he boys were tall, well muscled, and good-looking - it was no wonder they had caught Kat's attention. The one on the left, the taller one, was wearing blue jeans and a short-sleeved white cotton shirt. He had short brown hair, fair skin, and a swimmer's slim hips and long legs. He laughed as they watched, and Jade thought his grin was possibly the most attractive smile she'd ever seen. The one on the right was of a similar build, with broad shoulders and muscled arms. He was wearing tight black jeans - which was obviously what had caught Kat's attention - and a white silk shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to show off his biceps.
"He'll be hot in that," Jade commented.
"He certainly is!"
Jade laughed and glanced at Kat.
"Glowing again."
"Just enough to attract attention."
"We don't want attention, remember."
"Oh, phooey."
The glow died down again, and Jade returned her gaze to the two. The other one had deeply tanned skin and long black hair and straight white teeth that he flashed in an answering smile - possibly Spanish ancestry in there somewhere, Jade thought. They were both very cute - and heading their way.
"Stop looking," Jade whispered, turning back to Kat. "They're coming over here, and we don't want them to notice us."
"Think they're our boys?"
"The faces match. Admittedly, they're a little more attractive than the elementals showed."
"The bodies are better. Wouldn't mind the one in black for a bit of goddess worship."
"Kat!"
Kat grinned wickedly, and Jade laughed without thinking - the deep, rich, dark laughter that swirled around them like night itself. Kat's eyes glowed through the contact lenses in response, and the two boys glanced over.
"Oops," breathed Jade, and Kat grinned.
"Bit late for that now. Maybe they'll just think you have a very attractive laugh."
"Probably. The humans often do."
The boys had kept walking, and Kat turned her head to watch their retreating backs - or perhaps slightly lower.
"Come on, let's follow them to class."
"With pleasure."
Kat was up and after them in an instant, her low-heeled sandals clicking on the pavement and giving her hips a seductive sway as she walked. Jade picked up her blue handbag and linked arms with Kat as they followed Darryl and Marc towards their lecture.
Neither girl noticed the admiring looks the males still remaining in the courtyard gave them as they left.

"Look," Kat said, leaning forward on her desk, flashing her cleavage at the opposite side of the room. "You're obviously an intelligent man, who has spent a long time studying mythology, or you wouldn't be the lecturer in the subject. But I can't see how you could possibly think that Selene and Artemis are aspects of the same goddess."
"They are both moon goddesses," the lecturer attempted to explain for the third or fourth time.
"That point is completely irrelevant. Selene is the goddess of the moon. Artemis is the goddess of the hunt. Her having associations with the moon is not the same as being the moon goddess. You may as well say Hekate is the same as well; which she clearly isn't!"
"I didn't say that Hekate was the same," the lecturer began.
"By your reasoning, she should be," Kat replied. "All three of them have a connection to the moon. But Selene is the only one who is a moon-goddess."
The lecturer shook his head, and glanced at his watch.
"I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this point, Miss Thornhill."
Kat took a few seconds to remember that was her name.
"Just Kat is fine," she replied. "And if I can't convince you, I guess we will."
Kat leaned back in her chair, and looked across the room at the boy in blue jeans - she had been disappointed to realise that he was Darryl, and that Jade would be having class with the boy in the tight black jeans, but Darryl was attractive enough to entertain her while the lecturer ran their tutorial. Or at least, he had been until the lecturer stated that Selene and Artemis were the same.

The class continued without further interruption, until the bell went, and the students gathered their books. Most of the students vanished down the stairs, but Kat paused outside the door to wait for Jade, and found herself in the hall with Darryl.

"Hi, I'm Darryl," he introduced himself. "You seem to know a fair bit about Greek mythology."
"I'm Kat," she replied, leaning against the wall. "It's an interest of mine."
"Just Greek?"
"Oh, no - Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Celtic, Mayan, Inca..."
"Hathor?"
Kat smiled.
"She's lovely, but I tend to focus more on the sun and moon goddesses."
"Like... Isis?"
"Isis isn't really a moon goddess - she's a life and love goddess. She too, has associations with the moon, but isn't a moon goddess. Nut would be closer, but she was the Goddess of the sky."
"Really? I had thought Isis was a sun Goddess."
"Because of that chant, you mean?"
"Which chant?"
"Isis, Isis, Ra, Ra, Ra?" Kat smiled.
"Sekhmet?"
"Isis, darling. Nice of you to stop by," Kat replied, guiltily.
"I was in the area. You called?"
"Just explaining to the modern-day humans the difference between you and me."
"They're impossible. How is Qetesh?"
"She's well, thank you. I'll let her know you stopped by."
"Do that. And be a little more discriminatory when you summon me next time."
"I will. But it's always a pleasure to see you, darling."
"Yes, well. We know all about your idea of pleasure. I think I'll pass this time, if it's all the same to you. I'm seeing Osiris later, after all."
"Enjoy yourself."
"We always do."
Isis' presence vanished, and Kat looked up at Darryl.
"Did you feel that?" he asked her, looking a little startled.
"Feel what?" Kat replied, giving him her best wide-eyed innocent look.
Darryl shook his head, and Kat was relieved when people began spilling out of the other classroom.
"Jade, darling."
"Kat," Jade replied, looking at her closely. "What have you been doing?"
"Isis stopped by. She sends her love."
Jade glared for a moment, then shrugged.
"How was class?"
"Fine, until the idiot started saying that you-" Kat caught herself in time- "your favourite Greek goddess, Selene, was an aspect of Artemis."
"But Selene and Artemis have completely different personalities!"
"I know."
"Who's this?"
Kat grinned.
"This is Darryl, he's in my class. Darryl, this is my sister, Jade."
Kat made the introductions, and added dismissively, "He's one of yours."
Jade blinked, then smiled at Darryl.
"Nice to meet you, Darryl. What a lovely necklace."
The silver goddess symbol - a full moon, with a crescent moon on either side - glimmered slightly in the open-neck of Darryl's shirt.
"Oh, it's lovely," Kat put in. "I hadn't noticed it. Are you a Pagan?"
"Kat!"
"Oh, I'm sorry. That was terribly rude of me. I always forget most people are Christian, now."
Jade gave Kat a warning look, and she shut up.
"Actually," Darryl replied, "I am. Most people don't recognise the symbol for what it is though."
"Having fun, Dazz?" asked another male voice as a fourth presence joined them.
"Just discussing paganism," Darryl replied. "Marc, this is Jade, and Kat. This is Marc, my housemate," Darryl explained to the girls.
"Hello, Marc," Kat almost purred. "Is that a silk shirt?"
Kat rested a hand on Marc's arm, and he instinctively flexed his bicep, the muscles swelling against the silk under Kat's hand. Jade and Kat shared a quick smile. Men were men, no matter which time or country they came from.
"Nice to meet you," Marc replied, raising an eyebrow at Darryl. "Are you new?"
"Yes, we just started," Jade replied as Kat removed her hand from Marc's arm. "Today is our first day, so luckily, it's a nice easy one. The rest of the week looks fairly savage, though. It's difficult, starting half-way through, not knowing anyone."
"What other classes are you taking?"
Jade showed Darryl her timetable, and he raised an eyebrow as he read it.
"That's an interesting mix," he commented. "Medicine with mythology and philosophy."
"It's what I'm interested in," Jade shrugged.
"What about you, Kat?" Marc asked.
"Oh, I'm doing the same as Jade. I wanted to do ancient languages too," Kat added, "but they wouldn't let me."
"I'm not surprised - did you want any spare time at all?" Marc laughed. "But, seeing as though you're both doing the same subjects as Darryl and me, we'll probably have a couple of classes together."
"We have all our classes together," Darryl replied, handing Jade her timetable back. "Except for today's tutorial."
"And I have a different philosophy tutorial to Jade, too," Kat commented.
"You'll likely be in mine, then," Marc replied with a smile. "What are you doing for the rest of the afternoon?"
Kat glanced at Jade.
"We hadn't decided yet. I suggested going to the beach this morning - it's apparently very nice and we haven't done any sight-seeing yet."
Jade shrugged.
"Whatever you want, we have to go home and change though."
"I brought your bathers."
"You usually do, but I didn't bring a towel - did you?"
Kat's face fell.
"Oh - no, I forgot it. I guess the beach can wait for another day."
Marc and Darryl glanced at each other.
"Well, we live just near the beach," Marc suggested. "If you don't mind going to our beach and spending the afternoon with us, I'm sure we could lend you a couple of towels."
"Will you give us a moment?"
"Sure."

Kat and Jade stepped away from the boys, and whispered.
"What do you think?"
"I think he's sex on legs," Kat whispered back.
"That isn't what I meant!"
Kat chuckled, quietly.
"He's one of mine. He's been thinking about bedding me since I touched him."
"Males usually do."
"True, but trust me."
"I do. And I expect you would know one of yours when you met them. But what do you think about the beach? Their beach? That's what he said."
"Ooh, private beach."
"Stop that. You know as well as I do that we could be walking into a trap."
"Do you think they know?"
Jade thought for a moment.
"Well - perhaps not. But we'll have to be careful. My one is too intelligent by half."
"They both are, darling."
"True. So, we're decided?"
"Yes."
"Okay. And try and be a little more human?"
"Sorry. I'll try."
"Okay. Let's go then."

Jade and Kat turned back to Marc and Darryl.
"So, are you coming?" Darryl asked. Jade nodded and Kat said yes.

"However we just need to let our," Jade paused, "housemate know we will be home late."
"Sure, you can use our phone at home if you want," Marc offered.
Kat looked at Jade and saw her slight concern. "Actually we will just use the pay phone."

They walked to the carpark via the payphone. Kat made the call and explained to Bree they would be home late. Then they got in Marc's car as Jade and Kat didn't drive to the University as they were within walking distance. The boys gave them the two cent tour around their house and then allowed them to change in the guest bathroom after getting them a beach towel each.

"Oh my I can't wear this." Jade gasped looking down at her bikini.
"What's wrong with it, I think you look great." Kat responded, adjusting her bikini top.
"It is a little more revealing than I thought."
"It's a bikini Jade, that is part of it's point. You will be fine just stop playing with it." Kat gently slapped Jade's hand away. "You are gorgeous now don't be shy."

Jade wrapped the towel around her waist like Kat had and they grabbed they left their clothes on the bed with their bags. They found the boys waiting for them in the lounge. Both of them stood as they entered, their mouths literally gaping open. Kat smiled at them seductively and even gave a little twirl for them. Jade simply rolled her eyes at Kat making her laugh.

"Here, you should put some sunscreen on, you don't want to get burnt." Marc handed the sunscreen to Kat who with great resolve did not burst out laughing. She simply thanked him and squirted some sunscreen onto her hand before handing it to Jade.
"You could do with a bit of Sun Jade, I think you would tan nicely." Kat commented sweetly.
Don't you dare! Jade replied.

They covered themselves with sunscreen where they could reach and with the help of the eager boys they got sunscreen rubbed into their backs. Then Darryl and Marc lead them out to the back of the house straight onto the beach. They walked idly chatting towards the water and placed their towels on the ground.
"It's a beautiful day. I love the way the sun reflects of the water." Marc commented.
"Thank you." Kat said.
"Pardon."
"I just agree with you." Kat replied recovering from her slight slip up.
"Come on lets test out the water." Kat said dropping her towel and running towards the water. Marc followed but Jade didn't and neither did Darryl.
"Don't feel like swimming?" Darryl asked.
"Just thought I would walk a little first. Would you like to join me?"

Darryl nodded and they dropped their towels to rest with Kat and Marc's. Jade started walking along the shoreline letting the water lap her feet. She smiled. They had hardly gotten far when Jade stopped. She stared at the sand. She could see the energy residue which was very faint now from the ritual that called her and Kat to Earth. She stared at it until Darryl interupted her thoughts.
"You see something?" Slight surprise showing in his voice.
"No, nothing, was just thinking."
"Moving must have been hard." Darryl said misunderstanding her.
"Yeah. Lets join the others."

They got into the water and swam over to Marc and Kat.

"You're a good swimmer." Marc commented to Jade.
"Thank you."

They swam a little while longer before Jade said that the tide would be coming in soon.

"How do you know that?" Darryl asked curiously.
"I study the affects of the moon." Jade commented indifferently.
"Anyway we should get going."

They swam to shore and then dried themselves off. Kat turned automatically to watch the sunset when she saw Marc was already watching it with reverence upon his face.

Definatly yours Jade commented Watch your glow though
I will
Kat tactfully moved into a position where the suns rays fell upon her and when she glowed it was hardly noticed.

They all watched the sun set before heading back to Darryl and Marc's place. Kat and Jade changed and then the boys dropped them off at the University at their request. They said their goodbyes and then Jade and Kat walked back to Bree's.

"I saw the site where they cast the ritual." Jade said softly.
"I trust them."
"So do I, but I still don't think we should just up and approach them about it openly."
"Well what if we told them we are Pagan too. We could possibly learn more from that angle."
"Agreed."

The next day Jade found herself in a lecture with Darryl. The lecturer had decided to test them and pulled a chair to the front of the room and told them to proove it existed. Several responses from other students sparked debate and Jade watched curiously. Eventually Darryl perked up.

"What chair?" He asked. The lecturer beamed at him.
"Good answer." Jade said to him quietly so only he could hear.
"Thanks." Darryl said.
"So what is the main point that we can get from this discussion?" The lecturer asked.
"That it is harder to proove something exists than it is to disprove it." Jade said.
"Give an example then."
"The belief in a God, or a Goddess." Jade replied
"And do you believe they exist?"
"Yes. But sometimes that is their existence is not important, the faith is."
"Interesting point Miss Thornhill. We may even discuss it next lecture, for now however we have run out of time. In the meantime I want you to write up an essay on whether or not you believe in God, or Goddess and justify why. See you next Tuesday."

"So you believe in the God and Goddess."
"You're not the only Pagan you know." Jade replied smiling.
"What's this." Kat asked joining in the conversation as she and Marc meet Jade and Darryl in the hallway.
"Just a discussion about the existence of Gods and Goddesses."
"What an interesting topic" Kat commented.
"Indeed. We have to write an essay on whether we believe in a God or Goddess and why." Darryl commented.
"Would love to see what you write." Kat commented.
"Sounds like your lecture was far more interesting than ours today." Marc commented.
"Tell us about it over lunch." Darryl said leading the way to the cafe. "What's to tell?" Kat replied, dodging a boy with a stack of books. "Philosophy is meant to be interesting, studying ideas, not stupid old Socrates."
"Socrates can be interesting."
"If you can discuss it, yes... But not when it's just a lecture."
Kat flopped into her chair with a sigh.
"Can I get you anything?" Marc offered.
"No thanks, I'm fine."
"Jade?"
"We brought lunch, thank you."
Marc and Darryl headed to the counter, and Kat sat up.
"So, how many words is this essay?"
"One thousand."
"I have the perfect response for you then."
"What's that?"
Kat spread her arms wide.
"Me!"
"You?"
"A picture is worth a thousand words!"
Jade groaned, and pulled out some food.
"What's that?"
"Lunch. We need to eat."
Kat picked up an apple and nibbled at it.
"Getting anywhere with Darryl?"
"He thinks. I told him we're pagan. Well, that I am. We'll see where it goes. What about you?"
"Not really. I think I should just sleep with him and then we'll see."
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why not? Do you know how long it's been since I slept with a mortal?"
"Not long enough."
"Zeus gets away with it."
"No, he doesn't," Jade grinned.
Kat chuckled.
"True."
"What are you giggling at?" Darryl asked, putting his lunch on the table.
"Oh, nothing," Jade smiled. "Just Greek Mythology, and hen-pecked husbands."
"I see."