The Five Demigods Who Saved Olympus | Book 1, 2, & 3

θ′

Noelle hated the plane ride. She was unable to get sleep during it, despite resting her head on Heath's surprisingly comfortable shoulder. She reached her hand behind her neck and messaged it, working any kinks out of her neck, before standing up to walk out of the plane. The group got a rental car and drove to the nearest hotel for them to stay the night.

"Where exactly are we?" Zander asked, looking outside his window at all of the sparkling Christmas lights. He looked at the buildings, lit yellow on the inside and the people shopping in the stores. He looked at couples passing by in the streets, holding hands. Love filled the air, and he wasn't sure if it was just because it was Christmas.

"Paris, city of love." Amara said in a sing-song voice with a French accent.

"Paris, you say?" Zander asked, smirking afterward. He couldn't wait to get out of the car and talk to all of the girls in the city.

"Oh, just look at all of the lights! They're beautiful." Amara said, fawning over the scenery. Noelle mentally agreed with her. Heath chuckled in his seat, reading Noelle's mind. She shot Heath an annoyed look for evading what she thought was private before this journey but now knew she couldn't hide a thing that went through her mind. The moment they parked, Amara practically jumped out of the car and into the street. She twirled around, taking the sight in. Heath and Noelle watched from afar. Heath smiled at the sight of seeing Amara so happy, while Noelle watched with interest. Wondering how she found any of this to be beautiful. To Noelle, it was just lights. Perhaps it was because it was nearing Christmas time and made Amara joyful. Or because they were in Paris and love practically was in the breeze of the cold night. Noelle would never know. Noelle tore her eyes away to look around for the group. Donovan was standing with them, but Zander wasn't anywhere to be found.

I need to speak with everyone.

Noelle thought, trying to find Zander.

"Amara, come." Heath said. For once, Noelle didn't mind that Heath read her mind. In fact, she actually turned to him and smiled at him as a 'thank you'. He wasn't expecting it. It caught him off guard. But, it made his heart swell.

"Okay, now where's Zander?" Noelle asked.

"He was here just a minute ago." Donovan said, looking around. Heath turned when he heard the sound of multiple women giggling. He spotted a swarm of women surrounding Zander. Some touching his chest, others touching his arms.

"Found him." Heath said, pointing towards Zander. Everyone turned to see where Heath was pointing. Noelle sighed.

"Why am I not surprised?" Noelle asked no one specifically. Donovan walked over to Zander and grabbed hold of his arm. All of the girls pouted and Zander whined as he was being dragged away from all of the girls. Zander tried to turn back, but Donovan's grip on his arm was too strong.

"Come one, man." Donovan groaned.

"Wha- but, hot French girls!" Zander exclaimed.

"Hot French girls will still be here once we're done. You can try to talk to them then." Donovan said, knowing Zander doesn't know the slightest bit of French. They all gathered around and waited for Noelle to speak.

"Alright, we can't stay here long. We don't know when Cronus will get here. I will go to the travel to the coast and feel the water to determine when he'll get here, for now-" Noelle started, but was cut off by Zander.

"Wait, you can do that?" Zander asked in amazement. Noelle nodded in response.

"Wow, what else can you do with water?" Zander asked.

"Now's not the time Zan-" Noelle said, but was cut off again, only this time it was by Donovan.

"I'll tell you what she can't do." Donovan said, glaring at Noelle. Donovan didn't have to continue what he was saying. Noelle knew. She stood in silence, not wanting to start something with him. She didn't have it in her. She was exhausted. Not only mentally, but physically. Heath placed his hand on the small of her back, standing close to her so nobody would see his act of affection. Noelle allowed it, which he really didn't think she would. Zander turned to Donovan, wondering why he was being so cold. It was so unlike him. He thought back to what happened in Nova Scotia. Donovan had never been the kind of person to lay a hand on anyone.

"You guys will stay here, while I go to the coast." Noelle said, pulling her wallet out of her jacket pocket.

"Go get a hotel room, and I'll be back in a few." Noelle said, making an attempt to walk away, but an arm stopped her. She turned and spotted Heath. He had a worried look in his eyes.

"Don't you think one of us should go with you? You know.. in case he is out there." Zander said.

"I'll be fine." Noelle said, trying to walk away again, but Heath's grip around her wrist stopped her once more. She winced in pain, holding it up to her chest. It was the wrist Donovan had hurt earlier. Heath normally wouldn't try to show affection for her in front of others, knowing she wouldn't like it. But, he couldn't help it at this moment. He walked closer to her, taking her wrist away from her chest. He examined it and looked up to her with a soft gaze.

"I'm sorry." Heath said quietly, barely audible.

"It's okay." Noelle responded in the same voice as him.

"Really, it didn't hurt much." Noelle said. She wasn't sure why she was being calm and different around him right now. It could've been that she was tired and didn't have the energy to keep her walls up. Or perhaps after spending all of this time together, she was slowly allowing herself to let them down.

"Noelle, it really isn't safe. At least let one of us come with you." Amara said, appearing from behind Heath's tall slender figure.

"Alright. Whose coming with?" Noelle asked. Zander backed away, wanting no part in coming. In all honesty, he just wanted to get back to those French girls. Donovan backed away as well. While he didn't dislike Noelle, though he made it seem like he did at times, he just didn't want to be bored the way there, considering Noelle wouldn't make any attempt to talk to him. Amara however was willing, but she figured Heath would like to. And she was right. Heath did.

"I'll go." Heath said, loud enough for the rest of the group to hear.

"K, let's go then." Noelle said, about to head to the car, but something stopped her. The wind picked up, and the cold chilly air brought bumps to her covered skin. She rubbed her arms in an attempt to keep warmth. She felt a strange feeling in her chest that she hadn't felt in a while. Her mind seemed to disconnect. She was no longer focused on heading to the coast like she had planned. Her feet pulled her in a different direction, away from the car.

"Noelle? Where are you going?" Amara asked.

"I'll be back." Noelle answered quickly without thinking. Heath had thought about stopping her, but his mind disconnected as well. He managed to contact her through his mind to let her know what was happening since she probably hadn't felt this way in a while.

Part of you wanted to feel him

Heath said in his head, unsure if Noelle heard him or not. But, she did. She wondered for a moment what he meant, but the thought left her mind. She walked behind a small café, lit with Christmas lights. When she rounded the corner and made it to the back of the building, she spotted a man standing there. He stood with his back to her. She noticed the colors of the world seemed to change. Everything seemed to have been in a lighter color. Almost heaven-like. She reached her hand out to the man to get his attention, but her hand went through her. She pulled it away when the man turned to her. She wondered for a moment how he felt that she was here with him, considering her hand went through him as if she were a ghost. But, the thought left her mind once she saw the man's face. She almost didn't recognize him. It had been so long since she had seen his face. But then she looked into his cerulean blue eyes. She stood with her face stone cold. The man held his head up to her and parted his thin lips to say,

"Hello, my daughter."