Nico di Angelo, Flowers of Death

Chapter 32

Does anyone even like this anymore?
Should I keep writing?
Idk

Ambers POV

"I-I'm going to kill Leo"? The minute the words left my mouth I felt sick. My stomach violently turned, a light headed feeling overcame me. My hand subconsciously reached for something to support my weakening knees.

Nico quickly grabbed at it, his delicate fingers grasped my slim wrist. I was lead to my previous bed, right beside Leo. In my state of shock I watched as a new camper was brought in, Will quickly excused himself.

"Amber, are you okay"? The pale boy questioned me, his voice seemed to be the only thing grounding me to reality, as my mind tried to take flight.

"I'm killing them" my dazed and shaky voice spoke out.

"You can't blame yourself. You didn't know what you were doing" Annabeth tries to reassure me. My gaze slowly meets hers; my voice came out weak and powerless, matching my overall view of the situation.

"But if they die, that's on me, weather I knew what I was doing or not" I felt the cold fingers of Nico brush against my arm slowly. Just his touch seemed to have a calming effect on me, as it slowed my pounding heart.

"If you don't want them to die, then try and fix it" Percy suggested, or more like forcefully offered. His sea green eyes flickered with anger, who could blame him though, I was killing his friends.

"I don't know how" my hollow voice spoke.

"We almost lost Leo once, I don't think I could handle that again" Piper said solemnly, her eyes clouded over with desperation and despair. Her gazes met mine, pleadingly. "Please, just try"

I looked at everyone's faces. The desperation in the air seemed to cling to me in particular. My mind desperately tried to think of anything that would help Leo. Tediously I walked over to the sleeping boy, was he sleeping, could you even call it that?

He seemed at peace in his rest at least.

Deeply I breathed in. I watched as Leo's chest raised and fell in a rhythmic beat, I stared at every crevice and every inch of my best friends face. How could I have caused such a dreadful thing to happen to someone I cared so deeply about.

"Please wake up" I whispered. "I give you back your youth" nothing happened, besides my heart plummeting farther into an empty abyss. I gripped Leo's hand in mine, feeling how cold he was, it was a level of cold only Nico could reach.

I just wanted him back to normal, I wanted his hair its usual mess of chocolaty curls, his eyes their once lively and joyful glint showing, even if the hint of sadness remand. I wanted the wrinkles gone, I wanted him normal.

Logically if I could take away someone's youthfulness without pain, I could restore it without any either, logically, right? But this is Greek mythology we are talking about; there is nothing logical about it.

Pain, like nothing else. No back ally beating, or sword cut, or anything I'd ever experienced could compare to this pain. My hand felt as if it was being burned off.

Desperately I tried to free myself from Leo's death grip, but his hand was practically glued to mine.

I could only watch helplessly as my fingertips seemed to melt. My arm had a dull ache that echoed to the core of my bones. My fingers wrinkled, intensely, then my hand. The burning quickly followed the wrinkles as they traveled up my arm, stopping just below my chin, and my belly button.

I felt drained of every single scrape of energy I had, it seemed that my heart barely had enough strength to pump blood. A ringing started to form in my ears. I believe it was because of my blood curdling screams.

It felt like rats, clawing off my flesh, trucks tearing my limbs apart, one by one. It was as if someone had injected acid into my blood stream and it was spreading throughout me.

Black dots splattered across my eyes sight, and swirls of color danced around the room.

To me the pain lasted for an eternity, it seemed as though there would be no end. Finally my hand was released; I crumpled to the floor in agony. Gasping for breath, I couldn't move, I could barely blink without searing pain washing over my left side.

I watched the bright light that glowed miraculously upon me; it seemed as if it came down from heaven. Blurred faces hovered above me. It felt like I was on an operating table, watching surgeons cut me open. I knew the people were talking; only I couldn't make a word they were saying out, the ringing in my ears had yet to seas.

With great effort and pain I lifted my left arm. My hand shook violently, my arm looked thousands of years old, and like something you would pull out of a grave. The skin was stretched so thin my bones and veins stuck out visibly. I reached with the opposite arm, feeling the wrinkles that had crawled up my neck.

Cold, tingly, hands gripped onto me, I felt weightless for a moment. Then a fluffy fabric caressed my back. Was I on a bed? The light from heaven still glowed, and I couldn't make myself move.

I wanted to cry, but I couldn't. I was in some state of shock I suppose, it was like I could see and feel everything but I wasn't actually there. I'm not sure how long I just lied there, but when I finally came to I had to blink, adjusting me eyes to the bright ceiling lights.

Scanning the room my eyes fell upon Leo, he was sitting up right talking to Piper, and her looked like his usual self.

"Amber?"

The mocha almond eyes of Nico di Angelo interlocked with mine. I gave him a weak smile of reassurance.

"Hey, how you feeling" the familiar voice of Annabeth spoke softly to me. I slowly turned my head to face her, ever so careful to not hurt my arm. Her stormy grey eyes had clouded over with concern.

"What happened"? I asked, deliberately avoiding her question, knowing the answer would cause them too much concern.

"Apparently you saved my life" Leo answered for the daughter of Athena, hopping off the bed beside mine he made his was over to me.

"How stupid of me, now I'm stuck listening to your annoying voice" I joke, poking his side. He brightly beams at me, but I can't help but cringe.

My eyebrows furrow in confusion as I glance to my arm. The wrinkles had started to subside, now only reaching to the tops of my many bracelets. How?

"You're healing; I believe it is because of your powers" the calm and patient voice of Will flows across the room. He swiftly makes his way to me, from another patient, checking for my pulse. I watch as the wrinkles dissolve into nothing, leaving my normal arm in it replace.

I sucked in a sharp breath before I spoke.

"Who's next"?

"Amber, you can't be serious" Annabeth states, shocked.

"You are not doing that again" Will strictly informs me.

"What do you mean, if I don't help these people, they are going to die" I counter their concerned remarks.

"Will find another way but for now, you can't do that again." Nico speaks; he grips my hand in his tightly, as if he didn't want me to dissolve before him.

"But-" I start.

"Guys, we have a problem." the once calm and joking voice of Percy finally spoke. I followed his gaze to the window. "It's sunrise."