That night, we all ate in silence. Zenia tried several times to break it, but to no avail. I inwardly sighed the whole time. There were so many things going on that I knew nothing about.

Like why my father had attacked that girl, and what Cyrus was keeping from me. I sighed again, except out loud. Cyrus looked up at me.

"Something wrong Athena?" I shook my head.

"Nothing just tired." He seemed to accept that as he went back to his task.

"Hey Minerva?" He didn't look up as he said this.

"Yeah?"

"Why'd Zenia attack us?" I stared at him shocked.

"Because that's what specters do."

"I know that but-Never mind." I glared at him suspiciously. What did he know?

"Mineeervaaa!" Zenia's mocking voice made us both flinch. Me for the way she said my name, and him for the approach of the woman whom had bothered him all night.

"Yes Zenia?" I turned towards her, the short little monster was grinning smugly.

"Can you help me get that down? I don't know how I got it up there!" Her aegis was up there, and I realized the skank was completely naked.

"Why don't you ask Cyrus? He's taller." Cyrus choked behind me, obviously not relishing the idea of getting closer to the little demon.

"But A-" I was over there in a flash, "accidentally" knocking her down.

"I'm sorry. Did that hurt?" By now I'd had a little talk to her about my "name", and apparently she was going to waste no time blackmailing me.

I began to climb the tree, leaving Zenia on the ground so I wouldn't strangle her. I reached the aegis. I looked down to see where Zenia was so I could throw it down to her, but she wasn't there.

I looked up to find her rubbing against Cyrus was slowly pushing away so he wouldn't offend and Zenia was pushing forward with every intention of finding a warm bed for the night.

Anger boiled in me. He was my chocolate chip cookie!

I jumped from the tree, ready to stalk up to her and rip her hair out. Then it happened, the sound of a centaur's horn, a battle call.

I immediately jumped to action grabbing my spear and unadorned shield. Cyrus was shocked to see me with the weapons; I guess no women in his village were allowed to bear arms.

"Don't just stand there! Hide! Or get a weapon." Zenia grabbed her aegis from me and ran for cover.

"Coward," Cyrus muttered.

"And what are you going to do? Hide or grab a weapon." He stood there a moment, as if contemplating which one, and ran into the cabin.

And he called Zenia a coward. Coward.

I hid in the bushes, ready to face them when they attacked. A small army filled the clearing, looking around confusedly. The leader made his way to the front.

"My people! She has escaped, but we will search and destroy her home for the harm her family has inflicted!" I gasped. What had they done to them?

"We shall avenge our fallen kin!" Could the girl have been a centaur? But even Father wouldn't do such a thing to a member of the centaur clan, as strong as they are. Though usually a peaceful people, the centaurs are a formidable foe and will fight to the death for honor.

"What are they talking about?" I spun around a scream lodged in my throat to see Cyrus.

"I don't know. I just-"

"And when we do catch her! The gods will feel all the grief we do. We shall kill the go-" I charged, protecting my pretense. Bad move, centaurs surrounded me in seconds each one armed and ready to kill.

"Minerva!" Cyrus crashed out of the bushes, ramming past all the centaurs. They were too shocked at the name he'd said to resist. It's well known I hate that name.

Cyrus grabbed my arm, and we walked slowly backwards, the stunned centaurs advancing on us, ready to attack.

They were almost on us when we fell. I feel so lucky, it would have been better if we didn't fall farther than the eye could see into a patch of briars.

Cyrus served as a cushion receiving most of the blow. I was rattled, no doubt about it, but he was in worse shape.

I leaned over to check for wounds. He wasn't moving, which made me worry, but he was just unconscious yet again.

He was bloody from scratches left from thorns. I reached out and wiped away a bit of blood. He stirred a little.

I stood and attempted to disentangle him from the thorns. I gave up a minute later and just ripped him up. His clothes were in rags, but he'd be okay.

I stepped back from him and looked down at him. His blond curls fell over one eye. I had this urge to brush that curl from his eye and kiss his forehead. Which I quelled, just barely.

"Minerva?" I looked up. His eyes were like chocolate syrup, all warm and sleepy, sensual. I felt my insides melt. "Are you okay? All I remember is falling."

I swallowed, hoping I didn't sound as harried as I felt replying, "I'm fine. You took the impact, so I should be asking you."

He looked down at his bloodied arms and then back at me. "It's nothing, I didn't even feel it." He smiled, trying to put me at ease, but I could see he was in pain.

I stalked forward, "Where does it hurt?" He stepped back, frowning.

"Um, Minerva, I'm fine really." I took another step forward, and he took a step back, tripping over his feet and falling back. I was on him in a second, poking and prodding.

"Tell me when it hurts." He wiggled under me trying to get away.

"Minerva! Minerva stop!" He began giggling, a very odd noise, and then he was rolling around pounding his fists on the ground laughing so hard there were tears running down his face.

To state the obvious, he was ticklish.

I stepped back and watched him regain his composure. His laughs slowly turned to gasping, and he turned so he was on his knees.

"Sorry, I didn't mean for that to happen." He looked up at me, and I saw a certain glow in his eyes. Suspiciously, I took a step back. And he jumped.

I was thrown back, and he was on me tickling me until I couldn't breath I was laughing so hard.

"Revenge is sweet." HE whispered, his lips close to my ear, I could feel his warm breath against my skin.

It felt so good. I turned my face and looked in his eyes. I wanted to kiss him; I knew I was going to kiss him.

He moved forward, I thought he was going to kiss him. It seems that every time something good or otherwise that happens to me gets thwarted. You see, at that moment, someone entered the little cavern we were in.

"What is going on here!"

I looked up at the intruder. A handsome blond haired man stood there. A very familiar, handsome blond man.

"F-Father?"

Welcome guys! Thanks for reading, and once again, thanks for your reveiws(even though I didn't get any /) and yet again, I'M BEGGING YOU REVEIW!

Sorry, I just feel a little strained for support. To tell you the truth, when I get a reveiw, I feel more motivated, so once again, thx!

Evil Voice: Blackmailer

Me: Shut up!