My arm tingles with pins and needles, slowly coming back to life as the numbness leaves my fingers. I try not to gag at the furry feeling in my mouth, and forcing my eyes open, the dark doesn't give a lot away as to where I am; I just know it's not my bed. It doesn't feel like mine, plus there's a distinctive male, sweat covered in expensive aftershave smell that hasn't been around for a long time now. That makes me sit up, only every muscle in my shoulders, neck and face protest, so with a groan I stay put on the pillow.

My throat burns as I think above moving again, forcing me to reach out into the empty space beside the bed for something just in case-

"Here." Eric shouts, making me feel even worse, yet the bucket, or bowl; whatever it is makes it to my hand just in time for me to throw up into it. "Well, you're super fun to wake up next to."

"Stop. Yelling." I mumble, heaving again.

"I'm not." He protests, and opening my eyes, there's light now and I'm in his room.

Did we-

"Oh gods, please tell me we-" I gag again, with nothing coming out now.

"We didn't. Relax." I do, instantly flopping back onto the bed with my head pounding in time to my heart. "Someone decided she could drink mead if she wanted to. Remember?"

No.

I didn't remember much about anything right now. "And I ended up here?"

"You're welcome. You were so out of it you couldn't even use your powers to get away, which after pissing off three werewolves, wasn't the greatest idea." He scolded.

"Thank you." I sigh, daring to rub my temples.

"You're welcome. Now, there's water on the table, and some pain killers. Just shout if you need anything and try not to throw up in the bed."

"I'll try." I promise, forcing myself to find the water as the room goes dark again.

Bits of the night return in tiny flashes as I lay back down, my hand subconsciously moving to my stomach where I had been stabbed with Artemis's arrow. Shots had come first, I'd danced with the Valkyrie, the mead had come out. Kara had something to me, I took the mead. The rest - gone.

By the time I manage to get up, take a shower and get myself something new to wear, the noise from the bar tells me it's late. My headaches gone, and I feel normal again. Hungry too.

"You've arisen, Sleeping Beauty." Eric taunts as I slink to the empty end of the bar.

"Thanks for that. I needed it."

"Thought so. I did try and wake you up a couple of times, but you've got a mean left hook so I left you alone." He shrugs.

"Is Kara here?" I look around and don't see any of the usuals.

"Not yet. She and a few others left around lunch."

"Did we have a fight last night?"

"Words were said." Eric tenses, and disappears to serve for a few minutes before returning. "I'm not one to gossip."

"But?"

"But, you both said some things."

"That's not helpful." I groan. "Help me out here, please?"

"She told you to take it easy on the drinks, you told her to lighten up, she told you you're acting irresponsible and what the hell was up with your little trip, you told her to mind her own business. There was a lot of he said she said stuff. I lost track because you were both acting like children."

"That's it?" I thought it might have been worse; the feeling in the pit of my stomach did too though maybe that was just hunger.

"No. That's when shit got real." He sighed, throwing his washcloth into the sink and pouring us both a glass of lemonade. "Look, you two need to talk, sober. I'm really not going to go over it with you now, because I don't think it's my place to do so. You were both out of line."

"Great. Just, great."

Rolling his eyes, he takes a very exaggerated sip of his drink before answering.

"Look, she's still holding on to some unprocessed shit from last year and the whole, Odin thing. You handled it terribly, when she finally snapped about it, so she threw back your own godly ex at you, and need I say more?"

Yes.

No.

Not sure if this hangover was a blessing or a curse right now.

"Well, fuck." I sink against the bar, quickly sitting up as something sticky touches my cheek. "On a level of one to none, chances she'll ever talk to me again?"

"Your little other world trip to help the man beasts is kind of what made her snap. Stop meddling, and I'm sure it'll be fine."

"I can't stop meddling. I'm the whole Scooby Doo gang rolled into one person!"

"Can you give her Odin's head to display above the fireplace?" He asks thoughtfully.

"Ah, no? I don't think so."

"Then you better work something out Scooby Doo." Eric winks as the rumbling hum of a Valkyrie sized gang of motorbikes comes from outside. "And if I were you, I'd think fast."

The women walk in minutes later, not even earning a second glance by the regulars already here. On the stage, the band has just finished setting up, and the squeak of the microphone earn a few shouts of protest. I stay put in my corner, sulking over the glass of lemonade they all go up to their level, a happy chatter of conversation following them. Going over would be easy enough, acting like nothing happened, but as Kara came in last, I contemplated disappearing instead. Her face was hard and unreadable, except for the rage in her eyes as they narrowed on me.

"Still here?" She snapped, stopping beside me.

"I'm sorry, for what was said last night." I started, deciding to try and start things off right, before ruining it. "Honestly, I'm still a bit fuzzy on what that was exactly, but I'm sure we were both out of line and-"

"Of course you don't remember, I told you not to drink mead!" Kara sighed. "I'm sorry too."

"What are you sorry for?" I ask a little hopefully.

She hesitated. "Mostly, for saying Artemis probably was dead and you're a fool to think otherwise."

My mouth dropped.

"The rest, well," Kara shrugged. "Just don't ever say I'm scared of Odin again."

I hesitated, a lot of things suddenly making more sense now only in the spirit of reconciliation, I let it go. Putting out my hand, we shook on it.

"Glad that's over, and I do need to actually go and do things. Alfie hasn't seen me in a few days." I lie, and she nods as if understanding.

"Want company?" The Valkyrie leader offers naturally, only it wasn't company. It was babysitting.

"No, it'll be fine. I'll be back later." Maybe another lie.

"You know where we are!" Kara takes the drink Eric delivers with expert timing and heads upstairs.

"Well that went better than I was expecting."

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" I ask him.

"What?"

"Exactly. Thanks for last night." I blow him a kiss, and leave.

I trade one bar for another, and watch from the side as Paul is serving a couple of demons. A large group of vampires fill up one corner and I'm surprised to see V among them. They all laugh and carry on like a group of old friends; maybe they are. A few Trackers are sitting near them, unbothered as they huddle close together looking at something on the table. There's a Hunter on his own, beer in one hand, iPad in the other and he seems rather happy to just sit there and read. It's a quiet night, and I drift over to the jukebox to put on one of those old rock and roll songs Darius seemed to like so much.

"Here I was thinking it was going to be a quiet night." V comes up behind me, and turning I give him a hug. "What you doing here, Hunter?"

"It's my bar. I can visit when I want to, right?"

"Of course. I thought you were just so busy with your new friends, your old have been forgotten."

"Never."

"Good. Come, sit, tell me about your adventures." He points to an empty table, and takes a seat.

"Aren't you with those guys?"

"Nah, just met them. It's the blonde ones bachelor party. Imagine that!" He laughs to himself. "These new generation vampires are still so very human in the way they do things."

"There's so much there, but I'm going to let it go. What have you been up to V?" I ask.

"Nope, I asked first." He waves at Paul, who soon drops off two pints of beer making my stomach roll. Mine quickly changes to water, and food magical appears, which V doesn't even blink at.

Between bites, I fill him in.

He doesn't say much after.

"I would have been happy to assist you and your werewolf friend. Nothing really happens here anymore." V finally says. "It's a bit, boring."

"You hate Paytah and his kind, besides, daylight. You struggle with that."

"I don't hate. I just, don't particularly like." He answers rather snootily. "But point taken. You've always been different Elise. Why is it now bothering you?"

"It's not bothering me, its everyone else that's bothered. Mum does this weird little jump thing whenever I use my powers around her. I hate how she looks at me, Dad too. I miss it when I used to just disappointment all the time rather than this. Everyone else stares at me like they're expecting me lose my shit again or whatever. Even the Valkyrie are paranoid about it."

"Are they?"

"Yeah, I told you about Kara and her thing."

"They are not a weak species. They have taken you in and not once have you doubted them. Until now." He looked a little too smug. "What changed?"

"Nothing? It's the same as it has been for months!"

"No darling girl, it's not. Ailin is right, you still have not accepted it."

I rolled my eyes. "If you understand Ailin talk, please, break it down for me."

"Fine. Their world is your world too. You care about them, as you do all of us. There is no ignoring what is happening over there. Your incapable of it. The Valkyrie know that too and are scared for you, wanting to protect you as you do everyone else." He paused. "It's not a matter of if you go there, but when."

"Your wrong."

"Am I?"

"Enough about me, what about you. What have you been up to?" I change the subject and despite the look of defeat on his face, he places along.

"Apart from the odd vampire liaison mission or assisting Ailin with paperwork and training, nothing. I have never been more bored in my life, and that includes all those years I had been banished in that hell hole of a realm."

"Well you can take the night shift on Heath Terwey for me if you like? It'll add a whole new level of bored to your radar, but at least you're not having be Ailin's PA."

"Sounds like I'll be your PA instead?" V doesn't sound sold on the idea.

"Upside, everything I touch seems to turn to drama so maybe it won't be so boring after all?"

"That sounds more like it." He smiles. "When do I start?"

"Now?" I offer.

"Why not?"

We go to leave, only before I do I set one more song to play on the jukebox and we walk out with Highway to Hell blaring. With an exit like that, Heath has to be up to no good, or at least that's what V shares as we appear down the side of a hotel in Paris.

"I never really understood the charm of this place." He mumbles as we cross the road.

"Are you blind?"

"No. It's just so, old." V frowns.

"So are you." I stop him as we reach the end of the street and on the other side of the crosswalk, Heath is casually talking on his phone as he walks towards a small cafe. "That's him."

I point him out to V, who does some weird, very Paytah like sniff thing in Heath's direction. He narrows his eyes and in the street light, looks a little scarier than I am used to.

"Considering he is talking about the sale of some shares, this is going to be thrilling." He groans, and then with speed I forget he has, the vampire is gone.

With that taken care of, I started walking in the opposite direction. It was a cool night, and with spring starting to take hold, fresh blooms were everywhere. How V couldn't like this place was beyond me and spying the art gallery up ahead, the steady thump of the music was coming from there. I crossed the road and went closer, curious about what was going on. The security guard out front was too busy on his phone to notice my snooping and glancing inside, a room full of people greeted me. The lighting had been staged to show off the paintings on the walls and with glasses of champagne in hand, the party goers lingered around each one, nodding and talking quickly.

Through the crowd, I noticed a man dressed in a rather bright blue suit. Instantly I felt on edge and needing to go inside, I stepped away and down a small lane way to change my outfit and this time, I walked straight up to the security guard.

"Invitation?" He grumbled.

I handed him the piece of card with a smile, and he barely at glanced at it before stepping to one side and letting me in. My heels clicked on the tiled floor of the entry and the cloak man eagerly accepted my jacket as I passed. Walking in, no one even looked my way, and as the waiter went by I took a glass of champagne and blended in as best I could as I searched for the blue suit.

Instead, as I turned one corner I came face to face with someone who had never been on my radar and I stupidly blurted his name.

"Matt?"

"Sorry, do I know you?" He frowned, stepping closer.

"No, we've never met. You're ah, Matt Smith? The artist?"

I feel my cheeks heating. My mouth goes dry. I can play the fan girl card of my ex-boyfriend that I could have nearly killed when V decided to try and see if I'd turn into a vampire and who also painted a picture of me that the same vampire had hung in his old estate house. Until now, I never really thought about it and the burn of my cheeks spread down my neck.

"Yes," A flicker of a smile appears as he stares at me in confusion. "And you are?"

"Darling, there you are." I jump at the blue arm that snakes around my waist and glancing up, glare at creature that smiles adoringly back. "Come meet Cherie, you'll just love her."

I'm taken away to the other side of the room in seconds and secretly have never been more thankful to see the demon. As soon as I could, I put some distance between us, watching him cautiously. Despite his pop prince appearance, I knew what lurked beneath the skin.

"I thought it was you, but wasn't sure. The blue suit isn't too much?"

"The people here seem to like it. Why are you at my party?" His perfect hair and cheekbones seemed to unnatural when I considered the blue giant he really was.

"Your party? Why are you in my world?"

"I like it here, and come by from time to time." He stared back at me, the challenge obvious. "You've never had an issue before."

"I never knew before!"

His face changes than, his whole body relaxing. "You just happened to come here and not because of me?"

"Don't flatter yourself." I caught a glimpse of Matt hovering nearby, not so subtly watching us. "Why are you here?"

"Friend of yours?" Genzo didn't miss a thing, and glanced in the same direction.

"No."

"You're reaction says otherwise."

"We're not here to talk about me." I remind him.

"Why not, I find it to be a fascinating topic of conversation. How did you meeting go with the genie matriarch?"

"Two of her little jinn friends are now dead, need I continue?"

"So that was a no to them as well. You're not making yourself any friends, God Killer." He teased.

"Neither are you by not answering my question."

He laughed as two women appeared to wrap themselves around his arms. One leaned up and whispered in his ear, while the other looked me over curiously.

"Another time then, I am apparently needed elsewhere." The women giggled.

"Don't you-" He turned, the trio starting back towards the main crowd. "Genzo!"

"Cursed. I am cursed to be forever dealing with idiots." I mumble, instantly finding Matt talking to an older man by one of the paintings with a smiling, beautiful lady beside him. The diamond on her finger managed to catch the light no matter which she moved her hand, and as Matt kissed on the forehead, she was practically glowing.

Is that why I had been drawn here?

Heath, Matt, and Genzo were all within a two block radius of one another. Was there a link, is there something I was missing?

I decided to leave with the intention of following Genzo who was talking with the steward in the cloakroom as though he was as human as everyone else here. His friends were already doing up the buttons on their jackets by the exit, giving him the obvious hurry up look. A glance at the painting beside me as I passed had that plan disappearing as Artemis stared down at me. She was on the floor, in a forest with an assortment of golden arrows in her back. The title under the picture was, Death of a Huntress.

"No." I gasped.

"Don't you like it?" Matt asked softly, scaring me as I hadn't even noticed he was there.

"No! Wait, you did this?" His signature sat in the bottom corner.

'I get these, dreams, sometimes. They're almost like visions, they feel so real. I just, I have to paint what I see to make it go away." He mumbled as though embarrassed. "It's what this whole collection is about."

My stomach sunk.

"But you. You know why, don't you?" His voice firming, like it was an accusation.

"Me?"

He took me by the shoulders and turned me around.

"I know you. I see you all the time." And there I was, snake at either side, defeating Zeus. "Who are you?"

"I- I am no one. That's a coincidence." No one would believe that.

"This isn't the first time we have met. Please, I just, I need some answers. I've seen all kinds of doctors to try and stop it. I've got cupboards of drugs. I drink to try and get some sleep. Nothing works. Tell me I'm not crazy!" He yelled the last bit, earning the crowd to start staring at us.

"Darling, are you alright?" The woman with the ring moves between us, taking his face in her hands they share a moment. "It's okay Matty."

"No, it's not. Look at her Alice!" He snaps.

Big brown eyes turn warily, and then the realisation of what he's saying hits her.

"Oh my god." She gasps.

I look around, seeing each picture for the first time. The whole exhibition is based on the Greek Gods, and they are all there. There are moments I recognize and more that I don't and then there is one I stop at, unable to keep moving. Matt and Alice follow me in silence, standing beside me as I am unsure what I'm seeing. They must notice.

"The Dark King." Matt explains. "He doesn't appear often. It was the last one I did before I had to finish for this display. I've got pages of sketches, but this is what stuck with me the most."

"Why do you call him the Dark King?"

"I have a feeling you know why."

I didn't.

Maybe I did and was as V had said, not willing to accept it yet.

"Who is that?" I ask, pointing at the female figure beside him. The pair stand with their backs to us on a balcony, casting a dark shadow across the land in front of them and I can't stop the shiver from running up my spine.

"I am pretty sure she is the Dark Queen."