Queen Of Hell & Paradise (Immortal gods: Book 1)

Chapter 19- Lesson Number 1: Elysium

Before starting this next chapter I want to thank my readers for giving this story a chance... A special thanks to @valkyrie531 for really brightening my day! It's motivating and reminds me why I love writing! I will forever be in your debt <3

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Samantha

The ambulance arrived not much later to pick up Bethany.

I rode it with her. Despite my own feelings towards her, I could never let any of my cheerleaders go alone. It would go against the girl code we stand for.

I reach to hold her hand on the stretcher, and for a split second I feel her squeeze my hand back weakly. The paramedic on the field said he thought maybe she was dehydrated, but that due to lack of equipment he couldn't be one hundred percent sure. We're going to have to wait for the doctor's verdict.

Before we left the school, I made sure the EM also examined Chelsea to make sure she was fine. She really took the brunt of the fall and was probably most affected by the scare of almost getting hurt rather than by an actual injury.

"What do you think it is?" I ask the paramedic in the ambulance. He's checking Bethany's vitals and placing a clear mask over her mouth and nose. He turns to me and seems taken aback. He gazes at me for a moment before responding.

"I think there's a pretty good chance it's malnutrition," he says, taking Bethany's wrist and checking her pulse. He writes something down on a clipboard and places two fingers on the left side of her neck.

"Malnutrition?" I say sharply, looking at Bethany in disapproval.

"Yes," the technician replies, scribbling something more on his clipboard.

I specifically remember texting the girls to eat something filling to maintain their energy for the game tonight. Why didn't Bethany listen?

"I see," I say with piqued interest, crossing my arms and sending the cheerleader a critical glare. She quickly shuts her eyes and turns away. Shaking my head in discontent, I take out my phone and open a social media app. I unconsciously start to play with the pendant on my choker while I browse through my feed.

Since Hades gave it to me yesterday, I haven't had a single headache. My vision hasn't blurred and my hands haven't sparked, meaning his essence really is helping stabilize me. When I was fighting with my dad, I didn't accidentally burn him and neither did I fall unconscious when Bethany tested my patience in the cafeteria today.

During all my passionate moods in the past twenty four hours, the snake has prevented my sparks from erupting. My question is, why? Why did my hands spark in the Underworld with Hecate? What brought out these 'hidden gifts,' as Hades likes to call them?

I trace the eyes of the owl with my finger, remembering the things I saw while I was unconscious at my house. I remember seeing a vision while I lay on the floor. I felt coolness seep into my body through my nose and chill my veins to their core. Heat suddenly burst from my gut and rose to my chest and limbs. As it spread, it began to struggle with the cool for power over my blood vessels.

As the two warred for the upper hand, an image began to form. It was dark all around me, but I could see clearly as a tree sprung up from the ground. Its leaves were so white and fuzzy, they resembled cotton. It grew branches and roots, on which an owl perched itself on.

Its crisp, golden brown feathers ruffled in the frosty wind and its big hazel eyes wouldn't leave my face. Not even as a snake traveled its way up the tree and wrapped itself around it, did its stare waver.