"I'd never expect you to be such a wallflower." Hermes greeted, the pink on his cheeks and lack of insult to his tone made it clear he was drunk or close to it. "Where's your harem?"

There it was.

"Jealous, Hermes?" I taunted, getting a snort in return as he turned away, but he didn't leave. Great. "What do you want?"

"Can't I talk to you?"

"Well, yeah, but I'm not in the mood, for your mood. You never want to just talk to me."

"I'm not in a mood and maybe tonight I do."

"Okay, talk then."

"Don't let Art intimidate you." He said seriously, looking at me again. "Or me. I know I can be mysterious and aloof at the best of times, but I've been there for it all forever, since before Zeus even sent Apollo and the Huntresses to watch you."

Drunk Hermes had my attention. "Huntresses?"

"Sam, as I think you know her, she had been in your world for months before he arrived. She went with three others, but they died." He shrugged.

How was this just coming out now?

"Hermes-"

"I saw everything. That was my job, and so, just know, while it may not seem as though I care about you. I do." Hermes took a long drink before his eyes wandered to Cain and Deimos. Then to Artemis, before the guys again. "All of them."

Blueberry was unmissable now. Flutters and tickles were turning into kicks and punches, explaining so many of Raya's uncomfortable faces and constant touching of her stomach. Today kicked my ass. This week, no, this whole year had. I was mentally and emotionally drained from the two-hour bonus session with Richard. My hips, stomach and every muscle connected to them hurt, which a quick drop in on Dr Katie had her reassuring me were completely normal as my body had to adjust to the growing alien inside. Now having a moment with Hermes was the cherry on top of all of that. What next, the Furies were going to walk in with a peace sign?

"Are you alright?" He asked, sounding completely sincere as if he actually did care.

Drunk Deimos was the life of the party.

Drunk Hermes found a heart.

"It's been a long day. I feel pregnant tonight." I shifted in my chair, rubbing my hip slightly.

"Can I do anything?" Looking at him as he squatted in front of my chair, I believed he wanted to help. "Did you need Cain? A doctor?"

"No, thank you. I'm fine being the wallflower." I noticed Artemis watching us, and wondered how long it would take for her to come over. Another event I wanted to avoid. "What is the deal with you and Art anyway?"

"I've loved her for years. Both of them. Foolish of me, I know." He admitted in a whisper. "This heart seems to want what it can never have."

Hermes paused again and looked at our friends before I caught him suddenly glaring at me from the corner of his eye as he realised what he had just done. I quickly pretended to zip up my mouth.

"I won't say a word."

"Good. It's not as if you can talk either, girl." He huffed.

"I'm just here for the cake, not to judge you so move on if you're looking for an argument. I'm not in the mood tonight." I sighed before getting up as it looked as if he was about to start one anyway. "Good chat, I'm going to get some air."

It's just as warm outside as it is inside and leaning against the balcony, the lights of the city below us are bright. It's quite a beautiful view and I'm surprised as Hermes comes to stand beside me.

"Sorry. I don't want to argue, not tonight. It's a party after all." He sipped his drink.

"What happened to the other Huntresses that were with Sam?" I ask him.

"Werewolf attack. Ironic don't you think?" He actually laughed, which only rubbed the wrong way with the patience I had left.

"Why hadn't I heard of this before?"

"Does it matter? It doesn't change anything, and to be honest, I doubt even Apollo knew of them when he arrived. It happened months before that." Hermes dismissed it, drinking more instead.

"I was so stupid and selfish back then." I sighed. "Sam needed a friend, and I was so mean."

"You're a child. It is to be expected. Stop focusing on things you can't change, and only worry about what you can." He ordered, but looking at him now he only smiled.

This night was turning out stranger than I thought possible. Hermes was being nice and even smiling at me. He was either up to something or my new mission was to do a Dionysus on him and keep him this way.

"Since when do you give advice?"

"I've been known to on occasion."

We both stared out into the view below us in oddly comfortable silence. I did wonder if he was simply hiding with me; he and Hades had yet to make up and while I hadn't seen him tonight, I did sense he was around here somewhere. For all of Hermes' flaws, he did know how to survive. If the Furies came again, and we did lose, would he guarantee his survival by aiding them? Just how loyal was he to the ones he claimed to care about?

"Since when do you associate with those lesser than us, Hermes?" Artemis sneered and we both turned to face her. "Especially one whose reputation would rival the whore of Babylon."

I took a deep breath, slowly releasing it as I couldn't help but become suspicious of Hermes now. Was this sudden kindness alcohol-related or just part of their game?

"Let it go, Art," Hermes warned, speaking before I could. "Green is not your colour."

This surprised her, so maybe it wasn't set up. "Even you defend her now? Of course, you do, she's crying victim and like everyone else here, you fall at her feet."

I was too tired for this, but my mouth opened all on its own. Enough was enough; I was no victim and I did not need anyone to defend me.

"Your one-woman army against me needs to stop. I made a choice and now I am what, your enemy? You valued one life over another, so why do you think you are any better than I am?"

"I did not!" She gasped, either brilliant at acting or suffering short term memory loss. "How dare you accuse me of-"

"I stopped Cain when I realised how dangerous it was. You demanded he continue, only focused on saving Apollo. You would let him die, with no guarantee Apollo could have even been saved. I've spoken with him by the way, you know the one who was most impacted by everything since he did, die. He didn't want his sibling sacrificed for his sake. He's just glad it all worked out and is moving on." I stepped towards her, and she took a hesitant step backwards. "I gave you space, and time to process, heal, and accept. Be thankful, they're both still here, and instead, this is what I get? Accusations of being a whore, of being lesser than you? What is the real issue here, Artemis?"

Artemis hesitated. "You are the issue!"

"Of course I am!" I threw my arms up in defeat as she gained some confidence and moved closer. "What have I done this time?"

"Where do I begin? You had everything, Elise. Your mortal life was blessed, literally blessed, by the Gods of your world and Fate itself! You threw it all away. My brother, your place as the third, the crown. And for what? You are selfish and ungrateful. Your powers are not even your own and yet you walk among us as if it is your damn birthright to be here. You don't get to make the big decisions, all you do is cause more damage. The Furies wouldn't be here if not for you, Fate would still be on your side, and why is no one more concerned about what creature you will even birth!"

"Artemis," Hermes sounded completely horrified as he stood beside her. "Stop, now. You've had too much to drink, think about what you are doing."

"No Hermes, let her keep going. I want to hear it all." As if I hadn't before.

Artemis did stop. She looked at Hermes as his words seemed to process and she quickly slapped a hand over her mouth. Well, it's a little late for that.

"Elise, I'm- I just- I-"

"Unless the next words to come out of your mouth are, I'm sorry, do not speak to me." She stopped stuttering, and just stood there, looking to Hermes for help that wasn't coming as he only shook his head. "We are done here, and if I so much as hear one whisper of a rumour regarding me, my baby or what I have or haven't done, I will make Cain's banishment seem like a fucking holiday."

My heart was pounding in my ears as a surge of adrenaline and rage raced through my body. Turning from Artemis, I hesitated at the sight of the crowd gathered in the doorway. I hadn't even noticed anyone else near us, but clearly, they'd just heard it all. Kara and Cain stood at the front, closer than the others yet it looked as if Kara was holding Cain back. Deimos was just behind them, and from the tension there, Artemis and I weren't the only ones having a discussion. With my attention now on them, the group of watchers scurried, and seeing Aphrodite pretending to inspect the door before doing the same almost made me smile at the ridiculousness of it all.

"Anyone else has anything to say?" I opened my arms, motioning around us. "Let's just, get it all out now."

A series of head shakes followed from the ones who couldn't get away quick enough, and as Cain reached for me, I stepped away from his touch. It didn't matter, a second later I was wrapping my arms around him anyway as Kara came up beside us.

"I'm fine."

"Elise, what she said," Kara started softly.

"I don't even care." I look up at Cain. "Dance with me?"

Without waiting for his reply, I walked back inside. There isn't a single person in there not looking at me as the crowd parts and my way to the dancefloor is instantly cleared. Cain's presence is like a shadow against my back, and they're soon looking at us, not just me. Twirling around to face him, he's there and with one arm around my waist and our other hand entwined. I look only at him as we sway around the space, the other couples cautious of us kept their distance; watching, always watching.

"There's a chance I'm going to lick you in a second," I whisper to him. "Why do you smell this way?"

"Please don't." He smirked. "You'll ruin the moment.

"Oh please, I doubt anything I do will top what just happened out there." Sighing, I rest my head on his chest. "Hermes was being nice, think he knew what was coming and was switching to the winning team again?"

"Hermes will do what's best for Hermes. Artemis was drinking mead like water earlier, there's a reason why she rarely drinks at all."

"She turns into a megabitch?"

"Apollo isn't here to babysit her and clearly Hermes wasn't on the job either." He kisses my hand. "You handled her well."

"I made it worse."

"She needed to be told. Your method was better than mine."

"Straight up banishment?" I smirked.

He shrugged. "It served a purpose. She will take time to lick her wounds, but she will be back and she will apologise. You're much more forgiving than I am. This will all be forgotten."

"We need to be united, not fighting amongst ourselves. I don't know if I can trust her, even if I do forgive her. At least not like I used to."

"I wish I could ease this burden for you, but I only agree. Too much has happened for it to ever be as simple as it was."

Everything felt heavy again, and as people drank away their nerves and their memory, we were left alone. No one cared if we so much as bumped into them as we rejoined Kara and Deimos. Artemis was nowhere to be seen, and Hermes seemed to be having a great time with Aphrodite and the two men that were standing with them. Apollo, Athena and Ares had disappeared after we arrived, and I still hadn't seen Hades.

"Is it your birthday?" I ask Deimos, the frown on his face matching my mood. My question surprised him, and as he started to smile, so did I.

"No," Deimos smirked. "But it worked in getting you here, didn't it?"

"It was his idea." Kara blurted, blushing as Deimos dropped an arm over her shoulders. "I can't remember what this is actually for, Aphrodite had it all planned out, so we lied a little bit. We missed you."

"Still miss me now?"

"I can banish her if you want. I'll do it." As Kara hugged me, I smelt the mead pouring off her and tried not to gag. "No one talks to my girl like that and gets away with it."

"Cain." Deimos nodded behind us, and turning around, Hades was lurking by the entrance.

"Stay here. We'll be back." Cain promised, kissing my forehead as he passed.

"What's that about?" I ask Kara.

"No idea." She suddenly let me go, stopping the waiter who had something pink and grey on bits of bread on his tray. "Oh yum! Hey, there's Astrea!"

"Great. I'm going to go, okay. Tell Cain when he comes back, I'm just back at his place." I tell her.

Kara hesitates but nods. "Okay. I won't make you stay, but find me if you do need anything?"

"I will, promise."

She takes off after the other woman and I watch for a second as they smile and greet each other. I'm not going to be missed, and as I head out the doors, something makes me stop. People are still gathered out here, chatting and laughing away in their groups. Someone is teasing the creatures in the water fountain and leaving the party behind, I walk down the stairs to go through the gardens. I only plan on going to the end of the path before heading off to bed, but once there, I stop.

It's quiet here. The music from inside the main hall doesn't seem to reach this far down and apart from an odd laugh, you'd never know what was happening behind me. In front, it is a quiet, night and ditching my heels it's easier to walk as I keep going. There was a pull, something that made me come this way and coming to another set of stairs, I stopped and waited.

"Okay, Blueberry. The first sign of anything bad, we're out." I rub my stomach, more to try and ease the ache that stretched across the front of my body. "I just feel like I need to be here."

He moves and I hope that's him agreeing with me, yet as I lean against the bannister a single golden feather floats down in front of me. Grabbing it, my heart skips a beat as there is only one thing I know of that has feathers like this and as I look up, the darkness morphs into the shape of a Harpy as they come closer to the light.

No, not one, two.

"Wait!" A voice calls out, the second I'm about to disappear. It works, I hesitate and the two figures drop down in front of me. "Please, we mean you no harm."

We look at each other, both in curiosity and caution. They're identical, if not for the height difference. The one on the right is a good head taller. Their wings are the same shade of golden brown, different from the others I remembered from the fight, their bodies leaner, yet more sculpted. They were beautiful, and their dark eyes were wide and curious as in a very birdlike way, their heads tilted from left to right as if it would help them see better.

Neither of us had attempted to attack yet, so maybe they were serious about meaning me no harm. They kept their distance, yet I'm still preparing to defend myself just in case. I was going to take any chances and try to subtly glance up, no shadows moving to give more away. That doesn't mean they're not there.

"There are only the two of us," The taller one tells me as if she can read my mind. "Please, we only seek a moment of your time. We've been looking for you. Waiting for you to come back."

"Me? Why?"

After what happened, if I found someone responsible or at least involved with the murder of my people, I would be willing to cause them a lot of harm. A memory of dying Apollo comes to the front of my mind, and the urge to do just that grows. They must sense it, taking a step back. Their wings shiver slightly as they move their arms, their hands-free of weapons as they hold them up for me to see.

"We want to talk. To help, and in exchange for this, we want our sister back." The taller one says softly.

"What makes you think she is alive?"

The smaller one closes her eyes, her brows dipping as she sucks in a sharp breath. "We hear her screams."

Deimos had been in charge of getting her to talk so that wasn't surprising. Nothing much had come from it, but I know they were still trying. My stomach sank, unable to stop myself from pitying them and fully aware of what they could have heard. Only, then I think of Apollo and the attack we'd walked into. Again everything just felt heavy. The pressure on my shoulders made me want to collapse, sink into the ground and disappear.

Why didn't I just go to bed?

"We know who you are, Elise of the Bunting Clan. We heard the tales of the rightful Queen, of how you gave the humans their freedom, sent them home, even after one betrayed you." The taller one continues. "We merely seek your mercy as she did."

"The Erinyes are not who they once were. Our people were lied to, misled. Their minds are twisted, unable to tell fact from fiction." Shorty whispered, looking around anxiously as if she expected them to suddenly appear. It would be just my luck that they do. "New alliances will be required if you are to defeat them. They know this. They are doing the same."

"Who would help them?"

"The forgotten. The unwanted. The banished. The cursed." Shorty mumbled, shivering again. "They call on all who seek vengeance. They follow the cries for revenge."

"Well if that doesn't sound like it just came straight from a horror story." I sighed. "What can you do to help us?"

"Take you to them." The tall one answered simply.

"Your sister doesn't know where they are." I point out.

"We are of the same nest and seem to be immune to their powers. Our attempts at stopping her when the flock left for the attack failed. She managed to escape us." Shorty explained. "At least by holding her back, she didn't meet the same fate as the others."

The pair shared a regretful look, but it didn't last.

Again I had to force myself not to pity them.

"So just to be clear, you two are special and since you're unaffected by whatever it is the Furies do, you'll get me to them, no tricks or traps and be on our side of this war if I release your sister from the dungeons?" They nodded. "Why wait this long? You could have made contact with the Queen? I'm sure they have a process for what even is this, like prisoner negotiations?"

"She will not see us. If we went to her or any of the Powers, we'll end up with our sister or worse. The humans told us to find you. That you will be the one to listen, to help." Taller insisted, coming closer.

"And they were right." Shorty agreed, the pair more chicken than bird-lady as they clucked together in agreement, their heads bobbing slightly as Shorty's foot scratched the ground. "The whole village said you were different from the other Powers."

"A whole village?" This wasn't making a lot of sense. Could the Furies have been closer than we thought? "Where?"

"Where you were. We went looking for our sister and they caught us." Shorty stepped into the light, her face scrunching up slightly as she turned away like she didn't want to see. Her leg was marked with deep, red lines that looked as though they'd only just started to heal. "The children listened. Told their mothers. They set us free."

"To find you." Taller added, sounding much too grim about being set free. "Before they used us to keep the favour of your Queen."

"I'm so confused. People caught you to give you to, Kara? This Queen?"

"Yes." She nodded, looking at me like I was an idiot. "They will hunt us now. Send my kind to her in offering."

"But you will stop it," Shorty argued. "The women said you would. Change is coming."

A soft cooing chirp left Taller as she inched closer to her sister, nodding along yet all three of us stopped the second the air changed. I knew what it was, they didn't but they knew enough to be afraid.

"I need to process this." Now wasn't that time and I hoped I wasn't going to regret this. "I don't even know if I can trust you, but I promise your sister will not be hurt anymore, but you have to go. Hide, stay safe and I'll try and find you soon."

They shared a look before not needing to be told twice and in three large steps, they leapt up into the sky yet Shorty swooped back down, dropping something at my feet. I quickly picked it up, tucking it away right as Cain appeared. A second later, Hades and Deimos joined him.

"Hermes is already calling you all my harem. This little party won't help those rumours at all," I smirked, letting Cain check me over with a disapproving groan, clearly not finding me amusing right now.

The others looked around like we were already under attack, and looking beyond them nothing would give that impression as the palace stood there in all its glory at the top of the gardens. To consider this had been some kind of decoy while other Harpys attacked made me feel slightly nauseous but it didn't last because I already believed they were speaking some kind of truth. I also knew I was going to help them, and they would help us finally end this.

"What's going on? You're all even moodier than normal." I tried to keep my voice light and neutral, but they were too wound up for it to even register.

"Careful," Hades warned, his gaze flicking back to Cain.

If I didn't know him so well, I would easily question what Hades was talking about as nothing about his casual stance, or the almost bored look on his face gave anything away. It would be nice to be that unaware, and not sense the danger signs lurking underneath the calm surface. Cain's hands were fisted at his side; a little twitch of his jaw and the way his neck strained from all the tension said enough. Nevermind the way his eyes had turned nearly completely black or the fact even Hades took a cautious step away.

"We put up extra protection after you were taken. An alarm was triggered, and the first thing that we detect is you, out here, alone." Deimos mumbled, walking past me to go down the stairs. "Kara told us you'd gone to bed."

I looked at Hades and Cain. "Maybe you all scared whatever it was away or maybe I did, because I am more than capable of looking after myself. Kidnapped or otherwise."

Now Hades groaned. "Stupid isn't a good look on you. I smell Harpy."

"Two. They have different fears. One has been hurt recently, worse than the other." Deimos agreed as he came back up. "They're gone."

"I didn't realise I was in the presence of such great detectives. Look out, Sherlock." Hades and Deimos aren't unimpressed. "So, since we're all good, false alarm, let's move on. I'm done with my pre-bed walk and ready to call it a night. Anyone else?"

"Elise, what were you doing with the Harpy?" Cain asked, his voice like gravel which did nothing other than sending a shiver up my spine.

"Why do you think I-" I stopped as he stepped closer, and reaching up to my hair, the smallest, fluffiest curl of a gold and white feather was in his hand. Cain held my gaze, not once looking down as he slowly kneeled, a larger feather collected from the ground that he presented to me with the other as he stood back up. "So, there may have been a Harpy here."

"No?" He gushed sarcastically. "Really?"

Deimos groaned; so now they all had a turn at acting like grumpy, old men.

"Two, actually," I admitted. "So, gold star to Deimos."

"She really is the most infuriating creature in all the realms." Hades cursed under his breath. "After all that has happened, you run off, alone, to two of those creatures that had been sent by the Furies to capture you. That he destroyed who knows how many, after they killed, Apollo. Not forgetting, you could have also started a new battle with the Valkyrie because of the whole mess that started with those bird-monsters?"

"Technically, it all started because of the Furies." I point out. "And bird-lady I think would be a more appropriate term. Try and have a little respect, they're not monsters because they're different to us."

"Sorry. Should I invite them to a feast instead? I'll make sure everyone is there as I bet they'd be dying to break bread with the bird-ladies responsible for Apollo's death." Hades yelled.

"Well if you could that would be a great start," I shouted back. "To think I was stupid enough to ask them why they couldn't have made contact with any of you, with Kara, rather than wait for me to show up here. They're right. You would have killed them, I don't think they would have even made it as far as the dungeons."

"I need a drink." Hades declared, disappearing.

"You've befriended them." Deimos practically whispered, not quite believing what he was saying. "How in all the worlds, has this happened? They were our enemy an hour ago."

"I haven't befriended anyone." I gave a little shrug. "We simply talked."

"No. I know you. You're already defending them."

"I am not."

"Fine. I'm going to go and see what I can get out of our friend in the dungeon then and put an end to this now." Deimos started angrily, taking a step away.

"No!" I grabbed his arm, and the look of victory on his face made me want to slap it off him.

Cain pinched the bridge of his nose. "Explain everything. Now."

So I did, kind of.

"This has trap all over it." Deimos decided the second I was done.

"Even so, it's a way to the Furies." I point out. "And I meant what I told them. No more anything to the one you caught."

Deimos raised an eyebrow, looking slightly unsure. "Kara, the Queen, should make those decisions. Are you sure about this?"

"I am making that decision," I tell him firmly. "Besides, she's too drunk to do anything tonight. If we are going to make this new alliance work, it starts now."

Instantly he looked to Cain, who had been unnervingly quiet through my whole retelling.

"No. You're not boys clubbing it up because you don't agree with me." I argued with Deimos, before looking at Cain for either an argument or support.

Cain nodded. "To avoid ruffling any feathers, as soon as her hangover is gone tomorrow, Kara, as Deimos pointed out, the Queen, will be told about this."

"Did you just-" Cain shakes his head, and I let it go.

"Elise, how did we meet?" Deimos surprises me, as that wasn't what I expected from him.

"We'd just killed your twin and you um, thanked us for it?"

"And after that, when did we meet again?" He asked, and I had to think. There had been a lot going on around that time. "I'll help. It was in the mountains, when your friend, Zane was missing. To be honest, I had been following your movements and the Valkyrie since that night and thought aiding you would be returning the favour. You let me. I sensed your hesitation, but I felt your trust. After Hephaestus and seeing you that day, working together, I felt something I had not felt in a very, very long time."

"Cold?"

Deimos smiled. "Yes, but it was also a sense of belonging. It was quite strange. I knew you and I would-be allies."

"I think the normal term for it is, friends."

"I have learnt to trust you and I was simply asking if you are sure about this because if you are, I will support you." He gives a little nod. "Until tomorrow."

Then he's gone.

"I'm not sure, and I doubt I ever will understand, how you do it." Cain sighed.

"Do what?" I ask.

"Nevermind." We're in his room in an instant, and at the sight of the bed, I'm ready to crawl under the covers and disappear for a year. "What didn't you say out there?"

"Where were you three?" I ask instead, enjoying the change from an evening gown to my softest pyjamas as I finally lay down.

"I told Hades about Nemesis. He was looking into it." Cain let out a long breath as he joined me in bed. "There's been movement from the portal Hermes found that Hercules had used. Someone else is here now. Somewhere."

"They told me the Furies were building new alliances with the ones who want revenge." I felt Cain go still under my arm. "Like Eris, Loki, Hercules and their goons. Perhaps all the work has been done for them. "

"Makes sense. There are a lot like them out there, with and without powers. Hades has been into that realm, it might be worth another visit."

I heard the threat in his voice, the promise of death. I hated that I didn't fear any of it how I knew I should. Instead, there was only a need to answer the call; a desire to get lost in the chaos and beauty of his darkness as it joined with mine. Maybe that's the place we needed to go to defeat the Furies and instantly a million different scenarios ran through my mind.

A sense of deja vu lingered around each one, making it harder to tell them apart until it was just me, and them. I looked at Portia, Adala and Nieve, and then at Tisiphone, Alecto and Megaera. I sensed the wind of change as it swirled around me; lifting the hair off the back of my neck as it passed by. The ground was painted red, the soldiers and enemies of the past that fell remained in their corpse states all around us. I smelt the blood, the sweat, the desperation in the air.

Death.

I'd been the cause of so much of it.

If now was the time for my judgement, I knew I wouldn't pass. Not here, not like this. The worst and the best of me was spread out between us. I saw the faces of my defeated enemies, of all the ones who came before. When I saw Ullr among them, he smiled behind his blood-stained beard. Dionysus attempted to spit in my direction, causing an oozing trail of red goop and worms to cover his chin. The Lord Alpha simply glared, as he managed to twist his snout into something that resembled a snarl.

This was a dream.

The six women moved as one, coming to stand together in front of me as sides were forgotten. The Fates wore their red cloaks, the hoods kept low over their faces as if we didn't know who was underneath them. The Furies did not hide, they had no reason to. They wanted to be known, to be seen and heard. Their gowns were barely slips of black silk, wrapped with precision around their smaller bodies while their arms looked heavy with an assortment of jewels and bangles stacked on their wrists. They were still pale, their lips tinged black with red-rimmed eyes.

"None of this matters, Elise. Only what happens next." Tisiphone spoke, loud and clear. Her head was held high and confidently as she stared me down.

"And what will that be?" I ask, looking to the Fates, who remained silent and unmoving.

"You know the truth. You know your very existence has been in their hands the second they saw you in visions that never should have been." She glared at the Fates.

"The Fourth cursed you by revealing more than any ever should of what was, what is and what will be," Alecto spoke softer than Tisiphone's, her wariness of the other three women obvious as she kept the most distance between them.

"We were there that night. When they used their gifts in a way it was not intended. The power always corrupts them. It corrupts all of your kind. Powers unable to control your gifts like spoilt children who only ever demand more simply because they can." Megaera growled.

"They all went too far, asked for too much." Alecto agreed.

"And you didn't?" I challenge.

"We merely seek to right the wrongs. Claim justice for those unable to do it for themselves." Tisiphone smiled, and I understood what it meant to feel your blood run cold. "As you do."

"We're not alike."

"I felt it. When your sword was feasting on my blood. You had revenge, and you knew. You knew it was not enough. That is never is. You admitted it." Her fingertips were still black with frostbite as she pointed on my way. "You understood."

"The only thing I understand is that you need to be stopped, and I will stop you," I promise.

"We've got the same goal. You want to stop the injustices of the world, make a change." Alecto smirked.

"The sweet dream of a child, but you know better. It will never happen. Not in this world or the next, not so long as others are seeking to control it." Megaera shrugged, coyly looking to Tisiphone. "No one has been more affected by this than you, Elise. And for all you try to do, it will never be enough. There will never be the change you want, the change that will help the world. Those poor Others, outcasts of society. The Powers who consider any not like them as monsters, or weak. Undeserving."

"There is only one change that needs to happen, to allow them all to have a chance." Alecto nodded, as they slipped behind the Fates and then shoved them all to the ground.

Three familiar faces stared up at me, wide-eyed and furious.

"This is where they belong." Megaera stomped a foot into Adala's back, forcing her down completely. "Just another enemy for you to defeat."

"You will never be free so long as they live." Alecto grabbed Portia by the hair, forcing her to look up at me and for a second, I just felt numb. They weren't even needed to stretch the truth because they had been meddling for far too long.

"Nor will your babe," Tisiphone added, stepping over Nieve as she came to stand before me. "If they can tell your ancestor how to find a witch, powerful enough to ensure you were never to be born, what do you think they are planning for your son before he is?"

"Protect your child. Claim your revenge for the life you could have had. Destroy the Fates." They all said at once, and when my sword appeared in my hand the urge to do just that became real. "And then, stop them once and for all."

I sensed the presence behind me and slowly turned around to face a suit of gold, the wheel floating between their hands as the thread of life spun around it, increasing in speed until it was all a blur.

"Kill the Fates, destroy the Fourth and claim your freedom."