-Orion-

Orion felt guilty.

He spent all morning in his classes with a somber attitude. He hadn't meant to snap on Cas like that. He knew deep down in his heart that she was just trying to look out for him. She didn't know about his past. How could she know how on edge he was? Desperation tore through him. For years, his existence had been absolutely meaningless. He lived and he died, over and over again. He hoped he would get another chance with… he couldn't even think her name. Even her name brought him to his knees, not that he would ever let that be known. He had a reputation to keep. How many times had he gone looking for her, trying to find her, to only fail? He had given up hope of ever seeing her again, that was until Aphrodite approached him. Orion couldn't take it anymore, he couldn't stand another lifetime alone. At least this time he had finally made a friend, someone he could share things with while he looked for her. He had avoided people for so long. What good would it have done to make friends, when he knew it wouldn't last?

Cas was sitting at the table alone. Even from here, he could see her pushing the food around on her plate. She kept shaking her leg and fiddling with her necklace, a habit she had when she was worried or nervous. He wanted to go apologize. It wasn't her fault. After all, she was right. He was messing with things a lot stronger and more powerful than he was. He knew it could go horribly wrong, but this is what he wanted. If it turned out to be a disaster, then it wouldn't really matter, would it? He'd get another shot to make it all right again.

He remembered the first time they had met as he walked over to Cassia. They were both around five years old. Orion had always felt like she could see him for what he really was, even though she couldn't possibly know. She was just a mortal after all. Orion's mind drifted, and he replayed their meeting in his head. She had fallen out of the tree in an attempt to run away from her parent's house. He remembered her bright purple eyes, and how she seemed a little different, just like he was. They had been friends ever since that moment. She had listened to him, and she always seemed like she understood him and his existence. It was easy to pretend with her, that someone knew all of his secrets. He was older than her by a few months, and Orion always felt like an extremely protective older brother. There was never anything romantic between them. There never could be, because his mind always went back to her. He had waited for so long for her, and he was risking everything to see her again, for the first time since he had first died.

"Hey," he muttered as he sat down across from Cassia. She looked up at him, her eyes full of repentance.

"Hi," she responded meekly. "Look, I'm so-"

"Don't. I owe you the apology. I just didn't want to hear it. I know you were just watching out for me, and I'm sorry," he muttered to her. It took a lot for Orion to apologize, but he didn't want to lose the only friend he had ever really had over this. He knew time was growing short, and Cas had always been there for him.

"I just don't want you to get in a bad situation. I wish I could explain it, but I can't. I should trust your judgment though. You are a big boy, you know what you are doing," she sighed. She met his gaze and looked wonderingly at him. When she gave him that look, it felt like Cas could see into his soul, that she knew everything he had hidden from her. "You know you can tell me anything, right? That I'm always on your side, no matter what? You are my best friend."

Orion nodded his head, thankful for the support. He offered her a small smile. For just a second, he thought about telling her everything. Would she believe him or just think he was crazy? The moment passed, and Orion knew he couldn't. He couldn't burden someone like her with this information. She was his friend, and he owed her that much.

The tension that was between them vanished, and they started talking like they normally did. They were both on the archery team together, and they had worked on some trick shots for the next meet. Orion was the best on the team, of course, but on a good day, Cas could almost best him. He had never got out of practice with his bow, just in case he ever found her again. He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the distracting thoughts. He had to be patient. This was like a hunt, and he just had to wait until she came to him.

"Are you coming to practice this afternoon, or are you heading home?" Orion asked her.

"I'm actually going to ditch after fifth period. I have some, ah, stuff I need to take care of."

"Stuff like what?" he questioned curiously. Cas was insanely smart. Smart enough that she tended to do whatever she wanted and got away with everything. She was the best at sneaking off and disappearing and at getting a hold of things she was never meant to have.

"Just stuff," she replied breezily. She was hiding something, but Orion wouldn't pry. How much did he keep from her, after all? Orion watched as Cas's eyes narrowed, a look of annoyance and trepidation passing over her features, and he followed her gaze. A blonde guy was walking at the far end of the cafeteria, a pair of ray-bans on top of his head. He was looking at a group sitting on a table on the far side, but the occupants were hidden from them. Orion recognized him, and he averted his gaze quickly. It was hard not to forget the way they looked. It was imprinted in his head. He knew that she would be over there, that she would be sitting at the same table the blonde had just sat at. Orion imagined he could almost see a peak of Auburn hair in between the bodies, and he just wanted to run over to her. It would never work. They would stop them before he even got close to her. He had to play by the rules, and if they found out that he knew….

"That's the new guy, right?" Orion asked Cas. His heart was about to explode out of his chest with anticipation. Thank the gods he had years of control from hunting. He was good at hiding his emotions.

"Yeah, that's Apollo," she muttered.

"Weird name," he acknowledged. Cassia nodded her head, stabbing at the foam lunch plate with obvious vigor. "Doesn't he have a sister? A twin?"

"That's what I heard," she ground out. She looked supremely agitated, and Orion wondered why. "Hopefully she isn't as big-headed as her brother."

"Have you talked to him?"

"Once. I have mythology with him." Cas stabbed again, breaking off the tines of her fork against the table.

"He's been here for two days, and the guy has already pissed you off?" Orion chuckled.

"No," she drawled. "He's just cocky, and it annoys me. He thinks he can get anything with that charm, and all of these idiots are just fawning over him like he's the god of sexiness or something."

Orion snorted, spewing out his food all over the plate. Cas looked at him like he was crazy.

"Did I say something funny?" she asked innocently. Her eyebrows were raised, and Cas looked a little confused.

"No, no. Just got something in my throat," Orion assured her. Cas rolled her eyes and shrugged her shoulders. She walked over to Orion's side and gave his arm a quick squeeze.

"I'm going to shoot some before my next class, want to join?"

Orion shook his head, "Nah, I've got to go to the library to finish this homework. I'll see you this afternoon," he assured her. Cas nodded her head, strolling out of the cafeteria.

He gazed in the direction of the blonde. He had to be careful with his thoughts. They could hear him if they really wanted to, but he doubted they would bother to listen. They were arrogant like that. He needed to get out of there, before he lost his patience and will power.

Orion stood, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. He got the feeling someone was watching him. His hairs stood up on his neck, and his hands were itching to have a weapon and he glanced quickly around.

Another blonde, a girl, stood in the corner, her arms crossed over her chest. She was absolutely beautiful, and Orion was almost attracted to her. He knew better to be attracted to the goddess of love. Aphrodite looked around his age. Her current form had long blonde waves that stopped around her chest. She had curves most guys would die over, and her skin was tan. She wore a tight corset tank top, with skinny jeans and high heels. She motioned for Orion to join her, and then slipped through the double doors.

He remembered when Aphrodite came to him. He was desperate, and he uttered a small prayer hoping that she would hear him. To his surprise, she actually answered. He began to replay the encounter in his mind….

"You called, lover boy?" She had said. Orion looked on in shock, his mouth dangling open.

"I know I look good, sweetie, but you don't have to drool over me. I thought that was only over your lost love?"

Orion blushed furiously and looked down at his feet. What was he thinking, asking for help from a god? He knew how they loved to play their games, how mortals were nothing but pawns to them. But he was desperate.

"I want to see her again," he whispered.

"Oh, of course you do, sweetie! I've known about you for years now. All those years of waiting for someone who never came! You must really care for her. I mean, mortals usually move on decently quick from us. Why haven't you moved on? That Cassia girl is quite pretty-"

"Cas is a friend, nothing more. I can't move on," he muttered, frustration coloring his tone. "Don't you think I've tried to forget about Artemis? I've had hundreds, thousands of lifetimes to try, but-"

"She's the only one," Aphrodite mused. She regarded him for a minute, her fingers tapping her chin. She looked deep in thought, like she was planning out what had to be done. "Hmm, I'll tell you what. You do me a favor, and I'll help you see her again."

"What kind of favor?"

"Oh, let's just say you owe me one?"

Owing a god was never a good idea. If there was anything Artemis had ever taught him, it was that. The temptation was too much. He had tried over and over again, and here was a chance. After thousands of years, he had a chance. Doubt flashed in his mind, keeping him from agreeing just yet.

"If she wanted to see me, she would have come already," Orion muttered. He had lost hope a long time ago that she would come looking for him. He had looked for her, but something always happened.

"She doesn't know you are alive. Athena and the others have kept you hidden from her. If you want to see her again, you are going to need a goddess's help," she reasoned with him.

Artemis didn't know? Hope, strong and true, took a hold of him. Orion should have known better. He knew this was a bad idea, getting tangled up in the gods' schemes. Was it worth it? What was the worst thing that could happen? He was going to die soon anyways. Aphrodite smiled a charming smile and put her arm around him.

"Aren't you tired of waiting for a girl who never comes? Suffering a terrible death every seventeen years just so you can be born again and wait some more. Personally, I would be extremely tired of it, and I think you are, little Orion…"

"I'm hardly little," he snapped as he crossed his arms over his chest. His pride had gotten the better of him. He was the best mortal hunter who had ever lived. Aphrodite seemed unfazed however.

"I can help you, lover boy. I can bring her to you. I can reunite you with your one true love. All you have to do is owe me one tiny, little favor."

Orion pulled away from her. He was still skeptical. Aphrodite seemed awfully interested in his problems, which is something that wasn't good.

"And why, my lady, would you offer your help?" he wondered. Aphrodite laughed, fluttering her hand in the air.

"Why does a god do anything to help a mortal?"

"Boredom, most of the time," Orion started.

"Boredom, all of the time," she corrected him.

Orion finally made it to the door and pushed his way through.

"Took you long enough," she huffed as he walked through the door. He couldn't help but notice Aphrodite looked a tiny bit agitated.

"Something wrong, my lady?" Orion mused.

"As you can see, we've run into a tiny problem," she snapped.

"What problem?" he echoed.

"Athena and a few of the others are here with them! She figured it out, that damned know-it-all!"

"How are we going to meet if Athena is here?" Orion inquired.

"Stick to the plan," she huffed and she stormed past him. "You leave that to me."

A/N: Hi All! I hope you enjoyed it! You might recognize some of the dialog from one of her pictures, and of course credit goes to Mirelle for her beautiful work.

I should be updating a little more frequently over the next few weeks.

Please leave a review and let me know what you think! :)