More often than not Aphrodite found herself lounging and drinking wine on her red chaise, it was by design, of course. The chaise had been positioned so she could address anyone in the shop no matter where they were without having to leave it. The ultimate in relaxed efficiency, trademark pending.

As if by magic, her phone was suddenly in her hand and she began idly scrolling through her contacts. "Himeros, do you think anyone else in Olympus has one of these?"

"Sure they do," He nodded, "Hermes doesn't even lace up his sandals anymore unless he's delivering a message directly from Zeus, everyone else just texts."

"I've always sent letters." She muttered, realizing that her communications very seldom had responses. "Let me see yours." She snatched his phone from his hand and opened the contact list, scrolling until she found the name she wanted.

She copied the number into her own phone and proceeded to send a message.

Aphrodite: Hello, my love, it's been centuries, don't you miss me?

"How long until they respond?"

"Depends," Himeros said, rocking on his heels.

"On what?"

"On whether or not they want to talk to you I guess."

"He'll be delighted to hear from me, I'm sure of it."

"Um... you're not talking about who I think you're talking about right? Because every time you're around him you curse someone and -"

"I do not!" Her phone chimed and she looked down at the response.

Adonis: Persephone, that you babe?

Aphrodite screeched and chucked her phone at Himeros who ducked just in time.

"Adonis did always seem to carry more blood below his belt than above his neck. They can't all have the beauty and the brains, present company excluded, of course." Eros said, locking the front door of the shop behind him and scooping up Aphrodite's phone.

"What are you doing back so early?" She growled.

Eros looked at his brother, a flash of panic crossing his face. "Bel had to meet a friend."

"If you make me ask for further details I will turn your tall human into a sheep and make you herd her off of a cliff in my honor!"

Eros pulled at the collar of his shirt and swallowed hard. "Ember called, she sounded really upset and asked Bel to pick her up from the winery."

Aphrodite's eyes turned a flat black and her lips curled into a snarl. "That is it! I've had it!"

"Think about this for a second!" Eros jumped in front of her, blocking the exit, "it's just a misunderstanding, I'm sure he meant to kiss her, it's just you know he probably feels bad."

"Apollo fe-feels bad?!" She screamed, "A favor owed is a debt to be paid at the debtor's choosing and I choose now!"

Apollo's black coupe was a blur down Highway 92, cars flashing past him in streaks of black and gray as he maneuvered in and out of the lanes. Aphrodite mustn't get there first. He could still fix everything before it was too late.

It was unfortunate that Eros had no real control over his love life—especially given that he was the Cupid—and even if he was smitten with Bel, it didn't change the fact that he was in Aphrodite's service, though Apollo was thankful for the warning text his fellow archer had sent.

"Hades be damned!" He shouted, pounding his fist against the steering wheel. It'd been centuries since he'd entertained a romance. Especially with a human, they never lasted, and everyone else on Olympus was kind of related in some way. Who'd have thought he'd meet his soulmate at a winery? Aphrodite's involvement made it all feel too real, the girl thrust before him by the Goddess of Love herself. Aphrodite was cunning and rash but there was no way she could have known.

Traffic came to a screeching halt and he slammed on his brakes, nearly rear-ending a minivan. He cursed and grabbed his phone from the passenger seat, dialing Ember's number and practically crushing the small phone in his grip when she sent his call directly to voicemail. He opened their texts and began to type.

Apollo: Ember, please, I will try to explain, just please answer the phone.

He hesitated on his next message, he couldn't say what he wanted, but he had to warn her, he had no choice.

Apollo: Stay away from Amara! Do not let her into your house, I'm begging you.

He dialed Bel's number and sent up a silent prayer.

"Hello?"

"Bel!"

"Erm, I'm sorry Jude, she doesn't want to talk to you."

"I know, that's okay, can you do me a favor?"

"Maybe." Bel didn't sound like she hated him completely, so that was a good thing.

"Can you please keep her -"

Bel interrupted Apollo speaking in a shrill voice laced with faux innocence, "Oh! No one, I'm listening to a voicemail, yes... oh I didn't even hear a knock. Sorry, Voicemail someone is at the door."

"Don't answer it!" Apollo screamed into the disconnected line.

For the next thirty minutes, all he could do was slowly inch closer to Ember's house, hoping that whoever knocked on her door had not been Aphrodite. But, no one was responding to any of his texts, not even his sister.

When he pulled onto Shycan Street he switched off his headlights and parked a few houses down, but it didn't appear as if he needed to take such precautions when he noticed that the only car parked in the driveway was Ember's.

He walked up the front steps slowly, trying to peer in through the small window on the door but the house was too dim. He knocked and waited less than a second before banging his fist on the door.

"Ember!"

He heard the shuffling of feet and watched as a shadow grew closer through the window. The door cracked open and Ember's sleepy face peered out at him.

"Jude?"

"Thank the gods you're okay."

"It's late." she croaked.

"I didn't mean to arrive so late, but with traffic and... Actually, I just want to clear things up from earlier, and I couldn't wait."

Ember nodded, stepping back and letting him inside.

Apollo placed a hand on her shoulder and attempted a reassuring squeeze, knowing that what he was about to admit could send any sane person into a panic. "I know you may think this sounds crazy," he laughed softly, "but Amara and I aren't... well we aren't what you think, our home isn't technically in Greece, it's on Mount Olympus, and — "

The sound of slow clapping issued from his right and he removed his hand from Ember's shoulder to peer into the darkness of the kitchen.

"We're from Mount Olympus, boo hoo." Aphrodite stepped forward her hand stroking Apollo's face, "I think Himeros makes a good little redhead, don't you?"

Apollo staggered backward, his mouth pulled into a tight grimace as he set eyes on the spot Ember had stood to find a distressed Himeros. He'd let them toy with him and play on his vulnerability as if he'd forgotten the nature of the gods on Olympus.

"I warned you," Aphrodite growled, "and you chose to defy me anyway. Now, her blood is on your hands."

Apollo lunged forward, his hand flying to Aphrodite's throat.

"Ooooh!" She purred. "You're always the most fun when you care."

"Then take your angst out on me and leave her alone! Wasn't this entire game a setup to fix her love life?"

"Don't be so dramatic." Aphrodite rolled her eyes, "I don't care about her love life, not truly anyway, I just wanted to see if I still had it." Aphrodite huffed, "I haven't harmed her just yet... but I'm getting there. I will not be defied, not by gods and certainly not by humans."

Apollo's eyes searched the room and landed on the staircase. Maybe he could still make it to Ember, still get her away from Aphrodite and into safety.

"Are you seriously looking for her? Ember has been gone for hours. I only stayed behind to torment you. You should have just kissed her, now you'll have to wait to tell her who you really are, that is if... you ever find her." Aphrodite snapped her fingers and Himeros lurched forward his feet dragging him forward of their own accord. He gave Apollo an apologetic glance and followed Aphrodite out the door.

She'd outsmarted and tricked him, but he knew someone just as clever, someone who could hunt the most elusive creatures, someone who would find Ember before the sun rose. His sister. He pressed his phone to his ear, "Artemis? I need your help."