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

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"Damn it, Heath! Your dog is going to bite my arm off!" Zander exclaimed as he tried to take a honey-cake, away from Cerberus, who already had too many. Heath playfully rolled his eyes at Zander, bringing a small smile to his face. He looked around at the table as he wrestled for the honey cake. He felt content as he saw all of the familiar people whom he loved. He sat to the left of Donovan and Ares who couldn't stop staring at each other with love in their eyes. To his right sat Heath who listened intently to a story Noelle was telling him and Amara. And Amara snuck honey cakes under the table for Cerberus to eat, not caring if Hades told them once again that he was cut off. Zander felt like everything was right in the world. It had been a few months since they saved Olympus once more. And Zander felt as he did when he and Noelle were away for two years, except much happier. Heath also felt content in this moment. It was the best party he attended in all of his time in Olympus, perhaps because Noelle was here now. Donovan was glowing practically. Everything was perfect for him at this moment. The only person missing from the table was Hermes, who was off-watching Helios. Amara was satisfied. She had always wanted the group to share moments like this together. Due to Noelle's inability to get close, they never were. Amara's eyes landed on Noelle, feeling proud of how far she had come. Noelle turned to her, having read her mind. Amara only shook her head at her for doing so, making Noelle laugh. Amara then pressed a kiss to her temple and rested her head on her close friend's shoulder.

"Just think, one day it'll be one of you two." Donovan said before taking a sip of his water. Ares sat there amused as Amara scrunched her nose once more. She definitely wasn't interested in marriage and she knew she and Zander couldn't be together, no matter how much the two longed to be. Zander had hopes of being married one day, but now it didn't seem likely. He definitely didn't think he would spend the rest of his life with Amara, but he also couldn't picture him loving anybody quite like her. Noelle wasn't against the thought of marriage and neither was Heath. But, the two knew it'd be a long time before either would want to tie the knot.

"The water in all of the oceans would well up before Poseidon even thinks about giving his blessing." Amara said, wanting to get the focus off of her and Zander.

"Aw, let daddy whine! The two kids are in love." Zander teased. Zander could then feel the glare of another, practically burning through his skull. He turned only slightly to see Poseidon sitting at a table with his siblings. His hand was around a glass, and Zander could tell by the veins popping in his hand that he was close to shattering it. Zander quickly turned back to see Noelle knowingly staring at him. One side of her mouth began to curl up, making Zander slouch down into his chair. He'd never admit it, but he was a little scared of Poseidon. But, that'd never stop him from teasing.

"Do you guys really think I'll always be on his bad side?" Heath asked, slight irritation lacing his voice. Noelle turned and looked up at him, her hand caressing his under the table, and soon giving it a light squeeze. Heath looked down at her, watching as her bangs fell around her face from moving. He wondered for a moment how her hair had grown so quickly in the past few months. He remembered how she looked after seeing her for the first time in two years. Her hair had been just below her shoulders. It now reached her mid back, and her bangs were much longer now. He thoughtlessly went to brush back a few strands, seeing as he couldn't see her eyes that well. He uncovered them to see the brown ones he had grown so fond of looking into. Her head tilted only slightly.

What?

Noelle thought as her lips formed a soft smile. Heath only shook his head as he thought about how much he loved the woman in front of him. Her smile only got wider as she read his mind. He then noticed the red in her eyes appearing. Persephone had made her a tonic to reduce the appearance and the symptoms of it. Noelle didn't want her father to be concerned about whatever it was, so she asked for a temporary remedy of some sort. And though Poseidon wasn't around, the group also didn't know of the effects of the pomegranate or that she had any at all. Heath discretely motioned to her eyes, hoping Noelle would get what he was trying to make her aware of. She frowned but seemed to realize after a moment. Noelle stood up from her chair, quietly excusing herself.

"I wasn't aware Poseidon had any good sides." Amara joked as Noelle walked away from the table. She left the garden the reception was being held in and exited through a maze of hedges. She could feel a headache coming on. She knew no one was trying to get in contact with her due to the colors around her looking the same. She knew it had to be the pomegranate. She groaned quietly as she finally reached a bathroom. The moment she walked in she found herself leaning over a sink. She looked up to see the red becoming more apparent in her eyes. Though her mind felt like her own, she knew she was moments away from showing symptoms. She reached into her dress pocket and pulled out the small, thin bottle. Her fingers shook uncontrollably as she went to unscrew the lid. She then brought it up to her lips and took only a small sip. She continued to lean on the sink as she felt her headache reduce. A sob broke from her throat, making her clasp her heart. She didn't want to cry, she was sick of crying over her situation. But, she felt helpless. She and Heath spent many nights in one of Hades' many libraries trying to find out what exactly was happening to her, but couldn't find anything. Persephone tried helping as well due to her guilt of not only persuading Noelle to take it but also for not telling her what it could do. Persephone's period of insanity was brief. It wasn't anything like what Noelle had going on. And there was nothing to compare it to because she and Noelle were the only ones to have ever eaten the cursed pomegranate. Noelle quickly realized over time that the red eyes between her and Heath and her emotions being heightened weren't the only changes she was having. Some days, Noelle didn't feel like herself. Like she wasn't in control of her actions or emotions. She'd wake from her sleep drenched in sweat and fearing something that wasn't real. Somedays spent with Heath, she felt like herself and thought that was the solution. To always be at his side. But, today and many times before had proven to her just how wrong she was. Noelle felt hands gently gripping her hips. She violently flinched before looking up into the mirror to find Heath behind her. Her head slightly turned to the back corner of the bathroom, thinking she saw someone standing there. With the blink of an eye, whatever she thought she saw was gone. Her eyes then landed on herself in the mirror. She hadn't realized she had been crying so much. Her mascara had been smudged and her eyes now looked puffy. She didn't understand why she had flinched so much. Heath had taken notice of it but didn't say anything due to her easing once she realized it was him. He rested his head on her shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her middle, hugging himself to her. He pressed a light kiss to the back of her shoulder. She felt his mouth 'I'm sorry' with his lips still pressed to her skin. Heath couldn't imagine what it felt like for her. He had hoped the two would be connected just like Hades and Persephone. That Noelle's period of insanity would be brief like Persephone's and that soon the both could feel like they were one. But, instead of his hope coming true, his fear had. Noelle seemed sick, which was impossible considering Mother Gaia's promise. He didn't know how else to describe it.

"I'm so tired, Heath." Noelle whispered, half hoping he didn't hear her. She didn't want to sound like she was giving up, because she wasn't. But, she definitely felt like it.

"I know, baby. I know." Heath said as he removed his arms and went to message her shoulders.

"If I could take all of it away and bear it myself, I would." Heath said as Noelle turned to face him. Noelle nodded, knowing he meant it. Not only because he loves her, but because he says it practically every day now. Heath lifted her chin up to look at her. There was no redness in her eyes anymore. All that remained was sadness, tears, and hopelessness. He felt his heart aching in his chest as he looked down into her watery eyes.

"Hey, we'll find a way. We'll search through every book in Olympus if we have to." Heath said. Noelle gave him a fake smile, blinking away the tears in her eyes as she nodded her head. Heath could read through her. He brought his hands up to her cheeks, keeping her head from moving. Heath leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers, looking into her eyes. Noelle's worries seemed to wash away when Heath said,

"I'll find a way."