Present Day

February 14, 2004

I held Simi's hand as we walked around New Orleans on Valentine's Day. I had asked Ash to slow my aging down even more and now I looked almost twenty-four. I squeezed Simi's hand as I pointed out the street performers playing in the street corner. For some reason Simi and I loved street performers. I threw a gold coin and my change into the guy's case he had sitting in front of him. I always carried some of the gold Artemis paid the Dark Hunters with in my pocket to help people and places out.

"Akra-Kalisto, the Simi was wondering. Why do you keep giving the music men gold? The mean hefter goddess gives you them for you to use."

"Sometimes Simi other need it more than you sometimes."

"Okay so say the Simi was really hungry and needed Barbeque sauce."

"You're not that needy Simi." Simi stopped and groaned.

"Akri is calling for the Simi. Akra-Kalisto when the Simi can come back. The Simi want to see one of the moving pictures in the big house with you again." Simi teleported away as I laughed at how Simi referred to movies. I continued down the streets with no set destination when I saw Ash… strange. I ran up to him.

"Ash if you were right around the corner you could've just come to Simi and picked her up and told me what was up." I said. Ash ignored me and just kept walking. I went up to Ash and stood in front of him, "Hey Assheron." Ash looked at me and kept walking. I moved in front of him again and shoved him, "Hey dick. Answer me." he attempted to go around me. I stopped him and slapped him knocking his glasses off. I didn't want to but he was pissing me off. Then he looked up and those blue eyes pierced me. Ash didn't have blue eyes. I ran up and hugged my other older brother, Styxx.

"I thought you were dead." I said with tears in my eyes.

"No. Artemis just trapped my on the vanishing isles for eleven thousand years."

"Whatever your doing can wait." Kalisto pulled Styxx along with her. Styxx glasses back on his head. I took him to a small shop, that made the best croissants. I order some croissants for us and then looked at him. "Spill the beans, what's going on Styxx?"

"After Artemis put me on the isle, after telling me Apollymi killed Beth and I got a little angry. She left we there and for the first hundred years she sent supplies then just suddenly stopped so I had to make everything by hand and survive using my wits."

"That sounds terrible."

"It was hell… literally… anyway Dionysus and some Celtic god Calamus freed me to help in their plan to screw over some Dark-Hunter named Talon. Said if I helped them they find a way to help me die."

"You don't have to die. You can me. Move in. You, Ash, and I can all be a family again."

"I can't do that Kalisto. You saw how far apart Ash and I grew. We started fighting every time we entered each other's line of sight. He never let me move in with him."

"Styxx."

"No Kalisto, you know it can't happen. You keep living though and go on and make yourself a great life." he stood up and grabbed his croissant, "Thanks for lunch though. I was good to see you again." With that Styxx walked away. I sat there in silence for a few seconds then headed off into New Orleans. Styxx was going to avoid us so there was nothing I was going to do. I decided a long time ago to let my brothers live in their peace.

February 24, 2004

Styxx walked into the room. Time slowed as Styxx and Ash saw each other. It was only a few moments before Styxx spoke

"Hello, Acheron." Styxx's voice was unnaturally steady and held none of Styxx's true feelings inside him, "It's been a while, hasn't it? Eleven thousand years or so?"

Styxx continued forward as Ash took his turn to speak, "Stand down, Styxx. I don't want to hurt you, but I will if I have to. I won't let you release her." Acheron also didn't let his true emotions through. Both of them desperately wanted to hate each other in this moment, but they truly just wanted to be friends again. Styxx was right in front of Ash now. Styxx turned to Talon then, "It's like some bad soap opera isn't it? Good twin, bad twin." He glared back at Ash, "But then, we're not really twins, are we Acheron? We just happened to shared the same womb for a while." Styxx paused behind Acheron. Styxx leaned forward and whispered something to Ash before placing his hand on Ash's throat exactly where Apollo had, that's when I snapped finally.

"Styxx. I don't know what these gods want you to do, but you don't have to. this, he's your brother."

Styxx glared my direction, "Kalisto, I was once told I have no brother and it's clear I never really did." Styxx pulled Acheron close and whispered something into Ash's ear. Styxx said more that hurt Ash as he continued spiraling in Styxx's grasp. I couldn't help getting mad I promised not to get in the middle of my brothers, but I never promised to watch them kill each other. I summoned for to my hand and at that point Camulus started towards Ash and Styxx so I stopped him in his tracks with the fire, which gave enough time for Talon to rush him to fight for he dagger. Then the world seemed to move in slow motion and as I summoned more fire, Styxx pulled a dagger and plunged it into Ash's heart.

"No!" I ran forward when suddenly Ash arched his back and the dagger shot out of his chest. Ash's chest sealed.

Then a shock wave went through the room knocking us all off our feet. Ash rose and hovered in the air. Lighting bolts shot through Ash's body, knocking out windows and lights. All the demons and Daimons exploded, I could only guess I was saved thanks to my hybrid blood. Simi came off Ash and turned into a dragon wrapping around Ash to protect him. The wind and lighting twirled around the room meaning I couldn't hear and could only see Ash. At one point Artemis tried to crawl up Ash's leg and was blasted back. Talon soon rose and started fighting with Ash, I forced myself up and followed suit. Talon and Ash started slugging each other with a fury.

Camulus, the Gallic God of War, commented on the fight, "I'll give the boy credit. He always was a fighter."

Talon stopped fighting. He watched as Ash rushed him again and embraced him like a brother. Then cupped his face trying to make Ash see him. I walked towards and Talon had me hold his arms while hugging him.

"Acheron, enough." Talon said calmly. Ash turned to look at Sunshine, Talon's wife, on the floor then looked at me.

"Talon, Kalisto." He rasped hoarsely. A shock wave went through the room again in the opposite direction of the first, pulling the power back towards Ash. Ash then pulled away from both of us and wrapped his arms around himself and left the room. I tried to follow Ash, but he saw me following and flashed out. I sighed and turned back to the room that did housed the gods and Styxx. Except when I walked back in Artemis was holding Styxx by the throat and then they both disappeared.