"My dear daughter." The voice rang like a bird's song, one that could to get you to pause and praise, but caught in a steel grip I was unable to breath.

"Brother you are suffocating her." William reacts noticing my suffering and graps onto the muscular arm, his fingers digging into the tanned flesh to make his request clear.

DAUGHTER! BROTHER? Who is this man?

The stranger immediately lets go and the sound of feet shuffling back follows as if he was innocently unaware of his deadly grip.

William forces down the growl of displeasure and reaches out to massage my neck, his gaze narrowing. "Why are you early?"

The person behind us, I realise was a god and also evidently the one Will was not too keen to meet and similing away Will' concern I shift forward in my seat to turn back to meet the same disarming smile.

His face was crafted with elegant beauty, with the complexion of sweet honey, tanned and without a flaw and framing his chiseled face was locks in infinite shades of blonde left in soft messy curls while his brows and lashes were drawn in a more darker tinge.

The symbol of the golden sun sat between his brows, and tattoos of the same hue inked with the strokes like that of fingertips peaked over his neckline tracing down to his arms, the golden markings in a ethereal glow over warm skin.

Silver eyes lower as delicate lips weave a hypnotic spell. "How long I have awaited your arrival."

I do not respond as a sense of curiosity and familiarity clash against one another in my mind. The blood in my veins were high on adrenaline in a state of crisis as he retrace his step closer.

He was maybe as tall as Hades with his body under pastel brown fabrics lean and muscular like a competitive swimmer possessing a restless vitality.

When he walks around the grey couch, and Will noticing my uncomfortable posture takes my hand and under this reassurance I finally speak. "I am not your daughter."

Shifting on his feet, the god chuckles and responds matter of factly. "My blood runs in you."

My fists clench, but my expression remains that of confusion. "You are not my father." The truth was agreed to in silence and I ask already having guessed the person's identify. "Are you the god Apollo?"

His smile that never left widens and I gulp down the strange irking feelings.

Now the reason for William calling him brother was clear. He too was the son of Zeus and one of the twelve main gods, the god of the sun.

"Yes I am Apollo, and also the next heir to the throne of Olym.." A hand falls heavy on his head making him bite down on his tongue which should have drawn blood.

"In you dreams kid." Zeus steps away from his son in annoyance. "Even if such a day comes, I will happily hand the throne to your sister, but then again that day will never come."

Will now in habit stiffens as Zeus lowers himself to my side and hovers his hands around me for a hug keeping watch for fluctuations in my temper. Seeing the awkward him, I decide to forget the matters involving him with Izumi' banishment.

It was Izumi' choice and regarding the one year agreement it was as Zeus said, out of joke and not with the intentions to harm and besides it was with his help that I recovered.

I sigh patting him in soothing but taking it as approval the strong limbs tighten and later we do not bring up the topic.

"I hope my son hasn't bothered you much." He says pulling back and I notice Will snickering perhaps sharing my thoughts of how and why I came to meet this crazy group of father and sons each with a different and beautiful shade of blonde locks. "Apollo, why are you early? You were always the last to arrive."

"You are favoured by all." Apollo says ignoring his father's jibe and I ignore his words in return.

"Why did you say that we share the same blood?" With the question, Zeus' and Will' expression was hard to read relaying to me that this was not a typical tea party.

The silver eyes of the god of the sun was neither aggressive nor passive as they took me in. "I had a daughter, a demigod and she was your ancestor."

The words struck like lightening as I stare back wide eyed. An ancestor of mine? My brows drew together, even if that's the case why keep tab on the descendants since demigods never pass on their powers to their children.

"That is enough for now." Zeus sharply warns, his eyes never focusing as it wandered and Will could not hide his concern.

"Its not like its going to harm her." Innocence blend in his smile directly addressing to me. "I do not think anyone told you who she was, her name was-"

"Grace Eleftheria." A deep voice cuts in with the sharpness of a hundred swords, but the melody of melancholy none seem to hear.

The god of the Underworld did not hurry with his pace and a pair of amber eyes slowly and steadily bore, undermining ones soul piece by piece and they spoke of the rage his tongue did not define.

And Aphrodite with her eyes conveying her sadness trails behind him with a mood like winter snow bellowing around her skirt.

"Uncle Hades, its been so long since I last saw you." Apollo greets and within such civil words was mocking and Hades keeps his reply warm, but cold rage burnt underneath.

"Greetings Apollo, it really has been too long."

Grace Eleftheria, as the unfamiliar name fell, the air grew heavy and suffocating as if the gentle breeze had stagnated.

But then like the rain dousing the first embers of a forest fire, sandles click with each step of a woman in a green cottom robe swaying over soft curves.

"Behave you two." Her gentle voice was patronising and like obedient children each parties withdrew their hostile stance and never spoke another word pleasing this beautiful woman.

And when her searching eyes fall on me, my lips part in a gasp shamelessly drinking in her sharp features.

Her hair!! Her hair was of fire, like a waterfall of flames tumbling down to reach her waist with a simple metallic brooch pulling it away from a face of refined composture, her nose slender and long, lips a shade darker than her skin of caramel and emerald eyes with hints of sapphire peeking through lashes in an alluring curve.

"I am Hestia." She smiles with plump cheeks like the petals of camellia flowers.

Goddess Hestia, she was...Hades' sister!!In bewilderment and respect I jump to my feet and was momentarily incapable of speech as I shook her hands, her palm hot but not scalding and I felt this warmth coursing through to my skin, to my veins and to every bent of my bones leaving me sighing in the serenity it brought with.

"I am Elizabeth," I finally say, noting surprisingly that she was no taller to me by than an inch.

And perhaps in the moment I was similar to some dazed animal that she pats my head. "I already know your name, dear." She laughs and the flames cascading her exquisite face flicker brighter and I could not force myself to look away.

She gives me one last smile before turning around with an expression resting in tranquillity. "Everyone settle down now."

No frown was seen in protest as everyone took their seat, with Aphrodite gloomy walking over to push aside Zeus who was barely left with any space on the three person couch.

And Hestia receiving a chaste kiss on her rosy cheek from the god of the sun, sits by him, leaving Hades who seems content without company on the couch lining with the former and opposite to ours.

Aphrodite' face drops to my shoulder and Zeus' fingers brush down her hair forgetting her harsh shove. When Will peeks over, his eyes meet ours with all of us wondering what exactly was the reason for such a bubbly goddess to loose her smile.

"Shall we continue." Apollo chirps glancing sideways to Hades who doesn't so much as blink in response.

The eyes of the spectators on my either sides were stolen away as Zeus puts on a football helmet, custom made with a vicor that he does not lower.

"What's that for?"

He shrugs strapping it securely over his head like it was the most sensible thing to do."In case things gets messy."

To this statement Will and Aphrodite snort and Hestia rolls her eyes while I could not even choose the right expression to wear.

My anticipation and curiosity were not hidden for even a moment but my eyes flicker to the lone figure of a certain god and my heart sank not knowing why.

But my focus is won back when Apollo speaks, his pace and tone like that of a professional story teller though without exaggerations or the use of hands and a gentle breeze blew through the garden, adding pleasant music to old memories.

"Her mother was a mortal and was a talented singer and Grace was born form our love. She was one my favourite children and just like her name she flaunted her spirit with grace."

"And in her youth she fell in mutual love with a greek soilder and they were married for fourteen good years before he died to heart ailment."

Will' voice echoes in my mind, reminding me of a similar story of the woman who Hades held dear and the goddess Persephone.

"But she wasn't ready to part with him and so she bribed Hermes, the messenger of gods and the only person allowed passage to the Underworld without special permission from your Lord."

Apollo was smiling but every time it catches my eyes I could only frown for this one with star-like eyes made me wary of even his words of teasing as if each syllable uttered was carefully planned and thought through leaving only the intended harmed and rest in joy.

"So Hermes let her pass warning her that she wouldn't be allowed to leave as she pleased but her heart was set and that was where her days of misery-"

"I know what happened afterward." I interject not finding a favourable outcome if he were to continue and beside me Aphrodite slumps back onto my shoulder for she was startled from my declaration that was nearly a scream.

The coldness slowly creeping in his voice recedes. "I am sure my brother left out a few things, things that he doesn't know."

Will looks to me wanting to know the reason to my downcast eyes, but I left like I wouldn't be able to explain how the words said to me with a smile felt like a warning to never interrupt him again and though not malicious it made clear his want for me to listen to the entire story.

No one else seems to a have a reaction as he continues. "Persephone who admired your Lord Hades was jealous of my daughter and one day kidnapped her while she was on her way to the Underworld. And every effort put into searching was futile and when Lord Hades finally found her she was already claimed by death."

"But it did not end there, she cursed her family."

I feel a tingle in my fingers and toes, my worst nightmares stirring vivid and clear and it takes me a moment to retain reality.

"A curse that was never to be broken and to be passed on to each female member of her bloodline and by this time her eldest daughter was already married off not knowing what had befallen on them."

Something hid behind the speakers eyes of silver and I began to dread what was to come.

"And so being her descendant you still carry on the curse and those who know of it can be counted in one hand. The only other here to know of it is your Lord Hades...Has he never told you about it?"

Catching me flinch his face contorts in surprise as he turns to the god of the Underworld, his expression unchanging and Apollo' lips almost give away his disappointment in a frown, while mine were bitten down in restraint. "No." There was a long pause, nobody expecting for my reply to be short and as every set of eyes turn to me, I shut mine close.

When I reopen my eyes to where they sat motionless, it was as though I was admiring two contrasting paintings forcefully put together as one, creating chaos in beauty.

One was brimming with the vibrant energy of youth, likely to be the last one dancing and the other' eyes were lowered coolly looking bored yet noble.

One with the eyes of silver, that people would look to in a poet or a dreamer and one with eyes of gold, the kind never to let another discern its secrets.

And in irony the one with orbs of soft moonlight dwelled in the light and the one with amber eyes like the sun in the dark.

The only other here to know it is your Lord Hades.

The line causes a familiar heartache and maybe my ego was high to think that his reason for keeping it hidden was never to bring harm and there is nobody else that I would rather trust.

And when I look to the God of the sun I see the smile that tells you he knew everything there is to you, but those eyes were cunning that I would be an idiot not to know their cruel schemes and unwilling to appease his arrogance I stand up tugging free my hand from Will's.

Under the sudden attention of these unearthly beings I almost forget how to walk and my strides weren't even but purposeful.

And a step away from the grey couch I turn to let myself fall onto the seat with a satisfactory thump beside the god the Underworld who did not deny nor accept the claim but even when appearing solemn and dignified, I see...loneliness.

And I only notice the worry in Will' eyes a second before it vanish and Aphrodite giving me a small smile turns to him for a shoulder to lean on while Hestia' serene face breaks in amusement and Zeus sighs finally having enough space to comfortably sit.

My actions were on a impulse and so now when the spirit dies down I was afraid Hades wouldn't approve, but he only spares me a fleeting glance and when I move my eyes away from the amber eyed god who was paler than usual I meet Apollo'questioning gaze and hold it only for a second.

"Your eyes were too straining to look at with me sitting opposite to you." I give an explanation.

A majority of the faces fall blank and Will resigns his laughter in coughs, but Apollo did not seem to realise my condemnation. "I could I looked away and since I am the one telling the story it would have been more comfortable sitting beside me than your Lord Hades."

And like every other time, his use of the honorific made my head throb in irritation from how his lips spewed mockery and so it was with pride that I admit.

"I wanted to sit with my Lord Hades." Amber eyes drop to my cheshire smile and I could feel their reluctance to falsely mould into indifference and without a word he silently glance away.

Aphrodite abruptly laughs regaining her cheerful bubble and Will controls his to prevent her from falling off while Zeus lowers the vicor fearing the worst.

But startling me Apollo smiles, the delightful shape of a whales tail a genuine one of happiness growing much like a blooming spring flower. "If that is so, I will continue."

"I tried to reverse the curse but it wouldn't wield and never failed to pass onto the next heir. And when I realised the effort was useless, I took on a different approach and granted each offspring born with the curse my powers and hid them away from other gods in precaution. But over the years, the blood was diluted and the effect of my powers dulled, as you can see."

"And it seems things tend to repeat itself."

"Is this why I am good with medicine?" I ask immediately.

"Yes, among many other things, I am also the god of medicine and long ago your predecessors could heal with just a touch and now it is limited with the knowledge of medicines."

And as the biggest mysteries of my life unveil I could only weakly nod with new questions replacing the old and maybe it was because of another pressing matter that I did not sink to my knees and calm my breathing.

"Let's leave." I put on a facade of misery willing myself to look pitiful. And even when seeing well through my mask Hades stands up leading the way without a farewell to the rest.

And knowing how clueless he was of my objective I race to follow his large strides and my blue eyed friend soon joins having caught onto the look I threw him before I left with a courtesy bow to the others who only took it as me running away.

Will raises an eyebrow in a perfect arch and I indicate for him to be patient and in silence we follow the god of the Underworld through the long corridors. And when the we pass through the doors of his residence in Olympus I whisper to William to cast the spell warding off prying ears.

And when the process is complete with a wave of hand I begin to run catching upto the a certain god with wavering steps and grab onto his pale arm under the expansive sleeves and my eyes widen in shock.

"I am going to kill you Hades!!"