Death's Daughter

Chapter 11

I awoke to find a familiar face hovering over me, giving me a sense of déjà vû. I shoved my hand in Leo's face and rolled on my side.

"Frankie, you okay? You were crying."

"No, it's just... I, uh, I was dreaming," I said, wiping tears from my eyes.

"What did you dream about?"

"Huh?"

Leo chuckled. "I said, what did you dream about?"

I touched my necklace. "I've been dreaming about my mom."

"I know what that's like," he said with a sympathetic smile. "What happened? In your dream, I mean."

"I watched her die. As both sixteen year old me and three year old me."

Leo spread his fingers and stared at them. "At least you didn't cause her death."

"Actually, I think I did. Just by being born. What happened to your mom? If you don't mind me asking."

As a spark erupted on his fingertip, he sighed, "Fire."

My eyes widened. "Oh," was all I could manage.

"Yeah, everyone thought I set the place on fire, considering I was the only one unharmed. Why not blame it on the eight year old? Why not say he killed his mom when he was just trying to protect her? But no one belives in Greek gods, so I couldn't say it was Gaea's fault. Heck, I didn't even know who she was, I was eight!"

"I'm so sorry, Leo. It must've been hard to lose your mom."

"And losing yours wasn't?"

"I was three when she was killed. I don't really remember much about her. I don't think I really understood for a while."

"We're all three momless, with absent godly fathers, aren't we?" said a voice from the mouth of the cave.

Nico had his sword on his hip and a backpack slung over his shoulder. "Alright, ladies, who's ready to see Hades?"

I stood up and brushed off my jeans. "Oh, gods, I am. I need to get out of this place."

Leo got up as well. He stuffed his sphere in his pack before throwing it on his shoulders and joining us near the entrance of the cave. "Time to see dear ol' dad?" Nico scowled at him while I smirked.

I keep forgetting that I'm supposed to hate this guy. Maybe the prophecy was wrong about Leo being my foe. Maybe we can be friends after all. And if it was wrong about him, maybe it was wrong about my fear as well. I don't want to face my fear, because I have a pretty good idea what it is.

Nico cleared his throat. Great, I'd been staring at the wall for too long. I was lost in my own head, and I just freaked them out.

"Oh, yeah. I'm coming. I'll be right behind you."

Leo shook his head. "Nope. Not after what happened last time. You're going in front of me." He made an impatient shooing motion with his hand. "Go on then. I'll catch you if you faint."

I frowned. "I won't faint." But really, I wasn't so sure.

Leo shrugged and said, "It's just a precaution. Now, move."

I held up my hands in surrender and grabbed my weapons and bag before following Nico out of our little cave.

"So," started Leo behind me as we walked, "you've heard our stories. Now let's hear yours."

"I don't have a story."

Nico turned back to face me. "Don't be ridiculous; Everyone has a story."

I shrugged. "Then mine's pretty boring."

"Let's hear it anyways," Leo said, now at my side. "Come on. Please?"

"Fine," I surrendered. "I guess I could start with my parents. I always grew up believing they died in 9/11, but now I know that's not the case." My fingers curled around my necklace.

"I've been meaning to ask you about that," Leo said, pointing to the ring at my throat. "What is that?"

"It's my mom's wedding ring. I got it for my thirteenth birthday. I always wear it. It's the last thing I have left of her."

Leo smiled at me. "Okay, you may continue."

I grinned back; I couldn't help it, his smile is infectious. "My dad obviously didn't die, though my mom did. I'm still not entirely sure how. I mean, Dominique told me someone killed her so she wouldn't find out who my dad was, but I dreamed that she already knew. I also saw that the Oracle killed her. Nothing makes any sense." I had stopped moving, and I found myself pressing my fingers to my temples.

Leo placed his hand on my shoulder. "Frankie, I'm sure this will all make sense after we've talked to Hades. And look," he said, pointing, "we're almost there."

He was right. We only had a little way to go. I suddenly felt giddy. We were almost there!

"Well, come on then!" I said, giving the boys' shirt sleeves a tug. "Don't stop now! We're practically there!"
I hurried off, not seeing the odd look they must have given each other, followed by shrugs. Soon they were right beside me, running through the dry, mossy ground to my father's palace. I let out a laugh of pure glee. It was all down hill from there.

We all slowed down when we were nearing the gates of Hades's palace. The smile was wiped off my face, and all the excitement was drained out of my system.

Nico whispered, "Ready?"

I nodded without averting my eyes. I stretched out my hand and pressed my palm against the cool metal. My already fair skin looked even paler in contrast to the black that practically made up the Underworld. I swung open the gate and stepped onto the walkway.

Nico was at my elbow. "Remember, don't-"

"Don't eat anything, I know. We don't want to be stuck down here forever."
Leo's fingers twitched at his sides. I nodded at him and his palms sparked to life. I was glad for the extra light. I looked at the two boys on either side of me. On my left was my brother, his darkness radiating and bringing me a sense of comfort. On my right was my enemy turned friend, his warmth drawing me closer. I squared my shoulders and took the first step into the threshold.

•••

We only made it a few feet when I spotted them. I grasped Leo's shoulder as the pair of sword wielding skeletons dressed like gladiators approached us.

I felt Nico's thin hand press into my back. "It's alright. These are just Hades's guards. They'll recognize me, and we can go in. Hades must already know we're here, otherwise, they'd be attacking."

I nodded and released Leo. The skeletons were just reaching us as I did. They made strange clicking noises before nodding to us. I reached down for the boys' hands and looked them in the eye. I braced myself then followed the skeletons.

We walked down dark corridors that were lit only by green torches like the ones in Cabin 13. Only then did I realize Leo had extinguished his flame. With my hands still entwined in theirs, I contined down the palace halls.

Finally, we stopped at huge double doors. I dropped the boys' hands and pressed my own hands together. I wandered what was hidden beyond the dark wood. I felt nervousness and unease prickling in my stomach. I looked at our surroundings. We were at the end of a hallway that was devoid of exits, besides the one in front of us. I studied those double doors for a moment. They were made of expensive looking wood with silver accents, like the hinges and decorations. These doors were also manned by a pair of skeletons, this time dressed in World War 1 uniforms. I noticed as we wandered the halls that the guards were all wearing clothing from different eras and battles.

They made the strange clicking noises again. That must be their way of talking. I guess it's hard to speak without tongues. Eventually, one WW1 skeleton pushed open the doors to the throne room, revealing my father sitting on a throne.