MAZIE'S POV

I was having a very bad dream. One which included my biological father Hades. I never knew what he looked like, but maybe he looked a bit like Mick Jagger. He wanted to take me to his lair and make me his princess. And I looked like a female version of Mick Jagger!

Then I woke up.

"I'm alive," I said to myself.

"No kidding, Brainless," A southern voice said. I opened my eyes to find the blond airhead Aphrodite seating beside me on the bed. "What were you dreaming about anyway?"

"What are you doing here?" I asked her while sitting up.

"Apollo stayed. And so did Daphne. They have been talking since late last night. And its morning!"

"So?"

"Its not very often that Daphne stays for a convo with Apollo for more than 1 minute."

I stood up and grabbed my jeans from the floor and wore them. I no longer felt embarrased to face Aphrodite half naked since she already saw me half naked.

"Sooo, how old are you anyway?" I asked her out of the blue. She looked at me and smiled.

"18 if you like," she told me. She faced my closet and stood up. She opened the closet door and started browsing on my clothes. "This is cute. Wear this one today for training!" She threw me a black tank top with the symbol of skull candy on it.

"Wait. Training for what?" I asked her as I yanked the top.

"For battle silly," she kept smiling and it was weirding me out. "Apparently, your father is having one of those days again. Where he is so grumpy, he's declaring war on the gods. Maybe its his period today."

I laughed. It was funny.

"So, why am I going to be part of the training?"

"Because," Aphrodite took on a serious tone. "the gods said they are going to kill all the demi gods and banning ever making demi gods."

That shocked me.

"And since Hades is declaring war on the gods, they decided that only a god or a demi god could take hold of the Azuela-"

"What's an Azuela?"

"The Azuela is one of the few things that the Titans left for their kids. Each of the Titan's kids have one. Zeus has one, Poseidon does too, and so does Hades. Its very precious and if it went on the wrong hands, all humanity would die."

"Are you serious?" I asked her while brushing my bed head hair.

"Don't I look serious?" I turned to look at her and she was serious. She sighed. "Go outside and talk to Ares for your training today."

"What am I suppose to be learning today?" I opened the door.

"Wrestling," she said. At first I thought she was being ridiculous, but she was serious. I really am going to learn how to wrestle.

~

DAPHNE'S POV

Not one bit of his love for me came out of his mouth. He was really worried about the safety of the humans and the demi gods.

"So, what you're saying is, you want me to train with you guys?" I asked him and he nodded. "Why me?"

"You know how to fight. You can be a powerful assett."

"How many days till he attacks?" I was refferring to Hades.

"15 days. He'll let all hell lose on the 31st of October." Halloween. Of course. Well, that was pretty obvious.

"Then why aren't your parents doing anything?" I asked him.

"Because they took his side. They think that he's right and that if the Azuela wouldn't be back to him, he'll kill all the demi gods first, then the humans."

"That killing wouldn't help you know. Humans can't touch the Azuela, they'll die and he knows that."

"I know. And I know that he knows it too. But its the decision. We can't really do anything about it. The higher gods are..." I knew what he meant. He didn't need to say it.

"So what am I suppose to do?" His face lit up and he smiled.

"You're good with the bows and arrows, right?" I nodded. "So, you're going to be training with me and Alexa."

Now I know the reason why his face lit up.

"Can I go home first? Mrs. Dodds is probably worried right now." I started standing up.

"Do you want me to drive you home?" He was about to stand up when I stopped him with my words.

"No. That won't be required. I can find my own way back. Thanks anyway," he sat back down and smiled at me. If I wasn't in Eros's curse, I might actually like him more than a friend. He is cute, but I wouldn't want him more than anything else other than a friend.

Who am I kidding. I say "Friend" as if its a dirty word that even I disgust myself. I just wished I wasn't cursed. I want to love. I want to know what it feels like. I looked back at Apollo. He was still staring at me. I smiled at him a sad smile and left without another word.

As I came out of the door, Ares came out as well. He was topless, my eyes widened in surprise.

"Have you seen Aphro?" He asked me. He was looking for Aphrodite. I pointed back at the room with my thumb without turning around. "Yeah, I think I saw her with Mazie."

"Oh," he said and he walked towards me and patted me by the shoulder. "Thanks, D."

So now I have a nickname by Ares. Great. I lifted my sleeves up and checked the time. It was 9:38 am. Mrs. Dodds would be looking for me right now. I let go of my sleeve and made a ticking sound with my tounge and clicked the elevator door.

I waited for the door to open and when it did, Connor was inside. He looked depressed. He also had red marks all over his face. His hands were dripping of blood.

"Connor?" I asked and he collapsed. The elevator door was about to close but I pushed it open with my hands and I entered. Instead of calling for help, I knelt down beside him and gently put his head on my lap.

"Alexa?" His voice was weak.

"No," I said. "Its Daphne." His eyes opened. He was sweating so much and breathing hard.

"Daphne?" He asked.

"Yeah," I said. "What happened to you?"

"Dark smoke. Tall, black figure. Azuela..." he trailed off. I caressed his face gently as I shush him. Then I realized we were already on the first floor.

"We have to get you to a hospital." I could hear the panic inside my voice. It was one of the things I try to avoid. Panicking would only scare him more.

"Don't!" He took hold of my wrist. I'm surprised as to how strong he was even though he's injured. "Please." He begged me and I sighed.

"Okay," I said. "We'll get a room and I'll do what I can to help you."

"Don't tell the others. Promise me," he said.

"I promise," I told him. Then suddenly the elevator door opened. I shifted my gaze to the door as it opens and in came a very familiar face.

"Daphne?" Kerington asked me.

"Kerington!" I almost shouted.

"What are you- Uhm, what's up?" He scratched the back of his head. I forced a smile but Connor groaned. "A god attacked you, huh?" He asked Connor and Connor just closed his eyes.

"Can you help us Kerington?" I asked him, my eyes never leaving Connors.

"Sure. But...," He trailed off. I looked at him.

"But what?"

"There's going to be some side effects."

"Kerington," I try to sound calm. Keep my voice down. "I really don't care about side effects right now. Connor is going to die!"

"Fine," he finally said. "I'll help you take him to my room."

He took Connor in his arms like he was nothing. I followed him as he went out of the elevator and into a room. He lay Connor on his bed and I sat on the bed next to Connor. Usually, people held the injured persons hand when they're in pain. But I really don't know if Connor would want to hold my hand.

"Daphne?" Connor said in a hushed voice. "What's going to happen to me? Do you trust this guy?"

"Connor, everything's going to be alright. Kerington, well, he's dependable. Trust me."

"I trust you. I just don't know about him, but I guess, I'm gonna take your word." He trusted me. Connor actually trusted me.

"Viola, here it is," Kerington appeared with a glass of white liquid in his hands.

"What is that?" I asked him.

"Io's milk. It should heal him, physically and well, lets just say it'll heal him."

I took the glass from him and gently placed it on Connors mouth for him to drink. He only drank a few drops before going into sleep mode.

"You better step back," Kerington informed me.

"Why?"

Then suddenly Connor was moaning and groaning.

"What's happening to him?" I asked Kerington. Yes, I was panicking really bad.

"Told you there'd be side effects," he said. I looked at him and he pointed to Connor. Suddenly, I wasn't looking at Connor anymore. I was looking at a boy. A very cute boy.

"Connor?" I asked and the boys eyelids opened. He looked at me and he put a hand on his eyes.

"Daphne? Oh man, what happened?" He was sitting up. Connor looked different. "What? You're staring at me."

"Connor, you look different," I told him.

"What's your middle name?" Kerington asked him out of the blue.

"Connor. That's my middle name."

"Then what's your first name?"

"Miles."

I looked at him. His name was Miles.

"Hmm, Daphne please call him Miles from now on. Because Connor is long gone dead," Kerington said before leaving the room. I looked at Connor.

"What did he mean by that Daphne?" He asked me.

"Well, you see, you almost died today and I asked Kerington to save you and well, you, just look in the mirror!" I shoved a mirror from my purse to his face.

"Ahh," he said in a very scared voice. "I'm, I'm.."

"Beautiful. I know. You needed an improvement anyway." Kerington appeared at the doorway holding a bottle of champagne.

"That's offensive. Y'know!" Connor or Miles told him.

"I don't care. If you stuck to being Mr. Ugly, then you're giving us a bad name son of Hermes." I looked at Connor or Miles and I could see the surprise in his face.

"How did you know that?"

"Well, Miles, I for one am a Demi God too. No need to hide anymore. Daphne here is a Nymph." He pointed to me.

Kerington sighed. "Look dude, you should get over the fact that your pretty."

"Its not that," Connor/ Miles said. "Its because, how am I suppose to tell this to my mom, my friends and Alexa."

"Friends? I didn't know that you even had any friends," Kerington said. "And about your dillema, I'll take care of it."

Then he lef the room. Leaving the bottle of Champagne to us. I looked at Connor/ Miles. I really don't know what to call him.

"What should I call you?" I asked him and he looked up. His eyes were even bluer than before but with a slight green. Not like Apollo's, but, yet, they look different.

"Miles, I guess," He said. He looked down at the mirror in his hands. "You're a nymph? What exactly is that?"

"I guess the female version of nature."

"That's cool. Have you always known that I was a demi god?" He asked me.

"No. Well, I just found out last night. Have you always known Alexa was a demi god?" I could see him smile.

"Yeah, that's why I like her," he said then he looked up and looked at the champagne bottle. "Do you drink?" I shook my head. "Me neither."

"Why do you prefer your middle name rather than your first name?"

"Because its better than Miles. I always felt like a Connor rather than a Miles. Now, well, I really don't feel like I'm Connor, so just call me Miles."

"Okay."

"Okay."