Death's Daughter

Chapter 10

Nico let go of me and smiled. I could see tears sparkling in his midnight blue eyes that mirrored my own. That's just another trait we share. "Thank the gods. Oh, wow. You've been out for what? A whole day? Two? What happened?"

I sighed. "I felt like the rock was crushing me and I couldn't breathe. I've never really been a fan of being underground. Don't worry: the feeling passed. I won't go fainting every ten minutes."

Nico laughed. "Well, good. The faster we get to Hades's palace, the faster we can get you out of here. Do you feel like walking?"

"Yeah. I'm good." Nico was right. The sooner we got to our dad, the sooner we could leave. I tried to stand, but I got dizzy. My headache was gone, though, I was unwell enough to swoon. Luckily, the boys caught me. I took a deep breath as they helped me to my feet. I squeezed my eyes shut for a few seconds, which made me feel a little better.

"I'm good now," I said, though, I didn't really believe it myself.

Leo looked at me pointedly, "Uh- uh. You're not going anywhere. You need some rest, and it's safe here. We'll leave when we're sure you're okay."

"Alright," I sighed. "But we can't just sit here in silence. Leo told me a story, now it's your turn, Nico."

Nico nodded, but warned, "You have to sit down and relax or I'm not talking." I obeyed. "Okay, what do you want to hear?"

I thought about that. What did I want to know about my brother? "Well, you can start by explaining how you were born in the 40s and still be what? Thirteen?"

"I'm fourteen. Not to split hairs or anything."

I looked over at Leo. "And how old are you?"

"Sixteen. And you?"

I felt myself giggle, though I'm not sure why. "Sixteen, almost seventeen. But back to the point. Nico start talking."

"It started back in the 1940s..."
Nico's story was longer than Leo's, considering he told us the story of his life, but no less amazing. Everything he went through was just amazing; I'm proud I have him for a brother.

By the time he was finished, I was exhausted. I yawned and laid down on the mossy floor of the cave. I started shivering. Unlike Camp Half-Blood, the Underworld was freezing. Leo noticed me shivering and scooted over beside me. Fire blazed in his palms as he wrapped his arms around me, instantly warming me. I fell asleep that night enveloped in Leo's arms, being heated by his fire, all the while, my brother sat opposite us with a heavy gaze. But that didn't stop me from resting my head on his shoulder as if he was a pillow.

I woke up and noticed the Underworld was just as dark in the daytime as it was during the night. If this was even morning. Time was getting away from me.

I realized that Leo was leaning on me and was no longer on fire. My arm was numb where his head was resting. I pressed my palm to his soft mop of curls and lifted his head off my arm. But his head rolled out of my hand, and he fell forward. He jerked up with a grunt before his face hit the floor. His eyes were wild as he searched the cave for danger.

"Sorry!" I squeaked. "My arm was asleep."

He groanes, "Yeah, so was I."

"Sorry," I mumbled again. "Go back to sleep. I'll be back." I stood up but Leo grabbed my wrist.

"No. You're not going anywhere."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "I haven't gone to the bathroom since we left Camp. Leo, I have to pee!"

Leo's eyes widened, and he looked embarrassed. "Fine. But if you don't come back in five minutes, I'm coming after you."

I grumbled a response that he surely didn't hear, but it ran along the lines of the need of privacy. I walked outside and made sure no one was watching. Who would even be around here, I wouldn't know. I walked back into our cave and rummaged through my bag. I pulled out what I was looking for. Thank the gods that I had the foresight to pack hand sanitizer.

I turned back to Leo. "See? I'm fine, you didn't need to-"

But my words fell on deaf ears because Leo was slumped on the floor, asleep. My brave watchman. I smiled and slid in next to him, thankful for the extra body heat.

I looked at my brother with his long shadowy hair in his face. He was a sight to behold. Now that I really looked at him, I realized he was pretty handsome. He looked so peaceful and younger while he slept. I don't know exactly what happened at Camp before I got there, but I had a feeling that it changed my brother. Sure, I hadn't known him for very long, but I knew he hadn't always been dark and mysterious.

My thoughts died off as I succumbed to sleep, bringing dreams once again.

•••

I was back at my old home. My dad was gone and my mom looked worried. She didn't look right when Hades was gone. I watched her tuck me in and read me a story before taking the creaky steps two at a time to the kitchen. My mom grabbed a carton of juice and took a swig of it. Then, the doorbell rang. She opened the door, revealing a mummy standing on our doorstep. Mom slammed the door shut and leaned on it, taking heaving breaths. Slowly, green mist seeped through the cracks in the door. The green mist looked like Rachel's freaky oracle fog. Was this the oracle before the ginger artist in the cave?

"You cannot run, Elizabeth. You knew the consequences when you conceived the child. You knew it was forbidden, as did Hades. Now you must pay the price."

All of a sudden, my mom crumbled to the floor in a heap. I could hear little me squeak in alarm at the top of the stairs.

"Mommy!" I cried. The green mist curled around my chubby toddler legs. I walked back down the hall, as if in a trance.

"No need to make the child suffer," said the voice seething through the mahogany door. "She couldn't help the fact you broke the rules. She will be pardoned."

The mist disappeared and the dream dissolved into black as someone screamed my name.