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One ancient Greek Goddess.

Also known as the goddess of the hearth.

She was the eldest among the first Olympian siblings.

Her brothers were Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades.

The one and only Hestia.

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Seeing him right now, made me second guess a lot of things. I shook my head and took a few steps back. "I don't want it anymore."

He cocked his head and gave a low laugh. "Are you afraid of me?"

I clenched my fists, trying to pull in enough courage. If he was going to hurt me, he would've done it a long time ago. Not to mention, I wasn't completely alone. I had back up. "What happened to your eyes?"

He didn't move from his position. Instead, he kept a small smile. "I told you I was hungry. Don't you remember?"

I couldn't respond. Because in less than a second, he moved. His speed caught me by surprise. So much that I tripped while trying to maintain a distance between us. That was an authentic fail since I was restricted the moment my back hit the wall.

Cold hands slipped over my cheek, tipping my head up. Liam smiled as he looked down at me. He was close. "Why are you asking questions? Don't you want me to heal you?"

I couldn't care less about the pain. Mainly because I needed answers and now was a perfect time. My gaze never strayed from his. "What are you hungry for?"

He smirked. "If you want to carry out this conversation, I suggest you call Phyllis immediately, for your own good."

For my own good?

I frowned. "Why don't you call her yourself?"

"My phone is in my car -- which is in ruins at the moment. And since there's no damn visible phone in the house, I'm relying on you."

I tried calming my erratic heartbeat as my mark kept humming. It brought an uncomfortable feeling. I swallowed down my anxiety. "What are you hungry for? Why do you need Phyllis? Why do your eyes glow and change? And why do you wear gloves?"

Liam leaned towards me."Ever heard 'ignorance is bliss'?"

"Answer me," I spoke through clenched teeth.

He pursed his lips. That's when I registered his proximity. He was close.

Too close.

He leaned forward, placing a hand against the wall beside my head. I stopped his further movements with my palms to his chest. My fingers brushed the bare skin at the base of his neck. I contained the shudder which erupted throughout my body from the contact.

"Why don't you put the pieces together? It ain't that hard." He lowered his head and smirked. I remembered what he said about Phyllis.

She's more of a regular diet.

"You feed on her." I breathed.

But that's physically impossible.

Liam smiled. "Not exactly."

Why doesn't he give a straight answer?

Being this close, I got the chance to observe him. His hair was rough and quite long, tumbling over his forehead. A small streak of stubble poked across his jaw. It made him human. But his eyes spoke differently. It was a constant reminder that Liam wasn't any normal teenager.

I had to ask. "Can I trust you?"

Surprise colonized his features before a trickle of pain broke through. "No." He reached out a hand and I flinched. He paused midway. "But you should know...I'll never hurt you."

Blaze's words came to memory;

You're going to die, little witch, and your green-eyed friend will be the one to end it! I assure you.

Liam hesitantly slipped his hands through my hair and my mark burned on contact.

"Is it you?" I swallowed. "Are you the one forcing the bond?"

His lips thinned into an odd emotion. "No."

"Then why does it burn every time we touch?"

"It's quite unconscious. I'm just able to sense bonds between two or more participants. I can't control it."

I nodded to myself. This means someone else is doing this and I don't think it could be Zion or Pedro.

"Anything else you want to ask?"

I shifted on my feet. "Well...I...yes." I struggled to find a way to put this. "There's another thing. I get strange reactions when we're close. It's different from the bond."

His eyes glowed. "You mean this?"

My breath hitched when something like a strong wave pushed from his fingertips. I was taken aback. My feet gave way but Liam held me up by the waist. I grabbed his shoulders, using him and the wall for extra support. I nodded, too shocked to breathe. Liam watched me as I tried regaining my posture. His expression looked calm.

"It's another one of my abilities." He replied softly.

There was so much more I wanted to ask. Which god does he host? What are his other powers?

"Please call Phyllis." His eyes begged despite his calm and controlled appearance.

I hesitated but reached for my jeans pocket. My phone had a cracked screen from the previous fight but it still worked fine. I went to my class's contacts and dialed her number. She picked on the third ring.

"Hello?" Her voice looked gruff and disturbed.

"Um...Phyllis?"

"Yeah. Who's talking?"

"It's Penny. I want you to come over to Dimitri's home."

"Uh-huh?" She sounded bored. "And why will I do that? It's quite late you know."

"Liam wants to see you."

The line paused for a while. "I'm quite busy at the moment."

Liam placed his fists against the wall beside me. His head bent low in exhaustion. All his guard seemed to diminish and that's when I knew...

He was in pain.

Somehow, Phyllis was the only one capable of curbing whatever cravings he had. And since his eyes were turning stranger by the minute, it must be serious. His previous words still hunted me;

I suggest you call Phyllis immediately. For your own good.

What had he meant?

I thought of something. "Someone else wants to speak to you."

"Oh yeah? Who could it be?" She didn't seem to believe a word.

"Hunter."

The line paused a while longer before she spoke up. "He's with Dimitri?"

"Yes." I know it feels wrong to lie but something told me it was necessary.

She huffed. "Fine. I'm on my way."

The line cut before I could say another word.

"Thank you." Liam croaked out and pushed away, taking his heat with him. With my thoughts finally on track, I expected my bruised body to give its annoying signal but it didn't. I felt renewed -- like I had woke up from a deep sleep. Liam had healed me and I hardly noticed a thing.

"Tell me why you need Phyllis? Why do you seem to rely on her when you're hungry?"

Liam gave a weak smile. "I'll tell you at the right time, Gem. For now, you can tell your boyfriends to meet me tomorrow at the parking lot after school."

I knew why. He was finally going to help with our abilities. I jolly feeling overcame me, knowing I had finally convinced Liam to help.

The atmosphere was dissolved by the sound of footsteps. "Penny!"

I wasn't prepared for Gwen's onslaught. She crushed me with a hug. "I heard what happened. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Don't worry."

Seeing her reminded me of the prophecy.

For he will murder his beloved.
Never to be saved.

I looked up at Liam but he was gone. The prophecy could be for anyone but it was certainly male. Dimitri walked in and switched off the music.

He leaned against a wall and smiled at us. "Sleeping beauty is finally awake."

Gwen made a shy smile.

"Did you have any fit today? " I asked Gwen in a low tone.

She shrugged. "It was after school but no one noticed. Luckily, Zion and Pedro were there to help me out. They  brought me here." She brushed away my concern. "Don't worry, I didn't say anything crazy this time. It was just a slight convulsion but I was fine."

A door banged shut followed by a series of footsteps. They tore through the house.

"Pedro? Pedro get back here!" Zion's voice was a calculated warning.

"Not this time brother."

"If you cross the door, I'll kill you."

"Chips! You have to see this." Pedro rushed into the living room. His hair was still damp from a hot shower and his bare chest was coated with rivulets and foam. A towel hung low around his slender hips. My jaw dropped. Gwen was oddly pink from the neck up. She averted her gaze.

Zion stumbled into the hall. His eyes scanned Pedro before moving to us. "Shit."

"What did I do wrong? It's not like I'm naked. Ain't that right, chips?" Pedro smiled and winked.

Zion rolled his eyes and I grinned at his cuteness. Gwen shifted her glasses and looked at her feet. Dimitri seemed to be enjoying the scene.

"What do you want to show me?" I asked.

Pedro smiled and stretched out a hand. That's when I noticed the golden bracelet on his wrist. His eyes glowed frosty-blue and I watched as water droplets glided down his arm and towards his upturned palm. They converged into an egg-size globule, levitating a few inches above his smooth skin.

My eyes widened.

Oh no.

So that's all for the chapter. I won't be surprised if one of you knew from the beginning, the god he had. It's actually quite obvious. LOL!

Anyway, what do you think about Pedro's powers? Do you prefer he had a different god?

If yes😁, which one?

Don't forget to vote and comment.