It turned out forever was only four days as that's how long it had been when Hades appeared to block my sun. I wondered if he'd spontaneously explode from being somewhere so opposite to the dark and gloom of the Underworld, this tropical haven literally the exact opposite of the place he called home. Even at the palace, he was more of a night guest. It wasn't like he ever joined in one of Aphrodite's picnics in the garden or made an effort to relax out on the balcony in the midday sun whenever Kara went out there either.

I lowered my sunglasses as I refused to budge from the hammock, glaring at him as he looked around with a scowl on his face, clearly just as pleased to be here as I was for him to have turned up. He shook his feet around as if that was going to get the sand off his boots when really it only made him sink in a little bit faster and mumbled something I didn't quite catch.

"You've just missed cocktail hour, bummer." I put my sunglasses back on and settled back down. "Try again tomorrow, but maybe leave the leather pants at home."

"Where's Cain?" He squinted as he looked out towards the water.

"Hunting and gathering. Why are you here?"

"Because no one else knows where you are. Even Aion didn't get to slip through what I created." There was no missing how much that pleased him. "It also means that little asshole can't get into my Underworld."

"Maybe that's just what he wants you to think." Pretty sure the next sound I heard was his bubble bursting. "So apart from ruining my afternoon siesta, and bragging about what a great job you did on keeping everyone else away, also thank you for that, why are you here?"

I knew it wasn't to make sure we had enough towels, or a general wellbeing check and braced myself for the good news he was here to share with us.

"There was an attack in the city. Quite a few Others were injured, some killed. The God Killer handled it well." He shared. "The ones that Circe mentioned leaving before our arrival are nearly all accounted for now."

Maybe he did have good news after all.

"Is that everything?" I frown, carefully sitting up as the hammock rocked slightly with my movements. "Or are you starting with the not so bad to ease me into it?"

"Artemis came back after you left the other night, and she isn't happy with Circe's new status." He failed at hiding how amusing he found it. "She's been trying to find you."

"Lucky me."

"As have Portia and Adala, so please let me brag a little longer about all of this." He motioned around us.

"Brag away, I am impressed and I also feel bad for lying before, you haven't missed cocktail hour at all. I'm sure I can whip you up something fancy with a little umbrella and everything," Hades smirked as he inched closer to the tree and the shade.

"Not necessary."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course, though perhaps inside?" He hopefully suggested and with a nod, we were in the shack. "This is nice."

Hades didn't hide his surprise as he looked around. From the outside, it looked like it was one strong wind gust away from collapsing, while inside it had all the comforts of home. Sure it was small, and Hades took up the bulk of the space of the kitchen nook as Cain did but it had become ours. Knowing we were going to leave now already made me crave coming back, and I sat on the edge of the bed as he inspected the bottle of tequila on the table.

"Not the cocktail hour I was expecting." He poured himself a glass anyway, and a second later I made sure a little pink umbrella balanced on the edge.

"Probably more your thing though.."

The umbrella is flicked away. "What did you want to ask me, and how much of this am I going to need by the end of it?" Hades sighed, dragging the small stool closer to where I sat.

"Why did you train me to use my powers?"

"Too many of these." He cringed slightly as he finished it in one go and started pouring another. "Odd question."

"I've had some time to think. I don't understand powers, or mine and how they work just that they do. I mean, Apollo was always telling me not to think, that it will just become as natural as breathing and I guess it kind of is now." I was rambling, the unimpressed look on his face telling me to hurry up as he kept drinking. "But Cain asked me how I do what I do."

"As he would." Hades skipped the glass now, flipping the lid off the bottle. "What did you tell him?"

"I could tell him but then I'd have to kill him," I shrugged. "It just happens, and most of the time, I just feel like I'm going along for the ride which probably isn't great since I think people expect me to have my shit together by now. Long story short, I didn't tell him anything, because I don't know."

"And you think I do because I offered to help you?"

"Maybe? I've realised that just like our abilities, these powers are not the same for everyone, but I dunno. Yours feel similar to mine, so it would make sense if they are for you to help. He also asked if I knew your secrets," I taunted, noticing how he hesitated to drink now. Swirling the bottle around, he watched the liquid splash up the sides of the bottle before setting it down. "Wait, do I?"

"No." His answer was quick and firm.

"Okay, but it feels like I've just hit a nerve, so what aren't you telling me?" I ask him again and wait, not sure I want to hear this.

For all of Hades' similarities to Cain, this was the biggest one. They were both easiest to read when they thought you couldn't. Neutral expressions, the grumpy cloud hanging overhead - that whole you do not want to mess with me vibe; it screamed secrets and not scary. At least I didn't think so, not completely. It was like crying wolf and they could only do it so many times before I stopped believing it. After a brief, intense moment he was waiting for me to drop it, but I simply looked at him expectantly and waited.

Not surprisingly, he cracked first.

"Because it seemed important that someone did. I was asked to keep an eye on you while you know who couldn't, and he didn't think Apollo was up for the job. To be honest I was curious about you. You managed to stab me with my own poisons which had never happened before and most definitely not by the hand of a mortal. You also managed to kill my brother, fight well against Cronus and your departure from this world left two broken hearts behind which for them is extremely out of character. Plus you had also been the third for possibly the shortest time on record. I had to know what had just been created and then set free."

Hades stayed blunt and unemotional, his walls up as clearly this wasn't something he wanted to discuss. A hot, prickly sensation raced up my neck and I barely managed to resist the urge to scratch at it as my heart began to pound in my ears at what he just said. While I already knew Cain had been part of the reason he did it, I also thought we had been friends and that his help came from a good place, but I was wrong. There was little empathy coming from him now, I had asked only could I handle what he had to say?

"You weren't helping at all. You were testing me."

"Yes." There was no regret there, just a simple truth. "Those gifted with powers as you were, rarely survive. It's too much for your body and mind to process. Considering the destruction that had led to your creation, and the Hunter you already were, you couldn't be left alone. Apollo is prone to making mistakes especially as far as you were concerned. I expected more from Cain. Emotions rarely get in the way of eliminating any future threats or competition. That left me, and I would do what had to be done with you while I had the opportunity to do so."

Silence stretched between us as I processed what he had just shared.

"And?" My voice was like ice and Hades didn't hesitate this time as he took a long swig from the bottle. "How did I do?"

"You didn't pass the test."

"Then why am I still here?"

"I can't tell you." He answered dryly. "Just thank Hecate for changing my mind when she did."

I hadn't even met Hecate then, but of course, she knew who I was. Everything had been mapped out since forever, and somewhere in the back of my mind, I wished Hades had followed through with his initial decision just to mess it all up for them.

"It's in the past, Elise. I am quite accepting of you these days. Most of the time, anyway and while my intentions did not start off entirely, friendly, that has changed too."

Hearing that didn't help. I swallowed the lump in my throat and just nodded along while feeling icky and uncomfortable. I wanted to shower and let the hot water burn away this conversation or to dive under the water and let it just consume me for a while. It didn't change anything. He was right - it was in the past, but it also didn't make this conversation any easier to process.

"Does Cain know what you did or planned to do?"

"Yes, I confessed to him what happened the day you pushed yourself beyond that point of exhaustion as some form of self-punishment. He wasn't happy but understood. It took a toll on our relationship which didn't help in the weeks to follow when Eris arrived."

I was jealous of the way he finished the bottle of tequila, instantly replacing it with a new one a second later. I'd never wanted to feel the sting of the alcohol as it tore down my throat more than I did right now.

"What did Hecate tell you?"

Hades groaned. "Simply that it would be a big mistake, and I would understand once it was done. Who do you think gave me the fruit?"

Pomegranate.

"You gave me something else first. It wasn't bee juice, was it? I could have just drunk it, and that's it. Hello, white light and doorway to a family reunion I want to avoid." The memories came back and even more infuriating was the fact Hades didn't even seem to care.

"Why do you think she gave me the fruit?"

"This is why I go to therapy. Congratulations, you just made sure my therapist gets an early retirement." I sighed, thinking it all over. "I'm such an idiot."

Naive.

I had no clear sense of judgement as far as these Powers went. That gut instinct I relied on so much was broken. Those closest to me were the ones most likely to stab me in the back, most already had at some point yet here I sat with yet another who had nearly managed to kill me if not for the riddles of a madwoman and a change of conscience.

"What stopped you from killing me?" Again, I wasn't sure I wanted the answer.

"Power like yours, like ours, isn't common. As the poison worked, I had you in the Underworld, ready to send you off to your next destination. Rather than speed up the process, it slowed down. You didn't want to die and the Underworld agreed, it was rejecting my sacrifice."

"What an unfortunate predicament that must have been for you."

"Life and death exist in a delicate balance with one another. Hecate's words were enough to put doubt in my mind over what I was about to do and my realm fed off that. If I had gone through with it, well, I like harmony and balance in all aspects of my life and going through with it would have caused issues I was wanting to avoid. Good thing I had a change of heart," Hades perked up as he tried to move us along. "I didn't leave you for dead and now we're on the same team. Now, should we find Cain and get out of here?"

"On the same team, until next time that is."

"If there is a next time. What happened to all that change talk you all go on about? As a sign of good faith, I'll warn you now while we are friends. I'll tell you my biggest strength is my realm. If you ever seek to defeat me, do not attempt to fight me down there. You will not win. My power is infinite, and there are no limits as there are up here." He warned, seemingly completely serious as that hint of pride from earlier returned as he bragged about how powerful he is.

For a second I just stared blankly at him, not entirely sure what he actually just said. Once I decided he had to be telling some form of truth, I was up and glaring down at Hades which seemed to surprise him as he almost slipped backwards off the stool - or maybe the tequila finally hit him. I know I wanted to.

"Then why aren't we taking the Furies down there for you to handle?" I hadn't intended to sound so hysterical, but that's how it came out. "Your powers are infinite? You're unbeatable down there? Are you fucking serious, Hades?"

"I thought about it, but it's too dangerous. If I lose, we all lose everything. Against one, I'm sure it would be fine, but three of their creations? I do not back myself entirely, even with help. You say you think our powers are similar, well I've felt theirs and we are more alike if not greater than I am comfortable with. Not only that, how else do they gather strength? By making deals of revenge. How many souls down there do you think would want their vengeance if given a chance?" Hades opened the new bottle. "It's why I have been trying so hard to keep them out in the first place. They've been there before, and it could easily have become their kingdom as it is mine, more so if the Great Father is truly on their side. For all my sire's flaws, stopping that was one of the best things he ever did."

"Wait, you weren't always the boss down there? How did that happen?"

"Shocking isn't it. As old as I am, there was a time when I didn't exist. After we defeated our sire, and the other Elders, my brothers and I split up their domains. Zeus started some story about tricking us to make himself seem more powerful than he was. The less exciting version is we merely discussed it for a short time, then put forth our claims to which we all agreed. Once we parted ways, we each found our powers only grew as we settled in. Hecate once told me we were all where we belonged. Home."

"You should get that embroidered on a cushion or a poster. Put it up by your throne." My voice was still cold as he spun the bottle cap back and forth across the table. "Wait. Who's your other brother again?"

"Poseidon."

"The King Triton guy? Where is he through all of this?" Then again, I didn't need another Hades and especially not another Zeus hanging around anytime soon.

"Who knows. I saw him once after Zeus and Cronus had died, just before Cain's inauguration. He came to say goodbye. He only ever did what Zeus demanded, because of what happened to my family. I don't doubt he has his own hidden away somewhere, even if I was to ask he'd never tell. I don't think we'll see him for a long, long time now." Hades shrugged before his gaze settled on the far wall. "He really isn't like the rest of us."

"Because you all inherited such winning personalities and great conversation skills. Then again, he hasn't tried to kill me yet, so maybe he is different?"

"You don't want to find out."

It sounded more like a threat which instantly had me thinking about Medusa. In the same second, I felt cold, as I remembered her own tales of the other brother. Chrysaor was his son, and my sword was something he had helped create. Poseidon didn't matter right now, and as Blueberry woke up again, I looked at Hades and shook my head.

"That I believe, and I want to believe you about keeping the Furies out of the Underworld, but I can't," I admit, idly rubbing my stomach as a way to comfort myself. "I know I asked, but I can't trust you how I did before."

A familiar ache of disappointment tightened around my chest.

"You have to. They would have billions on their side, the balance between life and death would be lost and it would all fall apart. Do you know how far their power would be able to reach? You found a way via your own realm, not this one. Not another." He lectured, and I sat back down as he started to rant on all the reasons why it's a bad idea. "You're a smart girl, Elise. Think about it logically, not emotionally."

"That's a big ask, Hades." My shoulders sank as I wanted to curl up and disappear as yet another tiny flicker of a way out of all of this died. How could he say that knowing how much I could lose; who could face this without emotion?

"I know." He agreed softly.

The door swings open with a bang, which makes us both jump. Knowing my luck, I look almost expecting to see Poseidon turn up late for the party, but just as quickly I feel myself relax as Cain's familiar presence floods the space. He looks between the pair of us, and I practically feel him overanalyzing every detail he sees. The small mesh bag he had slung over one shoulder was dropped by the door as his dark eyes are alight with the disapproval of whatever he had just walked into as he looks at Hades.

"I thought we said a week."

Hades coughed awkwardly, two glasses now on the table as he filled them both. "Drink?"

The tension in the small space is suffocating and Cain stares at the glass being offered to him as if Hades had just told him it was filled with poison. I'm up, moving to stand beside him as a still damp arm goes over my shoulders. Cain's hair is wet, sand sticks in patches to his bare skin and the shorts he has on are dripping enough to form a puddle where he stands. He had clearly come straight from the water and inside with what had been intended for dinner which makes me hate Hades' timing even more. We should be out on the hammock right now, not standing in here like some kind of wild west showdown.

"Why does she look just even more stressed and tired now than she did when we first came here?" If we were playing poker, I wouldn't stand a chance against these two. Mostly because I was terrible at it and while they were unreadable apparently I was not. "What have you told her?"

"Only what I wanted to know. I shouldn't have asked if I wasn't ready for the answers." I defended, forcing him to look at me instead of Hades before the pair blew up at each other. "Nieve and Adala are at the palace waiting for us. There was also an attack, but Kara managed it."

Cain turned back to Hades and I could tell he wanted to know more, the questions right on the tip of his tongue as his mouth parted slightly. Instead, Cain retreated as he took a deep breath; a calming quiet falling over him that was anything but calming despite the way the tension vanished now. He simply nodded, took the drink Hades had offered and swallowed it in one go. In an instant, the ocean and sand left his skin, the usual clothes he wore replacing them and there was no denying I wasn't going to miss seeing him near naked all the time.

Holiday time is over.

"I wish I could have given you more time. That it could be different," Hades looks as deflated as I feel now and I'm not sure if he was speaking to me or Cain as I look at him.

"What do they want?" Hades could have handed Cain a puppy or the meaning of life written on a scrap piece of paper right now and I doubt the menacing glare he was being hit with or the frosty tone would be any different.

"Ask them for yourself. I've played messenger long enough," He snapped back.

"They didn't tell you." I pointed out.

"No. Kara is being a gracious host and keeping them entertained until I find you both and bring you in."

"They don't know you were behind this?"

"No." Dark and Gloomy answered together.

"Please tell me you gave her some kind of heads up then so they don't think the worst?" I sighed.

"I mentioned to Deimos we were taking a break, and I left a note. I didn't say where or for how long." Cain shrugged. "I even put a smiley face on it."

"Yeah, that'll definitely ease her mind. Good job." Rolling my eyes, I was about to change my own clothes when instead I got a kiss on the cheek and a subtle nudge in the direction of the door.

"Can we please have a minute, alone?" It didn't sound like a real question.

"Why not?" I sigh and slowly walk back down the water.

My toes disappear in the sand as the ocean slides back and forth against the shore. Going in deeper, I ditch the sarong I had tied over my swimsuit and decide to take one last swim before going back to reality. Feeling like a whale as I float along, it's easy to just close my eyes and listen to the deep echo of nothingness as my ears go under the water. It quietens my thoughts, and I don't even try to eavesdrop on what's going on between Cain and Hades. I do start to hum, remembering how it had been to actually be under the water that time I managed to do an Ariel reversal and get a tail instead of legs.

"Was that your siren song?" Cain teased, disturbing the peace as he joined me.

Giving up on floating around like a small raft, I purposefully went under completely before standing with him.

"Please, you've heard my karaoke attempts. The only siren I impersonate is that of a fire truck." His skin is hot as I put my arms around his neck. "You okay?"

"I came to ask you that."

"Sparkle, sparkle." Without thinking, I felt myself searching the shore and the hut for Hades but he wasn't here anymore.

"He's gone. We'll meet him back at the mountain when we're ready." It sounded like a prerecorded message and moving my hands to the side of his head, my thumbs ran across his forehead. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to get rid of the lines here. Have you thought about botox?"

"I only got them after meeting you."

"Ouch, but my Dad blames me for his grey hair so it might not be a coincidence." I pull him closer, and kiss his forehead, before smiling up at him. "Thank you for doing this. For bringing me here."

"We'll be back, one day when this is all over. We can bring whoever you like. We'll spend days swimming and exploring the area around here, napping under the trees and a bonfire each night." My head snapped up from where I had rested it against his chest, the soft lull of his words painting a picture I already knew. Tensing, I floated back slightly, trying to work out if I was asleep and imagining it again only I knew I wasn't. "What is it?"

"I can see it too. The first night we were here, I saw it too."

Something I didn't recognise passed over his face then, only it vanished just as quickly. Cain gave me a tiny, almost sad smile, before gliding around so he was back beside me.

"We should go."

I just nodded, not sure what else there was to say. We slowly went back to shore, and switching out of holiday mode happened instantly as we stopped outside the hut. Cain went inside briefly, closing the door behind him as he came back out while I fussed with my hair until it was just a mess on the top of my head.

"Hades told me what you two talked about."

"It doesn't matter. I've processed it, and I'm ready to move on to possibly even worse things, like Portia and Adala waiting for us." I hesitated. "Powers are a sensitive subject for him, aren't they?"

"For all of us. It's part of our identity. Reputations are made and destroyed over them. I'm the perfect example of that." Cain put his hands on my waist, pulling me a step closer to him. "I've worked out some of what he does, it's more grounded, elemental. The few times I've attempted anything it hasn't ended well for me, I can do most pretty well. Not the earth side of it. Just, don't tell him that."

He winked as we were suddenly on the balcony at the second castle. The city was covered in orange as the sun set in the distance and the wind that blew here was colder than where we'd just been. Instead of heading inside with Cain, I stayed out there, looking down at the city, the palace, and everything we'd just been hiding from.

"Elle?" Cain called.

"I just need a second." Maybe I hadn't processed everything as going to see Hades now made me want to scream at him until said sorry and fixed it.

"So much anger in you, child." Hecate greeted, one hand on my shoulder as the other pushed back a few loose strands of hair from my face. "Breathe."

"I can't. It just hurts too much." I leaned against the railing, staring down over the edge covered in trees and rocks. It was a long way down from up here and each breath I took had my whole body shaking as it took me longer than a second to get some control back. "Did you come for a thank you? For praise, my gratitude? Yet again you've saved my life while ruining it at the same time."

"You sound like Kara." She said softly while rubbing my back in some strange attempt to make me feel better.

"Maybe we're both tired of your games."

"I'm not playing games. Did you not hear what Hades said?"

"It was a little hard to hear him over all the betrayal he confessed to while I engraved another near-death experience on my scorecard." I managed to force the emotions back, taking long, slow, deep breaths now as I refused to look at her. "But which part are you referring to? Your fruity gift basket or wise words?"

"There's a balance, Empress. I merely seek to keep it that way, with the tools I am given to do so."

Now I look at her. "Like the tool of the Fourth, because that's you. Isn't it? Gaia chose you to bring back the balance when Fate began to abuse their powers, just like Nieve has been doing again. Uranus created the Furies to do the same thing, not trusting Gaia and what she made only now Cronus isn't here to keep them in check as he was last time."

"What makes you think I am?" And then she was gone.

"Fuck!" I shout as I send my fist into the bannister, breaking off a chunk as the debris tumble down the cliff.

My hand comes to life as my now split, and bleeding knuckles protest the damage; it had been months since I threw any kind of decent punch and that had also included wearing gloves. It hurts to move my fingers, or my hand and actually, my whole arm and the situation only improves as Cain and Hades come running over. Moving in perfect sync, they did so with purpose as they took in the space around me, clearly well aware of our visitor and as Cain looks at my hand, I hold it out to him.

"I did it to myself and she's gone."

"What did she want?" Cain asks as I'm all back to normal; a final kiss on my hand finishing the job.

"Not sure, maybe to distract me from the constant lies and general bullshit I'm surrounded by to point out that Hades, you were right about whatever it was you were on about to do with a balance. She isn't playing a game, she is trying to keep the balance yet I think we're on our own when it comes to the Furies and maybe the Fates."

It was then that Circe appeared, her eyebrows instantly raised as she looked the three of us over in that way she had which made me not want to know what she was thinking, especially as she bit the edge of her lip and groaned.

"Apparently when Kara tells me to do something, I do it now, so I'm here to tell the three of you to get yourselves back there as soon as possible." She pouted, looking at Hades like she intended to strip him naked then and there. "I wonder how I'd react if you were the one giving the orders?"

I barely managed to stop myself from laughing as he looked completely offended by her words. Circe simply winked at him, and then was gone.

"Why did we bring here?" Hades glared at the spot Circe had stood. "All she does is try to touch me constantly. Yesterday I caught her trying to sniff my hair."

"Oh, the horror." I gasped. "But, orders are orders. You two ready?"

Hades snorted. "We don't follow orders. We give them."

"Tell that to Kara when we get there. I'm sure Circe will enjoy it."

"He has a point." Cain shrugged.

"Well, you two stay here and think that over. Kara's just had to defend her city, and I'm sure having Adala and Portia hanging around is the cherry on top for her, so I'm going."

And I do, on my terms.

Power was everything here; you were judged, feared and treated accordingly based on what you could do. If the last couple of hours have taught me anything, it was that. I wore red as I stepped into the main hall, my own crown feeling heavy on my head as I made my entrance. A rush of air blew past me, the doors groaning behind me as they were pushed open and I felt every pair of eyes locked my way. I heard the whispers from the small crowd, and I didn't look at a single person as I kept my focus on Kara; not even when I sensed Hades just to my left or as Cain fell into step beside me.

Kara stood from her throne, a look of understanding on her face as she dipped her head in greeting and met me at the top of the stairs.

"That's one way to make an entrance. Damn, you are glowing!" She whispered.

"Miss me?"

"You know I did. Those two are driving me insane. Can you smite them or something?" Kara glances to where I know Portia and Adala are.

Hades drops off to the side where Apollo stood with Circe, ignoring each of her lions who growled as he joined them. Kara and I sat, while Cain stood beside my chair looking even more ferocious than the beasts nearby. Circe catches my eye, giving me a discreet thumbs-up as she winks and Deimos moves closer to us, Portia and Adala right behind him.

"The Fates seek to speak with the Empress." He introduces, and beyond them, I can see Artemis looking completely horrified as she whispers to Athena.

"This is ridiculous!" Adala shouts, nearly crashing into Deimos as she can't get to me fast enough.

Portia grabs her wrist, stopping Adala midstep as her eyes stay on Cain and not her sister.

"We have some information you need to hear," Portia says instead, silencing Adala as she forces her behind her.

The tension in the room begins to peak. Those behind them inch closer, except for Aphrodite who looks like she's about to make a run for it. Frigg stands near her, a calm and curious expression on her face, and my stomach flips as Kara motions for her to continue.

"As you know, Nieve has not been herself of late. We attempted to help her, and-" Portia stops as Adala mutters something under her breath and closes the space between us.

"We found her. She's with the Furies." I look at Kara and then up at Cain, both of them not looking as surprised as I felt. "She has pledged her allegiance to them. The Crone refuses to join us as she should."

Hecate couldn't have given me a heads-up on that before it happened?

There's no stopping the chatter now, and as Adala and Portia stand closer together, they both look as horrified by this development as I feel. It made sense for Nieve to do this, considering she was the reason why they were even here, but despite all of that, I had hoped Nieve was redeemable. So what of the other two?

As I get to my feet everyone goes quiet, and I don't waste time now.

"And where do the Mother and the Maiden stand?" I ask, looking at Portia I hold my breath. I couldn't take her betrayal. Not now.

"After much consideration, let it be known that we stand with you," Portia promises, lowering herself to her knees as she falls before me.

"We stand with the Empress," Adala confirms, following Portia.

One thing that was well known was that The Fates were stronger together. Sure the Third still lived, but they were not united and that had to count for something. I had two on my side, The Furies only had one.

"So be it," Kara says from behind me and they all bow their heads now; even Artemis.

The final battle lines had just been drawn, and I could feel the acceptance among all of us here that this was how it was going to be when it all goes down.

Well, how is this for balance, Hecate?