Stories to be Rewritten: Elisabeth's Stories :Book 1 Lavenders and Pomegranates

Chapter 33

"Oh you have got to be kidding me."

Nick raised his sword once more, his limbs aching from endless walking and the repetition of fighting monsters that leaked from the ashen forest, the spirits of the damned that sought to become human once more, as well as his own friends. This was getting more and more annoying, and it took all his control not to mentally snap. But, time was slipping past them, and the more time he wasted the more his brother.....

Closing his eyes, he took a shaky breath. He couldn't think like that. She would never do anything like that with anyone but himself. Or... Maybe... No. No! He needed to concentrate!

He felt a blade swish by his ear and he knew he was right. He barely missed Alex's whip, and if that tip hit him... Well, let's say she prided on a poison dagger tip on that thing and leave it at that. Ducking away from the sleep fighting demigod, he jumped over Jonny's knocked out form and picked up his hammer. Gods only know how well he was with one of these and it's better than a blade to knock her out. He dodged the whip again and let the hammer take the blow, the coils wrapping around it like a boa constrictor. Then he did the stupidest thing he could do.

When she pulled, he let go.

And, as he predicted, it hit her square in the face and knocked her out. Added casualty was her broken nose. But it did as desired, it knocked her out cold. Panting, he held his knees as he tried to catch his breath. If he was this bad while in his hallucination, he was going to have to thank them for not killing him.

Then he stopped when he felt a dagger in the small of his back, making him straighten to his full height. He had forgotten he wasn't out of the woods just yet. Herc was still under the influence of this challenge too.

"Herc, you don't want to kill-"

"You hurt her."

That took Nick by surprise. How did he know that? Sure it was a rumor, but he said he didn't believe them at all. He was his friend after all. He wouldn't believe that bull that was being spread around camp. But he was more surprised that he was actually talking. Neither Alex or Jonny talked to him while they fought, unless you count war cries and omphs.

"Who are you talking abou-"

"I'm not an idiot, Nick." Herc hissed, venom seeping in his words. "She told me everything. I saw her in that hospital, before whatever they did to her. She told me what happened. And what's worse..." Herc pulled away, taking the dagger out of Nick's back. "I don't hate you for it."

Nick turned and stared at him, the vacant expression on his face changing back to the one that he knew way too well. The one that said the lights were on in that brain and they were throwing a party.

"Herc, I didn't mean to do it. I don't know what took over me. I... jealousy maybe? I'm not sure. But-" Herc held up his hand, silencing him.

"Nick, I will not fight you. But I want you to tell me the truth." He pulled the ring out of his pocket and showed it to Nick. Nick went to around his neck where the chain that held it should have been, but it had snapped off at some point. Nick looked up with total terror.

"Herc, you have to give that back to me."

"Nick," Herc said, completely awake and in control of his actions. " Why do you have this?"

Nick groaned. It ws going to be a long conversation, he could tell. But if it kept him alive to find Elisabeth, he would hold up the sky. So, sitting Hercules down away from the makeshift battlefield, he explained everything.

Henry paced around the room, the ring that Aphrodite had given him still safely tucked away in his pocket. Why was he doing all this? Should he not be with the woman he loved talking and making her feel at home? Yeah, he should, but damn Hades to Tartarus for giving him all this work to do! He had to do everything in his power to help Hades as a price for having him and Elisabeth stay here, but why did he never get a break? His main priority was suppose to woo Elisabeth, though by what happened a week ago before taking her down here explained that she really did, and make her his queen. Wait, queen?