Core of My Addiction

You're the heart of my obsession
I want to live, but I would die for you

Kenzie read the words over and over again. They seemed to be seared in her mind. This is real. This isn't a dream. Wait it could be a dream. Yeah maybe that's it. Kenzie thought as the paper fell from her hands. Reese caught the paper and quickly read it.

Greetings Mackenzie Lynn,

You have completed my test which is one of the fourteen tests set before you. I am sure Ares has told you of the rules and consequences. I am excited to meet you someday. I wish the best of luck to both you and my brother Ares.

Sincerely, Halily (Goddess Hebe)

"Well congrats Kenzie you only have thirteen more tests to go," Reese said and Kenzie just gulped and slumped in her seat. Her head was swimming. "Halily's test was probably the easiest." Kenzie stayed silent and covered her face. Reese reached out and touched her shoulder. She flinched but didn't move away.

"This is real…" she whispered and Reese frowned. "It has always been real," he replied and Kenzie looked up at him. Her eyes were red from holding back her tears. "It has always been real? The monsters? The teleportation? The Gods? It's all real? Are you real? Is what you feel for me real?" she asked softly and Reese gripped her by her shoulders and forced her to face him.

"Yes. The monsters are real but they won't hurt you while I am here. The Gods are real because I am one. The teleportation is real because well…we are Gods. It is all real. I am real. What I feel for you is real," Reese said and Kenzie pulled away. She stood up and turned away from him. "I need to go for a walk," she said and Reese stood up but she shook her head. "Alone." She walked away from him leaving him confused. He sat back down with a huff. He picked up the letter again and watched as the golden letters dissolve into a new sentence.

Beware, do not stay put for too long Brother. Keep moving. This is my only warning. Contact Bianca.

Halily

Reese groaned in frustration. He burned the paper up with a flick of his finger. He stood up and walked back to his room. He need to speak with Cal. Kenzie was walking on the beach. Her mind was a muddle of this conniption. She didn't know if it was real or just a dream. She needed to do something to make sure it was real. She waded into the water till she was thigh deep. The water kept pushing her back but she dug her feet in to stay and not let the current push her.

"Okay…you can do this. Just try not to die," Kenzie told herself. Kenzie watched the crystal clear blue water crash into her. The foam lingered on her skin then fell back into the ocean. She looked out to the setting sun and watched as the water gained this reddish hue in the deep ocean. Kenzie shook away her fear and dunked her head in the water. The coldness shocked her and she quickly pulled out and gasped as the salty water clung to her. She pushed back her hair and blinked a few times.

"God damnit Kenz…you can do this, just get some fucking courage," she whispered and then dunked her head back down. The water was still cold but Kenzie kept her head under. She opened her eyes and quickly closed them. The salty water was not kind to her contacted eyes. She crossed her arms and tried to not shiver as the chilliness was invading her body. The air was quickly trying to bubble out of her. She sputtered and her body was urging for sweet oxygen. She kept her head down and tried not to stumble as a large wave pushed into her and the water almost broke over her back. A shiver wracked her body. Her chest started to hurt from the lack of oxygen. Kenzie felt light headed and opened her mouth to inhale. She shot up sputtering and coughing. She quickly waded back to shore. She fell to her knees and hands and started to cough up what portion of sea she inhaled. Her body felt horrible as it wracked her with heaves of sea water. Kenzie felt herself start to take some of her lunch and it began to back track back to her mouth. After Kenzie rid her body of all the substances in her body she began to cry. The reality had set in. There were gods and goddesses. Reese was a god. Everything was real. She was almost killed twice.

"Oh my god…why…I don't know," Kenzie said as she wiped her face from the tears. She just got sand on her face and she sighed. She sat down on her bottom away from her mess and watched the sun slowly sink behind the ocean. Kenzie watched as blue whales broke the surface to drink in the oxygen. She smiled softly at the simple peaceful moment. She watched as a large whale and a smaller whale breach at the same time. The mother and baby whale stayed close to the surface for a moment. Then a large spout of water bursted up towards the sky like, a backwards waterspout. As the water fell back to the ocean swaying in the air like a snake was an immensely substantial worm like creature. From a distance Kenzie could see in its broad mouth it held a blue whale. The ear piercing whistles were crying from the other whales. Kenzie stood up and watched as the colossal serpentine swallowed the large whale in one gulp. The serpent was looking at the other whales as they tried to swim away. Its head was sleek and smooth with two eyes on both the side of its head. It had two large pincers next to its mouth. Behind its head was an umbrella like skin resting close. It turned to look at the mother whale and its baby. As it raised its head higher to strike, Kenzie let out a sharp scream.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!" she yelled out, her voice must have carried out over the ocean because the serpent paused and slowly looked to the beach Kenzie was on. She froze in her spot and stared at the monumental serpent. The monstrous creature dove back into the ocean. Kenzie unfroze and relaxed, she saw the rest of the whales swimming away safely. Kenzie started to turn back around when a loud roar rose from the ocean.

"You got to be fucking kidding me," Kenzie muttered and turned around to face the monster. It was in the deeper part but Kenzie could see the dark outline of its long body. It had two arm-like flippers that it was standing on. Its four eyes were narrowed as it stared down at Kenzie. She tried not to look it in the eyes and instead focused on its smooth scaled body. She started to edge backwards but it growled. Kenzie looked fervently back at the house. She quickly turned around and ran back. She heard it growl and a shadow flew over her. Kenzie jumped to the left and watched at the monster's head back up from the hole it created. Kenzie gazed at the place she had just been. She quickly scrambled up and began to run again. She made it to the tree line without having to dive away to evade the monster's mouth. She saw it scream into the air and it began to thrash on the beach. Kenzie quickly ran up the stairs into the house. Her footsteps seemed like the loudest sound ever. She ran to Reese's room deciding that's where he would be.

Reese found Cal awake and looking more alive than she had ever been. She had a new flush in her face and Reese nodded in approval. Gods and Goddesses regeneration was a hundred times faster than an average human. Her dark curly hair was back to its normal black sheen instead of its deathly ashy black, her skin was back to a warm milk chocolate than the color of sickly pale chocolate foam, and her eyes were bright and happy. Reese could feel the love between them was strong. Phillip held her hand and his gaze never left hers as she looked over at Reese.

"Oh Reese…how do I ever thank you? I don't quite understand what Phillip is to me…but he was brought to me by you and I am in your debt for it," she said, Reese noted that her voice sounded more mature than before. Reese smiled and was about to shake his head but steeled himself to not. He was the God of War for Pete's sake.

"I will call on you when the favor is needed," he said and Cal nodded. Phillip now just looked over and frowned.

"Where is that one girl that was here?" he asked and Reese glared at him for asking about Kenzie.

"She is on the beach trying to decide if this is real or not," Cal said and Reese looked over at her in shock. She was able to connect with her island again. This was a very very good sign. Phillip nodded but not fully satisfied.

"What do you want with her," Reese asked sharply. Cal shot him and look and he rolled his eyes. Phillip hunched over and looked at the floor.

"I wanted to thank her for keeping Calypso alive while I was not here. She saved Calypso's life not me. Calypso was ready to give up when that girl started to care for her. She understood what Calypso was going through. She kept Calypso alive so that Calypso could say goodbye to you," Phillip said and Reese flinched and looked away. They stood in silence for a second. Then Phillip started to hum.

"What are you humming, dear?" Cal asked and Reese looked over in interest. Phillip gazed at Calypso lovingly and smiled at her. His hair was partly in his face and Cal brushed them back.

"I need a violin to play," he said and in his lap was a mahogany palatino violin in his lap. He looked over at Calypso and smiled at her. She nodded her head and urged him to pick it up. He slowly picked it up and ran the bow across the strings. The song started off slow and Reese closed his eyes as the music spoke to him. This was Phillip's love of Calypso the music was soft and sweet like when you first bite into a piece of chocolate. Then it started to accelerate, the tension was heightening then in a burst of excitement Phillip hit the climax, there was a surprise to the music, it was like when you bit into your chocolate there was a hidden filling of caramel. You savor the caramel like Phillip was savoring the feeling of Calypso in the air. Slowly and almost reluctantly Phillip came to a stop. Reese opened his eyes to look at Calypso with tears in her eyes. She was smiling as they fell onto her open hands. Phillip was still staring at her when she gasped.

"Oh no…" she said and then Reese heard it, an angry aura and a very frantic heartbeat. Just a second later Kenzie came bursting into Reese's room. Her whole body was wet and her eyes were wide.

"Big…monster…fuck," she gasped out and Reese grabbed her arm before she fell to the floor. She leaned heavily on him and Calypso started to get out of Reese's bed. Phillip stood up to help her, Cal took his hand and Reese helped Kenzie walk to the balcony across from his room. They could see the monster as it thrashed on the beach.

"It is throwing a tantrum," Cal said and Reese smirked. Kenzie gazed at Cal with a questionable look. "Poor baby…probably is missing its mother. Looks like it was just weaned away."

"What the fuck are you talking about!? THAT THING IS FREAKING HUGE!" Kenzie said and Reese chuckled. Kenzie turned back to him and glared at him. She stepped out of his reach and glared at the beach.

"That is a baby leviathan, its parent it twice its size. I guess we should send it away," Cal said calmly, she started to walk down the stairs that just appeared to her left.

"Why are you wet," Reese asked Kenzie as they followed Calypso and Phillip. She huffed and followed Calypso closely by. Once they were in a safe distance from the thrashing leviathan Cal began to shout.

"Πηγαίνετε πίσω στον ωκεανό! Αφήστε αυτό το μέρος!**" she shouted in Greek. The leviathan stopped thrashing and began to growl and whistle. Calypso's face scrunched up and shook her head.

"The babe says that it was on its first hunt when a horrible sound reached its ears. It found the source of the sound on the beach," Calypso said and Kenzie scoffed.

"As if! The leviathan is making that up! I screamed at it because it was going after the mother whale and its baby," she said and crossed her arms. The leviathan glared down at Kenzie and began to whistle with urgency.

"I DON'T CARE IF YOU WERE HUNGRY! HOW ABOUT YOU TRY TO NOT KILL INNOCENT BABIES WHEN THEY HAVE A WHOLE LIFE TO LIVE! HOW ABOUT YOU JUST GET THE ONES THAT ARE READY TO DIE?! OR HOW ABOUT THE SICK OR INJURED ANIMALS! YOU CAN HELP AND BE SATISFIED AT THE SAME TIME!" Kenzie shouted and the leviathan looked taken back and let out a little grumble. Kenzie shook her head and stomped her foot.

"NO! You should not have the blood of innocents on your ha…flippers. YOU should try to make good karma for you!" she shouted and the baby leviathan whistled softly and lowered its head. Kenzie walked up and Reese watched as Kenzie touched the baby leviathan's nose. The babe closed its eyes and took a deep breath. It whistled as Kenzie backed up. She waved as the babe sunk back into the ocean. As Kenzie was walking back Reese saw a new light in her eyes. She was smiling and Reese felt himself begin to smile on his own.

"That was…completely unusual…how in the world?" Calypso asked and Kenzie looked over at her.

"Well, I kinda know Greek so I heard what you were saying," Kenzie said and Calypso shook her head. Phillip looked around trying to see if it was safe. Reese scoffed in his head.

"How did you understand the leviathan? Only those who have been giving the Gift or has strong God or Goddess blood in them could understand the leviathan," she said and Kenzie shrugged.

"I have always had a way with animals," she said and then Cyrus came galloping up and rubbed up against Kenzie as if to prove what she had said. "Where were you, when I needed some back up? Scardy cat," Kenzie teased Cyrus but he just barked and jumped around her. Cal shook her head and smiled up at Reese.

"You have a wild one there," she said and Reese looked down at Kenzie as she rubbed the Great Dane on the head. Reese felt a type warmth blooming in his chest that could only be ignited by Kenzie and never to be extinguished.

"Cal…I need to leave. I received a letter from Halily and she told me to seek out Bianca. Bianca and Xavier are trying to locate the person who sent the harpy's after Kenzie and I. Also I cannot stay here long. If Kenzie or I stay for too long the person may find us and I do not wish to put you and Phillip in harm's way," he said and Phillip looked at Cal with great worry. Kenzie slowly stood up and frowned.

"If we are a danger to them, then we need to leave right now," she said and Reese nodded. Cal sighed and rubbed her forehead.

"I cannot make you stay after you say that. I worry about you Reese, but go. I give you my blessing. It may not last long far away from me but you may be safe for a few days. Take her to Italy or something," Cal said. Reese gave Kenzie a sideways glance and she looked quite sad.

"Are you okay?" he asked and she looked up at him and sighed. She turned back to the ocean and watched the waves for a moment. Cal took Phillip by the hand and they both walked back up the stairway to the house. Reese took Kenzie's hand and she looked down at their entwined hands.

"I don't want to go…but I don't want to have them get hurt. Cal deserves a chance at love and Phillip will give her that with his body and soul," Kenzie said and looked up at Reese. Her eyes were filled with questions, confidence, and a hint of fear. Reese realized that Kenzie was trying to open up to him.

"I understand," he said and Kenzie waited for him to continue but Reese's mind didn't know what else to say. He was thinking hard when Kenzie let his hand drop to his side. She turned away and sighed.

"I will ask Cal what we need to pack. Find me when you need me," she said dolefully and walked up the same staircase. Leaving Reese staring out at the ocean, he groaned and picked up a log. He threw it into the ocean with a grunt. He huffed and rubbed his eyes.

"I fucking hate this…" he muttered and stomped away into the forest. He needed to release some steam.

Kenzie found Calypso and Phillip in the living room. Phillip was holding Calypso as he drew on a large pad of paper. Calypso was smiling serenely. They were in their own bubble that Kenzie found herself yearning for something close to that. But her mind closed that dream off with abrupt force. She tried to walk away without disturbing them but Calypso noticed her.

"Kenzie! Come sit. Phillip was just drawing a picture. He is a truly amazing artist," she said and held out her hand "I am going to send for the rest of his things from his home in New York."

Kenzie walked over and sat next to Calypso but kept a good distance from their lover's hold. She gazed at Phillips sketch and did a double take. It looked like two lovers embracing but the woman's face was gazing right out of the portrait. Kenzie reached up to touch her face and Calypso looked over with a smile.

"I know right…looks exactly like you and Reese," she said and smiled up at Phillip, who blushed a deep red. Calypso giggled and snuggled closer to Phillip.

"Calypso I would like to know if there is anything I need to pack for my trip," Kenzie asked as she tore her gaze from the stunning sketch. Calypso nodded and untangled herself from Phillip. Phillip also stood up but Calypso gently pushed him down.

"Darling Phillip, stay here. I will be back soon. Finish your drawing and then we can start a new project," Calypso said and Phillip slowly sat back down but Kenzie could sense another meaning to their 'new project' and a blush crossed her cheeks. Calypso started to walk away and Kenzie quickly caught up as they walked up the stone stairs to the upper level of the house.

"This is my personal room. Only a few gods and goddesses have seen it. You are the first human to see it," she said and unlocked the golden door in front of her.

"Will Phillip see it?" Kenzie asked and Calypso gave her a look. "Oh…I see…"

"He will not be leaving this room after you and Reese leave," Calypso said with a wink and Kenzie blushed red from her toes to her head. Calypso opened the door and Kenzie eyes went wide at the sight of the large room. It was marble from ceiling to floor. The cool surface kept Kenzie rooted from falling over in amazement. Kenzie didn't have time to gawk at everything in the room as Calypso gently dragged her to another door that led to a large closet.

"Okay…I hope Reese is going to take you to Italy. It has always been a dream of mine to visit there now…but since I am stuck on this god forsaken island…well let's not dwell on that subject. Okay take these…this…some of these…that…this…those…and these," Calypso said as she handed Kenzie clothing after clothing until Kenzie was staggering from the weight of everything.

"Ahh…Calypso…how am I going to carry this ginormous amount of clothing," Kenzie said and Calypso went back into the depth of clothing and pulled out a large handbag.

"Okay just set the clothing down and I will spell everything in the bag," Calypso said and Kenzie set the bulky pile of clothing down and gazed at the bag with uncertainty. Calypso just smiled and snapped her fingers. The clothing started to fold itself up and dove into the bag. Kenzie watched as the bag did not grow as the number of clothing increased. After the last piece of clothing was in Kenzie gazed in the bag. It looked as empty as it was before.

"The bag is spelled to hold colossal amounts of items. It will never fill up and you will always be able to find what you need," Calypso said as she zipped it up. She handed the bag to Kenzie and Kenzie expected to fall over at the weight but the bag felt quite light. She moved to leave but Calypso gripped her upper arm.

"Now now…you are not leaving like that. You look like you just survived a shipwreck and I should know," Calypso said with a giggle. Kenzie grimaced and let Calypso have her way with getting Kenzie ready for the trip.

**Translation: Go back into the ocean! Leave this place!

I'm really glad that people love my stories! I have a bit of writers block but I'm on Chapter 11 right now! I will try to update every week now! So enjoy! If you want to would you please review? Or just put this on your favorites! I have gotten SO much mail of people adding this to their favorites! It really makes my day! Thank you so much! You are all amazing!

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