▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐀 𝐒𝐩𝐲 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐊𝐄 𝐔𝐏 the next morning to find her daughter not beside her. Aphrodite frowned, removing the covers from her body and quickly taking a shower before getting dressed. Aphrodite walked out of the room, standing on the second floor as she narrowed her eyes in search of her daughter, only to come up empty handed. Spotting John, she made her way down the steps, and stopping him for a moment. Noticing her worried features, a frown immediately fell on his face as he came to a stop in front of her.

"Everything alright?" John questioned, watching her look around as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Have you seen Artemis?" Aphrodite questioned.

John paused for a moment before shaking his head. "I didn't think she was awake yet."

"Well, she is." Aphrodite sighed before nodding. "Alright, thanks anyways."

"Hey, we're about to leave." John told her.

"Clarice has my stuff." Aphrodite nodded before quickly making her way back up the stairs and exiting outside. She looked around for a moment, turning her head before looking up and spotting Artemis sitting there―︎the place in which was supposed to be closed off. Aphrodite sighed before making her way back inside and up to the roof. "Mind if I join?"

Artemis turned her head to look at her mother before gently nodding her head. She moved over some, allowing for Aphrodite to sit down beside of her. "Are you going to be okay whilst I'm gone? Because if you want me to stay, I'll stay."

"It's just a crush mom." Artemis scoffed. "I'm not dying."

Aphrodite looked at her for a moment, a frown on her face. "Art."

"Mom." Artemis cut her off and turned to look at her mother. "It was just a crush. I'll be okay. Go. Sonya's about to approach Clarice, and I really don't want my aunt to be killed." She gave her a sarcastic smile and Aphrodite chuckled before giving her a kiss on the head. "Love you, mom."

"Love you too, Art."

Aphrodite walked outside, coming to a stop beside her sister when she saw Clarice walk away from her. Aphrodite cocked an eyebrow at Sonya who only sighed and shook her head before entering the car. Aphrodite hummed, immediately knowing how that conversation went, before climbing into the other car with John, Sonya watching the two cars leave/. They pulled up to the Eternal Grace church, parking and getting out.

"Grateful you came so quick." The pastor told them. "Sentinel Services is even coming after us now. So much for sanctuary."

"How many refugees are there?" Marcos questioned.

"A dozen fled her when the station in Perry got hit." He answered. "Plus a few strays."

"Let's load them up." John nodded, watching as they came to a dumpster that was blocking the door to the building behind it.

"I just have to hide them in here during services." He was quick to tell them, still trying to push the dumpster away.

"I got you Padre." John said as he placed one hand on the dumpster and pushed it away with ease. The preacher looked at him in shock for a moment before turning towards the building and pulling out a key, quick to unlock the lock on it and pulling open the double doors. He held a hand to one of the mutants ready to attack.

"It's alright. These are friends. They'll get you to safety."

"Wow." Clarice whispered, sharing a look with Aphrodite as they watched the dozen mutants come from the building.

"Toss your stuff in the back, grab a seat, quick as you can." Marcos was quick to instruct them. "We'll brief you on everything once we get where we're going."

Just as they thought everyone was out, Clarice was quick to nudge Aphrodite's side, nodding towards the mutant that was huddled in the corner. "Hey," Clarice called to her. "You okay?" It was a little girl, Aphrodite noticed. "It's alright. Come on. I got you." Clarice held out her hand towards the girl. Hesitantly, the girl made her way forwards. That's when the sound of John being thrown grabbed her attention.

"John!" Aphrodite called his name, quick to make her way towards him only to be thrown back. Her head slammed against the ground as she was thrown away from him, landing harshly as a pained groan fell from her lips. She heard Clarice yell her name before Clarice snapped her head towards John who quickly requested for Clarice to get him above the mutant that was attacking them.

Marcos had placed two beams of sunlight on either side of the woman, causing for her to be stuck in one place, making the beams disappear long enough for John to jump through the portal and knock the woman out. Aphrodite was quick to get up upon noticing John struggle with the woman in his grasp. She was quick to run over before allowing the purple to appear in her hands, sending it into the woman's temple, making her go unconscious. John looked up at Aphrodite, watching the heavy breaths leave her lips before she turned her head to look at him.

Aphrodite watched as they got everyone in the car, a wince shuddering through her body as she brought a hand up to the back of her head, clenching her jaw when she saw blood coating her fingertips. John came over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder before noticing the blood on her fingers. He sighed.

"Are you alright?"

"I will be." Aphrodite assured him. "I'm just going to have a killer migraine." With a shake of her head she walked past him and entered the passengers side of the vehicle, closing her eyes as they made their way back to the Mutant Underground.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

After getting checked out and scolded by her sister and then her daughter, Aphrodite narrowed her eyes at the woman that had attacked the group of mutants. They had placed her in a cell. Sonya spoke first. "So, she was sent as a spy?"

"Something between a spy and a suicide bomber." Marcos muttered. "She had a beacon in her bag she could've activated. It would've sent Sentinel Services right to our front door. She had weapons, too."

"Yeah, it sounds like the station in Perry was hit by another one of these, uh, things." Lorna noted.

"If Sentinel Services is planting these things out there, we may need to stop taking in refugees." Sage informed them.

"You don't turn your back on desperate people because one of them is dangerous." John shook his head as he turned to look at Sage. He then look towards Reed. "Reed―︎we should get on the road. Try and figure out whatever we can about your dad before it's too late."

"Yeah." Reed agreed before the two walked out of the room.

"Hey, what about little Miss Vicious?" Lorna asked.

"We got to get what we can out of her." John told them. "See if you can figure out who she is." He looked between Marcos and Lorna. "Do you think you can handle this?"

"Yeah." Marcos nodded.

"We'll be fine."

John nodded before turning towards Aphrodite. He walked up towards her before softly saying, "Take it easy. You hit your head pretty hard back there, I don't want you having a concussion and trying to use your powers on her."

"Aye, aye, Captain." Aphrodite mused, giving him a two fingered salute.