A.N: I am sorry for the long wait for this chapter. I had writers block and when I went back to look at who I had planned for Royal Guards I didn't like them and had to get new ones. This is my longest chapter so far, so I hope you like. Review please!


"Athena!" Apollo called as he came running through the door to the throne room in his godly appearance. Instead of long silver-blonde hair he has ear length curly blonde hair. He looks about twenty-five with a firm, well-structured body; no longer does he have a boyish charm to him. His eyes are a blue and they glint with mischief.

"Yes Apollo?" I question with uncertainty in my voice.

Apollo stops dead in his tracks as he sees me. He looks me up and down. "You definitely look better as Athena, then Bella," Apollo states.

I chuckle lowly, "Indeed."

As Bella I was a 'Plain Jane', not as much so when I became a vampire. I had brown hair, topaz eyes and a heart shaped face, and I was stuck with the body of an eighteen year old girl.

I now have beautiful blue-grey eyes, blonde curly hair and I stand at five feet, nine inches. I have curves in all the right places. I am no longer a 'Plain Jane'.

"Athena, I wanted to know if we should start to update the house. The outside was kept up but the inside was not."

"That's fine, just remember, we leave in less than twelve hours and that Zeus, Aphrodite, Emmett, Charlotte, and Esme should be arriving within a few days. So inform Ares of what you wish to do with the house, and he and Lacey will have to finish it, maybe the others when they get here will wish to help. Do not touch the individual rooms; let the owner of the room remodel it."

"Sure thing boss," Apollo said in a joking voice then was off in the direction he came.

Ares has not approached me since we found the castle. I have not had the courage to go to our sleeping chamber. It has too many memories of us, of a happier time and I just don't think I can handle that yet. I get up from my throne and make my way to the door. I take one look around the room and sigh. I flip the light switch and head down the hall to the grand staircase.

I walk up the stairs to the fourth floor, the council's chambers. The third and second floor is for the guards chambers with the exception of the east side of the second floor which is for guests. The first floor has entertainment, gyms and other recreations. The couples share a room together but each of us has our own individual spaces. The rooms are like condos. I walk past Aphrodite's and Hercules'. She will probably remodel it so its fits her and Emmett's personality before she lets Emmett in there.

I walk past Apollo's room, he never found someone to settle down with. It was like the perfect bachelor pad back in our time. I think he found Charlotte to be his perfect match. The room will definitely be remodeled.

I walk past Zeus' and Hera's room. I am not sure what their room looked like, I never went beyond the study. Zeus has so many books and documents in his study. It was the perfect place for meeting, besides the meeting room on the third floor.

I stiffen as I reach the quarters Ares and I used to share. I walk past the room and on to my personal study. It was part of our room, but I needed some space so I had it only accessible from the outside. Ares has his own study on the other side of our room. I go to turn the door knob to walk into my room when I hear giggling from our room, and then I hear Ares' laugh. I feel like I could stand here all day and listen to his laugh when I remembered the giggle.

I stare at the door wishing it would burst in to flames. Is he cheating on me? Are we even still married? I mean it has been a few hundred years. Why did he even bring Lacey into our room, Key word being ours.

I open my study door and storm into my room. I slam the door shut. My nickname is Stormy because when I am angry I look like a storm with my grey eyes and all.

I threw myself into the nearest chair. I sigh and bury my head in my hands. What am I going to do? I look around the room. Wow, I still have a bottle of ink and a quill sitting on top of my desk. I really need to update this room. Now I can see why Apollo was so eager to update the house.

I examined the room making a list of things I will need. New books, paper, pens, pencils, a computer, a desk, computer chair, and a new paint job. The rug and furniture are antiques. The chairs and couch are top of the line from their time. I could probably reupholster them. The rug is fine. I nestle myself in to the chair and soon my eyes start to droop. Yes gods can sleep, we don't really need to but some of us like to. The last few days have been very tiring.

"Athena!"

"Huh?" I replied groggily, sleep thick in my voice. I sit up and wipe the sleep from my eyes.

"We need to go! We are going to be late for our flight," Persephone said with her hands on her hips. "Seriously, you aren't even dressed! You can't wear that. Pack the cloak and some more modern clothing. Apollo and I will be waiting down stairs, now hurry up!" Persephone stormed out of the room. In Persephone's godly form she is five foot eight, she has white-gold skin, long, choppy brown hair, and black eyes. She has a curvy body that can compete with Aphrodite's, with slightly pointed ears left over from her time as a spirit fay.

I pull on a pair of dark wash skinny jeans that I bought while in town, with a red corset top and a leather jacket. I tie up a pair of black combat boots, and let my hair hang over my shoulders. To finish it off I added smoky eye make-up.

I blow the candles out after packing my small bag. I walk out of my study and lock the door; I don't trust Apollo not to mess with it.

"You take almost as long as Aphrodite," Apollo complained as I walk down the steps.

"I do not! Aphrodite takes hours on end just to do her hair," I reply outraged.

"Alright you two knock it off, we have to get to the airport," Persephone interjected. I throw my carry on suitcase at Apollo and say, "Make yourself useful." Apollo grumbles but walks out to the car and Persephone follows.

I turn to walk out the door but stop in the threshold, hoping against all odds Ares would stop me and tell me at the very least good luck, but it never came. At that very moment I promised myself I would not shed another tear for Ares.


"What's the plan Athena?" Persephone questioned once we make it out of the airport and into the cover of the forest. We are crowded around a boulder, our makeshift table, looking at the map I picked up from the airport.

The plane ride was excruciating, it was a very long twenty-four hours. Apollo whined the whole way up there. First it was 'I'm bored', then 'I miss Charlotte', 'how much longer', and lastly he decided to snoop into my nonexistent relationship with Ares. I was ready to kill him and I think Persephone was too.

"Can you try to track them by their aura?" I asked looking up at Persephone.

"I can try," Persephone replied without looking up. Persephone backed up to the fallen log and sat down, after a few moments she fell into a trance like state.

I turn back around and go back to looking at the map. The forest is dead silent, no animal's scouring about or birds chirping and the trees are not even moving. Ten minutes go by before Apollo starts to complain, "Athena, I'm bored. How much longer?"

"Shh!" I shush him.

"I'm bored, bored, bored," Apollo sung dancing around in a circle. I opened my mouth ready to scold him when Persephone beat me to it, "Shut up, Apollo! Seriously how did I live with you for so long?" She pauses presumably waiting for our attention, then goes on, "I had a hold on the aura, but then Apollo went ahead and messed up my train of thought. I'm going to go back into my trance and when I start to move, follow me." We nod and she goes back into her trance.

Three minutes later she is standing up and walking further into the forest. Before we left the house the three of us changed our appearance back to our other form, just in case. I have a feeling the person we are looking for is one of the Amazon sisters, but I can't be sure. About twenty minutes into our walk and a lot of complaining from Apollo, I can start to sense the Aura of a god.

Persephone stopped walking but her eyes stayed glazed over and suddenly we were surrounded.

Apollo and I quickly put ourselves in front of Persephone to shield her from any danger.

"Bella!" asked a shocked voice. I take in the persons form and sigh in relief when I see that it's Zafrina of the Amazon Coven.

"Hello Zafrina," I say softly letting my hair curtain around my face, a very Bella move. Peter chuckles beside me knowing how hard it is for me to act so shy and submissive like Bella.

"I don't mean to pry, but where are Edward and Nessie?" Zafrina asked confusion laced in her voice never having seen me away from them for long.

"Renesmee," I stressed never having liked the nickname Nessie, "Is on her honeymoon. Edward and I are divorced. I caught him cheating on me with Alice," I say then look at the ground timidly.

"You guys seemed so good together! Why wasn't I invited?" She gushed.

"It was a small wedding, only my family and the Denali's where there. And about the whole divorce thing, I really don't care; the only good thing Edward ever gave me in my life was and is Renesmee. He was always controlling me, never letting me be me," I explained.

"Well I guess that's good then?"

"Zafrina? Who is this?" A small, timid voice asked. I looked up surprised that I didn't even notice there were other people here. Standing behind Zafrina are three other people, and last time I checked there where only three people in the Amazon Coven.

"Isabella Marie Swan-Cullen, but you can call me Bella," I say with disgust laced in my voice, before Zafrina could introduce me.

"So this is the Bella we heard so much about?"


Finally, I can go home. It took us five years but we finally tracked down the rest of the Royal Guard. The Royal Guard includes Persephone, Hecate, Selene, Eros, and Cratos.

We found Hecate in the Amazon. She was Zafrina of the Amazon Coven. Hecate is a triple Goddess, Hecate represents Maiden, Mother and Crone; mind, body and spirit; and birth, life and death. More simply she is the goddess of magic, witchcraft, necromancy, and crossroads. Her name is properly pronounced "E-CA-TA" or "e-CO-ta." She is Are's personal guard. She really is a fascinating person. She doesn't really get along with Apollo because of his attitude or Aphrodite because she is too stuck up and self-centered. Her words not mine. She is five foot seven with long dark hair and dark, starry eyes; she is very pale, almost as pale as a vampire. She looks about twenty-two years old. Most of the time she wears long, dark dresses. Whenever you need comfort you can look to her for it, but if you did something and it is you at fault she will turn not hesitate to be firm with you. She is not somebody that cuddles or tolerates. Her best friend is Selene because they both are goddess of the moon.

We also found Selene in the Amazon Coven. Selene is the goddess of the moon. She was the newest member, Elizabeth. Selene is Zeus's personal guard. She is five foot eight, has silver hair and eyes as black as night but they are warm and kind, she is fairly pale. She looks to be about twenty-four. She is quiet and reserved, she likes to sit back and observe before she goes in for the kill. She also very compassionate and strong willed. She talks a lot more when she is around her friends and family. She was one of the few that did not wish to leave the guard because she found people who accepted her; her family. When you mess with her family she is not someone you want to be around. She gets along well with most everyone in the guard and on the council. She loves to debate and exchange ideas with Zeus. Her best friend is Hecate.

We found Eros in a small city in Europe, far away from Voltaire, Italy. Eros is the god responsible for love, lust and sex. He was a shape shifter that could change on will into anything he pleased. He liked to stay young and very handsome. Some of his godly powers were that he could sense what any persons ideal lover and paired with his shape-shifter ability, make himself irresistible to the person. He is Aphrodite's guard. At first they didn't get along well because both are gods of love and he was angered that he was consider lesser than her by Zeus and was hardly ever mentioned, but when they put that aside they became fast friends, both of them a lot like the other. He is playful and carefree, but quite the trouble maker, he loves to mess with mortals and other beings by making them fall in love and have an affair, while Aphrodite likes matching up soul-mates and doesn't see why people must cheat on one another. He loves to prank other people, along with Apollo, of course. But he can be completely serious if the situation calls for it. He looks about seventeen; he is five foot nine, with bright, vibrant blue eyes and dark, curly brown hair, with a muscular build and a boyish charm that is completely irresistible.

We found Cratos in Greece pretending to be human. He, like Apollo, never lost his memories and decided to become a human, naming himself Lance. Cratos is the god of strength and power. He is Apollo's guard. He is six foot exactly, has blonde, wavy ear length hair, green eyes and has a scar running across his face, he is toned and in shape, but not overly muscular. He looks about thirty. He can be very playful or serious depending on the situation. He loves to make jokes and mess with people. He is very cold and unbecoming to people he doesn't know. He used to love to hang out with Hercules before he died.

After we found the Royal Guard members we would send them back to the Castle in the community so they could reconnected to the others and protect their guard member. Cratos is the last one of the Royal guard to be found and now we are on our way home. It has been five long years since we have seen the other Council members and since I have seen Ares. I haven't shed a single tear since I left, but that doesn't mean I don't miss him. We're taking a short break before we are off again to find the rest of the guard members. We have the other Amazons to help us in the upcoming war.

"Athena, we are home," Persephone says as the cab pulls to a stop in front of the gates of the community. I release a heavy sigh before stepping out of the car and breathing in the Russian air. I can't wait to see everybody together again. I have missed my family. This is not all of my family yet but it is a start.

"Honey, I'm home!" Apollo yelled as loudly as possible as we walked into the house. I cringed and shot daggers at him. A few seconds later Charlotte appeared.

"Peter!" She screamed as she launched herself at him. He caught her, set her down and brought her in for a big kiss. I looked away and saw Persephone do the same. Cratos stood a little behind Apollo the most relaxed I have seen him since we found him a few days ago, looking around the room most likely remembering old times.

"You can go explore, we are safe here," I said to Cratos.

"Thank you, Lady Athena," Cratos replies and walks over to the staircase.

"Your room is exactly as you left it, so it may need some updating," I told him as an afterthought. He nods then races up the steps. I hear shuffling of feet and then the whooshing of wind, Peter and Charlotte leaving, most likely to have a little alone time. I shudder at the thought.

I turn to Persephone, "You can go two, Persephone. I will be okay."

"Thank you. If you need me, you know where to find me," She said. A soft breeze with the scent of freshly blooming flowers blows in my face announcing the departure of Persephone.

I walk to the throne room and once there throw myself into my throne. We don't have much time to relax before we must leave to go find the rest of us and I intend to use every minute of my free time to relax while I can. I close my eyes and sink into my chair, remembering happier times.

"Athena," a gruff voice with a slight Texas twang to it, that I would know anywhere, calls. I gasp shocked and sit up straight in my chair. "Ares," I breathe as I catch site of his changed appearance. He is six foot two, has black ear length hair with natural red highlights here and there. Dark, fiery eyes, just as I remember them, a strong muscular build, and battle scars from past wars. He looks a not a day over twenty-six.

His eyes lock with mine and I swear my heart skipped a beat. "Athena, come with me, please?" He asks attentively. I break eye contact with him and suddenly everything comes rushing back to me.

"No, why should I? Why don't you go somewhere with Lacey," I spat with venom in my voice.

Ares looks at me with confusion evident on his face. "Wait, you think," He paused and mulled over how to state it, "I am involved with Lacey?"

I answer with a glare. Ares takes that as conformation enough and burst out laughing. I glare at him harder and get up to leave the room. He stops laughing.

"Athena, please," Ares pleaded. I sit back down and listen mostly because I've never heard Ares plead before.

"I know I acted like a total ass, and I am sorry for it, but I have never cheated on you and I never will. She was helping me with… well, just come with me."

I sigh and host myself up out of the chair. "Close your eyes," Ares tells me. I do as told. I feel the wind shift and the feeling of floating and then hitting the ground. I hear a door open and then Ares tells me to open my eyes. I gasp as I take in my surrounding. This was obviously our old room except everything is updated. Sitting in the middle of the room is our elegant four-poster bed with a blood red comforter and black sheets, real wood floors and red and black velvet walls. All the furniture is the same from the last time we lived here but some things have been updated or reupholstered. I turn around and face Ares until there is only one inch between us.

"Ares, I don't know what to say," I whisper.

"Then don't, let me. I am sorry for how I acted, I know I can't bribe you but this my way of saying I am sorry. I acted like a total ass and I am sorry I couldn't see that before. You are right I was being a baby. I wasn't acting that way because I was angry at you, I was angry at myself for letting them split us apart. I was angry that you had to be alone. I am sorry is there any way you can forgive me?"

I look into his eyes and all I can see is sincerity. I feel his emotions and all I get from him is sorrow, sincerity, and undying love. I don't say anything, tears leak out of my eyes and I stare at him with love shining in my eyes.

Ares reaches forward and wipes my tears away. "Don't cry. I hate to see you cry. I am sorry! What did I say?"

"Nothing and Everything, I am not crying because I am sad but because I am happy." I take the few steps forward ad embrace Ares for the first time in years. "I love you," He whispers.

"I love you too," I whisper back. Ares pulls my face to his and kisses me. The kiss starts off soft but then becomes demanding and urgent. A few moments later I pull away gasping for air. I touch my forehead to his. Once we catch our breath Ares says, "I will never leave you again. I don't care who tells me to. I love you too much."

I push Ares against the wall and kiss him. I hook my leg around his waist. When I pull back to breathe Ares lays chaste kisses along my neck.

"Athena, Ares!" Apollo yells. "We need you to come down here. So stop making out! We have things to discuss!"

Ares and I sigh in unison and detangle ourselves from each other. I kiss him softly on the lips tell him that we will continue later.

Ares and I leave our room and head down to the meeting room. I know one thing for sure, even if that is the only thing I am sure of as of now, I am going to hurt Apollo for ruining our alone time.