Signs of a Storm

Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter 43: As Told By...

Nico-

When I awoke, I immediately felt the need to visit Tara, which was odd, considering that she didn't even acknowledge me when we had landed back at camp. Whenever I was near her, there was just something doing flops around in my stomach. My best guess was that it was awe. She could withstand pure darkness and it made me wonder why.

As I walked down to the infirmary, people gave me looks, which was usual. But this time they had a look of... wonder.

I brushed it off and continued my stroll.

I passed by bakeries, which let out a delicious smell of freshly baked treats. My feet carried me past shops and people, each one carrying along their merry way. It was hard to believe this place was scattered by monsters last night. Scenes of the battle kept coming back to mind. But it was nowhere as bad as the one two years ago...

I shivered at the thought.

My mind wondered all over the place, even back to when I accidently sent Tara to Walmart. It was hilarious. Well, to me at least. And Valdez's face when his precious thing was gone... priceless. But other things came to mind as well.

I thought about my family, godly and human. My mother and sister wondering around somewhere, Bianca having been reborn. Tara was hardly any different. Her birth mother had died, and now her uncle was dead as well. I guess that her and I were not as different as I had originally thought. We were quite alike, actually.

"Nico di Angelo, son of Pluto, may I have a word?"

I turned around to see Reyna, and she looked surprisingly happy considering that we had just had a war last night. "What do you want?" I continued walking. "I have places to be, and people to see." It was a pretty good excuse, if I do say myself.

"It is about your...ally, Miss Evelyn." I stopped in my tracks. "She's not doing very well. Her life is very fragile. When she was stabbed, it almost pierced her stomach. She will be okay, but the scar will be there forever. Along with the memory."

I tried hiding the expression on my face. Why had I run off? Why didn't I stay? I could've protected her. What if she had died? "Thank you." I nodded to her, and scurried off. Now I knew I definitely had to see her. She had to be okay...

When I was breathing heavily in front of the infirmary, I braced myself to see her in pain. I stepped inside.

Immediately, I caught a flash of blonde hair, knowing very well it was her. If not for the lightness of her head, I wouldn't have known it was her. Tara's eyes had a vacancy inside of them, almost like she was halfway dead. Her skin looked utterly pale, with an undertone of grey. I also could sense the shroud of death becoming stronger.

"Tara?" I squeaked.

She slowly turned her head, and a small grimace of a smile crossed her face. I didn't know what else to do, so I rushed over by her side, and softly smiled back. "Hey..." she barely was able to be heard. "I feel like shit."

I gave her a small grin. "Well, no duh. You almost got killed. That kinda've explains it."

"No, really?" she said sarcastically. She may have not been feeling well, but her smart-ass self was still there. "Please explain, dear Sherlock."

I chuckled lightly. If anyone else was here, I wouldn't have been this open. I wouldn't have laughed. And I sure as hell wouldn't be talking this much. I don't know why, but Tara made me...almost...happy. It didn't make sense.