Chapter 4

"Wait a minute," Hanni began after a minute of silence, "You said three when there's only the King and Queen and front of you," she paused, "who's the third?"

I opened my mouth to claim I don't know but Stu was faster, "If I may answer that myself," he began. "Aside from this fellow I am the only other person who would know the answer to this question," he sighed, "it is part of the reason why I was so down about my father dying."

Aili nuzzled into the side of me as if she was going to fall asleep, "You are not falling asleep," I whispered to her then I turned my attention to Stu. "Well then," I began, "answer your girlfriend's question."

Stu's lips thinned into a line, "I am the third immortal on this boat," he began, "the discussion happened months ago. Every heir would automatically inherit their parents' domain and become immortal if their parent dies. I didn't want to agree with it but being the only son of Flynn I couldn't argue the point."

"We shall discuss this once we are back on Bita and my Queen's throne is rebuilt as well as mine and yours," I said as I pictured the trashed throne room. "I trust that you will teleport Hanni there," I asked and he nodded, "I'll see you there."

The teleportation back to Bita brought no questions as we looked around the gloomy throne room. One of our guards broke the silence, "If you two are the only ones alive that are a part of the council then what should we do with the others?"

"Can I please focus on saving my Queen first before I think about anything else," I asked as I felt Aili cling to me a little, her body getting colder by the minute. "If only we found out about this sooner so you didn't have to go through whatever pain you are going through."

"It's more exhaustion than pain," she began dreamily before yawning, "wake me up when it's over."

"You are not falling asleep until I rebuild your throne Allison," I growled as I tilted her head so she was looking at me. "We will be sleeping together so we know that none of us will get hurt."

"Okay," she said dreamily once more as she nestled into the side of me wrapping her arms around my waist as I made it to the remains of our thrones. "I don't want to sit on branches anymore," she answered as a smile tugged at my lips

"You got it, love," I began as I looked over to the two guards standing there, "any advice on rebuilding her throne?"

"All I know is that it has to have some of her power fed through it," Sam began, "but I don't think she is in the state to do so."

As she was speaking I flipped through the King's memories like an open book, "There's no other way," I began as I noticed each rebuild of the Queen's throne had the Queen herself assisting. "Could you open your core up," I began asking Aili as I remembered how the last throne was being made. "Imagine how you want your throne to be and I'll guide it. I just need your power to help make it yours."

She nodded before nestling herself back into my side and I felt her power search for me, it was faint but it was still there. I then saw a picture of what she wanted and smiled as my eyes started tearing up. I snapped myself out of the vision and lifted my hand getting to work on her throne guiding her power to create the seat and the back as mine assisted in making the legs. After the main things were made I grew myself so I could set her in her chair as the decorations appeared on their own. As I set her down I noticed her eyes were closed and my heart dropped as I stepped back and let her power continue doing its work. The whole room was in silence as the chair finished and we waited

"Did it work," Hanni's voice asked breaking the minute-long silence and making me jump

"Check your wrist," Sam began as I returned my gaze to the crumpled small form of my soulmate. "For the love of the Fates, Liz check your wrist, or else I'm checking it for you."

"But," I began as I hurriedly pulled at my sleeve, "wouldn't power depletion kill us both?"

"Check your wrist," Sam exclaimed as I successfully pulled down my sleeve and glanced at her throne. "Well," Sam asked as I went to check her pulse, "is she?"

The question was left unfinished as I dropped my hand and knelt on one knee as tears began streaming down my face. "I told you not to fall asleep on me Allison," I began with a sob, "I told you that we'd be falling asleep together," I paused for breath. "I'm sorry," I breathed, "if only we had known sooner," I paused as a voice in my head sound, a soft voice that I hadn't heard in awhile

'What are you apologizing for, My King,' Mariam's calm voice began, 'You did nothing wrong.'

'I lost my Queen,' I began, 'If I had acted sooner then I wouldn't be in this situation.'

There was silence in my head before the former Queen answered just as a hand settled on my hand. 'It's a good thing you aren't the goddess of health,' she began, 'because you can't always trust what's on your body.'

"What are you crying for Lizzy," Aili's voice said cheerfully as my head snapped up and looked into her golden eyes that were full of life

"Aili," I exclaimed as I launched myself at her, noticing that she had grown to fill her throne. "I told you not to fall asleep," I said punching her shoulder

She chuckled, "I am tired as hell though," she began, "please make your throne so we can rest."

I smiled as I nodded and neared the mess that was my throne and imagined what I wanted. Aili's was a wedding chair with flowers from bouquets framing the back of it. Instead of the uncomfortable folding ones, it was more of a plush chair that you could find at libraries and the grandparent's house but newer. I imagined my throne as something similar but made out of clouds instead of physical material. I opened my eyes to also see the lightning bolts were making up the back of the throne and I grinned through my exhaustion. I sat down and sighed as the chair became known to me.

"Considering how exhausting it is to remake our thrones," I began as I remembered the people who were in the throne room. "We shall rest before Stu explains the origins of a new council," I finished eyeing the new God of the Ocean who sat in his chair made of the ocean bed and had some shells littering the back. "I believe we should have a meeting tomorrow which would give whoever intends to help with cleaning up enough time to do so and for us to rest. Is that good," I asked and everyone nodded as I saw them breathe a sigh of relief, "Please designate someone to stand guard of the throne room overnight so this doesn't happen."

"My King," Sam began stepping forward, "I think it would be best if my wife and I keep an eye on the throne room while your advisors stay with you. To our enemy at least you are the only one left alive. They do not know that your Queen is alive and that there is another King of the Sea on the throne."

"So not only use the element of surprise protect the surprise with their advisors," I heard Aili suggest to the left of me

"That is what I am suggesting," Sam began once more, "once Stu says what he needs to say tomorrow and we have an idea of who is going to be in the new council we should address the parents. At the very least have you as the main focus and if they decide to try and attack you then they'll have the pleasant surprise of you still having your Queen."

"We shall also discuss who was standing over Rachel's body when Lizzy and I first arrived here," Aili began, "it seems these parents are aided in their attacks."

Sam nodded, "That shall be thought upon overnight my Queen," she began, "I hope you two sleep well please stay on Bita tonight I will be sure your protection arrives before the end of the day tomorrow for your mortal home."

"We have a place here," Aili and I asked at the same time causing the guards to chuckle

"You two have not had the time to explore Bita have you," Sam inquired with a chuckle

"That was our intention after we reported the attack to the council but there were other plans meant for us," Aili answered as I stole a glance at her tired form, eager to get her somewhere safe so she could sleep. "Let's go," she said with a sigh

"What's with the aggravated tone," Tracy asked as Aili stood up

"If I don't get sleep soon," she began as I followed her, "this one is going to keep stealing worried glances at me," she paused as I mocked a gasp. "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about Layzer," she began once more. "You're not the only one worrying about her soulmates health," she growled and I shrank back just as the feeling of exhaustion starting ebbing at my mind once more

"I did tell you that we'd be sleeping together so we'd be safe," I said with a tired smirk, "I'll admit though," I began before yawning, "it does take a lot out of you to rebuild thrones."

I finished with a smile as Sam chuckled, "Leave it to our King to show us the bright side of things," she looked at Tracy and Maurine. "I trust you two remember where their temple is?"

Both advisors nodded, "That we do," Maurine said as Tracy saluted, "Liz isn't the only one who's acting weird from exhaustion."

I snorted, "No," I began, "that's just normal Tracy," I added not mentioning that she was hiding what she was feeling. "Tracy," I began to my closest friend, "you wanna talk after I get some rest?"

"Does fire burn," she asked and I smiled

"I'll take that as a yes," I said, "I'll let you know when I'm heading down," I finished and she nodded, "Lead the way advisor," I ordered, causing Aili to giggle as they started moving sort of robotically and similar to a soldiers march.

"You are a twerp," she said as I heard the two grumbling while we followed them to our temple

"But you love me," I said with a smirk as I wove my fingers through hers, "you gotta stop putting me through those fears lady."

She scoffed, "As if you weren't the first one to give me a heart attack," she glared

"Yeah, but did my name disappeared completely from your wrist both times?"

"Touché," she grumbled as we rounded to a stop in front of a tall building, "but you better not try to make that happen. I can tell you from first-hand experience that being close to death is not fun."

"You do remember that you are talking to someone who survived being shot in the heart right?"

She glared at me then huffed sending a little hair that was in her face flying, "The point still stands Lizzy," she growled as her eyes shined gold. "We need the break so please don't go trying it," she finished as a smile formed on my lips

"I would never think to go looking for trouble A," I began, "not before this and sure as hell not after this so why in the world would I start looking now," I asked, kissing her on the forehead. "My heart broke every time I saw you that weak," I began, "I would never want you to see me that weak. I know you did once before but I will try to make sure that is the only time you will see me like that."

A smile formed as her golden eyes filled with happiness, "I promise that what happened there will be the last time," she began. "That you will ever see me like that," she finished

"You can't exactly promise that will be the last time I see you weak," I began as I wrapped an arm around her waist. "Do you think that we're going to be at full strength when giving birth?"

"That is the only pass," she said as we caught up with our advisors, "no more almost getting ourselves killed."

I nodded just as Tracy opened her mouth, "I second that," she said with a smirk. "The only time you two are going to be weak like this is when you're giving birth and while you're on your deathbed. The latter of which I'd prefer to be later," she finished causing us to chuckle, "so here is your temple."

I looked up at the abandoned looking building in front of us, "Did they destroy every building on Bita," I asked as I saw shutters hanging for windows and flecks of golden paint stuck to the sides of the building

"Sam said that they can't go into a certain building," Tracy began, "we couldn't check because this building is exclusive to you two and your family and nobody knows if it has been attuned to the both of you yet."

"Please don't say we have to use even more power today," I muttered as I looked at the building

"You might," Tracy began, "I'm not sure."

I sighed as I went through the memories of past Kings like an open book once again. "It seems that does not need to be the case," I began as I watched Samuel and Mariam walk into the building when it held its former glory. I looked at Aili, "Shall we try my lady," I asked as she smiled

"The sooner we get to a bed the better we'll feel with that council meeting tomorrow," she said as I matched her smile. "Come on Lizzy," she began once more, "let's get some rest I feel like I'm going to pass out."

"I'd rather you not joke about that," Tracy muttered as Maurine nodded, "just get some rest. We'll be in the temple next to you if you need anything."

I nodded, "I'll let you know when I'm ready to talk to you," I said as I felt Aili tug at my arm. "Have a good night," I added before we ducked inside, "how are you feeling?"

Aili looked at me as the door closed behind us, "I feel like I could sleep for days," she muttered with a relieved sigh. "I am both mentally and physically exhausted, at least this place doesn't look like it was messed with on the inside."

I tore my gaze from Aili to realize that she was right, "It seems like somebody has also been keeping this place clean as well," I muttered, noticing the lack of dust. "Thank the Fates for that," I added then turned to her, "you're coming with me to look for the bedroom."

"So, you don't pass out on the floor alone," she said with a smile pulling at her lips, "I wouldn't mind."

I chuckled, "All right," I began as I offered my arm for her to cling to, "then let's go."

It didn't take us long for us to find the main bedroom as it felt like something in my gut was guiding me to the room. After shutting the door and climbing into the bed we were fast asleep with dreams of the attack. But the rest was short-lived as I was woken up with Tracy's voice yelling in my head

'Yo, your majesty, are you awake yet?'

I groaned, 'Unfortunately,' I answered as I looked at Aili's sleeping form, 'I'll be down in a sec.'

"Where are you going," Aili mumbled as I slowly got out of the bed

I smiled, "I'm going to talk to Tracy," I began. "You get some more rest. I'll either be in the council room or downstairs when you get up," I said before placing a kiss on her forehead. "I love you," I whispered before turning to leave the room as clothes appeared on me

"I love you too," I heard her say as I close the door

"About time you got here," Tracy said with a mutter making me jump

"I thought I was supposed to let you in," I said before grabbing a Starbucks Frappuccino out of the fridge and an oatmeal bar from the cupboard. It makes a quick breakfast easy when you can imagine the things you want.

"I forgot to add that advisors can enter the house to check on the King and Queen respectively."

I sighed as I sat down, "Don't you think that's something you should've mentioned," I said with a glare before biting into my food. "What do you need to talk about," I asked with my mouth full of oatmeal

"It's about the attacks," Tracy began, "first the one on the campus then us teleporting here to find Bita in ruins," she paused. "It just doesn't seem right; I don't see anything in the past advisors' memories and they've never had to deal with anyone like this."

With a huff I scanned through the memories from the previous Kings, "Neither have Kings of the past," I said as I opened my coffee. "What's your point," I asked before taking a drink

"My point is how are we supposed to fight somebody that even the old council of Raiz couldn't defeat?"

I bit my lip as I set my cup down, "I think our best bet right now," I began, "is to gather intel on these parents," I paused. "I hate that I have to approach them alone but the surprise is key at this point. We don't know these parents and they don't know us. We figure out what they have up their sleeves and try to prepare. Just because we don't have a full council doesn't mean we won't have a whole camp of demigods ready to fight by our side when needed."

Tracy nodded, "But what about you and Aili's pregnancy," she asked, "they know about you two being pregnant. What if they kill the children," Tracy asked as she paled once she realized that she was also voicing her fears with Maurine

I shrugged, "Then it happens," I began, "I'm not saying that we wouldn't be distraught but these pregnancies weren't planned. We will get around it," I paused, "there is no way in hell that I'm going to be able to convince Aili not to fight in this. She is persistent and powerful, two things that I love about her, she didn't back down with her schedules in college and didn't back down from doing things on her own. That's if you've forgotten us trying to help her move out," I finished with a smirk before taking another sip of my coffee

'I didn't know you thought of me as persistent,' Aili's voice spoke in my head startling me to the point where I spat out my coffee

"Didn't I tell you to get some more rest Allison," I yelled as Tracy started laughing

"That you did my dear," she began, "but you said it yourself," she paused to peck me on the cheek. "I'm persistent," she finished as she looked at me with a twinkle in her eyes

"More like stubborn," I muttered as she walked away, I flinched as pain struck me in the back of my head

"I heard that Layzer," she said from the kitchen

"You love me," I said with a smirk as I rubbed the back of my head, "sorry if I spat coffee on you Trace."

"Nah, you're good," she answered between bouts of laughter, "I'll leave you two be. The council meeting should be starting soon, we have one more person in the new council."

"Who," I asked as I looked at Aili who shrugged

"Not sure," Tracy began, "Shanda told me without telling me who it was."

I sighed, "Okay thanks Trace," I began, "I'll see you in the throne room in twenty."

She nodded before teleporting away, "I wonder who it could be," Aili began as she sat where Tracy once sat. "What did Tracy want to talk about," she asked as she drank some coffee

I sighed, "She expressed her concerns," I began, "none of our memories have anything on a war against parents. She expressed her concerns about that and the fact that we'd be fighting pregnant."

"I heard that," Aili began as she set her coffee cup down, "I will side with you on that matter. These kids weren't planned," she paused, "yes I would be grieving but it's not like we're ready to have them in the first place."

I nodded, "The curveballs that Fates throw at us," I muttered as she nodded, "feeling any better?"

"Tons better," she began, "I think the attack happened a little before ours since I did feel a little drained before that monster attacked us."

I nodded, "Also remember you had morning sickness that morning as well," I added before finishing off my coffee and tossing the trash into a nearby can. "I'd better be getting ready," I muttered as I stood up from the chair

"You do remember that you can snap your fingers to get proper clothes on for this thing right," Aili said as she polished off her coffee. "And also," she began as I groaned and snapped my fingers. "Is my persistence your most favorite thing about me?"

I smirked, "Among other things," I began, then offered my elbow, "shall we see who this new council member is?"

Aili smirked as she rested her hand on the crook of my elbow, "That we shall, Lady Layzer."

I arched an eyebrow as we left the building, "How long were you waiting to make that rhyme Ransom?"

Aili chuckled as we made it to the throne room doors, "You have no clue," she said with a grin

I smirked, "Oh, I think I do," I said before kissing her, "let's get inside before one of our advisors sends one of us an annoying mental message."

"You didn't like Tracy's wake up call," Aili asked as I began toward the door

"I'm not particularly fond of waking up to the words 'Yo, is your majesty awake?'"

Aili snorted, "That was my idea Layzer," she whispered in my ear before pushing open the doors

'I hate you,' I thought to her before making my way to my throne

'But you love me,' she thought back as I sat down and looked around the room

My eyes widened as I saw who the new member was, "Does your soulmate know about this yet Hanni?"

The new goddess of wisdom blushed a little before answering, "We talked about it a while ago but I never confirmed or denied it."

I looked around noticing the lack of a certain sea god, "Where is he now," I asked as Aili talked to Maurine

"He's probably tending to duties in the ocean," Hanni began, "he should come when you send the signal to start the meeting."

I smirked, "Well this should be fun," I said before throwing down a lightning bolt as I have seen in the memories

A flash of light shown in Stu's chair before he was visible, "Did you two rest well," he asked once the light had died down

I smirked, "Yes we did," I began, "I think you should take note of a new member of the council before we start this meeting."

Puzzled, Stu looked around before his eyes landed on his soulmate, "So that's why you weren't chewing my head off about this?"

Hanni smiled softly, "Of course Kelp Brain," she shot at him, "we both kept our secrets about this and I felt that I needed to surprise you."

Stu sighed, "All right," he began, "let's get this meeting started."

I smirked, "Right," I began, "I think we should begin on how we are supposed to rebuild the council. Hanni, how did you know your mother was considering you?"

Hanni sighed before launching into an explanation, "It was about a year or two ago when Lilian appeared to me in a dream. She started by saying the council was losing power and she chose me to be her champion and take her throne. I had no room to deny it because nobody had the same dream and it ended as soon as it began. I kept it from everybody until now," she had finished while reclining in her throne which was now a beanbag chair with bookcases full of knowledge and battle plans surrounding the back

"Did you feel the power drain as I did," Aili asked as I thought about what the new goddess had told us and subconsciously flipped through the memories of past Kings yet again

"Yes my Queen," Hanni began, "I only started feeling it once everyone was resting. I contacted one of the guards here to help me get there so I could make my throne."

My eyes widened, "Samuel and Mariam knew about this," I muttered as I watched their discussion with Rachel about the loss of power. "In this conversation that I'm seeing right now, Rachel is informing them that if they die then the council will be powerless unless we are present or at full power."

"Quite the heads up for you two," Stu began, "y'all were thrown into this life like I was. I don't see it fair that they didn't spill all the beans for you two as they did with us when Hanni and I first found out we were demigods."

I nodded as I watched the conversation take place, "What I can see of this is the list of people that were contacted to become champions as Hanni told us."

Hanni furrowed her brow, "Then we should check the camps and the hunt for them as many of them don't live off of physical domains. They can at least still be alive but they may be weak."

I nodded, "Who shall go to the camps and the hunt?"

Hanni volunteered first, "I shall go and speak with the hunt as it is similar to Lady Artemis' hunt."

I nodded as Stu spoke up, "I will go to the other camp as they are the equivalent to the Roman camp and they haven't met you two yet."

I nodded as I thought, "I will go with, Liz to," Aili began and I shook my head and spoke before she could continue

"I'm sorry, Aili but I'm going to have to say no to that," I began, "but those two can keep their immortality a secret. We still need to keep the fact that you're alive a secret and we don't know if there are spies in either of the camps or even the hunt for that matter. I understand that you would like to go with me for this but we have to keep in mind our plans. We want to surprise the enemy with a full council and if you are seen with me then we would ruin that surprise because everyone knows that you as well as your advisor and mine are always near me."

"So, the simple act of her being with you would ruin the surprise," Sam asked and I nodded, "we need someone to go with you though so you're not alone if attacked."

"I won't be alone," I began, "Tracy is going to come with me," I paused as I met her gaze and she nodded. "She'd strangle me as much as Aili would if I was going alone in this situation. I won't take Maurine because I don't know how an advisor's power source works. If she is supposed to be dead as well as the Queen then I'd rather be safe than sorry."

"What about the person who was standing over Rachel's body that you two spoke of," Shanda asked, "we still need to figure that out."

I bit my lip as I directed my gaze at Aili who hadn't said a word since I had interrupted her, "Would you mind doing some research with your advisor while we are gone?"

Aili smiled, I knew it was fake and she was pissed at me for doing that, "Not at all," she said, "shall we conclude this meeting so everyone can go to their destinations?"

Everyone nodded before I sighed and spoke, "Good," I began, "I will return with any champions that I find at camp; the meeting is adjourned."

In a flash, the two soulmates disappeared and Tracy stood up at attention, "I'll wait for you outside the throne room," she stated before walking out.

"I'm sorry," I began, "I know how much you want to help and that you want to do everything with me but the situation does not call for it at the moment. I didn't mean to interrupt you and I apologize as it had just come out without a filter."

"I could be disguised Liz," Aili began, "I don't have to look like myself to be by my side."

I shook my head, "That would work with the hunt and the other camp but not Camp Hero as they have already seen us together. I don't want to take the chance of them recognizing you by your power. I want you to come with me but we don't know how these people work and I don't want to take any chances of you getting hurt. I will do my best to keep you informed with Tracy's help, you and Maurine find out about that figure we saw when we came here, okay?"

Aili bit her lip before nodding, "One thing before you meet up with Tracy," she began before pulling me to her and placing a kiss on my cheek, "don't die on me Layzer."

I smirked, "I don't plan on it, Ransom."