This world was practically identical to my own, well minus technology, cars, and unfortunately some kind of equality among the civilians. Sure, my world wasn't perfect. There were race issues, poverty; big important issues, but it wasn't anything like this. The tavern Cain had taken to me our first night had been medieval; everywhere else was prehistoric.

Women were merely objects, traded and used - I found that strange considering among the Powers I'd never seen such a high level of respect between the sexes. Crime ruled the streets and the further you got from Olympus, the worse it became. Cain wasn't lying when he said the tavern was in one of the better parts of that area. No one seemed to care what went on, so long as it didn't affect them and the Powers were the worst for that attitude. They were the ones who could make a difference, but instead they flaunted their wealth and privilege by parading through the streets like royalty. My walk through town was eye opening and I was glad I decided to follow some of them when I saw them leaving.

Their headquarters was full of servants, some in much better condition than others, and as I practiced being invisible, I could see the hate in their eyes when ever they looked at any of my new 'friends'. Today, the big fire had the Others talking. They resented the Powers for not stopping it. People had died. Some made the bold declarations the Powers had caused it, but no one took if further than that.

Despite their bravado, they were plagued with a fear that had clearly been bred into them. Some talked about an uprising from years ago, which had some distancing themselves from their neighbors and even the ones to talked of it had a shaky edge to their tone. Zeus had acted hard and fast to stop any ideas from blossoming among the people. I'd never taken democracy for granted so much until now.

If Cain came to rule, he had to change this.

"I know what you're thinking." Logan, I mean Apollo, came to stand beside me as I dared to become visible again. "There was a time when the Others and Powers did live as one, but when they discovered how to kill the Eldest ones, the now Elders put an end it to it. To them, living like this is their punishment."

"Still doesn't seem fair."

"Nothing ever is." He said regretfully. "Come on, it's nearly time."

I only groaned. "I changed my mind. It's a stupid plan."

"Too late. Everyone is in position. They're just waiting for us now." Apollo smirked.

"Can't Cain just turn himself into you?"

"No." We moved back to the gardens of their palace and as his hand touched mine, I snatched it away. "So far, you're not selling it."

"It's a bit hard to do that when I hate you."

"I'm sorry okay? A million times over, I'm sorry!"

"I am too. For trusting you. For letting you in. For letting myself love you, and for agreeing to this stupid idea." I huffed.

"I knew you weren't listening. What were you thinking about?" He asked, clearly trying to just keep some conversation going.

"The different ways I could kill you."

Apollo sighed, and as we walked from the shade into the sun, the light had his dark blonde hair lighting up. Each strand seemed to shine as though pure gold and I hated that in his real form, he was even more attractive.

Too bad he was rotten inside.

"You don't really want to do that." He sounded so sure. "You would have tried already if you did."

"Well, that would make this stupid plan a little hard wouldn't it?" I snapped.

"You don't like this plan enough to care."

"Stop doing that!" I stopped walking, wondering how much my new glowing hands could hurt him.

"Doing what?"

"Acting like you know me!"

"I do know you. It's still me, Bunny!" Apollo sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're angry, hurt and I don't blame you. I never wanted it to turn out this way, but it has. If I could go back to the start, I'd change it all. The day I first met you, I knew I made a mistake. You are special, and not because of all of this. You're amazing and beautiful, smart and strong. You care so much about everyone around you, and your family it's what makes you, you. To know, I was one of those people that you loved so much and would do anything for is humbling. I only want to get back there, I want to go back to us and our holiday to Mexico, and what ever else the future holds."

It had be some kind of magic that was making me listen to him. He had to be making me think that I still wanted that too; that this was all just a nightmare, or another trick from asshole trying to take me down. The reality was, I just wanted to believe that everything could go back to that kind of normal, because I did love him. This time when his hand reached for mine, I flinched, but didn't pull away and when his arms went around me, I held him just as tight able to pretend for just a minute.

"I still hate you, this changes nothing." I mumbled into his shoulder.

"If you say so."

"I do."

Letting him go, I hated that Logan's smile was on Apollo's face. Yet if we were going to do this, I had to remember to love that smile. Just like how when we linked arms, I couldn't demand he stays a minimum of a hundred meters away from me. It was hell to be this close and I was lost in my thoughts which went between trying not to scratch his eyes out and suggesting we go make out in the endless halls of his wing of this place. If this was someones plan to mess with my head, they were doing a better job than anyone else before them.

"So, what about Sam?" I asked suddenly.

"Huh?"

"Was she just part of your cover story?"

Apollo frowned. "Not entirely. She is an Other, I took her with me as a helper. She had been in training with Artemis as one of her ladies, and showed the most potential. Artemis wasn't thrilled with letting her go."

"So, she just gets left in my world now?"

"She wanted to stay. I agreed to it, do you blame me?" He shrugged.

Then something else occurred me. "If you're on Cain's side, why give me the dagger in hopes I'd kill him with it? You even told me it could be for the best!"

"If you were who we thought you were, Artemis was always going to give you that for your protection. I was still on a mission Elise, I knew you wouldn't kill him, but when I sensed we were being watched, I did what I was supposed to do." He said confidently.

"Got an answer for everything, don't you?"

"It feels good to finally tell you the truth." He smiled, like this was all good progress for us.

"Maybe you should have just tried doing that from the start." And whatever that progress was, I happily shot down in flames.

"I only did what I thought was best for you. Since we met, that's all I've been doing!"

"Well next time just. Don't."

"Next time?" He teased.

"Go jump of a cliff."

We ended up walking through the gardens and stopping by a rather elaborate marble fountain at the base of a staircase I wasn't looking forward to walking up. Glancing into the water, I thought it would be koi or some kind of fish in there, but instead i nearly fell in as I leaned over to see miniature mermaids floating around like it was the most natural of all places for them to be.

"Careful. They might sense you don't like mermaids and attack." Apollo was clearly feeling a little more happier than earlier.

"I could drown you in there." That dropped the smile off his face.

"If you did that, I'd think you'd miss me too much." He leaned in close, so he was able to whisper in my ear. "Plus, that wouldn't kill me. You missed your chance for getting rid of me that easily."

"Is that a challenge?" I whispered back.

"Guess we'll find out where you stand on that after this."

"Wha-" I leaned back to look at him, trying to work out a, if he was serious and b, to work out what he was talking about, but instead my eyes closed the instant he kissed me.

It didn't feel any different to kissing Logan and the tension that came about instantly vanished as I followed his lead. Reluctantly, followed his lead.  It was over as quickly as it had began, and the slow, purposeful clap that broke us apart ensured my knee never got to make an acquaintance with his groin.

"Please, don't let me interrupt!" A woman purred, amused.

Turning, I reconised her instantly as the woman that had 'taken' Logan. My hand instantly went to my waist, and feeling the handle of the dagger gave me some kind of reassurance.

"What do you want Dite." Apollo asked impatiently.

I got distracted by that, did he mean Dite as in Aphrodite? This was getting too much.

"Apollo, darling. We just got you back and now I find you, with this?"

"Excuse me?" I retorted, looking her up and down as obviously as she was me.

Instantly her shoulders squared; something I saw as an invitation to let out some of my frustrations and before I could even take a step, Apollo moved slightly so he was essentially blocking me. All I could do was glare back at this 'Dite' and well, beautiful wasn't the right word for her; stunning perhaps, ethereal? I could probably go through a thesaurus trying to describe her.

Her skin was completely flawless, a similar color to Raya's and full, coral lips pouted as she clearly worked out what Apollo had just done too. The urge to reach out and grab a fistful of her, probably took hours to style, ebony doesn't quite describe it, hair made me flex my hands; already imagining us having it out later. It wouldn't be a nice fight; it would involve a lot of hair pulling, scratching and verbal abuse. Best of all, I saw myself winning.

Bitch was going down.

"Where is Zeus, we need to speak with him." Apollo ignored everything else going on; smart man.

"Who knows. I'll be in my quarters." She winked, fluttering her lashes in the most pathetic of ways before disappearing.

"Friend of yours?"

"If she was, would you be jealous?"

Yes; stupid old habits. "No. You have this whole other life, Apollo. Don't let me stop you."

"Don't worry, you won't." He pulls me close again and I put my hand up to stop him before he tries to kiss me again.

"You clearly don't value your manhood."

"You clearly don't care if someone see's us, not, in love." Cain was going to pay for this once it was over.

"Stupid plan." I mumble, moving at the last minute so he only kisses my cheek.

"Come on, he's probably in the main hall. You sure you can do this?" He asks hesitantly. "This is hard for you, I know it is, but try not to overthink things too much right now."

No, I don't think I can do this and you really have no idea how much, this, us, now, is killing me. Well at least that's what I wanted to say, but I didn't.

"Of course. I managed putting up with you as Loges for how long? This will be easy."

Forcing a smile onto my face, I thought only of the good times while using every inch of my willpower to not cry over it - again. If I thought of anything else, it would probably be too obvious, and Cain's plan of getting a meeting with Zeus to discuss my change of side seemed to simple when Portia gave me a quick run through since she too knew I hadn't been listening.

Apollo and I are supposed to madly, deeply in love; it makes sense I would want to join his cause and because I am apparently the key to Cain's success, I would make a great ally for Zeus and Co. to have. Yay me!

"Who did the decorating?" I needed to change the subject, so as we walked through passage after passage of white and gold, I tried to sound interested. After all, how often do you get to go to a mythical palace?

"Hera. Our Queen is very particular with her surroundings."

"Think she just started an area, like say, a bathroom and went that looks alright and since this place is so huge, let's just do this the whole way through?"

Apollo laughed and despite already knowing it, I couldn't deny or avoid the fact that he and Logan were one and the same. If I didn't actually look him, it was just Logan. "What ever you do, do not ask her that!"

"Trust me, that's the last thing I want to speak to her about."

"Why does that make me nervous?" He slowed his walk. "This is really one of those times you need to be nice and not try to piss everyone off."

"Noted." I kept walking, looking at the pillars that lined the hall. Glancing up, the roof was much more elaborate with beautiful patterns chiseled into it. I'd hate to think how long it took or who had the horrible job of doing it. Then again, maybe they just used magic?

"I'm serious."

"So am I." We finally stopped in front a large arched doorway. I wasn't surprised that the doors were gold too, and when Apollo offered me his hand, I took it. "Show time Loges."

I pretended I didn't say it and he never commented on it, just pushed the door open and we went inside. It closed without a sound, and the soft sounds from a harp to the right of us was the only noise remaining once everyone here turned to look out way. It wasn't just Powers here, no all kinds of fun creatures filled the space from centaurs to snow elves and everything in between. I didn't just hold Apollo's hand now, I was practically crushing it and clung to his side as if my life depended on it; in some ways it did.

"Ah, my son! I forgot you had returned." Zeus rose from his throne, looking exactly as those ancient carvings on pots in the roman museums showed him to be.

"You saw me last night." Apollo reminded him.

"Of course I did. What a feast we had!" The bearded man smiled, unaffected by Apollo's reaction.

"Who, is she?" The woman beside Zeus practically snarled, glaring my way. Perhaps she had been beautiful once, but now, dressed in black - which was strange to see around here; with her dark hair pulled up much too tightly, she looked pale and sick. Her bones stuck out at every curve, and clearly she liked her role as evil stepmother.

"Sire, I come bearing good news. The nymphs in the woods found a lost girl, so I went to investigate. It is as we thought. The Fallen One and-" Apollo started.

"This is her! The God Killer?" Hera practically screeched. After this, I'd love to see if Medusa was kicking around because I'm pretty sure nothing was as terrifying as this woman.

"Hush!" Zeus snapped at her and reluctantly she slunk back into her chair. Black fingernails shaped like claws clicked against the armrests either side of her, and if looks could kill; I'd be dead. "Speak."

"The Fallen One has returned and while you may have called her the God Killer, to me she is Elise the Hunter." He paused, letting that sink in but Zeus's game face was poker ready. "He used her, and left her to suffer at the hands of the Fates. You know of our past, of my, feelings for her, which is why we come to you now with a proposition."

Zeus slowly came down the stairs towards as and I inched even closer to Apollo. He gave my hand the smallest of squeezes in reassurance, and stayed firm in from of his father.

"Well?" He demanded.

"She seeks to join our cause against The Fallen One. She has as much reason for vengeance as any of us and-"

"Is that so?" I managed to nod. The guy was a giant, at least seven foot tall and built like a brick wall. My new powers better have kicked in now, otherwise I was in for a world of hurt. "Just like that?"

"I've been blindsided by him for too long. Everything I thought I knew, everything I believed in. It's not real. None of it has been true." I wasn't acting anymore and he was clearly buying it. "Plus he got what he wanted from me, so I was simply thrown aside and abandoned here."

"Everything including your relationship with, what was that you called yourself? Lucas?"

"Logan." Apollo corrected.

"Right, right." He mumbled and I had a feeling this could be a deciding question. So I looked up at Apollo lovingly, like everything I was about to say was completely true.

"It's the only thing that does make sense to me right now. When he found me, told me the truth about everything and why Ca- The Fallen One was banished. Well Sir, I'd do anything I can to prove myself to you. I want him dead as much as all of you."

Zeus thought all of this over. Had I put it on too thick or not enough?

"You love my son?" He finally asked.

"I do."

"Even after him lying to you? He was sent to kill you, did he tell you that?"

"Yes. Now I know the truth about the Fallen One, I understand. To keep my family safe, I would have done the same thing." It wasn't a complete lie and we all ignored the way Hera scoffed at that.

"She's the third now too. Imagine having her on our side." Apollo added, before practically whispering the next part to his Dad. "With one, comes the other two."

This Zeus liked. His eyes seemed to light up as he grinned, clapping a hand on Apollo's shoulder.

"Very well, but I have two conditions to ensure her alliance."

I swallowed nervously as Hera leaned in closer, clearly looking forward to what ever would be next and not for the first time, Apollo squeezed my hand.

"The first. If the two of you are as in love as you say, Aphrodite will bond you. If she is merely using my son against me, we will soon know." Apollo shook his head.

"You can't expect that of her. She is, essentially a mortal. She is human and her word is enough for me!"

"But you are in love, yes?" Zeus mocked. "If there is nothing to hide, shouldn't this be a joyful announcement?"

"Ah, bond us?" I asked hesitantly.

"Get married." He clarified. My stomach sunk. "As you wish, and the second?"

"The Elders will have the final say on the fate of the God Killer. Let us hope the luck of being the third does not apply to your bride." He sneered, before turning to sit back on his throne. "Leave us. I tire of this already. We will feast tonight and celebrate your upcoming bonding, or then again, perhaps it will be for your death."

The second we left the hall, I started to hyperventilate. "I am not, marrying you!"

"I'm kind of offended by your reaction. It could be worse?" Apollo forced a laugh. "I'm joking, calm down. The Elders will be there. This is what we hoped for. Everyone is ready, it ends tonight."

I barely felt him touch my arm, but sure enough I was seated on the edge of his bed before I could really process it.

"That doesn't make it any better! What if they decide to kill me and Cain fails, and, and, and-"

"I won't let that happen."

"What about my parents? They won't know what's happened to me, and Alfie and Anni will be alone and Zane. I have this feeling that he and Jordan will do something stupid." My chest tightened as an all to familiar panic attack began to take over.

"Bunny, look at me. Deep breaths okay, calm down. It's not going to end like that. It's going to be fine, I promise." He knelt in front of me, pushed back my hair and forced me look at him. "It's going to be okay."

"I want." I closed my eyes, hearing Ailin's voice telling me to just breath. "I want to believe you."

"Then what's stopping you?"

"You!" I sighed. "Seriously Logan, I mean Apollo. You made me, I just thought. You've always been there. It hasn't exactly been easy, or normal or whatever. But it was ours. We were, us. And now I don't know anything. I feel like an idiot for not knowing. Did Cain really save you that night?"

"Yeah, he did. I actually thought Art would have come, but she would have been too late. I owe him my life for that. Being mortal is, hard."

"No shit."

"The worst part was, when we thought we'd lost you-" His fingers threaded around mine and slowly I found myself being able to breath easier. "Did you know one of my abilities is to do with healing? I'd never been more relieved to have my brother so, invested in your well being as I was at that time. Nearly losing you made me realise how much I needed you."

"Is sweet talking one of your abilities too? Seriously, could you suck up anymore than you already are?" I moved around him and walked towards the window, before seeing the door that led out onto a balcony. Views of snow capped mountains and dense forests greeted me; you had to give it to these Powers, they knew how to live a luxurious life.

Artemis appeared beside me then, her face bright with excitement. "I just heard the news!"

"Come inside." Apollo told her flatly and I followed her in. "The Elders will be at the feast tonight. Tell everyone."

"Oh, I forgot about that part. I just heard about the bonding and- and..." Artemis nodded, calming down. "I'm going to go and tell Cain and the others." She forced a smile back on her face. "I'll see you tonight."

Artemis was gone and looking at Apollo, being angry was exhausting. I needed some time alone, possibly a hug from my Mum and a strong drink. Since only of those was actually likely I went with that.

"Is there a bathroom? I could do with a shower."

"You're going to love this!" We walked through his quarters, which thankfully abandoned the marble and gold of other area's. In their place, the walls were a light beige, the floors wooden with lots of natural elements involved. Sky lights lit up the place, and there was a certain, warmth and homely feel to it that I liked. "Here you go."

Apollo opened the door and motioned for me to go in first. The bath was the size of a small pool, complete with a water feature against one wall. Again, the elements played their part in decorating. Stoned tiles lined the shower recess, making it look like a small recess in a waterfall. It was beautiful.

"The best part is the view, the room shifts on it own so I can always see the sunrise or sunset. And at night, the stars light it all up too." He practically boasted. This was, different. Logan never really cared for nice things - more happy go lucky and just thankful for what ever he had at any time.

"It's really nice." I tell him.

His smile widens. "Take your time."

"Thanks." We both stand there awkwardly for a moment before he finally leaves me alone and deciding against the shower, I happily go into the bath.

He's right, the view is perfect, much like the water. Staying submerged, I lean against the edge closest to the window and folding my arms on the smooth stones around the outside, I rest my head on them to watch the sky change colors as the sun sets.  This wasn't how I saw any of this going at all.

In my mind I imagined something similar to a superhero fight scene; we'd come through the portal, swords raised, maybe some guns blazing and walk through a tunnel of  bad guys until we reached the prison where I'd say something super awesome and rescue my knight in distress. Okay, that may have been a little unrealistic, well a lot, and way to dramatic, but not - this. In some ways it was all nearly as unbelievable.

The worst part was, I started to overthink it. Everything stood out in more detail now, or at least I think it did. His activity around Selene's pack made sense, especially since the Powers started all of that. Had he been the direct cause?

Not only that, but even as of a couple of weeks ago whenever he was reading something that sounded really good and relevant, he'd only read it out loud and then close the book - losing his page. Was there ever anything in those books or just him telling stories and what about my revelations about things. They never seemed to surprise him, probably because he already knew.

Did he find it amusing, how oblivious I was to everything?The braided band Hazel had made us reminded me of just one more, stupid thing I had done when I thought I could trust him; when I wanted to make good on our promise to each other of no secrets.

Shame it hadn't worked both ways, but what would I have done if I did know?

My head began to hurt and to try and avoid my thoughts I went under the water until my lungs burned and i had no choice other than to surface. I'd barely got my breath back as I spotted the first star in the sky and looking at my fingertips, cringed at how wrinkly my skin had gone. I should get out of the water now, but facing my new reality wasn't appealing. As if on cue, somene knocked on the door and looking behind me, it's Portia who sticks her head in.

"I have a robe for you." She holds it up for me to see. "You should come out now. It's nearly time."

Without thinking I wave it over, the robe leaving her hold and floating over to me. "Did I just do that?"

"You did! I'll wait for you out here."

I get up and step into the soft toweling, drying off before going out to where Portia is awaiting. Im not sure what I think about her dropping an arm over my shoulders as we walk out into a living area. We're we suddenly close enough to be so casual with other? Barely a couple of days ago I had been positive she was conspiring against me and Cain.

"Are you okay?" She finally asks

"Fine." I tell her.

"If you want to talk about-"

"I don't."

We walk past a dining room and into another living area. Cain sits on one lounge away from everyone else so it's there I go. "Any chance of some clothes?"

"If you don't want to go through with this, you don't have to. I've already asked so much of you Elise." He tells me quietly, but doesn't answer my question.

"Whatever. Let's just get it over and done with." Its the weight of my boots that I feel first and opening the robe, I'm dressed in what I would have normally worn for something like this back home. "Right, well I'm ready to go. "

"Ah, no. You're not." Artemis comes over and frowns. "You're undercover as someone who wants to be one of us, at the feast to celebrate your upcoming bonding." She reminds me, looking over my clothes critically. "Not a movie role as the first female James Bond."

"How do you know who James Bond is?" I ask her.

"Your snake has good taste in movies." She shrugs, before I lose the my clothes to something quite spectacular. It's like a piece of the sky was brought down and this dress had been cut from it. It sits easily over one shoulder, tiny star like diamonds sparkling through the fabric. XIt's not exactly fighting a war kind of attire. "Much better. Now relax, once everything starts, this garment shall return to what it was. I mean really Cain, what were you thinking?"

"What about my sword?"

"Summon it." Artemis tells me like it's the most obvious thing in the world. Seeing my blank look, she holds out her hand. "Just think it, and it will appear."

Sure enough her bow is there in an instant, so I try the same thing. The first time it flickers, but doesn't turn into something solid. By the fourth time, I'm holding it firmly in my hand. Portia styles my hair before she disappears and finally, it's only Apollo, Cain and me sitting in the lounge waiting for the summons that it's time to go. Never has there been such an awkward moment. To try and break the ice. Apollo offers me a glass of wine and I readily accept, eager to try and settle my nerves.

"Elise, a moment?" Cain asks and signals to the balcony.

Apollo opens his mouth to protest in a very Logan way, but stays quiet and I follow Cain outside. "What is it?"

"Should anything go, wrong, tonight, I just wanted to thank you. For everything. I know it means nothing, but you've gone through hell so many times because of me, and are about to again. I am forever indebted to you." He gave a small bow, and I wasn't sure what to say. Glancing down below us, I saw two servants dragging a small wagon with a wine barrel on it.

"You need to change this place. The city, the people, the way you Powers treat the Others." I demanded. "My world isn't perfect. You've lived there long enough to know that, but please try and do something here. Something they wouldn't."

"I promise you I will. You forget, I was once one of them too. An Other. I know all about it firsthand."

"Thank you."

"Try and enjoy yourself tonight. Afterall, it is your party and you haven't seen anything like this before." He smiled, yet I could feel the anxiety flowing off him like electricity.

"Well, since we're pretty much planning to start a war before desert, I'm not sure how I can enjoy it." I sigh, my stomach churning once more.

"I know how." He reaches over and turns me around so my back is against his chest. Apollo lingers near the door, possibly giving himself a peptalk into his wine glass - I'm not sure. "Because he truly does love you. If you want your human, fairytale romance, then this is as close as you will get. I saw the fear in his eyes when you died. There is no faking what he feels and now I know he is not just some, Tracker, but someone who can give you everything you deserve, someone who is worthy of you I think you should give him another chance."

"You cant be serious."

"I am deadly serious, though mention this to anyone I will deny it and remove your tongue." He threatened.

"What ever Fallen One. You don't scare me." I mocked.

"I'm aware of that. I still remember the punch you served me when you worked out who I was. What did you do to him?" He asked curiously.

"I wet his shirt. Oh yeah, I really taught him a lesson. Tears, went, everywhere." I tried to sound serious and make it sound horrible, but failed.

"Seems like it's not one-sided then. Good luck tonight Hunter." Cain kissed my cheek and stepped back. "By the way, you look like a goddess tonight."

He vanished as Apollo opened the door and looking at him in his own toga like gown, with a golden leafy crown on his head, I wanted to tease him about how ridiculous he looked. Only I didn't because it occurred to me then, this was the real Logan and he was something to behold. Damn these Powers and their ridiculous perfections.

Slowly he came over, and as he held out his hand, a daintier version of his head wear appeared, which he then placed carefully on top of my head. Taking my hand now, he brought my knuckles to his lips and kissed them. The urge to stab him with his dagger wasn't as strong as before.

"You look beautiful Bunny."

"It's Elise, and thank you. I like your dress." I managed to get out and he simply gave me one of those stupid half smiles of his.

"We should go. It's time." He told me, sounding almost regretful and so the pair of us started to walk back inside.

"Hey Apollo. Before we go, can you um, do something for me?"

Apollo paused, slowly nodding. "Okay?"

"Just, don't die tonight. I might want to talk to you tomorrow."

"For you, anything." He promised.

______________

So... Will/Should/Can she forgive him?