annais min had everything to prove and no time to do it. as one of the five children of the underworld destined to lead the seven on their journey of death and destruction, annais had the fate of the universe resting on her shoulders, holding her do...
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CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: SOMETIMES
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"SO... WHAT EXACTLY ARE we looking for?"
It was safe to say Annais and Hazel weren't off to a great start. For a while, they wandered around in pensive silence, their eyes straining to make out shapes in the strips of darkness. Deep down in the Earth with the only way out far behind (above) them, Annais couldn't help but feel on edge. They had walked into the belly of Gaea herself. It was a wonder she hadn't sent something to attack them already. Annais braced for it at every turn. That something would jump out and use their short-sightedness to its advantage.
Just when the silence was beginning to stretch, Hazel answered.
"I don't know," she admitted. "Some kind of door is what's most logical."
Annais pursed her lips but said nothing. Some kind of door. Well, that narrowed it down.
"Do you think Frank and Leo have killed each other yet?"
Hazel chuckled. "Probably. I'm surprised they haven't come down here already. It's been a while now."
"That's what happens when you have a protective boyfriend," Annais acknowledged, the smallest of smirks forming on her face even though Hazel couldn't see it. "Frank's nice, looks at you like a lovesick puppy most of the time, but nice."
"Well, I'm glad to hear he has your approval," Hazel scoffed, though there was no bite to her words. "What about Jason? That boy worships the ground you walk on most of the time."
"Most of the time," Annais echoed with the hollow sound of a laugh.
But in her head, she couldn't prevent a frown.
You love him, the thought came before she could stop it. For a second, she thought about telling Hazel, asking her what the fuck am I mean to do with this? Annais Min had never been in love with anyone; sometimes, she barely even loved herself. It had snuck up on her, and at the worst time too.
Annais Min wanted to cut love out of her heart and feed it to the monsters that chased them. She didn't want it. Everything was so much better before when she couldn't get hurt. When she cared, but not to the point where her whole world would stop turning if Jason Grace was to die tomorrow.
"Hazel--"
The daughter of Pluto had frozen suddenly, Annais falling silent as she slammed into her back and stumbled. "Hazel?"
