In the week since his hospital release, Zane was getting better, almost quicker than I was. Mum had been in Mum mode, looking after him better than the nurses had with an endless buffet of his favourite things and I was sure he was never going to leave her cooking. Dad had even been, happy, doting on Zane nearly as much as Mum was. It was strange, and gave me plenty of ammunition against Jordan whenever he started annoying me, since Zane was the son they had always wanted.

Today though, everything was different. They had to go back to work, unable to reschedule their lives any longer and the three of us were acting like teenagers left at home alone. After pretending Jordan was invisible, drawing on Zanes face when he slept and finding myself pouring gravy out of my shampoo bottle to wash my hair with, prank time was quickly replaced with a movie marathon. An endless pile of Jordans favourite action movies were lined up ready to go, while the reality was, this was going to be the first real test of what magic I could do again. My attempt at teleporting myself to the Academy the day before had failed, so who knew what would happen now.

I sat between Jordan and Zane, focusing on the coffee table in front of us, trying to hide how nervous I was. I simply told them I was a person before my powers and could still function like a normal person; I got an odd look but they didn't push it. I forgot how annoying pulling jeans on could be.

"I want those little black cats, and wizz fizz," Jordan demanded while I closed my eyes.

"Who eats that?" Zane didn't hide his disgust.

"Who doesn't?"

"What do you want?" I ask him instead, before this turns into an argument.

"Mangoes." Zane answers smugly.

"You can't have mangoes during a movie marathon. We need popcorn, and junk food. Not mangoes!" He gasps.

"I nearly died, I can have mangoes if I want."

"Okay, shut up. Both of you." I think of the junk food spread Jordan wants and the mangoes Zane requested. Daring to open my eyes, it's all there.

"Nice, Ellie!" Jordan makes a grab for a bowl of popcorn, frowning as he throws a handful into his mouth. "This tastes like mangoes."

I take some and he's right. We tried a few different things, but it's all mango flavoured. Zane happily slices into some of the fruit, unbothered by my siblings dilema.

"Maybe I thought too much about mangoes? Let me try again." So I do and the flavours seem to correct themselves.

"How are things, you doing ok?" Zane asks while Jordan is so engrossed in Rambo I don't think he would notice an elephant walking through the house right now.

"Yeah. I feel good today, powers are back though from that little experiment, I don't quite trust them just yet."

"Well, they were the best mangoes I've ever had." He smiles, yet it doesn't last. "Seriously though, you good?"

"I am, honest. Don't worry." Of course that makes him frown. "So, what are your plans once you're all healed."

Zane hesitates. "I'm asking Ailin to assign me a team again, hopefully even with some of my old crew if they want to."

"No more Academy?" I try not to hide my disappointment.

"Na kid. It was a nice break, but it's not me. I thought if I stuck it out, tried harder, it would end up working out. Maybe once I hit real old man status," He smirked. "Like your Dad."

"I don't like it."

"I know, but it felt good to be back out there, well, before you know. Plus, I didn't know those guys. I happened to be just hearing about the mission, they had a team leader and just needed one more to join them since their usual go to was sick. I thought it would be easy, I wasn't even going to be in charge of anything." He sighed. "I missed the hunt. I missed it all. Even when I thought I was going to die, I was kind of glad it wasn't because of the boredom of what had become my everyday life. I also hated I wasn't with my team. The guy leading it made a few mistakes early on and he didn't want to listen to me either. I'd never let my team do what they did. I put it all in the report."

I wasn't sure what to say. I understood, and knew there was no changing his mind.

"Be careful. I get it, I just don't like it."

"Back at you. What's next for you? Fighting more gods and monsters and keeping secrets from everyone over a certain someone?"

"I know you think you're funny, but you're not. I think your sense of humour was broken in all of this. But I will have to go and face Kara and Deimos," I sighed. "And the twins. The rest I'll work out later."

Zane looked thoughtful for a moment, his gaze drifting to the TV where Rambo was taking on an army on his own. Oddly I could relate to that.

"With everything that's been going on, and that has happened, for him to turn up and do what he did-" He frowned, finally looking at me again. "I don't think he is as changed as you all think. Some things, especially certain feelings, just don't go away so easily."

"Just because he saved your life doesn't mean you get to be on his side. Don't forget, he also tried to end mine."

"Did he though, really?" He smirks. "Besides, from what you've told me, you both saved my life. When you two work together it's the stuff legends are made of."

"You've definitely come back broken." I put my hand on his forehead. "You feeling okay?"

"Can you two take your little d and m somewhere else? Some of us want to watch the movie." Jordan snaps, snatching the cushion from behind me as he settled further against the side of the sofa.

My phone starts ringing making Jordan groan and once I actually find it between the cushions, it's Karas face that stares back at me.

"Speak of the devil," I show Zane and he smirks as I head outside to answer. "Hi you've called Elise. I'm probably out saving the world right now so leave a message and I'll try and get back to you. Beep!"

"Not funny." She huffs impatiently. "Are you back?"

The tension in her voice makes me stop walking and I glance back inside to where the pair are now pointing at the TV, clearly arguing over something on there.

"Yes."

"Good. Get to Matt's studio." She hangs up and I head back in.

"How is our Valkyrie friend?" Jordan asks, looking a little too interested. "Does she, like, date?"

"Don't even and I'm being summoned. She wants me to go to Matt's studio." I flick through my phone for a clue, not seeing any missed calls or messages from him.

"Want company?" Jordan offers, turning back to the TV.

"No, it's fine. He's probably painted another apocalypse or something really useful like that. I'll be back tonight, maybe." I shrug.

"Good, I forgot how much I like this movie."

I head into my room, and Zane follows. "I'll come?"

"Not a chance. You stay, rest and maybe when you're older you won't be grounded anymore." Thankfully I manage to get dressed and not turn into a mango. "Seriously though, I'm sure it's nothing."

"Even if it's not, be careful. Think about what I said. It's not the first time I've had to point out the obvious to you."

"Noted," I give him a hug. "Don't annoy Jordan too much ok?"

The next minute I'm opening my eyes and thankfully I am where I am supposed to be. Kara and Megan frown when they see me before Kara comes over. Looking around, Deimos is here and my stomach drops at the sight of Artemis.

"What's going on?" I ask casually, walking into the studio.

They don't need to anwer me. The pictures are torn and ruined, some are in pieces on the floor while others are just bits of canvas remnants on the wall. It's like a cyclone has gone through and made sure to hit every one on the way past.

"Matt's girlfriend called V thinking he was his new manager. He's missing." Kara sighed. "We came and found this. He missed his flight to New York and she was worried. Apparently he can go MIA sometimes when he's really obsessed with his work, but it's been nearly a week and the flight was her last straw. She's coming back as we speak."

"What?" Everyone looks to me now, especially Kara and Deimos; their thoughts clear without them needing to say anything. "Are there any clues?"

"None so far." Megan answers, and the pair follow me further into the room.

Artemis is holding a piece of a painting, the gold I see enough to tell me which one she's holding.

"This is how you knew what happened to me?" She asks quietly, as if talking about it would make it come to life. She shivers, throwing a piece of canvas to the floor with the rest. "A seer is an invaluable possession in these times. Was he not being guarded?"

"Of course he was!" I argued, feeling instantly defensive.

Then again, if he's been gone a week, what kind of protection had we been giving him?

"Who is he? Seers are rarely male and I do not remember there being a lot, if any, even in this world!" She snapped back.

"Doesn't matter. We need to find him."

I turn and realising a second too late there's a very familiar presence behind me I walk right into Apollo. In an attempt to stop myself, I managed to trip over my own feet yet he's stopped me from falling and now is holding me upright in front him. He doesn't look how I remember last seeing him. In fact, he looks as good as he always had; golden tanned skin, those eyes, that smirk.

Well someone had made a full recovery.

"Bunny." He greeted so naturally, it was like no time had passed and nothing had changed.

Old feelings and nostalgia weren't helped by the way I then threw my arms around his neck and held onto him tightly. He hugged me back and for the briefest or seconds my reunion with Cain flickered through my mind. The joy and relief at seeing them both were the same. I missed them. I cared about them. Letting him go the same familiar comfort and peace settled over me and looking up at him, I realised a second later the words I found coming out, where also the same as I'd said to Cain.

"How are you?"

"Better." Apollo smiled, seeming to light up as he did so.

Unlike his sibling, there was no anger or disbelief at my words. No doubts over my feelings, or how genuine I was being. It didn't trigger an onslaught of accusations and why would it? We parted on good terms. He had no reason to question my reaction. Then again, neither did Cain yet he still had.

"I've missed you," Apollo pulls me into another hug. "I'm glad Zane is okay, but you haven't come by, not even once?"

"You have Artemis. I had to look after Zane, you know how important he is to me." I lean against him, well aware of every eye in the room being on us. After a few seconds, I pull away. "You're okay?"

Apollo frowned, the hurt clear on his face. "Yeah, practically as good as new."

"Apart from the art, there is no other signs of trouble," Kara interrupted what was turning into pure awkwardness, walking by Apollo as she pointed out the locked door behind him. "Security footage doesn't show him leaving the building either. The lookouts we had are missing too."

"Someone else was here." Deimos piped up, standing beside Apollo. "You can feel it."

"Who is Matt?" Apollo asks.

"That guy I dated a couple of years ago. The painter?" I offer, and after a moment he seems to remember.

"Did you two, reconnect?" He fishes, making Kara groan beside me.

"No, not how you're thinking anyway. I was chasing a lead, and ended up here for opening night. Something happened to him after I last saw him, I don't know if the fae messed with him too much or what it was, but he gets visions and paints them. When he saw me, he wanted answers and started to remember things." I quickly explained. "Understandable since I feature in some of the things he sees. We all do."

We all drift back into the room and closing my eyes, Deimos is right. That feeling of another power lingered in the air like dust. I just wonder how long it will take for everyone else to work out exactly who was here. In an effort to avoid the moment, and Apollo, I let the others talk, inspect the remains of Matt's nightmares and go upstairs to his studio. The smell of the paints is strong in the small room, the windows were closed stopping any air flow. Beside the knocked over easel coffee sits untouched, a plate of cheese, meats and baguette has been picked at while an assortment of brushes sit in a jar of fresh water.

Whatever Matt was working on sat in two pieces on the floor. One part was empty, the faint sketching seen in silver and black lines that I couldn't make sense of yet as I turned over the other piece I froze. It was the same as the fear Phobos had shown me. The image was clear as I stood before Cain, who was on his knees, opened armed with my sword sticking out of his chest.

He had been here.

He had seen this.

I dropped it like it was on fire, and stepped back. Hadn't fate been cruel enough to both of us? I knew he and Portia weren't talking, but would she be this vindictive to make him, us, everyone in between suffer more?

The enormousness of the situation weighed down on me and I wasn't sure where I needed to go to escape. Downstairs everyone was waiting. I'd have to come up with something to say, a plan, work out our next move. If I just left, I'd only be running again and that never ended well. I sat on the stool, feeling powerless and out of place. Things were sent to challenge us right, to show us how strong we are. I was more a case of fake it to you make it and it had got me this far. I closed my eyes and breathed, just how Ailin had taught me.

One breath in; feel your lungs, stomach, body expanding.

Hold it.

One breath out; feel as your stomach deflates, your chest softens, the air leaves your mouth.

"You're going to want to see this one." Matt's voice cuts into my breathing techniques, and opening my eyes, he's like a shadow moving to the box against the wall. "It's the feature of my new show."

He sounds excited and proud.

"Matt?" I stand up, as another shadow moves past me; Cain.

"I doubt it considering," He mumbles, glaring back to wear the easel would have stood.

Matt opens the side of the moving box, the pair of them blocking what's inside for a moment before Cain steps back and Matt turns to face him.

"I know they're just visions, things can change. You told me that." He did? "But, my Dark King, the future seems imminent."

Since when does Matt use words like imminent?

Why the hell is he even so chill around Cain?

"Destroy it." Cain answered, his tone firm.

"I c-can't. It's the main feature of my-" Matt stutters.

"No one can know this exists. Understand?" The threat is clear and Matt reluctantly nods as Cain disappears.

In seconds I'm at the box, holding my breath as I pull the side open. It's the crown I notice first, the jewels so vibrant and real, I reach out to touch the paint to make sure they're not actually there. Portia is beside me as I open it further, and it all makes sense now.

"You gave him the gift didn't you. Made him see what you aren't allowed to say." We look at my portrait in silence. "How much of this mess is your doing?"

"None of it is my doing. You're all perfectly capable adults, able to make your own decisions that have consequences of their own. And rewards. Zanes brush with the otherside got my attention. Believe it or not, I've managed to completely stay away until now."

"Oh I believe it." I don't hide my sarcasm. "This, why show me?"

"Despite everything, I felt you should see what you might otherwise not have." She shrugs, brushing a stray piece of white hair behind her ear.

"Did he chuck a tantrum because Matt didn't destroy it?"

"No, none of that mess is his. After hearing the rumours of Matt's talent, he merely came to see for himself and worked out the obvious much quicker than you did." She is giving me way too much attitude than I want to deal with right now.

"He's had a few years head start on knowing your games and style." I point out. "Is Matt okay, the Valkyrie?"

Portia closed her eyes. "He is. For now."

"Any clues as to where he is?" She frowns, resting a hand on my shoulder and shakes her head before disappearing. "Fan-fucking-tastic."

I look at my portrait only the girl in the picture isn't really one I recognize. It's me, that part is undeniable but it's the other details that seperate us. She looks calmer than I think I've ever felt in my life, so sure and confident. The crown on her head looks like it belongs there. There is no doubt in her eyes, no fear. I only hope I get to be her one day. Closing it up, Kara comes in and looks around cautiously.

"You're alone in here?"

"Not anymore." I lean against the wall and face her. "Portia was here. Helpful as always."

"Do I have to point out the obvious to you?" She comes closer, eying the box.

"These pants don't go with this shirt?"

"Cain was here, they're all talking about it downstairs. Elise, Matt is missing. Artemis is right, a Seer is valuable and since Portia is no longer at his side-"

"It wasn't him."

"Did she just appear to tell you that?" Kara frowns.

"Pretty much, which is weird because she isn't exactly his biggest fan these days. Plus, she kind of showed me. I'm not sure what she actually did, but when Cain left, Matt was fine, this all happened after." I motion around the room.

"You really need to find better friends, because all of this just gets crazier by the day." She sighed. "You trust what she showed you though?"

"Yes. Cain wanted Matt to destroy this," I nod towards the box. "And here it is, so he either decides to find that rebellious side of his or he never got a chance to do it."

She looked thoughtful for a moment. "When do you think that happened?"

"Matt's been MIA for a week right," I went to the plate and poked a fingernail at the bread which was hard and stale. The coffee was not fresh either. "I think it would have to be close to that. I think if Cain or the Dark King as he calls him turned up any other time, I am pretty sure he would have told me."

"Cain didn't seem as fucked up as you did after that whole little Zane thing. Was he though?"

"No, a little. Not like me. It's why he agreed to do it because I told him to use me."

"What if someone was following him, hoping to catch him in that weakened state?" Kara asked peeking into the box. "Nice crown."

"Thanks, should I see if I can get us matching ones?"

"I'm more of a silver girl." She shrugs.

"How would anyone know though? It wasn't like he planned the trip. Since our reunion when-" I stopped, a few things now become possible. "He only came because he said a mutual acquaintance told him everything, so he knew I had come back."

"Who would that have been? The blue demon guy?"

"Maybe, and he is known to open portals to come and visit."

"And he already knew about Matt, so if he told him about the painter, he could have come here to I dunno, catch him unaware?" Kara could be onto something. "Maybe he missed him and lost his temper."

Bozo the blue wonder could have done exactly that, and taken Matt in the process. I actually would have thought the Valkyrie guards left here would have been able to stop him, yet their disappearance made me doubt his involvement. Did they not know who Cain was to report his appearance, or had they missed it entirely?

"Would the guards know Cain? If they had seen him, would they have reacted?" I ask.

"Possibly not. If he didn't do anything while he was here, he could have come and gone unbothered." She admitted looking guilty.

"I don't think Genzo was involved. I think he would do something to gloat or show off, that he was able to do it." And then I thought of someone else. "Aion!"

It made the most sense. He was a time traveller, his gift was being able to skip through time and realms. Perhaps it was him Cain caught trying to open those portals, as he would definitely be able to spill the beans about my escape since he helped me do it. How Matt got involved was unclear, but the rest made sense.

"I don't even remember who that is." Kara frowned.

"The guy that moves through time. He's how I got home after Dorian and I got stuck back in ye old old old days." I reminded her.

"Oh. Right." She nods. "But why would he take Matt?"

"I'm not saying he did."

"Elise?" Artemis calls, and Kara and I leave the room, heading back downstairs. "We've all been talking, and we're positive we know who did this."

"It wasn't Cain." I tell her, sliding onto the stool near the doorway.

"He was here and-" She starts to argue.

"Trust me, it wasn't him."

"How are you so sure?" Apollo asks, earning a nod in agreement from Deimos.

There's an edge to his voice that instantly grates on my nerves. He makes it sound more like an accusation, and I try not to roll my eyes while keeping my own voice neutral. I look at Kara and she shrugs.

"Because Portia told me, just now upstairs. I already know he was here, in this world because he was the one that saved Zane." I share with the group, and hold up my hand as both of the twins open their mouths and come closer. "Not. A. Word."

Artemis growled, spun around and disappeared.

"You know he wants us dead?" Apollo said instead, that suspicion turning into anger.

"If that were true, you may not be standing there right now. He knows you're both here." I tell him calmly and then I see it.

Before he can answer I hold my hand up again, hushing him and go to the front of the room to where I could see the reflection in the window of one of the paintings. Moving to stand in front of it, this image was not destroyed. If I didn't know it had once been positioned further down the back, I wouldn't have known it had been touched at all.

"What is it?" Deimos asked, the group moving to crowd around me.

"Is that you?" Apollo points at the figure Matt had told me was the Dark Queen.

I could see his point. I shiver like I had the first time I looked at the painting; the couple standing on the balcony with their backs to us. We both had dark hair and it wasn't clear who she was at all. Except now I saw one very big problem with this scene that I had missed before. Cain had a crown on, as he had in the one upstairs. She didn't.

"No. Matt calls her the Dark Queen, but she isn't a queen at all. Not yet, anyway. It's Eris." And she had been here too. "She took Matt."

"Portia couldn't have told you that?" Kara huffed.

Deimos closed his eyes and the air instantly felt colder, making me shiver again. I dared to look at Apollo who only stared at the picture in concentration, and ever so subtly shivered too.

"You're right. She was here. I can sense her within the chaos she left behind." Deimos sighed heavily.

"If she took him, he's probably dead." Apollo finally spoke.

"Portia said he was still alive."

"Are you still believing everything she has to say?"

"For Matt's sake, yes!" I snap at him.

Apollo looked at the painting again and shook his head slightly. "I'm going to go find Art."

He's gone before we can respond.

"What now?" Deimos asked, unbothered by their disappearance. "If it Eris, he could be right. She isn't exactly known to take live prisoners."

"I have a feeling it will be more like a live bait situation." Megan added, startling me with her sudden appearance as I'd forgotten she was there. "Our girls are gone too. That would have been done on purpose knowing our alliance with Elise."

"That does sound like her, but I still have grave concerns over your friends." Deimos adds unhelpfully.

"She wants to start a war." Kara nodded.

"Was she following Cain?" Megan wondered. "To come here, it just seems rather, specific."

"Whenever she came to this world before, she slipped through the portals before they closed. She would have come over with him, whether he knew it or not, I don't know." I wanted to think he didn't. "It's strange she didn't take her chance to attack me when she had it. My powers and energy have only just started feeling normal again."

"Maybe she missed that part? Plus Ailin's shadow friends have been watching over all of you." Kara smirked at my surprise. "See, you needed them. You really haven't been yourself if you didn't notice them."

"She took Matt to lure you over there." Deimos just seemed to realise making all of us look at him. "Sorry, just thinking. How do they go between realms?"

"Hermes I presume. Art and Apollo are off having a tanty so I can't exactly ask them what the deal is." I sigh. "Hermes is loyal to Art, so I'm not sure what could be going on there if he isn't here with them."

"You're not actually thinking of going there, are you?" Megan didn't hide her nervousness. "Incase you missed it, this is to get you over there. It's a trap! What choice will Cain have to not destroy you, if you, the defeated GodKiller, suddenly pops up? It'll cause a riot!"

"Chaos. It will create chaos, and that's exactly what she wants." Deimos confirmed.

"Then let's give it to her," I decide. "Just before we do, I need to help Colton find Penny an engagement ring."

I'd never seen anyone look more confused than Deimos did at that moment.

"You just declared you're going to war, but first you are going, shopping?"

"Well yeah. When else am I going to get the time to do it?" I wink at him, and turn to Kara. "I'll come by tonight, just let me take care of a few things first."

"You're not ready to walk into that mess Elise. You're not even fully recovered from last week!" Kara waved her hands rather dramatically.

"I didn't say we're going tonight. First of all, I don't even have a way over there yet and secondly, I forget, but we knew this was coming. Eris just kind of, I dunno, sped things up. It'll be fine."

Or possibly the biggest mistake of our lives, but I was trying to stay positive; like Colton deciding to propose to Penny. Hopefully we'd all have an outcome to celebrate too.