straight all you do is put them to sleep and then make their dreams what you want them to do?"

"It's less complex than that," Chance told me, propping her feet up on the seat in front of us. "They're not wholly asleep, or they'd be passed out on the ground. The part of their mind they control is sleeping, the part that they don't is what I'm manipulating."

"So their conscious mind is zonked out and their unconscious mind is your bitch?" I asked scratching the back of my neck certain crashing in that shithole alley back in Vegas gave me fleas. If humans could get fleas...

"Pretty much," she said with a snort as she tried not to laugh at my summing up of her new found powers. "Wonderful way of putting it."

"That's pretty awesome," I commented nudging her shoulder with my elbow rewarded with a smile.

"Yeah," she drawled sounding more bored than anything. "But it's not as cool as the lightening and flying. You look like a scrawny Superman doing that. Probably more handy in a fight too, being able to fry someone is way more effect then making them sleepwalk."

"It just looks cool,"I said with a shrug, "I can't really direct it anywhere. So how did you make all those passengers strip?" I asked averting my eyes as our rag-tag army changed out of their jumpsuits and into the sort of stolen clothes.

"Same way I got the driver, I just made them dream is all," she said with a shrug. "You know how useful this would've been years ago?"

"Yes," I replied, "we might never have made our daring escapes and just been on the run. Our parents might've guessed that too, but what I don't get is how they got the spell on us, but whatever." I shrugged, fingering the rifle in my arms, making sure the safety was on like I was scared it had somehow changed in the last two minutes. I hated having a loaded firearm on public transport, it made me feel like I really was a criminal. "It's a mystery for a later time, we'll find out after we win this right?" I said the words, but they felt like sandpaper in my mouth. I didn't really believe them, I just believed that I could wait for something evil to kill me and die. Or I could meet the something evil and get a few good swings in and then die. I liked option two the most and I saw Chance grin at me, though I felt like she deserved an Emmy or some other acting award for making it look real if you didn't know her better.

"Yeah," she replied, swallowing hard. "So what should we do when we get there? Split up or stay together?"

"Stay together," I said instantly.  "There are twelve gods we need to get one right away, after that it should be easy to get rid of the other eleven main ones.  The minor ones we should be able to pick off as we please once the Council is faded." That last word left me but I hadn't known I knew what it meant 'til I said it.

"Faded?"

"Once I get this through Zeus," I said pulling out Kronos's scythe. "I take his place. Just like he did with his dad, that's why he was the king of the gods instead of someone smarter and kinder like Hestia."

Chances eyes lit up. "So if you stab your dad before the others then you..."

"That's the general idea," I admitted with a shrug as I changed the blade back into a gun. It was that much easier to transport and hide then. "History tends to repeat itself with these guys, notice that? Their parents trapped them in a place they couldn't break out of without outside help and they knocked them off their thrones and tried to make things better. Now they did the same things to their kids and what are we doing here?"

"We won't be like them," Chance said instantly, eyes blazing. "You could never be like your dad."

"Thanks Chance," I said with a grin though I felt pretty sick. I knew Zeus was the one who had to go first, simple as that. Being the king of the gods came with power I knew would help us take care of every other god that got in the way, but I knew that when I killed my dad I was going to be the one who took his place. I wasn't sure I was ready or worthy for that kind of power and the job that came with it. I could barely keep track of my homework, let alone the affairs of the world and I supposed to take on that responsibility? Everything in me said this was a bad idea, but some part of me knew that it had to be me if we wanted to get that sort of power on our side. King-ships did pass from father to son after all.

I glanced up at the windshield trying to distract myself from the thought that I might be taking my dad's place as king of the gods when this day was over. Assuming I lived long enough to drive my granda's weapon through him first. "Grab your gun we're here," I said getting up as I saw the sign that lead to the tourist attraction known as Ellis Island. Grabbing my rifle and standing in the aisle. The bus of fifty inmates looked up at me, faces pale, mouths set in lines of both fear in determination. "Everyone, here's what we're gonna do," I said hoping my voice sounded confident and commanding instead of scared and eleven year old girl which was how I felt on the inside. I wasn't ready for this, for any of this. I wasn't ready to march onto Olympus with Kronos's scythe and a rag-tag army of demigods/prison inmates, I wasn't ready to take my dad's place as a god and use those powers to beat the shit out of anyone, even if they really did alot to deserve it. I wasn't brave enough for that, I wasn't strong enough, and I sure as Hades wasn't smart enough, but I couldn't turn back. Like that weird musical went I was "past the point of no return" I was standing at "the final threshold". So far I really was liking that even less than the musical itself. I swallowed once, the action hurting like I was swallowing too much food at once.

"When we get there to the ferry it's going to be like airports in terms of security so does anyone know of any powers that are good for hiding? If so speak up now cause it's a bad idea to have Chance make everyone sleep walk. We're going to need that later too."

"I can make people go blind, I did to back before we left," said some kid in the back and I clapped my hands.

"Awesome!" I commented, "anyone else?"

"I can knock everyone off them ferry once we get on," said the blonde kid I remembered from when he'd blasted the monsters with water. "We don't want any mortals close to Ellis Island once we get there."

"We don't," agreed myself and a few others, "so it comes down to you and Chance to get us through security? Anyone else? Anyone?" The response I got was quiet, I'm sure if I'd dropped  a paperclip I'd have heard it hit the ground and I huffed annoyed as all get out. "There are fifty odd, fully armed people trying to get into a national park, Chance that what's-his-name can't get us all through alone if we want them to be any use in a fight later. I'll ask again, who hear as powers that aren't noisy that we can use to slip past security?"

"I can probably stun everyone," said Asian Girl, "Apollo's the god of the sun last I checked. I might be able to flash light into their eyes."

"Not what I was hoping for," I admitted but I smiled at her. "But that can buy us time, everyone up and grab your shit, we're here." My stomach coiled into knots as my temporary distraction from our impending deaths disappeared. I was sure we had more people with less flashy powers, ones that wouldn't cause mass panic, with us, but they were either too scared to stand up or too shy. I had no idea, but I just had to hold out and hope they'd step up to the plate when the time came.

Checking my waistband to make sure I had the scythe with me and checked the safety on my gun, making sure I had extra shells in my pocket as I walked off the bus, driver's eyes still open, but glazed over in a clear dreaming state. Excellent, I swallowed heard and stepped off the bus, looking back a moment to tell everyone, "If you can do anything to distract people, do it now."

I stepped off the bus and prepared myself for a haven of chaos. I was ready for shouts of terror. Frantic beeping of cellphones as people dialed for the cops, screams as moms and dads tired to get their kids away from us, but all that greeted me was the usual sounds of the city. I opened my eyes, unaware that up until then they had been shut tight. People were walking around and behind us like we were normal  kids on a field trip or not worthy of note.

"Whoever's doing this," I whispered, "this is awesome." I was about to take a step into the line with my team but I had barely put my foot down when a wave of heat like a desert wind rippled through everything by me and I watched as every single person excluding my fellow demigods collapsed onto the ground.

I heard the sound of weapons going up and I reached into my own power, feeling heat prickle through me like I'd shoved a fork in a light socket. "Show yourself," I demanded, my voice stronger than I felt and I was happy about it. I was scared, everyone was, but I didn't want them to know it, the demigods following me or the gods I was about to fight. A flash of orange light was my answer and out of it stepped Hestia, jeans and a black t-shirt in place of her normal sweaters and long skirts, she wasn't giving me a warm smile either she just looked as grim as I felt.

"Hello Xander," she said in very  tired voice. "Are you ready for this?"

I lowered my gun instantly and looked back at my army. "Take it easy guys," I said, "she's here to help us." I turned back to Hestia struck by a sudden thought ,"You are here to help us aren't you?" I didn't recall a ton about the mythology class I'd taken sophomore year, but I did remember Hestia was anti-conflict.  "Help us take out the Council?"

"I am," she said hands tightening at her side, teeth bared and I knew she was thinking about Susan. "It's time they paid. Now, let's avoid the whole public transport mess. I can get us in."

"Great," said another voice I knew and I saw Alexa walking behind her mom, hair tied back in a bun, gun in hand. Apparently she wasn't supposed to be tagging along because Hesita spun around so fast my head eyes bounced around in my head trying to follow the motion .

"How did you get here?" Hesita demanded, hands on hips. "You were supposed to stay home! It's not safe here!"

"It won't be safe anywhere if this doesn't work," Alexa said with a strained calm tone of voice. I could see the tendons in her neck popping against her skin in the strain to keep from yelling.

"They don't know about you!" Hestia shot back, "they don't know you exist! As far as they know I've never had a child! You could hide! I'm  a minor goddess-."

"HEY!" I shouted as both their faces flushed with anger both of which flashed to me and the people behind me obviously realizing they weren't alone anymore. "Alexa's right, no place will be safe for her if this fails. Better for her to go down swinging with the people she loves than cowering only to die later."

"She's a child!" Hesita snapped, eyes blazing orange like gasoline fueled flames. "I'm her mother! I can't just let her walk into this!"

I laughed when I heard that, a harsh sound like a barking Rottweiler. I'd never made that noise before, and the anger on both their faces, mother and daughter went from anger to shock in a second. "We're all kids." I said  walking away from my place in the group on phantom limbs to stare down the goddess. I didn't remember deciding to walk there, I just knew that I had when I stared down into a pair of eyes made of fire. I was sure that as hot and angry as her face was mine was just as cold.  A year ago I'd have never thought I'd have talked to this way to anyone for any reason. Guess war brought out the worst in people after awhile. "All of us except you are kids. Our moms and dads don't want us out here either but here we are anyways. You can't keep her out of this anymore and you need to stop trying. We're wasting time so either accept the inevitable and have faith and hope things don't go South while working you damnedest to make sure it won't."

She sort of blinked like an owl when I backed away and loaded some shells into the chamber. I wished it could take more than three at a time, but now wasn't a time to keep wishing for what I didn't have. I needed to use what I had with me and make the best of it. When the shells slipped into place and I pumped it once and heard the tell-tale click that the first one was in place. I looked back up at Hesita who was still staring at me like I'd grown a third head.

"Are you going to get us in your way or are we going to have to steal the ferry?" I asked my voice warmer, but it was still one I'd never thought would belong to me.

Flames spurred from the goddess's mouth like a dragon and I heard sharp gasps from everyone behind me and footsteps as they backed away which was undoubtedly the smart thing to do. But Chance had not given me the affectionate nickname of idiot for nothing, I stayed where I was, trying my best to act normal in the face of flame powered-goddess. I kept my hands tight on my gun to stop them from shaking as her eyes burned a hole through my shirt-literally.

"Ow," I said dully. It wasn't like I was immune to the pain, I felt it. I knew it was there, but it was like I wasn't connected to it. "Are we going to hijjack the ferry yes or no?" I repeated again and Hesita looked away from me finally her jaw tight.

"Bend your knees when you land!" she shouted and in a bright flash of golden light and heat like a bonfire and I bent my knees as my feet landed on polished stone floors. Big round windows let in light and stout columns held up everything. It was a nice place for a last stand. It was empty though which struck me as strange this was supposed to be a tourist attraction...I frowned and glanced back at my orange haired friend.

"Which way?" I asked  her and she gave a shake her head, face paler than usual making each of her orange freckles stand out even more.

"I don't know," Chance said her voice soft and I nodded, and glanced over to Hestia who had a bronze dagger drawn, a haze of heat around it and I had no doubt it would burst into flames at her say so.

"Do you know where they'd all be? Or is there some way to seperate them? Do we need to get mortals out of here?"

"Zeus called a Council a few minutes after he saw what you all did at the prison, he's sent all the mortals away." She answered stiffly and I was willing to bet whatever money was in my pocket that she was still pissed at me for saying her had to let her daughter walk into this. "Everyone should be arriving right now, we just have to wait and attack them before they can realize what's happening."

As if on que a flash of light curled around through the empty building and I grabbed the scythe from my jeans and muttered reveal in a language I didn't know I knew how to speak and lunged at the bright light blinded by it and by my own desire to live. I didn't like the thought of killing anyone who was a person, human or god. But I knew how this ended if I didn't act first, I'd die. My friends would die and the gods would win.I shut my eyes, against the light and the reality of what I'd done. I felt the blade sink into something soft, warm and I felt slick blood spill over my hand while a sharp gasp echoed around the empty hall and the light dimmed down so I could see again.

A pair of sliver eyes, and curly auburn hair greeted me and gold blood dripped out of her mouth which was wide with surprise. "I'm sorry." I said gagging as her eyes rolled back into her head as her body cracked like sandstone and turned into wisps of smoke all traces of anyone being there gone.

That's when I threw up, the bitter acid in my stomach spewing in a green heap onto the floor as the full realization of what I'd done hit me in the gut. I'd just killed someone, not a monster, but a person. Sure Artemis was a bitch, was willing to throw all of us back into that Hell and never lost sleep over it but she was a person still and I'd just driven a scythe through her guts.

I gagged on the taste in my mouth and at the memory of the blade sinking through her...I groaned and got up off my knees, wiping my mouth and knees shaking. Damn this was a great start, one down tweleve to go and I made myself look stupid in front of the people I was supposed to lead. Wonderful, "One down" I rasped, clearing my throat and wishing I had a bottle of water. "Now stay on guard they could-!" My forced calm turned to panic when I saw more bright lights slam around us and I spun the handle of my weapon up the blade was in front of my body.

"Get ready!" I warned as the lights solifed into people and I heard the click of guns before prepared to shoot and the heatwave as Hestia's dagger flared up with blue flames and I tried not to stare at it and go "cool!" Now wasn't really the time for it and I had some work to do, I scanned the gods around us putting as many names to faces as I could. Huge guy with scars-Ares, I rememered him and it set my teeth on edge just thinking about it. Hispanic chick was on his arm, no idea who she was. Some really pale white guy with greasy brown hair not a thing came to mind.

"Youv'e got guts," Ares said tiliting his head and I decided he was the first one I was going to go for. Right now he was the biggest danger I had, he was the god of war, he lived for combat and I was going to guess was the best fighter on the Council. He had to go first and I let my grip on the sycthe get tighter and my knuckles turned white.

"Seems to run the in the family," I muttered as everything in the building got tenser and tenser. We were all wood and gasoline, we just needed a match and we'd go up in a violent blast.

Ares laughed, a hearty, deep one but it sent chills down my spine. This dude had killed Chance twice and how many other monsters, mortals, and demigods? "Yeah does," he agreed and his thick eyebrows narrowed into a bushy V. "But guts piss me off," he lunged and chaos erupted as the rest of the gods moved as well and gunfire went off like fireworks. Ares charged towards me and against all my better judgement I held my ground, trying to follow him with my eyes and stab at the right time. Waste him quick and move onto the next asshat. That didn't happen. A fist like steel smashed into my face and I went flying across the floor, jaw screaming in agony and I was pretty sure I'd broken it or something.

My back crashed into one of the pillars and I groaned, black and white spots in my eyes, blood in my mouth. I hacked a glob of chunky red stuff onto the ground, sure there was  tooth or two in that. "Gah," I grumbled stumbling around like I was hammered, keeping my eyes peeled for Ares. I held tight to the scythe heart beating even faster when I saw a blur that I knew was him. I slashed out at him and I saw the blur dive to the side. He knew what I had in my hand and what it could do to him. Good, he was wary, that was a bonus he knew it was dangerous and by extension that made me dangerous too.

He wasn't going to go on the frontal attack side of things so that meant-a pair of steel pythons wrapped around my body crushing my ribs. Ares wasn't going to attack at my front where I could possibly stab him with my weapon, he was too smart for that risk. He was going to pin my arms down and kill me through crushing my vital organs. "Don't take it personally little brother!" he growled in my ear over the shouts and gunfire. "You're just a mortal!"

"Half-mortal!" I snapped reaching into my chest and a bolt of lightening ripped out of my chest and arched back at Ares and I spun around faster than I ever had as wind propelled me at him, blade sinking into his chest with a geyser of blood and a crack of bones. Ares faded just like Artemis and I spun around, heaving for breath, looking for the next threat. I saw Chance battling some god I didn't recognize, Hestia was battling it out with fire against some other goddess I didn't know but she was pure power. Black hair shiny even though heat like the Sahara was all around her. Her blue eyes were huge and alive with fury. She was the next one I was going to go for, she was distracted enough I could get her from behind. I leapt into the air, wanting to avoid the rest of the battles on the ground. I had to make it to the end of this at least, I couldn't die early. I was the only one who  could use the scythe I had to keep going.

I flew up behind the enemy goddess and raised my arm back, ready to take her down as she busied herself trying to waste Hesita. I drove my arm forward and a blast of energy and bright light hit me in the gut and I crashed back to the ground, coughing and blinded. Get up, I thought  dimly, ears ringing as I blinked the spots from my eyes and looked around for my godly attacker. "Not bad Shannon," said a voice that stopped my heart and I spun around, arms up, teeth bared heart pounding as I saw a face I never thought I'd see anywhere near here.

"Mikey?"

***************************************************************************

Looooooong chapter holy cow! =D I'm proud of myself for that and I love this cliffhanger more than I should! Hehe! So what do we think? Who can guess why Mikey is here? And how Xander was talking with Hesita? How do we feel about that? I'd love to hear it! =D Please do not forget to COMMENT and VOTE if you enjoyed this chapter! I really means so much to me!

ONE CHAPTER LEFT GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!