A Light in the Darkness (a Solangelo FanFiction)

Eraina's Mission

I raced towards the rocks, knowing exactly where to go. 

I had begged my father to arrange this, and had even gotten through to him. 

I knew I could succeed. I slowed as I reached the entrance to the Labrynth, and by extension the Underworld.

 "Lord Hades!" I called down into the hollow entrance. 

I knew I would at least be heard. 

"You disturb me child." a bored but icy voice chided angrily.

 I felt the chill of his power but fought against it. 

If anyone could fight against darkness it would be Apollo and I had his blood.

 "Lord Hades," I repeated, "I've come with a deal."

 "Yes your incompetent father told me you had a deal." he drawled on. 

I could feel the weight of his words. 

He was trying to break me. 

I held strong. 

"I'm sure you are aware that the soul of you're son, Nico di Angelo has recently passed into you're realm." I spoke calmly.

 It was a moment before the lord of the dead replied and his voice had dropped a few degrees. 

"Yes. I am fully aware of that. You have not come to beg for his soul have you?" he asked with a dangerous, unspoken warning.

 "No Lord Hades. I've come to you, with a bargain. It is you who has always spoken of a soul for a soul." I spoke with caution, letting reason flood my voice. 

"A bargain? But how would the soul of another benefit me? I already have my son, and it does good to keep him away from you Apollo children." he spoke with certainty, so sure that I couldn't sway him.

 a shade of anger passed in my mind before I cleared it again and continued. 

"My Lord, is it not true that you're son can do far less for you're benefit without his physical form?" I asked with my own certainty. 

A long moment passed again.

 "Yes that is true, young one. Pray tell, whos soul have you come to bargain with?" he spoke as if he were humoring me. 

"Sir, with you're son back, with his physical form he can again command the dead, better than he can if he himself is among them. He also will not have the ability to ensure that any command given is carried out. He will become, with all due respect without use." I stretched my voice, hoping he would see reason. 

"I ask again child, which soul do you bargain?" he sighed, unmoving. 

I took a deep breath. 

This was the final moment. 

"Sir, I bargain my own. You speak of despising my father and the one Nico is fond of. You show plain hatred. What better way to get back at Apollo, than taking his daughter's soul, to torture for all eternity. In the place of the soul of Nico di Angelo, I give up my soul." I held my gaze at the entrance of the underworld, unwilling to back down.

 "My dear, what makes you so willing to give up your life for my son?" he asked, a warmth returning if there ever was one.

 "There is nothing for me in this world. I have no regrets. This is the reason that I have been placed in this world. This is why I have lived to this age." I said without a falter.

 "And the girl?" he asked knowingly. 

I took a deep breath. 

"I was not meant to spend my days with her. I sacrifice myself for a pair that were meant to become. This is where my journey ends." All of my confidence poured into that sentence. 

Time slowed. 

Years could have passed and I never would have known. 

"Very well daughter of Apollo. I accept you're bargain." I could tell by his voice that he was smiling. 

I watched as shadows started to wrap around me.

 "Eraina!" 

I looked up as Mahron came running through the woods. 

She caught sight of me and her face streaked with tears, looked in despair. 

I had written a note, a letter to her and one to Will for when I succeeded.

 I had also left her my flannel and she clutched it now.

 "Eraina how could you?" she screamed, fear and anger swelling around her. 

"Father. Father did this!" she screamed again. 

"No Mahron! I did this. I had to save him. It was the only way. It was what I was meant to do!" I told her calmly as the wind picked up, enveloping me further. 

"But what about me? What about us?" she cried at me frustration and fear and sadness being sewn together into her eyes.

 "There was never really an us and you know it. There's going to be someone else for you. I can see it. I can see what the fates have decided and this is my fate. This is my calling. Mahron I have to do this." I told her. 

Tears ran down her face and mine was not without. 

She rushed forward and pressed her lips against mine surprising us both. 

The last thing she called before the shadows absorbed me lingered in my ears.

 "I love you Eraina." 

"I love you too." I whispered and the shadows took my sight...

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Will's POV

We didn't even have his body to burn.

 I couldn't give him the proper burial or the hero's death he deserved.

 I watched his burial shroud burn as the other's started to disperse. 

I kneeled by it wishing, praying. 

"Nico. Nico I hope you're okay. It hurts so much." I broke into sobs. 

"I k-know that you're going home but I can't help but feel like I never will now that you're gone. You were an angel. Gods. Nico can you hear me? Can you feel me speaking? All I want is to know you're okay! I just want to see that, that you made it home. Nico please. Neeks... Nico answer me!" I sobbed, "Nico please! Can you hear me?" I cried sobbing into the grass my face torn and ugly as I cried and sobbed. 

"Yeah. I can hear you."

 I turned in surprise to see him. 

Solid him. 

That angel. 

I shook my head unable to believe. 

I rushed forward pulling him to me, feeling that he was really there. 

I crashed my lips against his wrapping my arms around him lifting him in the air with the force of my heart. 

He made a muffled sound of surprise against my lips but soon melted in. 

I almost judo flipped him for Annabeth's approval.

 I didn't know how he could be back but I didn't care. 

I had my angel back. 

My Neeks, my glorious sunshine, my death boy. 

I had my Nico back in my arms and Gods was it perfect. I had him back, and that was all that mattered.