Lore

Hades

It had been a few days since Neon had met Nico. He couldn't get his words out of his head. Neon wasn't even sure he believed in God, and now he's supposed to believe he'd met an angel? The last few days had been quiet, thank God. There weren't any visions or sightings of Kat, but her plea rang in his ears, "Neon, help me." How could he possibly help her? She's been dead. Why was she coming to him?

Neon laid in his bed staring at the ceiling. It was well into the afternoon, but he was so tired. He still saw Kat's face every time he closed his eyes, and his headaches were relentless.

A soft knock came at his door. "Neon? Can I come in?" George called.

"Yeah." Neon answered, sitting up.

"Hey son." George said shyly as he came in, "Can we chat?"

Neon sighed; he knew this was going to be a difficult discussion. He nodded.

"Now, son, I know I'm not easy to talk to...but I know you've been going through something."

"Dad-" Neon started.

"Just let me finish, son." George said, sterner than he meant. He looked down and cleared his throat. "I don't know what you're going through, Neon, but I know its been taking a toll on you." He paused, his throat tightening, "I don't want to lose you, son and I see you slipping away."

"Dad, I'm fine." Neon wanted to reassure his father, but he knew he wasn't exactly hiding it well.

"Neon, no you're not." George said, sounding defeated as tears started to burn his eyes. "I've been talking to your mom; we think maybe it'd be good if you went to go visit her. You know, get a change of scenery...it might help to get out of town for a bit."

Neon was surprised, he didn't expect his father to say that, he didn't mind visiting his mom, but his father knew he hated the city. "I don't know...LA really isn't my speed." He paused a moment, thinking. "Maybe it would be good to get out of town for a while, though."

George shifted, "You know I just want you to be happy, I hope whatever it is you're dealing with you can get through soon. I know we've discussed it, but I hope you'll consider talking to someone."

"I know you're worried, dad. I'll be okay. I'll go see mom soon."

That answer seemed to ease George, at least a little bit, which also made Neon feel better. He didn't want his father to worry so much.

Neon sat in his rental car, debating whether to get out. He'd come to the graveyard, to see Kat. He wasn't even really sure why; he just couldn't get her out of his head.

"What am I doing?" Neon asked himself. "I didn't even know her..." He sat in his car for another moment, knowing he was going to eventually get out, so just decided to bite the bullet and figure out what he was here for when he got there.

Neon walked up to Kat's grave, decorated with lilies, pink ones. Her headstone described her as a loving daughter and a generous soul, missed dearly by her parents and three sisters. 2002-2020, she was only 18 years old. This made Neon's stomach hurt, why did she have to die so young? Neon sat down by her headstone, he felt like he wanted to say so much to her, but he didn't know where to start. Tears welled up in his eyes, falling down his cheek, and landing on the lilies.

"I'm sorry I couldn't stop it..." He whispered.

Neon felt a hand on his back, he knew it was Nico without having to look up. "Why did she have to die?" He asked.

"The workings of the world are mysterious, not even I have all the answers. Tragedy and sorrow are inevitable, a part of being human. Being capable of love also means mourning it's loss." Nico sounded almost sad as he said this, almost human.

"Why did I see it, Nico? If there wasn't anything I could do, why did I see it?"

"Sight isn't always a gift, child. I know not why you were chosen for this burden." Nico knew this answer didn't offer Neon any comfort, he could see the pain in his face. "You have to learn forgiveness, child. You are not at fault for the loss of this one. Forgive yourself."

"That's easier said than done." Neon said with tears dripping down his nose. "Why did I see her in my mirror?"

Nico placed his arm over Neon's shoulder and held him tighter, "That was the doing of your own mind, child. A response of fear and sorrow."

"Oh..." Nico could hear the disappointment in his voice, Neon wanted answers, something he could do to feel redeemed and to ease his guilt. Nico knew he wanted these answers, but even he could only help so much.

"Kat resides in the aether, she is not gone."

"Aether?"

"Yes, the aether. The wind that blows through this field, the life in these lilies, the love you feel, as well as the mourning. This could not exist without every one of you."

Neon looked at Nico, he was staring ahead, he seemed miles from here. He wondered what thought could possibly plague an angel.

Nico stood, "Tell Amanda that Kat said she loves her, and wants to wish her a happy birthday."

Before Neon could ask who that was, he heard a voice, "Hello?"

He turned his head to see a petite middle-aged woman approach, she had such a small frame, but was thin even for that. She wore an oversized sweater; her hair was messily typed up. She obviously looked to be in the depths of depression.

"Hi." She said again as she got to the grave, "I'm Amanda, Kat's mom. Have we met?"

"Um, no, sorry, my name is Neon." He said stumbling over his words.

Amanda tried at a very forced half smile, "What a name. Did you know Kat?"

"Not very well..." Neon mumbled. "But from what I did know, she was very kind."

Amanda smiled; this time genuine. "She was." Tears rolled down her cheek. "I just feel so bad, the last time I saw her we fought. She went for that drive to calm down, it was my fault."

Neon felt a pit in his stomach. He'd been blaming himself for so long, not even thinking how her mother must have felt. "You know," He said, "You have to be able to forgive yourself...I think Kat would have forgiven you."

"She would have." Amanda said. "She never stayed mad, she was always thinking of others."

Neon picked at his sleeve; he was nervous to tell her what Nico said. He didn't want to come off as some cook trying to give her answers from the beyond.

"You know, I talked to her, before I mean...She talked about how much she loved you, and how she wanted you to have a good birthday."

Amanda's slow stream of tears turned heavy as she hugged Neon. "Thank you for telling me that, son, I needed it."

Neon hugged her tight, it was a hug he needed too. "She's not gone." He whispered. "I can feel her in the wind."

Amanda smiled through her tears of sorrow and her tears of joy. "I like that. I'll think of her, and you too, every time I feel the breeze."