Patrick

Poseidon

The party was over swiftly after that. Danny, with a hint of regret, declared the party finished and that everyone should leave.

"And to think I didn't even get involved in a threesome this time…" he huffed, throwing an empty can of beer in the garbage. Ava was holding Piper's hand, like a mother. Piper was whimpering, tears drying on her cheeks. Ava turned to me.

"Patrick."

Her face was set like stone. "Take her home."

I nodded. It was my fault for bringing her into the group, it was only fair I looked after her. Holding out my hand to her, Piper looked at it and slowly placed her hand in mine. Her digits were so small compared to my ones. I coaxed her down the stairs and looked back up at Ava who was standing at the top, arms by her sides, her chin pointed defiantly. She resembled a warrior.

"Right, come on lovely. Let's get you home."

Her house was on the way to Aaron's, which was where I'd be staying tonight. Aaron was… well, I didn't know, but I figured I may as well get his sister to come with me since she'd be staying there too. Obviously.

ASTRA, COME ON!" I shouted back into the house. Piper flinched from the volume of my voice, which I immediatley regretted. "Sorry," I whispered. We waited for Astra to leave the house. Her spiked heels summoned her arrival as she walked down the hallway, her jacket hanging from her arm.

"Hey Patrick," she greeted me. "Hey sweetie," she said to Piper, squeezing her shoulder. We began to walk down the sidewalk towards wherever Piper lived.

Then I realised – we couldn't leave her like this.

"You're coming back with us."

Piper stared up at me. "W-What?"

"You're spending the night with us. You can stay in Astra's room, she has a double bed. And pyjamas probably. Right? You don't sleep naked?"

Astra stuck her tongue out. "Only on Mondays."

I hoped to Zeus she was kidding.

Alexandria

Aphrodite

I sobbed as I got into the cab that Hayden had forced me to call ten minutes before. He had refused to listen to me as I protested. Shouting and crying had been our soundtrack since he discovered the hickey on my neck that wasn't from him.

Hayden stuck his head into the window and handed the driver a ten dollar note. "10 Olive Grove Crescent. Get her home safe."

He didn't even look at me as he turned away from the vehicle. My shoulders shook as my sobs became heaving gasps.

"At least he paid for your fare, honey…" the driver said awkwardly.

Sure. Even when he was mad, Hayden could still be a gentleman.

Ava

Aphrodite

I'd said my goodbyes to a very pissed off Danny and had collected my coat, ready for the walk home. Anger and frustration still filled my head.

He had taken a girl hostage at a party.

Who the FUCK does that?

My foot crunched down on a leaf. It was nearly the end of Autumn, almost Winter.

Persephone would have been with Hades right now.

I shook the disturbing thought out of my head. Piper wasn't Persephone anymore – Hunter had to realise that.

I was a few yards down the block when I saw a figure sitting down on the edge of the kerb. Warily, I quickened my step, ready to defend myself with my keys if the figure attacked.

That was now unlikely, as the person was crying.

And as I got closer, I realised it was Hunter.

"What are we going to do with you?" I sighed, standing above him. His shoulders heaved and he looked up at me. "Oh just leave me alone, Ava. I've had enough of you and your friends shouting at me."

I scoffed. "We had our reasons! You locked her in the bathroom with you! It was scary!"

He waved a hand at me. "I know, I know…" he murmured.

Sighing, I felt no choice but to sit beside him and get him out of this sorry, quite frankly cringey state. "Hunter… you have to get over her."

"You don't think I know that? Jeez Ava, I try! I'm always TRYING!"

He grabbed a nearby stone and gripped it tightly, drawing blood. "Shit, Hunter, stop it!" I grabbed his hand and prised the stone away from his fingers. Blood covered my fingertips.

"Hunter…" I whispered.

"What?"

Something in me felt sad for him. I wanted this guy to have a break, be cut some slack. "Hunter. I know it's hard. It's shit. I get it, I witnessed it. But Piper isn't-"

"She isn't the same girl," he cut in sharply. "She isn't Persephone. Like you're not Athena."

"Hunter, I am Athena," I murmured. My hand was still in his bloody fist. His fingers closed over mine. "Athena's awesome…" he whispered.

I laughed throatily. "Yeah, she's pretty cool. Hades is badass."

He chuckled and squeezed my hand in his. I stared at our hands entwined.

"This feels…" he muttered.

"-Familiar," I said. "Yeah, it's been a while."

His forehead leant on mine, his blue eyes looking right into my brown ones. "Athena."

I smiled.

"And Hades."