The Fourth Inheritor (A Percy Jackson/Chaos Fanfic) [Complete]

Chapter Nineteen: A Promise

Ariadne spent the next several hours sitting next to Naudia's bed, but she didn't wake up. Sean was in the other chair, curled up and staring blankly at a wall until he dozed off from sheer exhaustion. Diane was sleeping in Ariadne's lap, having barely woken up when they left the waiting room.

Once, at about three, Naudia shifted slightly. Ariadne had been up in an instant, placing Diane in the chair. She sat lightly on the bed, hand stroking Naudia's hair from her face. "Naudia?"

Naudia's eyes blinked open, not truly focusing. "Mmhm... Ari?"

"I'm right here," Ariadne assured her, tears in her eyes. "I'm not going anywhere."

"I know." Naudia's voice was quiet, barely more than a whisper, a breath. "I love you, Ari."

"I love you too, Naudia," Ariadne said, taking Naudia's hand in her own as nearly-purple eyes finally settled on her.

Despite everything, Naudia smiled just a little. "Always and forever."

"Always and forever," Ariadne repeated with a small smile of her own. It was all she could muster at the moment. Naudia drifted back into unconsciousness soon afterwards, fingers still laced with Ariadne's.

Around seven the next morning, Naudia's heart monitor flatlined. Ariadne, Sean, and Diane had to leave the room, only able to watch as nurses rushed in. Chaos knew what was happening. He also knew that there was only one thing he could do. He should've realized sooner, should've known why he'd always thought Naudia was important. He'd learned as much from Eternity.

He became a part of the blank vastness surrounding the Island, bringing Naudia into it as well.

Is this your desire? Just as Eternity's voice had been, so now was his own.

"Wh-What?" Naudia sounded confused, not that he could blame her. Chaos had been exactly the same the first time he'd encountered Eternity. Well, more than just the first time.

Is this your desire, to end things now? To end things in this manner?

There was no hesitation. Naudia's answer was immediate, as he had expected it would be. "No."

Very well.

The blankness receded, Chaos returning to the Island, as Naudia opened her eyes for the first time in Haven. And she died on Earth.