Disclaimer: Nu-uh.

Scatty closed the door quietly behind her and took a deep breath. Slowly she turned to face the large room the four had entered.

Sophie was off to one side, staring at her hands like they held the meaning of life. She was pale and had a terrified look on her face. Zosime was sitting in the middle of the room, methodically cutting her wrist with a dark red knife. A mix of gold and black liquid trickled out as the wounds were healing themselves at a terrifying pace. And Zoe…

Scatty took a few quick and confident strides over to her girlfriend. The blackette had a mix of a glare and concern in her eyes, the look directed at her oldest friend. It turned to confusion as the red head wrapped her arms around her waist and tugged her close.

"Hu-" Zoe blinked once in shock then her brain decided to melt. Forgetting to breath she closed her eyes and allowed all her senses be focused on the feeling of Scatty's lips against hers. A soft moan drifted into the air that sent Scatty's heart racing. She tilted her head a little, trying to be closer to the blackette.

"About time," Sophie commented as the two broke apart. They blushed but didn't separate, Zoe gasping for breath. She shot a dazed smile at the red head who returned it with one of her own. Zosime sneezed, breaking the pleasantness of the scene.

"Not that I'm complaining but what brought that on?" Zoe breathed, amazed she could even form a coherent thought let alone speak. Scatty nuzzled her ear absently.

"Tell you later. What exactly is this place?" Zosime rubbed her wrist, the scars already fading, a disturbed expression on her face.

"Marethyu created it so I'm not entirely sure of the name," the brunette answered, looking around. Sophie flinched and stared at her hands again. "Each point is an element."

The brunette cast something into the air above them. A triangle pointed upward, with a line parallel to the base at the top creating a smaller triangle inside the first, came to life, glowing faintly in the darkness. Then she threw a fire ball off to the right and a normal upward facing triangle appeared, this time on fire. A small ball of dirt smashed itself into the ground and suddenly another triangle appeared, made of dirt and visible through the suddenly glass floor. It was like the one above it, with a smaller triangle at the top, but the point was going down. Zosime flicked her fingers and a jet of water appeared, shooting off to the left. Yet another normal triangle appeared with the point going down, but it seemed to be made of water.

"These are the symbols of the four original elements. Air-" she pointed upward "-fire-" a jab at the flaming triangle "-earth-" she tapped the glass floor with her foot "-and water." Zosime gestured to the last triangle. "To get to this room one has no choice to go through the Tunnel of Spirit which has the symbol of a circle. To power the room…pure untainted magic is to be used."

"What do you mean?" Scatty asked after a silence. Zoe shifted slightly as if she were uncomfortable. Zosime sighed and shook her head.

"I wish I knew what it meant," she said softly. "But the Oracle likes riddles. I have an idea but the only problem is I'm not sure if there's anyone around like that in this age. I'm sorry Scathach." The red head said nothing and looked at the glass floor. Zoe rubbed her back, making small noises of comfort.

"Please tell me we don't have to go back through the Tunnel when we finally figure out the mystery," Sophie whispered softly. Zosime flashed a bitter smile and shook her head. "Good. Now how do we get out of here?"

"Up." The brunette snapped her fingers again and a set of stairs spiraling around the room appeared. They led to the single hole in the roof that from a distance looked big enough for a single person to slide through. Sophie nodded and started climbing. The three girls let her go, somehow realizing she needed some space at the moment.

"Zosime," Zoe stated once the blonde had disappeared from sight. The brunette turned a wary, milky white gaze to her friend. "Why exactly can I do this without being Awakened?" The four elemental symbols popped to life above her fingers, each drawn with its corresponding element.

Zosime let out a curse in Greek as Scatty felt her mouth drop open. She knew there were 'magicians' merely people who played tricks that seemed like magic but this…was something even she hadn't come across.

The elements suddenly died and the blackette swayed slightly. She suddenly seemed exhausted and Scatty careful made the two sit down. Zoe continued glaring at the brunette who looked really uncomfortable.

"Di immortales of all the things to ask about…" Scatty raised an eyebrow, trying to silently remind the brunette that Zoe didn't like secrets. Zosime took a deep breath. "Just don't hate me for this…"

"You knew all along?!"

"I had my suspicions but the only way to confirm them…" She shook her head, mumbling something about monsters. "It's too dangerous to explain things here with us being so close to L.A. When Christmas breaks comes you two will just have to tag along back to my place in New Hampshire."

"You're making me wait that long?! And what about Sophie? Doesn't she need to know?"

"No," Zosime sighed rubbing her temples. "It'll be difficult enough trying to explain it to the two of you. Sophie's already had her head assaulted with this world of magic I just don't want to throw another into the mix. Please, just wait until we get to my place. It'll be safer and I won't have to worry about monsters finding this place." The brunette seemed on the verge of tears.

"Why the hell won't you tell me now?" Zoe demanded, tensing in Scatty's arms. So far the red head had said nothing, trying to read the hidden meaning in her…friend's words.

"If I tell you know there's a good chance you'll be killed. Auras don't work against these monsters and very rarely will martial arts without weapons work either." Zosime sent a desperate glance toward Scatty as if begging for support.

"Zoe," she whispered softly, pulling the blackette close. "Please just wait. I…I don't want to see you get hurt…or worse." The mortal girl sighed and deflated but sent a tired glare at the brunette.

"Fine. Just because you're worried," she huffed and stormed away to the steps. Scatty shot a glance at the brunette who nodded in return. She owed the red head. Then the Shadow chased after her girlfriend.

Zosime watched them climb until they were out of sight and finally let her tears fall down. They were blood red in color.

A/N Okay so I'm putting this at the bottom so as not to spoil the chapter. If you didn't quite get the choices I'll explain them here and the consequence of the other.

Zosime: She chose to save Aoife and possibly give up all chance of every finding out who her godly parent was. Had she chosen to rewrite history and remain mortal then the Tunnel of Spirit and the rest would have never existed, thus pretty much killing Aoife.

Sophie: She chose to keep with the future already being played out with the past in set. She never became Death. Had she done so the change wouldn't have been drastic, just Josh would have taken her place in the group.

Zoe: She chose the unknown, the ball of black with Ancient Greek spurting from it. This will lead to some of the scenes, specifically the one Scatty saw of Camp Half-Blood. Had she chosen the known then Scatty herself would have never gotten the choice she had.

Scatty: If the kiss didn't tell you then I will. She chose to go with Zoe and forever acknowledge that Chulainn just wasn't for her or Aoife. Had she chosen him then the twins would have reconciled after a very long time but ultimately made up. Also, the death scene. Scatty, Aoife, Niten, and Chulainn were all nuked. So take a gander as to which choice was happiness and which was pain.

That's all folks! I hope you've enjoyed so far and in the next two chapters (I'm thinking, the numbers may be off, giving or taking one) I'll explain just how Zoe can do what she can. Also maybe how Zosime is immortal which is key to another scene Scatty saw. Also, if you want a picture of the triangles and their arrangement punch in 'ancient greek symbols for the elements' into Google. It's about the third one down after the the choice for images.

Laters!