I have to have surgery on my right wrist in a couple days, which will leave me in a cast and unable to type so please excuse my unacceptable delays... Just wanted this mini chapter up to prove I'm not dead and at least have content attached to an author's note. I will probably actually expand this chapter and re-post it or something... but I feel bad simply posting another author's note stating I'll be on a forced MLOA from writing.

Despite the overwhelming desire to simply curl back up and sleep, I forced myself to my feet. My growling stomach was just enough motivation to keep me from slumber. I wandered to the kitchen to find Jason and an unfamiliar young woman was cleaning the floor. The pair looked up when they heard me enter, and the young woman jolted to her feet and Jason shifted on his feet, as if trying to look more professional.

"Relax..." I commented. Even growing up with this behavior I found it odd. Jason had made a few meals for me now, and I was becoming fond of his food. The time in the underworld had made me more self-sufficient, so it felt odd to be relying on another person for food. I approached the pair, the woman clearly uncomfortable and Jason seemed to understand I wouldn't bite and relaxed. "Hey Jason,"

"Megara," He nodded his head, and I sighed, rolling my eyes,

"Please, just call me Meg,"

"Meg," He corrected. "Uh, what can I do for you?"

"Pretty hungry. Long irritating morning," I grumbled. While it would take some getting used to again, I had to admit when I was this exhausted having someone to cook for me was rather nice. Also provided company so I spent less time alone with my own thoughts.

"Umm... I have a few things I can put together/"

"Just make anything," I shrugged, and turned to the other woman. "Haven't met you yet. What's your name?"

"Rada" She replied,

"Rada, you really think I'm gonna hurt you? I assume you've been working for Hercules for a while now, right? Why would he let anyone in his house who would hurt, well, anyone?" I asked. She appeared to think it over, and finally relaxed her posture. She had short dust-brown hair that matched her eyes, the tight curls making her hair appear shorter than it was. She was fairly tall, nearly as tall as myself.

"I haven't been here long," She replied, breaking eye contact. I was beginning to get the feeling Hercules had a tendency to rescue the strays, and suspected this woman had a similar story as Alexina. Her body language reminded me too much of my own behavior when I was first interred in the Underworld. "I'll leave you to your meal," She bowed her head again and before I could tell her to stop this whole servant-master behavior she turned and left the kitchen, leaving Jason and I alone.

"She's more kiddish than a rabbit," I commented.

"She gets like that with new faces. Should have seen her when she met Icarus for the first time. Oh man, that was great!" Jason laughed, "He's so friendly and wants to hug everyone. I thought Rada would just die of fright. She'll settle down eventually," He waved his hand dismissively, and walked over to the hearth to start a fire.

"I get the feeling Herc likes to rescue damsels in distress," I remarked.

"Yeah.. well... just to save them. Not like you, he's very loyal to you, never tried to you know... get with any of them or anything... just always steps in when he sees injustice. He hates how most masters treat their slaves. He came home with Rada little before the last half-moon. Guess while attending a party she spilled some wine and her master ordered her beaten. Hercules stopped it and offered to buy her for a ridiculous price that her master would be stupid to refuse. He wanted to set her free, but her former master promised to worse than beat her if he ever caught her off Hercules's property. Even with the transaction, her former master retains that right if she strays off any land personally owned by Hercules" Jason shrugged.

I felt a brief pang of jealousy that Hercules helped Rada, and Alexina, and I was sure several more women. But I knew I was being ridiculous. It was endearing to know that he had such a soft heart, yet a part of me wanted to feel special that he had done so damn much for me. I shook it off, and tried to change subjects.

I heard shuffling coming from the den, as well as indistinct voices. I was curious, wondering if it was more members of Hercules elusive staff, and excused myself from the kitchen while Jason began to prepare my meal. I entered the den to find Helen was walking my way.