Little one don't be a fool, I'm a wreck when I look mighty

- Chris Cornell, "Follow my Way" -

- Stávros, Ithaca. The Land of Odysseus, Athena's favourite.

The little boy was curled up under his covers, trembling; the only sounds in the room being his laboured breathing and the wind against the shutters. His parents were out on a business party, and had left him under the care of his grandmother, an extraordinary healthy woman who was now snoring on the sofa downstairs.

He had felt the fear even before they left, and had cried like a baby while trying to convince his parents to stay. He had stopped after his mother had told him that men didn't cry, and as the six years old boy that he was, he had stopped immediately, wanting to prove her his strength. False strength. Once they were gone, the fear only increased. Not even his grandma's tales had been able to push it away.

And then she had fell asleep, just when it had grown so much that he could almost touch it. Or could be touched by it.

When he felt his skin going cold at the feeling of invisible fingers, he ran to his bedroom, locked the door and hid under his covers, summoning the unbreakable protection that his bed could possess.

Fever came then, faster than lightning, and too high as to notice it as such. It made his body go numb and sticky, and his mind grow weak and easily misguided.

He prayed then. Not to the God of his parents, but to one of the real ones, the twelve beings that his grandfather had taught him to call on for help when need arrived. He called for the one that favoured children above others, called to her and begged for her protection.

He called her by her names. Called her Alpheia. Called her Orthia. Called her Brauronia, Nemorensis, Letogeneia.

Called her Artemis.

She did not answer.

Early in the morning, the boy was found dead. No possible explanation was found by the parents and relatives; nor by the doctors and the autopsy they performed on the body, and the case was catalogue under the ever-ambiguous label of sudden death.

- Cyprus. Birthplace of Aphrodite, Land of Delights.

The crone could not understand and just stared dumbfounded at the bloodied body of the young woman on the bed before her. Her arms were weak and trembling, yet they refused to let go of the still form that they were keeping against her chest.

In her long years of helping women in labour to deliver their children, she had saved many of them from the grip of death, and when she had found it impossible, she had always saved the babies.

Her prayers and the rituals and spells that had been passed on from generation to generation had never failed her.

Until now.

All knots had been untied, all men had been forced to leave the house, iron had been left on all the right places, and the proper herbs had long been burning. She had used all the spells, from the minor ones to the most severe, and had called, begged and cursed all the minor goddesses that tended to women in labour. Nothing had worked, the woman remaining incredibly tight and dry, the baby refusing to obey the contractions and later the pressure she kept applying on the oversized stomach of the screaming woman.

She called for Her, then. For the one that guarded over women in labour and their struggling babies. She called her by her names. Called her Eileithyia, Saviour, Olympian and Tridaria.

Called her Artemis.

She did not answer.

So there she was now, the crone, all alone, the only breathing being in that room, holding a dead baby that she had had to pull out of his dead mother's womb after she had lost conscience and bled to death, her tired eyes refusing to move away from the corpse of the young woman.

And she could not understand what had gone wrong.

- Tokyo, Japan. Graude Foundation Head Quarters. Ninety percent of the stocks belonging to Saori Kido, sole heiress to the fortune of the late Mitsumasa Kido and to the legacy of Mitsumasa's most trusted servant and her tutor, Tokumaru Tatsumi. The rest of the stocks belonging to private agents.

It was something out of a video game. Virus somehow escapes the lab's security measures and all the scientists and researchers pay the price of playing with God's most dangerous creations by mutating or turning into mindless zombies.

Except that this time no virus had escaped, the buildings being nothing but a huge archive of files, lawyers, accountants and money, and no one had mutated nor turned into walking dead.

But they had died. Two hundred forty eight employees of the greatest commercial empire on earth had collapsed and died in a space of five minutes on the third and forth floor of the main building; before the zone was isolated and the virus -or whatever had caused the deaths- was stopped from spreading further. The departments of development, production and forestation ceased their activities for days, and the loss was impossible to calculate, surpassing the billion yens in the first few minutes.

Oddly enough, when the seals were lifted and the zone analysed, no trace of any kind of virus remained. Not in the air, nor the water, nor the bodies. Nothing at all. If it hadn't been for the dead bodies, it could be said that nothing had happened.

It was as if all of them... had died by natural causes.

Sudden death.

- Village of Kohotek, Eastern Siberia, Russia. Training ground of the Ice Saints, an elitist and secluded sect of warriors able to control ice and water dedicated to the Goddess Athena.

The hunters stared at their work with a mixture of hatred, anger and disgust. None of them felt satisfaction, none of them could taste the sweetness of revenge in their mouths.

After all, the death of the pack of wolves they had exterminated could not return the lives of the dozen children they had feasted on. No one quite knew where they had come from, it was strange for wolves to wonder so close to human settlements, specially in such a big number. From their tracks, it seemed they had come from the southern plains, in a peregrination that seemed almost impossible.

It was as if... they had been drawn to the towns. As if the blood had summoned them. Many considered it a tragedy. Something that could not have been prevented.

Others considered it a consequence of environmental changes produced by the creation of new settlements on what once had been wilderness.

And few... considered it an omen of disaster. Rumours were spreading around the fires, about Hyoga returning to Camus' cottage, about the woman he was hiding there, once another child under Camus' tutelage, now a wounded thing that, according to the women that had tended to her wounds, had been about to die and was now miraculously recovering.

Rumours spoke about a pact with the devil or some evil mysterious force.

For the first time, rumours spoke against the beings whose presence they had once seen as a source of honour.

Rumours spoke against the Ice Saints.

Against Athena.

And called them a curse.

- Sanctuary, Athens, Home of the Goddess Athena and her Saints

Mu did not need to check the time to know that whatever chances he had had of reviving her were gone. It had started somewhere during the afternoon, at the training grounds. According to the Bronze Saint that brought her in, the newly appointed Boötes Solovei, he was due to meet her at the arena, but when she did not show up, he began to walk around to kill time. He found her near by, shuddering against one of the columns, her skin gone pale and her huge eyes looking empty. Her mask was broken at her side, and she was holding between trembling fingers a lock of her own hair.

It was something that was possible... even when they had all hoped it would not happen, specially not after Artemis' intervention. That did not make it any easier.

The effects of the acid rain had developed and had gnawed at her life until taking it completely; all that Mu was able to do was mellow her pain until Albinach's heart stopped beating. He had tried to bring her back, applying both medical knowledge as much as his own cosmo and the words sprung out from Faith.

But all had been in vain.

All that remained was the cold corpse of a thirteen years old girl, covered in linen in the House of Healing, and the crying figure of the young Saint that had been her protector and friend, still holding her hand, as if keeping the contact would somehow keep her there.

He knew what was going on through the boy's head, and knew there was nothing he could say or do to make him feel better, except to place his hand on his shoulder to remind him that he was not alone. The boy cried harder at the feeling of sympathy, and was finally able to release the girl's hand, to turn to Mu and cry against his chest, holding to him as if he were holding to life itself.

Neither could understand what had made the symptoms return, while Solovei's mind kept blaming himself, for he had suffered the same illness and he... had lived.

It was a good thing that he never found out that the reason Albinach's mask was broken was because she had decided to leave her training and her position as a female saint for him. That it was broken because she had wanted him to see her, abandoning that way the protection of Athena. And the blessings of Artemis, to whom, as all girls raised in the ancient ways when deciding to allow a man to take them, she had planned to give the propitiatory lock of her hair.

-Ortygia, Greece, Sacred Island consecrated to the Goddess Artemis, currently occupied by the Goddess Aphrodite.

Gemini Kanon and Chameleon June followed the priestess that was leading them towards the White Temple through a path of white pebbles. They had arrived by night and were still tired, but the Goddess wanted to see them first thing in the morning and them, having asked exactly for that, couldn't but comply to her command.

During their walk through the maze of paths that led to Aphrodite's marble abode, they had come across a small town, consisting mostly of some small buildings and huts. It was a hunters' settlement, with pelts drying near the fire outside the houses and a small construction made specially to store the grains, fruits, vegetables and salted meat that was left for those that stayed during the hunting seasons. After a short questioning of the woman guiding them, they found out that it was the only town at the Island, which proved that its inhabitants were so few that, in full blown war, they could not be considered a real threat. It was something that Kanon, fond of strategy and the arts of war as few others, stored in the back of his head for future use.

The other thing he stored, was a pearl of knowledge that he had not hoped to find after the ease and familiarity that the priestess of Aphrodite had shown towards the inhabitants of the island. It seemed that a hunting party had returned some hours before their crossing of the town, and they were busy preparing the prizes as to notice their passing presence, or at least change their behaviour due to it.

Yet what Kanon did notice, was the name the leader of the hunters invoked when sinking his blade on the largest prize, a deer of a quite surprising size.

He had thought he had been mistaken, but as the ritual followed, there were no doubts left.

Even when Aphrodite seemed to have bent the Island to her will, there were things she had still not been able to eradicate.

For the man had called for his Goddess. For the Huntress, the Hind, the Lady of Wild Things.

He had called her Laphria, Tauropole, Wolfish and Alpheia.

He had called her Artemis.

And by the satisfied faces that followed the burning of the blood of the greatest catch, Kanon was certain that, for the group of hunters leading the ritual, She had answered.

-Sanctuary, Athens, temple consecrated to the Goddess Eris.

Eris was sitting outside, braiding her hair, and carefully trying to weave a golden strand with a blue one to enhance the different tones of her wavy mane. The weather was heavy and sticky, so warm that it was even able to make her rethink her plans of seducing Jabu to her bed later on. Rain was coming. She could feel it in her bones, on her skin, all around her cosmos.

A shudder ran down her spine. She had always hated storms.

" Hungry? " Her smile deepened at the sound of that high-pitched voice, her stomach replying with a grumble.

" Seems so " she conceded with a dramatic sigh while pushing the dozen little braids she had made already over her shoulder.

" It will rain " the small chinese woman said, sitting by her side on the steps of her temple. She was carrying a large basket, from which she immediately started to take some bread, cheese and olives.

" Greece finest " Eris observed, arching one of her eyebrows as if she were in deep thought, to later sink her arm into the basket and fish an arrogant olive that had been calling her attention. " Bored? " she asked, still playing with the heart of the olive in her mouth.

Shunrei sighed. " Slightly. There are so many things to do in this place... " she began, closing her small hands into fists to give emphasis to her words, " ... but I am not allowed to do any of them "

Eris found her pout extremely cute and couldn't but giggle.

" I don't see what's so funny about it "

Her giggles grew more difficult to control.

Shunrei frowned and bit on a chunk of bread quite exaggeratedly.

" Oh, please, don't get mad, Shunrei of Rhozan " Eris said, hugging her by the shoulders. Shunrei glared at her, " Just don't let things get to you so badly "

" I guess you are right "

... if you, a mortal, feels trapped and useless, imagine how a God would feel in your place

" Of course we are, we are a Goddess " she said, frowning slightly while playing with a golden lock with certain disgust in her face, " Partially, at least " she finished, releasing the lock and pushing it away.

" Eris... "

The Goddess turned Mortal looked at the girl through golden-blue eyes, somewhat amused by the girl's decision to call her by her name... and by her choice of what name to call her after.

" Shunrei? "

She bit her lip. " You... "

Eris rolled her eyes. For someone whose mind was so set on screaming its thoughts to any God near by, the girl was incredibly slow at putting those thoughts into words.

" Yes, yes, we said we would answer. We keep to that " she frowned and moved closer, tapping the tip of Shunrei's delicate nose with her index, " You know, we are getting tired of mortals thinking Gods are so prone to breaking promises " she moved away, lifting her hands in exasperation. " We never do! Our promises are as safe as houses! "

Shunrei smiled. There was something about the two-minded Goddess that made her feel comfortable. Which was the best she could say of anyone she had met at Sanctuary.

Eris glared.

" If you say that, coming from the Goddess of Discord, those words really ease your fears, then you can consider yourself released from our deal and can go back to the barracks or wherever the saints' relatives are made to sleep. Shoo, shoo "

Her smile deepened.

" Please "

Eris lifted an eyebrow.

" Please what? "

Shunrei bowed her head with respect.

" Please, Goddess "

Eris beamed and pat her head.

" Good girl "

" Now, girl, you are thinking too honestly, even for our taste " Eris added, removing her hand. The thoughts in Shunrei's head made her feel too much like Ellie, and she needed the Goddess in her to remain strong. No matter how much she told to herself that she wasn't mad, she knew that it all depended on the balance between both minds. Whenever one of them became too strong... the other couldn't but panic and try to slash back.

" I am... sorry. I still... "

" Now, don't worry over something like that. You think too loud, we share a body, your saint is depressed. No one is perfect " she said with a wicked glitter in her changing eyes.

Shunrei frowned, noticing too well how she had slipped Shiryu into the conversation. She should have expected it. Eris had been clear with her ever since they had first talked. She was not Athena. She would not give her peace, she would not ease her pain.

She would shatter everything she could get her hands on. Including her.

" I... am sorry " she repeated, staring at the white houses on the distance, the small town that thrived thanks to Sanctuary. The only corner of humanity that Athena's land had allowed itself to have.

Eris sighed, resting her chin on her hand. " What worries you now, girl? " she asked, her voice less playful and a little more serious than before. Both the Goddess and the Mortal in her had grown quite fond of the small chinese girl, of her blunt and timid ways, and both found her pain somewhat discouraging.

Besides, there was nothing else to do. She could at least listen to her, it would be a change to her routinely lifestyle.

" I don't feel... wanted here "

" That's an odd word to use. Wanted? We thought you said useful before "

" Both, I guess " the girl shrugged. " Why things must be like this? "

Eris did not doubt.

" Because Glory must be attained. And in order to do so, obstacles must arise "

" But what about happiness? What about love?! " the girl bit her lower lip when she said that last word, looking away.

" Happiness is the gift for those who do not want to be remembered. And Love... don't you know already, Shunrei of Rhozan? It is the cause behind all the things that you despise so much "

" Those that fight refuse to love " she murmured through clenched teeth.

" Those that fight do so because of their love. Your dragon refusing to express that love to you does not change the fact that he is fighting for it " Eris stood up, brushing away the crumbles from her tunic. " The Gods love this place and the people that live in it, that's why they fight for it. And you love that dragon of yours, and that's why you are here, fighting your own logic that keeps telling you to return to Rhozan and live a happy life away from this mayhem. Fighting your own internal war and being unhappy about it "

The colour of her eyes seemed to shift as she stared into the distance, the expression on her face seeming deep in thought. In remembrance of a past that had long taken place, but had never been forgotten. Deep blue shone under heavy lids, and the ghost of a smile -sincere and sad as Shunrei had never witnessed- passed over the goddess' lips.

" Love is the greatest source of Discord " she glanced at her when saying that, bringing the feeling of despair into the raven-haired girl, " Love is the maker of War "

" That can't be true " Eris frowned at the girl's determined outburst '' I refuse to believe that nonsense "

" How dare you? " she couldn't but let out, fazed by her sudden change in mood.

" Love has been the one to stop all the battles that the Saints have had to face, it has been the one thing that granted them victory. Love for this land is what makes Athena want to protect it so much... "

" And the same kind of Love was the one that drove her former Kyoko insane, wasn't it? " the goddess interrupted her, the mortal part of her wishing not to have to do this to the girl, the immortal part wishing it with all her heart.

" Love for the saints under his command and for the people they were defending. A love so great that wished them free from the cycles, even if doing so involved madness and treason " she grabbed the girl's chin and forced her to look into her eyes, to see the honesty and the ruthlessness in them.

" Love was what made the God Warriors fight for their mad queen even when knowing her fallen "

" Love was what made Poseidon flood the earth "

" Love is the very core of the cycles. Athena's fierce love for mankind "

She let go of her, dark cosmo flowing around her. Godly.

" The feeling that you claim to have stopped the battles is the one to have started them, Shunrei of Rhozan "

" Yet she is not alone to blame... we all love, one way or the other, and we all must face the consequences "

The chinese girl couldn't but stare; awe, pain and fear shinning in her dark eyes.

" We are all willing to face them, that's the stupid part of it all. For the silly, childish chance to love, we are willing to see the whole world burn "

She backed away when Eris approached her again, but the goddess did not stop, and loomed over her, dark blue locks of hair flowing around her like a veil, dancing with her overpowering cosmo.

" Please... "

" Please what, Shunrei? " she asked, tilting her head, the line of her neck so perfect that it couldn't but be inhuman.

" Please, Goddess... "

And she laughed, bitterly and loudly, throwing her head back and covering her mouth with her hand.

" You stared into my half sister's eyes. You saw the White One's pain and madness. You know of the Girder-on-of-Arms' preparations for war "

" Do you know who will they face? "

She took some steps backwards, hiding her cosmo with the same ease with which she had released it. Gold was gone from her eyes, and slowly but surely, it was disappearing from her mind " Love is something we all feel "

" Yet it is only in one of us to control it. Will that love you speak of, that pure idealistic feeling that you claim to have won Athena's battles, will be able to overpower Her? "

" And here we are, speaking of love and happiness, your simple mind telling you that you can wish for both even when I keep telling you that that is impossible. Here we are, you already fighting, already choosing. And all because I told you the answers you did not want to hear " she sat once again, grabbing a bottle of ouzo from the basket. Shunrei remained still, unable to move, tears welling up her eyes despite of her effort not to shed them.

" Athena is the goddess for you, Shunrei. Someone more human than myself " Eris whispered, her eyes lost in an imaginary dot in the distance, sadness clouding their godly light. She had thought that it had been the mortal in her the one that felt pain at making the girl suffer. She had been wrong.

" She would have told you the truths that you could handle. She would have told you how much she loves you, how much your saint and your mentor love you. She would have told you that everything would fall into place eventually. That she would see to that "

" She would not lie, you know? She does love you dearly, and your mentor cares so much about your well being that he almost died in the inside when Artemis kept you in her temple. As for your Saint... he loves you so much... " A wishful expression took over the goddess' pretty face, " ... and that frightens him. That love makes him lose control, something he was trained to value over everything... and that love brings unhappiness to you. And it is not a secret how much you desire happiness "

" He is not able to fulfil your dreams, and he knows it, Shunrei. As much as you know it yourself "

The tears fell from her eyes unbidden now. Eris could hear the words of negation and the feeling of despair that were running through the girl's mind as if they were being screamed into her ear. She wished to reach out for her, a wish born from the desire to protect her that the younger girl had provoked on her ever since their meeting. The very same desire that Dohko, Shiryu and Athena had.

A desire born out of love.

Yet she stopped herself. There was no need to act upon it, no point. It was not her place to bring comfort.

" You came for answers you already had. You just keep refusing them, only because they go against your wishes. You know your options, to return to Rhozan and be happy there, to stay and remain waiting for something that you know will never happen. You are so... human "

Dark blue eyes fixed on the girl's darker ones.

" I would leave if I had your freedom, Shunrei, but we both know you won't " she smiled sweetly, her lips curling in the most beautiful smile Shunrei had ever seen, " Because love is worth all the pain in the world, isn't it? "

The blue gaze moved away from her, and fixed over her shoulder, pain mixing with a warmth that seemed so similar to Athena's.

Shunrei followed that gaze, to see in the distance the figure walking towards them. She knew the man from some place... one of the bronze saints that had fought at the Tournament...

" It's about to rain, Ellie " he said when reaching the place where they were sitting, his eyes travelling over the rests of the improvised picnic with curiosity, lingering for an instant on Shunrei's puffy eyes.

Eris closed her eyes and shook her head slightly. When she opened her eyes once again, Shunrei could see that the dark blue had almost disappeared, replaced by amber. She couldn't but wonder how many of the things the goddess had told her were related to her own personal turmoil. The fact that the man called her by her mortal name did not go unnoticed.

" You are wrong, Jabu " she said, her smile widening, " it will be more than rain. It will be a storm " her features softened, " We knew you would come "

The tired expression of the Bronze Saint Shunrei finally managed to recognise as the Unicorn was lifted momentarily, yet her presence soon made him hide that admission of care.

Eris stood up, and began to pick up the things that were scattered around them, placing them in the basket. She handed it to Jabu, who stared at her, puzzled.

" We think it wouldn't be safe for Shunrei to return on her own " she said matter-of-factly. " Besides, you need to ask her what did we tell her and what was the nature of her presence here " she went on, squeezing his hand fleetingly at the pained expression on the man's face. He could be his lover, but he was foremost his guard, no matter how much he insisted on pretending that wasn't the case. And both knew that it was his duty to see that she did not try anything against Sanctuary during her... stay... behind its walls. It was his duty to report on everything she said and did. Both Goddess and Woman couldn't but pity him, knowing that if they both were to release him, to grant him freedom, then the task would be a lot more easier for him. Then he could be happy.

But they both loved him, and they couldn't let go.

" We would appreciate if that wasn't done in our presence " she said lowly.

Jabu nodded faintly, the pain visible on his face.

" Shunrei, allow me to escort you back to safe ground " he said courtly. Shunrei stared at Eris, then after her nod of reassurance, got up and accepted.

" Don't let anything we said plague you, Shunrei of Rhozan " the goddess said, hugging her.

The words came unbidden to her mind, a soft caress of godly cosmo that spoke just for her. Shunrei closed her eyes tightly, noticing how the need to cry was building up inside her once again. She clung to the goddess firmly, her small hands returning the embrace, trying to find some sense of protection even when knowing she would find none.

::: No matter how much you might wish for the contrary :::

" Now leave " the goddess said, releasing her, " We don't want either of you to catch a cold for coming all the way here "

Jabu obliged, leading the way. Shunrei stared at the goddess made of blue and gold, at the broken creature that Sanctuary kept insisting on keeping chained when it had chained itself to Sanctuary by its own free will. She did not miss the double meaning of the two words she gave her.

To leave... and be happy.

When Jabu asked her what they had been talking about, she told him the truth. Told him that they had been talking about love. That she had turned to her because there was no one else in Sanctuary she could talk to.

Oddly enough, Jabu did not press the subject, falling into silent steps. It wasn't until their arrival to the barracks that he spoke again. He hesitated at first, until he finally managed to say the words that had been going through his head ever since they had stopped talking.

He asked her if Eris had smiled. When she nodded, he asked her to keep on visiting her. Because she had managed to do more than what he could. She would never forget the thought that escaped Jabu's lips before he left to return to Eris' temple.

He brought nothing but unhappiness to her.

Shunrei packed her bags that day.

He was the strongest of them all, with the gift of rebirth and the anger needed to make his wings turn afire. He was the mightiest of them all, a one-man-army that could change the outcome of any battle with his presence.

His alliance was a blessing, his enmity was a curse.

He was the warrior all admired and most feared.

He was all of that... and he was also dying.

His self-proclaimed priestess had found him, lying on the beach of the island that was his hell, already drowned in a deep coma. News had reached Sanctuary faster than lightning, and it wasn't long for Ikki, the unconquerable Phoenix, to be checked in into a state of the art hospital maintained by the Graude Foundation.

No one understood what had happened; not the doctors, who found nothing wrong with his body, nor the girl that had demanded to be allowed to stay by his side by all times with such a determination that the staff of the hospital had had to comply.

His brother could sense something, though. Something that most mortals would never realise, but for a Saint it was easy to grasp.

Something had changed in Ikki's Cosmos.

No. It wasn't a change. It was just that his cosmo... wasn't there.

No matter how hard did he try to find it with his own.

So once again, Shun, the Andromeda Saint, cursed and blessed as only few mortals were, found himself in the situation of watching someone close to him being taken away by something he could not protect him from.

It was torture all over again, yet this time crueller... a lot harsher than it had ever been.

This time... everything had lost its meaning. There was nothing in his mind except fear, nothing in his eyes except for the image of his brother, lying still in his bed, connected to a thousand cables that were unable to pinpoint what was keeping him from waking up. And there was nothing in his cosmo except the void... the nothingness that had replaced the fiery aura of the Phoenix.

His fingers were tight around his, sometimes pressed too hard just to bring a reaction... anything. Nothing ever happened.

" It was that island... that wicked place " the girl started, repeating the same words she had been uttering time after time. Shun did not leave his eyes from his brother's calmed face and pretended not to listen.

" It always hated him... the cloth shouldn't have been taken there, it should have stayed where it belongs " her voice turned vicious with determination.

" Helen... " Shun whispered, wishing with all his heart for her to shut up.

" It's true! " She slammed her hands on the bed forcefully, his eyes rising to meet hers with unwanted compliance. " It's ... true. The Phoenix would have never... Ikki would have never... "

Shun felt the knot in his throat tighten when seeing the state she was in ... the way her lips were quivering, the way her eyes shone with tears that, even when she kept refusing to shed, were already sliding down her rosy cheeks.

Just like his were.

" He'll recover... " he said, standing up without releasing his brother's hand, " whatever happened to him... he'll return to his usual self.. " He stretched his free arm towards her. The girl looked at him through narrowed eyes. She had a whole village under her charge... she was the one to guard the sleep of the Phoenix...

And she was also a child. So she ran to his lord's younger brother and hid her face against his chest, crying openly the moment his hand rested over her back.

" He always comes back " he let out, his voice sounding incredibly foreign to him. " He is not the kind of man... " he was unsure whether the sobbing sounds were his or Helen's. Maybe both. Her tight embrace felt comforting, though. Maybe that was why he had held her in the first place. Because he had been the one that needed to be held.

" ... that can be left behind "

" I should... I should have... "

He looked at the crying creature that clung to him so forcefully. She felt guilt? What could her brain be telling her she could have done? She was nothing but a girl. Whatever had happened... she could have done nothing to stop it.

" You should stay here. By his side, with me "

Helen's puffy eyes fixed on the sleeping figure. She nodded and moved away from Shun slowly. With small yet certain steps, she pushed a chair next to his and sat down, hands resting on her lap and tired eyes expecting him to do the same.

Shun smiled faintly and rubbed his eyes. The tears were drying already. That was good. Ikki always hated it when he cried.

Oddly enough, time passed and it did not rain. The weather remained grey and heavy, with the humid scent of clouds about to explode, turned so warm that even breathing felt like too much labour. Eris sighed, sitting on the marble floor before her temple; her flowing tunic sprawled around her. It wasn't exactly the vision a mortal would like to have of his God, but it didn't really matter to her. No one came to her temple. Well, no one except Jabu, and Shunrei of the late, but both were on their way to the barracks, which allowed her to behave as she pleased.

She sighed, brushing the sweat of her brow away with the back of her hand. Damn weather. Damn Shunrei and her questions.

Damn Jabu and that pained puppy look on his face.

Damn Ellie.

And Eris.

No point in blaming only the mortal when the immortal held part of the blame.

She lied back, placing one of her arms behind her head to use as pillow. The cool, slightly humid marble felt like a caress against her bare back.

" Damn you too " she said through her pouted lips, her eyes resting for a second on the overpowering figure of Athena's statue, whose position at the top of the Twelve Houses made it easy to spot from any place within Sanctuary.

She closed her eyes then, the perfect effigy of a sleeping beauty, resting carelessly amidst the waves of her dress on a white marble floor. Most would think her truly asleep, judging from the peaceful expression on her face and the ups and downs of her chest as she breathed.

Lovely and gentle, she poised as a mirage of beauty worthy of the Immortal in her.

Her cosmo was far from matching that image. Under her closed lids, images kept appearing in her eyes, shouted into her mind from every corner of the world.

Images of death, blood and anger and despair. A handful of events that could mean nothing for most... yet for her meant it all.

Discord was spreading, faster than what she had hoped for.

She strained her cosmo further, trying to grasp all the changes in the endless webs of cosmos that spread throughout the realms, trying to force some of those changes onto them.

She arched her back at the sensations, hoping Jabu would hurry from the barracks and would take her there. The prelude to a war always turned her on.

She frowned at the voice whispered into her mind.

She sensed rather than felt the presence of an invisible finger running over her lips. She opened them ever so slightly, the tip of her tongue meeting nothing but air where the indecent finger should be.

Yet once she closed her mouth, she was surprised to find the taste over her tongue incredibly sweet.

This time she knew that opening her eyes or trying to find a corporeal threat near her was in vain, and chose to push the boundaries of her cosmo instead, trying to find the owner of that dark voice among the threads of cosmos that flowed everywhere.

Her cosmo was subdued with such power that it forced a whimper out of her throat, the pain turning increasingly physical. Eris tried to open her eyes and end her trance, but found it impossible. Whoever was talking to her was strong enough to trap her into her own cosmo.

Laughter was the answer to her question. Cruel, unfathomable and uncaring.

Utterly familiar.

::: ... sister? :::

Slowly but surely she began to understand, the uncertainty that had taken over her at first slowly subduing and being replaced by her determined prodding as she tried to tap into that invasive cosmo.

::: One of the bastards, aren't you? Which one?:::

If she had asked out loud, her voice would have sounded full of venom and disgust. As it was said through her cosmo, it sounded even worse. It was soaked with hatred.

And then she found it. Or he allowed her to find him. She would never be able to tell. One instant, there was nothing but darkness and some lost threads of weak cosmos around her, then there was a blinding and overpowering light, burning through dark and weakness and devouring everything in its way.

Except her. They were family after all.

The figure among the light made a theatrical vow and fixed his burning eyes on her. They looked like two miniature suns.

::: What do you want from us? :::

A smirk graced lips indecently full and sensuous, giving the owner a primal beauty.

It took her all her willpower to pay attention to his words instead of his looks. The mortal in her was captivated by his pale skin and midnight hair, by his slender physique and fine features, by the way his long black tunic hung from his broad shoulders... by everything that made him inhuman and dangerous and enticing.

The immortal in her wasn't less awed.

After all, the presence she was seeing wasn't but an illusion. A mirage induced into her cosmo by his.

She was seeing the flawed version of his self, the reflection. Eris felt her lips going suddenly dry.

The sight of the God of the Sun had always been something to behold.

Her father's bastards. They were all gorgeous self-absorbed creatures that thought they knew it all, and considered themselves above anyone else. Specially above Hera's children.

His smirk deepened at her question.

::: War is coming, Sun God. And your crippled sister is warning the Gods about it. Whatever happened to her, it made her dare to play quite a dangerous game :::

She grinned like a cat when seeing the anger flash in Apollo's eyes. Regardless of his famous self-control, she was certain that behind it hid the same primitive rage that ruled over his twin. Blood always ran deeper than any moral value, she had witnessed it in Artemis, whose blood made her a frigid she-wolf, and would see it in Apollo, no matter how much he pretended to be able to control the monster he truly was.

Her father's bastards were nothing but abominations, and she was not going to let them act otherwise.

Yet for now... Apollo resisted.

::: You can't act against fate, Apollo :::

Something changed in the fire within his eyes, something Eris wasn't quite able to fathom... something that brought fear to her soul.

::: We want War :::

It was her time to feel anger.

She frowned in disbelief.

Eris laughed, hard and clear.

::: Yet you won't let her stop either. Python should have devoured both of you at birth, you are disgraceful and insane :::

The overpowering light began to fade slowly.

Because victory suited him, just as it suited his twin sister. They were made to shatter and break, to destroy and conquer.

They were Zeus' most inhuman children. And now both of them were tugging from Fate's threads as if it were nothing but a game, bringing desolation to earth and pain to mankind. And even when Eris felt disgusted and afraid, she had to admit she also felt tempted and enticed. The promise of blood always worked on her.

::: Don't use that excuse on us, Sun God, leave that to Athena. You tapped into our cosmo because you need to know where we stand, and we won't let your words mess with our decision :::

He nodded, his expression turning serious. Eris was starting to believe that the Twins were mad.

::: We are not to be trusted, Apollo :::

She frowned quizzically.

The shudder returned at the mention of the one word that had kept the goddess in her at bay all this time, the lack of that word making the mortal stronger.

The anger in her face must have been obvious through her cosmo, as the vision before her arched one of his delicate eyebrows and fixed his piercing eyes on hers.

Shunrei...

The question came tiredly, spreading through her cosmo to Apollo's fading one. Jabu was probably near by for him to be freeing her from his spell.

::: If I answer, will you tell me what I want to hear? :::

::: You know how much blood will be shed if we say those words? :::

She laughed.

Eris smiled and pushed her cosmo into his, allowing him to burn her.

Invisible lips kissed her own, the sweetness returning to her mouth. She mentally cursed him for being so damn alluring.

He smirked.

::: Shunrei, Apollo :::

His cosmo began to leave her, turning into faint threads that began to disappear in a sea of sparks. But before his presence disappeared completely, a single name was whispered to her ear, not in the shape of cosmo, but of his rich, deep voice.

" Caliope "

She laughed even when the mortal in her was dying to cry. It was so fitting, so utterly unfair and selfish, so bloody godly and proper of one of the Olympic twelve.

It was so them, to shatter all innocence and use every single human being for their own personal wishes.

Love? It was nothing but a perversion when felt by a God, a perversion they adored to indulge themselves in, never considering the consequences.

Never considering the loss.

" Ellie? "

She opened her eyes and turned to the approaching man behind her, standing up in a graceful movement and throwing her arms around him to greet him.

" My love, we had a dream, a wonderful, sad, nightmarish dream! "

" I am glad? " Jabu said, suppressing a smile. It was always so difficult for him to understand her, to know when she was teasing him, when she was being honest.

When was the Goddess the one in control, when the woman.

Not that he cared that much. He owed her, regardless of what she was made of. And he had to admit he was growing used to her cryptic ways.

She beamed at him, resting her face against his chest. He would have sworn she was purring by the time he began to caress her wavy hair.

" Shunrei is a good girl, isn't she? " she finally asked, the smile fading from her lips. " Did she stop crying when you took her to the barracks? "

" Yeah... Shiryu is a fool "

" You think all of them are fools, Jabu "

He chuckled.

" That doesn't make him any less a fool "

" We love you "

Jabu blinked, then looked down at the figure holding him as if her dear life depended on it. " What was that for? "

" Because we felt like telling you "

He kissed her forehead and held her tighter, unable to say the words he knew she was hoping for and wishing he would be able to. Wishing it with all his heart.

Cold drops began to fall over them, a thunder announcing the beginning of the storm. She jumped in his arms.

" I'm here "

The raindrops tasted oddly salty when touching her lips.

Melaenis crossed her legs slowly, resting her back against her golden throne in a leisurely pose. Her son was sitting next to her, on a throne placed just a mere inches below her; and standing at their sides, were Ortygia's pride and glory, Dictina and Hippolytus, high priests of the religious island and its clans. At the end of the large, white room, next to the gates, stood the other face of the coin, one representing the largest clan, the other being the head of the Guardians, Atalanta and Orion.

And at the centre of the room, kneeling and with their heads vowed, were Sanctuary's messengers, one of them whose name was famous even among the xenophobic inhabitants of Ortygia, the other a mystery by nature.

Green eyes analysed them thoroughly, staring at them through long, curled lashes. No attitude was wasted, no presence was fortuitous. She had waited for that moment for long, for the day on which Athena would send her Saints to her in a demonstration of respect and acceptance, and for that moment she had so long desired she prepared every single detail to match her expectations, and attain her goal.

So there she was, looking at them from above as the Goddess that she was, showing her power over the Island's most loyal and powerful warriors, and demonstrating that even when her son was with her, she was the real ruler, the one to have taken upon herself the responsibility of keeping the Balance of the Realms. Responsibility that Artemis had so openly neglected.

" Introduce yourselves " Dictina said with that small voice of hers that was still able to make anyone obey her. And even when her words were for both of them, her eyes were still fixed only on June, her eyebrows knitting together slightly when the male saint was the one to answer first.

" Gemini Kanon and Chameleon June, Saints of Athena"

Ortygia could be Melaenis', but it would always be ruled under the matriarchal hierarchy that Artemis had so thoroughly constructed. No ortygian woman would ever allow a man to answer for her.

Melaenis smiled faintly, the slightest curve taking over her lips. She could sense the displeasure in Dictina; she could even see, on the opposite end of the room, the expression of superiority on Atalanta's face.

Artemis had trained her warriors well, had turned men and women into wonderfully blind zealous dogs. For them, Ortygia meant it all, even more than the goddess ruling them. Endanger the island and they would rise against their master if needed.

That was how she had ended up sitting on the golden throne of what was now her island, that was the reason why Artemis had been forced into exile; and that, that obsession of a bunch of mortals, was the cause of Athena's worries.

Melaenis had to admit that it was somewhat amusing. She was quite certain that her sisters would never be able to understand how most of their choices and decisions were really made by the mortals that surrounded them. Pride was, after all, one of their biggest flaws.

Lazily, she lifted her long, golden arm, making Dictina take a step back and nod at her. Even when it was thanks to them that she was now ruling, they were also as ignorant on the subject as her sisters were, and once again, that was also fitting. It was not the place of the weak to know that they were the ones that made the strong.

" What do you want from me? "

Gemini's eyes fixed on hers the moment she said those words, and she needn't see under Chameleon's mask as to know that the girl was probably avoiding the sight. For mortals, she had always been a sight difficult to behold.

" As you can see... " she went on, spreading her arms, "... no one is here against their will, no practises were banned and no blood has been shed. I am not a dictator, which is what Athena was probably wondering about "

" The change of Peacekeeper is something that affects Sanctuary, and Athena's doubts are towards the task itself, not towards the one keeping it. We've come to ask Aphrodite about this "

" So she is afraid her actions might turn against her now that it is me the one judging instead of the Huntress? " she finally said, a teasing glint in her eyes.

Neither of them flinched at her accusation, remaining unfazed. Athena had not been a fool in her choice of messengers. Gemini was the effigy of pride and Sanctuary's glory; and Chameleon... she couldn't even read her cosmo.

" Or maybe she is afraid of us, Mother? After all... " Eros didn't turn when he said those words, his eyes as intent on analysing the Saints as his mother's were, ".... Athena listened to Artemis' account of the facts first. And we all know of the traitors' tendency to deceive "

" We were informed of the change of Peacekeeper " June said, her voice sounding hollow thanks to her mask. She had remained silent even when Kanon had already warned her that she would have to do most of the talking in Ortygia. That it would be her the one they would take more seriously and would listen as an equal. For them he would always be an outsider. June had laughed at the obvious displeasure of one of Sanctuary's most dangerous warriors, imagining how he was feeling, being forced to obey -or at least to pretend to obey-, a bronze saint just because he had a penis.

She had felt tempted to tell him that he should be glad, he was about to experience what being a female Saint in Sanctuary felt like. Her fear of him stopped her from doing so.

After all, she had also been raised under Sanctuary's rules. And a Gold Saint deserved respect. Gemini Kanon, from all Gold Saints, also inspired terror.

Yet still, she had never expected the warnings both him and the Kyoko had given her to be true. She had thought them overblown and judgmental. It was a mistake. She had built in her mind an idealised picture of Ortygia, based on Artemis' stories.

But Artemis loved the island, and for her all its flaws were virtues. For her there were no flaws.

The moment June set foot on Ortygia, she had been able to understand that.

Understand that the differences between Sanctuary and Ortygia weren't that big as she had expected them to be. They both shared the tendency to judge, albeit the different standards of what they saw as acceptable. And, contrary to Sanctuary, the inhabitants of the Island had no fear in displaying their displeasure.

Ortygia had not gain its xenophobic reputation for nothing.

So she had waited, abiding to Sanctuary's rules and allowing Kanon to take control of the situation the moment they set foot on the White Temple, she had listened, but most of all she had looked. Not at the Gods before her, whom she knew that, as the mortal she was, she would never be able to read through; but she looked at the two Guardians before her instead, taking advantage of her mask and the way it made her focus of attention go completely unnoticed.

She stared at the man and woman flanking Aphrodite, at the black-haired beauty with sad eyes and a small voice that had first addressed them, and at the man on the opposite side, a creature with the most outstanding yellow eyes, so bright and slanted that they seemed almost wolfish.

There was nothing extraordinary about them, besides the woman's beauty and the man's eyes. Yet there was nothing ordinary in their auras, in the impressive power they were able to transmit by just standing there.

June could only imagine how strong their cosmos were.

For most of the conversation she had remained in silence, trying to catch the slightest glimpse of cosmos from them, until Eros spoke. It was only then, when the intoxicating voice of the God of Desire silenced all other sounds in the room, that her attention turned to them. And so did her words. She could guess the kind of answer Kanon would have given to both Aphrodite's teasing and Eros' assumptions, and found no point in arguing with them. Even if the words had come out playfully out of their mouths, there was no malice in them. There were no... lies.

" That's all we know. That the Huntress is no longer in charge, and now Aphrodite is the Goddess keeping the balance "

She felt like a traitor when saying the next words. After all, she had liked Artemis.

" To this, Sanctuary holds no grudge "

Eros fixed his gaze on her, bright green eyes studying her so completely that she almost felt vulnerable.

Almost.

The Goddess stood instead. And there was nothing else worth watching in the room. It was impossible, for so much beauty to exist on a single being. It was... unholy. Each step she took towards them, more perfect and flawless she seemed to their eyes.

No, she didn't seem. She was. Which made it even less possible to bear.

Her steps made no sound as she walked bare-footed to their side, looking more like a mirage than a corporeal being, the flowing see-through veils that covered her body and the sea of golden hair crowning her head adding to that impression.

And June couldn't but feel frightened at the feeling the goddess provoked in her. At the certainty that sprung in her heart. She felt that no wrong could come from someone that beautiful and bright. That it should be protected and kept away from harm, because everything, absolutely everything, seemed worth it as long as she existed.

She couldn't stop herself from shuddering the instant the goddess' fingers closed around her chin, her skin brushing her own at the point where the mask ended. It couldn't have been softer.

" Is that true? Or that is just another mask? " the goddess asked, her emerald eyes piercing her soul. " I have seen the battles from Cyprus. I have felt the flood, I have witnessed the eclipse. Artemis had the power... the obligation... to do something to stop that. She did not. I am not like her. I will not keep my arms crossed while blood is being shed. I will not act upon the past, that past belonged to Artemis and is gone now. Yet I will judge the present and the future. I will try to stop any coming war, as the Peacekeeper that I am, and I will start none "

" Athena feels the same "

The Goddess tilted her head, " Is that disappointment in your voice, girl? You expected otherwise from me? I am not a monster, Chameleon June "

June hoped Aphrodite would release her.

" That's all you came here to do? See what kind of Goddess I am? There is nothing to fear from me... as long as nothing is done against the Balance. Will that answer Athena's question? "

" It will "

June had never expected to feel relieved to hear Kanon's voice.

" Then perhaps, you could answer mine? " Aphrodite said, releasing her and changing her attention to Gemini. " Why is she keeping Eris behind her walls, when she knew I had sent one of my Guardians to punish her for her deeds? "

" She is a prisoner of war, Goddess. And after all, it is Athena the one that defeated her, it is only proper for her to claim her life "

Eros smiled " Victors always take their prizes, right mother? "

" Indeed. Yet Eris lives "

" There is an innocent soul inside her "

" You are full of answers, Gemini " she said, smiling playfully. " It is not strange, I suppose, for a vessel to feel sorry for another. I don't understand why they would choose to tie themselves to the cycles that way, but it is their choice, and I am not here to question that. I just hope the emotional attachment Athena seems to be so prone to having for broken beings does not affect her judgement "

" You won't ask about Artemis? "

The smile faded on the Goddess' face, outrage shining on the Guardians' eyes.

" How dare you..." began Dictina, turquoise cosmo threatening to get loose. June couldn't but frown behind her mask. It was impressive, just as she had hoped it would be, too powerful and too godly as to belong to a mere human being. And it felt so like Artemis' that it was hard to tell where the Guardian's cosmo ended and Artemis' mark on it started.

" Dictina, don't " Eros barely whispered. The woman stared at him and obeyed immediately.

" You'll have to excuse her, the anger they have against the prior peacekeeper is something I am still not able to mellow. Artemis caused deep wounds to Ortygia, and my presence here has only been able to close some of them " Aphrodite said, carefully tugging a lock of her golden hair behind her perfectly shaped ear. " Yet I have to admit you have some nerve, pretending to know what I might want to hear. It is not for mortals to dare the Gods, Gemini Kanon. Though I did hear that you have some tendency for doing just that. If Athena had not accepted you back into her lines, then I might have had to judge you for all the riots you caused between my relatives "

" As for Artemis, what is there to ask? I know more about her than what your Goddess knows, I know what she'll do and where she is, and I know what happened to her here, which I bet is something Athena would love to know. If you wonder whether I care about Athena's attitude towards her or not, then... does it matter? Artemis has not acted against Sanctuary, I see no reason for Athena to close her doors to her if she pleases to do so. My attitude towards either of them won't change for something like that "

" Yet I will question an open alliance. Not because of Artemis' desire for a confrontation, not even because she would be involved, but because an alliance between two gods would be a way to threaten the rest " she said matter-of-factly, her emerald gaze holding no lies behind their light.

" I think I was pretty clear on this regard when asking Artemis to leave Sanctuary "

She turned in a swirl of veils, returning to her throne above the rest. " If that is all, then, I'll have to ask you to leave. I can tolerate Athena's doubts, but I won't vow my head to her. You must understand that a peacekeeper can't show favouritism " emerald eyes glanced at them over a golden shoulder, " Just imagine how the rest of the realms would take that "

Neither June nor Kanon said a word during the walk towards the shore, neither commented on the meeting while Ortygia's boatmen took them to the mainland.

It wasn't until they had crossed the Veil and they were back on Athena's territory that Kanon showed any sign of what the meeting had meant to him.

He laughed. So openly and cruelly that it made June stare at him as if he were a madman.

She would never forget the words he told her then.

" Oh, please, girl, don't you think it is funny? I've always found the Gods incredibly laughable creatures "

" It is always easy to tell when a war is about to explode on their faces. Remember Eros' words? How traitors tend to deceive? "

Of course she did, it had been the detonant that had made her consider entering the conversation. It had sounded so much like bait for Kanon to get loose that she had had to intervene.

" I would have had to bite my tongue if you hadn't talked back then. I was dying to ask them how they manage "

She couldn't but ask what he meant.

" They are ruling over an entire island inhabited by men and women who have betrayed their previous master. How do they know they are not being deceived? "

She felt tempted to ask him that if that was the case, then how did Athena know that he wouldn't end up betraying her? After all, he had done the same they had.

It was the look in his eyes that stopped her from voicing that question, causing a cold shudder to run down her spine.

June had seen that look before, on the faces of the four Guardians inside the White Temple.

She knew then, that neither Eros nor Aphrodite would ever be able to tell, as much as she knew that even when they had claimed that they would not start a war against Sanctuary, Sanctuary would end up being involved.

Their Guardians would see to that.

" You don't have to do this "

Shura smirked, turning his back to the arena and stretching his back like a cat. He had been kneeling at one of the higher steps of the Coliseum, looking at the arena below

" Someone has to " he said, his violet eyes fixing on the blue depths of the man speaking to him. " Strange seeing you here "

Camus smiled, shrugging slightly. " There is no point in staying at Aquarius "

" You are always free to train " Capricorn teased, pointing at the arena behind them. Deathmask was there, the space around him shifting visibly as he kept opening and closing portals to the world of the dead.

" I have to admit that it was my main reason to come here, but I think I'll return later "

" Coward " he said, lifting one of his eyebrows.

" I don't see you down there either "

" Never said I was brave " the other retorted, chuckling darkly.

Camus tilted his head slightly, his cold eyes fixing on the skinny figure of Cancer down the arena. " I knew you would end up doing something like this the moment the cloth accepted him. Watching over him as if his actions had been your responsibility "

" He has no one else "

" He wants no one else "

Shura laughed, high and clear this time, making Deathmask stop in his training and turn to give the finger to the two gold saints for interrupting his concentration.

" I should have expected that kind of answer from you, Camus. What we want is not exactly what we need "

Camus lifted one of his parted eyebrows, his eyes shinning dangerously. " You too, Shura? Please, what is it with everyone lately? "

" We are growing old? "

" Speak for yourself "

" Nee, Camus... " the other teased, nudging his shoulder, " I never expected you to be an aesthete "

Any other person wouldn't have dared to behave around Aquarius like that. Or would have dared and suffer the consequences. Yet there was a certain familiarity that came from fighting and dying for the same cause that led to certain allowances. It was difficult not to feel comfortable around people who shared a common sin.

Camus frowned slightly, running his fingers through his long dark mane. He was starting to understand why Shura considered Deathmask his problem.

" How... did we end up being like this? " he finally asked.

" Like what? "

" So damn... "

Shura needn't Camus finish his sentence. " Because our lives are too simple "

Aquarius would have laughed if he hadn't been so taken aback by his answer.

" We fight for Her. That's all that is expected from us. It's a simple life " Shura narrowed his eyes, piercing violet fixing on the training Gold Saint. " What we never considered were the consequences "

He looked away, " Or how difficult it would be to deal with them "

" You don't have to " Camus answered, his words involving a lot more than Deathmask.

Shura smirked, " I could stay in my temple, and live the life that's been given to me, sure. Yet I wouldn't know what to do with it. We can shatter the stars with our fists, somehow doing nothing between four walls seems insufficient "

" We are... dead men walking " Camus whispered, the coldness in his eyes hardening.

" Or at least trying to? "

" I don't believe in second chances, Shura "

" I expected as much from you " he said, a faint smile stretching over his thin lips. " Yet still... you left your temple "

" What's that supposed to mean, Capricorn? "

" That there is something you want to do outside, Aquarius. And both you and I know that it isn't training "

" You don't know me, Shura. There is nothing I want "

Shura shook his head, black strands falling rebelliously over his steel-like eyes. " I won't argue with you, Camus. I have enough with Deathmask and his stupid rants about the meaning of power as to try to see if there is something inside of you. From what I've seen, it takes too much effort and the results aren't worth the trouble "

This time the coldness was gone, replaced by anger. " Who do you think you are to judge me, Capricorn? "

" Someone who is sick and tired of all this Capricorn thing " he answered, facing the Ice Saint squarely, " Of us jumping at our throats the first chance we get, of all these doubts and fears we keep having " he narrowed his eyes, fixing them on Camus' blue orbs. " Oh, sorry, forgot who I was talking to. Of all the doubts and fears I keep having. Aquarius has none of that, right? "

He stepped forward, standing inches from where Camus was. " Wonder why the hell did he froze half my temple and caused a snow storm over the twelve houses, though "

" Why did you, Camus, if there is nothing you want? "

As most, Shura underestimated Camus' physical strength. Yet was quickly reminded of his mistake when being hurled off his feet the moment Camus closed his hand around his neck and pulled him up. He should have seen it coming, speed was his strong point. But he had been too mad, too angered as to consider what Camus' reaction would be.

" Why... do you... care? " the ice saint snarled, flashing his canines. Never before had Shura seen Camus so angry. He doubted someone ever had.

" Because... " he managed to say despite the lock around his neck, " ... I am tired... to see us suffering... and being unable... " Shura coughed " ... unable to do something about it "

" Who said I... " Camus started, yet stopped himself, unable to finish the sentence.

Damn them all.

He released the other saint and took a step back, looking away.

" If you are going to finish that, mean it, Camus. We know more about each other than what we want, so let's cut the crap " Shura let out, gasping for air. For some minutes, his laboured breathing was the only sound around them, that and the noises of Deathmask's training, down at the arena.

" Why? " Camus finally pressed on.

" This damn... " Shura frowned, moving vaguely his hand before him as he tried to find the right word, " ... beast Deathmask has turned into... I can't help fearing any of us could be next... or could as well been him " a pained smirk took over his lips, " If we aren't already "

" Shura... "

He laughed, sliding down and fixing his eyes on the floor, " Camus? "

The other saint kneeled by his side. " Why? "

" Because I care, why else? Someone has to, Aquarius. We are all so... damn alone "

Milo's words echoed in Camus' mind. They were all breaking into pieces, weren't they? Deathmask, Aphrodite, Milo himself...

No.

Scorpio would hold. He had resisted so many things... he had resisted his own continuous attempts to hurt him, to wound him enough as to leave him alone. He would not break now.

Even he, cold Aquarius, had suffered the consequences of their return to life.

" It is not fair " he thought out loud, rubbing his eyes forcefully.

" Who said anything was? "

" You don't deserve... to take all the blame "

Shura tilted his head, unable to hide his surprise from his eyes when hearing those words.

" Don't you understand, Camus? I... " he smirked, " I want to take it. I am a cruel man, the worse of Sanctuary's traitors. At least Aphrodite and Deathmask were conscious of their actions "

" I was blind and ignorant, and loving every single moment of it "

" I am cruel, because the only reason I care is because it is the only way I have to live with myself. As long as I can still care... I am not a total monster "

" Shura... does it matter? "

" What? "

" Whether we are monsters or not. Does it matter? As long as we try to do something with this time that was given to us... then should it matter? "

" It should when the only thing that I wanted is the one I can't do "

Camus frowned, making Shura laugh. " I can't stand what we are becoming, I can't stand the suffering and the fucking loneliness, Aquarius "

" And what's worse, I can't stand that you are right " Shura moved towards the edge of the step they were standing on, his eyes lost on the arena. " There are no second chances. We all do... what we can, and carry our own personal crosses a little further, hoping to someday be able to put them down "

He smiled bitterly.

" Hoping in vain "

And Camus understood. Twelve Gold Saints had returned from the dead, as powerful and bright as they had always been. Yet one house remained empty.

Capricorn's cross. Sagittarius.

" I will always take the blame " he heard Shura whisper, knowing that his presence was no longer wanted, that they had both seen too much of the other as to stand more pressure that day. Besides, there was nothing he could tell him. He had always been incredibly good at bringing suffering to those that cared.

Iphigeneia walked down the twists and turns of the forest, avoiding the fallen tree-trunks and the pools of mud with the grace of someone used to the territory she was threading. Usually, she would gingerly skip her way, singing one song or the other, while her mind would be planning her next adventure. This time, she wasn't skipping. Nor singing. And her mind was too preoccupied as to care about adventures.

The waves of cosmos over the island had been shifting dramatically over the last few weeks, its inhabitants growing restless. Dictina and Hippolytus had been forced to leave their shrines in order to calm the townsfolk with their words and presence, and even Orion and Atalanta had taken their tasks as clan leaders as seriously as they never had.

And while restlessness ruled over the townsfolk, a sense of approaching danger had taken over the hearts and souls of the nine Guardians.

Something was coming, something that would change them all. It was the same feeling they had had when Melaenis had first reached the island, so many years before, the same feeling that had gripped their hearts when they started the conversation that led to Artemis' exile.

And even when some of them had still been unable to find the source of that feeling, Iphigeneia knew that others already had. She had seen it, in the eyes of some of her brothers and sisters in arms.

She had seen it in their priests'.

Bloodshed was coming.

It wasn't too hard to guess; they all knew that Artemis' survival meant having to face her again. Yet... it felt as if...

It felt as if they did not have the will to fight her.

She sighed, running her hand through her short blonde hair. She frowned when brushing her festering wound, the pain taking her by surprise.

And to worsen things up, Egeria had locked herself in her shrine ever since her arrival from Deathqueen. At first, Iphigeneia had accepted the decision of her friend without questions, knowing how hard it must have been for the broken Harpy to see the place where she had grown up again, to see the places that had meant something to her before accepting guardianship... To see the tomb of her little sister.

In a way, that was why she had wished to be able to go with her. Somehow, over the years, she had taken onto herself the responsibility of making the Harpy happy. She had learned all she could from and about her, and had found in her deluded mind someone incredibly strong and able to adapt despite the circumstances.

She had wanted to see the things that she knew Egeria valued to understand her better. To know her better.

Yet Iphigeneia also understood that Deathqueen and Egeria's past were hers to do as she pleased, and it wasn't her place to intrude.

Until now.

She had used Ortygia's contacts at the mainland to find out what had happened to Phoenix.

She was surprised when hearing he lived.

The deep coma, the unexplainable high amount of mental activity despite of it, the void, they were all trademarks of the Harpy's techniques. Surviving was not.

" Dammit, Eria... what happened at Queen? " she thought out loud, hurrying her steps towards the dark swamps that stretched across the Harpy's shrine. If Ortygia's geography was horrible, then the Shadows Swamps were the perfect example of how far could an island destroy itself. Nothing but dead trees and crippled bushes covered the mud and dirt, and no living creatures could be found. The fumes that emanated from the ground were to blame for that. Intoxicating and drowsing, they were able to poison most creatures. Iphigeneia had to call on her cosmo to shroud her from them, bright green light covering her lithe form as she stepped into the Shrine. It was somewhat fortunate, that the swamps were located at the north of the Artemisium. They made it impossible to reach the island from that point.

Not that it would have mattered if anyone managed to break through the cliffs, swamps and fumes. There was more than the bitterness of the elements to be found in that Shrine.

After all, the Shrines had their Guardians.

" Eria... ? " Iphigeneia kept calling, climbing to the dry carcass of a tree to get a better view of the place. It was impossible to make anything out, the fumes forming a thick mist over the swamp, turning the sight into a blurry sea of shadows. The girl frowned, trying to use her cosmo to open the mist. But she could not go against the will of the Shrine's owner, and judging from the wall her cosmo seemed to have collided against, Egeria did not want the mist to fade.

" I can't. This place has a mind of its own. This whole damn island has " Iphigeneia turned on her heels, trying to catch a glimpse of the golden-haired harpy and failing miserably.

" Up here "

She obeyed, and soon her hazel eyes met the distinct fuchsia glitter of Egeria's. The woman was curled up on the creak of one of the few remaining trees, her legs dangling limply in the air. She was still wearing her Tunic, deep blue pieces of metal covering her body, accentuating the malformation of her back.

Iphigeneia couldn't but sigh in relief when seeing that she was unharmed, a broad smile making her face shine.

" I was worried "

Egeria's angelic face peeked from her perch, visibly touched. " You were? "

Iphigeneia nodded emphatically, placing her arms behind her back and swaying slightly on her toes.

" Thanks "

The small guardian waved her hand dismissively, a faint blush covering her cheeks.

Egeria tilted her head to get a better view of the young girl, her high forehead furrowing slightly at the worsening of the wound on her cheek.

It was strange, how much she loved that skinny little thing.

It was strange that she could still love.

Iphigeneia frowned when seeing the tears on Egeria's eyes.

" Eria... are you ok? "

" Do you remember... what it was like, before you came to the island? "

" ...I try not to "

" How old were you when Artemis brought you? "

" Four and a half "

" I was more than twenty "

" I know that " Iphigeneia said, smiling proudly. She could still remember the day the woman had arrived, a hunched, bloodied shadow at Artemis' heels.

" I could have ended up here... a lot sooner " the Harpy went on, " ... and a lot saner "

Iphigeneia looked up quizzically.

" What happened, Eria? "

The golden-crowned woman smiled sadly, taking her index to her pouted lips.

" I kissed him "

The younger guardian knew too well what that meant. Yet there was something strange... something different, not only in the sadness the harpy was so openly professing, but also in the look in her eyes...

The insanity in them had mellowed.

" What did you see? "

" He... " the tears did not stop, " Esmeralda... Oh, Goddess..."

Iphigeneia's chest clenched at the visible pain of the other woman, and after taking into her surroundings, she walked to the tree where she sat and climbed.

Egeria started when feeling her thin hand over her own.

" He loved her, Iphi " she took her curled hands to her face, covering her eyes, " He killed for her, died for her... he avenged her... and I.... I fed on him"

The girl curled by her side, pulling her into a tight embrace. The Harpy conceded, hiding her face against the curve of Iphigeneia's neck. She cried harder when realising that her first thought at the contact had been to bite her.

" What have I become?! "

" Eria... " Iphigeneia whispered soothingly, caressing her long golden curls softly.

" I never understood what she had meant... when she said that I had to leave all that I was behind... "

The girl frowned slightly.

She.

Artemis

" There was nothing to take... all had come to a closure the moment I set foot on this place. Her blood gave me closure " the sobs shook her hunched back. Iphigeneia tighten the embrace.

" But her blood was not enough! Somehow the hunger came again, and the hate, and the pain and all this... this... " Egeria shook her head, unable to see her own hands. " And now I can't take Ikki's memories out of my head, I keep seeing them over and over again, while the taste of his blood... Goddess, have mercy! " she pleaded, moving away from Iphigeneia and pressing her body against the tree-trunk as if it would somehow make her disappear.

Both of them knew that it wasn't Melaenis the Goddess Egeria had called for.

Iphigeneia brushed her own tears away from her face and crawled back to Egeria's side, forcing her to hold her when the other began to struggle.

" Eria, don't " she said, her high-pitched voice sounding so serious that it left no place for questions, " As for the taste..." the girl cupped the older woman's face in her hands and moved closer, covering her lips with her own. When she moved away, she was pleased to see that Egeria wasn't crying anymore.

" For the memories " she added, hazel eyes shining with something that could only be cosmos, as she closed the space between them once again, her hands leaving the woman's face to sink into her hair and caress her skulk, her lips meetings hers once again. Yet there was no tenderness in that kiss, no gentleness. There was urge, there was need and there was, more than anything, power.

For Iphigeneia, despite her childish ways, was the wisest and the strongest of them all. And while she deepened the kiss, forcing the other woman to open her mouth and give in, she unleashed her cosmo, tapping into the Harpy's with the full force of the Monoceros, forcing it into hers.

Tempting her to take it.

Egeria pushed her away the moment her own cosmo reacted, beginning to assimilate the bright green aura of the girl.

" No! " she let out in panic, her chest heaving violently as she tried to gasp for air.

" I also have her blood in me, Egeria, I even drank from her more times than you did! " Iphigeneia said, her face oddly serious, " I might not be her, but there might be enough of her in me as to give you silence "

" Dictina's was not enough, and she is her half-sister, Iphi "

Iphigeneia smiled wickedly, " That's because Eros stopped you before you could drink enough, you silly "

" I'll kill you "

" You won't. You didn't kill Artemis, and you love me more than what you love her "

Iphigeneia placed her arms around her neck once again, " I trust you "

" Iphi... "

" I won't let the past torture you, Egeria "

Fuchsia eyes fixed on the vein at the girl's neck, on her trembling lips, as her senses were completely focused on the weight over her body, on the touch of her thin fingers at the nape of her neck.

" Damn you, Monoceros " she let out, hauling the girl on top of her while her claw-like fingers closed around her hair, pulling her head back. She kissed her, then, her mouth searching for hers with a hunger that could not be satiated, while her cosmo spread around them in the shape of two fiery wings, huge and devouring, feasting on the green flames that covered Iphigeneia's body.

Images of a baby girl named Lallic appeared in her mind, slowly replacing the visions about Phoenix. Images of dark, dirty places where the girl would hide next to her sister.

Images of a dead junkie -the girls' mother-, and of a woman who had not long to live. Images of a shrouded man, who took the girl's sister away, took her to some room.

Sounds replaced the images, the huffing of the man and the screams of the girl's sister.

Lallic was crying.

And Egeria went on, taking all that she could from the pliant Iphigeneia.

She took her past, her strength, her wisdom, her purity. And when her cosmo wasn't enough, she made her tilt her head, exposing her jugular to her. Egeria bared her fangs, her index tracing the vein with a gentleness that was surprising, then sank them into her soft flesh.

Artemis had always been right.

All that mattered, was the blood.

She was even seeing blood, in the images she kept picking from Iphigeneia. Blood on the man she had previously seen, blood on Lallic's hands... blood on the Goddess that had descended for her and changed her name into Iphigeneia.

There was so much red. And she wanted more, needed more.

Iphigeneia sighed, pressing her body tighter against the Harpy, too lost and too surprised by the amount of sensations as to even consider resisting. Not that she would have had. She had offered, after all. Yet what she was getting was something she had not expected. The Harpy's kisses were famous at Ortygia, the way they could take away the life and soul of a person by mere touch.

She had never known that, apart from being deadly, they were incredibly sweet. And loving. She would have laughed if she had had the strength, yet she pressed her hands behind Egeria's head instead, keeping her on place, stopping her from letting her go.

She was being bled and all she could think about was that the creature that was feasting on her blood, soul and cosmo loved her.

With all her heart.

It made sense, somehow. Through pain, people could change. Could learn. Yet the Harpy did not want change, nor cared about people. The Harpy cared only about herself and her hunger. If all she could bring was death, then it was fair that it should be sweet.

Tears began to well up in Egeria's fuchsia eyes as she picked up those thoughts from the girl in her arms. She could not see her anymore, it was long since the world had turned into a sea of cosmos and auras tasting of blood, all she saw was the raw power she was holding, the way it was fading and hers was strengthening. She saw a unicorn made of light, bleeding to death as the claws and beak of the harpy tore it apart.

She pushed further, knowing there was not much to take, taking her cosmo as she had taken so many others.

And then, she found it. The threads she had been looking for, the ones she had faintly managed to taste since she had began drinking her blood.

The stars were there... the taste of the Goddess with the moon over her brow. Pure darkness with a core of light distinctly waiting for her, promising her silence.

All she had to do was press a little further, drink a little more.

Egeria had to use all of her willpower to let Iphigeneia go. Limp arms didn't prevent her from doing so, falling down her shoulders by the sudden movement. Her tears fell on the now pale face of the unconscious girl. With trembling hands, she checked her pulse, relief washing over her when finding a faint yet steady beating.

She moved her hands away from Iphigeneia's wrists and placed them over her bleeding neck. It only took her a minor surge of her cosmo to close the wound.

" I am sorry " she whispered, pressing her forehead against the younger guardian's. " I couldn't do it "

She gathered Iphigeneia in her arms as if she had been a little girl, not really surprised at how little she weighed.

The voices of those that had suffered for her kept screaming into her mind, the wounds refusing to close after her encounter with Ikki.

After accepting Iphigeneia's offer.

When was the last time she had been called that way? When was the last time she had listened?

She snorted out of impotence, jumping down the tree with the girl in her arms. Her Shrine wasn't the most adequate place for resting of the island. As for herself... her wounds would never heal. Artemis had closed them once, a long time ago.

And she had managed to pick at the scab and make them bleed the moment she left.

" Please... " she begged, trying to focus on the warmth of Iphigeneia's body instead of the voices in her head.

But it was never enough, wasn't it? At least not for her. She was a harpy after all. Her hunger had no limits.

She couldn't even tell where her blood ended and the one of the men and women she had killed started, not anymore.

She had always been awful at following orders.

" Why? " she let out, sobbing.

" I don't... deserve that "

" Please... stop " she begged, trying to silence them with her cosmo, yet finding that all her cosmo did was worsen the hunger.

" Goddess... "

So much... Artemis had demanded so much from them. And they had all given it to her gladly, knowing that, in the end...

She had given as much to them.

" Eria... " a soft voice called out to her, making her stop in her race. She couldn't but let out a sigh of relief when meeting half-lidded hazel eyes.

"... did the voices... stop? "

She considered lying to her, so much hope was shining in those tired orbs. But she knew Iphigeneia would see through her lies, she knew her too well.

Besides, she had never had the heart to tell lies to her.

" The hunger mellowed "

" I am... sorry " the girl said, frowning slightly, " Could you at least... see her? "

Egeria nodded, brushing a rebellious lock away from the girl's forehead. Iphigeneia smiled, cuddling against her and placing her arms around her neck to make carrying her easier.

" So she is still with me? She still... loves me. I thought... she had lied. That she had stopped caring, and that was why she shot me "

" But she loves me... then she must have had a reason... there has to be something... I made wrong... and she wants me to fix. There is something I must learn "

Egeria frowned. It was strange to hear those words from Iphigeneia, the one that had claimed for the Traitor's head so many times.

In the end, it seemed she wasn't the only one that needed her.

Yet Iphigeneia's puzzled look stopped her from looking further into that, bringing her back to reality.

" If you saw her... then why didn't you took her mark? It is her blood the one you need "

" I couldn't. I am sorry "

Iphigeneia sighed " You are so silly, Eria, you care too much for your own good. I feel sleepy, is that normal? "

" You lost too much blood "

" I did not notice. Take me to my Shrine? "

Egeria began to walk once again, holding her precious charge with care.

" ... Eria? "

" Yes? "

The girl rested her head against the older woman's neck, her soft lips brushing her ear as she whispered.

" Your kisses are sweet "

She nested in her arms afterwards, the skinny little thing that Egeria loved. Not the one she had been, the one that insisted so much on turning to a past that was long gone, but her, Egeria, the Harpy, the one that was walking her same path and sharing the same fear.

Iphigeneia soon fell asleep, her steady breathing soothing a little bit of her soul. Just a little.

She bit her lip, the memory of the kiss she had given Phoenix returning despite the taste she was now savouring was of the guardian's blood.

Not just the kiss.

The name he had called her after, the same name that had led her there in the first place. A name he had whispered with the same love and devotion she found it worthy of.

She had thought vengeance would quench her hunger. She did not know what would satisfy it anymore.

Hyoga stared at the receiver in silence, his eyes fixed on the little holes on the plastic surface. He had called one of Sanctuary's posts in Athens, his intentions being to leave a quick message regarding Artemis' recovery and, if possible, avoid any possible further questioning. But those intentions had been quickly turned to dust when the voice on the other end of the telephone ended up being June's.

The Chameleon Saint, on her way back to Sanctuary after visiting Ortygia.

And he just couldn't hang up, not when hearing the urgent tone of her voice when the guard passed her trough.

Damn island.

( ... Hyoga? Thank the Goddess... how is she?... )

His eyes moved fleetingly to the figure waiting for him at the door of the town's hall. Her back was turned to him, but he needn't see her to know what she was doing, that her fingers were probably playing with a strand of her hair, and that her eyes were probably eyeing the town with a mixture of remembrance and disgust.

Alive, had been his answer, finding that the word meant so much more than what it seemed.

He wasn't sure if he had laughed, or if June herself had noticed how stupid her question was on her own. The sole reason behind Artemis' apparent submission at being taken care of, the one thing that made her so determined to heal... the one thought that had probably kept her alive... was the possibility of returning to Ortygia. Was vengeance. Asking her to stay low was impossible.

He had hated himself when the first thought that came to his mind when hearing that phrase, was his fear instead of worry for her. It had to be the one word that had been echoing in his head ever since he saw her again.

Traitor.

But she wasn't him, she could not understand, could she?

He watched the way she pulled her long black hair over her shoulder to prevent it from dragging on the floor, a small display of unconscious vanity that had him captivated. If he had been able to leave, he would have done so before. Now it seemed... too late.

He was certain it wouldn't be too long. Artemis' recovery was going faster than expected now that she had stopped shunning her cosmo and was using it to speed up the healing process. Once she considered herself fully heal, there were little doubts about what her movements would be.

He had stopped listening then. The news were too unexpected as for him to have a proper answer to them... they seemed just... too unreal. Ikki? In a coma? It was something his mind could not understand, two concepts that seemed too incompatible as to be true. First Tatsumi, now Ikki... the Bronze Saints were getting blow after blow. He could imagine how Shun was feeling... Ikki was the only relative he had, the brother that had always taken care of him.

He knew that Shun was feeling that it should have been the other way around. The same way that he knew that June was right, Shun needed him.

But...

I'll do what I can. He still couldn't believe that that had been his answer; that he had hanged up afterwards, unable to listen to anything else, unable to take more of June's worried voice telling him to leave.

He wished he could have told her that it wasn't that damn easy.

" So you got the bad news "

The voice behind him was a proof of that.

The first thing he did was checking his surroundings, the size of the hall where he was sitting, the amount of possible exits, the doors and where each might lead.

He counted the people in the room. The locals and the strangers.

There were many. The weather had been worse than usual and the huge fireplace of the town's hall had turned into a shelter for the wary travellers.

If it came to a battle, he wouldn't be able to save them all.

" We should discuss that outside " he muttered, still not turning around, while at the same time he was using all his willpower not to use his cosmo. Artemis would pick the smallest sign, and he was certain that she wouldn't mind innocent bystanders.

" Now, now, the trip was long, and even when I like cold weather, this place is ridiculous " A cold hand snaked its way to his shoulder, resting there.

" I rather stay in and talk "

Hyoga shifted on his seat, giving the stranger a sidelong glance. All he was able to catch was the shadow of a rather long suede jacket. No cloaks, no armour.

" Then talk " he conceded.

" Did you find out how everyone is so willing to turn their back on her? "

The voice was deep and masculine, with an odd musical lilt to it and a startling detachment. It was thoroughly unknown.

" Look at her. Why do you think she refuses to look inside and insisted so much on waiting outside? "

The man released him and moved to his side, to rest rather nonchalantly against the wall. The long suede jacket was there, its hood over his head, covering his face in deep shadows. He was taller than Hyoga, yet his frame was smaller, almost too delicate to belong to a man.

To a warrior.

No one else would have had those confident movements; that grace.

And judging from his physique, Hyoga could tell his strength wasn't in his body, but in his cosmo.

If the stranger decided to switch talk into battle, then it wouldn't be simple wrestling. He had been worried for the people in the room. He started worrying over the people in the building.

Yet it seemed the man had been honest and all he wanted, at least for the time being, was to talk.

And oddly enough, Hyoga found himself hating that.

The strain he had been feeling lately, the talk with June... the fucking dreams... everything had left him with a dire need of release. He was tired of all the webs that kept being made around him.

He obeyed and fixed his eyes in the dark-haired shadow at the door.

Around them.

He was starting to understand why Artemis liked the solitude of the cottage so much.

" She knew that what you heard wasn't going to be good. The same way she knows that something is wrong. She doesn't know exactly what yet... " the man went on, his hooded eyes fixed on the woman outside. " ... but she can feel it. If I take one single step forwards, if I move too fast, if I speak just one note louder... she will know I am here "

The man lowered his head, aquamarine locks escaping from the edges of his hood at the movement, " You don't want her to know "

" What do you want? "

The shadow of a smile crossed the man's full lips, " No who are you? Good "

Hyoga frowned. He needn't ask. The way of talking, the movements... the way he had approached him... it had Artemis' written all over it.

" I want you to look at her. For the time being "

He did.

" See the way she stands... we both know that she is angry... that she is probably frowning and glaring at the world with those bright eyes of hers... Notice how no one walks by her side, even when many are walking on the opposite street. They are crossing at the corner when noticing her there "

" Of course, they don't know what she is. Yet they fear it. They can be worms, but they are not stupid. On an unconscious level, they know that she is not like them, that she is not human "

" Look at the boy with the small woman. He wants to talk to her. Will he cross? Won't he? His mother doesn't let him, look at the tight grip she keeps on him. That's the boy she saved, isn't he? The one that should have been born dead "

" Bad things have been happening here, Cygnus, while you two were locked inside that cottage. Children have died, and people never like that "

" They killed the culprits, though. The skins of the wolves are drying at one of the back rooms of this very building "

" Most took it as an accident... at first. The elders are quite respected here, and they know better. They know whom to blame. After all, the wounds she had would have killed any human being. And she does look quite healthy now "

" I should thank you for that. I doubted she would be so strong so fast "

" And now look at the man inside this room, that white-haired old man. Look at the way he looks at us... nod, Hyoga, let him know that you know who he is, let him feel guilty... Jacob's grandfather, right? That boy worships you "

" Now look... he stands... he walks out... you see, the townsfolk had a meeting last night, and they decided one thing. That they can't risk the lives of their children, and even when they think that blaming her is superstitious and illogical, they will "

" Because, let's be honest, her kind is a concept that the mind can't grasp"

" So he leaves this room... this building... he greets her, he remembers her from when she was a child under Aquarius' care... he knows she saved the boy, he tells her how strong he has grown, how much like his mother he looks, how thankful everyone is for that... "

" And look, look at his lips, at what he tells her now. Look at his eyes, at the fear in them as he asks her to leave "

" She was angry, Cygnus. Now she is furious "

Hyoga stood up, ready to stop her before she did something she would regret, but a strong hand on his shoulder stopped him. He had not expected the man to have such strength when having such a delicate frame.

" People of small towns are always willing to tell many things to a stranger. Yet a stranger rarely says a word. Unless he came to the town for a reason "

" Besides talking? " Hyoga almost growled the two words.

" Not really. Talking is a freedom I am indulging myself in " The grip on his shoulder grew tighter. The desire to strike grew stronger.

The man's voice turned into a whisper to stop the people in the room from listening " If you leave her alone, I'll kill her. And you know she'll let me. I am one she does not expect to see against her "

" Which means that, as long as you are near, I can't get close. Do you understand that? "

Hyoga turned to face him, trying to catch his eyes under the hood. All he saw was the metallic glitter of a broken mask, similar to the ones female saints wore.

" Why are you doing this? "

" The same reason why you are still here. Because I want to give her a chance "

The man released him.

" Now look at yourself... You've just been told that your Goddess won't support her, even when you knew that Artemis would have taken no support from her if she had offered. You've been told that one of your brothers is at the hospital... that you are needed there, and that you, more than anything, should leave her here. You considered your choices, even when knowing that you had already made up your mind. Your brother's condition made you doubt, but still, it wasn't enough to make you change your mind. And then look at me, a complete stranger. A possible enemy, a Guardian sent to kill the Goddess you've been hiding here "

He tilted his head, as if measuring him.

" And all you can think of is that I've just given you the excuse you needed to keep to your choice "

" You won't put a finger on her "

" Not if you are near, I won't " he answered matter-of-factly, moving his frame off the door and heading for the back-exit.

He stopped midway. " Just one more thing... Stop seeing her as a victim, Cygnus. Things are not as simple as you think they are "

And then he was gone.

And Hyoga remained, his whole body demanding him a fight, his cosmo about to get loose, and a burning anger towards himself, for knowing that the damn Guardian wasn't wrong.

He took a deep breath. He had to get a hold on himself. His eyes focused on the door.

He needed... control.

The door creaked soundly when he opened it, the old man turning his attention immediately to him. He looked at Artemis briefly, then focused on the man.

That glance had been enough to tell him that the Guardian had guessed right.

She was furious.

Her hand was over her shoulder, her fingers digging forcefully into it. Even when she was wearing a thick fur coat, he was certain that her nails were sharp enough to be felt through anyway. Her eyes, cold and deadly, didn't even acknowledge his presence, and remained fixed on the old man.

" Is everything all right? " Hyoga asked, frowning slightly.

" It... " the man looked at Artemis then quickly looked away, " ... is. It is good to see you again, Hyoga "

" It is good to be here. This place has always been my home "

He couldn't but notice the way the man kept fidgeting nervously.

" I haven't seen Jacob around, though. I was expecting him to be knocking on my door the moment I set foot here "

" Oh, yes, yes, Jacob... well, the weather has kept most of us busy, and the boy has been helping out... "

" Do tell him I would like to see him "

" I will "

" Well, I'd better go inside, my bones are not what they used to be. It was good seeing you again... both of you "

Hyoga kept the door open for the old man to enter the building. When he turned, Artemis was already walking away.

He cursed mentally when noticing her limp.

" For Leto's sake, Hyoga. At least I am walking now "

Damn her and all her followers for behaving as if they knew it all.

" What did you tell him? "

She stopped to look at him, one of her delicate brows arched quizzically.

He smirked. It felt good to get back.

" What he wanted to hear " she answered, her eyes still fixed on him. Without any warning, she moved closer, placing one of her hands on the place where the guardian had placed his, and resting her chin on his shoulder.

" That he should be grateful for the children that survived. And that if he were to ask me to leave again, it would be more than children the ones that would die " Artemis whispered, her breath burning over his cold skin " I did not send those wolves, Hyoga "

" I know "

She smiled bitterly, then moved away slowly, her hair caressing his cheek while she did so.

" No, you don't "

Artemis reassumed walking after saying that.

" I did not send them. But what they did has much to do with me "

" Will you tell me? " he asked, expecting a negative answer.

He was surprised when she stopped and lowered her gaze.

" I guess... "

Ice blue eyes rose to meet his. He couldn't quite fathom what was lurking inside of them.

" ... I should. I... " she opened her mouth to go on, but the words were left unsaid.

" Artemis... " he whispered, closing the distance between them and placing his hand on her cheek.

She grew stiff under his touch, her look turning into one of mistrust...

No.

It was hatred.

" Do you actually think... "

The small surge of cosmo she used was barely detectable, nothing but a faint breeze, lost in the horrible weather they had been having.

It was enough to make the snow start falling again.

Not just regular snow.

The people that had been walking through the streets looked up and hurried to their houses or into the shops, searching for shelter. In less than five minutes, the streets were deserted except for them.

Diamond Dust.

A mirage of beauty and death that the inhabitants of the little village knew to fear.

" ... that I need your reassurance? "

" I know your cosmo by heart, Artemis, no need to flash it at me whenever you feel threatened " he replied, refusing to move away and meeting her gaze with the same unspoken hatred.

Hate because she kept pushing him away despite all they had gone through.

Hate because he did not know how to break through all her barriers... and kept keeping his own.

Hate because they could not behave as normal people around each other.

Because they weren't normal people.

" I don't feel threatened, I just... " she began, gripping his arm and pushing his hand away. The lock was intrusive and unexpected, and Hyoga had to hold back the instinctive urge to break free.

Her eyes fixed on the hand keeping his arm still. She softened her hold and cursed inwardly when noticing the imprint of her fingers on his skin.

" The people will think wrong of you if they see you that close to me. They owe you... and they... " she frowned, looking at the buildings around them, at the faces looking at them through the windows with a mixture of curiosity, disapproval and fear. " ... they don't know what to think about me. They thought I was like you, a Saint "

The venom in her voice was obvious at the mention of the name of Athena's warriors.

" Now they aren't sure ". Her hand moved down his arm while she considered moving it away, her fingers brushing his own.

" I thought closeness was off limits " he said evenly.

She moved her hand away as if she had touched fire.

He grabbed it and held it in his own.

" If you want me to release you, then tell me so and I will. But because that's what you want, not because I shouldn't "

" Why? "

She laughed before breaking free. " You can't answer that yet you behave as if you knew better than me? You are so male, Hyoga "

And things were too damn hard.

" If I answer... Will I get what I want in exchange? "

He noticed the slight shudder that went through her body at his words. She was panicking again.

" What do you want? "

" To tell me what is going on. Will you concede? "

Artemis knitted her eyebrows together in thought, as if weighing her possibilities. Hyoga expected another of her sarcastic remarks as a way to break free from the situation they had got themselves into, but once again, he was mistaken.

" I will "

He opened his mouth to keep to his part of the deal, but a long finger over his lips stopped him.

" I'll go first. Later "

She moved her finger away and began walking towards the exit of the village.

" I'll ask afterwards " Artemis muttered, fixing the long white coat she was wearing around her shoulders. " Then you'll have to answer "

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes glancing to the buildings behind them. She smirked.

" No matter what "

Narcissus watched them leave from the door of the town's hall; delighting in the small particles of cosmo that were mixed with the razor-sharp snow. He had taken that extra step, and her warnings had followed, pain running through his body immediately. It was her blood in his.

Her poison.

Yet he knew that the pain was not meant to harm him, so he did not leave and withstood it the best he could, despite the odd looks the villagers were giving him.

He had waited too long to see her again. To feel her. He had been close, when she had returned to Ortygia and fought Eros. Thyestes had stopped him then, from answering to her call with his cosmo, from walking into the Artemisium to see her from up close.

And now, with no one to stop him, yet bound to a promise that forbade him to reach her, he found in her small warning what he had been looking for, the same way that he had given both her and the saint what they needed.

An excuse for the Agios.

A reminder that she was beyond him, that she could still make him feel awe; for himself. The world was full of worms, yet it was also blessed by beings like her. With beings that were just... perfect. Perfect enough to have him among their followers.

That was what he gave Artemis.

He made her remember that despite her tendency to play human, she was not.

He gave her back the reason why she had done all her actions. And reminded her that time was not on her side.

Nothing was.

It was always easy to tell when Atalanta was seducing someone. The first sign would be a certain shimmer in her crimson eyes, something most believed she was able to accomplish through her cosmo. Then there would come the change in the tone of her voice, turning it thick and inviting. Openly so, even when talking about anything except her intentions. Certain movements would follow. Her predatory way of walking would soften slightly, her fingers would sometimes brush her lips, and her hands would rest apparently by chance on her hips.

The trap was closed the moment she would brush the heavy mass of red curls off her shoulders and against her back, discovering her neck.

Only then, she would move towards her prey -for they were never nothing but that-, and brush her fingers over some approachable part of their skin.

They would always shudder and give in.

Orion noticed what she was trying to do since sign one. On any other occasion, he would have followed her game gladly, joining her for some friendly fuck. It wouldn't have been the first time. He could even remember a certain night, during the Festival of Torches, where she had seduced both him and Thyestes to lay with her in the woods.

She was worthy of carrying her Tunic, the Serpent. She was able to make anyone feel what Eve must have felt before the Tree of Knowledge. Atalanta was so conscious of this that she had even tattooed a snake over her torso, a mark that soon turned into a symbol when the women of her clan followed her example.

Because outside Ortygia, Atalanta could have been considered a whore, yet inside, she was one of the feared and worshipped Nine, head of the largest clan of the Island, and once Artemis' favourite. She was respected and there was not a soul in the island that would have questioned her behaviour.

For she was a woman in Ortygia, and lived up to her role. She was dangerous, strong, enticing and mysterious. She was an example of the old matriarchal ways. Of the dark side of the Goddess.

And above all, she was someone Orion felt comfortable around. Someone who had the same attitude than he did, someone who understood him, because, in the end, she was very much like himself.

" Don't waste your time, Serpent "

Or like he used to be.

She smiled, dropping the charade immediately, " I had expected you to reject me, but had to give it a try "

" And why is that? "

" I am not competition " she shrugged, leaning over his shoulder to take a peek at what he was doing.

Orion grumbled.

" Easy, boy " she teased, playfully scratching the back of his ears with her long fingernails.

His grumbling deepened. She laughed and moved away to sit beside him on a fallen tree-trunk.

They were at the Island's village; the small compendium of huts and Doric buildings made of stone and marble that was the centre of Ortygia's daily life, sitting outside the granary. Ever since the rain had stopped, Orion had been sharpening a short sword. It was a ceremonial sword, similar to the ones they had used during Artemis' rituals, except that this time, instead of being used to slit animals' throats, it would be worn by one of Melaenis' high priestesses, hanging from a belt around her waist. It was symbolic; Melaenis had tried to explain to him. But he knew all about symbolism and still could find no logic in sharpening a sword just to wear it as an ornament.

Yet he sharpened, and sharpened, and would keep doing so until the blade was perfect. After all, he knew he was judging from the traditions he had grown with, traditions that involved pain, pleasure, sacrifice and blood. It was to expect that he wouldn't be able to grasp something that seemed so far off from what he had been taught a ritual should be.

" If you keep sharpening that, it will break "

" It is not ready yet " Atalanta rolled her eyes. Orion could be a womaniser and a bastard most of the time, but when it came to weapons and the hunt, he was an obsessive perfectionist.

" So... what did you think of the Saints? "

Orion smirked, brushing his unruly silver hair out of his face to look at her. " I knew you were here for a reason "

" I thought I had made it blatantly obvious from the start " she replied, arching one of her thin eyebrows.

" Besides that, Atalanta "

She grinned. " I admit it, I was bored, happy? My sister is with the Harpy, as usual, Thyestes is still sullen after that priestess' suggestion of getting rid of the wolves in his area, and the rest of the Guardians get on my nerves "

" Glad to know I was third choice " he teased, leaving his task for a while and stretching his back. Atalanta didn't hide the fact that she was staring at his body while he did so, a smile taking over her lips when catching glimpses of golden skin at the end of his shirt. She sometimes wondered if he knew how attractive he was.

" How is she? "

He probably did. After all, he was sharing Melaenis' bed.

" Iphigeneia? Worse... but at least Dictina was able to slow down the festering process and stop the pain "

" Good " he said, brushing the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand. " We should do something about this place... " he added, light brown eyes measuring the damage the rain had made on the buildings around them " It's coming down to pieces "

" We could move the town to higher ground " she suggested.

" Outside the forest? "

" Now, Orion, don't be so outraged! It was just a suggestion... besides, we would be nearer the White Temple "

He frowned slightly, his severe features hardening. Then he laughed. It was an honest laughter, utterly contagious. Atalanta shook her head in defeat when noticing some women turn their heads to look at him, a smile on their faces.

She placed her index over his lips.

He looked at it, then smirked sensually.

Atalanta rolled her eyes and moved the finger away.

" Hopeless "

" Look who's talking " he said, running his fingers through his wild mane, " The town's place is here. All it needs is some rebuilding " the look in his eyes darkened slightly, " This is Ortygia "

" So is the White Temple, Orion " she added, her voice turning into a warning. " You should know that better than anyone "

He chuckled. " Oh, please, Atalanta " he let out, fixing his eyes on the blade of the sword, " I might be Melaenis' paramour, but I still know the difference between her ways and ours. I still know what belongs and what doesn't "

" Artemis betrayed us, and Melaenis embraced us when no one else would "

He couldn't but flinch at the mentioning of her name, the memory of her standing in her mortise before Aphrodite and Eros burning in his mind.

" That is your excuse, Atalanta, not mine "

" And please, we come with the task. It is not as if any of them is considering how we might feel. Which is fine by me. That's not our place, we are nothing but mortals "

" Aphrodite loves us "

Orion looked at the woman by his side, surprised at how vulnerable and childish she had sounded.

" Of course she does, she loves everything "

" It doesn't matter, does it? "she let out, crossing her arms over her chest defensively, " I give a damn about that "

" Then why do you follow? "

She frowned.

" This is not the kind of argument we should be having here, Orion "

" Why not? " he smirked, " The villagers have not changed their loyalty, not even when we did. All they do is hold to Artemis' decision. She left and accepted Aphrodite as her replacement. They hold to that "

He looked at the people around them, the men and women who were trying to lessen the destruction the rain had caused. " They hold to her. Whatever we might discuss... for them it is nothing but dishonour "

" They follow us. We are their example "

" Because she let us "

" Since when are you so defensive of her? "

" Because you weren't there " he snapped out of a sudden, closing his fingers over the blade. He cursed when noticing the cuts. " Fuck ''

But he had been present, he had asked for that. And he had not been able to handle it, just as Melaenis had warned him.

As Artemis had warned him.

He would never forget the possessive look in her eyes.

" Why do you follow, Atalanta? " he asked again, pushing her hands away when she tried to see to his wounds.

" The truth? " she said, the look in her eyes turning dangerous. " Because they oppose her " she whispered in his ear.

" Why? "

" Because she lied. Because she betrayed me "

Orion smiled. " She did? "

He could feel her anger reflecting in her cosmo. " We all agreed... "

" We agreed on nothing, Atalanta, except on asking her to leave. Our reasons are completely different "

She looked at him, unable to understand him.

" Why did she lied? Remind me "

" She said... she loved us... when she didn't "

" And because of that you want her dead? That's nice "

" Because she broke the Peace. She broke the Balance. Because she is a Traitor "

His smirk deepened. " Now that is more likely. Those are the reasons why we acted as we did, aren't they? Those are the reasons that made us follow Melaenis and fight her "

" Because we are the Guardians of the Balance, and Artemis dared to go against it " he chuckled, " Yet we are such hypocrites, Atalanta " Orion let out, using his cosmo to close the cuts over his fingers.

" Why? Why are we the hypocrites? It is her the one that taught us all that shit and then decided to fuck on that "

" And it is us the ones that took advantage of that situation. Because, let's be honest, few of us turned their backs on her because of the Balance. Hippolytus, probably. Iphigeneia. Maybe, and just maybe, Dictina. But not us, Atalanta, not you, and specially not I "

" Why? " she asked angrily. He was certain she would have attacked him if she hadn't been so set in keeping the appearances. " Why do you follow? "

He didn't doubt. " Because I want her to see me disgraced. I want to do all that will make her hate me. Because she loves me, with all her strength, yet refuses to let me love her the only way I know how. I follow, because it is dishonourable to do so. Because it is shameful, and in my shame, she is shamed herself "

" I follow because of the most stupid reason. I follow because I can't fuck her, and someone else can " His knuckles turned white, and Atalanta could see the cuts re-opening.

" You know what is the worst part of all this? That her love for us made her fuck on the Balance, made her return to the island. And here she got raped. And we just give a damn, don't we? " He looked at her through eyes that were dead and broken, eyes that were so human... so pained that they seemed unknown. She didn't know what to do. It was the first time one of them had given a name to what Eros had done to Artemis during their fight.

" Tell me if that isn't ironic " he muttered, his voice tainted with self-hatred.

" She... "

And the self-hatred turned into a warning, echoed by his overpowering cosmo.

" Finish that sentence and I will not stop until seeing your blood, Atalanta "

She wouldn't have been able to even if he had not threatened her.

" I won't pity her, Orion " she let out, mostly to herself, " She did break the Balance, and she was warned about what would happen if she were to return to Ortygia "

" Through killing Arcade. We all knew she would be back when Melaenis sent Iphigeneia to do that, Atalanta "

" She is a Goddess. She should have known better "

" She did " he said with a half-smile, " She just thought it was worth it. You just... weren't there " he added, shaking his head slightly, trying to bury the memory inside his brain.

" I am not standing against Melaenis, Atalanta. I am not changing my position on this. Things have gone too far as to consider any chance of redemption. But at least I am not deluding myself by throwing all the guilt on her; because, in the end, Artemis broke the Balance because of us "

He lowered his head; his eyes fixed on the falling blood.

" And may the Gods have mercy on my soul if I ever dare to judge her for something like that "

" That's a lie. She did nothing for us "

" If I am not mistaken, she is not here right now, is she, Atalanta? And mind reminding me who were the ones who asked her to leave? The correct sentence should be she did not do what I wanted her to do for me. And even then... is that really true? "

Atalanta did not mind showing her disgust. His words, his reasons... all were repulsive.

" You were always so... weak when it comes to her, Orion "

He laughed, getting up.

" It wasn't weakness. It was loyalty. Something all of us used to have " he muttered lowly, " In the end, I am her Dragon "

Atalanta didn't fail to notice the tense in that admission. Perhaps, if Thyestes or Narcissus had been the ones to tell her that... or Dictina... she would have reacted differently. She would have felt shocked and outraged; she would have reminded them the things Artemis had done, the kindness with which Aphrodite had treated them.

She would have sensed the shadow of another rebellion in the air.

But despite all the harshness in Orion's words, despite his reasons and his open love towards the Traitor, she was sure he had been honest. She was certain that he would not rise against Melaenis.

If shame was his reason, then he would stick to it until the end.

They were, after all, very alike. He could stain himself all he liked, and in the meantime she would keep to her hatred, to the only thing that was left inside of her.

" You " Orion called to one of the women near by, a priestess of Aphrodite judging for her looks and body language. The woman was quick to answer, bowing her head slightly to both of them.

" The Goddess wanted this " he said, holding a similar sword to the one he was sharpening by the blade and offering it to the woman. She took it.

" I'll see that she receives it " she said, bowing once again. Orion lowered his head slightly as a way to thank her before she left.

" What happened to the one you were sharpening? "

" This? " he said, showing her the other sword, " If I cut myself with it, just imagine what her priestesses would do. She lost one of them to the woods, it would be a shame if she were to lose another just because they can't handle a blade "

Atalanta shook her head while standing up. She brushed the dirt out of her clothes, wrinkling her nose at the sight of the mud-stains.

" There are things that just don't belong together, right? " she said, quoting him, her crimson eyes meeting his light brown gaze, " But that doesn't mean that them trying is wrong, does it? " her fingers played with the cord of his shirt. " I remember two things that don't belong, yet as I recall, they were quite good together "

It was always easy to tell when Atalanta was seducing someone. It was also general knowledge that she would only touch when certain of her success. Never had she failed.

" Atalanta... " he let out, knowing why she was doing this, knowing that his words, despite her I give a damn attitude of hers, had got to her worse than she pretended.

Knowing that the reason she kept doing that to herself was because she felt utterly alone.

" Orion? " she asked, her kohl-lined eyes fixed on his with that cosmo-induced glimmer of theirs.

Never before had he noticed... how sad they seemed. How much her seduction was near to begging.

Maybe it was because he had never cared to look into them, because he had also fucked half of Ortygia, and looked at women with that same look she was giving to him, a look that kept telling him that, if he wanted to, he could have her.

A look that was telling him please to have her.

He closed his hand around her wrist and led her into the granary, closing the door tight behind them before cornering her against it and kissing her passionately, his hands opening her clothes with an ease born from experience. Both knew that if either were to speak, the words would mean an instant stop to what they were doing, that they would bring a sense of reality and of wrongfulness to the moment. That words would show them how low they had sank.

Neither said a word.

It was always easy to tell when Atalanta was hunting someone. It was general knowledge that she never stopped until having her prey.

It was a cool night; something that most of Sanctuary's inhabitants were grateful for after the drowning heat they had been suffering. It was a calmed night, cloudless and full of stars, with a new moon shinning on the sky.

No traces of red were near that moon.

Most had decided to go to sleep early. Some had decided to share a bottle of wine and stay outside, enjoying the weather. Few had chosen to leave the barracks and temples to train under the night sky.

And one didn't feel he had the strength to do none of those things, and had stayed inside his temple, staring at the marble statue of his Queen and Goddess and trying to find some peace for his mind in her.

He ran his fingers through his midnight hair, wishing to erase the memories from his mind. It had been a long day, and between Camus and Deathmask, it had seemed even longer.

He couldn't remember if he had laughed at Deathmask's words, when he told him why he had decided to train so out of a sudden. He had never been prone to practise, specially not at practising at the arena, in the sight of all the other saints. The Cancer Saint had always been extremely careful to keep his training -and his killings- inside the walls of his temple. It had made the rumours around the Fourth House increase, augmenting its fame as a House of Horrors.

It was hard, to have his words and his cosmo around him all the time. His tendency to remind him that they weren't all that different making it even harder.

His tendency to stress how a battle was coming regardless of the apparent lethargy that seemed to have taken over Sanctuary did not help.

" Goddess... " he whispered, brushing his fingers over the marble pedestal. He knelt, and pressed his forehead against the cool white surface. He didn't fear war. He had been in many, and had always fulfilled his part to perfection. It was part of being the owner of the Tenth House. The perfectionism.

The lethal efficiency.

Capricorn was, after all, the deliverer of Death.

Shura had managed to live up to the expectations.

Yet his doubts... his fears... came from a different source, related to war yet not about war itself.

It was more of a single hope... the only one that remained in his heart.

That his reasons to fight in whatever war or battle Athena might choose to send him to, would be fair. That for once, he would fight by her side instead of against her.

His eyes looked up to the stern face of his Goddess, the Goddess of War and Wisdom he loved and had tried to kill.

" Someday... I would like to fight with you instead of against you " he whispered, slowly getting up.

Judging from the cosmo that was asking him permission to enter, it seemed She would first put him to test. He answered accordingly, letting a small surge of his power reach the other in recognition and acceptance.

He wished he had had the freedom to tell him to sod off.

First came the scent, intoxicating and drowsing. Then came the sight.

It was strange... He had heard he had cut off his hair and offered it to their Goddess, yet he had not expected the change would look so drastic.

Pisces Aphrodite, Gold Saint of the Twelfth House had descended from its place as Sanctuary's last line of defence. And was now staring at him with that teasing, self-assured look of his, walking into his temple with a bottle in his hand.

" Considering you've been avoiding me " he said with his natural straightforwardness, " I brought wine "

Shura arched one of his thin eyebrows. " This is not a good time, Aphrodite "

" I won't wait for another cool night to walk down the Temples " he answered, frowning slightly, his high-pitched voice sounding instantly peeved. It seemed Aphrodite had as little wishes to be there as Shura himself had of having him.

The Capricorn Saint rubbed his eyes forcefully, cursing inwardly. It seemed everyone had decided to get on his nerves.

" ... glasses? " he asked meekly.

" Please "

Shura signalled Aphrodite to follow him, leading him through the temple to the living quarters. He took two glasses from the cabinet. He picked one chair afterwards, knowing Aphrodite would follow his example.

Soon they were both at the exit of the Tenth House, sitting outside the peristyle, with a glass on their hands.

" Ouzo? " Shura asked while Aphrodite poured him some wine.

" Italian " the other answered, shaking his head slightly.

Shura nodded in relief, his eyes suddenly trapped in the waves of soft light blue locks.

" What is it? "

He snapped out of the spell. " Oh, nothing... it's just that... well " he touched his own hair, " It makes you look different. Younger "

Aphrodite shrugged, taking the glass to his lips.

Shura followed his example.

" Why are you here? " he finally asked, after some minutes of silence interrupted by the refilling of their glasses.

Aphrodite leaned forward on his chair, playing with his glass.

" Shaka left today, did you know? "

Shura frowned slightly, his cosmo instantly reaching out to Virgo.

" It's ok, he left his cloth " the other saint went on, explaining why he could still feel his presence at the Sixth House. " He went to see Phoenix "

That he had heard. Any news regarding the five bronze saints... divine saints were quick to spread. Besides, the case was strange; it wasn't something normal for a warrior to fall into a state of coma for no apparent reason.

" Any changes on that? "

" Not that I've heard of " Aphrodite replied, taking another gulp of wine.

Silence.

Shura was fond of silence; it gave him the chance to think, to consider what once was, and what now had. He liked just... being there, without having to speak to be real.

Except when he knew something had to be said. Then he was always more than ready to break the silence, his steel-like voice going through it with the same finesse that his hands possessed to go through any corporeal thing.

Yet the words weren't his to break it. So he waited, toying with his glass and staring further up the stairs, at Aquarius, Pisces, the Kyoko's Temple, and lastly, at the statue of the Goddess that ruled them.

" I heard... about Deathmask " Aphrodite finally said, his eyes fixed on the glass.

" That's why you came here? "

" Among other things " he added with a smirk on his glossy lips. " You are too altruistic, Shura "

" I may have many flaws, but I tend to see that one as a virtue, Aphrodite " he replied, leaning back on his chair. " After all, we fight for Athena, being altruistic comes with the job "

" Taking the blame for others' mistakes does not "

Shura frowned. He could understand Camus asking him about it, they had fought and died together. They had killed together.

Aphrodite and him only had their common sin. He was even pretty sure that this was the first time he talked to the owner of the Twelfth House in private.

" Since when all the interest? " he asked defensively.

" I could ask the same "

Aphrodite shook his head, sighing. " Shura... we all fought for Athena and died for her. Even when Saga was the Kyoko, we still acted on her name. Why torturing yourself and taking all the blame on your shoulders? "

" Because I need to atone "

" When will you know that you've done enough atoning? " Aphrodite asked, tilting his head, amused.

" When Athena forgives me "

Aphrodite laughed.

" You already have that. Her forgiveness " he said, flicking the gold chain around Shura's neck with his index. The Capricorn Saint had to contain himself from striking him at the unexpected invasion of his personal space.

" It is not that easy " Shura said, his violet eyes narrowing slightly. He stretched his own hand and caught a lock of light blue hair. " You should know that "

It was Aphrodite's turn to frown, tugging his hair behind his ear immediately, freeing the lock from Shura's grasp.

" That's why all the fixation with Deathmask? Because, to your eyes, I already atoned for my sins? "

Shura smirked. " Jealous? "

" Please " Aphrodite retorted; the most striking expression of superiority taking over his delicate features. Oddly enough, Shura did not feel angered. There was no malice in Pisces' answer, just self-assuredness born from a single truth. Pisces was beautiful, the most beautiful Saint in all of Sanctuary.

Whoever he wanted, he could have.

" Shura... you, from all others, should know that atonement is a personal decision, that can only be done for oneself. You can't find what you are looking in someone else, especially not in Deathmask. And you can't wash away his sins for him "

" It is not his sins the ones I care about, Aphrodite " he said, violet eyes narrowing dangerously, " While I do this... While I keep him on check, prove him faithful to Athena... I keep myself on check. I prove myself "

" If I can stand his ranting about power and justice, then I can stand anything "

His eyes darkened slightly. " Then I am not a threat "

" Well... " Aphrodite said, arching one of his delicate eyebrows while glancing at the black-haired saint, " You do have a point there. His ranting are quite... unnerving "

Shura looked at him, then smirked. Then laughed.

Aphrodite poured another glass. " You never fought by his side. It is an experience I don't recommend "

Shura finished his own, feeling slightly warmer than the weather allowed. He smiled sheepishly, enjoying the feeling.

" You are getting me drunk, Pisces "

Aphrodite stared at him, slightly shocked at the accusation. Then smirked.

" I am, aren't I? I am even getting drunk myself " From the way he finished his glass, Shura was pretty sure he was doing a hell of a great job at it, " You know, I brought this for a reason "

Shura's quizzical look must have been utterly obvious from the way Aphrodite rolled his eyes.

" I am not that blasted Scorpio, I don't need to get anyone drunk to get them into bed. Besides, you are not my type, Capricorn "

" Thank the Goddess for that, Pisces "

" I brought the wine because I was certain that you were going to be a bore "

Shura wasn't sure if he should hit him for that or not. He chose the second. For the time being.

" You have the most wonderful way to make people feel liked, Aphrodite "

" Thank you " he answered, bowing his head slightly while fishing for the bottle. " Empty " he let out, with the most dramatic sigh of disappointment and dread that Shura had ever heard in his life.

His laughter came unbidden.

" That's not too friendly, Shura " Aphrodite said, frowning slightly.

" Thank you " he echoed, mimicking the way Aphrodite had bowed his head before. Drowsiness left him almost completely when almost falling of his chair. " Damn "

" Empty in good time "

" What the hell did you make me drink, Pisces? "

" The favourite of the House? " the other saint answered innocently, staring at him through those huge blue eyes of his.

Shura didn't dare to ask what on Athena's name he had put into the wine.

" You can't be a better drinker than I am " he grumbled.

" Why is that? "

" You are... " Shura moved his hands in the air vaguely, " ...small "

Aphrodite lifted an eyebrow daringly.

" Small my ass " he said, standing up surprisingly steady, and hauling Shura up with him. He was thankful that Aphrodite didn't let go when making him stand, the world seemed suddenly unfriendly and... hazy.

" If you say so " Shura managed to say, peeking at Aphrodite's behind from over his shoulder.

" You are a lousy drinker, Shura " Aphrodite said, suppressing a giggle.

" I blame your wine for that " the other retorted, grumbling, his violet eyes fixing on Aphrodite's head, slightly confused. " You are almost as tall as I am "

" And you are barely more muscular than myself, so that means that... "

" Small my ass? " Shura interrupted, chuckling. " Fuck, what on earth did you put into the wine, Aphrodite? "

" Herbs " the other replied, unable to hide his smile of amusement.

" Should I push the subject? "

" No "

" Ok " Shura let out, defeated. " Will I live? "

Aphrodite measured him up again, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

" Aphrodite! " he begged.

His smile widened, making him look like a cat.

" Maybe "

" Remind me to kick your ass tomorrow morning " he growled.

" My pleasure " Aphrodite replied.

" You are enjoying this way too much, Pisces "

" I did not know this side of you, Capricorn "

" Also boring? "

" Unable to tell so soon "

" Fuck you "

" I rather fuck others " Aphrodite replied, grinning at the look of hatred that Shura shot him. " I am starting to feel guilty, though "

" Good. You should "

" Can you walk? "

" Of course I can walk, who do you think you are talking to? "

Aphrodite pressed his hand on Shura's shoulder, pushing him forward. He had to hold on the chair not to fall.

He rubbed his eyes before placing one of Shura's arms over his shoulders while placing his around his waist.

" Lead "

" That way " Shura growled lowly, making Aphrodite laugh.

They walked through the peristyle, back into the living quarters. Aphrodite wasn't surprised at the pristine whiteness of Shura's room, as clean and impersonal as the rest of the Tenth House.

" Down " he warned before releasing him, Shura falling unceremoniously on the bed.

" I am not sleepy " he slurred through half-closed eyes.

" Next time I'll leave the wine behind. I had not expected you to take it that badly " Aphrodite considered, staring at the limp, almost asleep, figure of the Capricorn Saint.

" Shoo, fish, I want to sleep whatever you made me away " Shura grumbled, covering his eyes with his arm.

" Ungrateful goat " Aphrodite said, utterly amused by the state of his fellow gold saint. Yet before he could leave, he felt Shura's lean fingers close tightly around his wrist, stopping him.

" Why are you here? " he asked, violet eyes fixed on blue, " You never came before "

He moved his arm, freeing himself.

" Because I am feeling rather altruistic myself. It must be a disease "

" You don't have to do this "

" Someone has to "

" Watching over me as if my actions had been your responsibility? " Shura asked, repeating the words Camus had told him earlier.

Aphrodite shrugged " You have no one else "

" I want no one. Why? "

Aphrodite leaned his back against one of the walls.

" Because I care, I guess "

" You are a selfish bastard, don't give me that "

" So are you, and yet I don't see you stopping "

" Aphrodite... am I a monster? "

Aphrodite walked near the bed and lowered Shura's arm to be able to see his face.

" You are a Gold Saint. If your question is whether a Gold Saint is a monster or not... then... does it matter? All we know is that we are the only line of defence mankind has, all we know is that we can only count with each other. That should be what matters "

" Get out of here " he growled. Aphrodite conceded, this time no one stopping him from leaving.

Through his drunkenness, Shura could still feel the cosmo of Deathmask entwined with his, he could still sense those three deadly words... power is justice

And for power, Deathmask would do anything.

Even being just.

He frowned; closing his eyes and hoping the drowsiness would take hold of him. He increased the strength he was using, feeling Deathmask's cosmo start resenting the intrusion, no longer taking it as an annoying presence, but as an invasion.

Deathmask began shunning him out, forcing him out of his cosmo. Began fighting back.

Shura rolled on one side and puked over the bed, feeling sick, dizzy and disgusted. He stared at the golden light flowing over his skin with a mixture of amazement and horror.

" What are we? " he thought out loud, frowning.

The World's only line of defence.

For the first time in his life, he found himself wishing to cry. He wasn't surprised when he realised he couldn't.

They had waited for nightfall. It was so... Artemis to do that. Hours had gone by in an uncomfortable silence, both of them ignoring each other and determined not to say the first word. Despite all they felt they should say, neither wanted to be the one to take a stand, to take control. To lead.

She wanted to ask about the call.

He wanted to ask about the villager.

She wanted to know about Narcissus, for she was not a fool and even when she had not noticed his cosmo, she had felt it in her blood, and her blood was never mistaken.

He wanted to know about the wolves and the killings, for he was not a fool and even when she had said she had nothing to do with them, he had seen the looming darkness in her clear eyes when uttering those words.

None said a word, though, busying themselves with the silliest tasks since they had walked into the isolated cottage. Artemis had claimed possession of the bed and had spent most of the time focusing her cosmo around her healing leg and arm to strengthen the bones with it. It was an unconscious task that did not require anything from her except to burn her cosmo, yet she wanted that, something that would need no thoughts, no thinking, she needed that, at least for a while.

Hyoga had taken care of the fire, had prepared the herbs the crones had told him she should drink, plus the ones Artemis herself had told him she needed. He had sat by the fire when done, leaving the odd-coloured drinks on the table for her to take them when she saw fit.

His tasks where diminishing as her recovery proceeded, and he knew that, if he were to leave, Artemis would be able to take care of herself. He knew that her life was no longer in his hands, no one would blame him. He would not be a traitor, not to her... and not to them.

Yet he also knew that if he were to leave, he would never see her again, and he couldn't have that. His excuse at first had been clear. He had promised. She was dying. It was a combination that most would understand, even when others might have frowned about it.

But he had already kept to his promise. He had found Artemis at Siberia. That was his part of the deal.

And she was no longer dying. The guardian that had approached him at the town's hall had been right about that.

She was herself now. Even her mind was hers, clouded by vengeance and memories, but hers still. She was once again the goddess, no longer the beast.

So he had lost all his excuses, regardless of what the guardian had hinted, of the one he had provided him with. It was true that Artemis would rarely fight against one of her own, the guardian had not lied about that.

Yet it was also true that Artemis would kill anyone who dared to stop her from returning to her blasted Island. And that was something that no one seemed to understand.

They all thought... he could somehow talk her out of it. That he would miraculously find the right words to make her see that being an outcast was not too bad.

That she could stay hidden in some temple forever.

That Athena could give her one, behind Her walls, under Her watch.

Hyoga smirked, his blue eyes seeming orange due to the light coming from the fire.

Even he would kill the one who dared to offer her something like that.

It would be an insult to the person she was, to the... being.

No matter how many times he had called her Goddess, he had never managed to see her as one. He knew of her power, he knew she was not human. Yet he had never been able to assimilate all that came with that title, he had never been able to think of her as something so... beyond him.

Even with Saori he had managed to come to a certain balance, seeing her as a holy being, like a messiah of sorts.

Artemis, for him, on the other hand... was not a concept.

Maybe it was the Christian in him. Artemis was too much of a pagan for him to understand her ways.

He snorted, knowing that she had turned to look at him when he did so and ignoring the questions in her eyes.

Artemis was one of the sources of paganism. He could not understand her; nothing of her was something he could comprehend. Everything just seemed so... wrong.

" I am hungry "

Everything just seemed too human.

" Eat? "

" Fuck you "

He laughed at her answer, listening to her limping as she walked into the kitchen.

Thud, pause, thud, pause, thud, pause...

The desire to shred Eros into pieces burned in his chest. But he knew that it was something she would never let him do. The same desire burned in her eyes whenever she walked, with each pause she was forced to take in order not to strain her sealing bone.

He could not understand the implications of her being, but he could understand her.

Thud, pause, thud, pause, thud, pause...

He glanced at her, fixed to the way she moved, the feral grace that was still lying somewhere in there despite the wounds and bandages.

She did not seem to notice, or to mind, too busy glaring at the food with hatred. She hated it, hated all the proofs that she had been ill and wounded. Hated all the proofs that she was still recovering. But still she would comply to all of them, to anything that would heal her faster, hating it all in silence.

He frowned.

" You know... " she said, playing with her glass " ... we should skip the water tonight "

" What on earth are you plotting, Artemis? " he asked, walking to her side.

Artemis mechanically moved her chair slightly away, forcing a smirk to appear on his lips.

That was a game he had been playing often of the late, wondering if Artemis was conscious about it, or if her reactions were purely mechanical. Instinctive.

He would tease her and toy with her. He would increase the contact whenever she felt the need to touch him. Hold her hand if she would brush his fingers; place his arm around her waist if she would lean against him.

She would always move away when he did so.

It was a cruel game, for he knew that he was the one losing it and she was the one suffering from it, but it gave him an odd sort of control over her and he needed that.

Because she had lost hers, and all she had to lean on was her anger and her instinct.

So he would make her stop him, show her that as much as it involved control from his part... the choice was always hers.

That was the only certainty that his mind and his dreams had left him with. That he wanted her and would enjoy having her, even if that brought pain to her, even if that killed her.

But he shouldn't have her. So he wouldn't.

It was a small admission, and it was a thin safety line that he would not cross.

If he hadn't done so that night, when she had turned to him and had told him that she wanted him, that she wanted whatever pain he could bring her, he wouldn't do so now.

As long as she backed away.

" I think we should celebrate "

" That's a lame excuse to get me to change the water for alcohol, and you know it "

She arched one of her eyebrows, clear blue eyes fixing on his with a self-confidence that was intimidating.

" Of course I know it " she replied.

" I should have expected that answer from you " he said, taking his glass to his lips. " Always behaving as if you knew it all "

It was a tease, and she took it as such.

" I don't. Yet I know what I want "

" And what is that? "

" To get you drunk so you won't back away from our little deal "

He shook his head.

" You don't want me drunk, Artemis " It was a warning and he made it sound like that.

It was a mistake.

Artemis had never understood warnings.

She always took them as a dare.

" Questioning what I might want, Cygnus? "

" Always, goddess " he replied. The titles didn't hurt so much; they weren't using them as a way to provoke pain. It was another game. It helped them pretend that the goddess and the saint were roles they fulfilled.

It helped them pretend that they could forget about them inside those four walls.

She sighed, exasperated, refusing to touch her glass as long as it was full with water. " I am not asking for permission, I am asking you to join me "

" That's what you don't want, Goddess "

This time he had meant to hurt her and she noticed, his assumptions stinging harder than the way he referred to her.

" Then I'll drink alone " she said, cursing inwardly.

Hyoga frowned. He remembered seeing her drunk, at the small temple at Sanctuary.

He remembered the way she had teased him and offered herself to him.

He remembered how dead she had looked like.

Images from his dreams took over his mind. Of her bleeding and dying under him.

" You can't allow yourself that, Artemis " he said lowly, meeting her eyes. He knew she had her reasons to ask for that, but reasons or not, he could not allow himself to see her like that. He could not allow her to loose her control at his reach.

Artemis frowned and opened her mouth to retort, but Hyoga grabbed her by the wrist and hurled her off the chair, making her stand.

Her cosmo pushed him against the table, the sound of the glasses and dishes breaking against the floor echoing in the room.

He laughed.

" Can't you see it, Artemis? If your mind is too hazed, you'll stop being the fucking bitch that you are and this... " he said, spreading his arms to his sides " ...won't happen "

" You won't push me away, and you need that. You have to stop me " he sighed painfully, running his fingers through his hair " If you drink, you'll break again. And I don't want to lose what little remains of you "

" Don't give me the chance "

Artemis stared at him, her cosmo still burning around her. Her breathing was uneven and her hands were closed in tight fists, her nails digging into her skin.

" Outside, Cygnus " she said coldly, her voice sharp.

" That's how you solve things, Goddess? " he asked in disbelief.

" That's the only way I know how " Artemis answered evenly.

" Why? "

She didn't doubt. " Because you seem to be under the impression that I can't take care of myself... and I need to know that my body won't fail me while fighting. After that... I can get out of here "

" I thought Gods tended to underestimate mortals "

" We did. Until mortals started killing Gods " her pale lips curled in anger, disgust and hatred, " Your kind brings out the worst of us "

He hated her then. For making such a clear distinction between them.

It was the first time she talked to him... as Poseidon had referred to them. As Hades had.

As Athena sometimes did.

It was the first time she made an open reference to what she was, and what he wasn't.

It was the first time she stated how that made her feel.

He stood up slowly, delighting in the feeling of anger as much as he found it disgraceful.

He could guess why. Damn them all.

" You are such a bitch, Artemis " he growled, without moving from his place.

" I am not " she said honestly, heading for the door. Her voice seemed to break slightly as she repeated words she had heard from the God whose ego she had broken in exchange of her body " I am a Goddess "

And that entitled her to do anything she pleased. To act as she pleased.

To take what she pleased.

Because she always did. Regardless of the consequences.

Except when it came to him.

And Hyoga let her know that.

It was outrage what stopped Artemis from reacting, just like it was rage the one that made him move and cross that single line that he had forbidden himself to cross.

It was rage that made him kiss her.

Because he couldn't put a stop to his love for her.

It was only after some seconds had gone by that he realised what he was doing, when he noticed that under his own lips, Artemis' were trembling.

It was only when he moved slightly away, that a small sigh escaped her mouth. She had not been breathing.

He stared at her, at the lips he had claimed as his own, without having the strength to move away just yet.

He had kissed her. He had forbidden himself to do so, but he had.

And now there was outrage in her eyes, as much as there was an increasing amount of pain... and of need.

(....What you saw... was me through him. Desire... is a dangerous thing. Anyone can be a monster if pushed over the edge....)

" I... hurt you " he whispered huskily, his voice sounding oddly... alien. Broken.

She trembled again, not just her lips, but also her body. She closed her eyes, her brows slightly knitted together, as if the sight of him was something she could not take.

(... and that which I cannot take, I will not have...)

" I... "

Her breathing was uneven... probably as much as his. His, out of lust, hers... because she didn't find the strength to say those words anymore.

It seemed as if all the little bits that were left of her were all focussed on staying still. On stopping herself from striking.

" I... "

(... I want you to hurt me...)

He placed his hand over her mouth, unable to hear her say those words again. Another sigh, this time against his palm. And clear blue eyes that snapped open and fixed on him with fright.

Drip, drip, drip

He looked down, puzzled by the invading sound that dared to be heard over their breathings. It did not surprise him to find blood on the floor. Somehow, it seemed proper. In his mind, Artemis and blood were things that were starting to belong together.

Drip, drip, drip

He caught a drop with his free hand. They were falling from her closed hands. Even in the paleness of her skin, the white knuckles could be seen through. He frowned.

Hyoga tried to open one of her hands with his own. Her fingers seemed fixed on their spot, and each time he managed to straighten one, a shudder would go through her body and end right against his other hand, the one that was still resting over her mouth.

The shudders were continuous once he managed to open her fist. The tiny marks of her nails were red half moons over the palm of her hand.

He moved away this time, taking both of his hands away from her. No sound escaped her lips, though her hand mechanically closed itself into a fist once again.

Hyoga was the one trembling now, he noticed it the instant he went for his coat and almost failed to grab it. One single glance towards her was the only thing he allowed himself to, his eyes meeting hers for a brief second.

She didn't try to stop him when he reached the door. By the time he had closed it behind him and the cold Siberian wind embraced him, he was glad she hadn't.

He knew he could no longer say 'no' to her.

Camus could not sleep. Not that it bothered him. He knew the reasons why sleep was being denied to him, and knew what he had to do to conceal it.

All he had to do... was make a choice.

It was the price to pay for their rebirth. They had learnt what had been missing in their lives, what they had valued about them, all their mistakes and their sacrifices, when their time to die had come. They had learnt what they wanted. Who they were.

Now they had to live with that knowledge.

It was difficult to come to terms with that. And even when many had asked, none of them could have handled the answer.

Because what had returned, wasn't exactly what they had lost. What they had lost would have had no answers, because what they had lost... had not care.

Until it was too late to act upon it.

What had returned did have answers, though. Yet did not know how to act upon them.

And pretending was not working. Not anymore.

Not ever.

He had noticed, when he had unleashed his cosmo and turned his House cold and white, that it had never really worked.

Twice, he had managed to avoid the answer. The first, because he had already answered it, in his very temple, when the aurora execution collided against itself and took his life away. The second, because it was not meant for him, but for the one asking it.

The one he could not avoid was the third.

Ice Saints were trained not to fall for petty feelings. The anguish, the pain, the happiness that small things provided were unknown to them. Not because they forbade themselves to feel them, but because they could not.

Ice Saints sublimated their task and took pride on that, sacrificing most of their humanity in the process.

Because that was what their Cloths demanded. To be merciless, blinded to everything but their task. Petty feelings were just a distraction.

Yet they were still human, and as such, they couldn't but feel.

And deprived of the small things that satisfied most men, they turned to those they could still feel.

The ones that would break and shatter most men and women.

They turned to them, pushed them further, sublimated them as much as they sublimated their task, sublimated them beyond their task, and never stopped until being devoured by them completely... or freezing them first.

Ice Saints were the worst kind of monsters that Sanctuary had to offer. Monsters prone to self-destruction yet unable to feel enough as to actually destroy themselves.

So they destroyed others in return.

No.

Never others.

Those they cared about. Those they felt for.

Their reasons to feel.

And among them, among the elitist group of merciless angels carved in ice, Camus was the best one at destroying that which he cared for.

Because he did so. Was there any other answer for such a question? He cared because they had made him care.

And as Aquarius, the quintessential symbol of the Ice Saints, he did what the monster he had become allowed him to. He hated them for that.

And because he hated them for making him care, he gave them the answer to their question in the shape that would destroy them completely.

To Hyoga, he gave him his death.

To Artemis, he gave her the aurora execution.

And to Milo, he gave nothing.

He made him feel, constantly, over all the years they had known each other, over the last moments of his life, when facing him once again clad in a dark sapuri, that he meant nothing for him.

That he was unwanted.

No, it was more than that. That would have been taking a stand; that would have been an answer all in itself.

And to Milo, he had never been able to be clear.

He made him feel that he was unimportant for him. That his presence or the lack of it was completely the same for him.

He made him feel that he did not care. About him. Because around him he would always hint that he could care for others.

He was Aquarius. He never lost because he never had. It was something that Milo knew, that Camus had made him see constantly, as constantly as he had tried to break him.

Yet he saw more than well. Because to every attempt from his part to destroy Scorpio, there was an attempt from Scorpio to destroy him. The further he pushed, the harder he tried, the colder he became; just made Milo's sting to bite deeper into his soul, just proved him how much Milo wanted him, how much he cared, how high he burned.

And his own flame felt tempted to burn back.

Too tempted.

Because for the rest, he had no further answers. But for Milo...

Camus' dark blue eyes fixed on the carefully folded cloak on his table. The memory of Milo's warm skin under his fingers returned to his cold hands, making him shudder slightly.

The skin of his wrist had felt soft under his fingers. His lips had felt even softer.

Camus did not believe in second chances. The main reason was because he did not need them. There was nothing he had done in the past he repented; nothing he thought he should change.

The blood, the pain, the tears, they had all been a cause and an effect in his actions and in the ones of those that surrounded him. They had all been a price to pay.

A price he would pay again.

Which was harsh. Because there was nothing he felt he should be doing now that his past was nothing but that. Closed events. There was nothing else he felt he had to do.

Except finding out why had he cared. Why he still did.

Why the fire only burned higher instead of just dying out.

Breaking Milo to break himself had not helped. Not caring had been impossible, pretending a losing fight.

There were two ways to get rid of feelings. One was pushing away the one that was causing them, just as he had done with the ship where Hyoga's mother slept, or as he constantly did with Milo.

The other one was facing them.

But he did. And couldn't but fear that knowledge would be the end of Scorpio, just as it was being Aquarius'.

He couldn't but fear that facing what he felt would kill Milo's incinerating flame. Would break him completely.

Yet there was another fear, one that was imprinted in his mind's eye and refused to go away.

The sight of Milo, walking away from him, hurt and broken and bleeding in the inside, after he had told him the reason why he had unleashed the aurora execution was Hyoga.

He had wished Milo would see through his lies, through the ice, through all the shit he had been making him go through. But Camus was extremely good at hurting those that cared for him.

And Milo had always been his favourite victim.

Because Milo burned so high that Camus believed him able to incinerate him, able to turn to ashes all that he was. And that was something he could not allow.

His eyes wandered over the cloak once again.

As much as he couldn't let Milo's flame die.

Camus got up from his chair and reached for the cloak.

Shura had been right. There was something he wanted that wasn't in Aquarius. And there was no point in staying if that was the case.

He walked out.

In the end, all he did was sit outside. He had stood by the door, his mind still inside the cottage even when his body was not, until the coldness made him shudder. Only then he took into his surroundings, on the nothingness that spread before him. Not even the usual smoke from the village could be seen in the horizon, the snow hiding everything before him in a veil of white.

He took his fingers to his lips. They were growing cold, but the feeling was still there, the sensation of having Artemis' under them. They had felt so soft... warm and full. Made just for that.

With the years, with the pain... he had forgotten... how much he had always wanted to kiss her.

It was the second time he failed to fight that want. The first time he had found no reason to hold back, and she had returned his kiss... and left Siberia a day after. The first time they had been children.

And now... they weren't children anymore, and the implications were too blurry as to know what tomorrow could bring.

Yet... now it wasn't want. Not anymore.

And Hyoga needed to understand into what it had transformed before facing her again. Because the guardian had been right in his threat. Hyoga could no longer leave, he had chosen to stay the instant he set foot on Siberia, he had made his mind back then.

His eyes travelled to the wound on the palm of his hand. That had been the instant in which all had started for him... when he decided to take that vow again, and he retraced it on his skin.

It wasn't healing. Just like Artemis' had never healed.

(... it was always there... to hurt me...)

He frowned, fixing the coat tighter around his body. Back then, he had not cared about what the future could bring. Now he wasn't sure if there was a future to care about. All he knew was that he was tired of them hurting each other, he was tired of them only being able to bring pain to one another... when the greatest wounds they carried were the ones that the other's pain inflicted on them. He did not want to be her pain. As much as he wanted to stop relating her with blood and death.

As much as he needed to stop seeing fear in her eyes.

He rubbed his eyes forcefully, trying to brush away the mental image of her broken form. He tried to remember other things instead, her presence, her cosmos... her smile. He had always loved her smile.

But he could no longer remember it.

The last time he had seen it... had been... in Siberia.

When she kissed him back. Afterwards... all that came was pain. And anger, and hatred. Ever since she had set foot on Athens, he had witnessed the way all those feelings kept pushing her down.

And, like he did when Tatsumi died, she turned to the one thing she still had.

She turned to him.

And like her, all he could do was strike.

It was the same question she had made him, a hundred times. Why was he there, why had he promised, why had he stayed.

Why had she returned, why did she need him so much, why did she left.

He knew the answers, at least his. Under all the pain he could bring, all the hatred he sometimes felt... were the things that mattered, the ones that had made him re-open the wound on his hand and return to his white hell for her.

And that couldn't hurt her... but could make her leave. She had left before.

How could he, when all she had done before was prove him right?

In a way, he already did. Hated to see her broken, hated her wounds, hated the man that had made them.

Hated the way she made all those questions... and when answered, all she did was back away. That was probably the thing he hated the most. The way she backed away. When he was near, when he would touch her.

If things as small as those were able to make her move away from him, then the answers she kept demanding would only make her run away. Again.

But that wasn't fair. She was not a coward, and he had witnessed the proofs of that enough times already. They were written all over her skin, in shades of blue, purple and yellow. Some of them still bled.

In his dreams, he made all of them bleed.

No. No goddess. Just Artemis. It was only Eros the one that wanted the deity in her. Hyoga just wanted...

He closed his eyes, tilting his head back to feel the wind against it.

" I want you "

He chuckled darkly when the question appeared in his mind. It was so... proper.

" Because you are mad, and broken, and bleeding "

Hyoga sighed as he opened his eyes. In the snow blowing before him, he could make out the shadow of a little girl. Blue eyes, mischievous smile, midnight hair.

" You used to be so... pretty "

The girl poked her tongue at him.

He smiled and watched the shadow change. The eyes staring at him now were the same, but the smile had died.

" I missed you "

The shadow turned around, her eyes still fixed on him over her shoulder.

" Stay "

She shook her head. And disappeared.

Just to return some seconds after.

Dying.

" I never... wanted that to... happen to you " he let out, feeling the pain in his chest grow next to the one in her eyes.

Oddly enough, she smiled at him. Sadly. And stretched an arm made of snow towards him. He tried to reach for it, but it disappeared before he could touch it. The shadow frowned, confused, and tried to move near, but the closer it moved, more parts of it were taken away by the wind.

" Don't "

But she kept trying anyway, her confusion turning into despair.

" Don't! " he let out, moving his arms forward to keep her there somehow. But she just shot daggers at him and walked forward.

By the third step, she had vanished, the thick veil of snow taking her place.

" Stupid " Hyoga whispered, covering his eyes. He wasn't sure who was he saying it to, if her or himself. Probably both.

He lifted his face when hearing the door creak. The ghosts of the past were gone, but the present remained. Staring at him with the same ice blue eyes.

Artemis was standing by the door, in the same huge coat she had used earlier on the day.

" I thought you had left " she said, her voice utterly even. Her barriers were up again.

" ... I... " he whispered, but was unable to finish the sentence, the words dying in his mouth.

Artemis sighed, and walked towards the place where he was sitting.

The ghost of her vanishing before his eyes appeared in his mind and made him panic.

" Don't "

She stopped on her track as if he had slapped her, her brow creasing slightly at the commanding tone in his voice.

" I'm sorry " she muttered, the coldness in her voice increasing as her defences did so. " I... I was going to catch you " the ghost of a smile crossed her lips, " If you had left, that is "

" Artemis... " he said, standing up slowly, " we... we should talk. There are many things... that can't go on. Not like this "

She looked away. One by one, he noticed the barriers disappear, first in the way she was standing, then in the darkness inside her eyes. She finally nodded.

" It's cold out here " she added.

" Inside, then " he replied, keeping the door open and waiting for her to walk into the cottage first.

She did so, and he followed, closing the door behind them. The room welcomed them with the warmth of the fire. It seemed that Artemis had cleaned up the mess while he had been outside, as the chairs and table were back on their places, and there were no traces of the broken glasses and dishes, except for a small plastic bag against one of the corners of the room.

Artemis sat on the bed, her back against the wall, her long legs closed against her chest, hands resting on her knees. Hyoga considered grabbing a chair, but finally decided on sitting next to her. She merely looked at him as he did so, saying nothing.

Silence.

" Listen... "

" I... "

Silence.

" We are so stupid, Artemis " he finally let out, smiling faintly. " I... I am so stupid, I guess. I ... there things I can't handle anymore. About us. I... "

The pressure of her hand over his startled him, making him stop.

" Let me go first, Hyoga " she said, her cold eyes fixed on his, " You might not want to finish what you are saying once I am done "

He moved her hand away.

" I want to" he answered, his brows knitting together, " I need to "

She nodded slowly.

" You asked me earlier... why did I let you choose. You asked me many things, and I never answered them "

" You didn't have to "

" I did. This... " he stretched his arm before him, removing the bandage from his hand. His eyes travelled over the wound, " ... I was a child when I made this... because I wanted you with me back then... I could not understand... what was wrong with that "

" Before returning here... I traced it again. It has not healed since then. I am not longer a child, and I know what this scar means... what the promise it stands for involves "

" I made it because I can't allow myself to lose you again.... I chose, and that choice is the one that brought me here. With you, for as long as we might have. Today... one of your guardians approached me. I know... you felt him. He gave me another reason to stay. An excuse. Yet... I don't want it. I don't need it. It's my choice, just like this scar, and I want it to remain like that, I don't want it to be an obligation "

" But... you have to be careful with me now... I made my choice... and now I have to handle the consequences... but I am not sure if I can handle them on my own. I am not sure if I can control myself... Things always get so... complicated with us, and a dare, a push... is all that it takes now. That kiss... was a proof of that "

He rested his chin against his knees, half-smiling. Artemis stared at him, captivated by the way the fire made his eyes look orange.

As she had always known, they... were full of feelings.

Hate, lust, loss, pain... love.

Her heart seemed to sink in her chest whenever she looked into his eyes.

" I guess... I want you too much " he whispered, his face turning suddenly serious. " That's why... I always hurt you so much. But I don't want to do that. To hurt you. I want to show you that there is more in me than that... I want to see if you can still smile, Artemis... I want to be the reason of that smile "

" You said... that Athena... could not share me " he said darkly, placing his hand around his neck. His fingers closed around the gold chain that Saori had given him. The proof that he was one of her most trusted warriors. One of the faithful. " She won't have to. Not... while I am here "

" I am here... for you "

" No! " He started when hearing her say that, looking at her with confusion in his eyes. She had almost jumped on him, her hands locked over his, preventing him from taking off the gold chain. " No... " Artemis whispered, taking his hand in hers and moving it away from his neck. " Don't do it... I don't.... "

He had never seen her in so much... panic.

" I don't deserve it "

" I... am not honest... You... you don't understand... I am not... a victim, Hyoga... I've seen your hatred for Melaenis... for Eros... for what they've done to me... but you are mistaken... you should not hate them... and you should not pity me... nor... " she could not find the strength to say he wanted her, the words dying in her throat " They are not a menace to your Goddess... You see, I know that... " a sad smile grew on her lips, " because I am "

" What... ? "

She moved away, her hands clutching the sheets of the bed, her fingers caressing the fabric mechanically.

" I am an oracular goddess, with a seer under my command... she saw the deaths that would come... she saw it all... saw the wars. And I... I had the responsibility to keep the balance, that was why I was here, to make sure the gods didn't attack one another... but they would... and the only reason they would do that that I could see... was Athena "

" If I killed her vessel, Saori, then Athena wouldn't be able to show herself in this world... and without her presence... then there would be no wars " the words came painfully from her throat, her eyes fixed on an imaginary point away from Hyoga " So I made a deal with the false Kyoko... I told him that I would not reveal his identity, as long as he let me train with one of his gold saints "

" I chose Milo, the most social among them. Through him I learnt all I needed from the Gold Saints... and when I found out Camus was his weakness... I chose him too. To learn how strong Athena's champions were, to learn what would my own champions have to face "

" I learned enough from them as to, one day, once Saori had ended her war against her false Kyoko and before the other wars were to start, I would knock on Sanctuary's doors with my Nine... And would hunt down the gold saints that remained, one by one, until I could reach Athena "

There was pride in her eyes. Vicious pride, for her skills. " And, unlike Sagitta, I never miss a shot. I never let my prey live. With her dead... Poseidon and Hades would have had no reason to attack the earth... and all wars would have been avoided "

" But... here... I met you two... Isaac who reminded me so much of my brother... and you... and I did not know what I felt for you, except that I wanted to be around you all the time... and I lied... I told you that I had chosen you both at your births, that I came to Siberia because of you two... but all abandoned children are under my care, it was nothing... special. Nothing made you mine... " the words came disconnected then, disgust and hatred flowing from them.

" And Athena was going to have you, you were going to be hers... I hated her then, with all my heart... and wished the moment I would have her head would come... but... I stopped being sure why I was doing all that... if I wanted her dead because of the wars her death would stop... or because you were going to be her saint... I wasn't sure of anything anymore... "

Artemis licked her lips, feeling her throat going dry.

" It was Melaenis who helped me find my answers "

" She came to Ortygia the day... we made that promise. She came with her son, and she was very clear about her reasons for her visit... Because she gave me words for what I felt for you... and I knew that there was no balance I could protect if I desired something so much "

" So I left Ortygia... Left the Nine, fearing I would risk their lives in some stupid war if I were to stay, and allowed Melaenis to take care of the island for me. Even Tique, one of the goddesses who watch over the balance, agreed on that exchange, removing her favours from me... and giving them to her "

" And I did not return to you.... because Athena had already claimed you. And then... it was too late. The wars began, and Sanctuary fell for Athena to rise. Asgard followed, then Poseidon's Sanctuary... and finally Hades. Blood... everywhere... and on my hands, because I knew... and did nothing. I helped none... and watched Athena fight and kill. Poseidon had my neutrality in exchange of saving Ortygia from the Flood, and Hades had it in exchange of one of my guardians "

" And I hated her, with all my might, Hyoga, I still do... hate all she has done, the way she has trapped the oldest among us, and hate that she can still have the love of her warriors, and your love, while I had to give it all up "

" I hate her... and hate that Melaenis lost control, because I had to warn Athena of that, I had to return to Sanctuary and talk to her and behave... while watching you all kneel at her feet "

" I was so... stupid... I thought that I could handle all this... but I can't... and they can't... the Nine, Ortygia... I love them all so much... and they love me back... they need me as much as I need them... I can hear their cries all the time, the screams of the ones that have chosen to follow me... their pain. I thought that I could live without them, but I cannot.... And neither can they... the wolves are a sign of that. It is their cosmos, calling for me, losing control in the lands that belong to the Goddesses that stand against me. The wolves were Thyestes'... and there have been other signs, worse than the killings the wolves have caused "

" And because of my foolishness, Melaenis won't abandon her post without a fight. Because she knows that the balance is something I can't protect... and because... she longs for power, and Ortygia is powerful, as much as its Guardians. Eros' presence only worsens that... he is not even trying, but his presence there is already heightening everyone's wishes and desires... it makes them less willing to give them up... and more determined to fight for them "

She curled up, hiding her face against her legs. Her voice had turned into a broken whisper full of self-hatred. And she could no longer bear to feel his eyes burning into her. She could not face him.

" The Fates gave the task to me... because I long for nothing... I longed for nothing...but... they trapped me... I do long for things... They wanted that war to happen, wanted me to break the balance and fight Athena... they wanted blood. The blood of my own " Her voice turned possessive. Dangerous. " They... used me. And I used Melaenis... and now I have to pay for the consequences. No one can go against the fates, and survive "

There was a shimmer in her hands, a cosmo that was not her own spreading over them. Cosmo that slowly took the shape of a sword.

" You see... I can't judge anything... I will always side with the Gods, and not with mankind... I will always side with those that respect the old ways, instead of those that want a new order... I am... too subjective... but still... Nemesis chose to stay with me. The Goddess of Divine Vengeance... and I can't but wonder why. To face Melaenis next to me? To break the chains the Fates have tied around me? Around the Gods and mortals? Or maybe... it wants me to judge myself? "

" That... would be the easy way out... because... I am guilty. That's why... I don't deserve your... words... I don't deserve to be looked by you in that way... And that's why you should keep that chain on... because this is what I am, Hyoga... and I couldn't let you get close to me until you knew that... and you won't want me close to you now that you know "

She couldn't stop a whimper from escaping her lips when feeling him standing up, the mattress shifting under her now that his weight was not there. His steps echoed inside the room, but she refused to look up. She had searched for his hatred for so long... but she could not bear it. Before... she had offered him her roughness, the crude way in which she saw the world. Her lack of humanity. All that, he could hate and she could live with it.

But all those things had been a veil to hide the actions that had led her there... and for them, he could hate her with his entire heart. He could hate her, not just some aspects, some lost arguments.

" Artemis... "

" Go now, Hyoga... this is my fight... and I can't fight it if I watch you leave " she said, too broken as to keep her charade of coldness. She was keeping her eyes closed, and they burned. She didn't realise why they were burning until she felt the wetness on her cheeks. " I never wanted... to return to you... I shouldn't have done so... and for that I am sorry... but I am a Goddess... I can't but... shatter all that I want... and fight for it, kill for it... regardless of the consequences. We are... amoral creatures "

The steps again. Her nails had found home on the soft flesh of her hands again, the pain giving her something to focus on besides the sound of Hyoga walking through the room.

Until the steps stopped.

Silence, broke only by the crackling of the fire, and the whimpers that she kept trying to hold back. One of her hands had closed over her heart, for an instant she had feared a hole had been carved through her chest, so empty she felt in the inside. The speed of the beatings surprised her. No, it was the fact that it was still beating what brought surprise to her mind.

" Artemis, open your eyes "

" For Leto's sake, Hyoga, I can't handle more things, this is all that I am!... please " she begged, for the first time.

" Open them " he insisted, pain in his voice. He had only heard her beg in dreams... and had wished she would never have to do so.

She obeyed, tiredly, staring at him through clouded orbs. He was standing before her, his eyes fixed on her.

" Please " she let out, her lips trembling slightly.

He frowned slightly, and knelt on the edge of the bed, resting his hands on her knees.

" Why didn't you tell me all this before? "

" ... because I like the way you look at me. Without adoration, without fear... I feel as if you are looking at me, not at the goddess, not at the woman... If you had known... you would have stopped looking at me like that. I wanted... my memories of you to be that look... I was not supposed to see you again after I left the Island... so it didn't really matter if you knew the truth or not... I was your past "

" You are my present, now " he said, seriously. Then, he tilted his head, slightly puzzled, " How do I look at you? "

" Like you are looking at me now "

" And I know the truth. You should have told me, if I had known how you felt... I want you to trust me "

" I would have killed her... If I had stayed another day at Siberia... if I gave you the chance to fulfil your promise... all would have made me kill her. I even brought her back from the dead...because I wanted her to stay there... and I couldn't do that "

" And because of that... you did all this to yourself? " he asked, frowning. He had witnessed what Gods were able to do for that which they wanted. He had never imagined that they would go even further when trying to hold back.

" I did what I had to do. Is that all you need to know? " she replied, the fear of him leaving bringing back her edge.

" No. There is one more thing "

" What? "

He placed his hand over the sword, the contact feeling terribly electric. He winced before pushing it away from her hands and placing it on the bedside table.

" What do you want? If this had not happened... if this post the fates gave you were to somehow disappear... what would you want?"

She arched an eyebrow " It won't disappear "

" Pretend? " Hyoga shrugged. The tears in her eyes were something he could not handle.

" ... I... can't... " she managed to say, her voice nothing but a whisper.

He leaned back, resting his hands on the bed " I can wait until you do "

".... Hyoga... don't make me say it " But he had to.

" I need to hear it, Artemis "

" If you leave me afterwards... "

" I won't. I won't leave "

The pressure in her chest increased, forcing her to gasp for breath. She looked away.

" ... I can't "

" Trust me, for once in your life "

" I trust you, but ... "

" What do you want? "

Artemis swallowed, her eyes meeting his.

" ... you " her voice broke " I need you "

His chest heaved the moment she said those words. He had wanted to make things easier for her somehow, but he feared that the slightest touch would make him cross his limits again. Her words were a confirmation, and a balm. He had wanted to hear her say them... for a long time. And couldn't but feel taken aback by them. Artemis had told him she was a liar... but she was also one of the most brutally honest persons he knew. Specially when broken.

And the choice of words was something he would not be able to forget. The fact that she had used need instead of want brought shudders down his spine.

" And I am here, and I am not going anywhere " he said, his voice as much at a loss as hers.

" Why? "

" You know why "

" I need... to hear it " she whispered, mimicking his words. He smirked nervously. He had known she would use those words against him the moment he said them... and he could understand why. Artemis had grown used to see the world as if she were unwanted... and had done all in her power to be hated in order to protect those she loved.

She had grown mistrusting. Specially of him.

So he couldn't but be honest with her.

No hands stopped his from reaching for the gold chain this time. The owl glittered under the half-light of the room. It was such a small thing... that meant so much.

When he let go of it, it was nothing but a pool of gold next to a silver sword.

The proofs of his sainthood... and of her origin.

Nothing but discarded items on a wooden table.

" Because I love you "

Artemis looked away, her body trembling slightly. Her mind was racing, while her body decided to completely ignore all her attempts to calm down.

She could tell by Hyoga's breathing that he was having the same problem.

She lifted her gaze, eyes full of doubts and fears fixing on Hyoga's.

" Kiss me " she said, her voice sounding oddly desperate. She did not mind.

Hyoga leaned forward, one of his hands reaching for her cheek. He feared she would back away, but she did not, a strangled sigh escaping her throat while she gave in to his touch.

He kissed her closed eyes first. He hated the tears in them, and found it fitting that the salty taste should die on his lips.

It was her the one to touch him then, cold, trembling hands cupping his face and pulling him closer.

" Kiss me " she repeated, breathlessly. Her lips brushed his when she spoke, sending shivers down his spine.

He complied, his lips meeting the fullness of her own in a dance that was soft and languid. She kissed him back, and his stomach sank when she did so, his hand leaving her cheek to caress her neck and play with the rebellious strands of her hair.

Silk in his hands, silk on his lips.

Neither tried to hurry... it was if they were trying to imprint the feeling into their minds.

He opened her lips with his tongue... or was it her the one that had opened his? He was kissing her... and she was kissing him, it was difficult to tell who was leading, who followed. Her mouth was warm, unlike her skin, and it was eager... and passionate.

Wanting him.

He moaned into the kiss, using all his willpower not to grab her and pull her closer to him. Her fingers were not giving him any mercy, lost in the waves of his hair, caressing his scalp and driving him insane.

Hyoga move away to regain his breathing, Artemis looking at him through half-lidded eyes, her lips open and quivering.

There was lust in her eyes.

" You have no idea... " he said, gasping for air. His hands traced the contour of her face, her cheeks, her lips. He knew that it would be long for his breathing to return when the tip of her tongue brushed his skin. " ... for how long... I wanted to do that "

" I know " she sighed, honestly.

His willpower wavered when the knowledge of those words sank on him.

" Artemis... " he said huskily, leaning forward once again. This time, though, she turned her face the other way, her lips brushing his earlobe.

" Hyoga... " she whispered in his ear, sighing at the contact of his warm mouth against her neck. She rested her back against the wall and moved her legs to one side to let him move closer to her. He leaned forward, one of his hands resting next to her face in order to sustain his weight.

Hyoga felt the little boundaries he had set for himself waver, the tension on his groin growing. He tried to shift his body so she would not notice, but she placed her hands on his hips and did not let him move away. He did not contradict her.

She liked the feeling of him hard against her, to sense his erection through the fabrics of their clothes. It was the proof that he wanted her. It was something real. It was something she needed in order not to panic.

One of her hands left his hips to sink back into his hair, loving the way it seemed made of gold thanks to the eerie light coming from the fire. The other one closed around his free wrist, taking his hand to her chest, resting it over one of her breasts.

" ... touch me "

His hand closed over it, trying to hold and touch as much of her as he could, then moving over her chest, down her stomach, back to her neck and shoulders, down her spine.

She squirmed under him, sighing and moaning as the caresses turned bolder.

Hers were not more innocent, soon finding their way under his shirt and grazing his back with sharp fingernails, caressing it with soft fingertips.

Hyoga let her take his shirt off, and laughed at her appreciative look before sinking over her once again. Her fingers travelled over his skin freely now, grabbing him from time to time, pulling him closer, caressing him with a need that matched his own.

Until she stopped.

He lifted his head from the spot behind her ear that he had been kissing to look at her. She had never looked so beautiful to him as in that moment, her hair a tangled mass of black, her eyes bright with desire, her lips swollen and her chest heaving.

" You are not touching me " she said steadily.

Hyoga frowned slightly, looking at his hands on her body. On her clothes. He moved them away, his eyes fixing on Artemis' as he did so. And placed them under her shirt, noticing the goosebumps over her skin when he did so. She lifted her back from the bed, his arms holding her while she took her own shirt off, just to toss it unceremoniously next to his.

Hyoga could only look at her. In his dream, she had been inhuman. A flawless mirage. It had hurt to look at her. It had been like staring to a monster.

Now it did not hurt.

His throat went dry and his body screamed for satisfaction, though, while his hands carefully investigated the curves and plains of pale skin. Trying to imprint all that he could into his mind.

Few bandages remained on her body, most of the wounds having closed already, turned into swollen scars or fading bruises. The marks that reminded him that she was alive and that Eros was to die.

And she was soft, and she shook, and trembled, and sighed, and was so utterly real.

He cupped her face in his hands, looking at her in silence. There were muted questions in her eyes, silent fears... that he kissed away, locking his lips over hers, moaning into the kiss, deepening it languidly. They were doomed, both of them, and they knew it, every touch, every sigh was a proof of that. They were doomed, and there was no escape.

His ability to speak died off when she left his mouth to kiss his neck instead. Until she forced her name out of his lips by biting his flesh.

They were doomed and they wanted to burn slowly... to delay the punishment that their actions would bring them and make the cause last for as long as they could. Last forever.

Fate was inexorable.

And his name from her lips was a growing addiction, a drug that he would gladly indulge himself in. He kissed her, lips, face, neck, her breasts and her stomach. Her fingers pressing on her scalp led him on.

She caught his face in her hands and pulled him up to kiss him, possessively and in a dangerously sensual way, tongue dancing with his, teeth nibbling his lips. Breaths lost completely. What they were playing were no longer games.

One of his hands fondled her breasts, played with her hardened nipples, while the other one slowly stroked her side and stomach and made its way down.

She moved her legs slightly farther apart to accommodate his hand, and gasped, hiding her face against the curve of his neck, when he began to finger her.

Artemis pressed herself against him for support, feeling the pleasure grow between her thighs, in her lower body.

Feeling pleasure. A part of her had feared she wouldn't be able to, not after what Eros had done to her. That a single touch would make her scream and return to that day.

But it wasn't Eros the one that was touching her. And she was still there, in that rundown cottage that meant sanctuary to her. With him.

" Hyoga... " It was strange, all that that single name, that word, had grown to mean to her. She had wanted to say it for so long, like that... that he would be the one to make her say it.

She stroked his erection over his trousers before getting her hand under them to reach his skin.

And it was her name the one he said before pushing his hips against her probing fingers.

The tension in his body became unbearable as she masturbated him. Neither of them were being particularly gentle, not anymore, seeking the release of the other as much as they were trying to hold their own back. Her spine became a path to trail with his free hand, while his neck was hers to kiss and bite.

Both knew guilt and punishment would follow... guilt they were already feeling, at the back of their minds... since they had seen each other again. And the road to punishment was the one they were trailing. For a sin they should have long committed and only now they dared to indulge themselves in.

It only made the pleasure all the sweeter... all the saddest. And for creatures as twisted as themselves, it turned it into something that was too great to bear.

Artemis came first, her nails digging into his back as she did so. He leaned back and removed his fingers from inside her to place his arms around her, supporting her weight, soothing her as the spasms of her orgasm faded away.

" Are you ok? " Hyoga asked huskily, caressing her hair.

" ... thinking " she answered after a long silence. And stroked him firmly, once, making him gasp. He was certain she was smirking.

" Artemis... "

" Shh... " She stroked him again. And again. And again. Until he stopped thinking about questions and gave in to her touch, letting her drive him over the edge. Cold fingers brushed his sweaty hair from his face before kissing him. He moaned into the kiss, pressing his body against her, hips moving on their own accord against her hand, muscles aching while she trailed their angles and edges with her fingernails.

And all the while Artemis' eyes were on him. Trying to remember each single inch of his body. Wanting his pleasure. She frowned slightly. In the end, that was her sin, wanting something that was not hers so much that it hurt. A sin that she would commit endlessly.

He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her against him for a fierce kiss, one she reciprocated with the same strength and desire. Hyoga's body grew stiff then, and he muttered her name against her lips. She was glad it was not his god the one he called for when he came.

She was even gladder that he had not called for his goddess.

" Hyoga... " she whispered, allowing him to pull her down on the bed with him. He was caressing her idly... slowly... stoking her fire once again. Never breaking her rules. To touch. To kiss.

He feared she would run away if he were to try something else. Or that whatever her memories were of what had happened at Ortygia would return. The desire to sleep with her was there, but what they had done, what they could do, mellowed it enough to handle it. It was emotional exhaustion what had led them to open up like that, to admit what they had so long tried to avoid. Hyoga was afraid going any further would be the end of her.

Or the start of his own corruption.

" ... Do you trust me? " she asked, pushing her long hair over one shoulder. Loose threads stuck to her glistening body like cobwebs. If she were to leave him, he would kill her. If he didn't answer, she would probably kill him first.

She had asked him that same question years ago. He had never answered it.

" Yes "

And she smiled then. The smile he had forgotten but longed to see again. Full of hidden dares, of secret thoughts, of mysteries.

" Hyoga... " she said again, placing one of her long legs over his own while grazing his shoulder with her fingertips playfully.

" Now what? " he asked, chuckling slightly at her look of false innocence.

Something in the way she was looking at him changed.

" ... love me "

His expression turned serious, his hand reaching for her pants. One single flinch, and he would stop. One single sign that she wasn't ready and he would not follow.

She did not flinch, lifting her waist from the bed to let him pull them down completely.

" Always... " he muttered, leaning closer to kiss her. He noticed the frown on her face. "... Artemis "

And watched it disappear.

He needn't say out loud that he would kill Eros for what he had done to her. His hand travelling over her bandaged leg as if it would somehow heal miraculously by his touch was enough. As he had expected, she felt no shame over her body. And the half-light had made her forget about what the wounds could remind them of.

They both knew already what had happened, they needn't reminders.

And this time, Artemis didn't stop him from watching her. As his eyes trailed their way over her body, the thought that the woman by his side was the same one that had killed men just for glimpsing at her screaming at the back of his mind.

How many had died for something so little in comparison to what he already had done, to what she was asking him to do?

By the dangerous look in her eyes and the deadly curves of her body, he was certain that there had been many, more than history remembered, more than patriarchal hierarchies would dare to admit.

Her hands were stained with men's blood.

Her rules. She would give him nothing else. She wouldn't be able to give him something else.

She must have guessed his thoughts, for she smirked knowingly and began to play with his pants, releasing him.

" It was different " Artemis whispered, " It's the Christian in you again, Hyoga... you have to stop seeing me through your religion, expecting me to fit somewhere in there. What happened to them, and what they saw, is something your religion can't even comprehend "

" I am behaving too much like a Christian right now? " he asked, grinning like a cat before biting her neck and descending to kiss her breasts, nibbling slightly at the perk nipples.

She laughed, sinking her fingers in his hair to keep him close.

" No, you are just being male "

Hyoga couldn't but let a throaty chuckle escape his throat. He placed his hands at her hip and pulled her on his lap. He had to remember himself to breathe when she wrapped her legs around his waist, his growing erection touching her entrance.

" You see... " she went on, trying to hold back the sensations. She arched her back slightly in anticipation, Hyoga tracing the line of her neck while holding her back " I am not a victim... I am not a blushing maiden... " Their breathings were ragged and the anticipation was beginning to turn unbearable " What they saw that made them worthy of death... was more than me "

Her eyes locked on his, glowing with a cosmo that was both ancient and inhuman.

" They saw part of my mysteries... and what they sometimes involve. They saw me being pleasured by my priestesses "

Hyoga frowned and closed his hand around her hair, pulling her head back to kiss her neck.

" Anything else I should know? " he growled, trailing the shape of her ear with his tongue. If she had expected that confession would stop him, she was wrong. He knew who was the being he had on his lap.

A rather loud moan of pleasure was the first answer he got, turning his erection painfully demanding.

The second answer did not show him any mercy.

" I want you in me "

" Damn you, Artemis " he muttered breathlessly.

" Damn you, too " she teased through half-lidded eyes. " Love me "

He waited no more and guided himself inside her, fearing the sensations would shut his brain off. He loved the way she creased her brow slightly, how she bit her lips... to finally lick them in the most sensually obscene gesture he had ever seen.

He was not surprised to find that the pace she demanded was rough. He was more than glad to comply.

" Always " was his answer. Whispered, screamed, moaned, gasped. Silently implied in the look of pleasure in his eyes.

Not to hold back was hers. She wanted all, and would have nothing else. For him to give all to her, just as she was giving all to him.

Gentleness was something neither of them was capable of. For Hyoga, the ability had died the day his mother died. For Artemis it had never existed.

Yet they loved, so strongly that it hurt. But in pain they found pleasure, endless pleasure in which they would thrive in until they burned.

Because they were going to. If not while making love, then some other time, by some other hand.

Fate was inexorable. And neither of them cared, too lost in each other as to think about fate. As to want nothing else but to shatter it to pieces. Even when knowing that trying was in vain, that it was futile.

When Artemis opened her mouth to voice a silent scream and tightened around him, making him follow her, Hyoga was certain that, even when they had no chance, they were going to try.

It was part of the game they were playing.

" I love you " Whispered words, in his ear, with her voice, while long wounded limbs wrapped around him, her languid body searching for a moment of peace on his.

Her skin looked beautiful with the afterglow of pleasure, he found himself thinking, holding her tightly against him, loving her cold breathing against his neck. It sent shivers down his spine.

" Always " she added, closing her eyes. Her scarred hand looked for his; fingers lacing together with a sense of mutual possession that both knew to be forbidden. It would take them long to fall asleep; and no dreams but nightmares would be their reward. Yet neither would move until sleep would come, unless the desire for pleasure would control them again. It was the silent rule that she had not voiced and he had not hinted yet both followed. No moving away, no leaving. Not that night.

Hyoga was certain that they were damned. As much as he was certain that he would do nothing to save himself from that damnation.

Fate was, and would always be, inexorable.

The building was a work of art. Made of glass and metal, it was the effigy of the triumph of mankind over nature. To make this statement all the clearer, it stood proudly at the edge of a cliff, impossibly tall, impossibly in balance.

And before it, was the sea.

Dangerous and pitch black in the middle of the night.

Just as Julian Solo loved it.

It was not a coincidence that he had chosen that building among the hundreds his company owned to turn it into the headquarters of his commercial empire, it was too much of a modern dare to the ocean as for the God of the Sea to turn down the irony.

He had grown to enjoy that sort of things. Life was, through his eyes, pretty ironic. Specially for his kind.

Julian knew that the creature by the window thought exactly the same.

It had been a long day, tiring and demanding. Not for his business, when taking care of it he thrived and conquered, mercilessly.

But it was not his business the one he had to deal with. The vice-president of his company woke up with an urgent call that left him in charge for the day, while Julian Solo handled things that were for a... greater cause. His cause.

Poseidon's.

One and the same.

He could still remember Sorrento's pissed off face when announcing the arrival of Athena's emissaries. He could understand his anger when seeing whom had she sent.

Ophiuchus Shaina, as lovely and daring as he remembered her to be. As weak and broken. And Saga. Gemini Saga.

Could have as well sent Kanon himself.

After their questions had been answered, he did not stop Sorrento from showing them the exit, even when he had not ordered him to. If there was someone who hated Kanon more than himself, was the fuchsia-eyed General.

And he had served him well enough as to deserve every little payback he could give him.

It had been a long day indeed. And judging from his midnight visitor, it would also be a long night.

" What did you tell Her? "

" You have no right to ask " Julian said, standing from his bed and reaching for a deep blue robe. Even when they were not alone, neither were caring about keeping their voices low. Thetys would not wake up even if they started screaming. Poseidon was making sure of that.

Apollo was doing nothing to change that.

" I have all the rights in the world to ask that " the black-haired god snapped viciously, reddened eyes fixing on his uncle's with hatred. " It is my sister who is at stake "

He placed one of his hands over the window, looking away into the darkness in silence, seeing things that Julian could only fathom.

It made him look beautiful. Full of anger, full of power, and with a body that, like his twin's, could only be inhuman.

Julian was starting to hate twins. Poseidon just wanted to bed them.

" I can see her... feel her " Apollo muttered angrily, his free hand running over his own chest. Even when there was nothing but anger over his features, his lips opened to let out a sigh " She's fucking a mortal. A dirty human is touching her " his hand moved to his flat stomach.

Julian looked away when noticing the bulge between Apollo's legs.

" She's mine " Possessive and insane, there were no other adjectives that could describe Apollo's words. " Mine. My blood, my flesh. No man should touch her "

" That's her choice "

A burning cosmo invaded his. He fought it back. It was long since Julian would have doubted to face a godling. After all, he was Poseidon, brother to Zeus and Hades.

He would not let one of his brother's children threaten him. Not again.

" You don't know a thing about her choices " Apollo finally growled, walking to his side. The bastard moved with the grace of a wolf and the same deadly stare. Julian licked his lips.

" And you do? "

Sensuous lips curled up in the most tempting and dangerous smile he had ever seen.

" Of course I do " Thin eyebrows arched questioningly, as pale blue eyes looked down to his crotch.

" You are hard, uncle "

" So are you "

Apollo laughed. Julian wished Zeus would have been sterile, life would have been much easier that way.

" But not because of you " he replied, tilting his head slightly, watching him through half-closed eyes, " Besides, it is not for us, Olympians males, to be frolicking in bed. Minor gods and pretty mortals are more our things " Apollo added, looking over his shoulder at the sleeping blonde in Julian's bed. " As I said. Pretty "

He moved closer. Julian did not step back.

" You trained your vessel well, uncle " he whispered in his ear. His voice was damnation. " He does not flinch, does not retreat.... does all you would do. Even this " long fingers pulled the robe open and closed around his sex. Julian growled and grabbed the taller god by the hair, pushing his head back and licking his neck.

" That's so... me " Apollo let out, chuckling. Julian silenced him by kissing him hungrily.

" Shut up, boy "

" Trained your vessel well indeed. Boy? My, my, Poseidon, I thought you noticed I am very much a man " he teased, pressing his erection against Julian's before breaking free. " That's why Olympian males do not fuck each other. It would turn into too much of a power struggle. We like our lovers to be on their knees "

" And Artemis will kneel to none "

" Of course she won't " Apollo added, smirking angrily. Julian was satisfied. Getting back was something he was starting to enjoy, " We think alike "

" About kneeling lovers? "

" About power "

Julian frowned. He knew the word, both as a man and as a god. It was the promised prize behind every sin his kind committed on earth. Power had made Athena vanquish the rebellion at Sanctuary, power had made him use Asgard and send the Flood. Power had sent Artemis out of her Island, power had made Aphrodite refuse to leave it, and power, nothing but that, had made Saori send Gemini and Ophiuchus to him that day.

As much as it was power what brought Apollo to his room.

" What do you want? "

" To know what did you tell Athena "

" You are a seer, you will see the result eventually "

" Not about this. This is something that the future is not certain about... there are many possible results. I am trying to confirm one "

" You'll fail " This time, the certainty wavered from Julian's words. Poseidon and himself had come to an agreement, that the man would have the god's powers, his memories, his desires, yet would still be able to keep his own dreams, his own hopes. Himself. Thanks to that, Poseidon had managed the most perfect connection with his vessel, neither commanding, both doing what they pleased.

" Do you want me to? " But Apollo's words implied things that Julian was unsure about, and that Poseidon knew too well.

That Poseidon wanted. And even when he had promised he would not take over Julian's will, he did ask him if he could take control this single time. It was nothing but a gentle tugging in his soul... a cold sensation... a whispered voice.

Small signs that the mortal knew by heart.

And, for this single time, the mortal conceded.

Apollo smiled again, the same alluring smile that had made Poseidon desire to trap him against a wall and break him.

" But you don't, of course you don't. You and I have done so many things together in the sake of this single chance, that we can't just let it go away "

" Boy? Please " Apollo rolled his eyes, " I knew it was you who implanted that comment into your vessel's head "

" To know what will you do. What you told Athena you would do "

Poseidon shrugged, walking to the window. The sea was raging outside. It would rain.

He loved storms.

" That's what you told them? "

" You shall stay here, thrive as a commercial magnate, and fuck your mermaid during the times to come? " Apollo bowed theatrically, just like Artemis had once bowed to him. " Thank you "

If they weren't that damn insane, Poseidon would have tried to fuck them long ago. The twins were beautiful monsters.

" The results are narrowing " he added, ice blue eyes meeting ocean blue.

" What will you do? In the meantime "

" The same thing that you'll do. Get myself a pretty mortal to fuck. I might even follow your example and fall in love "

" That, too "

" News do fly fast "

Apollo shrugged. " Of course I won't. It is not me the one that will accomplish anything "

" First row " Apollo answered, bowing once again, this time freeing his cosmo at the same time. With a flash, he was gone.

And Julian was back, feeling confused... yet expectant. Something had happened... something that Poseidon approved. Something he wouldn't.

Thetys stirred in the bed, her arm looking for him by her side as she mumbled something about a weird dream. Blue eyes looked for him from under long gold lashes when failing to find him.

" Julian? Is everything ok? "

" Yes, my love " he answered, disrobing and sitting by her side, planting a soft kiss on her brow. Thetys smiled and hugged him, laughing slightly when feeling him hard.

" Back already? "

Julian grinned, making her laughter deepen.

But turned serious when noticing what she was about to do, the way her kisses moved down his chest, down his stomach.

He moaned in anticipation, trembling when feeling her warm breath.

He loved her, madly, in a more real way than he had ever loved any other woman. Loved her more than what he had loved Saori. And he loved her more when seeing her like that. His, so utterly his.

He would kneel to her, too, he would kneel and lick her dry. But when that happened, it was different. It was rare, and he felt it as an honour for her. Something he did only to her, because he loved her.

He, Poseidon, Julian Solo. Not some man that did not deserve her.

It involved pride. It did not involve ownership.

Because a mortal could never possess a god.

But mortals were lovely on their knees. Mortals were theirs.

Loving them did not make it any less different. After all, there was nothing a God could love more than being worshipped.

Milo's words echoed in his ears as he stood before Scorpio's Temple.

What he wanted had never been in Aquarius. And letting go wasn't one of his virtues. He was, in the end, too damn selfish.

So there he was, standing at the gates of a temple he knew by heart even when he rarely visited it. Milo had always been the one to climb the steps. To talk to him, to nag him, borrow his books or make a mess at his living quarters... or in his head. But now Camus descended.

Cold, ruthless Aquarius.

Did Milo have any idea about what he wanted? The kind of monster he was daring? Yet if Milo didn't know it, then no one else would. No matter what his impressions of the Scorpio Saint were, Camus was certain that no one knew him better than he did.

Milo wouldn't have known how to strike then. And he had always been deadly with his words. Camus was never able to take them out of his head.

So he stood, the cloak Milo had given him folded carefully over one of his arms, and his eyes fixed on the marbled walls, following the little cracks.

He burned his cosmo to announce himself. He was not surprised to find Milo was denying him entrance.

It was still time, he could leave and wait for Milo to go and knock on his door once curiosity for the reasons of his visit sank on him. He could leave and wait for Milo to go to him, tail between his legs, eyes begging for something that he knew would never be his, and crush him again. Break him a little more, hurt him a little more.

He loved to see him in pain.

Camus smirked. He was a sadist at heart. And Milo was his favourite victim. Because he would always return after being hit and offer the other cheek with a smile.

He hated him. With all his heart. For returning. For making him need him.

For making him weak.

He could still leave. And everything would return to normal, with Milo torturing him and him torturing Milo.

But that would mean returning to Aquarius. And there was nothing he wanted there. There was no point in going back.

It was the first time Camus walked into someone's temple hiding his cosmo. It felt... different. Not wrong, not right. Just... human. He was too used to playing the Saint as to remember what it was like to be a man.

There was no welcome for him at the temple, yet he did not find that surprising. Few Gold Saints spent their time in the halls of their temples, mainly Shaka and Deathmask. The rest chose the living quarters as their personal sanctuaries, the rooms that were not stained with blood and did not ooze memories of battles.

He had only been in them thrice. Once after Milo returned from Andromeda Island, another when he told him that he was going to take two students and was leaving Greece, and a last time when the Bronze Saints broke into Sanctuary.

And he told him he was going to stop Hyoga in Libra.

He rubbed his eyes. There was still time. Yet he knew he would not back up. Not anymore. He was tired of feeling dead... and the only times he felt alive was when he was near him.

Breaking him, being broken, he no longer cared.

No.

He cared too much.

The small kitchen was the first room he found. Identical to the ones of the other eleven Golden Saints in everything except in its spartan decoration. There were few things that even told that the room was a kitchen and not just four walls with a roof.

Camus was not surprised by this. He knew that Milo reserved the opulence for his bedroom.

What did surprise him, were the sounds. Milo's voice, ragged and lost. Demanding.

It seemed Scorpio wasn't alone. Camus frowned slightly. He should have known... yet again... he didn't feel particularly peeved.

Maybe it was because he knew that whoever Milo had in there, was no one. Nothing.

Someone to mellow all the pain he inflicted on him.

And when he opened the door and walked into the bedroom, he was not disappointed. And couldn't take off his head how beautiful Milo was.

Decadent, broken, deadly... his naked body resting against the wall, glistening with sweat, flustered with passion, with a sacred whore kneeling at his feet, taking him in her mouth.

" I told you... not to come in " he said, half-lidded eyes meeting Camus'. The woman flinched at the words and moved away, ready to leave, but Milo stopped her " You have not finished ''

" I just wanted to return this to you " Camus said, ignoring his words and showing him the cloak.

" Leave it and go " he hissed, tilting his head back in the throes of pleasure, exposing his neck.

Yet Camus did not leave, and Milo did not insist, his eyes never leaving Aquarius', daring him, hating him, loving him completely and never quite understanding him, as he did not understand why he stayed.

His fire was something that had always fascinated Camus.

His body, too. The flushed muscles, contracting under the hands of the priestess. The heavy mass of hair that fell over his shoulders, sticking like a cobweb over his bronze skin.

Milo owned the most decadent beauty he had ever seen. And abandoned to pleasure, that beauty seemed only to increase, to find the setting where it fitted the most.

Camus watched the woman's head move up and down faster, Milo's brows knitting together at the pleasure she gave him.

But his eyes saw only Camus' in mute defiance.

Camus walked forward.

" When was the last time you did this? " he asked, his voice showing nothing. The perfect shield, that never broke, never failed.

Milo frowned.

" Before... you died... "

" Against Hades? "

The defiance in Milo's eyes turned into shameful victory, as he placed his hands over the woman's head to set the rhythm.

" Against Hyoga "

" Why now? "

His laughter hurt him. And it made his hair fall over his eyes and covered them from Camus, and he wanted to see them, wanted to see what was inside of Milo.

A broken orb captured him from between sweaty tresses.

" Because you... give... a damn " he growled.

Camus sighed.

It was still time. He could turn his back and leave with that, knowing that finally the vicious cycle between them had ended. That they had finally hurt each other so much as to forget what they meant.

He walked forward and caught Milo's wrists, moving them away from the woman and against the wall, over his head.

Milo cried out at the unexpected invasion of his space. Or he cried out of pleasure. Camus was not sure. Once again, the priestess saw it fit for her to leave, but it was Camus this time the one that stopped her.

" You have not finished "

Milo laughed, but he could as well have been crying. He was shamed, humiliated and enjoying every second of it, enjoying the pain he could inflict on Camus by bringing pain to himself.

Enjoying that at least there was something he could inflict on the damn Aquarius.

" What is it, Camus? " he said breathlessly, " Will you give me a lecture while she gives me a blowjob? " He gasped, closing his eyes. He was close. " What the fuck is it? "

" ... Say my name "

Milo's eyes flung upon.

" You are mad " he let out, trying to break free, but Camus just tightened his hold around his wrists, keeping them still with one hand while the other one brushed Milo's hair away from his face and grabbed his chin, forcing him to look at him.

" When you come... say my name. Please "

Milo was unable to stop the whimper to escape from his lips. Those words were torture... and the priestess was so good at what she was doing... and all was a nightmare, where he was the toy to be mocked in the one thing where he secluded himself from the mayhem Aquarius brought him.

He tried to look down.

A mayhem that was arousing Camus.

" What...? " he asked, confused. But Camus did not let him finish his question, moving closer that single inch that was missing. And kissing him possessively, forcing his mouth open and searching for his tongue with despair.

His lips were cold.

His mouth was burning.

" ...say my name " whispered words against his lips before Camus kissed him again. This time Milo kissed him back.

Fire, everywhere, inside, outside.

Camus' wish did not take long to take place, Milo's body going stiff in his arms, a strangled moan dying in his mouth, and a single word escaping swollen lips when he moved slightly away to watch his face " ... Camus "

He released his wrists and placed a hand over the woman's shoulder.

" Go "

She obeyed, standing up and grabbing the money Milo had left for her on the bedside table before disappearing behind the door.

" What's this supposed to mean, Camus? " A husky voice, completely defeated and broken. Camus leaned closer, caressing Milo's cheek while holding him with his free hand. Milo did not stop him, nor encouraged him.

He sighed, resting his forehead against his. He felt Milo tremble under him when feeling his erection against his leg.

" ... I care " he muttered " No matter what it may seem "

Milo smirked. He was angry " And this is your way to show it? You never gave a damn!"

" It was that or killing her for touching you " he answered. Milo didn't need to ask twice to know he was being serious. " And finish the sentence, Scorpio "

" You never gave a damn about me "

Camus whimpered. It was him who was defeated this time.

He kissed him again, lips opening at the faintest touch. It was a deep kiss, that felt like bliss and went through their hearts like a sword. " ... I didn't, did I? " he whispered lowly. " I have no right... to claim this " he added, his brow creasing with pain.

His whole body screamed at him when he took some steps backwards, missing the warmth of Milo's naked skin.

Camus searched for his eyes, and wished to scream when he saw nothing but the reflection of his own.

They were so terribly... empty.

" Milo... "

" Camus, don't "

He wasn't looking at him anymore, his turquoise eyes hidden by the waves of his hair.

" You have every right to claim... this... We both know that " Camus could not remember having heard Milo's voice sounding so empty before.

" I'm yours "

Camus took a step backwards, flinching when feeling the door behind his back. It was still time, he could tell him the truth, convince him of it. He could say he needed him, but he did not know how to handle it, that he did not want to hurt him anymore, and all he had ever done was to be able to get him out of his skin... and had never succeeded.

He could tell him he loved him.

But the fear of colliding against the same wall Milo had been colliding all those years was too great. He could not see Milo turn into himself.

So he left. Even when all he wanted was right in front of him.

Eros was drinking outside the White Temple, watching Dictina dance for him. It was a forbidden dance, one she could only perform in the company of women and away of men. But Eros had asked, and she had complied, as she always did.

She thought about nothing except his complacence.

He watched her, the slender limbs moving from side to side, the delicate body swaying to an imaginary tune.

She was a beautiful creature, more beautiful than her sister had ever been. More similar to their mother than the twins, to the lovely Leto, the only mistress Zeus had wished to make his wife and had openly loved.

And she loved him. He had made her love him, and he hated her for allowing him to do so. He hated her love, how blind it was; how weak it made her.

And how guilty it made him feel.

Jump, sway, and a swirl of golden limbs, flimsy fabrics and long black hair.

Lillac suited her better.

" Enough " he said, but Dictina just smiled at him sweetly and shook her head, swirling again. Twisting and turning like a butterfly. Eros was even expecting her to fly away in one of her jumps.

It was a captivating dance, turned even more alluring when she began to burn her cosmo, aquamarine light shinning around her.

Aquamarine. Like Artemis' eyes.

" Lovely " Eros said, pleased.

Dictina smiled again. Yet Eros frowned when noticing that there were tears in her eyes.

" I'm glad, my lord " she said with that soft voice of hers that seemed made to make men loved her. Because that was what Dictina was, the perfect woman to fall in love with. She didn't provoke lust, nor want. She wasn't the friend one can grow fond of.

One single look into her eyes; and all that one could wish for was to see those eyes looking back in adoration for all eternity.

Just as they looked at him. Any man would have killed to be in his place.

But he was not a man. He was a God.

And pure, true love was something no god could wish for. Was not... enough for them.

She swirled again, and fell on the floor, a small pool of fabrics and gold.

" My lord... there are so many things I wish you could feel with this dance " she whispered as she stood up, arms wide.

" The same things I feel in my heart " she shifted.

" Can you do that? Feel them? " Swirl. Jump.

Walk.

She walked around him, moving her arms up and down her sides.

" I wish you could feel how much I love you "

Oh, he did. One look at her and he could tell. Her love drowned him.

" All of you "

Eros frowned, puzzled, looking at her over his shoulder.

" What did you mean? "

She giggled.

" I love you, my lord " she said, dropping one of the many fabrics that were tied around her body.

" I love the guardians " she went on, dropping another. Glimpses of her skin could be seen from the openings.

Violet eyes fixed on his " I love my siblings "

" They are all in pain now. All of them. The guardians. My siblings. You " Her cosmo grew even stronger. Eros stood up.

" You all need to open your eyes. I tried... in my own way... but it's not enough. I want you all to open your eyes. Until you do, you will all suffer "

More fabrics fell. She was almost naked; a nymph made of darkness and gold with violet eyes.

" I don't want you to suffer. So I'll make you see " she said, smiling tenderly. And exploding her cosmo to its fullest. Eight similar auras answered hers immediately, as much as Eros could notice his mother's probing cosmo asking him for answers.

And away, so far away, two cosmos replied, cosmos that were able to shatter the world.

Cosmos that were utterly similar to Dictina's, even when undoubtedly more powerful.

" You'll understand, and all will be better. You'll understand that if you keep doing what you are all doing, this will happen "

Dictina's eyes shone with her cosmo, her Tunic suddenly appearing out of nowhere to cover her body.

Eros walked forward. She flinched. He knew she would never attack him again, she could not, he could notice it in the love she felt for him.

He could notice that her words were for real, and that they were born from her undying love to all those that were dear to her. He could notice that she was whispering them into his cosmo as much as she was voicing them.

Whispering them into any cosmo willing to listen.

" I am, after all, my sister's high priestess "

Her smile faded, and once again, her cosmo exploded, beyond the boundaries she usually kept it on, shifting... aquamarine mixed with white... mixed with black.... aquamarine like Artemis' eyes.

Feeling like Artemis' cosmos.

" What's this supposed to mean? Dictina, whatever you are doing, I order you to stop "

" I love you, my lord " she said, seriously, " And I love Ortygia, whose souls I lead. And I love the Guardians, whose rank I share. And I love my siblings, whose blood runs in me "

He walked forward, she took a step back.

" And between the two of them, I love my sister the most "

He lounged for her, she avoided him with the same grace she had possessed when dancing.

" I love her much more than what you desire her. Two we are yet as one we'll live " her wrists opened, blood flowing down from them. Eros stared in horror. " Forever bonded "

Artemis had bled before him. Like a river.

" I'll be your herald, dear adelfi, because I am willing to follow your path. And announce the world of your birth, and cherish your name over all others. Because we are one. To live and die. And as we once stood in each other's arms, we will always live the same way " the words escaped from her mouth as if in trance, her cosmo shifting from her own mark to Artemis' with an ease that surprised and unsettled him.

He could feel that most of the inhabitants of the Island, including his mother, were feeling the same.

" Dictina "

" I love you my lord. And I love her. You two have broken my heart "

She moved once again away from his reach. Eros finally believed he had destroyed her for sure. That he had broken her mind as much as he had broken her heart.

" One in your heart, even when we are two in body " she kept on chanting, words she had said ages ago, when the world was young and Artemis asked her to follow her to earth.

" One in your soul, even when our minds might go separate ways "

Eros felt fear. For the first time in his life. She was mad, and broken and gone, but was his. Artemis had been mad and broken, but had remained her own. What had happened between them had been a war in which both had crippled one another.

Dictina was just cannon-fodder. And her love was so real that she did not deserve it.

" One in your lips, for yours are the only ones I allowed on mine without guilt "

" Dictina, stop this... madness! What are you doing? It is an order! Stop! "

" And it's time for Ortygia to take a stand. Because you are both suffering. And I can't let Ortygia be broken. As a woman, I can love both. As a Guardian, I can only follow one " she moved away, again. Using her cosmo to feign his off. Dancing over the tiled patio that stood behind the White Temple, allowing the salty wind to play with her hair and caress her skin.

Sway.

" But because I am not strong enough to make a choice, I will let the rest see this, and decide "

Swirl.

" I won't let Ortygia be turned into me. This island... is my sister's. And like her, it cannot be conquered "

Twist

" Never "

Turn

" So... I'll come to you, adelfi " Her cosmo mimic her sister's to perfection, the same danger, the same looming darkness.

The same darkness of the sea hitting the cliffs of Ortygia. Her eyes met Eros', and she smiled. Full of love.

Jump.

SE FINNI

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Derre's Blah Blah:

I know, I know, this chapter took centuries. But I really think it was worth the wait, as I could work on it a lot better than on the others. And finally stand at the edge of the abyss! (no pun intended) Now all that is missing are the last few chapters... the story finally reached its peak!

For the usual record, the story is 497 pages long so far... And I bet the monster will be over 600 when finished. Huge monster.

As for the usual ramblings... I am very happy with the godlings ^____^ They are all behaving so nicely. And Camus for once was easy to write (hope you like the result, of course)

I guess this chapter could fall under the category of Erotic Horror... so much sex, so many unsettling scenes. The kind of things I like writing!

As many of the scenes weren't planned in the beginning, I still think that the expect the unexpected motto that more or less has been marching with me during this story can still be maintained.

As usual, C & C are more than welcomed, same with any mails of encouragement, flames, praises, and presents. Me likes presents, specially fanart ^___^

Huge thanks -and I do mean HUGE - go to:

1. All the readers, who had to put up with the incredibly amount of time I took to finish this monster (but heck, it's almost 100 pages long... a lot for a single chapter!)
2. Millerna and Toffee, who were so incredibly nice as to proof-read the tough scenes and get me back in track whenever a block would appear. Hehe, aren't I lucky (or suicidal)? The best writers I know proof-read my works ^____^ I am not worthyyyyyy!!
3. Lud, as always, for insisting on the presence of Eris, Egeria and Iphi, the three psychos. They are always major fun to write about.
4. To Aurea, whose drawing of Artemis made me wish to finish this chapter asap to be able to show the drawing to the world (honest, I am a pampered fanficker/artist)

And that's all. Love you all, and huge thanks for reading ^_____^ smooches!!

-Derrewyn