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

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Noelle stood perfectly still in her spot, staring at Heath. Heath frowned, wondering why it hadn't worked. After a moment, Noelle's eyes rolled to the back of her head and she fell down onto the floor. Hypnos huffed at Heath's solution as he was now kicked out of the mind realm and back with Thanatos. He gave his brother an annoyed and knowing look that told him all he needed to know. Back at Mount Olympus, Heath caught sight of everybody else on the floor, coughing up water, looking defeated. He quickly ran over to Noelle and knelt beside her, placing her head in his lap.

"I'm never- getting on Noelle's bad side- ever again!" Zander panted, taking a breath between a few words.

"Are you guys alright?" Heath asked, concern lacing his voice. Amara shook her head tiredly as she stood from the ground. Zander wrapped her arm around his shoulder for her to stand up better. Donovan was across the room, healing Persephone's leg.

"She beat us. She is capable of beating all of us." Donovan said in disbelief. Heath looked down at Noelle, running his finger across her cheek. He wished that he could search through her mind, try to find her behind all of that madness. He figured he probably could and that they would soon. Heath wondered if she was scared. If she didn't know what was going on outside her head. He shook his head, placing his forehead down on hers and shutting his eyes. As he did, he could see a memory of Noelle's. One he believed the girl he loved beneath all of the madness tried showing him. He could hear everything Melinoe told her on the night of Donovan and Ares' wedding. He could see what Thanatos and Hypnos tried to convince everyone. That the pomegranate was making her lose herself.

"You should've never eaten that pomegranate, Noelle. I should've just let you go, let you return to the real world, and suffer without you. My selfishness has caused you to suffer, to lose yourself." Heath said quietly, his voice breaking as he said it. He sat caressing her cheek and soon let out a shaky breath.

"I'm so sorry." Heath said as a tear slipped from his eye.

"Is there a cure?" Amara asked. Heath didn't respond as the other Olympians soon surrounded them.

"Is it treatable, Heath?" Amara asked once more, desperation in her voice becoming clear. Heath didn't answer once more, but for once, his mind was open to all and not just Noelle. They found the answer Heath couldn't bring himself to say. The silence however would've provided them their answer. Zander, Amara, and Donovan lowered their heads at the news. Amara let out a sob, resting her head on the chest of Zander. She heaved as Zander rubbed his hand up and down her back comfortingly.

"Her mind will continue to deteriorate, until she loses herself completely. When the time comes, we'll need to be ready." Heath said.

"Ready? Ready to do what?" Zander asked cluelessly. Poseidon turned away, exiting the throne room, not being able to hear what he knew Heath would say.

"To put her to sleep, for good." Heath said. Amara's cries got louder hearing the sentence leave Heath's mouth. Zander picked her up and carried her bridal style out of the room and to her quarters to cry more privately. Athena for once didn't say anything about the affection he displayed with her daughter. She understood that right now, she needed it. She and a few others soon exited the room. Hestia couldn't bear to see Noelle, so she left too.

"She'll be awake soon and she'll be herself. We can explain it to her then." Heath said.

"Son, you know she can hear you. Perhaps now you can say your goodbyes, that way she won't have to suffer. She can go out before it gets too difficult." Hades said, his hand resting on his shoulder. Heath wanted to, he didn't like the idea of the woman he loved suffering, but he also wanted to hear her voice again.

"It's not the same. I want to see her, alive and well. I want to hear her voice." Heath said, his voice breaking ever so slightly, realizing how selfish he was being again.