YOUNGER

Chapter 7

First Person: Helena

Oh dear child, why have you run again?

The last thing I remembered was fleeing into the forest and tripping over a tree root. Now I was in Thanatos' embrace, sobbing.

"I don't know, Father." I continue sobbing into my father's chest.

I- I'm so sorry, young one.

I sniff, raising my arm to wipe my eyes. "But, why? You didn't do anything."

I caused all of this.

"No, you didn't."

Helena. My father's mouth is unmoving.

"How do you..."

"Communicate without talking? I'm a a bit of a, what do mortals call it these days? Ah yes, a drama queen."

I giggle. "Seriously, how do you do it?"

Thanatos' eyebrow flutter the same way I can get mine to. Like father like daughter, huh? "A little, gift, from my brother Hypnos. As the god of dreams, he can manipulate dreamscapes to do his bidding. He decided to let me enter minds for some reason. Still don't know why."

I feel the side of my mouth twitch. "Wait, so I could've been in the Hypnos Cabin instead of Hades the whole time?"

Thanatos shrugs. "It seemed nicer to put you with the son of Hades. He's gone through similar things to you — more than you'd think, just not enough."

"What do you mean? We're both kids of gods associated with death and have been to Tartarus."

"You've seen the same horrors as him, been there alone. You were there for longer, but the daughter of Athena and son of Poseidon will never understand the suffering you both went through. Nico was able to get help, though. Dionysus knows it's different for you."

"What do you-"

Daughter, I must leave you now. I'm sorry.

"But-"

Goodbye, young one.

My dreamscape darkens, filling me with a sense of claustrophobia before I loose consciousness.

•••

A warm bright light filters through my eyelids, filling my body with a cozy happiness. I shift to the side in my half-conscious state.

"Helena?"

Warm fingertips brushed over my forehead. I opened my eyes, wincing at the bright light.

Once my eyes adjust, I see Will Solace leaning over me. There are still stars above the trees. The clearing is filled with a bright glow coming from the son of Apollo. I giggle.

"You're like the sun." I close my eyes, rocking back and forth as I laugh.

"And you're delirious. Let's get you back to the infirmary."

I pout. "But it's comfy here."

The tall blond shook his head, threading his arms around my shoulders and under my knees before lifting me off the ground. I try to stop him by grabbing at the dirt. "Noooooo!" I wail weakly.

Will says something, but I'm already unconscious.

•••

I feel the light filtering onto my face again. My eyes flutter open before I clench them again, trying to shift onto my side. Instead, I groan in pain.

A cold hand brushes against my forehead. "Hey, Lena, are you okay?"

"Yeah," I reply automatically, opening my eyes to see Hazel and Nico sitting on either side of the hospital-grade bed that I'm lying on. "What hap-" I stifle a scream as I feel pain shooting through my arm as I shift my weight onto my hand, trying to help myself sit up.

Hazel shoots a worried glance between me and Nico before walking out of the room. My brother helps me to sit up, watching with a pained expression each time I clench my teeth in pain.

"Will found you passed out just over the tree line."

"Just over the tree line? Shoot."

Nico sends me a warning glare. "You broke your arm, sprained your ankle and fractured your knee. You're almost healed, just very bruised."

Hazel walks back into the infirmary, trailing behind a tired son of Apollo. He shakes his head before walking over with a clipboard and a broad smile. "How's my star patient?"

Nico glances around the room. "Your only patient?"

"Oh shush." His smile seems faker by the moment.

"Have you been looking after my sister all night? Will, when was the last time you slept?"

Will looks down at his clipboard. "I had a nap just then."

Nico stands up, grabbing the clipboard out of his boyfriend's hands. "You need to sleep mister."

"No, I need to help Helena."

"Get to sleep," Nico, Hazel and I chorus, convincing the boy to let Nico drag him out of the infirmary.

Hazel takes Nico's chair and grabs my hand. Something on my palm seems to catch her eye before she looks at me, worry flooding her eyes. "Lena, what's this, on your hand?"

"Nothing." I clench my hand into a fist on my chest.

Hazel takes my hand back, gently massaging it open. "These look like burn scars. Helena..."

I start to reply before seeing the worry mixed into her golden eyes. A tear falls down my cheek.

My sister wraps her arms around me as I sob, whispering into my ear. It takes a while for my sobs to subside.

"There, there, do you feel better now?" Hazel traces circles on my shoulder.

I shake my head. "N-no." My voice sounds hoarse. "Crying never helps."

I burrow my head into Hazel's shoulder, clenching my eyes closed as I calm my breathing. The sound of footsteps comes from behind me. Another person joins our huddle.

"Lena, do you remember anything from Tartarus?" The person asks, revealing himself as my brother.

"I... yeah, but I can't... say..."

Nico furrows his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

I unconsciously snore in reply.

•••

Third Person

Hazel stifles a giggle at her sister's snore. The daughter of Pluto gently lays her back onto the bed, tucking her under the blanket.

The siblings sit on either side of Helena's bed again, the room growing silent.

"Poor thing." The demigods jump in their chairs to see Mr D watching them solemnly. "She really is cursed."

"What do you mean?" Nico stands, protective of his 'adopted' sister.

Mr D sighs. "Nico, I was able to help you after that other demigod, John Green-"

"Jason Grace."

"That's what I said! I could help you after his, unfortunate demise, however this young one..." Mr D shakes his head, tutting. "Until recently, we expected she'd have to deal with it all by herself. None of my power could help her."

Nico crosses his arms over his chest. "What do you mean, 'until recently'?"

The god looks between the two children of his uncle Hades. "You're both quite intelligent. If you can't figure it out, you have that Annie Bell-"

"Annabeth."

"That's what I said. You have her to help you. Maybe the girl could help you herself." He gestures towards the sleeping daughter of Thanatos.

Mr D walks away from the trio. "I must leave now. I believe I have helped a little much, but I couldn't resist. I've always had a soft spot for those in my domain."