Hi, Kitsune! This chapter is dedicated to you because it was posted today for you, also because your last review reminded me that today, was indeed, a Sunday. I feel like I'm beginning to lose hold of reality because I somehow thought today was Saturday, even though I only have tuition on Sunday. I'll be seeing you real soon tomorrow. Enjoy this chapter!

p.s. I'm not going to be updating this book anytime soon again. My writers' block for the sequel has just been lifted but I'm stumped on chapter 27.

This was wrong. So wrong. I should not be doing this. I'm still doing this.

No one batted an eye as I strolled out of Olympus, which just made me guiltier. They were so trusting of me, yet I was about to meet one of their greatest enemies behind their backs. Guilt is a really good friend these days.

I followed what Ceres said, finding myself standing where the Temple of the Flame is. "Um…" my voice faltered. "Anyone here?"

There was a low chuckle. I whirled around, but no one was there. Imagine my shock when someone said something, out of nowhere but also everywhere at the same time, "why are you so late?"

From the shadows, the silhouette of a man (a very, very, very fit man) appeared. When I raised my hand to shine some light, there was no one there. It was just shadows. I lowered my hand, and the silhouette returned. "Who are you?" I called out. "Are you here because of…" I trailed off, not knowing not to finish. If it wasn't who I thought it was, then there will be trouble.

"For my sister? Yes."

"Prodosia is Percy Jackson." I said, wanting to vocalise the thought that has been running through my mind for the past five minutes. "My best friend. She is here, and she wants to talk to me." I turned to the man. "But I have never heard of her having a brother. Who are you?"

"She is my sister." He said. I jumped. It sounded right next to my ear, but there was no one near me. "Would you doubt my word? Doubt Ceres' word?"

I hugged myself."Currently, I am doubting my world. So yes, I doubt your word."

He tipped his head a little, the first movement I saw. "Good answer, Emily, but there is no need to be afraid of me. I have yet to kill you, yet to attack you. Perhaps in the future, when we meet on the battlefield again, but not today. Now come."

I covered my mouth to hold back a gasp when I realised who he was. "Ekdikó. That's you, isn't it? I thought I recognised your voice." I just never heard him without the sound of battle raging in the background. He sounded so calm and for some reason, so young.

"Smart." He praised, finally stepping out of the shadows. For once, he had no illusion. His hair was black with traces of golden brown mixed. Dark brown eyes flicked to me but returned to the sky. I could almost mistake him as a common passerby except for his bulging muscles and the quiet danger he posed. Like a tiger about to pounce, no matter what pose he was in, I was still wary. He had no weapon, but I did not believe he was not alert. As soon as I let my guard down, he was going to slaughter me. Even without hearing his voice, I could tell he was Ekdikó without the illusion. More into physical fighting but could wreck cities with a snap of his finger. "Hello, Emily Jacobs."

Goosebumps appeared on my arms. I rubbed my biceps, attempting to get warm. I didn't dare summon the Flame. That would attract the wrong attention of Ekdikó took it as a sign to attack. "How do you know Percy? Who are you?"

He hitched a shoulder. "You tell me, Emily. Who do you think I am?"

"Frank." I said quietly. "But you are not Percy's brother."

"Call me what you will. Are you coming or not."

Did I want to follow him? Not really. Even instinct in me is telling me to leave. Go back to Jupiter. Forget this happened. Life would be so easy, so uncomplicated. Yet the simple life was beyond me now. So, I nodded instead, taking his offered hand.

"Let's go." I said, slightly trembling. "It's time we talked." Now it makes sense why she would help me. In general terms, we are enemies, yet personally, we are friends. She knew that when we met, and that's why she knew english. She was born to it.

Was it spite that drove him to get me to where Percy wanted me to be as a dragon?

He looked exactly like the dragons I killed the first day I arrived on Earth, smaller so as to not draw attention, but near identical.

The winds rushed in my face as he launched into the sky, a flurry of clouds masking our ascend from the Olympians. I wasn't sure where the clouds came from nor did I ask.

For a while, I enjoyed the rush of freedom being on Frank's back. The wind coursing past me, making me feel more alive than the past hundred days.

Then, the joy ended and Frank landed.

Reluctantly, I slipped off his back and he morphed back into himself. There was a woman waiting for us.

At first glance, she looked like a normal Greek maiden. Hair plaited back in a braid that was slung over her shoulder. A beautiful white chiton that reached to her knees. She was adorned head to toe with golden jewellery and she wore them proudly.

Frank approached her, taking both her hands in his and laying a kiss on each knuckle. She smiled adoringly, raising a finger after he was done to trace his jawline. They were very familiar with each other, any stranger could see that.

Still, she wasn't the one I came here for. She was no Percy. "Góissa?"

Góissa's eyes were pure gold, not unlike Saturn's. Mirth and adoration filled them. They were liquid gold and not the harsh solid Saturn's were. Her skin was like chocolate, so new after everything.

She was Góissa, I could never forget her presence. Yet she was also someone else. "No. Hazel Levesque."

She smiled wanly. "Emily Jacobs." My name was a mockery on her tongue. "I see you finally come. Be assured I am surprised you can still remember my name. We were mere strangers the first time we met."

"You are Góissa?" I frowned, shaking my head. "No. There is still magic around you. This is not how you truly look."

"Your powers have become more in depth as this war continues." Góissa said, not a praise but not just another casual comment. Something in between. "Impressive."

Her skin shimmered, turning lighter until it was the same shade as mine. The remaining strands of powers left her. "A price was paid for coming here. It may have been to fit in, but I prefer to look like how I was born. Eventually, we will find a way to change back permanently."

Fear palpated in me. I thought they had been just strangers but to know they were much more… that scared me. "You helped me in Tartarus."

"I guided you like I have done for many." She corrected. "I gave you advice, whether you will act on it or not is your choice. I did not help."

"Your definition of help and my definition are different then." I murmured. "You did not attack me despite being enemies. You showed me the way out. You delayed Saturn. I am thankful."

"None of which I did for you." She was quick to dismiss. "For Sephie, I will risk my own life. She still holds hope for you. You should thank her."

"Sephie?"

"Percy. But she goes by Sephie ever since…" she grimaced, turning away. Frank kissed her forehead. "Hello, beloved." She said, adoringly, tangling their fingers together. I snapped my head to her.

I knew they were close but…

The years dulled my memory for I couldn't remember if they were dating or not. "Are you two…"

"Not married." Hazel shook her head, holding out her left hand. No ring despite the golden bracelets. "Maybe one day. Not today. Certainly not any time soon."

"One day." Frank murmured lovingly, reaching for a strand of hair that escaped. "But we both agreed at a time when we feel most connected with our past."

Their past which was also our future. They couldn't leave. Which meant they were going to wait millenia before tying the knot. They were so close anyway, I doubt anyone needed to see a ring on their finger to connect the dots. "Frank, when you say you and Percy are siblings… I don't- I don't understand."

"Family is messy." Hazel smiled up at her boyfriend. "We both consider Sephie our sister. Although for Frank here, he shares the same blood as Percy. The blood of Poseidon."

Poseidon? "You mean Neptune?" They shared his blood? Then why would Percy attack him? She always told me to treasure my family.

"To you. Once, I called him by that name as well. Now I know better." A cloud shadowed her. "Sephie wishes to talk to you, let's not delay her."

I took in the surroundings for the first time. We were standing in a luscious forest. There were temporary huts a little further away. Hazel was facing a large, shimmering archway. When I say shimmering, I meant literally. It was blue, and it was like the sun shining on the ocean. Ivory was climbing the pillars holding the arch, and Greek letters were written neatly in the centre. Beyond the archway, there was a city. A city I have never thought to see in the Ancient Times.

Glittering oceans, tall skyscrapers. What I could see were houses. Small figures coming out, full of energy. Animals flying overhead of us, entering the magical world. A bridge was connecting this side of the world to that city. Hazel noticed me gaping stupidly.

"This is Kydria. The city over there is Kydilla. The first city you will encounter upon setting foot in Kydria. Beautiful, is it not? The cities once conquered by Sephie, converted to a Utopia. That building over there?" She pointed to one of the taller buildings. It had a golden roof that reflected the sun. "That is the home of Aura, queen of Kydilla and her mother, Thyia. It is also where they hold meetings. Quite a lot has been done since Aura was crowned queen."

"Who is the king?"

"The king is whoever Aura decides to marry in the future." Frank said.

"There is no present king?" That was new. "In Greek myths, there weren't a lot of queendoms."

"Sephie hopes to change that. In Kydria, you will not find a king."

She beckoned me closer. Frank led the way.

Hazel waved towards some people in the ocean. They dived back in, creating a splash. "They are the nymphs of the ocean. Drawn to Sephie's powers, they help to keep the ocean clean. We cannot cure pollution for the world but in our empire, they will remain healthy."

As we crossed the bridge, I could hear laughter. No screams. So free from the war happening around them. It wasn't just another country, it was a whole new dimension, one hidden to the world. Hazel noted my wistfulness. Yet it was Frank who answered. "Sephie protects the children. There will hardly be any grown men here. She sent them all to their doom, a fitting end considering that was what they were going to do to the children."

"How big is Kydria?"

She thought about it. "Sephie invades, as you know. It started out with simple towns. Those towns invaded other towns in her name. Over time, they evolve into cities like this. Kydilla was once just a simple town and Aura had not been in power. Now she is ruthless. She has taken control over so many other towns, conquering three towns in just her first year as queen. Now Kydilla is made up of eleven towns coming together. Do not ask for their previous name, we have blotched that from history, no need for the misery to be remembered. You may like her, she is close to your age."

It was all so much. Towns being conquered to make a perfect home? I have heard plenty of that. Alexander the Great was a conqueror. His feats were no surprise. What they were doing, it's kinda like him. Except they started from nothing. They did not inherit any kingdom. They only had their alliance with Saturn and even they did not get that for free. It gave me a headache.

Hazel placed a hand on my forehead. "It's a lot to take in." She cooed. "No worries, everything will be cleared." It was the closest to sympathy she ever showed me. "Sephie will explain everything, I promise."

"Why now?" I had to know. "After so long, why now?"

She didn't respond immediately. "Her life doesn't revolve around you." That answer confused me. Why did Percy think that? Why did she think that?

Never mind.

The couple continued their little tour, showing me some of the nicer places, and some places they hope to build. I saw gardens overfilled with all kinds of vegetables. Trees with ripe fruits. Not just in one place. Almost everywhere we went, there was one such garden. As we passed by the people, they would bow their heads respectively, but then immediately returned to what they were doing. Some shouted out greetings in Greek and either Hazel or Frank would respond in kind. They were beloved here. Anyone could see that.

A child came running by once, a flower in his hand. He offered it to Hazel, talking rapidly in Ancient Greek. Frank pulled me along with a "don't stick your nose in things not meant for you."

When I looked back, I saw Hazel smiling at the boy, accepting the flower and tucking it in her hair. She was so carefree. I almost couldn't see Góissa in her. Except I could. Power was pulsing around her. Nature bent to be closer and although she was cheerful and happy, there was a shadow that often crept up her features.

Frank was less. Nature didn't reach out to him, nothing was attracted to him. And yet there was a storm in his eyes that made me prefer Hazel. His every movement is well calculated, no action was for nothing. He was always ready for battle, his stance forever rigid. I could see his hand flexing from time to time, but no weapon was summoned.

Finally, we reached the place they pointed out. The palace of Kydilla. Aura's home. The queen of this prosperous and happy land. I was almost too shy to meet her. The guards gave me a, well, guarded look, but allowed us through. One saluted to Frank who just nodded back.

The palace was stunning. After we crossed the sapphire gates, we came to this garden. Well, Kydilla sure loves greenery. There were statues made from shrubs, flowers growing all to make them more colourful. Percy had a statue, the first one on the right. There were six in total. She was standing slightly sideways with a sharp blade (I am impressed by how they managed to make it, the tip of the sword was really, really thin) while wearing a diadem. For her eyes, they added two emeralds. It resembled her, but not entirely. I did not recognise any other statues, but I think there was one that resembled Hazel and another one at the very back, with his back facing me that gave me the impression of Frank. There was a walkway so that we did not step on the grass with flowy, translucent curtains with flower patterns. Greek etches were on the bottom of every pillar that held up the walkway.

Even here, there were children playing. Chasing each other, dancing, or simply resting under a tree. Upon seeing us, they started whispering to each other, pointing at us with their fingers, but none approached.

Hazel, who had caught up with us, continued talking as we walked down the walkway. "Sephie loves Kydilla. If she could, she would have stationed herself here. However, it is the first city. The danger it poses to her is far too large. Instead, she lives in the central part of Kydria, which is taking a part of each land, an equal distance from the other castles of her lieutenants. Not a city, but a known place. The Council of Kydria, home of the first queen, Persephone. Ethearos, the eternal land."

I nodded absent-mindedly. Hazel paid no attention, waving her hands here and there, making plants grow from the ground and wrap themselves around the curtains.

Frank lightly touched the fabric of the curtains. "Aura chose to do this as a sign of freedom but on the windier days, they are absolutely annoying so I am relieved she doesn't mind when we do this." Saying that, he released it only for it to be wrapped up by Hazel's foliage.

There were two people waiting just as the walkway ended. They sat around a circular table, two women.

The younger looking girl was about my age. Aura, I presume. Her ginger dark hair was braided over her right shoulder, a silver crown nestled on top, glittering in the light. She wore a white chiton with gold at the hem with three knives on her gem-adorned belt. She wore a necklace that had a familiar looking shard and gold cuffs wrapped on her forearms.

The last one stole my breath. How long has it been since I saw Percy without disguises? Far too long. She had let her hair grow out, tying them up in a braid. The same kind of braid she liked to do with me. Mixed with the familiar black-jet hair was a lock of green. Nothing I hadn't seen before. Her eyes were just as I remembered, as beautiful as the ocean, just like Neptune's. However, when our gazes met, I just knew I would never confuse the two. There was something inexplicably sad in her eyes, like someone who had just faced the world by herself. Sad and tired, no matter how she carried herself.

Percy wore a black and gold diadem that held her hair in place. It was so neat, I almost could not recognise her. She wore a simple pale pink chiton that was pinned up by a bronze clip on her left shoulder. There was a lot of space for her to move around. Better for fighting. Upon seeing Hazel, she got up and approached us. Every step was with elegance and grace, but also wariness.

Hazel smiled sweetly, going to hug Percy. "I got her, just like you asked."

"Thank you, cousin." Percy murmured, pleased. Her eyes flicked to me once again, and she allowed a small smile to pass. I rubbed my elbow awkwardly.

Aura also got up, strange words tumbling out of her mouth. Her pretty face was messed up with the scowl she sent my way. Percy laughed, responding in kind. When talking to Percy, Aura's expression changed. More doleful, respectful, awe, and adoration. One more thing that I recognise in everyone who talked to Percy; love. She nodded once, posture straightening to be like a queen, lowering her knees and bowing her head before walking past me. Truthfully, she looked right at place, walking with the flowing curtains in her wake. Much better than me.

"Forgive Aura. The communication barrier between you is troubling enough, she doesn't trust you. Trust is something hard to earn from her. Aura does not truly trust anyone other than her mother and Percy. Although the girls are rapidly approaching their level." A look of fondness crossed Hazel's face.

Percy said something to Frank and Hazel in a different language. Latin, perhaps? They nodded. Frank held Hazel's hand. The next second, they vanished and water droplets landed on my arm. Percy beckoned me closer. I obeyed nervously. I was never the first person to initiate a conversation. It was always her.

Percy scanned me from head to toe, brushing my hair away from my face and tucking them behind my ear. "You have not aged a day." She finally murmured. "Not since Pegasus took you away."

"You know about that?"

"I know more than you think, cutie."

Tears welled up. Some called the nickname too cliche but it was the first nickname I got from her, and it was specially reserved. It's been so long since I heard it.

She rubbed her thumb against my cheek. "Why are you here, cutie?" She asked. Something dark crossed her, but I dismissed it. "Is my word not good enough for you when I asked for you to stay put?"

"Are you angry with me?" I hated when she got angry. It was even worse when she was sad. "I'm sorry, Percy. I had to."

She flinched. "Call me Sephie. Or Prodosia. Anything but that."

What happened to you, Percy? "Sephie, the Gods were dying because of that weapon, we had to come back. We went too far in time, but I swear, I had been left with no choice."

She sneered, but her face fell. "You should have let the Gods die. Come."

I wanted to protest but she turned away and the doors flew open. She wasn't waiting for me, walking in. I hurried up.

For a moment, we said nothing. She continued to walk the halls like she owned the place, which was true. People smiled at her, calling something out in Ancient Greek. I've been here long enough to realise they were calling out greetings. Percy nodded each time, acknowledging all of them. It was a one second thing but their smiles could have competed with the sun.

She led me up flights of stairs, and I stared at her.

I wasn't the only one who hadn't aged a day. She was physically the same as before. More scars. A smaller smile. Physically, there was hardly any change. Mentally, however, she could be older than a century. Maybe more.

Once, I couldn't bear it. I asked her. "How are you?" She just shook her head, seeming more distant than before. I gave up after that.

We came to a stop at a random door that looked exactly like the other doors. Ruby knob. Golden, floral patterns. A name in Greek on a gold plate above the white door.

Percy pushed open the door and, when I glanced around, I almost wanted to question why she had such a room. I think I screamed. I don't know. It was a little hazy for me. I was far more captivated by the room. Whether it was from horror or disbelief, that is to be announced.

The room looked pleasant enough. A little bright. Golden walls. No windows. There was another door to the left. There was almost no furniture. A metal table. Four seats. Ten cupboards on the right wall, all neatly placed to be side by side.

My stomach really was about to relieve itself. Percy traced a finger on my arm, and I felt slightly better. Not about to puke.

"This room was built for a specific reason. The walls you see are gold. They share similar properties to Midas Gold, it blocks out majority powers. With a pinch of our blood, we three are excluded. However, this turned out to be a good torture room, which works in our favour. Aura especially hates this room."

"She and I both." I murmured, avoiding the blood splattered.

"We made it sound-proof." She said casually. "No one liked to listen to the screams. Honestly, torture was so last… century." She smiled like she made a little joke. "However, it gets the job done."

"W- why a- are we here?" My daring question came out as a pathetic squeak. Any other day, the fact that I was made of pure energy would remind me that I can't be hurt. Too bad today is not like any other day.

Percy didn't respond, just locked the door—which did not make me feel any better—and twirled her finger in a circle. The curtains closed. The candles at the sides lit up, making the room grow brighter by the second. I winced.

She gestured to one of the nicer chairs and sat down on another. "Why now?" I echoed one of my earlier questions to Hazel. "After so long, why now?"

Percy hummed, playing with her necklace. She was never one to wear jewellery. It was beautiful. A tear-drop shaped sapphire with a black, floral, cage-like design around it to hold it. "I didn't know it was you at the beginning." She said distantly. "The first time we met, I didn't see you. I just felt you used your powers. You killed my friends. I was beyond furious. Grieving. I wanted you gone. It was Frank who told me who you were. I gave up trying to get the Gods to give you up, although I made sure the dragons' deaths were avenged."

"They were killing so many. They destroyed so much." I said instantly. "P- Sephie, they attacked me and I responded in self-defence."

"Nonetheless, Em, they were my friends. I have also attacked you. I have threatened to kill you. Why won't you kill me?"

She got me there. I played with my hands, looking away. The reason she brought me here was probably because I would rather meet her at eye contact than focus anywhere else. Her gaze was better compared to the dried colour of blood. Worst of all, the floor was white. Nothing was hidden. "You are my best friend, Sephie. You did not kill me, even when I was at your mercy, and you helped me." I pressed the tips of my fingers together. "Besides, you are not like the dragons. You don't…" I faltered. No, she did kill. Without mercy either. All those in Delphi, she had condemned to death.

She laughed without humour. "I am no innocence, Emily. I have not been for a very long time. Your excuse isn't valid."

I scrambled for something. Anything. When I came out blank, I slouched back in defeat. "Why are you here?" I asked instead. "I told you why I was here, yet you haven't. What happened to your friends, Sephie? Where is Annabeth? Why are Frank and Hazel with you?"

I expected a flinch. Instead, she stood up, uncaring for the chair that clattered noisily onto the ground, an almost manic smile on her lips. "Ask that two or three years ago, I may have killed you where you stand." She all but snarled. "Do not push your luck, Emily." Talk about mood change.

"I think I will." I said slowly. With each word, I grew a little more confident. "You do not command me. As your friend, I may accept some orders, not because I am cowed but because I am your friend. But as much as you are scaring me, I will not be pushed around." Then, as she winced, I said with a softer tone, "I do not know what happened to you, but I am trying to understand. Please make it easier for me. Make it easier for both of us. I'm tired of the two of us chasing each other in circles, always making wrong assumptions on the other. Isn't that why you told me where to find you? So that we can finally have a talk."

Maintaining eye contact, Percy slowly nodded. Her chair flew up and she sat back done. Her eyes stared behind my shoulder. "I am here by the will of the Fates." She said slowly. "I am here because I no longer have anything left to lose. The past few years… before, have not been easy for me."

What did she mean by before? I didn't have the opportunity to ask her. Percy continued, "I meant each and every word in my letters, Emily. I spoke no lies."

She had never lied to me. But I just didn't understand. The letter was vague, confusing at best. I interpreted as much as I could. "Y- you said people died." I mumbled. "Betrayed. But you never said who." Percy gave me an incredulous look. Like she was surprised I didn't know. Then, her eyes widened again in realisation. No understanding.

Her lips curled to a vicious, unforgiving smile. This was Prodosia. Not Percy. Somehow, she changed. A second life. I worry about what that means for me. "H- how did you know where to put the letter? I didn't even know the place."

Percy's smile was the closest to the girl I knew before. "It helps with allies in high places. They told me, in a way. I pieced everything else together later on."

"How is this where your problems started?" I squeezed my eyes shut, too tired to continue staring at the bloodied room. "I didn't even know you know the Gods."

"Maybe not your Gods." She murmured. "When I wrote that letter, I was confident. Now I no longer know why I am here. To change the past, perhaps. In the small ways they will allow us. We work in the shadows, then at the right time, we pounce. It is the only way left that they will grant us."

Who is the 'they' Percy mentions? "What do you mean by my Gods?"

There was a shuffling sound but I didn't open my eyes. Instead, I lifted my knees to my chest and rested my forehead on my knees. "Your Gods aren't my Gods." She said at last. "From what Vesta tells me, your Gods are nothing like my Gods. Yours are the kind of Gods everyone wishes to meet and love. Mine is the truest and harsh reality."

"Were they the ones to betray you?" Did I understand what she was talking about? In a sense, yes. I hope so. It still doesn't make much sense. There were more than one version of Gods. Hers were the crueller ones. That's all I got from her words.

She hummed which I knew meant yes. I flinched. "I'm sorry." My voice came out like a ghost's whisper. "That day… I didn't know. I was hurt. I thought you broke your promise, I thought you forgot about me. I thought you were leaving me, that you didn't care about me anymore."

Percy laughed bitterly. "No, I guess you would think that. I didn't handle the situation well either. I should've explained clearer but I was… dealing with my troubles and had coping issues."

"You never failed me." I muttered. "I feel like I failed you."

"You are a child." Came her immediate response. "I always knew you as a child, how could you fail me when I never expected anything from you?"

You were also a child. I wanted to scream. You were a child. Just like me. I failed you when I started seeing you as an adult.

She hummed quietly. I missed these moments, where it was just her and I. "What happened to your friends, Sephie?" I hated to voice my questions. "What happened to Annabeth? Why do you wish death on my Gods so badly?"

She let out a brittle laugh. I cracked open my eyelids to see her death stare directed at the table. "You know the answer." She said, a ghostly whisper. "Why do you still ask me?"

"Because I want to understand!" It just burst out of me. "I was never able to understand back then but I just want to help! You're not letting me help you!"

"I don't want help!" She proclaimed, leaping up from her seat. "I never needed your help. I just needed you to be there! I just needed someone to be there while my world constantly changed!" What? "It changed. Over and over and over again. I find out my father is alive and isn't who I think he is. I find out that I am the bastard child. And I find out that because of him, everyone wants to kill me! And now everyone is gone. It just changed so much and through everything, you were the only constant person in my life. Then Pegasus took you away and my life was gone! And how exactly were you supposed to help?!"

"What do you mean by everyone is gone?" My voice came out sharper than before. "You said your friends died but-"

"What do you think?" She flung her arms out, eyes wide and breathing uneven. "They're gone. Dead. Bodies burned into ashes so that they could go on to the next world. You know why? Because of the Gods you care so much for."

She allowed me silence. Time to process this. "No." I sounded strangled. "Sephie. No. They aren't my Gods, they are yours. My Gods would never do such things. They are good. They are the best Gods you ever know. You said so yourself."

Percy laughed, a brittle and wry sound. "That's what I thought for my Gods, you know. Some were kind to me. They were kind, and they were my friends. My father, no matter how busy, claimed me as his favourite child. My cousins gave me advice, were willing to aid me. My siblings were cold at first but they soon welcomed me despite being a bastard child." She clenched her fist. I jumped as I felt the ground beneath me rumble. "The Gods are all the same. Yours are the same. It just hasn't shown itself to you. You don't see it because you can't find something you're not even aware you're finding. You don't see it because to you, it isn't even there. But ignorance is bliss. You do not realise it, but it's there."

I blinked, taken aback. She placed her hands on my shoulder, an attempt to gather her thoughts. "I love you, my sweet gem." She murmured, the nickname was the same on her letter. "I love you so much. No matter how much you change, inside and out, I will always be by your side. I will forever protect you, even from yourself, even from me."

She stabbed me. She imprisoned me. But she never harmed me. She hurt me though. Was I upset? No, not really. I would have done the same. In the heat of the battle, hurt was common. It was reversible. I nodded to her.

She gifted me a wane smile, but it was the realest smile she gave me. "I will save you." She lifted a lock of my hair, tucking it behind my ear. "Even when you don't know you are in danger. But I swear to the Fates. To the Titans. To Lord Chaos himself. Should you ever tell your Gods, your friends, about what happened today when I have not given my explicit consent, I will never forgive you. You are the best thing that happened to me, but I did wrong bringing you up as you have. It is something I correct now. You grew up never having to want anything. You had no preservation. Every time you did something wrong, I forgave you so you think you can do no wrong. Emily, as much as you are Xan, your mind is human. And no human, including me, is perfect. So don't expect that. This is my information, it has something to do with me, not you. My news to share. I saved Paelen because I knew you were his friend, and I have given him back. But make no mistake: almost nothing is impossible for me. I will crush his heart in front of you, and all your friends, should you misplace my trust again. I'm not the same girl, as you should know by now." Her fingers dug into my shoulders, not enough to hurt. "I will protect you. But I make no promises for your friends."

"I know." A tear slid down my face, but I didn't know why. "I won't. You have my word."

She cooed at me, wiping the tear away. Her fingers were gentle, like the first time we met, but her face held no trace of innocence. No happiness. Almost no humanity. I saw sadness, but no determination for hope. I saw anger, but no self-preservation. She was like a Shadow Titan, but with a goal in her mind. She wasn't a soldier following orders, she was the one giving out the orders. Perhaps time will heal all wounds. Perhaps that saying will save the remaining pieces of the Persephone Jackson I know. But that will take a long, long, long time. Longer than I can stay in this time. "S- Sephie. I-"

"The box is the key for you to return to your time." She interrupted me.

I blinked but hastily nodded. "Yes. And Stella said-"

"I know what she said." Percy took an unsteady breath. "What she did was risky and dumb and not something I would expect, but it is effective. We tried to open it about a hundred different ways. The lock held firm. We couldn't use brute force. Only the Ocean and Flame can unlock it if they work together."

"Exactly! Please, Sephie, the weapon is inhumane. It is monstrous and it should not exist. Help me open it. We must destroy it!"

"Your life depends on it." She said, smiling. "Mine doesn't. Besides, Emily, if the Gods die now, they won't be there to wreck your future."

"My future was amazing! I missed you, yes, but I made so many friends and-"

"Are your friends the Gods?" She mocked. "Do they bring out joy for you? Do they treat you with respect and reverence? When you help them, do they bow at your feet and thank you?"

My voice failed me. She was spot on. "It's all lies, Emily. They do that to fill your head with promises and a sense of loyalty towards them. When you have done your part in helping them secure their power, they will discard you and leave you in the dust. Broken and alone. Having to start over from scratch or simply die. Let me protect you from that. Come with me. Stay in Kydria. My empire is surrounded by my domain. The Gods cannot hope to enter my realm." When she said that, the puzzle clicked into place. My final piece was up and I could finally see what I had been missing.

"Neptune." I said, figuring things out. "All this time, when we played together, you called yourself the daughter of the sea and I thought it was a cute nickname but it was literal. You meant it quite literally didn't you? You are the daughter of the sea god. Neptune."

"Poseidon." Percy corrected with a strange glint in her eyes. "I am the daughter of Poseidon. Or rather I was his daughter. He would be ashamed of who I have become." Her grin was bloody and ecstatic. No guilt. No remorse. She had no second thought.

"Was?" I bit my lip.

"I disowned him." Percy said breezily. "When I came back here and forged an alliance with Saturn, I disowned him. I am fatherless now, but his powers still run inside of me. If I could, I would permanently remove that until not a trace of him resides in me, but for now, I am not suicidal."

I was shocked into silence. She said it so easily, like we were discussing the weather. I remember her adoration for my dad. She would pour her heart out to me about how much she longed for a father. I once offered to share mine, and her smile almost made the sun pale in comparison. After she turned 12, she no longer complained. Is this why? Because she found her father?

"In their eyes, we are not children, Emily." Percy cooed, running a hand through the strands of my hair. "We are pawns on a chess board. Zeus was the one controlling the pieces. He killed off all the pawns first. He never realised that the pawns were more than sacrificial objects. They were the key to winning. I was a pawn, serving my father mindlessly. I have a flaw, Emily. A fatal flaw. I am forever loyal. To my family, to my friends, to my allies. I will protect them to my final breath. I am blind to their faults. I cannot see what is directly in front of me, and I will always make up an excuse for the horrible deeds done." I winced. She was holding my hair a little too tightly. "But I woke up. My flaw broke me. The Persephone Jackson people loved and worshipped is gone, and I am in her place. I have learned from my past mistakes. No more will I stand by someone who murders for the fun of it, who tortures because he dislikes their way of worshipping him. I learned things the hard way, but I don't want you to have to suffer the same. I can shield you. I can protect you from the pathetic excuses for Gods. Just give me an answer." Before I could answer, she heaved a sigh. Releasing my hair, she asked in a quieter tone, "Why won't you let me protect you?"

My hands pressed against my heart, trying to find something still constant despite everything happening around me. "Our Gods are not the same." My voice came out wobbly. "I trust my Gods. After fighting against them for so long, don't you see that? They are not your gods. I don't expect you to trust any god, not after everything. I still don't know what happened exactly, and I am not trying to force you to tell me. But please. If you don't trust them, at least trust me. Trust Vesta. After having her as a prisoner of war for so long, surely you know her well." I didn't add Juno. I don't know why, but I didn't mention her.

She did not answer for a long while. When she spoke, she did not go back to the matter at hand. Instead, she turned away from me. "Time has gone by much faster than you think. The sun is setting. Come, we must get you back to Olympus before nightfall."

I walked out alone. She did not follow me, but she did give me a water-coloured ribbon that guided me out. We didn't even say goodbye. The last look I got of her when walking out was of her staring out the window, lost in her thoughts. Would she keep in mind what I said? I pray that's the case.

Hazel and Aura were waiting for me once I made it out of the labyrinth of a castle. The ribbon had evaporated as soon as I took a step out. Hazel gave me a faint smile as if mildly surprised I was out but couldn't find it in her to care. Having heard what happened from Percy, I wasn't really shocked. Couldn't blame her for her hatred. "How do I… go back?" I finally asked after a minute of silence.

"I suppose Frank could give you a ride if his mood is holding up. Or you could use your own powers. Your choice." Hazel said, slightly amused. "Although judging from your face earlier, I would suggest you choose the second option. Much safer since… well, you know."

I nodded quickly. "Of course." She held up a hand just as I was about to call on my powers. "Are you sure?" She whispered. Was she… talking to me?

Aura opened her mouth. "Yes, my lady."

I was stunned into silence. "I- she didn't speak english before." Was all I could make out.

Hazel held up a hand. A ball of familiar white mist levitated an inch away from her palm. "Technically, she isn't. My powers enable you two to talk. Aura has something to talk to you about that requires absolute privacy and she asked me to make a translator. I suggest you don't make her mad."

Aura folded her arms as Hazel turned translucent and faded away, the pleasant and adoring smile melting away. "Emily Jacobs." She spat out my name. "How interesting. The people of my country do not have a second name like you do."

"I am not from your country." I said politely, watching her warily.

She hummed, allowing a smile. "I suppose that is right. You are from the same country Persephone is. The same reason she is so besotted with you." A scowl danced on her face, darkening her features and giving her a scary resemblance to the expression Percy often held when listening to bad news. "Listen closely, Emily Jacobs, for I will only say this once. I am not here to steal Persephone from you. Persephone does not belong to me or you anyways. Make no mistake, I will murder you if you hurt her. She saved me from the men of my village, and gave me the opportunity to be true to myself. She gave me and my mother a new life. I will be damned if I do not return the favour. She is far too forgiving when it comes to you. So I swear, if you ever hurt her, physically or emotionally or mentally, I will find a way to kill a Xan." She tilted her head, considering her words. "Perhaps I will have to fight my sisters for the opportunity, for they love Persephone just as much. You will not have a lack of enemies, that is for sure.

Her small speech stunned me. "This is just like Sephie." I said to myself. "I understand." I said to Aura. "I understand, and I will take caution."

She sniffed. "See you do so." Our conversation over, she turned around and fled into her castle, no doubt going to find Percy.

You have made quite a few loyal friends here, Percy. I am happy for you.

Now wasn't the time to dwell on what I have learned. I don't know how long Paelen's appearance will distract them. I needed to get back, and I needed to see Paelen. Tears blurred my eyesight and I laughed bitterly. Everything was working out for Percy. She's a queen with powerful connections now. Who am I if not a weapon? As hard as I try not to, jealousy and envy crept up my heart.

"Olympus." I whispered as I erected a shield made of pure energy to surround me. "Take me back to my friends."

Time skip

"Where were you?" Joel demanded as soon as I reappeared. I spotted Paelen almost immediately. He was seated down with an exhausted look etched on his face. His wrinkled hand trembled as he bit on an ambrosia cake.

Agent B made his disapproval vocal as well. "We thought you were kidnapped until Ceres told us she saw you taking a walk around Olympus. You should have never worried us like this, not in times of war, Emily. I know how shocking it is that Paelen is alive, but you should have informed us beforehand."

"I- I know." I mumbled, trying to act apologetic. Wasn't hard. "I just had to get out. It was all too much. I didn't- I didn't know what else to do."

"Of course." Stella, the most understanding, said. "We'll give you some time alone, if you wish, along with Paelen. I think the two of you have quite a lot to talk about."

She managed to shoo Agent B and Joel out, giving me a big smile as she wheeled herself out. Paelen slouched down. "Hey, Em."

I raised an eyebrow. "You have no idea how mad I am with you right now." Confusion, sadness and grief cleared for a thirst to understand. "Start explaining. And you better do a damn good job. I just met with P- Prodosia, and I am in no mood whatsoever for any more confusing, double-meaning words."

"She does that a lot." Paelen agreed. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything. What happened on Titus? Did they harm you?"

Paelen laughed bitterly. "I wish. Instead, they left me alive. With Juno. I do not know how… every night, I laid in torment, just hearing the screams echoing the halls of the palace. They never came in. They just… I saw no titan during my imprisonment. I did not see anyone but Juno, Vesta, and the three."

"They did not interrogate you?" That did sound like Percy. Kinda.

Paelen shrugged. "I do not know. At the beginning, they took me to this room. They asked many vague things that I cannot remember. When I did not comply, they took Brue away."

Brue, I realised, was not here. As if reading my thoughts, Paelen said, "she went out. Wanted to enjoy freedom before coming back. I was not going to stop her. At least I was in some comfort. They took Brue to Tartarus."

My heart skipped a beat. "When I went to Tartarus, I did not see her." I protested.

"I do not think Ekdikó would be so careless." His smile was ghost-like. How I hated seeing it on Paelen's face. "No, they would have taken her somewhere secluded. I do not know."

Percy, you are a master at torturing someone without harming a single hair on him. I have never seen Paelen so… broken. The youthful light in his eyes was gone. Before, he would have never let his old age bring him down, now he looks even older than how he physically looked. A shell of who he originally was. Stripped of his carefree self.

I tentatively placed a hand on his shoulder, watching in dismay as he flinched only to try and hide it. "Sorry," he said, shrugging my hand away.

"Don't be. Oh, what did they do to you?"

"Juno was worse than me. She was so quiet when I was brought to her room. She hardly acknowledged me, and only talked to Vesta in hushed tones. No one ever came. We were in each others' presence all the time. Food was brought everyday. There were many windows, electrified." He showed me his hand that had dark red lines running down his entire arm. "Sometimes, Prodosia would come to heal my wound, but she always had this snide comment. I constantly tried to escape. Never successful. Eventually, she stopped coming. Even she had gotten tired of me."

"Paelen…" I grabbed his hand. My touch soothed him and we watched the injuries fade. Paelen extracted his hand from me.

"Góissa came often." He reminisced. "She told us stories. Of the dying screams. Of cities ending up in flames. She talked about how, in your eyes, I had died. Always in a neutral tone. It drove me crazy."

Hazel. I had seen her golden eyes. I had heard her voice. If what I heard was a pleasant voice, I could only imagine what a neutral tone was. Haunting. Filled with your worst nightmares, bringing your fears up from where you buried them in your head. "And of Ekdikó?"

"He was nice." Paelen's voice was layered with exhaustion. "He hardly came by but when he did, he would stop the voices. He would block the screams. He was fearless around me, which meant he often offered to teach me how to use different weapons. He told me stories of how Brue was doing. They were about how she was not harmed and how she was doing okay. I did not know whether they were true or simply stories."

My old friend… how can I help you?

Paelen revealed the sapphire again. "I told you Prodosia gave me this." He said absentmindedly. "And so far, I have felt safe. No grievances of old age. No pain. There are no flashbacks back on Titus. I do not know why, but it protects me. Almost like Prodosia wants me safe. But I do not know her motive."

Tears threatened to fall. "I think I do." I whisper. "I think I know why she saved you from the fire instead of letting you die. In her twisted way, you were important."

When I say twisted, I meant it. Percy's mind was fractured. There was hope. For the people of Earth, they have the hope that Percy's mind was clear enough to know what is right, what is wrong. To an Olympian, dying by her hands is better than surviving in captivity.

Should Percy preserve them, it is with a motive. In this case, because Paelen was important to me, thus it branched to her. However, Paelen is very much Olympian and it made Percy hate him. She never harmed him. She protected him from death and physical pain. But she made him suffer. Of course, with everything she has gone through, she would know how to perfectly torture someone by twisting their emotional and mental strings.

I prayed that it was only because it was the early years and the pain was still fresh. That she would finally heal eventually, and her mind is brought back from the edge of insanity. Perhaps surrounded by people she loves and cares for, it will. Until then, no one was safe. Until Percy recovered from what the Gods did to her, no one but those she has in her inner circle are safe. She would kill you. Worst of all, she would feel no remorse if you were an Olympian.

I prayed that Vesta would somehow be able to reach Percy, and show her once and for all that my gods weren't like hers. I trust them, and I love them. They would never do what Percy's gods did. No… because her gods don't even deserve that title. They were beasts, monsters. Those who were uncontrollable and had to be put down for the sake of everyone else.

That was the only way my world could be safe.

Paelen smiled, brittle. "That is a funny joke, Em." He told me. "No one would torture someone because they care for him."

"I said you were important to her. Not that she cared for you."

Percy's fight is with the Olympians and those who side with them. She would do whatever it takes. Because of her beliefs. I have to convince her otherwise. Aura was right, Percy did have a soft spot for me, and I had to use that to convince her to listen to me. She had to heal. Or else I might truly have to kill her. I fear that will lead to my own death but I refused to let the girl who practically raised me become a tyrant. No. I refuse. If I die then so be it. Better dead than someone no one can recognise anymore.