"I know, he was your brother," said Amoris. 

Amoris led them back. "Well, Zest, I don't know what to say. If you want an apology..."

Zest shook her head mutely.

When she opened the door to Eric's room, she saw Sera speaking to Eric. Amoris saw Phantasos' bright hair behind the bed, but she doubted that the others could. She bit back a laugh. Her face turned red.

"Uh, Amoris?" asked Mirabel.

She put a finger to her lips, gesturing inside. They didn't understand.

Mirabel felt her blood boil, but felt a wave of calm spread over her when Amoris touched her. She looked at her. Amoris' gentle eyes swept her over. The anger subsided.

They saw Eric wake up and his eyes widen in horror; Sera was getting nearer to Eric. Amoris saw Phantasos' hand touch Eric's head and they all heard him scream.

"Oh my god! Mum! Medusa's in my room!" he hollered. "Her snakes are so big!"

He pushed Sera and darted out, clashing with Mirabel. Mirabel held him, worried eyes on him.

"Mirabel! Thank the gods, I will be fine now. I didn't know Medusa was coming to visit me! Gosh, what if I'll turn to stone! Maybe her snakes will kill me."

He was getting a panic attack. Phantasos might've gone too far, but it was best. Amoris touched him gently. "Eric? You'll be fine."

"Your eyes are humungous. Very violet," he confirmed.

Amoris saw Phantasos about to jump out but she went in and pulled him by the ponytail. "Don't you think that was...too much?"

"I was experimenting!"

"So?" she asked. "I told you to be careful. He's got the syndrome."

They all went in; apparently Amoris forgot that he wasn't visible to the rest. Her acknowledging him made him visible.

"Is that...rainbow coloured hair?" asked Hans, squinting.

"Great, you blew my cover," he rolled his eyes.

"People, I present to you, the god of dreams and perception, Phantasos," she said confidently.

"That's one good hair," giggled Zest.

Phantasos rolled his eyes again. "That's how I work with dreams. They're wires for different dreams."

"Are you the one who's controlling me?" asked Eric pointedly.

"Guess so."

**********

"And, how does it feel...to be related to a goddess?" asked Eric, slightly sleepy from the drug she'd given him.

"Well...I don't know. Honestly? Since I don't get to have the Ambrosia and well, I don't get to live in Olympus, I don't feel any different," she nodded, thinking about it. "But, it might be dangerous. I have to ask my parents."

"Can you believe it?" asked Mirabel dreamily. "I mean she's the sister-in-law of the goddess!"

"This is weird," said Hans. "Why can't I hate Amoris?"

"Because, she is love!" she proclaimed.

*******

Amoris wanted luck. Lots of them and she recruited Eric's friends and Veronica too to help her. There was just one glitch though. Getting near Phantasos' head was not going to be easy.

Like the way they all ended up in his place and how his hair swallowed Eric.

Eric had never seen so many colours in his life. It was too much. One of the small people at the computer at a computer came up to him.

"Sir, come here for the experiment please."

Eric walked over dubiously.

"Empty your mind."

Eric raised his eyebrows.

The person face palmed and called his workmen. "Hey, come here! Let's clear his head!"

They all flew up and hit Eric's head. He felt like small stones were being pelted; their small hands were going to drive him crazy if he didn't stop them. Lots of things fell out. A picture of Sera. His father asking him to find a mate. His worries. A whole film roll in sepia and brown lay on the floor. Unknown, lonely.

Suddenly, everything went black and white. The little person staggered and fell like a dysfunctional robot.

Eric heard echoes...sounding strangely like his name. A picture of Sera erupted on a wall. Beautiful, like a true nymph. Shimmering slightly with long lashes and shy.

"Sera..." he said dazed. "Serafina."

She smiled. It looked realistic until it became a pixilated blurred image of her, distorted by the outside voices, sounding strangely like...

The dark pushed him because it didn't want an Alice in Wonderland Syndrome boy in its space. In its home. He fell out, scowling.

He saw Mirabel's worried face and Amoris breathing heavily, gesturing for him. He changed into a werewolf as Mirabel went to touch him.

She withdrew, inhaling sharply. It was the first time, probably that he'd revealed this form to her. He didn't have any idea as to whether she gasped he was fierce and would hurt her or because she had been surprised.

She tried again as he bare his fangs and her arms dropped, biting her lips.

Veronica frowned at Eric but asked Amoris instead. "Did you get the hair?"

"Nope. But I saw a happy thought of his and I touched it. I hope we have luck."

"Why didn't you ask Kairos for luck?" asked Mirabel.

"Because it's not secure. Thoughts are way more powerful," she said.

******

Zest decided it was now or never. She went home, shut the pale wooden door and took a deep, deep breath. And one more. Her parents were nowhere in sight. She had to tell them of Hans but Amoris had to come first.

"Mum?"

Her mother came out, cheeks stained with purple blood. "Zest. Been long."

"Mother, you never told me Rex married Amoris," she narrowed her eyes.

Her mother's smile faltered. "Yes, well, she is dangerous, after all."

"That's not the point," Zest folded her arms. She wasn't angry; just...curious.

"We were rulers of the Crown once. That time, we became immortal. It was during that time Rex was there and the Crown was in our grasp for eighteen years. Then, Rex goes for this contest for wizards where they play with water and create potions out of that. Amoris met him there, and he came and told me.

At that time, I didn't realize it was her. Then, one day, the storm hit us and I knew we had Poseidon's wrath upon us. I knew Rex had somehow become better with his skills and call it hunch, but I felt that he was in danger," said Mrs. Winthrop, her voice wavering.

"She's trying to save him," Zest whispered. "Amoris."

"I know, honey. Why do you think we haven't fought for the Crown? I don't need immortality. I need my son back and she vowed to do so. She was lovely, just dangerous."

Zest's father came in. "What's wrong?"

"Amoris."

"Ah," said her father, reminiscing the old times. "I should say, she was amazing. She cared. She loved above all."

"But, the gods are against her," said Zest, furrowing her brows. "She's trying to save Rex."

"I know. And we've always supported her. The whole of the witch faction supports her."

It was true. Rex helped everyone in need and when he went, their lives got a bit broken, jagged with misery and pain. Rex could make any potion with water. He loved it because it transformed and changed things. It flowed. And magic flowed when he worked with it. It was no wonder the people didn't want the Crown. They'd been instructed by Amoris and they did so.

"We need to get Rex, honey," said her mother, looking up. "I believe in Amoris."

"But, the next full moon is approaching soon," said Zest worriedly.

They smirked and Zest knew then that Amoris had a plan.

"By the way, I hope you wouldn't have any objection if I chose my soul mate from another faction?" she asked in a timid voice.

"Is it the vampire?"

"Of course, the werewolf!"

"Mum..."

"The merman?"

"A unicorn," she whispered.

"A unicorn?"

"A unicorn," she nodded, looking away.

"Which one?"

"Hans," she said, taking a deep breath and asking Amoris to help her to be brave.

"The...hermaphrodite?" asked her father, going over the words carefully.

She nodded again.

"Well, he is a dimwit," said her mother unsurely.

"I didn't think you guys would be...okay with it?" she responded.

"Why wouldn't we?" laughed her mother. "Having your son being taken by a goddess of love does change our perspective over certain things...if he had the privilege to choose, so should you."

"I didn't. It was her."

"All the more better," said her father, patting her on the back. "We'd like to meet him, someday."

Zest nearly felt like squealing in joy.

*********

"I don't understand, mother," said Sera. "I just don't. I used all my powers."

Her mother, Mrs. Nyle nodded, going over what her daughter said. "Are you sure that...what's her name? Veronica? She isn't playing any tricks, no?"

Sera didn't think Veronica would do much harm. It was a far-fetched thought. "Not her."

"Then, I suppose it must be the Gods' doing."

Sera retreated into the woods, playing with an apple in the garden. Was it really possible that a war was going to start?

********

There's another one, folks! And Sera is still after Eric despite Hans being the chosen king. So, why would that be now?

Yours,

Rose