I groan at my wake and I roll over as I stretch. I peak my eyes open and saw that it was the next morning. I wasn't surprised that I had slept for like 24 hours. My body has been through a lot this past week.

I released a yawn and turn to my side. I frowned when I saw an empty Zeusless space. Where is he?

I heard the rustling of papers being moved around. My eyes followed the sound and saw Zeus at his large wooden desk with papers surrounding him. His hunched figure and his hand scribbling things quickly.

"Zeus?" I said hesitantly. But he did not answer. Whatever he was doing, he was in a deep concentration.

I got out of my bed and slowly came to his side. I laid my hand softly on his shoulder and his head whips towards me. There was a slight pang in my heart when I beheld his state. He had such dark circles around his eyes.

His five o'clock shadow was coming through and his hair was arranged in all sorts of directions. I stroked his cheek with the back of my hand in a caring manner, "Zeus," I said gently, "What're you doing to yourself?"

"I can't rest till I know exactly what Nikolai is doing. I need to plan for everything." Even his voice was raspier than usual.

"Let the others help you. You can't do everything on your own. You have people who are willing to die for you, Zeus. Please. You won't be of any use to anyone if you don't rest...because-""

I stumbled backwards in a fright as Zeus abruptly stood up with his fists at his sides as he shouted, "You don't understand! I don't have time to fucking rest! The others don't know shit about how Nikolai thinks. He was my best friend! So don't stand there and tell me what to fucking do because you don't anything!"

I stood there speechless. My heart was pounding at the sight of him. I was afraid. Zeus was not himself. He has let himself drown in this. Not even I can save him. I gulped as I became nervous. I was hurt...but I also wasn't the Lily I first was when I came here. I've changed. I've grown. I am Zeus's mate because the Moon Goddess knew I could handle it. That I was strong enough. So...I'm handling it.

He just stood there, breathing heavily. I slowly walked towards him as if I was a lamb walking to a lion. He stared at my every movement. I stopped right in front of him and he was looking down at me. I could see the storm in his eyes and all I wanted to do was calm it.

When people see darkness or chaos and ruin they think that it is only great power or the most thought out actions that can stop it. I don't believe that. I think it is the small things. The simple things that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of affection and love. A simple kind word. A simple hug. A delicate kiss. The small actions are the ones that are most significant.

I laid the palm of my hand over his heart and he did nothing to push me away. I stood on my tippy toes since he was so tall. I leaned in and pressed my lips to his cheek. I felt his jaw tense, but it didn't hinder me at all. And then I gently whispered to him, "Everything you need to win this war is already in you Zeus."

I stood back and walked away from Zeus. He didn't say anything to me. But his eyes followed me to the door. I turned around and said, "I'll ask Donny to train me. Rest." And then I leave, closing the door behind me.

***

"Let's try it again." Donny said.

I groan as I get back up, "We've been doing this for hours, Donny!"

He gets back into position, "And yet you have not improved."

I scowled at him and he raises his hands submissively, "I was joking!"

I rolled my eyes and got back into position, "Ya know one day I'm gonna kick your ass." I said with a smirk.

Donny snickers, "I'd love to see you try."

He goes in with a stab. I block it with the forearm of my dominant arm. I ram my fist on the side of his ribs which would possibly bring damage to the kidneys. Donny was took by surprise that I actually succeeded...the asshole. Why would it be so surprising!

I jump up on his shoulders. Wrap my thighs around his head...and yes before you make a comment...I agree also...it's weird. When Donny first taught me the move I was like wtf. It's more of a sex position than a fighting one.

Continuing with the training. I had my thighs locked around his head and dropped my weight back with a force that could cause me to flip Donny over. Imagine me doing a back flip. Now imagine me doing it from Donny's shoulders...Now imagine me flipping him over as I do the back flip...causing him to land on his ass. I turn around and grab his head to pretend to break it.

But Donny catches my hands and pulls me forward which made me flip in front of him. I land on my feet but I skidded back. Donny already was charging me. And to my shock he fully tackled me...like fully. No holding it back. The air was pushed out of my lungs making me gasp.

He was on top of me. I raise my fist and punch his face. He snarls in frustration. He grabs my neck and applies pressure.

My instant reaction was that I couldn't breathe and therefore was going to die. But I cleared my mind. I wrapped my legs around his waist and I used my body weight to roll us over so than I was on top. The movement caused Donny's hands to loosen. I blocked his arms down and I just kept punching and punching and punching him int he face.

"Alright! Alright! You win!"

All thoughts of violent left my body and I was overjoyed. I stood up from Donny, "Really?" I said excitedly, "Was I good?"

Donny got up and cracked his neck and chuckled, "Yeah Lil, you were pretty badass."

I raised my arms, "Yes!"

Dylan came walking out with a cigarette, "It's too early to be this happy, people, I would appreciate it if you just wallow in hopelessness and despair till at least 11 AM and THEN you can be all sunshins and rainbows."

Donny snorts and rolls his eyes, "Just because you're constantly in in despair."

Dylan takes another drag of his roll of smoke, "And your point is?"

Donny waves his hand away as if dismissing Dylan all together, "I'm gonna go head for the shower, Lil. Let's practice again tomorrow, same time."

"Sure." I replied. Donny left, leaving Dylan and I alone. Dylan took another silent drag into his lungs.

I came and plopped on the seat next to him, "You always have to torment Donny?"

Dylan chuckled, "Torment?" He shook his head, "If that is what real torment is...it looks like a fuckin holiday from my view."

I tilted my head, "What do you think torment is then?" I asked.

Dylan inhales another cloud of smoke, "Torment is..." His eyes glazed over as if remembering something, "Torment is a purgatory on earth. It is the suffering of ones regrettable actions that forever haunt a soul until it is fully cleansed."

I gulped as a chilled went down my spine, "Is that what you think you're in? You're torment until you're cleansed?"

He nods his head confidently, "Oh yes, Lily. I am in for deep cleansing from the gods."

"When will you stop being tormented? When will you be fully cleansed?"

Dylan chuckles with no trace of humor, if anything, you could feel the pain in his joyless laugh, "How could you understand, little Lily?" His eyes finally focused on me. His eyes scan my face. He raises his hand and cups my cheek and ran his thumb over it, "I envy you, Lily. You're heart shines bright. I wish I could have it, but I can't. But at least, I can have a good look at it before I die."

I frowned, "You're not going to die, Dylan. At least not before you feel fully cleansed right?"

He smiles sadly and laughs, "Oh little Lily...there is no ending to my torment...because my soul will forever be dirty."

"Why?" I cautiously asked curiously.

Dylan smirks, "I stole the very thing that made Anne, my sister, who she was. I stole her life." He paused for a moment, "You see I am half a necromancer...not fully a wizard or witch or whatever the hell you wanna call it. And because of that we were born under abnormal circumstances. In my world...when it comes to witch-craft...everything has a balance. Nature always figures out a way to balance itself again...and that's what happened with me and my twin."

I frowned, "So what happened?"

"Me or my sister had to fight for the full ability to do witch craft and because we both possess only half of it...we had to battle in order to possess the other so than one of us could be a full witch as well as necromancer."

I gulped, "So you-"

"Yes...I was the stronger twin. I almost killed her. She was left as a human. I sucked all of the immortality out."

Tears formed in his eyes, "She was left so weak...I did that to her...to my sister. My sweet sweet Anna."

I laid my hand on his shoulders, "Dylan...it's not your fault. It was always going to happen. It was an inevitable event. You can't hold that over yourself. Yes Anne became human...but look at her life. She had a great one! Danny was telling me about. She found a husband...she had children and grandchildren. She only every experienced the most simplest and yet the most precious parts of life. I think the only thing she would have missed...is not being able to see her brother a lot."

Dylan smiles, "Yeah well...I stayed away for her benefit. I didn't want to remind of what she had lost."

I shook my head, "It wasn't the magic or necromancy she lost, Dylan...she lost you."

Dylan sat there in silence, looking at the ground. He shook his head, "You're wrong...it was better for me to stay away...I deserve the torment.

I rolled my eyes and stood up from the stone steps, "Shut up, Dylan!"

I spin around with my hands on my hips, "Everyone in this damn castle has a past. Everyone in this place is fucked up."

Dylan raises his brows in surprise at the fact that I swore.

"Yes, I swore! I said fuck! So what! Everybody has fucking dirt on themselves. This world would be a perfect place if everybody was clean and pure but they aren't! Everybody has struggles, everybody has things that they're not proud of, But that doesn't mean that there isn't some good and some light in all of us. Even you! If you didn't have goodness inside of you, you wouldn't be here to have Zeus's back. deal with your past and move the fuck on or else you're going to live the rest of your life fucking miserable!"

I release a big breath and stood there in silence as Dylan sat there wide eyes.

"Well fuck me," Dylan said. He raises his hands and clapped, "That was the most sexiest thing I had ever seen in my whole life."

I couldn't help but chuckle and groan, "Oh Dylan, you get on my nerves."

"Now you know how we all feel." Sozin said as he came outside with his whiskey bottle.

I walked up the steps, "I am going to go have a shower!" I announced as I left the boys on the concrete steps of the castle.