Nico lit the ceremonial torch and was just about to toss it unto the pyre when a voice gasping for breath cried out.
"Stop!" Leo heaved, hand on his side gasping for air from running full speed up the hill.
"Leo?" I whispered. It couldn't be. Could it? Apparently Nico was going through the same thought process as me because he dropped the torch immediately, inches away from the awaiting shroud. I suppose it's best that I explain why it's not good to burn someone's shroud while they are still living. A shroud burning is a marker that the deceased has fully departed from this world and thus Hades can take his or her wandering soul to the underworld. If the person is still living when their shroud is burned Hades still can take their soul, leaving a virtual zombie in its place. And obviously Leo wasn't a zombie.
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Once Again
FanfictionA continuance of the heroes of Olympus books. I started this before The Trials of Apollo (haven read it yet so no spoilers) or the Magnus Case chronicles came out so some details may be off. All characters are property of Uncle Rick, unless otherwis...
