"Nikas- No, Nikas, listen. I'm fine, see?"

Hallie strode into the alley without a care in the world. Sure, her brain was screaming at her to stop and get out, get out, get out, but she could deal with that on her own. Nikas didn't need to worry.

"Hallie, please." Nikas walked closer. Perialla hovered at the edge of the alley, wringing her hands together and letting her eyes wander. "You just had a panic attack. It's okay if you're not okay."

"I know," Hallie said. "But I am okay. I promise."

Nikas hesitated, then looked down.

Satisfied in knowing he was done - for now, Hallie turned and found the doorknob to what Taryn told her to call their home base.

She opened the door and looked around. The room was empty; no Taryn and Kirphis bickering in a corner with Semele backing the former up with well-timed comments.

Hallie entered and took a seat. Nikas came in a second after, dragging his feet with concern and dejectedness.

A pang of guilt reverberated in Hallie's chest. She didn't mean to be too pushy; she wasn't used to someone caring that much. It wasn't what she knew how to deal with. Besides, she was fine.

"Miscenus is back," Perialla said, holding the door open for the gasping Sóma.

Miscenus halted his breath for a second to scan the room. He groaned. "Of course she went."

Nikas perked up. "Did you find food?"

"Yup. Got some for us, too. I figured we'd all need it by now."

He passed out chunks of bread and pieces of honey cubes. Hallie noted him giving her more than the rest. She didn't complain, though. Food was the one thing a Sóma couldn't complain about. It could cause a decade-long prison sentence.

She drew the line at Nikas not-so-discreetly sliding a honey cube her way.

There was a loud shriek before Semele threw herself into the room, falling on her stomach and rolling on her side at the foot of Miscenus's chair.

"Dang it," she said after spotting her brother.

Miscenus glared down at her. "I thought I told you to stay?"

"No one-" She winced. "I didn't die."

"I can see that." He sighed and averted his gaze. "Don't do that again."

Semele lit up. "No promises!"

"What happened?" Perialla got up and hugged her girlfriend. "You three look awful."

"Oh, nothing much." Taryn looked Perialla dead in the eye. "Just Laothoe killing someone."

Miscenus hacked on a honey cube, and Hallie felt her eyes go wide and her heart pump faster.

No, it's alright. Calm down. Four, seven, eight, Four, seven, eight.

"She did what!?" Miscenus got out of his chair and wrapped his arms around his sister.

Semele struggled against his firm grip. "Let go!" Her voice came out muffled.

"No."

"I'm fine! It's not like she killed me!"

She got an arm free and pushed Miscenus's face away. "Ha!"

Taryn sighed, and Hallie returned her attention to her. "What happened with Talaus?"

Nikas and Perialla's heads snapped toward Hallie.

"What, does she know him or something?" Taryn asked.

"It's complicated, Taryn," Nikas said, scooting himself closer to Hallie. Sheesh, she wasn't a sensitive child.

"They're claiming I had a panic attack."

Taryn narrowed her eyes. "And did you?"

"No!"

"Okay..." Taryn stared at her for five more seconds before looking away.

"Anyway," Hallie got up and clapped her hands together. "What's next?"

Nikas looked at her, horrified. "'What's next?' You cannot be serious."

"I am serious," she insisted. "We can't let this stop us. We know Laothoe is killing people-" Kirphis flinched. Hallie's heart stuttered. "-but we don't know what the Blessings are doing. They could be planning to rip a hole in the very fabric of the universe, and we wouldn't know! We owe it to everyone to stop them."

"We don't owe them-"

"No swearing!" was what Semele got out before succumbing to Miscenus's full-body hug.

"-anything." Taryn stood tall and held out a hand to Hallie. She took it and Taryn pulled her up. "But I like your thinking."

Perialla cocked her head to the side. "So you're continuing this? That sounds self-destructive and dangerous."

'Nonsense!" Taryn rubbed her hands together, an evil glint showing in her right eye.

"Yeah, nonsense!" Semele kicked Miscenus in the place where it would hurt the most and trotted over, leaving him to suffer on the floor alone. "I'd like to see Laothoe try to kill me!"

Miscenus let out a small whimper. Kirphis patted his back.

Nikas swiveled between Hallie and Taryn and Semele and Perialla who, despite including her criticisms, didn't argue.

"Yo, Nikas. You good?" Taryn squinted at him, and Semele snapped her fingers in his face.

Nikas blinked and buried his face in his hands. "Fine. I won't stop you." He raised his head. "But no Talaus. And run if you see Laothoe."

Hallie's body relaxed. She ruined everything; she was glad Nikas would let her fix this one thing.

"Excellent! Because I have plenty of other Blessings we can stalk!"

Hallie didn't like the steady growth of Taryn's evil eye glint.

"Who should I choose?" Taryn hummed. "I know! And I should have chosen her earlier. She definitely deserves it."

She cackled and took Semele's hands in hers. "Hero Sideris."

Wait, what.

Semele grinned. "Revenge and stalking. Win-win."

"I'm sorry. I don't think I heard you." Hallie blinked and brushed her hair behind her ears. "Hero?"

"Hero." Semele tilted her head. "Don't you know her? From the Kýrous? A Sóma?"

"Yeah, I know her." Hallie swallowed. "That's why I'm surprised."

"Really?" Taryn asked. "Because if you did know her, you wouldn't be."

Hallie sat down on the floor.

Taryn had a point; if anyone were to be a Blessing, it'd be Hero. She was the one who forced Charax to fire all the Taktikoí after all. Still, it was a lot to take in.

"I think I'm having a mid-life crisis," she mumbled.

Taryn furrowed her brow and went to shut the door. Was it open the entire time? "No judgment here, but I thought you were seventeen."

"I am, but the average lifespan is only thirty-five years," Hallie said mournfully. "Seventeen doubled is thirty-four. Add in the fact that I'm almost eighteen, and I'm practically dead already. Anything and everything I do will then turn to dust. And Hero will stand atop my ashes, telling tales of bruised egos and infidelity."

Taryn blinked at the sudden gravity of Hallie's words, mouth slightly agape. For once, she was quiet.

After having a moment, she cleared her throat and regained herself. "Still no judgment, but now I think you're having an existential crisis. And factoring in infant and adolescent mortality."

Semele was unbothered and unsurprised by the dark twist of the conversation. "I once had both, a mid-life and an existential crisis, when I was eight."

Hallie raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Both?"

Semele nodded. "Cenus taught me how to multiply."

Miscenus huffed and got off the floor. "You say that as if it explains everything."

"Does it not?"

"That'll take another minute," Taryn said. She plopped down next to Hallie as Semele and Miscenus argued about the relationship between mathematics, success, and dramatism. "Kirphis get over here."

Kirphis sighed but crossed the room without a complaint. "What?"

"Sit," Taryn commanded. He sat.

"So." She clasped her hands together in her lap. "What are we doing now?"

"Well-"

"No."

Kirphis looked annoyed. "I was going to suggest we eat - it's almost noon - but I guess Taryn's not hungry." He glared at the girl who didn't seem regretful at her easy dismissal of his idea.

Hallie winced and flashed Kirphis a sympathy smile. Or a pity smile. He could take it how he wanted. "Lunch sounds like a good idea."

Taryn lit up. "I love that idea!" She beamed, then shot Kirphis a look. "Next time be smart like Hallie."

She got up, deaf to the protests of Kirphis, and faced the room in front of her. Miscenus and Semele were still partaking in their little scuffle, and Nikas and Perialla were chatting on the couch. "We're getting food," she said and pointed to the door. "You have five minutes."

"Food?" Semele - yet again- slipped away from Miscenus and trailed after Taryn like a loyal dog. Or a bloodhound.

Miscenus shook his head at his sister's retreating back and held out his hand to help up Kirphis. The latter took it, and the former hoisted him up.

Hallie got up herself and joined Nikas and Perialla in their trek out the door.

---

"I'm bored."

"We just got back!"

"Hey, don't judge me!"

Semele collapsed on a chair and went out like a light. Hallie wondered if that was the shortest fight she and Miscenus ever had.

Miscenus sighed and walked over to her, scooping her up and placing her in a more comfortable position.

They spent the day wandering around Kardiá, dodging into alleys whenever the glares got vile. Hallie found it easier every time as if her fear was getting smothered by her insistence not to be an oddball. Nikas watched her without a word.

The sun was past the horizon by the time they headed back. Taryn insisted they take a vote, a vote both she and Semele were out-voted in. Taryn put up a fight - "What's the point of living without adult supervision if we have a bedtime?" - but Perialla convinced her it was best to go back. Then Kirphis said something about him and Nikas being adults. He and Taryn fought the rest of the way back.

"Lights out, I guess." Perialla turned to Nikas and Hallie. "You're welcome to stay the night. No pressure, though."

"That sounds fun, can we?" Hallie asked.

"You can do whatever you want." Nikas stared back at Hallie. "But fine. I'll stay, too."

"Good. Kirphis," Perialla said, walking over to him. "As always, the offer also extends to you."

Kirphis gave her a meek smile. "I'm sorry, my father wants me home tonight." He ran his hand through his hair. "Especially after today," he whispered.

Taryn groaned and fell backward, forcing Kirphis to catch her. "You're an adult for the gods' sake! Take some control over your life."

He glared down at her. "Oh, now you agree I'm an adult.

"Whatever."

Kirphis dropped her, and she landed in the shape of a starfish.

Taryn opened her mouth only to be caught off by Semele mumbling in her sleep. It wasn't audible to Hallie - even though she was closer - but Taryn seemed to have heard just fine. Her response was huffing and getting off the floor.

Kirphis stood in the doorway, rocking on both feet and biting his lower lip. Hallie wondered if he was scared or nervous. Either way, it was a first. "Goodbye."

And with that, he spun on his heel and left.

"You two can take the couch," Taryn said as she collapsed onto the other chair, much in the same way Semele did.

Hallie sat on the couch, unsure of what, exactly, she was supposed to do. Sleep? It never occurred to her to sleep on the furniture, it was always the floor. The same went for Nikas if his identical confused expression was anything to go by.

"It's softer than the floor," Perialla said as she laid down next to Taryn. "We don't have any blankets, so it's best to share body heat."

Hallie shrugged and moved closer to Nikas. He seemed apprehensive of the idea, but scooted over, anyway.

Perialla was right. It was warm.

It was nice, comforting even, having someone close by. The last time Hallie slept so close to somebody was with her sister when she was four. Her father was livid when he found out. Would he be livid if knew about Nikas? Probably.

Her mother once defined "home" as the place where you feel safe. Warm. Was this her home? It was an idea, an idea she'd have to explore later.

Or maybe the heat was going to her head.

Yeah, it had to be that.