Disclaimer: Most of the characters are not mine, some they are.

Author's Note: So the battle is definitely on and happening. So the brothers meet again.

21. Cora

As I ran to Temple Hill, I hoped to reason to Derek. This was madness. I was barely there when I saw the chicken-thing my brother was riding. He wasn't with the monster anymore. Knowing my brother and its battle strategies, this was a trap. I looked around trying to find something out of place but it was difficult. I wasn't familiar with the place.

I ran fast around the temples looking desperate for my brother. Before I realized it, I was standing in front of the Neptune temple, my grandfather. I looked at the seashells, starfish and other features. The whole small dusty neglected temple remained me somehow of my dad. Among the Romans, we were pariahs. Would it change a thing if we saved them? My dad did it when he was a teen and they still don't trust us.

Maybe I was too caught out in my thoughts that I didn't realize that my brother was next to me until his hand took mine. I was so surprised and shocked. I tried to pull again but I couldn't. His grip on me was too strong.

"You came" said Derek almost sadly making me stop. We stared at the temple for a couple of seconds in silence.

"I came to stop you" I said and we stared to each other. He looked thinner in just a matter of weeks. His eyes were sulked with dark bags under. His hair was shaggier and dirty. His skin was tanner too. He probably had spent a lot of time on the open.

"About Aria…" I said and his whole face changed from cold passiveness to sheer hot anger. He pulled away creating a big gap between us. I looked at him and I knew there wasn't bridge long enough to reach him. It seemed that I lost my brother. "Aria was…"

"I heard everything. Aria was forced to drag me and you out of the house leaving mom alone. The Roman Gods wanted her. They feared our lineage, our grandparents strong blood" spatted Derek and I saw his hand reaching for a sword, Imperial Gold. I drew my bow before him.

"Derek, I love you, but you are wrong. Polybotes and Chrysaor kidnapped mom, not the Gods" I said.

"Don't lie to me. They are my allies, my friends" said Derek.

"Derek, you have been tricked. Mom is here and alive" I said hoping to change his mind.

Derek stared at me for a second analyzing me. I knew he was looking for any speck of lying, then he shrugged.

"Maybe I was the one who tricked them in the end. I knew they had mom and convinced them to let her go because I promised them a bigger fish. Just maybe, everything was my plan…" said Derek with an all-knowing full of dark intentions smile. I knew he was bluffing.

"Then stop this madness. This place doesn't need to be destroyed" I said loudly.

"This isn't our place. We were always going to be outcasts because Romans fear the sea and the monstrous thing they did to Athena, to our grandma. You don't have to protect them" said Derek.

"I can't let you harm this place. You won't destroy here just like Camp Half-Blood" I said pointing my bow at him.

Derek drew his ready to attack at any second. "You won't stop me. I'm the legacy to destroy everything" He sounded so convinced that I wanted to believe it.

I shook my head sadly, almost teary. "Sorry, big brother, but you are not" He looked at me ready to pounce. Of course, he didn't believe me a single word. If he only knew…

"Of course I am" spatted Derek.

I sighed "It was me all along. Thalia told me"

"Thalia lied. He told me" snarled Derek.

"Who said that?" I asked intrigue.

"Lord Kronos. He has been helping me. He guided me to the giants and Chrysaor. He is right. The Gods need to learn their place" said Derek proudly. Our godly great-grandfather was whispering in his ear just like Luke Castellan.

I stared at Derek expecting him to crack a laugh at the cruel joke, but nothing. I sighed sadly "You can't trust him. Remember what our parents said: Luke died saving Olympus from Kronos. Believe in them"

Derek laughed maniacally and lowered his sword as I wasn't a threat anymore. "Why should we believe them? Chrysaor told me that our own mother made you a hunter just to get rid of you"

I felt hot at his words "That's not true. She was protecting me because I was the one" Derek stared at me for a second drinking my words.

"A life of service to the Gods for your life because they feared you. What a sweet deal!" said Derek so sarcastically that I felt hotter of embarrassment. He was kind of right.

"Shut up!" I spatted and Derek smiled wickedly as his words had the intended effect on me. I always knew how to get under my skin.

"Don't you get it, Cora? I'm doing this for you. You don't have to be their slave, their pawn. You don't have to share their fate" said Derek. He sounded honest and I wanted to believe it. Maybe he was trying to save me from my own fate. Mom tried and failed. I wasn't a hunter anymore.

"What do you know about fate? I was a hunter. I killed my hunter sister to protect mom. Malcolm was killed protecting mom. I saw Thalia dying from saving her sibling. You cut Rachel's tongue. You call that fate?" I said. "Did you protect Rachel for being raped and tortured? Did you do it?"

"I am sorry for cutting her tongue but it was necessary. The Gods need to understand we are not at their beckon call" said Derek and for a second we were in silence. "She wasn't raped. For what I heard next door, she was a willing participant"

"That's disgusting to think she wanted to be hurt like that. I saw her body covered in bruises and scratches. I'm ashamed of you"

"Cora. She slept with Chrysaor because she wanted a way out. Don't you get it? She didn't want to be the Oracle anymore... I cut Rachel's tongue. It was wrong but it was on her request. Her wounds were self-inflicted" said Derek and I felt his honesty. What really happened then?

"I don't believe you" I said but I felt unsure of my words. Derek smiled as he saw my hesitation.

"Sis. I know you are better that this. If you are really the one, together we can bring the Olympus to our knees" Derek smiled hoping for me to accept his proposal. It was tempting. I stared at him and I could see the pain in his eyes and I saw the truth. All of this was for one reason only, and it wasn't me or mom". I felt like my heart broke for him.

"Don't try to fool me. Destroying the city won't bring Aria back" I said sadly. He was so in love of Aria and she died because of us, our fate as the salty wise legacies. Somehow Derek felt it was his fault.

"But it will make me feel better" said Derek and I saw him to the verge of tears.

"I am here to stop you" I said as I raised my bow once again. I only needed a good clear shot and he would fall.

"You might try, but remember I am older, faster and stronger" said Derek raising his sword.

I aimed my arrow to him and said "I was a hunter of Artemis. I'm better with the bow than you. I just need one arrow"

Derek smiled with sassy eyes "Chrysaor taught me how to use the sword. I just need to get close. You won't shoot fast enough to stop me" I nodded. He was right. Everything depended from one shot, or he would get to me.

"Derek, I love you" I said hoping to change his mind. It was my last chance.

"I love you too, Cora. It's a shame you are fighting for them" said Derek.

"I say the same" I said sadly.