Hades' Chosen Prince

23. A Final Goodbye

I didn't budge an inch as I held Jesse's cold dead body in my arms, not even the cold night would affect me more than seeing him die in my grasp. It didn't took much for satyrs to come looking for us, a group of them spotted us, one rushed back to camp as the rest tried to check on Jesse and me "HE'S GONE LEAVE US ALONE!" I screamed making them back up slightly, but one spoke up "if he's gone, then there's nothing you can do. Let us take you both to camp and give a proper burial" I tried glaring at that satyr, but my eyes were swollen from all the crying I did last night "I said.....LEAVE US ALONE!" as soon as I said those words a pillar of black flames rose around Jesse and I.

The tree behind us didn't burn down, I guess it's because I didn't want it to, but if someone else tried to touch the flames, they would get burned obviously. I could hear the satyrs whimpering from the burns or them talking with others, soon there was more voices, asking what had happened or who was inside.

I know some tried opening the flames or putting them out, because the pillar grew in size and the only thing they did was make it much more harsh and wild, but moments later everyone went quiet as a hand easily went through the flames, soon the person walked through; it was Jasmine, her winged Cerberus mark was glowing on her neck, she kneeled down in front of me and sighed "so this is why they sent a search party for a Hades and Dionysus kid... never thought this would happen" I nodded slightly and held Jesse closer to me. Jasmine placed a her hand on mine "Brian... would he want you to stay here just waste your life?"

I looked at her and shook my head no "would he want you to move on and be happy?" I sighed and nodded "then... you have to let him go..." I took glances of Jesse and Jasmine before getting up.

As I got up the flames died down.I saw a large group of campers around us in dead silence, I walked slowly towards camp with Jasmine at my side; the group of campers moved to make way for us. Once back at camp there was a small shrine made of grape vines and purple flowers, over it was the mark of Dionysus, with the god of wine himself standing next to it. I didn't even bat eye at him, all I did was lay Jesse's body on the shrine and kiss his forehead, making Dionysus glare at me.

I looked at him showing no emotions "your son went through a lot, I know you saw this go down, yet you didn't do anything to help him, some father you are. But it was me who made him happy, unlike you who stays inside your own little pathetic world of yours sulking about not being able to drink at all" Everyone was staring at me in shock, even Dionysus and Chiron did, I turned away from him to look at the crowd.

"Yeah I know everyone has his or her own tragic stories but Jesse... he opened up to me yesterday, believe me, his story isn't one for weak hearts... But I won't tell his story, he trusted me; so I'll honor him by not revealing it. All I'll say is that he went through a world of trauma from those who dared call themselves his family and friends... when he came to camp I was there for him... we were in a relationship before that chimera killed him.... that is all" There were gasps and mumbles between campers before falling in a deep silence.

I just looked at Jesse... I couldn't burn him, but i also couldn't burry him. That's when Jasmine held my shoulder "that was beautiful Brian... some of his siblings will bury him...if you'd like" I sighed and shook my head "he was my boyfriend... I have to...." she nodded and gave me some space.

I sighed and placed a hand on the shrine "as a son of Hades, I ask for this gentle and kind soul to find peace at the fields of Elysium" with those words the ground beneath the shrine opened, but instead of falling down it just slowly and softly hovered down, as the ground was closing I saw a smiling Jesse; that would be the last time I'd see his smile.

With no word, I advanced forward making my way to the lake as everyone else paid tribute to the fallen camper. Once there I sat at its edge and hugged my knees. I blamed myself for his death, I kept repeating the word "stupid" over and over again to myself. I was about to break down into more tears, but felt a hand on my shoulder "I should stop holding your shoulder" said Jasmine before hugging me tightly from my back

"so... you're bi?" I smiled slightly and held her hands "I guess....you have a problem with that?" I asked.

She shook her head "it aint my business which way you go, I'm your friend. I'll be with you through thick and thin," I nodded slowly. She smiled, "but, why didn't you told me before?" she asked turning her head to look at me, I turned slightly and smiled "because he asked to keep it a secret" Jasmine rolled her eyes and playfully smacked my head "oh ha ha, you shouldn't keep secrets from your best friend" "yeah yeah I know".

Meanwhile in the underworld, Jesse was being escorted to the fields of Elysium as the wise men came to the conclusion that he'd done nothing as evil to be sent to the fields of punishment. At Hades' palace, the God of the underworld himself has been watching every moment in a sphere, he was smirking as he replayed the scene which got Jesse killed, soon the Chimera came into view and Hades smiled wickedly "ah there's my favorite monster, I told you to kill my brat, but killing his little boyfriend is much more... joyful to watch, so good job" the chimera nodded and disappeared from view as the sphere changed from Brian's location's to a bunch of different kid's from every age, but something was similar in all of them "now which one of these shall survive the little test I have planned" Hades said with an eerie grin painted on his pale face