In This Together

Chapter 27

Hazel

It has been several weeks since the crash and the wedding is in a couple of days! Frank and I thought we would have to postpone it because Annabeth was in the hospital, but she is recovering quickly. Very quickly for a woman who's baby is due next month. 

I was walking to the Ares cabin to meet Frank. The other Ares kids were fighting and sharpening weapons in the front yard of the cabin. I worked my way through the maze of weapons and knocked on the door. Frank answered and saw it was me. He stepped out and we walked toward the pavilion. 

We were going to do some wedding planning. We had picked out rings, a suit and dress, and I knew I wanted the color scheme to be white, gold, and silver. We sat down and planned for the rest of the evening. A few days passed and everything was ready for the wedding at Camp Jupiter. 

Everyone we had invited was staying in hotels in New Rome. Frank and I were on our last date before we became a married couple. "Are you nervous?" Frank asked me. He reached across the café table and took my hand in his. "Yeah. A little. Are you?" I asked. He nodded. 

"It'll be good though," I said, "I'm so excited! Just think, Frank, tomorrow afternoon, we will be husband and wife! Can you believe it?" 

"No. I'm still trying to process the fact that you said yes!" 

"Awe! That's so sweet!" 

He smiled at me. We ate dinner and went on a moonlit walk through New Rome. He dropped me off at my apartment, kissed me goodnight, and walked to his apartment. I went to bed to get some sleep. 

Tomorrow was going to be the biggest day in my life.

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I was so nervous. Annabeth, Calypso, Reyna, and Piper were my bridesmaids, even though Annabeth looked like she was carrying a watermelon in her stomach. They had helped me dress and they had done my hair and makeup just like they did the night Frank proposed to me. My dress was white with silver beading, with a strapless, fitted top and a full skirt that trailed behind me. I watched as Frank and the groomsmen, Nico, Jason, Leo, and Percy (Katie Gardner was watching Jack) walked down to the front. 

I turned to my bridsmaids, who were also my best friends. "Oh gods. Guys I can't do this!" Reyna came over to me. She placed her hands on my shoulders. 

"Yes you can. Do you love him?" She asked me.

 "With all my heart," I replied. 

"Then just focus on him. Focus on him and it'll be ok. Hey, deep breath, you're fine. I promise," she reassured me.

I took a deep breath as Chiron walked in, he was to give me away. "They are ready for you girls." He said, nodding to Annabeth, Piper, Reyna, and Calypso. They all took their turns walking to the front. 

I took Chiron's arm. "Chiron, tell me it'll be ok." He looked down and smiled at me with those wise old eyes. "It'll be ok Hazel." He said softly. I nodded and took a deep breath. "Ok Hazel." I told myself, "let's go get married."I watched as my bridesmaids walked down the isle. Then the music changed and it was time for Chiron to walk me down the isle. Mr. D was to do the ceremony. 

"Are you ready?" Chiron asked me. I nodded and we started walking down the isle. I looked at my love, my Frank. There were tears in his eyes as he watched me. I smiled at him. In just a few minutes I'll be Hazel Levesque Zhang. The thought made me feel terrified, but at the same time my heart leaped for joy. Chiron handed me off to Frank and went to stand in the back, he had said that the wheelchair was quite uncomfortable. 

I felt nervous, but then I felt Frank's hands holding mine and I looked up into his eyes and I knew it would be ok. 

"Dearly beloved yada yada yada to join Haylie Levelsie and Forest Chang in marriage." Mr D started. Oh gosh that was awful. I guess Chiron could sense the stress because he came over and told Mr D to sit down. 

"We are here to join Hazel Levesque and Frank Zhang in marriage." He said. Mr D grumbled and walked away, he sat down heavily in the front row. "Thank you." I whispered to Chiron. He smiled at me. Frank and I said our vows. He was about to pronounce us man and wife when I heard somebody yell, "HAZEL!!!!!"

All eyes turned toward the back of the pavilion. I gasped, "M-mother?" I said in shock. She was sickly thin, her hair was long and stringy, she wore the same rags she had died in. "You left me! You left me in the underworld! You shouldn't be here! You should be down there, suffering for the awful things you've done! You killed me!" She yelled. Her voice was raspy. She held up her hands. "And you will return with me." 

Her eyes turned a eerie shade of yellow and I felt some invisible force pulling me towards her. She moved her hands and slung the audience out of their chairs. I was halfway down the isle now. I turned, holding my hands out. "FRANK!" I screamed. 

"Hazel!" He ran towards me. I summoned a tall rock and held onto it. He grabbed my hand. 

"Frank, I have to go back." The magic was tugging my gut and it hurt like the Styx was flowing in my veins. "Frank, promise you'll move on. Promise you won't stay unmarried because of me. Frank, I love you and I wouldn't be able to bear it if you lost a happy life because of me!" I said, tears rolling down my face.

"Hazel, you aren't going anywhere. I'm going to get you back. I promise." 

"No, Frank, I don't think I'll be able to get back. I love you." 

"I love you too but there has to be a way!" 

I shook my head. "Frank let me go." I winced in pain. 

"No! I'm not losing you!" He yelled. 

I looked him in the eyes. The magic was pulling me away from him. I cupped his face and kissed him. I then let go and let my mother drag me into the underworld. The last thing I heard was the love of my life yelling my name