AUTHORS NOTE: I know it's a little boring at the beginning, but keep reading, because I promise the chapter gets really interesting. Also, please review!

Adrian

I sighed, they'd all gotten so pretty!

The last time I had seen Amy was when I was eleven and she was twelve, it was definitely a tense situation. She used to look all awkward, like she hadn't grown into herself. But now, she just looked more comfortable and vibrant, more mature.

She had better sense of style now, too. I had taken notice of it immediately, she was wearing a pale grey dress with white stripes going through, that belted at the waist pleated just above the knees. The dress showed off her skinny, but athletic frame. Her makeup didn't look like a crapshoot, either. She'd applied her mascara on well, so well that you almost didn't notice she had smudged it slightly on the eyelid. But only someone as anal as I was, would notice, or care about something like that. Her blush was rosy, trying to bring some color into her milky white skin. She wore a deep red lipstick, another attempt for some color. But it definitely helped the look. Her hair was set loose around her shoulders, letting the soft waves look as natural as possible.

Amy smiled at me, her blue eyes lighting up, "Adrian! How are you?"

"I'm good, got a new hair color," I smiled.

My whole life I'd lived as a blonde. Which, don't get me wrong, wasn't a bad color, but it didn't suit me.

"Wow, that's a very… deep red," Amy searched for the words.

I grinned, "I just feel so much better now that it isn't so blonde and beachy! I look much better with maroon."

"It suits you," Amy decided.

I pushed her aside, and beamed and the young girl standing in front of me. She was all grown up now! Ella. She really was as beautiful as Amy had said she was. She had that golden blonde hair that I'd been desperate to get rid of, and startling grey eyes that reminded me of her mother. She really was a child of Athena.

"Hi, Ella," I said, sticking my hand out eagerly for her to shake.

She looked at it with distaste, which I didn't mind. I knew I had a strong personality. Too bubbly for some people's liking, but they usually got over it. I just got so excited to meet new people.

"Hey…" she looked around awkwardly, searching for my name as if she would find it in the air somewhere.

"I'm Adrian," I supplied her with my name so it wouldn't get more awkward than it was already shaping up to be.

"Adrian… like a guy?"

"Do I look like guy?" I could hear the tinge of annoyance in my voice.

Obviously I wasn't a guy.

"No, but your name's a guy's name."

Too late to try to down the awkward.

"It was Dad's idea. He wanted a boy, but he got me. He insisted," I rolled my eyes. I hated my name too, but I didn't really have a name that suited me better. And it wasn't like I could go by a middle name, my middle name was Iantha. It's a Greek flower.

"Jeez, whose your dad?" Ella snorted.

That question bugged me, and even though I knew it wasn't a good idea, and even though I knew she was much younger than I was and I should probably take that into consideration, it came out anyway.

"Hey, sis," my eyes narrowed, and I could feel a cold smirk crawling across my face. I know, I know, immature and petty. Amy would probably lecture me on it later, but I couldn't help myself! She'd had it coming.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, you're telling me your Dad is Apollo and your mom is Athena?" She frowned.

"Only the Apollo part," I corrected her.

"Oh, that makes more sense," Ella nodded.

I could feel my eyes narrowing into little slits of green, "what do you mean by that?"

"Just that it wouldn't make sense for someone like you to have such an intelligent mo-," Amy clapped her hand over Ella's mouth before she could finish the sentence, but I knew what she would have said.

I could feel the heat welling up inside me, and underneath that the pain. Had I said something to her that made her hate me automatically? Had I done something wrong?

"Oh, and a little bi-," Amy slapped her free hand over my mouth, which was gross because it was kind of clammy.

So I did the only sensible thing to get her off, I licked her.

"EW!" she shrieked, immediately pulling back her hands from both our mouths. "You are both gross."

Ella grinned sheepishly, sticking her tongue out. Though I couldn't tell if that was directed towards me or to Amy. Probably the latter.

I heard footsteps pad down the hall, and Emma emerged.

She too, had changed. Her auburn hair had gotten darker, so that it was more of a brown with auburn streaks, instead of an auburn with brown streaks. Her skin was tanner, and if possible her eyes were looking more green by the second. She was dressed in a casual blue, and she had a little bit of makeup on. I don't know why this surprised me the way it did, but somehow I imagined her being makeup less for the rest of her life.

Guess I was wrong.

"Emma!" I squealed, pulling her into a giant bear hug before she could object.

Emma's body was rigid, and awkward as if she'd never hugged a person before. And even worse, when I'd pulled back she had this tight smile.

"Um what's wrong?"

Amy's blue eyes dimmed and shot Emma a look that said 'not now, okay?'. Emma frowned and crossed her arms. This reunion was not going as I'd planned. See, I'd thought we'd share some hugs, maybe tell a couple exciting stories, and then set out. Instead I'd been greeted by a wave of icy stares.

"Nothing's wrong," Amy's voice was sharp.

"Yeah, right. She abandoned us!" Emma shouted, I could feel a pang of that coldness piercing me.

"I didn't abandon you," even then my voice wavered and cracked, giving the illusion that I wasn't telling the truth.

"See, she can't even pretend she didn't leave," Emma shot me a long of pure hatred, then turned towards Amy who looked hurt, then to Ella who was just lost.

Immediately Ella sided with Emma, which I got because she didn't know me. But it still hurt. My only chance was Amy.

"I didn't mean to leave," I whispered, my eyes pleading.

Amy held my sad stare, with a cold gaze of her own. Her expression was emotionless, and all I could see were the gears turning in her head. As if she were debating with herself. I knew what she would do next.

She stalled, "can we just please talk about what's happening next? We've got to get going soon?"

"Where are we going?" Ella asked, popping up beside Amy.

Amy smiled at Ella and pulled her close, so that Ella fit perfectly into the curves of her body.

"Somewhere we can start over," she smiled, and brushed a piece of jet black hair behind her ear.

Ella scowled, "why is it that whenever I ask a question you give me a vague answer?"

"We're going to the Temple in Greece," Emma replied.

Ella rolled her eyes, "what temple? There have got to be a million temples and shrines around Greece!"

"It's not temple as in nonspecific, it's the Temple," Amy folded her arms, as Ella scampered away from her.

I watched as Ella flopped onto the worn couch, it must have been more comfortable than it looked.

"Okay, well than why that coming with us?" Ella narrowed her eyes and sneered, obviously taking cues from Emma.

"Because whether you like it or not," Amy seemed to be talking to us all now, "we are all Defenders. Which also means that we all have to train together. And we all need to get along. So I suggest we get all our problems with each other out in the air before we start."

Emma groaned, and flopped on the couch next to Ella. I watched as Amy perched on the arm of the sofa, while I just stood kind of awkwardly, not knowing what to do. It was like three on one.

Emma started first, "she left us."

I sighed, "I didn't leave you."

"Then where have you been, after Phoebe died," there was an awkward pause of silence, and all heads turned to Amy, who didn't seem to be listening, "anyway, after she died you just left. You didn't call, leave notice. You were just gone. She was your sister." There was a sharp accusatory tone in Emma's voice.

"I was off looking for something," I mumbled.

"For almost nine years!" This time it was Amy who was doing the shouting. Her eyes were the color of a storm, "I almost fell apart, and I didn't even have my own sister to lean on."

I could feel it coming on, but it was like the filter in my brain was off duty, "since when were we sisters?"

Amy looked stung, "since always."

"Really, because it didn't seem that way when we were younger. You and Phoebe always looking down at me, as if it was bad enough that I knew I was a mistake! I didn't need the two of you looking down on me as well," Amy looked at me awestruck, as if to say, 'I didn't do it!' But she had, even if she hadn't realized it. "It still doesn't feel like we're sisters, it's like you're still of in your own little world, and I'm in mine. When are you going to let me in?"

Amy wouldn't meet my eye, "no one thinks you're a mistake."

"Aphrodite sure does, she kept me at arm's length the whole time she was 'raising me', and Apollo? Apollo won't even look at me, too disgusted with his own mistake. He'd rather ogle at his perfect family all day," I glared at Amy and Ella.

Amy whispered something barely audible.

"What did you say?" I practically shouted.

"I SAID WE'RE NOT PERFECT!" the echoes bounced off the walls, intensifying the hatred.

"Say's the prodigy daughter. You are literally perfect. You're smart, you're gorgeous, and you're our Master!"

"The who now-?" Ella frowned, looking at Emma and Amy helplessly.

"She's the leader," Emma whispered, her cold eyes never leaving me.

"Oh please, I'll never be pretty like you, all I've got are my brains!" Amy screeched.

"You're looks are genuine, mine are artificial, they're an illusion because my mother is the GODESS OF LOVE AND BEAUTY! And what does beauty matter when you've got brains. I would give anything to be you, to be in a loving ho-," Emma stopped me right there.

"You know nothing of being an outcast," Emma spat. "You're mom at least was descent to you, my father paid no attention to me, and my mother was as cold as the snow she controlled. I was raised by Jason, who I watched get all the love from my mother and father, while I sat in the corner where I had to sit, silent. I didn't have a family until Phoebe and Amy took me in."

Emma's eyes started to tear up, but she wiped them away quickly, trying desperately not to show weakness.

"Look, I'm sorry you had a hard time, but it doesn't mean you're the only one. And at least you had a home after you met Phoebe and Amy. While the three of you bonded, I was forced to watch while Phoebe kept me at arm's length, treating me the way everyone else had. And then, as if it wasn't enough, I watched the two of you follow suit. And now, you've even turned my little sister, who I've just freaking met, against me!"

"Hey, that was my decision, and mine alone," Ella protested.

"Look, can we all just start over?" Amy pleaded.

"Only if she explains herself," Emma glared.

"I was looking for something," I stared at my shoe, not really willing to talk about this.

"What?" for once, Amy's voice was gentle.

"I thought it would be a peace offering, so I'd finally be accepted. But I couldn't find her, I'm sorry."

"Her?" Emma pursed her lips.

"Phoebe, I thought I would be able to track her down. Get her to come back, but when I asked Hades, he said her soul had been destroyed when she'd given herself up. He'd never been able to find her. I'd scoured the underworld, and then I went back up to earth, but she's gone."

"No!" Amy's voice was hollow, and she covered her hands over her ears. "She's not gone, she's not gone."

"Amy?" Ella's eyes widened, and she stared at her sister as if she'd never seen her panic.

Emma glared at me, "you should have known she would do this."

"She wanted the story," I pleaded.

"Amy?" Ella's voice was tentative, tears were springing to her eyes. "What did you guys mean by sacrifice?

Amy raised her head and her eyes glowed green. She wasn't herself. She opened her mouth, and the world started swirling.

When I opened my eyes, it I was staring at myself, only I was nine years younger.

"Whoa, where are we?" Ella asked.

My eyes adjusted, and I realized it wasn't just a younger version of me I was staring at. I was staring at Amy, Emma, and Phoebe too.

Emma had on a sea green shirt that matched her eyes, and acid washed jeans, she was probably nine or ten. Her hair was pulled back into an intricate bride that went all the way down her back. Amy on the other hand was wearing a black, silk dress with small pink roses on it. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, it was the last time I would be seeing her. Then, there was Phoebe, her hair had been gradually getting lighter this summer. She'd gone from being a dark brunette to an almost sandy brown color. I could see streaks of blond highlights coming in. Phoebe was wearing faded purple t-shirt, leggings, and a jean jacket. In her arms she was holding a tiny toddler. Lastly, there was me. I was wearing a hot pink dress that accentuated my emerald eyes, and my blond bangs had been pulled back so you could get the full look at my face. I was smiling at something Phoebe had just said to me.

Little did I know, I should have savored the moment.

"Where are we?" Ella asked.

Emma was frozen in place, her eyes fixated on herself, whereas Amy stared at Phoebe, her eyes glazing over.

"We're in Amy's memory" I explained.

"How is that even possible?"

I shrugged, I wasn't even entirely sure. But sometimes it just happened.

"Well why are we here, then?" Ella asked.

"This is the night our sister died," I said, clenching my fists so that my fingers dug into my skin.

Ella looked at the small baby Phoebe was holding.

"That's me, isn't it?" she whispered.

Suddenly Amy appeared next to me, "yeah, you were cute."

Ella smiled at the little girl, snuggled in her sisters arms.

"We must have been a really close family, huh."

Amy nodded, smiling one of the widest smiles I'd ever seen her give.

"Yeah, we were extremely close," I could feel a pit form in my stomach, like it was slowly dragging me down.

"Sshh," Emma warned, "we're supposed to be observing them.

Amy nodded, and gestured for us to be quiet.

"Happy fifteenth birthday, Phoebe!" young Emma squealed, giving her friend a ginormous bear hug.

"Aw, thanks Squirt," young Emma giggled, as Phoebe used her free arm to pat Emma on the head.

"I'll take Ella," younger Amy said, holding out her arms, ready to receive her sister.

I glanced over at Ella, who smiled as she watched a younger version of her older sister handling her with care.

Toddler Ella howled as Phoebe released Ella into Amy's arms, and we watched as Amy panicked.

"Take her back, Phoebe! I'm sorry, Ella!" Amy shrieked.

That's right, I'd forgotten how scared Amy had been with kids.

"That's alright, Amy. You're doing just great with Ella, just great," Phoebe said in the most soothing voice you'd ever heard. It was her charm speak.

I watched as Amy's face went slack, and she hugged Ella a little tighter.

"Adrian, stop it!" Emma shrieked.

I turned, and watched as the younger version of myself attempted to fix a strand of hair that had fallen out of place.

"Just hold still," I'd chided, reaching out for Emma's hair again.

Real life Emma grumbled, "I wasn't your doll."

I rolled my eyes, and stuck my tongue out at her. I guess we hadn't matured much.

"Adrian, stop it," Phoebe scolded, I watched as my hand immediately went down to my sides.

"Phoebe, be quiet," I snapped, and watched as Phoebe's mouth zipped shut.

Young Emma glared at me, "hey, stop it! Charm speaking isn't nice."

"But she did it to me first!" Both Adrian's exclaimed.

All eyes turned to me, and I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks.

"Use it, don't abuse it," Emma sniffed, holding her head high, and turning away from me.

"Can't we all just get along, for once," even at a young age, Amy had looked tired and weary.

"Fine," I huffed, releasing the hold on Phoebe.

Phoebe opened her mouth, and sent a telekinetic wave of tickling at me, I shrieked, giggling as invisible hands had tickled me.

"Stop, stop!" I'd giggled.

"Truce?" Phoebe said, holding out her hand.

"Truce," I nodded, shaking on it.

We all watched as Phoebe's face went sheet white.

"No," Amy moaned, watching once again as her sister slumped to the floor.

"PHOEBE!" young Amy shrieked, shoving Ella into my arms and catching her older sister, before she fell and seriously injured herself.

Ella let out a howl, and started to wail.

"Not now, Ella," I'd whispered, patting her soothingly on the back.

"What's wrong with her," Emma asked, kneeling next to Amy, and inspecting Phoebe.

All of a sudden, Phoebe started to quiver, and those quivers turned into violent shakes. All at once, as if it was too much for Phoebe's body to handle, she opened her eyes, and let out a blood curdling shriek.

In a flash of light, I watched as a flaming red demon shot out from under us, and landed next to her.

He seemed to whisper something in her ear, and Phoebe nodded.

Future Amy started crying loud howls, matching the sounds past Ella was making.

"Phoebe?" past Emma cried, real Emma was crying now, too.

"Phoebe, stop this!" a younger version of Amy shouted. "Dad, do something!" she shouted, screaming at the skies.

I watched as Amy drew her sword, charging at the demon, but one minute he was there, the next he had appeared somewhere else.

He was whispering something barely audible, but it seemed as if only Phoebe could hear. She let out another shriek.

As if in slow motion, I watched as I drew out my staff. It was an elongated golden staff, with pictures of the sun covering it.

I watched as young Adrian slammed it down, sending the earth below us shaking. A younger Amy fell to her knee's, her sword skittering past her. The demon cackled, a deep resonating tone coming from within.

"Phoebe," Amy whispered, watching as Phoebe's eyes lit up like the sun.

Steam was curling from her skin, and her body was shriveling up, as if all the moisture from it had been sucked out. As she got smaller and smaller, I watched as the light burned brighter. It got so bad that I had to look away.

All I could hear were the loud wrenching sobs from both Amy's, and the small sniffles from older Emma.

"Phoebe, what's wrong?" Emma whispered, as the light dimmed, her eyes now starting to go blank.

"Amy, Adrian, come here," she gasped, beckoning us towards her.

I watches as Amy and I crawled towards her, Ella kicking in Emma's arms.

"That demon," Phoebe heaved, as if breathing was too hard for her to handle, "his name is Kreithon, and he's one of the most powerful monsters you will ever meet. Kreithon has been talking to me this summer, we've been negotiating. He said if I sacrificed myself then I could buy you some time. You must train hard, you've got to defeat him. I've bought you enough time to fend him off, but it's up to you to use that time. Use it wisely, I love you guys," with that the light was gone from Phoebe's eyes, and it was as if the whole world had gone dark.

Young Amy shrieked, pawing at her sister, whose body was turning transparent. Then, in an instant she was gone.

There was another glowing light, but we didn't stick around to see it. The world started swirling again, and I was in a sea of darkness.

AUTHORS NOTE: PLEASE REVIEW, it would be highly appreciated!