Have you ever run a marathon? Did you keep on moving until it felt as of your limbs were as heavy as lead and your head was spinning around in circles, and then continue still?

If you have had the unfortunate opportunity to experience this, then I can sympathise. Even with extra stamina thanks to the blessing from the goddess of the hunt, Artemis, I still felt the effects of running long distances. Something that I hate.

We ended up running for around half an hour. Now and again we would attempt to sneak down a back alley, or escape in a rush of traffic, but the five Empousa had good eyesight, and surprisingly good stamina for creatures who had mismatched legs. Which is super unfortunate, really. I could almost sympathise: if one of my legs was metal and the other donkey, I would go on an angry murder spree as well. Probably.

After running for half an hour we were both on the verge of collapse. In fact, had Luke of not been able to hear my encouraging thoughts through the necklace, he most likely would have collapsed earlier. It was almost a miracle that we both were still on our feet.

That was when I had a brainwave.

Zeus was the god of the sky. He had control over the wind, weather and atmosphere. So I should be able to control all these things as well. Theoretically.

To hide ourselves and mess with the monster's line of sight, I willed our immediate surroundings to be covered in a large blanket of fog. Perhaps not my best idea ever, as it almost caused Luke to be run over by a passing bicycle due to lack of vision. I had just managed to summon some grape vines out of the ground to hold him back and keep him out of trouble (something that I Iearned I could do the moment I did it), while I focused my attention on my prey. Who were running around in circles, their metal legs clanging each time they took a step. Their confusion was obvious, as was their anger at us for outsmarting them.

To deliver the final blow, I summoned thunder clouds, and began to strike them with lightning. At first I missed. However, the light generated by the lightening allowed me to see my targets and attack without remorse. As I acted, I could feel my jewel burn brightly and my aura turn the colour of the sky on a clear day.

For the first time, I had been able to control my powers. The dream I had in the hotel room payed off. Yay!

This was the moment when I realised that my powers were not something to scorn. Yes, I had accepted then before. However, I had never appreciated them until now, when they were absolutely necessary to our survival. I shudder when I think of what could have happened, if I was less equipped. Of what the Empousa would have done to the two of us.

I had finally truly accepted my destiny.

Remembering Luke, I released him from the vines and allowed the mist to dissipate. At first he looked concerned, checking around every corner for the Empousai. However, after consideration, Luke turned to me with a face that reminded me of my step-fathers every time that I attempted to do something remotely mature. Mock scolding. "What did you do?"

I decided to answer him in an understated manner. "All I did was summon mist and blast the vampires with lightning. It was nothing." It was incredibly difficult for me to keep a straight face as the situation was just so damn hilarious. But I managed. Mostly.

Luke smiled at my antics.

That was enough for me to burst out laughing. He was quick to follow, leaving us in a laughing heap for a good five minutes. By this point we had both forgotten what we had found so damn amusing about the whole situation. However, it was good to laugh. For the first time in a week I had seen Luke truly happy. And it gave me the warmest feeling, to see him like that.

For the first time in what felt like a lifetime Luke felt content. Over the past few days he had been struggling not to just turn back and check on his mother. He had been torn between two kinds of emotions: the love for his mother, and the feelings that he harboured for me. In these five minutes he was able to let loose and not think, trusting his instincts rather than his overused and tired brain. Later he would chuckle, remembering the insecurities that he harboured. But, at this moment, he was happy.

Seeing him so happy caused me to do something that I know I would not have done under any other circumstance. Impulsively, I pulled him towards me and kissed him.

The feelings were like none I had ever experienced before that moment. His lips were as soft as silk, slowly moving against mine as he relaxed and allowed desire to take hold. I began to reciprocate, taking my cues from the more experienced man in front of me and from the blessing that came from the goddess of love herself. My arms, of their own accord, draped around his neck while Luke's arms travelled around my waist. It went on for what seemed like forever, with the rain falling around us. (I have the strangest feeling that that was my fault, for there were previously no rain clouds in sight.)

It was, all in all, one hell of a first kiss.

We eventually had to pull away to catch our breath. Looking into Luke's eyes, I knew that he cared for me as much as I cared for him. For we were both beyond the blindness of what we felt. Sorry folks, no heartbreak, no denial in this story. If that is what you are after, I am sure that other less interesting biographies exist. Not that I have read any, I am no romantic.

Luke tells me that that is a complete lie. Oh well…

Smiling, I told Luke, "Well. That happened." Not wanting him to feel that I had not liked it, I quickly continued. "I enjoyed it immensely." Seeing the smirk on his face I knew perfectly well that he knew exactly what my thought process was. Damn necklace!

In order to find a mode of transportation, I scanned the surroundings.

And found exactly what I was looking for.

"Bingo," I muttered under my breath while practically dragging Luke towards what I had spotted.

When he realised what I was referring to he sighed and stated, "Oh boy…"

The vehicle I had chosen was a bus. Not some random public bus but one of those that you travel on for school trips and such. It was not necessarily large, but it contained a bathroom. And that was all that I cared about. Smiling at Luke's condescending look, I practically sang, "All aboard!" while using my impressive machine skills to get the door open and start the vehicle. My good mood was obvious.

Luke followed quickly, settling into the seat behind me and relaxing as I drove the vehicle out of the carpark where it was originally stationed and onto the road. After all, it had been an enormously long day. We were both eager to leave this town. All I wanted for Luke was for him to accept his new life, and enjoy it to the best of his ability.

I knew it was easier said than done. As I had told him in the restaurant, I often had the urge to turn around and flee from my destiny. However, I knew that that would only make things worse. And while I didn't want to burden him, I knew that he would be much happier when he accepted it as well. It would make both of our lives happier.

As I watched him fall asleep through the rear-view-mirror-thing that bus drivers always have, I knew that we had reached a point where we finally understood each other. Where we could finally call the other an equal rather than a powerful demigod and her protector.

Little did I know that things would never be the same again between us. It was the start of something entirely unexpected. Something that I will always cherish.

Love.