-Apollo-

For some reason, Apollo felt nervous.

It wasn't just the look of surprise on his sister's face or the almost glare Orion gave him as he walked out of their apartment. He understood both of those looks. His sister didn't understand why he was doing this. It seemed to offer Apollo no advantage other than pleasing Orion, which pleased and puzzled her. Why would he care so much when Orion voiced more than once to her that he didn't exactly want Cas around the others? She knew there was more to it. That made her curious, and Artemis was very good at finding out what she desired to know.

While that should have been enough to cause it, most his nervousness came from knowing that the protests on each side of this issue were right. Mortals, especially mortals with talents like Cassia, never did well around them. They either died or became an immortal's toy, neither of which he wanted for her. That's why Orion wanted her to stay away, even with his lack of knowledge. Cas was smart. She knew what delving into their world could mean for her, so she was careful to not get in over her head. Apollo took it upon himself to make sure that she didn't delve too far but also had time with her friend. He didn't want to mess that up, which added most to his uneasiness.

He'd driven his chariot, currently masked as a Jeep, to her house, wondering if maybe he was interfering too much. He didn't lie about wanting her there. Cassia had this pull…it was hidden in those knowing grins, the playful banter. He enjoyed being around her, thrived off her presence. It had nothing to do with her gift. Was he attracted to her? Cas was pretty, but she was young. He just wanted to protect her, make her smile. Isn't that what friends do? He felt like he owed her, far more than friendship.

Apollo was just about to knock on the door when it flew open. Cas looked frantic, quickly putting a finger to her lips before pushing Apollo out of sight down a couple of steps.

"BYE MOM!"

"TEN O'CLOCK, CASSIA MARIE. NOT A MINUTE LATER!"

"Yes mam!"

She shut the door, a tiny bit of relief leaking into her eyes.

"I don't get to meet the family?" Apollo teased. Cas's eyes narrowed before grabbing the sleeve of his t-shirt and tugging him towards the jeep.

"We talk in the car after we get out of here which needs to be before my mother decides to look out the window." Cas took off down the pathway towards the curb with a hurried stride. Apollo could no longer fight his grin. If she wanted to be fast, he could easily achieve that. With a swirl of a hand, they both vanished, transporting them to the front seats of the jeep. Cas let out a squeak of terror as she appeared, looking frantically around as she steadied herself against the dash. Apollo just calmly buckled his seatbelt.

"What the hell!?"

He turned the keys, the engine roaring to life. "You said we needed to make a quick getaway. Thought I'd help." He shifted the vehicle into drive, heading back towards the interstate. "Seatbelt, please."

Cas rolled her eyes before grudgingly bucking herself in. "You could have warned me."

"I thought you were used to vanishing and reappearing?"

"When I'm expecting it, yeah." She huffed in aggravation before settling into her seat. Her posture gave away her uneasiness. The muscles in her shoulders were tight, her arms crossed in front of her chest.

"So why the quick exit?" he murmured.

"My mom couldn't see you. She'd know."

"Know what?"

Cas gave him a deadpanned look. Oh, that's right. Her parents were demigods. They might not know who he was, but they would know what he was. "Ah. They don't know that you dabble with immortals?"

"Romans are kind of hands off with their kids, remember? The demis hardly ever spoke to immortals, so why in the world would they want to talk to a lying legacy who was banished from camp?"

"So what story did you give her?"

"I kind of told her that I was going with Orion," she muttered petulantly. "I just neglected to mention that he wouldn't be driving me."

"Lies of omission are still lies." Apollo tilted his head. "Why lie?"

"Because if I gave her a random name, she would have wanted to meet you, which would have led to the same outcome. It involved swords and Bellona, which I'm sure we don't need. I am also in trouble, and the only reason I'm allowed outside a one-hundred-yard radius of the house was due to the fact that I'm going to the game with Orion."

"Well, you are doing that." Apollo bit his lip. A thought burned on his tongue, a question he wanted to know. When he originally cursed Cassandra, he didn't exactly preplan what the stipulations would be. It was a curse of passion, of anger. He needed to know exactly how far it went if he had any hope of reversing it.

"What?" Cas asked in exacerbation.

"What do you mean, what?"

"You look like you are contemplating the plague or something."

"Not the plague," he admitted.

"Well you are thinking about something, so just ask and maybe I'll answer," she added as she twisted in her seat. Her back was to the window, her legs propped against the tiny console in between them.

"You'll die if we wreck."

"We aren't going to wreck," she clarified. "Stop deflecting."

"How truthful can you be with your parents?" he blurted. Apollo quickly glanced at Cas, who looked a little lost.

"What do you mean?" she replied, her voice careful.

"The original curse was for no one to believe Cassandra's visions, the things she saw. I didn't exactly go into specifics when I did it. Does that roll over into other aspects?"

"Why do you ask?"

Apollo shrugged his shoulders. "Curiosity. And it wouldn't hurt to know as much as possible to reverse it."

Cas nodded her head. She didn't speak for a minute, her fingers softly drumming against the dash. Apollo let her have the silence. After a moment, she took a deep breath. "If it has anything to do with the visions, no mortal will believe me. Haven't had trouble with any immortal so far, but I don't flaunt it. Sometimes demigods will believe indirect references. Like instead of telling them not to go right, I say that I think traffic is better on the left. Sometimes they take the suggestion, other times they ask why, and when I answer, they just laugh it off or ignore me. My parents were like that in the beginning, like they almost wanted to believe it was the truth. As I got older and they asked why, I just refused to answer them. When I did, they never believed me anyways. Now, the question everything that comes out of my mouth, even when it has nothing to do with a vision or prophecy."

The apology he wanted so badly to give was burning on his tongue. "Is that why you are in trouble?"

Cas laughed. "I'm always in trouble. I'd be in some ridiculous rehab program for compulsive liars if I didn't have such good grades. The docs say I'm 'acting out' because of my 'increased intelligence'. It's ridiculous."

"So why is it worse this time?"

"Because I stood up to them."

Apollo gave Cas a look. "Really?"

"Normally, I try to leave them out of it. It's kind of easy for me to sneak around and whatnot, which the disappearing thing. They don't know about it. But they caught me looking for an extra weapon, and what could I tell them?"

"What did you tell them?"

"The truth. I don't like lying to them," she whispered, her voice morose.

"That's it?"

"They tried to stop me. I told them I'd already knew they would, and whether they liked it or not, I was doing this. I lost my temper; Dad yelled that he never wanted me back into the house. More words were exchanged. Then I left." She shifted in her seat, back to the preferred position. Cas stared out the window, the city lights flying by. "There was nothing else I could do, nothing I could say to make it better. When I came back later that night, they told me I had one more chance. One more, and they were done."

"Done? What does that mean?"

"Lots of possibilities there," she muttered. "I'll let you know when it happens."

Apollo nodded his head, knowing there was nothing he could say either.

-Artemis-

"Give me the popcorn!"

Artemis reached for the box, which Orion easily head out of her reach. He was taller than her in this form, which drove her insane.

"You didn't say the magic word!" he teased.

"Painful death? Punishment in the fields? Disembowelment by a single arrow?"

"Jeez, Artemis. That's a little tough for some popcorn," Hermes noted. He moved his hand, which suddenly held another box.

"Hermes, we are supposed to be behaving!" Athena hissed from a row below. "Give that back to whatever mortal you stole it from."

"I didn't steal it," he scoffed in indignation.

"Yeah, you did," Aphrodite grumbled. Hestia sat between her and Athena. "You stole it from me."

"You owe me money," he responded. "This is payment, not stealing."

Aphrodite rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Not like I paid for it anyways."

"Then go get me some!" Artemis snapped.

"You didn't say the magic word," Aphrodite repeated, a grin forming.

"Death Incarnate," Artemis growled, her eyes glowing slightly.

"Here you go, then!"

Artemis turned, recognizing the voice of the girl. Cas stood behind her and Hermes, still on the steps, with her brother right behind and a freshly popped box in hand. She smiled at Artemis, but the girl's eyes were tense…

"Orion's a pig, and I wanted a soda. So, we made a pit stop at the concession stand before coming down," she quickly explained.

"I'm not a pig!" Orion complained.

"You are," the others coursed in. Orion stood and rolled his eyes. He gestured to the two saved seats beside him. Cas nimbly stepped around Hermes and Artemis, taking the seat next to Orion. Apollo didn't hesitate to follow her, almost protective in the way he moved.

"Interesting," she murmured. Her bother shot her a warning glare. Cas just looked down at her hands as Orion whispered something in her ear, the tension easing slightly from her face.

"Are you going to introduce us?" Athena snapped. Cas looked up, a little mortified.

"I'm so sorry," Orion gasped in mock humiliation. "Everyone, this is Cas." Orion quickly introduced the others, leaving off Artemis and her brother.

"You are the one everyone keeps comparing me to," Athena huffed. Artemis could've sworn she mouthed stupid mortals under her breath.

"Why?" Hermes asked. The way he was looking at the girl was a little strange, like he knew her from somewhere but couldn't quite place it.

"She's a genius, apparently," Athena said with a wave of her hand. "No Einstein, but still up there."

"I just learn quickly," Cas muttered. "That's all."

"You know things, Cas. Always have," Orion added with an easy smile. Cas smiled back, but there it was again: a hint of regret and sorrow in her eyes with a sudden pressure in her chest. She was both ashamed and guilty, an interesting combination.

"Do you have family in California?" Hermes questioned, his tone eager. Cas stiffened slightly, like prey that knew it was surrounded by predators. Apollo put his hand on her forearm, giving it a quick squeeze of reassurance. Apollo didn't do things like that, ever.

"Hermes, what's with the twenty questions?" he snapped while covertly pulling his hand away.

"She just looks familiar, that's all," he muttered defensively.

"Everyone looks familiar to you, Hermes," Aphrodite drawled. She turned in her seat to face Cassia. "Ignore him, darling. He thinks everyone looks familiar because he likes to sleep around."

"Low blow," Hermes gushed, holding his hand to his chest like he'd been shot. "I seem to remember you encouraging me to-"

"I use to have family in Cali," Cas answered, diverting the conversation. "Not anymore."

Hermes nodded his head, letting the subject drop. Artemis watched the girl for a minute, studying her. She seemed normal enough, mortal from what she could tell. There might have been a trace of their kind in her, but if it was, it was faint. Something was off, though, and this girl had something to do with it. Orion, she understood. But her brother? He knew something she didn't, and the last time that happened, the world almost ended.

She didn't like it.

They watched the game for a while, cheering when the others cheered. Her brother always liked games like this, but she never particularly cared for them unless it involved something sharp, preferably arrows, along with a death. Everyone's tensions seemed to ease slightly as the game dragged on. Hermes had run off on an urgent call. Athena followed to make sure he wasn't doing anything stupid. Aphrodite and Hestia were working on the upcoming halftime festivities, which left the four of them together.

"So, Cas, how have things been lately?" Artemis inquired. The best way to find out what her brother was hiding would be to find out more about the girl. At the very least, it would aggravate her brother. Orion gave her a look, which Artemis brushed off. Cas just simply looked surprised.

"Fine." She tucked her hair behind her ear.

"You've just seemed a little stressed out lately," she continued, ignoring her brother's glare. She'd been around the girl more than he had. Wasn't it normal for friends to inquire about other friends? Didn't the mortals do that?

"Yeah, I've just had a lot on my plate lately with school, preparing for college, that kind of thing," she explained. The girl let an easy smile grace her features, even the tension in her eyes faded. She was very good at deceiving, but no amount of talent would deceive Artemis. She could feel the pressure in her chest, the tension in her muscles, the weariness in her frame, like it was her own.

"And things with your parents are good?" Orion asked, his voice soft and full of concern.

"No worse than normal."

The crowd erupted into screams and cheers, the whole stadium standing. Orion leaned forward, close enough that Cas would be able to hear him in the deafening roar. He grabbed her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. "Normal is bad enough, Cas. You can tell me anything; you know that, right?"

"I know," she warbled. Their words were low enough that not even Artemis's brother could hear. She stared at the field, pretending she couldn't see them, couldn't hear their whispered words as Orion knew she could.

"Then why won't you talk to me? I can't help if you don't tell me the problem."

A strained breath…a shaking frame… sorrow as deep as an ocean engulfed the poor girl. She wanted to tell him, she wanted to scream it from the top of her lungs, but-

"I can't."

Those words seemed louder that the cheerleaders, than the crowd on their feet, cheering wildly. In the back of Artemis's mind, she could feel her brother looking at her, wondering why her fists were balled.

"Cas," Orion whispered, pain and confusion leaking from the tone.

"Don't. You have enough on your plate, and there's nothing you can do, anyways"

"Nothing I can do?" he retorted. "We both know there are things you can't or won't tell me, but if you are in trouble, Cassia, I want to help." He shifted his body away from Artemis, facing the girl. "Just tell me what you need. Tell me what I need to do."

For just a moment, Artemis's chest erupted in flames, spreading out and consuming all the way to the tips of her toes. She knew Orion had never thought of the girl that way, that Cas hadn't either, but he never talked to her that way. Not with such softness, such caring. Artemis would never allow it. He'd respected her, revered her, worshiped her and served her, but had he ever shown the love that he claimed he had for her? Her immortal heart yearned for it, needed it like living things needed oxygen. She wanted to feel that for once in her existence, to crave something more than power or the thrill of the hunt. She wanted to know what it felt like to-

Cas gasped and fell forward, her torso resting on her legs. Apollo turned the same time as Artemis, fear in his eyes. The girl's hands clasped her head, a low cry of pain emitting from her. Artemis watched her brother kneel beside her and take her wrists in his hands, his touch gentler than she had ever seen him handle a mortal in almost a thousand years.

"Cassia," he whispered as he attempted to pry her hands away. She violently shook her head, curling into herself the best that she could.

"What's wrong with her?" Orion gushed, his hands on her shoulder and back. "Is she sick? Apollo? DO SOMETHING."

She shot up, her breathing fast and deep, like she had run a marathon. And she stared right at Artemis, her face pale and eyes full of disbelief. The girl looked at Artemis the way no human had ever looked at her, like she could see into her mind, hear every thought and feeling she would ever have.

"I want to go home," she whispered.

"Cas, what the hell is going on?" Orion pleaded. The mortals were starting to stare now, curious as to the girl's health.

"Nothing, I'm fine, I-I just d-don't feel good, probably a c-cold or something." She stood just as the crowd erupted, her frame shaking from effort. She stumbled, Apollo right there to catch her.

"I'll take you home," Orion offered. He looked back at Artemis, pleading with her. He didn't have to say it or ask for permission. She knew what he wanted, and that he deferred to her, as he should.

"No, stay. You n-need to stay," she managed. Cas turned in Apollo's arms. "Take me home. You promised."

Apollo looked at her like he'd be willing to do anything she asked of him. "Come on, then." He offered her his arm, which she gladly took.

"Cas, are you sure?" Orion worried. She looked distant again, her eyes unfocused and glazed.

"I'll take care of her, Orion," Apollo promised. He placed his hand on his shoulder, an intense look passing between them. Orion reluctantly nodded his head.

"I'm sorry," Cas breathed, her voice too faint for Orion to hear.

"Just feel better. I'll come by tomorrow, okay?"

Cas nodded her head, her grip on Apollo tightening. Her brother led the girl up the stadium stairs, their progress slow but improving.

"There's something he's not telling us," Artemis murmured. The past ten minutes had left her shaken and uneasy. "Something isn't right, isn't normal."

"I think you mean they," Orion offered. He turned to her, his features hard. Artemis knew that look, the checked anger that lurked beneath that hard gaze. "Do you trust your brother?"

"I trust he knows better to offend me," she replied easily. "I don't think he covets her, if you are worried about that."

"He'd lie to me. He wouldn't lie to you," Orion stated, his voice liquid steel.

"I don't think he intends to hurt her, but he knows something that we don't. Do you trust her, even with whatever she's not telling you?" Artemis asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. Orion nodded his head, his jaw tense and eyes focused on her. Artemis brushed her hand against his arm, the warmth surprising. He relaxed at her touch, the tension shifting slightly to weariness. "Then we'll handle it later. Let's get out of here."

Orion nodded his head, placing his hand just briefly on hers and squeezing it slightly. Artemis's heart picked up, her stomach turning in knots. He brushed his thumb across her knuckles, light as a feather and just as soft.

That touch was dangerous…but she wanted it just the same.

A/N: I'm so so sorry it took so long to post this. I made it a little longer to make up for the fact, and I will post next Sunday, as I'm already over 1/2 way through with the next chapter. Things are getting a little tense, and next chapter, things are really going to hit the fan. ;)

Thanks for the reviews and reading! I love to hear what you are thinking!