I raised my sword. "Who in the hell are you and why in the hell do you look like me?"

She scoffed. "Do you really have to ask that question Arisska?"

I stared long and hard at her. I didn't want to believe it, but it, she was me. "What future are you from?"

She ran her fingers through her blond hair. "A hard future. A future that I am no longer known as Risska, but by my human middle name of Alethea."

I saw pain in her eyes. "Why are you here?"

"To give a warning. You can't save everyone. There comes a time when you have to let people go and move on. Don't let it consume you."

"What do you mean?"

She shook her head. "I've said more than I should."

"No. Tell me."

"I'm sorry." She vanished in a burst of dark light.

Damn. Why does everyone do that? I threw the sword on my couch and head back up the stairs. Whatever it was could wait until tomorrow.

Council Room of Olympus

"The council has come to an order. We have amongst us the leader of the Damions , Stryker and his queen, Zephyra. We have come to this alliance to discuss the Atlantean Goddess Arisska and her mate, the Malachi, Nick Gautier," Hermes announced to the council of the twelve main gods before taking his seat at the long table. Zeus and Stryker sat across from each other as speakers of their respective races. Zephyra sat to Stryker's right, her hand on her dagger incase the Olympians betrayed them.

"So you propose that we kill the Malachi and his mate," Stryker said mulling it over.

Zeus nodded. "She is Savitar's daughter which means she has the power to kill us all. Not only that but she is the sister to Acheron and daughter to Apollymi. If we allow the Atlantean pantheon to rebuild, then they will kill us all."

"It seems, Father, that you forget that the Malachi is impossible to kill. If he is impossible, then think of how hard it would be to kill Arisska," Artemis said rising.

Zeus's voice rose in anger. "And YOU daughter, seem to forget that you have no voice on council matters anymore since none of this would be happening if you had not brought her back as one of your damn Dark-Hunters."

Artemis stared down Zeus. "You will be the death of us all." She turned with her dress billowing behind her and walked out of the hall.

"There may be a way to kill the Malachi," Zephyra spoke up.

All eyes turned to her. "Explain Zephyra."

She snapped her fingers and ragged man in chains appeared. "This is Jared. He is a Sepherii, the ONLY thing that could kill the Malachi," she said with a smug look.

Everyone started whispering that they had what they need, the answer on how to kill the Malachi. Apollo's voice rang out. "What do you want in exchange?" Everyone fell silence at that.

"Whatever do you mean?" she said smugly.

"Nothing this big comes without a price. What's yours?" Apollo said.

Zephyra and Stryker exchanged a look. He nodded. She turned to face the council. "The curse lifted from our race. That is our price."

Zeus rubbed his chin in thought. "Apollo, since you inflicted your children with the curse, then it's your choice to make."

Apollo thought long and hard. "The death of the Malachi and his mate is more important than the feud. Your request is granted. I release you from your curse."

A bright light surrounded Stryker and Zephyra. They knew, deep down, that Damions everywhere were feeling the same effect.

Zephyra turned to Jared. "Do you want your freedom Jared?"

He nodded. "More than anything."

She snapped her fingers and the chains were replaced with battle armor and Jared's sword. "Then kill the Malachi."

He nodded. "Then we will all have to work together. I can't take on the Malachi and hold myself off against the Atlantean goddess. That will have to be your job."

Zephyra nodded. "As long as the Malachi's blood is spilt at my feet, then that can be arranged."

Zeus looked around the table. "Then we are in agreeance? At dawn, we will attack the Malachi and his mate." Everyone nodded. "Who will fight the Atlantean?"

Apollo, Ares, Stryker, and Zephyra all raised their hands.

Zeus nodded. "Then we attack at dawn."

One by one the gods disappeared, all of them a part of a soon to be bloodshed.