What Lies Beyond

Part 7

Chapter 7

I awoke in Aidonus's arms. He was looking at me with his stormy concern.

"Thalia, my love, are you alright?"

"Yes, Aidonus, I'm alright."
"How did you do that? Bring Persephone back?"

"I traveled past her eyes and saw into her purgatory. I was able to have a conversation. I willed her to come back."

"You are a wonder."

He leaned down and kissed me deeply. When we broke apart, I began seeing stars and passed out again. I must have been out for a long time. When I awoke, there was Aidonus sleeping right next to me in a bed in Hades' palace. I tried to sit up and struggled. Aidonus stirred and woke up.

"My love, what are you doing?"

"I'm testing my strength, darling. Don't worry."

"Let me help you..."

He jumped up to my aid and held my hands as I tried to stand. I was able to.

"Where are Persephone and Hades?"

"Seeing their children. It's been 600 years since they've seen their mother. And a few hundred since they've seen Hades. He kind of shut himself in after Persephone was laid dormant. Even seeing his own children caused him pain."

"How terrible for all of them."

"It was. Their children are fully grown now."

In a flash, I started having visions. Terrible ones of screaming, and of the world catching fire. In the center was Aidonus holding my lifeless body as it faded to light, almost sparkly dust. Eryx loomed over him, taunting him, as he brought forth the tides. Aidonus was swept away. I could not see where he went.

I began screaming and shaking. My eyes burned. I shut them trying to quench the pain. Aidonus called for help. He held me. I couldn't get the searing pain to go away. I sat there as he rocked me, eyes shut, willing the pain to subside. It did after what felt like hours. I looked at Aidonus. He was terrified. I've never seen him terrified before. Not in any life.

"Thalia? What happened?"

"I had a vision..."
"What did you see?

"The world ending..."

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Aidonus rushed, carrying me to see Hades. I could not stand again. Once we were there, Hades asked me to show him what I had seen. It was too painful to talk about. I gave Hades my hand and showed him the vision just like I had shown Aidonus our first life together. He was silent for a long time as he was transported into the vision. His eyes glazed over. We waited patiently for him to come back into consciousness. It took awhile. When he eventually did, he looked stunned, like he'd seen a ghost.

"Thalia, that was just wow. I can't even explain what I just saw. I can't imagine what you must have felt at that moment."

"It was just intense, searing pain. Like nothing I've ever felt before."

"I felt only one tenth of that. You are far stronger than we could have imagined. We must set up a council with the Fates again. This time... my brothers need to be there."

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I was sitting with Aidonus in our room. I was trying to absorb, process all that had just happened.