A faint rumble of voices echoed in the darkness. Jake's eyes opened to an unfamiliar room. He was in a home similar to Stephanos'… a large open area with living, cooking and sleeping quarters designated by corners without dividing walls. This home lacked the décor of Stephanos' however. A few small pieces of furniture had been piled to the side, leaving the majority of the room bare. His head throbbed slightly from the hit he'd taken earlier and the pain was intensified with each turn of his neck. He shrugged it off wanting to see his circumstances. A twine rope wrapped his torso and arms to the chair he awoke in. His wrapped right arm was snug under the rope. The left arm was duct taped in two places to the arm of the chair, wrist and palm up. Duct tape also secured his ankles.

"Look who decided to wake up," a haughty voice snickered. A faint trace of French accent muddled with another that Jake couldn't quite identify. Three men approached from the far corner. One stood a hulking 6'7" carrying a backpack and the tranquilizer gun strapped to his thigh, the other two were more average sized. One of the smaller men came to the lead, his swagger and poise gave his position as leader away.

"Percy Countrace, I presume," Jake snipped, blinking rapidly as his eyes argued being open so soon.

The man grinned. "The little one knows my name. How flattering."

"I won't help you," Jake stated, ignoring the urge to snap at the man's insult. "I won't use it."

Percy laughed. "Of course you won't. I wouldn't gain anything from you becoming immortal. Foolish. How do you librarians survive with such narrow understanding? Oh, that's right, you're just a… what would you say? Junior librarian?"

"You obviously need something, or you would have just killed me."

"Yes, I do need something. But not yet. First we have to get that deer."

Jake took his turn to laugh. "You'll never catch her. Outside of a jet or a rocket, there is no vehicle that can catch her."

"True, no living being or man-made vehicle can catch that creature. But you know as well as I that we're not limited to the man-made world, are we?" Percy grinned slyly as he waved the giant man over. The man obliged and lowered the open backpack. Countrace dove his hand into the backpack and pulled out a pair of gold plated sandals with brilliant white wings on either side. The wings fluttered desperately to escape but failed to break his grip. Jake's face paled as he realized what they were.

"Hermes, god of commerce and thieves, as well as the messenger of the gods, whose winged sandals allowed him to traverse the heavens of Olympus, the depths of Tartarus and all the world in between in the blink of an eye," Percy explained. "Now, do you think these could catch a deer?"

Jake swallowed. "How…"

"Nevermind how we got these, what is important is that they and you will be the key to my rise as the ruler of this pitiful planet. What nation will stand against a man they cannot destroy?"

"I still don't see how I'm of help to you," Jake spat.

"You really don't know, do you?" Percy cocked his head to the side. "You, my boy, contain what I lack to be able to gain this power. Your blood can activate that power, and I intend to take it."

"What?" Jake's confusion was turning to frustration.

"I simply need to take your blood for myself and the dagger will be mine to wield. It truly is that simple, my boy."

Jake looked down at his left arm. He suddenly realized it was positioned for a needle draw.

"Now you understand. I was prepared to spend years searching for a descendant of Eurystheus and hunting that deer down. Quite fitting that the very group who came to stop me has conveniently delivered both right into my hands."

"You bastard…" Jake bit back his emotions as best he could.

"Thank you for noticing." Percy cackled with delight. He motioned to the big man putting on the sandals. "Go bring me that deer."

"I can't believe I agreed to this," Eve muttered. She thought a moment and then corrected herself. "Scratch that, I can't believe she agreed to this."

"You have a better idea?" Ezekiel growled lowly. They both peered through the brush they were hiding behind. A small house sat nearby. A man kept watch through one of the front windows.

"No, but that doesn't mean this one wasn't completely irresponsible and crazy," Eve cried.

"That's what I like about it," he grinned.

"They are so going to kill us when we get back."

"Probably."

"I really hope this works."

After leaving the house, the sandal clad goon headed straight for the smoldering ashes of Stephanos' home. He began searching the trees surrounding it, the sandals carrying him through the brush with lightning speed.

Cyrene heard the rustle of the feathers in the air long before she could see the man. She took a deep breath and bolted out into the open. Her hooves kicked up the ground beneath her as she tried to keep the man behind her without a clear shot.

"Gotcha," he laughed and spurred the sandals onward. He slowly closed the gap between them. The trees were nothing but a blur as their speeds increased. His eyes focused on one thing, the golden target ahead. As he neared her, he raised the gun and attempted to level it as best he could.

She turned abruptly, trying to shake him, but he easily followed through.

"Not that easy. Say nighty night," he cackled and squeezed the trigger. The dart soared through the air straight to her left hip. He watched the tip disappear into her golden hide. She cried out sharply and stumbled to the ground. Her front legs thrashed slightly before she completely blacked out. The man holstered his weapon, and alit on the ground to collect his quarry.

"How long do you think we have to wait?" Ezekiel sighed, kicking back into a reclining position in the brush.

"Not long," Eve replied as she pointed out into the open. He sat up and peered out. The large man drifted through the yard toward the house-Cyrene over his shoulders, the sandals carrying their weight.

"Now let's hope it worked."

Percy's second goon opened the door for his compatriot to haul Cyrene into the room. He placed her on the floor kiddie corner from where Jake sat. The dart still buried in her hide.

"Excellent work," Percy grinned. "Now just to finish the last piece." He dug out the tubed syringe from the backpack.

Jake began trying to loosen the duct tape and free his arm but couldn't budge it.

"That's good, struggle, gets the blood flowing faster," Percy smirked. He removed the cap and lined the needle up against Jake's arm. Jake flinched as the needle pierced the skin and the blood poured into the tube. Percy removed the needle, leaving the wound to bleed freely. He removed the tube and pulled a second needle out of the bag. Quickly prepping the needle, he jammed it through the seal and withdrew all the blood he could then held the needle up to stare at it a moment, before rolling his right sleeve back.

"That's definitely not a safe idea," Jake sassed.

"Once I have the power of the hind, it won't matter," Percy declared. He drove the needle into his arm and emptied it. The discomfort shown on his face, but failed to deter his plans.

"Boss." The smaller man offered the handle of the dagger.

Percy tossed the needle aside, grasped the dagger in his dominate left hand and approached his destiny. The hind lay sprawled on the floor, his large goon towering over her. He took his time, observing every inch and detail as his plan unfolded. Something seemed out of kilter. His eyes circled the room but saw nothing. He returned his gaze to the hind. There he saw the dart still embedded. Gently, he plucked the dart free and twisted it in his hands. The weight of it gave him pause. He stared at the side and saw it full of liquid.

"How many darts did you use?" he asked the goon.

"Just the one, she dropped like a stone," the man replied with a grin.

"One… just this one dart?"

"Yeah."

"It should have taken two darts to fully sedate her by my count. Do you mind telling me how you did it with just this one when it is still full?!" He held the dart up so the goon could see the liquid still in the dart.

"Uh," the goon stammered.

They both looked down just as Cyrene turned to kick her legs up. Her hooves caught the large goon under the chin, knocking him senseless. Percy threw the dart aside and brought the dagger to the ready as Cyrene leapt to her feet.

"I got her!" the second goon shouted right before a fist plowed into his cheek. He stumbled sideways.

"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" Eve retorted as she recoiled her fist. She and Ezekiel appeared from the back of the house. Ezekiel made his way over to free Jake.

"How'd you guys find me?" Jake asked.

"A little bird told us, well not so little," Ezekiel replied. Jake furrowed his brow. "Literally," Ezekiel added. He finished untying the rope.

"Okay," Jake shook his head. The duct tape from his arm came off easily, though painfully. Blood trickled down both sides of his arm from the needle puncture. As Ezekiel dropped to undo Jake's right ankle, Jake leaned over and pulled the left ankle free, clenching his teeth as the various pain signals ran to his brain.

"Done, now what would you do without me?" Ezekiel grinned.

"You don't really want me to answer that," Jake responded.

Both men quickly surveyed the scene. Eve was engaged in a brawl with the second goon, the latter slowly losing to her quick movements. The large goon was still near unconscious in the middle of the room. Cyrene was backed into a corner, the pile of furniture blocking her exit. Percy taunted her with the dagger. She kicked at him, keeping him at bay.

"We can't let him use that," Jake warned. He ran towards Percy. Ezekiel took a moment to process what he was doing before dashing after him.

"You're feisty for being a few millennia old, I'll give you that. However, this is my destiny, my design, and it is inevitable," Percy declared. He feigned to the left, drawing Cyrene's attention to her right, before he lunged at her vulnerable left side. The dagger drove through the void between them. Percy began a hyena laugh as he pictured his victory.

"No…"Jake shouted as he grabbed Percy's blocking right arm. He pulled, attempting to throw the man off balance. With the blood let weakening both men's arms, it took all of Jake's focus but the pull succeeded in turning the man's body sideways… toward him. Percy felt his body move and tried to pull back his lunge but he wasn't quick enough. The dagger in his left hand stopped between the ribs of his opponent.

"What have you done?! NO!" Percy screeched as he released the dagger.

Jake choked on the air attempting to enter his lungs. He looked down, gaping at the dagger. It had glanced off the top of his right arm and straight through the ribcage. A shudder ran down his spine, followed by several mini convulsions of his chest.

"You stupid librarian!" Percy hissed. His arms lifted to attack, when a dart soared into his left shoulder. He glanced at the dart quickly before weaving and passing out.

"Nobody calls us stupid," Ezekiel grinned. He stood next to the large goon, the tranquilizer gun in his hand.

"Nice shot," Eve commented, slightly out of breath. He turned to see her smaller opponent sprawled on the ground.

Jake dropped to his knees, still in shock. The other two ran to his side, Cyrene had turned to stare at him.

"Jake," Eve called. She fell to her knees to look at the wound. The dagger was deep. She carefully pulled it out and set it aside.

"How bad is it?" Ezekiel asked, his face twitching at the discomfort.

Eve sighed deeply and let her head lower slightly to the left.

"Oh man," Ezekiel swallowed.

"Hang in there," Eve insisted as Jake sank backwards. She caught him and lowered him on his back. His body began shivering. "No, Jake, don't you dare!"

Ezekiel swallowed in shock as he watched his eyes dimming. "Is he?" Eve checked the side of Jake's neck for a pulse.

"Not yet, but nearly," she replied.

"Oh crap."

Eve could feel herself wanting to burst into tears but she held on. Her mind raced through what she could have done different but nothing came to mind to do next. She began to zone out of the whole situation until she felt something hit her shoulder. Cyrene's nose nudged her shoulder a second time. Despite herself, Eve reached up to rub the deer's snout in empathy. The hind pulled away from the touch and nodded her head away.

"I think she wants you to move," Ezekiel suggested. Eve pushed up on her feet and backed away.

They both watched as Cyrene circled to Jake's side and knelt on her front knees. She took a breath as she lay her antlers across his chest. He watched the horns descend on him as he blacked out.

"This is really good, did you try this?" Ezekiel's voice carried in the darkness. The sound broke through and awoke Jake with a shudder. He took a deep breath and blinked as he scanned his surroundings. He found himself on a bed, the covers to his chin in the same room Percy had kept him. Eve, Ezekiel and Stephanos were in the kitchen area away to his left talking and eating. They had moved the furniture back out and made the house a home.

"You're awake, what a relief." Eve smiled at him as she made her way over. Ezekiel and Stephanos glanced at each other and followed.

"What the hell happened?" he asked groggily. He pushed himself up to a seated position and winced as a pain shot through his collar. She sat on the edge of the bed and helped guide his shoulder.

"Take it easy, your collarbone is still cracked."

Jake lightly fingered the collar, only after realizing he was doing it with his right hand. He rolled the right shoulder- no pain. A confusion crossed his face. He looked at his left arm, no mark, and quickly rolled his shirt up to check his ribs- nothing.

"What…wha…" he stammered as he stared at them.

Eve smiled. "Cyrene." She nodded toward the fireplace in the far right corner. Jake looked past her to see the hind on the floor bundled in blankets.

"She fixed you up, well most of you," Ezekiel commented.

"Took a lot out of her though," Eve added.

"How did…" Jake asked.

"Much like her cousin, the golden ram- now the golden fleece- she does have healing properties or restorative powers as some say. However, Cyrene's are not as powerful as her cousin. Even in death he can heal most anything, she cannot. In order to heal anyone, she must take from herself thus requiring life in order to heal," Stephanos explained.

"She gave up some of her life to heal you, man," Ezekiel restated.

"Nearly all of it, we thought she wasn't going to make it there for a bit," Eve commented. "She blacked out before she healed your collarbone. We bundled her up and have been trying to keep her hydrated when she comes to for a few moments here and there. I think she's going to be okay now."

"I will go check on her," Stephanos offered and disappeared.

"I think she likes you," Ezekiel teased.

"Shut up," Jake mumbled.

"What? I think she's gonna be handy to have around."

"IF she's around," Eve reminded him.

"So what was with the dart?" Jake asked. "I don't get it."

Ezekiel beamed. "That was my idea. We needed a distraction to sneak in, and we needed to flush out the dagger. They had a tranquilizer gun for a reason so it stood to assume they planned to use it on her."

Jake nodded his understanding. "And…"

"Well, even if they could somehow keep up with her-which they did-the dart was still going to fire at the same speed as it would if they were holding steady. Slow enough for her to easily outrun. Basic physics. So she ran just fast enough to stay ahead of the dart; then slowly reduced her speed 'til she matched the dart's speed. After that, we utilized her shape shifting ability. She actually manipulated her skin, creating an abscess of sorts just large enough for the dart tip. Once the tip was fully in the space, her skin closed around it, allowing her to manipulate the direction it moved without triggering the release of the liquid. The rest was simply an act."

Jake stared at him blankly.

"Just go with it," Ezekiel griped.

"She's awake!" Stephanos hollered back.

"Excuse us a moment," Eve held her finger up to Jake as she stood up and made her way over.

Ezekiel smiled at Jake impishly.

"Like hell," Jake muttered. He threw the blankets off and stood up. Ezekiel followed him.

Cyrene blinked her eyes and finished off the platter of water Stephanos offered her.

"She's looking good," Stephanos smiled. He brushed the soft fur of her cheek.

"We were worried about you," Eve told her. "Glad you're okay."

Jake nudged Eve aside enough to get past her and knelt down by Cyrene. "Thanks. You didn't have to do that, but thank you."

The large doe eyes stared at him for a moment before closing. In a flash, the deer faded away and the woman returned. Healing had taken its toll. Her body was older appearing than it had been when they saw her the first time. The price she had paid finally sank in for all of them.

"You saved me, it was only right," she replied meekly.

"You were only in danger because of me. We led him right to you and without me, he wouldn't have been able to use that dagger," Jake explained.

"He would have eventually, and now, no one will."

"How do you mean?" Jake frowned.

"You sacrificed yourself on it. That is why Percy was so distraught. You countered Hera's curse with Artemis'. If a descendant of Eurystheus sacrifices themself on the blade- it loses all power."

"But he didn't actually die, does that still count?" Ezekiel asked.

Cyrene looked aside. "I don't know."

"So he freed you from fear of the dagger, and you may have undone his rescue by saving him?" Eve reiterated.

"Possibly," she answered.

Jake shook his head. "Why did you do it? You were free and you chose to save me and possibly risk it all."

She sighed. "I couldn't leave it like that. They may not have taken you if I had not hurt you in the first place. My actions led to your condition, it wasn't right."

"We both made mistakes, and we both paid for them," Jake twisted his mouth.

"Some more than others," Ezekiel laughed.

"Well, we'll be locking the dagger away in the Library where it won't be a danger to you again," Eve announced.

"Thank you." Cyrene pulled the blanket tighter.

"What about you? Even without the dagger, people will still look to capture you," Jake offered.

"Stay at the Library?" she asked.

"Yes. There are many creatures such as yourself that call it home."

"To be safe for all eternity… that is a pleasant thought. But at what cost? To never feel the warmth of the sun, hear the babble of the streams, see the trees bowing in the wind. No. Locked away a prisoner or locked away in sanctuary… they are still locked away. I will survive as I always have. Besides, I prefer to keep a world away from that," her eyes rolled from Jake to the dagger on the counter back to Jake.

"I understand," he nodded.

"She must rest now," Stephanos interrupted.

"Yes, and we need to get this back to the Library before it causes anymore trouble," Eve added as she scooped up the dagger. Jake stood up to join her.

"And these," Ezekiel giggled as he held up the sandals.

"Give me those," Jake yanked them away from him.

"Hey!"

"I'm not leaving the sandals of the god of thieves in the hand of a thief."

"Good call," Eve laughed.

"You're no fun," Ezekiel muttered.

"Suppose we should head back. Jenkins and Flynn are gonna have our hides when we explain this." Eve took a deep breath and cocked her head.

"Thank you again," Jake offered as he placed his hand on Cyrene's shoulder. She placed her hand on his.

"May the goddess bless you and watch over you," she offered.

Jake smiled and moved off to join Eve and Ezekiel by the door.

"Safe journeys my friends!" Stephanos roared.

They nodded and clapped each other on the shoulders.