The Sword Of Tiberius

Chapter 31

I Let Go

| Juliette | 

What happened after felt like a fever dream. Our victory hadn't caused a celebration. So many roman demigods were dead. And, yes, they were on that evil guy's side, but they were still fellow demigods. Their blood coated the floor and we all stared at it for a while. Then we remembered August, who still lay injured on the floor. We were just about to heal her when demigods burst in.

They were both camp-half-blood and Camp Jupiter demigods. Apparently, we had caused enough chaos here for them to come and retrieve us. They all led us outside and fixed the mess inside. Thank goodness we didn't. I couldn't stand that scent of blood any longer. Adrian had an arm around me the whole time. His hand gave a sense of comfort nothing else could give me right now. For a while nothing seemed clear enough. The other demigods had taken August away since Adrian couldn't do anything. He had lost too much of his energy in the battle. But August was alive and that was all that mattered.

At last, we all found an inn. The helper demigods handled it all since we ( I ) could barely move toenail. The sun was setting by the time I was in my room. The scene replayed in my head, of the evil moron and Luna. She had attacked him with such force and then looked at me with such protectiveness, I almost screamed. Why would she do that? Do I now owe her something? With all those thoughts running in my head and conflicting feelings clashing one another, I tried to go to sleep.

The morning arose with a fresh feeling. Although I still smelt the blood under my nose, I felt better than I had yesterday. I sat on my bed and stared into space for a while. 

Then I remembered my mother. It was a surprise that I hadn't thought of her at all this time. Right, she was here. I had to find her, hadn't I? Or...was it just some kind of job I had forced myself to do? I shook my head. She was my mother. I had to find her. Just then, a knock sounded on the door. I knew who it was before even opening the door. He stalked inside the room and stood across from me. Suddenly he reached out and put his arms around me. Tightly. I returned the gesture. We both had really needed that.

" I'm glad you're okay." Adrain mumbled, still hugging me.

" Me too," I muttered back. He held me tighter. Then he pulled away for a fraction.

" Can I kiss you?" He breathed. Gods, he smelt good. In the morning, not that he didn't ever smell good in the morning. But right now, with him so close, I could smell his leafy pine tree smell. It was hard to describe but easy to get addicted to.

I looked at him with my eyes, showing him exactly what I wanted. His lips touched mine and they moved together as if they were fit like that. My arms curled around his hair and his shoulders. He kissed me as if I was the only thing that was there in the world. As if without me, there was nothing. And honestly, I felt the same. Passion rushed through me as I kissed him harder. My hair fell apart all around us but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered, as long as he was here.

●●●

We had told Luna the truth. The real reason I had agreed to help her and this quest. I wanted to tell her how much her words had meant to me, my friends are not just my friends. They are my family. She had defended me with all her might. But I just couldn't get the words out. And now, I was telling her that helping and bonding with them wasn't out of goodness but a reason. I could feel her sadness but then she smiled a bright smile.

" You have an hour and a half," she had told me. " Go find your mother." And that's exactly what I did.

We walked around London, a map in our hands. Adrian had suggested checking the location again. However, I was sure that she lived where I marked her. It was the result of trying to confirm it too much. Finally, we reached the house. It was an average house you find here. With a garden in the front and back and gates that we had to push open. I took a deep breath as we approached the door. Take deep breaths. We practised this before. It's alright. My mind swarmed with thoughts. I tried to push them all away. I focused on the house. It was a nice house. Maybe.... my mother was happy here. She had a life. And I knew it was good. Would me entering hers... change something? I took another deep breath and raised my hand to knock. Adrian squeezed my other hand, letting me know without a word that he was always there for me. And my hand stopped. The wood on the door was a hair breath away from my hand. I took another deep breath.

' Don't you ever try threatening me with my friends '

' My friends are not just my friends. They are my family. '

' And if you or anyone else in this world tries threatening me with them, you will regret it instantly'

I retrieved my hand. It hung on my side. I realized, after a lifetime, finally, that there was no point to this. A mother who abandoned me wasn't my family. Adrian was. Luna was. Cia and August were. Even to some extent, Tristen was. I squeezed my eyes shut and then turned back from the house. I felt Adians hands on my shoulders as he guided me out. When I opened my eyes and looked at Adrian, he smiled a soft smile. I smiled back.

I let go.

The oracle was right. '

You will find something in you that you never knew you had the courage to do'

I did. And I felt truly good at last. I grinned and walked hand in hand with Adrain. 

Towards my family. 

The real one. 

THE END