It's been a week since I last updated, so no complaining. As always I hope you enjoy, favorite, follow, or review. This chapter is longer than normal so bonus for you guys.

It had been a week since my scuffle with the cow and Zeus had been calling counsel meetings everyday. From what Poseidon had told me, they held no real importance.

"Zeus is only doing this to make you and Hera feel left out."

"To make us apologize faster and come back to meetings before something bad happens no doubt."

"Athena ladies and gentlemen."

I lightly punched him the arm for that and then kissed him on the cheek. He pouted in return.

"So, I get punched and you missed my lips."

I smile. "I never miss."

Poseidon smiled back and stole one from my lips. No matter how many times we do that, I'll always feel his emotions towards me and mine to him. While gods can talk telepathically, we can't read each others thoughts without permission. That requires a certain closeness with that god. Poseidon and I had reached that a week after we met, but respected each other enough to not do that. Instead, we learned something just as valuable when we starting kissing each other, emotions. We always felt love and happiness when we were kissing, but we also felt what we had felt hours before. Poseidon had felt worried about me, angry at Zeus, and annoyed with Ares.

The sound of the counsel horns rang and forced us to pull away. We both sighed sadly in harmony. Poseidon lifted my face up to his and we were an inch away. He didn't dare kiss me again or he'd be late and Zeus might find out about us. He looks me in the eyes.

"Be careful my Owl. I don't want you getting into trouble while I'm stuck in an all day meeting."

"I'll be careful my Barnacle, I always am. I was thinking of going down to the mortal world."

"Athena."

"To Demeter's private garden and fields."

The horns rang again.

"I love you."

I felt my heart burst, in a good way. Poseidon had never said those three beautiful words before. I made me feel a new kind of alive. I put my hands on his cheeks and he put his on the back of my head.

"I love you too."

We both leaned in for another kiss when the horns blew for the final time. Poseidon smiled and kissed my nose.

"I'll see you soon my lovely Owl."

"Me too, my loving Barnacle, me too."

Teleporting to earth took mere seconds. I had never been to Demeter's private patch of flat grassland, but it was breath taking. It looked like Iris had been here to color all of the flowers and Nymphs were grooming there trees. The fields held crops that satyrs were tending too. A river was slowly flowing through all of this and I smiled.

Demeter rarely let people visit and if she did, it was only goddesses. Demeter had only given her permission after I found out how bored I was. I was glad she did.

I started to stroll through the rainbow field and towards the river. I saw a figure of a girl picking flowers along the river's bank and they were black. I got more curious as I got closer to her. She had straight black hair that reminded me of my own coloring and dirt brown eyes. She was wearing a long modest white dress and she had to be about sixteen.

She didn't seem to notice me as I walked over to her she was too busy arranging the black flowers into a crown. It seemed strange that a girl in a place full of life would be weaving a flower crown all black. I was feet away when I heard her start to mutter flower names.

"Roses at the bottom, then marigolds on top of them. Callas and orchids alternating on that and three lilies in the center. Yes, that will do."

I have to admit, it was an amazing work of weaving. The girl placed her masterpiece on her head and smiled proudly. I coughed to make my presence known to her. The her looked up with wide naive eyes, then smiled brightly.

"Did he send you?"

"Who's he?"

The girl's smile vanished and she sighed. "I guess my love didn't send you after all."

Well, of course her love wouldn't send me to deliver a poem. I was nobody's messenger. My pride was wounded that the girl didn't know who I was. Then again I've only been in the real world seven immortal months, so I can't blame her.

"What was your first clue?"

The girl took her crown of and started to play with it. "I'm sorry, it's just that he hasn't given me a message or a sign all week. I know he would never do anything, but he has my father's blood in his veins."

It all clicked once she said that. Why Demeter wouldn't let men visit and how all the men, minus any committed ones like my Barnacle, kept asking for something. Why she looked so much like me. This girl is my sister.

"Your father's Zeus."

The girl looked shocked at the statement but nodded. "How did you know?"

"Takes an illegitimate child of Zeus to know one."

The girl, my sister, gets up and hugs me. After a few awkward seconds, I hug her back. My sister let's go and starts asking me questions. I let her because I know I'll have my turn eventually.

"Who are you?"

"Why haven't I meant you?"

"How's Artie doing?"

"What's Olympus like?"

I smile down at her. Even if we're about the same age, I'm taller by a few inches.

"I'm Athena and a member of the counsel."

"I've was inside Zeus head most of my life and got out about seven months ago."

"Artie is doing fine and still fighting with Apollo."

"Olympus is Olympus. I can't describe it to it's glory without going into all the remodeling I've done and spewing architecture facts. The only way to know is to see it."

It went on like this for hours as we asked and answered while weaving chains of flowers. I learned that her name was Persephone and she was here because her mom was hiding her from suitors. About a year ago, when she met our relatives for the first time, several tried proposing and declaring their love. Surprising, a ten year Apollo was one of them. Demeter refused them all before Persephone could say anything for herself on the matter. Zeus then banned talk of her of Olympus and her visiting. Demeter also limited her interaction with only female relatives and cut off knowledge of the real world.

I thought that was cruel of Demeter to do, but I've never had children so I wouldn't know. Still, if Demeter is keeping her away from all suitors...

"So, who is this guy you thought sent me here?"

She turned rose red. "Well, he's this god I'm courting that mom doesn't know about. He usually visits or sends me messages once a week. He just stopped doing it this week and I'm worried he doesn't love me anymore."

My eyes popped. "Has he said he loves you?"

"Yes."

Good, so I don't have to give her Dite's talk about mixed signals.

"Can you tell me who the god is?"

Persephone didn't make eye contact as she spoke. "It's nothing personal Athena It's just that I don't want my mom to find out and she's got spies everywhere."

"Can you give me hints?"

She nodded and tapped a finger to her chin. Her smile was bright when she thought of him, whether she's known him months or years. It warms my heart to see someone else that can find love and hold onto it.

"He attends the counsel, but he doesn't live on Olympus."

For a second, I think of Poseidon. He fits the description, but I know in my heart he would never hurt me. He might have fancied Persephone before he met me and that could be what's making me jealous. I signal her to continue.

"He has black hair and is a brother of Zeus."

My hands are in fists. Poseidon wouldn't cheat on me. Poseidon wouldn't hurt me. Poseidon said he loves me.

"Can you tell me who it is?"

Persephone sighed. "You seriously can't figure it out?"

"I don't want to figure it out if my brain's right."

"Well's he's the god of the sea," A piece of me dies inside when she says that. "Hades." Then it's resurrected and my heart fills with relief and pride.

"Hades is the god of the dead."

Persephone look worried. "I know, but I couldn't out right say that. A goddess of life in love with the god of the underworld, it's quite a scandal."

"Just don't do that again, because I thought you were talking about Poseidon."

She gave me a knowing smile and then she looked guilty. "Styx, I'm sorry Athena. I didn't know you two were together."

"You're the third person to know, so don't feel bad. Back to your love life, why don't you tell your mom you picked a husband."

Persephone sighed sadly. "I don't think she wants me to get married and that's the problem. She thinks all gods are like Zeus and doesn't want me to get hurt like she did."

I feel an idea forming in my head. "What if you didn't need Demeter's permission?"

Persephone smiled. "I'm listening."

I made it back to Olympus on Apollo's chariot. It was a short ride, but not silent. Apollo needed my advice about being a good sibling to his twin.

"Artie wants to be an eternal maiden. I like the idea of no one ever... you know what to her. She wants to travel the world hunting monsters, might even start a group."

"You like the idea of her never settling down. Even the idea of her not having demigod children like dad and some of the others?"

"I want her to be happy Athena, and a part of me feels like she's throwing that away."

"Then tell her that."

"She'll do what she wants anyway. That's not what worries me."

"You're worried she'll fall in love with someone after she takes the oath."

"Exactly. She's only twelve years old and doesn't like her options now. Artie isn't a patient person and she never thinks about the after effects until it's too late."

"Like you do Apollo?"

"I'm not saying she isn't careful. She's different from me."

I give a look. "What was your first clue? Oh, that she's a goddess, perhaps?"

Apollo glares at me. "No, that's not it. You know how gods age when there ready and can be older or younger?"

"Yes, Poseidon told me he got younger a few days before I came out."

"Artemis can control her aging."

I raise an eyebrow. The fates usually dictate our forms. It takes too much energy to do it on your own and would last a day at most. This way, things happen the way they're supposed due. Well, as best they can. To be in charge of your own age is like controlling your destiny. This also means your destiny is always changing. It must scare the styx out of Apollo.

"You can't see her future."

Apollo nodded.

"Is there anyone other than Artie you can't see?"

"There are certain places in everyone I can't see. Is there anyone I can't see at all besides Artemis? Leto and anyone who's faded."

It was creepy that Apollo couldn't see the faded. Then again, it's like our version of death. There's nothing after that unless you come back. I shudder at the prophecy that involved my faded mother. A son of Metis will be born. If Apollo can't see the faded, how does he know that? There's always the possibility it means... but it can't be that. If it was, I would be dead.

We land outside my temple and palace complex. Poseidon ran up to me and twirled me around. I clung to him when my feet were on solid ground.

I'm scared Poseidon.

He placed his head on top of mine and held me tighter.

I'm here for you, so don't be.

I didn't have the courage to tell him that was why I was afraid.