Edgar tried.

Gods know he tried. What he had in mind, of course, was not a dimly-lit alleyway five hundred metres from St. Pancras' Station. He planned for his mother's house in Crawford St.

London had a special way to annoy him. One he was almost sure he could blame his forefathers for. According to old provisions in the London Charter - the one made by William the Conqueror- no one beyond the nobility or members of the livery companies, can appear at will inside London or the surrounding area.

For everyone who lived in the modern era, this almost meant no one could appear there. Since the charter was around eight hundred years old, not many could argue against it. Those who knew enough legalese, didn't dare to take the fight against Parliament.

"I have no idea where we are", Alice pointed out, looking around. "At least we're back in London."

"Back in London, at night, no money, and we're a bit lost."

"I see St. Pancras, so, we're not that lost." She pointed to the silhouette of the station in the distance.

"No, that just means we're in the middle of the most dangerous city in the Empire."

"Never been to Hong Kong, have you?"

"No, and neither have you", Edgar pointed, while looking outside the alley to see if someone else was around.

"Not yet, but I read a lot. Mostly autobiographies."

They walked, looking around. The saw no one, not even police. As much as it annoys Alice to wander in the crowded city, she couldn't but feel threatened when the buzzing sound was replaced by silence. Unnerving silence, with only the sparkling sound coming from the gas lamps and their own steps on the cobblestone.

The more she thought of it, better she felt with finding no one around them. After all, they still had mushroom and blood stains from Wonderland. Finding either of them in that state would be a sure way of ending in Bedlam or something worse.

Round the corner and always looking, they reached the well-lit entrance of Edgar's home. No one at the entrance, and no one came when he called for his mother. The clock on the mantelpiece at the room next to the entrance marked a little past two in the morning. He explained they required no servants, as the house kept itself clean and ready for everything.

"Then again, my mother certainly should be here." He looked at the room, and noticed a badly folded note on the couch. "Ah, she went out again."

He read the note, and the little colour he had on his face vanished.

"They called for…they called for an emergency meeting", he said, stammering.

"Who?"

"Them, with capital 'T'!"

"Oh, you don't think…"

"Why else would they call for a meeting in the middle of the night."

"Calm down, we know nothing. Where's the meeting?"

"The only place where a hundred gods can be, and not burst into flames."

"Alright, this is perfect. Let's go."

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!?" Edgar exploded. His hand shook while turning the note into a crumpled ball of paper. "AND SAY WHAT!? Oh, hi, yes, I lost the cup in a magical world of nightmares, and now needs restoring before working again!?"

"Need to remind you I just beheaded someone for screaming at me?" Alice said, calmly. "Now, I'm fully aware of how stupid that would be. When I said 'let's go' I didn't mean to go to St. Paul's, I meant going to the restorer to fix this thing!"

"Oh, right. Sorry. But I don't think we can get a carriage here at this hour."

"You really think all the gods are at St. Paul's"

She snapped her fingers, and her clothes and hair became pristine again. So did Edgar's. Not a speck of mushroom or blood. Alice walked out the door, breathed the cold night air.

And whistled.

One note. One simple, high, long note which flew around the city and reached who she needed to reach. She needed a god, but, since Hermes must've gone to sit with the other Olympians, she lacked options. Needed someone fast, smart, who couldn't lose.

And she appeared in front of her.

"Cousin Alice, shouldn't you be in Wales?"

"I should, but I have more pressing matters. Come in, please." Alice turned back into the house and encountered Edgar in the entrance. "Cousin Nicky can help."

Cousin Nicky, as Alice fondly called her, was a tall and muscular woman with a square jaw and steel eyes. She carried herself in the manner of the gods, and looked so similar to Athena, that Edgar had to stare at her to make sure she wasn't. People who work together and share blood have the unfortunate path of sharing looks and mannerisms. Of course she would look like the goddess of wisdom. After all, her protégé had trained under her for the last five thousand years.

"I can, but not sure why should I. Why do I have the feeling this is all your fault?" Nicky said, looking at Alice, who felt small at her gaze. "The cup?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she answered, feigning innocence.

"Oh, then it must be a coincidence that Olympus called for a roll call the same night you made your escape from the most secure house in Britain. And if I were to check the pockets of your dress, I won't find Hebe's cup. Right?"

"Have you heard of plausible deniability? I won't confirm nor deny any involvement on the issue." She paused. "Can you help me get somewhere?"

"I can, but tell me why I shouldn't interrupt the roll call and mention you have it? Sorry, may have it? Not much leverage here, and Zeus is quite angry with the whole issue."

"Yes, but Zeus is not precisely a pillar of levelled demeanour. You are going to help me, because it will serve your purpose in...34 years."

"You are jesting, right?" Nicky laughed, and the fire in the fireplace grew menacingly.

"I am not. Coming from the future and knowing a bit of my own history helps. In 1904 you'll have to come to either my father or me for help avoiding a shitshow."

"I'll rather...", she began, but Alice finished the phrase for her.

"Eat your own hand than to ask for my father's help. I know. So, you'll come to me, to help you take your name and reputation out of a particularly dense situation."

"If you are lying..." The goddess' eyes narrowed, while the flames in the fireplace grew higher.

"Never."

"For now, I'll help. But I don't want to know anything about this afterwards."

"Deal".

Nicky walked back outside and made an open carriage appear in the middle of the street. Then, she vanished. Maybe to attend the meeting. Maybe to rat them out. But Alice doubted that was on her mind. The goddess will come to her, for help, and she'll help. She promised.

"What'll happen in 1904?" Edgar asked, while getting in the carriage.

"Oh, she'll coordinate for the Olympic Games to move to America and almost'll kill the runners of the marathon."

"I understood half the words you said…nevermind."

Flying through the streets on board a carriage blessed by the goddess of victory, they made short trip to the Willoughby Hotel.

Mr. Willoughby had died in the interregnum, but his son, Mister Allan Willoughby now managed the place with the same calm demeanour his father had. Made no attempt at inquiring about the hour, or why an unmarried and unpresented lady wanted to go to a room with a member of the gentry. He barely pointed at the stairs, before asking them to keep quiet, for the other resident's sake. An attack to an old lady by a pack of Londoner werewolves late the night before, had left them a bit rattled.

A tired Mrs. Bennett opened the door of room 308. Her frizzled auburn hair tied in a colourful scarf, matching her robes and slippers.

"Have you got any idea what time it is?"

"Quarter to three. Mrs. Bennet, is urgent." Edgar spoke, since Alice almost tried to barrel her way into the room.

"Must be. Come in."

They explained everything to her, and her eyes widened with every word. She almost fainted when she saw the cup.

"I...I can't, this is too much. Maybe Sir Murad, at the museum can help." Her voice cracked, while looking at Edgar.

"We can't go there. This needs to be fixed without fuss and without anyone else knowing about it."

"I can clean the fungus, but I need materials to fix that gash." She pointed at a crack, hidden by some of the mushrooms. "And, as far as I know, no place in England has it. Well, no, that was nonsense."

"What is it?" Alice asked, while looking out the window. She could see light coming from St. Paul's. "Glue, wood, gold?"

"Clay. To restore that, you'll need a special type of clay which can seal it but wouldn't make it lose its proprieties."

"And I'm guessing this cannot be found in a shop."

"No, not at all. As far as I can remember, the only known place is in mount Olympus in Greece. The others are rumours, like the caves of the kings in the mountains."

Alice walked to her, her expression turned from annoyance to a frown of thinking. Rumours, most of them rubbish, but she knew the kings in the mountains ones were almost universally true.

"If we can get some of it, how soon can you began fixing it?" Alice finally asked.

"Three, four days. It's not difficult, but the materials..."

"Don't worry about the materials, I'll get them. Have a good night, and I'll see you next Sunday."

Alice walked outside, and down the hallway before being caught by Edgar, who, again, seemed confused.

"Are we going to Greece?"

"No, of course not. Too suspicious."

"Then, how are you planning to get that magical clay?"

"I've been invited to a place which has one of such caves."

"Where?"

"Buckingham Palace!"