The Emerald Playground

So this was Mania...

We walked through the crowded streets, all huddled together. I had never thought that it could be this busy on an island that was unbelievably strict with their entrance laws, but good Gaia, it was hard to move.

My shoulder kept knocking against Malreus' and I'd apologised more than I could count, but he didn't seem to care at all. His dark blue eyes moved from one colourful stall to the next- eyeing the luxurious items with astonished eyes. We were all entranced, to be honest. It's probably ignorant of us to think, but we had no idea mortals could create such beautiful goods.

I passed a stall entirely dedicated to selling golden peacocks and other embellished birds. A small smile spread across my mouth as I thought about how quickly aunt Persephone would stop and dart towards the merchant- no hesitation at all. She'd probably unburden him of all his stock and uncle Hades would close his eyes in frustration. He hated spending his gold on frivolous things, but tell aunt Persephone that her golden statue collection was senseless.

Honestly, it's a wonder Malreus had grown up to be so independent; his mother had doted on him all his live, but I suppose that's possibly why he's so self-sufficient in the first place. He had to break away from her suffocating pampering.

"Theia," Malreus nudged my side with his hand and I looked to the side where he was holding up a small jewellery box. It was plastered with pearl textured tiles and the clasp was bronze and polished. It was beautiful. "Weren't you looking for something like this the other day?"

"Wow." I took the small chest from his hands. It just fit in my palm- it was the perfect size for my mother's aquamarine pendant. "It's stunning."

"Three hundred quanti." A snobbish merchant said with a deadpan expression, his arms crossed and his body angled away from us, towards wealthier patrons. I glared at him from under my lashes and moved to place the box down, but Malreus stopped me.

He reached for his side strap and I heard coins jingle; "Here." Malreus smacked the coin on the table with a superior look and the merchant's eyes widened. We didn't look like much, with these underprivileged disguises, but our quanti looked real- very real.

The merchant bowed quickly and gathered up the heap of coin, smiling; "Let me get you a bag."

"No need." Malreus grabbed the box and placed a hand on the small of my back. He led me away and closer to our moving group with Simos at the front.

"Mal," I looked up at him, "You didn't have to buy that. I don't really have space for it now."

"I wanted to, and besides, that man irked me." He shot a short glower to the back, where the merchant was watching us walk away. Malreus looked annoyed and I couldn't help but notice how handsome he was when annoyed. Of course I'd noticed it many times before.

"Most people irk you." I smirked and took the box as he handed it to me. It really was beautiful.

"Some don't." He smiled at me and winked. I laughed at his sweet smile and we moved faster to catch up with our party.

Casseus and Triton were sending suave and flirty looks to a group of mortal girls standing beside a large fountain. They giggled and waved their emerald fans in my brother's direction, signalling a coy 'hello'.

Asclepius and Narray were trying very hard not to touch anything and avoided all and any contact with others. Even each other. Morpheus was walking in step with Simos, talking. Most probably discussing some of the trails and challenges. Simos looked focused and his eyes scanned the crowds and buildings for a good lodge to unpack in.

Claudeus was right in front of us, idlily strolling behind the others, watching the crowds of people move. He was observing the scenery and probably documenting a few things none of us would even think to notice.

"It's almost uncanny how similar this bazaar looks compared to the one held in Olympus every month." Malreus' eyes skimmed the markets and I nodded in agreement. "It really does. I wonder if any of the gods have been here?"

"Probably some demi-gods, enjoying the status of a half-deity among mortals." Mal smirked and I chuckled, knowing from experience just how desperate some demi-gods were to reach the same level of fame and sometimes infamy that most gods had. It must be easier here, on earth, for them to act mightier and more important than in the places they were considered only half relevant.

"Perhaps we should move up ahead and assist Simos in finding a place for the night."

I glanced at Malreus with a dramatic expression of shock; "You? Help Simos?"

"Oh, ha-ha." He scoffed at me and pouted. "I don't want to be walking around here for another hour."

"Hmm... Me too." I nodded in agreement, but I couldn't leave it at that. "Seriously though, why are you so suspicious of Simos? You must see his conviction? His desperation to end these people?"

Malreus was silent for a bit, but I could tell from his sidelong stare that he was struggling to think of the proper words to say. Eventually, when we passed the large fountain and Casseus and Triton dodged sideways to greet the girls they'd been eyeing, he replied; "It's not that I'm suspicious, it's just..." And then he stopped again.

I tilted my head and lifted a thick eyebrow at his loss of words. "Yes?"

He sighed; "Let's discuss this somewhere else, okay? I can barely hear my own thoughts."

"And that's your problem." I smirked at him and shook my head. "You spend too much time in your own head."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well," I shrugged and spoke a bit louder when Casseus and Triton returned to the group, laughing and joking. "You just think too much sometimes. You overthink."

"That's not always bad." He sounded offended.

"No, but you hold back." His eyes widened at my words. "I don't know... Sometimes I think you're not totally honest with me. With anyone." I took his hand in mine and stared into his blue eyes; "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

He nodded, but didn't stray his eyes from mine.

Malreus' voice was low and it hid an element of secrecy. He didn't smile when he said; "I know."

My smile turned thin and he immediately noticed when my expression fell slightly. Malreus' large hand tightened around mine and with an abrupt stop, we stood idle in the middle of the market's main street. Some people flicked their tongues at us, while others just ignored our figures blocking the way; hastily slipping past to get to their destination.

"Theia," Malreus had always had this way of saying my name that no one else could seemingly replicate. It was soft and I could feel the heart in his tone. "It's not that I don't want to tell you things, it's just that..." He hesitated, parting his mouth and searched my eyes for something. "It's just that I-"

"Hey!"

We jumped slightly when Asclepius called out to us from far ahead up the wide road. The group stood waiting for us to catch-up, the twins eyeing me with a small, knowing smile. I glared at them in annoyance and took back my hands from Malreus' firm and nestling grip. "Coming! Gods..." I yelled back and shooed them ahead.

Ash and Triton rolled their eyes, but did as I'd asked and turned around to keep searching for a place to sleep for the night. Simos was up ahead, talking to an elderly woman.

I moved to re-join our group, but Malreus' hand curled around my shoulder and he offered me a small smile. "Perhaps we should talk before this whole mess starts?"

"I knew there was something you wanted to tell me." I grinned up at him, but his smile faded slightly and he replied with a soft mutter; "I was hoping you had something to tell me too." He turned back to the front and headed up the road before I could ask him what he'd meant by those confusing words.

Perhaps it wasn't the right time for that now or perhaps I was too cowardly to ask then and there. What if he had regrets about following me here? What if he had qualms about all of this? Even us? Our friendship?

It was naturally not the most probable or conceivable answer, but lately, I couldn't help but linger around the topic of our friendship. How much it meant to me; how much I hoped it meant to him.

Perhaps we should talk before everything starts. Before things change...

"Let's talk about the challenges. What will they be?" I questioned Simos as we sat by the wooden table outside in the dimly lit gardens of the tavern we were staying in for the night.

Simos had ran into an old acquaintance just outside the market and the old woman had graciously opened her tavern for us for the night. All of us had to pair up and share a room; Malreus, Simos and Morpheus sharing one amongst the three of them. I could only imagine how icy the atmosphere would be in there tonight. Poor Morph better sleep with a thick blanket.

The tavern was called the Palmleaf Hotel and Bar and the woman who owned it had apparently needed some assistance with nasty patrons in the past, which Simos had so generously helped her with. Him and his friends used to drink here when he was a bit younger and one night he'd assisted the barkeep in throwing out an unruly patron when he caused a scene. The old woman had remembered his face after that and now, Simos' good deed was repaid. We still had to pay for the four rooms though, but at least the drinks were for free; and my Triton was really taking advantage of that. A bit too much.

I watched as Narray and the ocean prince each threw back a half-filled mug of strong, black ale and laughed when the barkeep clapped and passed them another. At least they were entertained- those two couldn't keep still and boredom was a deadly sin.

But that wasn't what brought the smile to my face. For the first time, Simos had actually mentioned something rather sweet and pleasant about his private past. I wondered how he'd even gotten a pass onto the island when he was young. Had he been raised here? What an odd thought...

I wanted to ask, but this wasn't the time, nor the place. Simos, Malreus, Claudeus and I were all seated at the table and I suspect Simos wouldn't want to talk about his tender past with these two within hearing distance. Maybe he didn't even want to discuss it with me either?

"What would you like to know?" Simos asked me and lifted his lager to his lips. He was smiling again- it suited him more.

"There are three, right?" Claudeus said and twirled his empty glass around with one finger. It had been a single whiskey on the rocks. "What do they have to do to win?"

"Survive." Simos shrugged and chuckled into his glass. "These challenges are designed to kill the participants."

"But don't they want teams to beat them and move over to the Labyrinth?" I asked and felt a pair of hands on my shoulders. I looked back and up at my brother's face. Casseus rolled his eyes down at our little table. "You're really discussing this crap now? There's a party going on behind you; live a little."

"I'm surprised you were able to pull yourself away from that group of classy, young ladies." Claudeus said sarcastically and waved at the group of women standing to the side of the tavern's open gardens. They were so obviously courtesans.

Casseus smirked at his twin; "Care to join? I know how hard it is for you to make new friends..."

A tall blonde grinned at my older brother and twirled a short strand of hair around her forefinger; her eyes alight with trouble. Claudeus pushed his empty glass to the centre of the table with two fingers and smirked at her; "Hmm. Maybe I'll join your little ego-fest."

"Excellent. Anyone else like to turn to the dark side?" Casseus smiled down at the three of us and leaned in to take a sip of Malreus' beer. Mal lifted a dark eyebrow up at him and answered for the three of us; "No, thank you. You go have your fun."

"Oh, I shall..." Casseus winked and grabbed a waiter by the arm, signalling to him and Casseus for a new drink. "And throw in a shot of your best bourbon for the ladies."

"It's rather expensive, sir." The waiter wavered; "All six of them?"

"All six. And one for me and my brother." He looked over his shoulder at us. "Why don't you bring one for this sad threesome too? Here." He placed a heavy bag of quanti in the waiters hand and the young man nearly had a stroke. That was a lot of quanti.

"Right away, sir." The waiter half-bowed and smiled at his wealthy patron. I shot my youngest brother a look of annoyance; "Spending all of our money on liquor? Really?"

"Live a little, Tea." He winked at me and turned to quickly head back to his flock of admirers. That was Casseus for you- he could convince a blind man into buying a book. My brother had this unsettling knack to persuade you into doing the exact things you said you'd never do. Casseus was a master at debating, manipulating and negotiating. It was admirable, definitely, and luckily my brother almost always had good intentions- almost.

"He's right." Simos finished his beer and called for another. "Maybe we should leave this stuff for tomorrow. You guys have had to swallow a lot of information already- let's just keep it light for tonight."

Malreus and I shared a look, but nodded in agreement. "Alright."

The table quieted down and with dread, I realised that Simos and Malreus wanted nothing more than to be out of each other's way. The only reason they were even seated here was probably to be close to me.

And as if the gods of tension themselves had descended down from Olympus, I felt this immense awkward silence engulf us.

Oh, gods.

It would kill me.

I cleared my throat and the two men darted their eyes up to mine, expecting something that would break this obvious, suffocating air.

I smiled and looked down at my empty beer mug. Alright, so no stroke of genius and no fun party-trick; just more awkward sitting and waiting.

Ah! But that's it; I had an empty beer glass. That was my escape.

I stood up from the table and they both straightened up immediately; "More beer?" I asked and pointed to their glasses. Both men stared down and back up at me; both had the same idea.

"Let me join-"

"I'll help you-"

They stopped mid-sentence and gave each other a very annoyed look. I blinked slowly and pursed my lips with frustration. They were acting like children and it was driving me up the wall. "It's fine; be right back." I dodged. I'm not proud of my gutless retreat for breathable air, but at some point Malreus and Simos would have to deal with each other.

I sighed and walked up to my cousin sitting at the bar. Asclepius had joined Narray and Triton in their drinking escapade, but only as a moderator. Gods know they needed one...

I tapped Asclepius' shoulder and sat down beside him, further away from the two fishes who were now playing a rather odd drinking game with a pack of cards. It just looked like an excuse to waste coin and sing falsely without any sense of shame. They were currently excelling in both.

"Hey, having fun?" Ash eyed me with a knowing look and shot a glance over his shoulder at the two brooding men at the wooden table. They were seated under a large willow tree, adorned with lights and lanterns. The bar area of the hotel was very beautifully decorated and the old woman and her family had put a lot of effort into making it feel both homey and fun. If only Malreus and Simos would drop their inherent loathing for one another and get with the festivities.

"Oh, loads..." I said sarcastically and Ash chuckled. "Three beers. Lager." I indicated to my empty glass and the barkeep quickly took it from the counter and started with my order.

"Maybe you and Morph should trade places tonight?"

My eyes widened at my cousin's lewd suggestion. "Excuse me?"

"Oh, come on." Ash scoffed. "It's so obvious those two want to claw each other's eyes out over you. Just, I don't know, get them drunk and have some fun."

"You're absolutely mental."

"What? No one will judge you. Relax!"

"I'm not worried about that!" I scoffed and leaned in to whisper; "What on earth makes you think sex is the solution to any of this?"

"It's the solution to many things, Tea. Try it."

Was I a virgin? Well... Yes. I was. It wasn't exactly something I announced everywhere, but to be honest, it wasn't the biggest issue for me. It wasn't anything like I wanted to 'save it for the right man', however, I did regard it as something special. I could see with my parents just how pure and devoted they were with one another, and of course Cas and Claw fooled around here and there, but we were raised to respect the act and love itself. Sex just wasn't something I saw myself doing with just anyone and just for anything- it was something I only ever wanted to reserve for people I really wanted. Craved even.

I'd had suitors before and I'd experimented with a few things, both electrifyingly good for my body and very pleasurable, but that was really it. I never let it go further, because they really didn't ignite anything other than a shallow need for release.

Of the five men who I'd been with in some ways in the past, four of them I'd met out on reaper missions. We'd known each other maybe one or two weeks, there's an attraction, we fool around in my tent and I send them back to theirs before dawn. The other was demi-god who had wanted to marry me, but honestly, he was already bad at finding the right spot to touch- I didn't want to have to deal with incompetence for over seven thousand years, or until I got too bored to handle him anymore.

The one common thing I'd noticed with all of them was that whenever they'd touch me, I wouldn't be thinking about them at all. They were just there to help me. Every woman had her needs, just like every man, but mine were very rarely sated.

There was one instance where the demi-god had hit the right nerve just too well. We were in my bed- mater was at work, giving class and pater was on earth, dealing death. I was definitely old enough to be left alone with male company, but don't you dare tell that to my father.

Honestly though, it wasn't that the man had done the right thing, per say, but he'd said the right thing. No, he said something the right way.

"Theia..." He'd whispered while his fingers thrusted into me and our naked bodies moved sweetly in-sync under the white covers. That way he said it- I'd never forget it.

It was husky and it reminded me of someone else's voice. It reminded me exactly of how Malreus said my name.

Asclepius noticed my sudden blush when I took the three newly poured beers in my hands and thanked the barkeep.

"You know I was joking about the threesome thing, right?"

I nodded and shrugged; "Yeah, I know." I turned back to our table and found Simos sitting alone. I looked around to spot a dark head of hair, but Malreus had up and vanished.

Simos' noticed me searching the crowd and took the beer glass with a sour expression; "He went to the restroom."

"Oh. Right." I smiled and sat down, placing Malreus' beer in front of his seat at the table. "Sorry it took so long. Narray and Triton are keeping the poor bartender busy."

"I can see that..." Simos smirked and stared as my friends elegantly burped and laughed loudly over the soft stringing of the live band. "Are they always this loud?"

"Oh, you should see them at birthday parties." I chuckled and took a sip of my beer.

Simos watched me drink until I swallowed and narrowed my eyes at him. With a small smile I asked; "What?"

"Nothing." He smirked, but kept his eyes glued to my face. "I'm just glad you're here." He whispered.

I felt something hot churn around my stomach. Why did Asclepius have to mention sex? If Simos had been a reaper and I had to spend a few nights with his party, working on an errand for my father, I'd definitely have seduced him by now, but... This was all very different.

There I was Theia- princess and free to do as I pleased, but here I was Theia- potential hero of Mania.

"Going soft on me now?" I asked with a teasing smile and I realised then just how blatantly flirtatious I could be. It never really struck me before, until Simos replied with; "Hard. Definitely hard."

His response didn't stun me as much as I thought it would and instead of awkwardly laughing, I chuckled and looked down at my beer with a sly grin. What was I doing? Was I attracted to him?

Yes, I was. Very much so. Had I lied to Narray when I'd told her that I didn't see the attraction? Perhaps a bit...

As if on cue, Malreus sat down at the head of the table and grabbed his new beer. "Thanks, Theia."

My thighs clenched and I felt my throat dry. Did he really have to say my full name every time? Couldn't he just call me 'Tea' too?

"Pleasure." I smiled at him from the side and rubbed off some of the condensation from my beer glass with my thumb. It was cold to the touch, but the night air was humid and sticky.

I wondered then what my reaction would be if Malreus had ever said something so forward to me like Simos just had?

Gods, I didn't want to think about that- Malreus was my best friend and these thoughts were only going to lead to a pent-up and unsatisfied yearning, not to mention a weird rift in our friendship if he ever found out, but it was hard. It was really hard to not think about it.

Dammit, Asclepius! Now all I could think about was sex- with them. Fuck; when's the last time I pleased myself? Maybe tonight. Oh, but Narray... A bath then. Later.

"Malreus, do you like this beer?" Simos asked with forced interest. He was clearly trying to budge the tension and possibly bury this senseless hatchet between them.

"Yeah, it's good." Mal replied, but then noticed that they conversation was going to die a slow death, so he quickly added; "I like head- this one gives quite a bit."

He's talking about the foam, Theia. Relax your damn hormones.

"Yeah, me too." Simos sounded sceptical- like he couldn't believe Malreus and him had something so simple in common.

"You like more body though, don't you?" Malreus asked me and I felt my smile freeze. Yeah, I like your body. Stop it! Honestly, it's like you've been holding back and now at the mere mention of a threesome you're losing it! Cool it.

"Yeah," I nodded and took a sip trying to ignore the fact that my inter monologue was probably very right. "I prefer some head too." I ignored the way their eyes darkened and recklessly thought that perhaps I wasn't the only one struggling to stay focused on the clean and clear cut topic of... beer.

Really? We were discussing beer? At a party. I hate that Casseus is so often right.

I turned my head towards the bar, just looking for some sort of distraction or another topic for us to painfully discuss- anything. My eyes caught Narray slurring her words and flirting with a young man by the next table and I chuckled. "Looks like Narray might be sharing a room with someone else tonight."

Simos smiled broadly at the drunken scene and slyly suggested his own slightly intoxicating scenario. "Well, then maybe I should sleep in your room tonight? Three's a crowd." He eyed Malreus with that familiar look of irritation, but Malreus wasn't going to let his comment slip past so easily.

"I agree-" Simos was about to do a double-take, but then Malreus continued; "Three is a crowd." My old friend turned his smirk to me; "I'll move my stuff over when you want to go to bed."

Malreus and a bed? Yeah, that's... That's an interesting imagine.

"If Narray even decides to have a treat tonight." I laughed and held up my hand as if to stop their plans mid-air. "Maybe she winds up heaving in the bathroom and I have to take care of her. Wouldn't be the first." I muttered softly and sipped at my beer.

Malreus and Simos smiled, but it looked like I'd deflated their hopes with a very sharp needle.

"Where's Morpheus?" I looked around and realised that I hadn't seen my cousin in at least an hour. He was drinking with Triton and Narray earlier, but he'd dodged to the back of the gardens a while ago.

"I thought he went to bed?" Simos shrugged and looked around.

Malreus finished his drink and stood up; "Simos is probably right. I'm sure he's fine." He signalled to my nearly empty glass; "Another, Theia?"

Tea! Just call me Tea, dammit. Or at least if you're going to say my name like that give me a few seconds to compose myself.

"No, thanks. I think I'm going to go check if he's okay." And maybe slip into my room and take a bath, while Narray is preoccupied with that red-head.

I stood up from the table, but Malreus wasn't going to let me go that easily. "Let me come with. I might just go to bed." I doubted he would- Malreus was a night owl. He didn't sleep earlier than midnight.

"Yeah, I think we all need the rest for tomorrow anyway." Simos stood up to and smiled at Malreus, showing his teeth. Great; they were back at it again- snarling at each other.

"You should stay; greet your other friends." Malreus' voice was low and territorial, but Simos didn't let it bother him in the least bit. "I think they'll live."

"Finish up the tab; I'm going to go take a look in the back." I pointed to the empty glasses, but didn't wait for one of them to reply. There was only so much of their snide comments I could take in one day.

I passed by my brothers and signalled to them that I was heading to the back. Casseus nodded, still completely sober, but Claudeus had had one too many. He laughed at something a young girl was whispering in his ear and didn't even notice when I walked by. Claw had this tendency to get completely lost in whatever caught his interest in any particular moment. It was both commendable and completely frustrating when you needed his attention for something. At least he had Cas, who could hold even more hard alcohol than aunt Persephone.

My red gaze skimmed over the smaller crowds in the back- it was more intimate and secluded, bordered off with a tall, wooden fence. A few palm trees stood along the four corners of the garden, all decorated with fire-lit lanterns and torches. A drunken girl giggled and bumped against me as she passed. I ignored her and her boyfriend and turned left, down a dirt path. It led into a strange maze-like area; at the back, I spotted a familiar face.

Morpheus stood in front of a small monolith. It was a bit taller than his chin; the rock was made from a black marble, but the carvings didn't look too dated.

"Hey..." I announced my presence, just in case he didn't hear me approach.

Morpheus turned around at the sound of my voice and waved me over; "Look at this."

The small nook in the intimate gardens was perfumed with roses and dark red flowers that I'd never seen before. The smell was too sweet and somewhat suffocating. I eyed the thick stone and then my cousin. "You've been staring at this rock for the last hour?"

He didn't budge his eyes as he read; "No. I was busy having a drink with this girl. We started talking about the city." Morpheus crossed his arms and gestured to the object in front of us. "I mentioned that I was going to work for Helius and she led me here."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "What for? A shag?" I chuckled at my own joke, but he didn't deny it.

"She said that the inner circle had this erected. There's apparently a few scattered around the city- all forming a poem. It's dedicated to the werewolf of Manos."

"How... morbid." I frowned and leaned forward to read. It was carved in old Greek and done exceptionally well. The hand that had carved the letters must have been incredibly steady for it to look so printed and perfect.

I moved my lips as I read-

'The wolf
The wolf
The hungry wolf
There was no thought
There was no end
Into the darkness we came to mend.'

"Catchy." I straightened up, my eyes still locked onto the ominous words. This poem, or whatever it was meant to be, sounded eerily like a prayer.

"Theia." Morpheus turned his head to stare at me with big eyes. I knew this expression very well- he was worried, but he was also about to say something melodramatic. "I don't think you should get anywhere near this wolf. I have a bad feeling about this whole thing."

"Then why did you come, Morph?" I sighed at my cousin's words. He always did this- he made a decision, but then withdrew it at the very last second. Going to a tavern with him was utter hell for Casseus' impatience. Morpheus would order a beer, but then call back the waiter and change his drink to wine. Then to bourbon.

"For you." He nearly yelled at me. It wasn't like Morpheus to yell. He was a silent, almost shy man. "I was serious when I said that this thing-" He pointed at the word 'wolf' on the stone tablet. "-is going to hurt you in some way. I know it. I can feel it, Theia."

"What do you want me to do?" My temper was staring to rise. I never asked him to come- I didn't ask any of them to come.

"Die in the first challenge and let Malreus get to the end. We'll all help him-"

"No." I scoffed and turned around and started to pace up and down the small space. "Do you really think that I would just abandon him to do this alone? When I was the one who wanted to do this in the first place?"

"I know it's hard, but Tea, this beast is-"

"An overgrown dog and a monster that needs to be put down." I stopped mid-step and glared at Morpheus; "I'm doing this. I've come to far and angered to many people to stop now."

"Your parents will forgive you, obviously."

"It's not about that!" I ran my hand down my face and shook my head. "Morph, I understand you're concerned and I do appreciate you trying to protect me, but I need to do this. I'm not scared of what happens if I do follow through with his plan; I'm scared of what will happen if I don't."

He was silent for a minute; his eyes cast down and fixed on the dark green grass. The moon was half and not much light was thrown onto the earth's surface. The night was dark and bathed in a dim firelight.

While Morpheus thought, a sudden realisation crossed my mind.

"The moon..."

He looked up at my soft voice, but my eyes were focused on the brightly lit satellite in the black sky. "What?"

"It's only half." I frowned and parted my mouth. Morpheus looked up at it in confusion; "So?"

"Don't werewolves need the full moon to change?" Morpheus' eyes widened slightly, his head nodding in agreement at my words. "If the start of the games are held every month at the same time, then that means that most of the challenges won't end with a full moon when the contestants enter the Labyrinth. How? How does the werewolf turn?"

"I... don't know. That's a good question." Morpheus stared at the large illuminated half-sphere. "This thing must be some new or otherworldly beast."

"Or there's more to this than we know." I glared at the stone tablet. "Wait here." I quickly jumped around and jogged to the front of the gardens to catch a waitress.

Morpheus patiently waited for me to return. In my hand I held a piece of blank paper and a small pencil. "I want to find all of these supposed 'poem' fragments. Let's see what this werewolf is hiding..." I stared to scribble down the text onto the paper, pressing it on a nearby tree for support. Morpheus helped me by reading out the words.

When we were done, I tucked the note into a leather pouch hanging from my belt. "Morpheus; one last thing."

He uncrossed his arms and directed his studying gaze to look at me. "Yes?"

"Please don't mention your concerns to Malreus, or Simos. Just... don't."

He frowned; "Why not?"

"I know what their reaction will be- they'll want me to stay away and on the side-lines. I'm not doing that. I refuse."

He nodded at my pointed look, but wasn't all too happy to hear my honest words. But Morpheus was a compliant person and so he did as I asked. "I won't; promise."

"Thank you, cuz..." I smiled sweetly, my hand patting his shoulder with affection. "You won't regret it."

"Don't say that." He moaned and rolled his eyes at me.

I laughed at his superstitious mindset, but left the matter at that. I pointed to the front of the gardens behind me with a small grin; "I'm going to go show Mal and Simos this. I'm sure Simos knows where the others are. Maybe we can find them together."

"While you're talking to those two, can you please ask them to just shake hands and make-up already? I don't want to freeze to death tonight." Morpheus muttered and followed me towards the exit of the inner gardens.

I chuckled, knowing full-well that those two men weren't going to get along anytime soon. "I can try."

A strange poem dedicated to the Wolf of Mania? What do you think it means and what do you think about this book's mystery so far?

Next chapter, we split up the teams and do some digging...