Chapter Nine.

It had taken as long as Cyrus had said. Luna finished the book in the same amount of time as Cyrus had. Elysia and Raina had been watching her all week, wondering why she had been rushing home immediately after school. She was glad she finished the reading because it was a matter of time before Elysia and Raina found out the whole truth. She texted Cyrus and let him know that she finished the history of her people.

Calliope had made it clear that Niobe needed to be defeated. After learning about the journey she and Cyrus would have to make, she didn't know how she could keep it from Raina and Elysia. Now that her true self had awakened, she would have a more effective way of finding Hestia and Athena.

Calliope had started showing up at school, posing as Cyrus' girlfriend as she said she would. She adopted the name Lianna in hopes of blending in. All of the football players tried to avert her attention to them by trying to get her to go to their practices and games. However, Calliope only had eyes for Cyrus as he did her. This didn't stop their advances and although they would call her name in the hallway, they maintained their eye contact and would remain blind to their surroundings. Luna didn't understand the concept of love. She had kissed a guy before, but it remained an infatuation and never progressed into something serious. Her friends were the same. This thought made Luna stop walking to her class. She ran through the characteristics of her friends to that of the virgin goddesses. She noticed startling similarities and noted that she would go over this with Cyrus and Calliope later. For now, she proceeded to walk into her history class.

After school, Luna had to make up an excuse to Elysia and Raina. They turned away in disappointment and confusion. As they got closer to the car Elysia spoke up first, "Why do you think Luna is avoiding us? Have we done something wrong? Is she mad at us?"

"I don't think so. Nothing I can remember. Cyrus was like this two weeks ago and now he is talking to us and he has a smoking hot girlfriend. I mean what's up with that?" Raina responded as she opened the car door and slid into the seat.

"I know. You'd think they'd tell us what's up. I mean we are their friends. And what is the deal with his girlfriend, Lianna? They act as though they have been together for years. I mean I can't take it with the goo-goo eyes."

"I say we find out tomorrow what is going on. I don't like being kept in the dark like this. You with me?"

"Yeah, I'm in." A moment of silence went by as Elysia started the car up and pulled out of the parking lot of the school. "So do you think Luna will show up with a new boyfriend tomorrow?"

"Nah, Luna finds guys attractive, but she never acts on it. However, she has been acting out of character so if she showed up with a hot guy, something is wrong with the world."

"What was I thinking? Luna doesn't date. That would be very strange." They drove the rest of the way contemplating what would happen tomorrow.

Calliope, Cyrus and Luna sat in Cyrus' room. Luna told them what she was thinking and Calliope smiled. "It seems that you have finally unlocked your true self."

"Yes, it's kind of odd though. Having information I have gained from this world and information from my role as Artemis. It is like having two people inside my mind," Luna replied.

"It can seem like that, but in reality, your immortal self helped to shape your personality as a mortal. Although Niobe wanted to trap you, she wanted to be able to distinguish you between the regular mortals. Now that you have knowledge of your true self, you will need to earn your immortality back in order to prevent yourself from being killed by Atropos. She and the other Moirai work with Hades and Hades is interested in starting a war amongst other gods."

"Why does he want war? He must know it will end badly for him."

"You must understand. He is the god of the Underworld. He needs death in order to sustain himself. It makes him powerful and dominant in his world. Without it, the spirits would go running amok and the natural order of things in the Underworld would be chaotic. Another thing is that he doesn't like Zeus. He doesn't like being shut away under the earth while Zeus gets worshipped in the skies. A war would mean more death, which would ultimately provide him the power needed to overtake Mt. Olympus and overthrow Zeus. So in actually, it isn't Niobe you should defeat, but Hades. Without Niobe, he has no reason to go forward with this crazy plan of his."

"What can we do?"

"Unity is everything, Luna. It is not the strength of the person that determines who wins, but the effort a person puts in. Remember this if you are to defeat Hades. Now, onto the matter of the virgin goddesses. You must use your knowledge to help you find them. Hestia is the goddess of hearth and architecture. You must find one with a warm personality and a love of creating new things. If absolutely necessary, you must provide a test of some sorts to prove that they are who you believe to be. Athena is the goddess of wisdom and law and justice. You must find someone befitting to this. If you believe that these girls are really the virgin goddesses, you must do something to bring out their natures."

"How do I do that?"

"If you have the one believed to be Athena, then she should get along just fine with Nisha. I believe that Nisha plays a significant role in bringing out your true self. For Hestia, cows are sacred to her. So if you gave her a, what do you mortals call it…"

"A hamburger, my sweet?" Cyrus jumped in to help her.

"Yes! A hamburger. She would not eat it as she would consider it to be an insult. Thank you, my love." Calliope looked lovingly into his eyes and caressed his cheek.

"So you want me to give her a hamburger. I don't know about you, but people don't just walk up to others handing them hamburgers."

"You could also offer milk. Anything that is a product of a cow, Hestia will know because she will be immediately repulsed by it. It is not controllable nor is it conscious. Hestia lies dormant within her and something such as this will coax her out enough for her to understand."

"I feel like I'm trying to lure a cat."

"No, dear. It isn't the same. A cat would check its surroundings before trying the cream. Hestia reacts immediately, paying no attention to what or who is around her. Besides, Hestia isn't overly rambunctious when it comes to felines. So I wouldn't bring that up if I were you."

"Okay, so I should monitor the actions of these girls before testing them?"

"If you believe that is right. However, it is of the utmost importance that you do not draw attention to us. I feel that Niobe is distracted right now and if she were to check you right now, she would have Atropos end you. If she finds out what you are planning to do, there will be no quest."

"I understand. I shall begin tonight. I shall see you tomorrow, dearest brother. Goodnight Calliope, goodnight Cyrus."

"Goodnight Luna," They both replied simultaneously. After they heard the door shut, Calliope threw herself into Cyrus' arms. She leaned into chest, her ear close to his heart, hearing the constant thrumming. She snuggled closer into his arms and sighed in contentment.