Zaharas POV
I mumbled under my breath following Carmen out of the infirmary, the kid following on my heels like some little lost puppy dog. The walk led us into the woods and ten minutes later we appeared in a big garden.
"Shhh... " Nico says looking at me sternly. I roll my eyes and look for Carmen, who was sat on the other side of the garden.
"Just....Shut up." Carmen sighs holding her hands out to Nico. Nico pulls out a Stygian Iron sword I've never seen before and hold it out. The kid wanders around touching things and makes the occasional noise when a plant bites him.
"You only have one chance at this, Carmen." Nico says sternly. My eyes snap up at the sword.
"I know." Carmen says solemnly. I frown and speak up.
"One chance for what? Carmen what are you doing?" Concern covers my face.
"You'll see." Nico sighs as Carmen takes off her gloves.
"Nico. Carmen. Stop. You knows what happens when someone touches the blade of a Stygian Iron sword.."
"Yes, I do know." He says "But we have to try." Carmen nods solemnly at Nico's words.and tosses the apple at me. The apple soared through the air and hit me straight in the face.
"OW! What was that for? That hurt!" I complain rubbing my forehead.
"You're just soooo smart..." Carmen says clapping slowly. "Aren't you?"
I roll my eyes and retort back, "Well you threw an apple at my F-ing face." I pick up the apple at gesture with it. "Can I eat this?".
"No." She chuckles back, walking over to me and plucking the apple from my hands. It's poisonous to you."
"Dang it!... I'm hungry." I complain, mock clenching my stomach from fake hunger pains.
"Well..." She muses. "It's not my fault you demigods can't eat the same as me."
"Demigods?" I stutter looking at her curiously. "If I'm one of....'Them' then.. what are you?"
"She ain't normal. Carmen's special." Zahara walks in confidently a sword hilt extruding from the holder strapped to her waist. "I a 'Normal' child of the lord of the dead can't even eat it. She's Immortal."
"Yeah." Carmen says. "You're not human. Your Dad/Mom was a God/Goddess...yada yada..." She sighs and takes a bite out of the apple.
"What do you mean my dad's a God?" i ask standing up when a wave of lightheadedness comes over me causing me to sit back down.
"Probably child of....Hermes..." Carmen says looking straight at Zahara.
"Mabey..." Zahara says smoothly.
"Whatever." I stopped trying to engage in conversation and messed with the ring Zahara had thrown at me earlier. It was pretty for a ring... black vines etched into the cold iron. My head snapped up when Carmen cleared her throat, pulling herself to her feet.
"Welp. Now if you excuse me...I have to go and Meet with Uncle Nico." She began to walk towards the door when Zahara spoke up.
"Yeah. Go talk to my... Brother." Zahara growled staring at the other girl. I could feel the hostility
"Try? What do you guys mean?"
"You know the power of it has. It has to be contained." Nico sighs.
"But what if she can't?!" I scream at them tears jumping into my eyes,stinging them.
Nico looks over at me finally. "Then your hero will have a quest."
"A quest. No! Carmen, don't!" I say panicked, my voice cracking.
Carmen looks away from Nico "I . . . I have to try."
She looks back at Nico and the glowing increases as she reaches out her hands.
"Stop! Don't do it! I can't lose my only friend . . . even though you annoy me all the time!" I scream at the top of my lungs.
"Zahara, please." Nico says with no fear in his voice.
"I . . . can't . . ." I make a pained face turning around and walking over to the kid. I sit down next to him and stare at Nico and Carmen. "Be careful." I mutter a few times, closing my eyes. Carmen starts to glow as the swords darkness deepens, sucking out the warm air and only leaving cold. I feel the kid shiver next to me and I smile painfully watching my only friend risk her life for no apparent reason.
"You can do it!" Nico says along with other encouraging words. Carmen nods and mumbles a few words in Ancient Greek. The glow becomes almost unbearable. With a gasp Carmen changes and with a bloodcurdling scream, she disappears.
Carmen's POV
My head swims as I pull myself to my elbows. "Nico? Z-zahara? Where am I?" My words come out soft and whispery. "Dang it.. What happened...." I look around and gasp slightly. "No. No. No. No... not here.." I had landed myself someplace I never wanted to go until I had to. A trip that signified the end of my life. I looked over the line of people, the EZ Death line moving somewhat fast compared to the judgement line which was moving as a sloth's pace. I look around and I see a taller guy, taller than anyone here and slightly resembling Zahara.
"Welcome!" A cold, cruel voice comes from the man. "Your living.....how did that happen?" He laughs and the ground beneath me quivers I stare at him.
."Who- you... your Zahara's father! Hades, Lord of the dead. Why am I here? I don't have any purpose here!" My eyes watch his as he walks forward, his looming form slowly shrinking to the height of a normal man.
"I could ask you the same question." He laughs and the ground quivers once more and the dirt cracks slightly. "You know Zahara?"
"Do you want something from her?" My voice asks accusingly, at the god. 'Think Carmen.' my inward monologue resumes. Do you want to get yourself killed... even though you're somewhat immortal.
"Yes, very much so. Has she told you? She should be joining me any day now. I, interfering with her and that pesky poseidon kid. I mean.. 'helping her' see her senses." He laughs and the ground shakes some more.
"Senses... how does this apply to me? Why am I here? Last I remember I was with Nico..." I watch his eye twitch slightly at the mention of his son.
"I haven't the faintest idea why you are here... but... I don't allow trespassers in my kingdom and." He laughs the ground beneath my feet releasing black coils that wrapped themselves around my limbs. "I need a little... persuasion... to get my daughter to come and I think you are the best ransom I can get."
"HADES. You'll regret this. I swear on the River Styx you will!" My screams are cut off as the tendrils pull me into the ground and the rock closes above me.
Time passes. I sigh quietly resting my head on my knees, my battered, bloody hands cupped around my legs. The tendrils had been hardened by some sort of magic forming black, cold chains the rubbed against my wrists and ankles. Dang it. Zahara better show up soon... it's so cold... and i'm starting to get hungry... I glance up to see Hades approaching my cell. "What do you want with me!?" I scream lunging from my sitting position at the god. He tuts and squats in front of me just out of my reach.
"You're going to help me with a little show...." He laughs and everything goes black.
