Daughter Of Light- Book 1: PJO

Chapter 29: Lost in Ikea

Jenna collapsed the shrapnel sticking out of her chest and I watched horrified as the life left her angry bitter eyes.

I heard the ragged deep breathing of someone else, and I tipped my head and saw Raph stood over us, his face twisted in furry and rage.

"Oh no." Will whispered. He scrambled backwards slightly.

"Raph...?" I whispered, slowly pushing myself onto my elbows. He slowly turned his face towards me. I tried not to flinch. I didn't see Raph in his eyes, I saw fire and anger, I saw the wild battle lust.

"Raph... it's me..."

He stared at me hard. The sword in his hand passing back and forth. Like he couldn't quite make up his mind if he wanted to run me through or not. I took him hesitating as a good thing. I slowly sat up and got toy feet. My legs shook and my head was dizzy.

"Nora! Not good! Stop! He needs to calm down!"

"It's fine Will."

I held my hands out towards him, showing I had no weapon.

"Hey, Raph. Breath, you hot head. Relax."

I saw his eyes flicked. He blinked. I smiled at him. I could see him fighting to come back.

"It's me. It's Nora."

"...Sunshine..." He whispered.

"Ya.." I nodded, that made my head spin and I stumbled. Raph dropped his sword and threw his arms out to catch me.

"Always falling for me, hey Sunshine?" He said weakly, but I knew he was back. I closed me eyes and sighed.

"Always there to catch me, hey Hot Head."

"I'm sorry Nora! I'm sorry!" He choked. I blinked my eyes open. His dark eyes looked scared and lost, and watery.

"Why?" I breathed. I just wanted to sleep. I was so tired.

"I went I to that...I lost myself to the fight! I. Sorry!" He held me tighter.

I wrapped my sore and exhausted arms around his shoulders and hugged him tighter.

"You did what you had to."

"Jenna was really going to kill me!" I heard another watery voice whisper. "I...I didn't know how deep the bitterness actually went!"

I opened an arm, and waved Will over, he crawled over and I wrappedy arm around him too. The three of us stayed huddled together in that hug for a while. Until Raph cleared his throat and pulled away.

"Come on let's get out of here."

We made it to the elevator and up to the show room floor again. We stepped out into the chaos, this time no one seemed to see us. Or they ignored us better this time around.

"Where do we go?"

"Need to find the Labyrinth entrance."

"Let's go back to where we came in. Start there."

We did our best to find our way back. But Ikea was just as confusing with its twists and turns and short cuts as the Labyrinth was. 

"I need the bathroom." I whinned. Giving up on trying to find the mark.

"You gotta pee? Really?" Will rolled his eyes.

"I'd also like to wash your blood off thank you, and all my own blood and monster dust..."

"Fine. Come on." Raph grumbled. "But keep an eye out for anything suspicious-"

"Or the mark of Daedalus."