Stardust tears (Zagreus x Hypnos)• Hades

Chapter 9 | breaking point

Cw: throwing up.

Hypnos woke up, feeling a shortness of breath. Just as he'd managed to get some sleep, he was awake again. This time it wasn't like before, he could hardly breathe.

The effects of Aphrodites magic had finally worn off, and he still hadn't made any decisions. He felt the worst he'd ever felt in his life. Worse than the time he lost his wing.

He sat up, trying to breathe better. The sudden movement only struck him with a wave of nausea and he felt the petals start to clog up his throat. He scrambled off the bed, needing fresh cold air in his lungs. Managing time make it to the mouth of his cave, he took a breath trying to ease his throat. But it didn't work, he just began to cough and gag harder than before. He fell to his knees, blood starting to drip from his mouth. He coughed hard, feeling like throwing up.

It all finally came up, and he hacked up a massive heap of poppy petals soaked in blood. He just couldn't stop it, with every breath he took he only threw up more. He struggled to breathe, his eyes welled up with tears and his vision was getting blurry. He felt adrenaline pump though his veins, panic setting in.

Was this is? Was this how he died?

With one final, throat tearing cough he spat up an entire poppy, stem and leaves still attached.

There must be a whole bush in his lungs by now.

He wheezed, catching his breath and hyperventilating at the terrifying experience. He sobbed down at the pool of blood and poppies, more scared than he'd ever been in his life. That was... so much. There were so many... and that came out of him? He felt the feathers on his wing puff up with the anxiety, like a cats fur sticking up when it was scared.

Mum... he wanted his mum.

Struggling for get up, he opted to float and carry himself back to the house where she would be. He knew a shorter way to get all the way back there that only he and his family could take, even though he really shouldn't he up and moving. He was just so scared to be alone and in so much pain. After a while of dizzily floating through the underworld, stopping a few times to cough, he finally made it and found his mother at her usual post.

"Mama..." he said, voice quivering.

Nyx immediately perked up, turned to face her son and was horrified to see the state he was in. He was deathly pale, had blood all over his lips, eyes puffy and full of tears. Only wearing a nightgown and his mask and hunched over in pain.

"Hypnos!" She said, rushing over and pulling him into her arms "child what's wrong? You shouldn't have come all the way here, you should have sent for me"

Hypnos sniffled, burying his face in her chest.

"Mama I'm scared... I don't have much time left" Hypnos sobbed.

Nyx put her hands on his cheeks, looking down at him sick with fear and worry.

"Have the effects of Aphrodite worn off?" She asked.

He nodded, she could really see it's effects. Each breath he took sounded like he had to force the air in.

"Baby you need to make a choice..." Nyx said.

He'd thought long and hard, but now he was standing at deaths door and the fear was really setting in, he was desperate to try anything. He was going to risk it, and tell Zagreus.

"I'll... tell him" Hypnos said.

"Good! Yes that's wonderful! I'm sure he'll understand" Nyx replied, relived he finally made a decision.

Hypnos tried to smile and speak again, but a sudden coughing fit came over him and he hunched over in pain. Nyx immediately became frantic, watching as blood covered petals fell from his mouth.

"Oh my- Hypnos just stay with me ok? I'll call for Thanatos and he can collect Zagreus" she assured.

Hypnos fell weak, struggling to breathe and he fell to the ground. Nyx managed to catch him before he could hit the floor, bringing him into her lap. The shades in the halls had all stopped to watch in terror at this point, the first time any of them had ever seen Hanahaki in person.

"Baby, my child stay with me" Nyx said, frantic.

Hypnos forced in deep breaths, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth.

Nyx looked around, for someone who could contact Thanatos quickly. She ducked her head in the lounge, seeing Megera sitting alone with a drink and some parchment to read.

"MEGERA!" She called out.

Upon hearing Nyx's voice in a very unusual frantic tone, she dropped everything and rushed into the hall. When she saw the scene, she froze in shock. Hypnos barely alive, blood all over his mouth and petals all over the floor. His mother holding him in her arms threatening to cry.

"Holy sh-" Meg said.

She didn't even know Hypnos HAD Hanahaki until now, but clearly it'd been long enough it'd gotten bad.

"Get Thanatos to kill Zagreus and bring him back here FAST!" Nyx ordered.

"I'll be as fast as I can, put him in Zagreus' bed!" Megera replied, turning on her heels to run off and find Thanatos.

Nyx picked up her son, bringing him into Zagreus' chambers nearby and setting him in the bed. She held his hand tightly as Hypnos began to fade in and out of conciseness.

"Just hang on my baby... just hang on. Mamas here, you'll be ok" Nyx assured.

Hypnos looked up at her teary eyed and weak, hyperventilating and blurring in and out of vision.

"Mama..." he managed to get out.

"What's wrong darling?" Nyx replied, giving his hand a squeeze.

"I'm scared. If I don't make it know that I love you forever..."

"No, no don't say that. You'll make it, Zagreus will be here soon"

Hypnos gave her a weak smile, terrified but comforted by his mother sitting right beside him.

"I love you mama... I love you"