As Catia stretched her muscles, she watched Nehera across the mats as she focused hard on keeping her balance in her yoga pose. The muscles in her arms and legs were shaking, and Nehera's olive skin turned red from exertion.

Skye was punching a practice dummy with smooth efficiency, though Catia could tell his mind, like hers, was elsewhere. There hadn't been more time to discuss how they would get Nehera's blood again, since Steven had kept them under closer surveillance than ever.

He'd been angry when he'd discovered the two of them in Connor's office with the safe cracked open. And after a verbal lashing, he'd sent them both to their rooms. Without dinner.

Catia had seethed with anger, mostly over the fact that Steven was treating her like a misbehaved child than anything else. Soon enough, they would be free of Steven. If they had any chance of finding Connor and saving that demigod, there was no other choice.

"This is fucking boring."

Skye's simple statement broke the silence in the training room. Across the room, Steven's eyebrows raised.

"Finish your training, Mr. Mandara." Steven said.

"This achieves nothing," Skye replied bitterly. "I can punch and kick this dummy a million times, but it changes nothing. Can't we at least spar with each other?"

Catia knew what Skye was doing, but that didn't mean it wasn't still dangerous. Steven was the Head Guardian of this base and still has favor with the Council. If Steven wanted to press the issue, he could get Skye removed from the Guardians for his insolence.

"You want to spar?" Steven walked to the center of the room, his gray suit impeccable under the bright fluorescent lighting. "Then spar with me. Catia and Nehera, you can spar on the other side of the room."

Catia gave Skye a look, which he ignored. Instead, he rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles. Steven took off his suit jacket, revealing a pure white button up underneath. He rolled up the sleeves, showing off forearms that were rippled with muscles and scars.

Catia turned away and faced Nehera, who has turned slightly pale.

The girl sank into a fighting stance, though her hands shook slightly. Catia copied her movements, her mind swirling with thought. This could be her chance to get Nehera's blood. All it would take was a quick hit to the nose. It would hurt Nehera, which Catia regretted, but there was no other choice.

Nehera moved first, much to Catia's surprise. The punch was easy enough to dodge. The second one, Catia allowed to connect. Nehera's fist hit her shoulder, but she barely felt it.

They kept exchanging blows, Catia letting Nehera land more blows. Catia purposely missed her own, setting her jaw harder and harder each time she 'missed'. Nehera was practically giddy. The happiness was nearly rolling off her.

Out of the corner of her eye, Catia watched Skye and Steven circle each other. Catia didn't want to make her move while Steven was watching them, so she had to wait until Skye could maneuver Steven back around.

Finally, when Steven's back was to her, Catia swung out again, her fist aimed at Nehera's nose. There was a crunch as the cartilage in Nehera's nose gave way. Blood immediately spurted to the surface.

As much as Catia was guilty of the pain Nehera must be in, she couldn't let herself feel too badly. This was for Connor. Sacrifices had to be made.

Nehera squeaked in pain and held her hand up to her nose.

"Oh my gods, I'm so sorry!" Catia gushed. Steven and Skye still sparred, all their attention on each other.

Catia grabbed Nehera's free arm. "Let's get you to the infirmary."

Nehera nodded lightly and followed Catia up the stairs. The infirmary lights clicked on when they entered, lighting up the room with bright white lights. Nehera sat down in a chair while Catia grabbed some paper towels for Nehera to press against her nose.

Catia donned a pair of gloves and grabbed an instant ice pack from a cabinet for Nehera to use once the bleeding stopped.

"I really am sorry about hitting your face."

Nehera gave a shrug of her shoulders. "Accidents happen."

Guilt churned in Catia's stomach. Nehera didn't deserve any of this. She was an innocent victim, in the wrong place at the wrong time. The only thing that made Catia feel better was the Council wouldn't punish Nehera. Her father's indiscretions weren't her fault.

When the bleeding finally stopped, Catia took the paper towels from Nehera, placing them on the countertop. Then she used a warm washcloth to carefully wipe the remaining blood from Nehera's face.

"I've been meaning to tell you I'm sorry about Connor."

Nehera's words shocked Catia. When she recovered, she replied, "There's nothing to be sorry about. He's not dead. I know he's not."

The look in Nehera's eyes said that she didn't think that was true. "Maybe. But we haven't heard from any of the members of that team. My dad said it comprised entirely senior Guardians. Only the best went on that mission."

A shiver slipped down Catia's spine. Senior Guardians were the best of the best. That none of them had been heard from unnerved her. Why did Connor think she and Skye could finish whatever it was he had started? They'd only become full Guardians three years ago, on their eighteenth birthdays.

"I can't let myself think that he's dead," Catia finally admitted. "Because if I do that, I won't be able to keep it together."

"He raised you and Skye, didn't he?"

Catia nodded. "My father died when I was young. I came here immediately after. Connor took care of me when no one else in the world wanted me."

Nehera seemed thoughtful. "I don't know what I'd do if my dad died."

Catia didn't respond. After all, what was there to say?

She continued her work in silence until Nehera's face was clear of blood. Then she handed her the ice pack. Nehera muttered a thanks before activating the chemicals inside, which instantly made the bag ice over. Nehera pressed it to her nose carefully, wincing slightly.

"I think I'm gonna go lie down," Nehera said. "Let my dad know?"

Catia gave a slight nod, and the girl left, the ice pack still pressed to her nose.

As soon as she was out of the room and the door was closed, Catia ran over to lock it. Then she grabbed the paper towels.

"GAIA, I need an analysis of some blood. And I need it fast."

She pulled a piece of the paper towel that was soaked in Nehera's blood and placed it on a sample tray. A loading screen swirled on the wall and Catia watched it impatiently.

For a moment, she felt like an evil villain in a movie, waiting for their super virus to upload to the world's mainframe. Though she supposed, in a way, she was a villain. At least she would be to Nehera once she went through with this plan.

As Catia waited, she paced. Her heart was fluttering nervously in her chest, but the adrenaline bit away at the guilt she was feeling. But she also needed a plan. How would she blackmail Steven to get what she wanted?

When GAIA was a little over halfway done with the results, the doorknob rattled.

"Catia?" The door muffled Steven's voice. Catia's heart fluttered faster in her chest.

She said nothing, instead she stood frozen, like a terrified deer watching a moving car barrel towards them.

"Catia!" The door rattle harder. "Open this door this instant!"

"I can't!" Catia finally responded. "I'm indecent!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew how stupid it sounded.

The doorframe shook. Catia was almost sure that within the next few minutes, Steven would kick the door in. The flimsy lock wouldn't hold for long.

There was yelling outside the door. It sounded like Skye yelling at Steven. Catia prayed to whatever god listened that Skye could hold Steven off long enough for GAIA to finish her analysis.

Catia watched the screen while the thumps and yelling continued outside the door.

When GAIA finally finished the results, Catia's heart thudded unevenly in her chest.

GAIA's soft, metallic voice sounded. "The blood is not a direct match for any Guardian currently listed in the Guardian database. The blood is a match for a blood relative of Steven Smith."

"Is it the blood of a Guardian?" Catia asked breathlessly.

"Results prove that this blood is twenty-five percent of godly heritage and seventy-five percent of mortal heritage."

"Save these results to a secure place. Allow access to only Skye Mandara or myself, Catia Delos."

"As you wish, Ms. Delos."

Catia moved over to the door and unlocked it. Immediately, Steven pushed the door open, barely missing Catia's face.

"What in the name of Zeus do you think you're doing?" Blood trickled from Steven's nose and one of his cheeks blossomed with a fresh bruise. Skye was in a similar state, though he was grinning from ear to ear.

"Catia, to your room immediately."

She crossed her arms over her chest. "No."

Steven's face grew red with anger and a vein in his neck throbbed. "You will retire to your room this instant, Ms. Delos, or face the consequences of denying a direct order."

Catia leaned against the counter with Nehera's bloody paper towels. "I don't think I will."

He stalked across the room, getting right up in her face. He was a good foot taller than her, but she didn't back down.

Before he could open his mouth to say anything, Catia said, "I wonder what the consequences for you would be if the Council found out about your misdeeds."

He faltered a step. Skye stepped into the room, still grinning. His teeth had been stained red from his own blood, but he didn't seem to mind.

"I do not know what you're talking about," Steven said at last. "I've always followed the Council's rules."

Catia took a step forward. "Is that what you tell yourself when Nehera cannot meet the standard of a demigod?"

Steven had no reply. He opened his mouth to speak, then snapped it shut again.

"Let's face it," Skye said, his grin smug. "You've lost."

"Fine," Steven replied, "tell the Council what you know. It won't improve your lives. And it sure as Hades won't bring your daddy back."

Skye stepped forward, anger flashing across his face.

"Don't," Catia warned him. Then she turned to Steven. "We don't want to turn you in. We want to go after Connor. And you're going to help us."

Steven laughed. "That's a fool's mission. You'll die just like he did."

Catia saw a muscle feathered in Skye's jaw, but he kept his cool.

"Connor's not dead. And he sent that message to us for a reason. He wants us to finish what he started."

He laughed again. "You're going to end up dead."

"Well, at least you won't have to worry about us yapping your secret to the Council, then."

Steven shrugged his shoulders. "Go on your little suicide mission. I won't stop you. But the Council will. They'll hunt you down by your microchips and you won't be able to talk your way out of that."

"Actually," Catia said, "you're going to help us get rid of them. I didn't agree to be chipped. And then you're going to tell us all about Connor's mission."