Orien had lost all trace of his sister. Every town he arrived at had no new leads and it seemed as if she had fallen to the bowels of Hades. Days dragged by as he feet carried him sleeplessly from town to town. It wasn't until he fell at the steps of Delphi's great temple that any hope came to him. There he lay, weak from lack of sleep and hunger. His body felt like rock and each limb hurt to move. He believed he would waste away right there, steps away from the great god of prophecy. How befitting for his journey to start and end with his temple.

"If you had followed the path you were given you would be plump with nourishment." The icy, melodic voice drifted to him from just above his head. Twisting to peer up at the woman who spoke he heaved a deep breath.

"Path?"

"You're father told you not to follow after them. He tried warning you, yet here you are, chasing after fate like a dog chasing his tail." The oracle didn't look down at him. No she stared far off as if watching the spirit world. Her glassy eyes made the man shiver where he lay, though prior he had little strength to do so. "If you wish to continue chasing your tail I shall help you. Otherwise turn back and return to your father."

Deep in the mountains, Deo and Celia had traveled farther. A few days had passed and all but Deo's chest seemed fully healed. What would have been a half days journey to the base of their target had dragged on, Celia afraid of him pushing himself too hard. However now they stood at it's face, the giant towering above them and into the clouds, hiding whatever sat atop it. Deo's eyes scanned the lifeless area. Everything in him told him that this was where he was meant to meet with his father. This spot was the chosen destination and yet no one was there.

"Deo?" Her voice was soft and shaken. Since the attack everything set her off. Snapping of twigs, the rush of water, even a butterfly startled her at one point. Now they stood in utter silence, not even the birds sang. Her nerves were working on themselves and it was hard for her to stand still.

"He was suppose to be here…" His words were little more than a breath, yet she heard them and took his hand in hers.

"It took us awhile to get here, could your father have gone home?"

"No… He would not be anywhere, but here." He didn't reject her hand nor did he hold it tighter. His gaze fixed to the cliff high above them and he seemed almost in a trance. Celia bit her cheek, holding back from asking him to leave. Chances were his father had left. There was even the chance that whatever caused Deo's memory loss had taken his father. However the man refused to take his gaze from the cliffs. He refused to allow those notions to become truth in his heart. He knew with all his strength that his father would be here. "Let's set up camp."

Helios was low in the sky by the time they had set up a fire and made shelter with the items they had and found nearby. The two now feared for the return of the hounds and went through extra measures to make sure they not only had escape routes and items to use as weapons, but also that where they would lay was up off the ground, this time being on a low rock ledge. Deo planned to watch over their camp through most of the night and so he was now resting against a tree, hoping it would help him stay awake longer through the night.

Celia was seated beside the fire, her legs drawn to her chest and her hand resting lightly on her wound. Her thoughts circled around the many things that had happened since she meet Deo and around the curious fact that most his wounds had healed yet hers hadn't, though his were by far worse when inflicted. He barely suffered any fever or the like as well, which any normal man would have while healing from such wounds. Everything about him seemed inhuman and this wasn't her first time thinking this way. Back at the hotel in Marathonas he had healed quickly as well. In only a few hours the wound had closed and by daybreak it was nothing more than a scar.

Her eyes fluttered over to his resting face. Nearly perfect in sculpt. His golden hair fell across his forehead hiding long lashes. She was reminded of the first time she had seen him, crumpled on the temple floor. Had she not been busy being weary of him she would have thought he was the son of Apollo himself. Hair made of the sun's rays and eyes that reflected the calmest blue skies.

Shaking the thoughts from her head, Celia turned to gaze at the flames once more. Closing her eyes she thanks Hestia and Hephaestus for the warmth their flames gave them. When she opened them again she was in denial of who stood before her. A gaunt and paled version of her brother being lit by the dying lights of Helios himself. An emotion she had never seen before blazing in his eyes. His once sweet face now twisted in disgust as he watched Deo rest. Unsure she was truly looking upon Orien, Celia sat frozen. Was this some cruel prank? A lost spirit come to agonize her? It wasn't until he started walking towards her with malice in his eyes did she jump to her feet. "Brother?"

"Hurry before he wakes." Orien hissed under his breath as he grabbed her by her wrist and pulled. He stood stark still when he saw the stained bindings around her arm. The hatred in his eyes grew by three folds as he ground his teeth, his hand unconsciously tightening.

Celia bit her lip from shock and pain before feeling another hand on her wrist, slightly above her brother's. "Let go of her."

Deo now stood beside her, calmly looking Orien in the eyes. His demeanor didn't change at all as Orien snapped to glare at him and took his hand off her just to wrap it around Deo's neck and push him back until his back hit hard against bark. Celia gasped and covered her mouth from fear of Deo's wound reopening. When he did little more than flinch she breathed out and rushed to her brother's side, placing gentle hands on his arm to coax him to relax. However it didn't work, nor did any words she tried using.

"You made a horrid mistake of coming out where no one can hear you." Orien's words dripped with venom. "Nor will anyone find your body."

"Brother! Please let me explain." Celia desperately tried to pry his hand from around Deo's neck. Her efforts were fruitless and earned little more than for her brother to pull her back with his other hand.

"Stay back, Celia. This man doesn't deserve any kindness." Neither man looked at her as the chill in the air grew.

"He's right, Celia…" Deo's words, though rough from lack of air, were meant to sooth. "Stay back. You don't need to get hurt."

This earned him a hard punch to the gut. Orien's temper flaring as he yelled in the man's face. "How dare you talk to her as if you didn't ruin her life! How dare you act so friendly with my sister as if you were of equal standings to her!"

"You're right. I'm not her equal." Everything Deo said was calm and deliberate. This only served to boil Orien over even more. He yanked Deo forward and slammed him back multiple times as well as threw punches at his gut and face, all the while Celia screamed for her brother to stop and desperately tried to pull them apart. Though he had lost weight through his journey he had not lost much of the strength he had gained from hauling heavy loads.

"Please, brother. None of this is what you think anymore!" Celia tried once more to coax his hand free of Deo's neck. "I am choosing to stay beside Deo!"

At her words Orien's eyes widened. His breath caught in his throat and his whole body felt rigid. His body moved on it's own, releasing Deo and grabbing Celia by the shoulders, shaking her slightly. "What do you mean "choosing"? He is manipulating you! Do you not understand that?"

"Orien stop. That's hurts." She cringed as he shook her, feeling every jolt run down her arm and spine. "Brother!"

Deo gripped Orien's shoulder and tore him from her in one swift movement before placing himself between the two. Unsure of what had happened Orien staggered back a few paces, insanity twisting itself upon his once kindly face. His wide eyes watched as Deo placed his arm behind his back to take Celia's hand in comfort. The two looked like a newly married couple more than a fiend and victim.

"Have you…" His voice cracked before he turned his stunned gaze to Deo with it's former hatred returning. "You tainted her!"