So sorry guys for the long wait! Just ot warn you, this chapter is NOT one of my best because I feel the writing style has changed a tiny bit. Oh, well.

Hope you enjoy this little tid bit! :-D


Chapter 11

"It doesn't matter."

"Of course it matters!"

I frowned, giving Henri a long lasting glare. He returned it with equal ferocity, back turned to the Fire Stones. He had, so far, attempted to walk the stones twice and in that period of time, we had discovered that it really would be better if he just flew over the stones. However, we had also discovered that winged sandals were easily set aflame.

The soft, delicate feathered wings were now slighting charred around the edges and were giving off a putrid stench that smelled suspiciously like burnt roast.

I stared at the slightly smoking feathers in exasperation. "Look at them!" I exclaimed, gesturing to the sandals, "Give them a few more minutes and they'll have healed themselves."

Henri threw is hands up in exasperation. "Their winged sandals, Mia! We don't know if they'll heal themselves or perform an Irish jig."

I glanced at the sandals with disinterest. "Frankly, I think an Irish jig is going a bit too far."

Henri threw his hands up in exasperation. "Frankly, I think healing themselves is also going a bit too far."

He sighed, lowering his hands and turning so that his back was facing me. "I'll get Alex to heal them."

With that, he stalked through the Training Grounds, past the fire stones, rock climbing wall and high ropes course. I let out a frustrated sigh and ran to catch up with him. He was already by the Arch when I finally caught up with him. A trail of smoke, emitting from his sandals, was being left behind him like a trail of candy to be followed.

The Training Grounds were silent, a hazy light filtering through the leaves. Most of my siblings had probably left for dinner after seeing the almost golden atmosphere the Training Grounds seemed to be creating. Henri and I had decided to give the Fire Stones one last chance. However, it was pretty obvious what happened during that last chance.

Henri didn't even honour me with a single glance as we stepped underneath the Arch, the forest almost immediately darkening to an intense, chilling shade. If I hadn't already known, I would've never guessed that just past a certain tree was where the Training Grounds lay.

I walked leisurely beside him, sneaking glances his way when I was certain he wasn't looking. His face was pulled into a mask of irritation, a very impressive looking vein pulsing slightly at his temple. Every now and then, he would glare briefly at his sandals which were still smoking. From this angle, I could also see some still hot embers from the fires which were glowing eerily along the feathers.

I grinned. "I get it now. You're giving me the silent treatment."

Henri didn't answer. He just kept on walking, glaring in front of him as if he desperately wanted to kill something.

"You know," I began casually, "There are ways to get you to speak."

I waited briefly for his response, cocking my head to one side as I waited.

When he still didn't voice a reply, I flicked my hand out carelessly, letting it lightly smack against Henri's broad shoulder. Like lightning, Henri's hand flashed out, grabbing my wrist. I barely had time to gasp as he yanked me into his arms, pinning my own hand against my back. I could see just a flicker of a smirk as he pushed me roughly against a nearby tree, successfully pinning me between his body and the tree.

All breath left my body in a sudden rush, my heart pounding against my chest. I raised my eyes slowly, my eyes passing his chest until they met with his jade eyes. My breath caught as I watched them darken slightly. The closeness between us was almost more then I could handle.

I could practically feel the heat from his body as it seeped through my clothes, creating tension in the pit of my stomach. I decided I didn't like the feeling. Since Grade Seven, I had refused to even consider dating a guy yet here I was, practically melting because of the space between us. It didn't help that the hot guys was also, kind of, my brother.

I refused to become one of those girls who had to fan themselves to keep them from fainting if a hot boy was within a mile from them.

No. Oh, to the Gods, no. I will not become one of them.

"Am I interrupting something?"

I blinked and, in one fluid movement, I shoved Henri away from me. He stumbled back a few steps before regaining his balance and pivoting to face the intruder.

I plastered a fake, Barbie smile onto my face as I faced the intruder as well, studying his features intently. I gasped and, just like that, the smile slipped off.

"Eric?" I asked, disbelief colouring my voice.

He stepped out from the shadows, his golden hair ruffled slightly in such an irresistible way, he had to have gelled it. There was no way that was natural.

Sweat glistened down his tanned, muscled arms which were revealed by the black T-shirt he was wearing, giving him an almost glowing look. As if he was an otherworldly God.

He frowned. "You don't look like you have Mono."

I blinked. Mono?

Thankfully, Henri seemed to know what Eric was talking about. "We're actually all feeling alright nowadays but our Uncle wants to keep us here a few more days just in case."

Eric nodded as if this made perfect sense. It was only then that I noticed the large stack of papers that lay by his feet. I gestured to them, the answer of what they might be immediately coming to my head. "Homework?"

Eric lips turned into a lopsided smile. "How did you guess? I had to collect them for your entire family, Artemis. Do you know just how many people are in your family?"

I shrugged. "Believe me when I say I know exactly what you're talking about."

I was just about to offer to take the homework off his hands when another thought hit me. I froze. "Did you just call me Artemis?"

Henri glanced at me sharply. I knew what he was implying. Eric was getting dangerously close to treacherous grounds. It was impossible for him to know, though. We had been cut off from all civilisation since I accidentally went all Xena Warrior Princess on Aaron.

Eric cocked his head to one side, giving me a curious glance. "It's what everyone at school calls you. Apparently they thought that nicknaming you after a Greek God that was known for her archery would be pretty cool. I'm sorry to say, though, I don't know much else about her other then she's meant to have sworn off men."

I resisted the urge to sigh in relief. I had almost completely forgotten about the stupid nickname those at school called me.

I pulled myself together shakily, aiming a thin smile at Eric. "Right. I completely forgot about that."

Eric shrugged. "You shouldn't forget it," he grinned, "It kinda suits you."

I shivered at his words. They were hitting dangerously close to home. Henri tensed beside me, cords straining through his tanned arms.

Eric shuffled his feet nervously. "Well," he began awkwardly, "I should probably go home. My brothers are probably killing themselves with worry."

"Yeah," Henri said, voice hard, "That would probably be a good idea."

I was blown away by the hostility in Henri's voice. He had never been openly hostile towards anyone that I've known before. That had always been Aaron's thing.

However, what really bothered me was the way the Henri said it. It was almost protective.

It seemed to only slide off Eric though. He raised a perfect eyebrow at Henri, pulling up a side of his mouth into a smirk. "I'll see you guys around then."

With one last knowing smirk at Henri, Eric turned on his heel and disappeared into the forest.

I refused to acknowledge Henri who was staring at where Eric had just stood with a very self satisfied smirk. Instead I strode to where our books sat on the ground, reaching out to grab them. "Alright," I said, heaving the books into my arms, "Let's get these back home."


"What the Hades is a contrabassoon? Isn't it a monkey or something?"

To say that my family was excited about the very recently appearing homework pile would be an outright lie. It was immediately met with excuses and groans with the exception of Anna. However, as soon as Uncle Carl had entered the room, there had been a rush of us clambering to get our homework, acting as if they couldn't do their school work quicker. We had decided to take our homework into the Greek Room, pushing the countless stainless steel tables to create one large table. We were now crowded around the table, each of us working on our separate homework tasks. I had discovered in that period of time how many large projects and essays an average grade eleven student could get.

Haden, Alex and Harry were packed tightly together and were constantly screaming out questions to whoever was listening, pleading for the answer.

Alex was currently letting out an exasperated sigh, reaching over to pluck the homework sheet out from underneath Haden's hands. "Dude," he sigh, "You idiot, this is my music homework not your environmental science."

Haden frowned. "But I swear a contrabassoon is a monkey."

Alex had the right state of mind not to answer.

Another side of the large manmade table held Anna, Zach, Po, Deanna and Helena who were flying by the homework with amazing precision, heads bent low as they scribbled in answers with self reassured faces.

Henri was to my left, homework lying forgotten on the table. His feet were resting by my elbows, his hands behind his head as he leaned on the back two legs of the chair. I had been right. His sandals were healing nicely. No more were they leaving a trail of smoke in their wake nether were they slightly charred anymore. In fact, the only clue they gave you was the fact that they still smelt slightly of burnt roast.

My heightened senses picked up something. I jerked my head towards the sound of the noise, squinting my eyes at the shadows in the furthest corners of the room. No one else seemed to have heard something yet a prickling sensation was trailing its way down my neck. I felt as if someone was watching me.

Then I heard it.

The unmistaken sound of a spear speeding through the air.

Instincts kicked in.

"Henri!" I screamed, "Get down!"

I pushed him off the chair and onto the ground. Kicking my own chair to the side, I ducked low as well, partially laying on Henri's stunned body.

"What the hell are you doing, Mia?"

His question was answer as a loud thud! echoed throughout the room and a thick spear embedded itself into the wall directly across from us.

A shocked silence. I pulled my head carefully up to peer over the table, pushing Henri down when he attempted to look with me. Homework papers and other stationary were strewn carelessly over the table. My siblings didn't give a second glance at the spear, however, They were all in battle positions, sharpened swords in hands where pencils were only a few seconds before.

Every muscle in my body was tensed, ready to spring up and attack whoever dared attack me. All senses were on high alert. I was aware of every dust mote, of every particle in the table. I was also very aware of Henri beneath me. Not looking at him, I warily pulled myself into a crouch, straightening slowly. I was barely aware of Henri sitting up, brushing himself off.

Then I heard it again.

I plummeted to the ground, shoving Henri to ground with me just as another spear zoomed above our heads.

"Stop doing that!" he hissed in my ear but I took no notice. Another voice was speaking. A voice that sounded suspiciously like...

"The first rule of War: Always be prepared for attack." Aaron yelled, triumph colouring his voice.

Aw, hell.

This was not going to be good.


So, whatcha think? Your reveiws and opinions are incredibly dear to me and it would rock my world to hear more!

I'll update more very soon 'just let me think of where this is going first...'