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

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Noelle sighed as she turned back from the direction she last saw Heath in the forest. She hoped that they'd be able to visit from time to time, but knew that it wasn't likely due to Zeus. When Persephone had entered her mind, she explained that it was possible for her to continue to be in the mind realm. If she chose not to, her existence would remain dark. In Noelle's eyes, this was really the only option. She began walking through the forest, letting her feet decide where she'd go. She heard the sound of footsteps, making her turn around to see if one of them returned to see her. None of them wanted to leave when they visited her, Noelle had to force each of them out. Part of her hoped it was one of them, just so she could see somebody's face one last time. Perhaps her father gave her a sucky goodbye, though she can't say she blames him. She thinks she too would've been a mess if she were saying goodbye to her father for the last time. When she turned, she found nobody. She frowned, wondering why she had heard the sound. She heard it once more, making her turn back in the direction she was headed to find two men standing in suits in front of her. One of which she recognized and knew somewhat from the time she spent in the Underworld.

"Thanatos, what are you doing here?" Noelle asked. She hadn't figured someone like him would want to say goodbye to her. Thanatos was nothing but friendly to her when she was conscious, but the two didn't converse usually. If they passed by each other in the hallways of Hades palace, Thanatos would greet her with a smile and nothing more. She appreciated seeing it.

"I came to see you, Phelia." Thanatos said. Noelle shook her head and smiled.

"No need for the formalities, Thanatos. Also, who's your friend?" Noelle asked. Thanatos didn't answer her. He stepped forward, approaching her. He looked down at her, a look of determination in her eyes. Noelle stared up at him confused, wondering what his intentions here were.

"Phelia." Thanatos repeated himself. After a moment, Noelle's eyes widened as her memories from her subconscious flooded into her mind. She backed away, almost stumbling as she did.

"Shh, my dear. You haven't got a thing to fear." Thanatos cooed.

"What do you mean I haven't got anything to fear?! You torture me in my dreams at night! How the hell haven't I got anything to fear?!" Noelle exclaimed.

"We came here with different intentions, child. We want to offer you a chance to be reunited with your cousins and your lover. We however need your help in order to obtain that." Hypnos said.

"No chance! I'm not helping you with whatever sick, twisted thing you're trying to get me to do!" Noelle replied. Hypnos groaned.

"Melinoe was right, why are we trying to bribe her when we can just make her?!" Hypnos shouted at his brother who paid no mind to him, only stared down at Noelle.

"Melinoe? What is your connection with Melinoe?" Noelle asked, concern lacing her voice.

"We convinced her to make her believe that you've gone mad. That the pomegranate did something more and that you're losing your sanity." Hypnos confessed.

"It is, isn't it?" Noelle asked.

"No, there's nothing wrong with your head at all. The pomegranate worked perfectly fine. You have shown no signs like Persephone did when she first had her pomegranate. These mad outbreaks you've been having are your subconscious leaking through with the help of Hypnos' power. We have gained complete control over it." Thanatos said. Noelle stared at him for a moment before pushing him backward. Thanatos didn't react. Hypnos however laughed.

"You've just made the biggest mistake of your life, child." Hypnos said. And with that, Thanatos stepped forward wrapped a hand around her throat, and lifted her up off of the ground. She kicked her feet around, hitting him in the chest a few times. She managed to push herself back, making his grip loosen and her fall to the ground.

"I'm not in the sleep realm anymore, which means my subconscious isn't entirely present. I am not afraid like I was all of the other times you met with me, and I can lay my hands on you if I please." Noelle said lowly, staring the two of them down.

"That may be so, but Thanatos and I can come and go as we please, which means we do not have to stay to endure it. Luckily, for us, we won't have to meet this way again. The next time we meet with you will be when we break into your father's palace, awaken you from the sleeping spell, and bring your subconscious forward to carry out our plan." Hypnos responded, joining his brother at his side now. Noelle huffed, laughing afterward. Hypnos quirked a brow at Thanatos, noticing that her subconscious was peeking through.

"And what exactly is your plan?" Noelle finally asked.

"We're taking down the ones in charge. And it all starts with you. Zeus is already against you. Soon enough the damage you will cause with us controlling your subconscious, you'll turn everybody against you. Even your precious Heath will turn, knowing that he cannot trust you anymore. The remainder of your cousins will try to take you down again. But, as your friends learned, they can't. None of them can." Hypnos said, his thick accent coming through as he spoke.

"Why can't they?" Noelle asked.

"Because, my darling, you are the most powerful demigod in all of the Cosmos. The Gods and Goddesses in our world cannot lay a hand on you due to your immunity. Only your friends can attempt to take you down, but they will fail as they did before. You not only have the power of one God but the power of two." Thanatos said. Noelle eyed him. She felt her ability to take her enemies down faltering, but she didn't show it. Not one bit.

"You forget. I'm not the only one with the power of two Gods. Heath does too. We're connected. He has the ability to take me down also." Noelle reminded him, her voice wavering as she spoke. Her subconscious was peeking through even more, and it showed. Hypnos snickered.

"But, he won't." Hypnos replied smoothly.

"And why is that?" Noelle asked.

"Because your lover wouldn't dare lay a hand on you. Zeus had to send him away because he knew that he couldn't get the job done, to take you down when it matters most." Thanatos said. Noelle stood there processed what he had said and realized it was true. She knew deep down, that Heath could not do what he'd need to do to defeat her because he loved her so.

"Cronus, Aphrodite, and her followers tried to bring Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades to their knees. They failed because they did not have the proper necessities to do so." Hypnos said.

"But, we do. Because, my darling Phelia, we have you." Thanatos said, the mention of her name bringing her subconscious out more. She backed away, trembling as Thanatos slowly approached her. Hypnos held his hand out, his control on her mind keeping her from moving back any further. Thanatos stepped in front of her, watching her tremble beneath him. He ran the back of his index finger along her cheek.

"When you wake in your body, you will not fear me as you are now. You will be submissive and do exactly as I say. If you defy me or fail to complete any task handed to you, I will use your fear against you." Thanatos said. Noelle's eyes began to water as he stared at her intensely. He soon backed away, appearing at Hypnos's side who had a smirk plastered on his face. The two exited the realm, leaving Noelle alone with her thoughts. She knew that there was no way of reaching the group, no way of warning any of them. She then found herself looking down at the ground beneath her, realizing that there was perhaps one way. She looked around, trying to find some way to break the ground. She then held her hand out, unsure if the method would work. After a moment, Poseidon's trident came to her hand, the force shaking the ground. She then took the trident, and readied it in the air before piercing it into the ground. She watched as the ground cracked revealing a rich color of red. She reached her hand out, coating the red in her hands while she sat on her knees. The skies began to darken and the wind began to pick up.

"Mother Gaia! I need you! Hear me now! I know despite you being in another realm, you can feel me. I am covered in your blood, calling you to me! Hear me now!" Noelle repeated. After a moment, the skies lightened, yellow rays of sunshine peeking through the clouds. Noelle looked around the sky, finding it clearing up. And soon, she felt a hand cupping her cheek, making her turn around. Mother Gaia knelt before her, a kind smile on her face as she said,

"I am here."