Out of Nowhere

Chapter 23

I sit on a blue couch in a white room, door directly in front of me. It opens revealing a stunning lady in a modern pink dress. That causes me to look down at my outfit to see a simple, white ancient Greek dress.

"Oh, my dear," the lady sighs. She comes foreword and kisses me on both cheeks. She sits down next to me. "I had such great plans for you and Nico. It's a shame," she looks at me sadly.

"Who are you?" I ask.

"Why, I'm Aphrodite of course. It's a wonder you didn't recognize me. I snuck a slight blessing on you when you were born, that's the rebel in me. Then you were in the favor of three gods. You are so beautiful. Sadly, I don't think Nico will accept anyone else. You were the love of his life, Amelia. I'm so sorry to say that Nico may take his own life because you are gone," she explains and stands to leave.

I jump up, "No! Surely I'm not dead! I can't be! This isn't even how you get into the underworld!"

Aphrodite gives me a sad look, then leaves.

I collapse back onto the couch and a single tear escapes. Oh, Nico. I didn't want to cause this.

Then a man walks into the room. He wears a blue Hawaiian shirt, tan shorts, and brown sandals. His hair is wind blown as if he a had been on the beach and his eyes are a shade right between Percy's and mine. I know that it is Poseidon.

"Amelia," he says sadly. I don't know whether to be mad at him, or glad to see him.

"I'm so sorry you never met me. I wanted to keep you safe by leaving you in a normal family, but it failed. I'm sure you hate me and you have every right to. I deprived you of the life you deserved," he says, remaining in the doorway. I decide to forgive him. He did it all to keep me safe and happy. I slowly stand up and hug him.
He sighs, "Thank you, Amelia."

I take a deep breath of his salty sea scent, "Just call me Ames, Dad."

He gives me one last smile before leaving.

I sit back down on the couch, sitting up straight and holding back the emotions. Am I really dead?

The answer to my question walks through the door. It's the exceptionally handsome god of death, Thanatos. He reminds me of Nico causing an unwanted well of emotion to swell up inside of me.

"I really am dead, aren't I? You're here to take me away, just like in the myths. You're the death bringer disguised as a handsome man. Aphrodite was right, Nico will kill himself. You might not even let him see me in the underworld," I sob without tears.

"Don't jump to conclusions, Amelia. Hades claims that you did indeed change his mind. Nico already thinks you are dead and Hades sees the anguish his son is in. I have been given permission to give you a choice. You can continue to the underworld, I'm sure you have earned Elysium. Or you cam continue to live in the world of the living, but it will not be easy, even now trials await you. What is your choice?" He asks.

Elysium does sound much easier, but I need to go back, for Nico, for Percy, for my parents. "I will go back to the world of the living," I decide.

"Very well, good luck." The scene fades to darkness.

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Everything hurts. I feel like I can't move, and I pretty much can't. I force my eyes open producing a groan.

"Ames?" Comes a questioning whisper.

"Yeah," I respond quietly.

"YOU'RE ALIVE! AMES IS ALIVE!" Percy yells, pulling me into a painful hug. A guy, I recall his name is Will, rushes into the room.

"How!?" He stands in bewilderment.

I sit up in the bed, "What? Why do you think I was dead?"

They stare at me for a second, then Percy answers, "Your heart stopped for two minutes."

I gasp, "Where's Nico?"

"The second Will told us your heart stopped he left," Percy replies.

I start trying to get out of bed. "No, Ames, have some ambrosia and wait for a minute." He hands me a square of godly food that tasted like a real hamburger. I sigh, praying to every god not to let Nico kill himself before I can get there.

"The cuts on you stomachs healed easily, but the wound on your face had been cursed to stay open with the poison the spike held. It took a long time to get the poison out, we even had to cut away additional flesh. We ended up having to use the mortal way of stiches," Will informs me.

I bring my fingers up to touch the corner of my lip where the stitches start. I follow it up to my ear where they finally end, but there is a slice in my outer ear, also from the spike. I guess they couldn't fix that either.

"You'll probably have a scar there, Ames," says Percy.

I nod, "That's ok. Can I please go see Nico?"

"Yeah, I guess," answers Will.

"How long was I out and how long has it been since my heart stopped?" I ask.

"You were unconscious for two days and it has been exactly ten minutes," answers Percy.

That means the vote is tonight. I get out of the bed and leave the big house. I walk along the tree line so I don't draw any attention. I just want to see Nico.

I finally make it to the cabins. I lean on the door frame of the Hades cabin door and knock gently. There is no response. I knock again, this time Nico does answer, "Go away, you can't do anything for me!" I sigh, but knock one more time. There are footsteps of someone walking to the door, then it swings open.

There is Nico, shirtless and pale as ever. His shoulder is red as if he slammed it into something and there are newly forming bruises on his hands.

"I SAID-" he starts, but then it registers who it is. He stands there in shock before reaching out and touching my good cheek, "You're- You're not a ghost?"

I shake my head and hug him. We walk further into the cabin and close the door. He picks me up and carries me to the couch. He sits down with me in his lap and we finally kiss. We kiss as if our lives depend on it, and they almost did.

"I thought you were gone. I felt you die," Nico whispers.

"I did die. My heart stopped for two minutes. Thanatos said that Hades changed his mind and gave me the choice to live," I notice that my voice sounds a little different because of my injury.

"I'm so, so glad he did," confesses Nico.

The whole time we talk his lips never leave my skin. He brushes kisses all over my face and neck as if to assure himself that I'm alive. When he presses kisses along my stiches, I can't believe anyone could ever be scared of him. He finally brings his mouth back to mine and I sigh.

"I love you Ghost King," I tell him.

"I love you more Miss Sea Queen," he responds.

"I am never leaving you again, Nico," I whisper.

"Ames, I'm never going to let you leave," he replies.

With that wonderful promise I fall asleep.