Found Light in the Shadow (Solangelo)

Chapter Ten

Nico

Hypnos must have been out to torture me tonight.  I know that Will had set our alarm for 5a.m., but it was 4:30 when I woke up.  I tried to go back to sleep, however, it wasn't working today.  Still pressed against my husband's back, I laid there and held him tight against me until it was time to get up.  I didn't want to have to go through with this trip, but I knew that our new home would be doomed if we didn't try.  My baby and I had come so far over the past two years, just the thought of anything happening to him was enough to make me sick.  I was so warm snuggled up against my baby's backside, I dreaded the thought of the alarm going off.

When the alarm started to go off, Will reached to the nightstand and hit the snooze button.  Usually, it was me that wasn't a morning person.  It was kind of funny seeing Will grouchy when he woke up.  I tightened my grip around his firm chest and started to lightly kiss the back of his neck.

"Morning darkness, what's got into you this morning?"

"I've been up for a while, just laying here enjoying the feel of your body against me."

Will started stroking the hairs on my arm.  "Yea, I like it when you hold me.  It's too bad that we don't sleep like this more often."

"I'll have to put that on my 'to-do list' for when this whole ordeal is finally over."

Will started to stretch out, pushing his body further into me.  At that point, I knew that if we didn't get up soon that the pressing situation between us would make us late.

"Babe, we need to get up and get ready.  If we stay here too much longer, 'Little Nico' is going to make us late."

"I know; I can feel him pressing into my backside.  We'll take care of that in the shower."

Will rolled over and gave me a kiss before we got out of bed.  While we were in the shower, both of us took care of each other's needs.  We got out of the shower and dried each other off.  Each of us put on the clothes that we set aside for the quest.

Before leaving our apartment, Will gave me a hug.  "Angel, I just want you to know, I will always love you regardless of what happens."

"I love you too sunshine.  Just promise me that we'll look out for each other."

"I promise darkness."

We left the apartment and made the journey back across the city.  Luckily, the corner café that Reyna frequented was open for breakfast.  We stopped and grabbed a few sandwiches to eat along the way.  We finished our breakfast right before we reached the Pomerian line.

Reyna was waiting for us when we got there.  She already had our weapons ready for us.  Reyna handed me my sword and Will his bow and quiver.  We had all of our stuff packed into Will's pack, so Reyna also gave me a pack with food and water to carry.

"Are the two of you ready to go," Reyna asked?

"I think that we're as ready as we're going to get."

"I agree completely.  Well then, off we go."

Reyna and Will each held one of my hands.  I focused on my father's palace as we disappeared into the shadows.

...

When we reappeared, we were in my father's throne room.  I was a little tired, but between Reyna and Will, I wasn't as bad off as I would have been without them.  Hades was sitting on his skull throne in front of us.  Reyna immediately got down on one knee while Will and I ran to Hades and gave him a hug.

"Lord Plu.., ah, Lord Hades we apologize for the intrusion."

"It's OK Daughter of Bellona, I was expecting you.  You may rise, a friend of my boy's is a friend of mine."

Reyna stood, "thank you Lord Hades."

Hades strengthened his grip around us.  "My son and son-in-law, it's so good seeing both of you again.  I'm surprised that it took you this long to come and see me."

"That was my fault Lord Hades," Reyna responded.  "I had to make sure that the camp was making the proper preparations for the attack."

"That was probably prudent Praetor.  We are still not sure exactly how much of an army Hyperion has raised, however, we are positive that it will be a force to be reckoned with."

The look of hope seemed too start to disappear from Reyna's face.

"Dad, is there any word of Bob's whereabouts?"

"Nico, Lord Zeus has forbidden our involvement with this battle.  However, I think that I will be fine telling you where he isn't.  Bob has not returned to the Underworld or the mortal world."

"Well that pretty much narrows it down to one place then."

"You are all welcome to stay here until you are ready to continue on.  I'm afraid that I won't be able to assist you any more than that though."

"Thank you father for everything that you have done.  I can't tell you how much we appreciate it."  I gave Hades another hug and he left the throne room.

Will took my hand and we walked back over to Reyna.  "Well," he said, "we might as well have an early lunch before to make the plunge.  It's hard to say when we'll get to eat again."

Each of us had a sandwich and a piece of fruit.  Will and Reyna both seemed really down.  I tried to think of something to say that would cheer them up, but I couldn't think of anything positive to say.  So, the three of us just ate in silence, each lost in our own thoughts.  I wasn't sure what the others were thinking about, but I couldn't stop thinking about something happening to my husband.  I finished eating before the others, so I sat on the floor in front of my father's throne spinning my wedding ring on my finger.  I haven't done this since I used to spin my skull ring that my finger had long since outgrown.

I had almost forgot that I was still spinning my ring until Will reached over and put his hand on mine.  "Angel, everything is going to be fine.  We'll be in and out before you know it."

"I know baby; I wasn't worried about me.  I was more worried about you two."

This time it was Reyna that reached over and put her hand on mine.  "Nico, neither of us would be able to pull off a stunt like this without you.  Besides, it will take all three of our powers for this to succeed."

"I am so glad that I have both of you in my life."

I hugged Will and Reyna at the same time.  If the three of us were going to the depths of Tartarus, I couldn't be in better company.  We cleaned up the stuff from our lunch and left the throne room.  Walking the path from the palace to the pit was pretty un-eventful.  Will and Reyna seemed fine until we reached the entrance to the cave.  I don't think that either of them were expecting another cave in the cavern on the Underworld.  Will was walking on one side of me with Reyna on the other, each holding one of my hands.  Their grip on my hands tightened as we entered the cave.  The three of us headed down the ramp in complete silence.  I knew that my sunshine was completely terrified, but I was having trouble reading Reyna.  She didn't usually wear her emotions on her sleeve.  However, if I had to guess, I'd say that she wasn't taking it too well either.  When we reached the bottom of the ramp, the three of us slowly approached the edge of the pit.

"Well, this is our last chance to change our minds."

After a little hesitation, Will leaned over and kissed me.  He looked at Reyna and she gave him a smile and a nod.  "We have to do this Nico; the fate of New Rome depends on it."

"I just want you to know babe, no matter what happens I will always love you."

"I love you too angel."

We made sure that our packs were strapped on tight.  Then I took Will's and Reyna's hands once again, making sure that our grips were tight.  The three of us stood at the edge of the pit, staring into the darkness below.

"On three... one, two, three."

We all jumped at the same time and fell into oblivion.