Life and Death Don't Mix

Chapter 15

        Almost a week had gone by since I returned to Olympus, taking up my rightful place beside all the other gods and goddesses. I attended the council meetings and even debates between other gods.

I still felt sad and hurt at what happened with Leo and the others, but I had everyone on Olympus to help me get through it. Aphrodite and Artemis helped me the most, treating me like a sister. Hades visited the second day I was here checking up on me, which I thought was sweet. He was kind and not at all like I had heard he was like or how the stories make him sound.

I walked out of my house feeling uneasy. I looked around for the others, but I could not seem to find anyone. I knocked on Artemis' and Athena's door, but neither of them answered.

After a few more minutes of searching by the houses, I looked around the garden before heading to the council room. I knew there was almost always someone in the council room. Thinking about the door, I shadow traveled to the council room, or in front of it.

Moving closer to the door, I could hear my father and Artemis voice. They were yelling and sounded very upset at something. Concentrating, I created a small mouse out of shadows sending it under the door and into the room. Once It left my sight, I closed my eyes looking through the mouses.

In the room, the gods sat on their thrones, and a young man, mortal, stood below. As the mouse moved closer, I could make out the familiar curly hair.

Leo was here.

My eyes snapped open as my heart pounded in my chest. I could hear him pleading with the gods to see me, but my father refused. I felt my concentration fail as the mouse disappeared, leaving me standing behind the door, my heart pounding and tears surfacing on my face.

The sound of footsteps caused me to snap out of it as I pulled the shadows around me, hiding. The door flung open as Leo stormed out. As he walked by me, I could make the shine of a tear before he whipped it away. I watched as he walked to the fountain sitting down his head in his hands.

I released the shadows as all the gods began to leave. Most walked past me, but when Artemis caught sight of me, she walked over to me.

"What are you thinking? Please tell me you aren't thinking about going over to him?" She asked.

"What if he was telling the truth, what if he does love me?"

"No, Just leave him alone. Do not let him hurt you again." She said strictly as she grabbed my shoulders.

"But," I began

"No, Angel, I do not want you to get hurt again."

"Artemis, he came all the way here to see me. That had to mean something, does it not?"

She sighed, looking from me to Leo. When she looked back, her eyes were softer as she understood, "If he hurts you again, I will send him to Hades."

I smiled, knowing she wanted to keep me safe. I pulled her in for a hug before shrinking myself to mortal size and walking over to the fountain. As I walked, I straightened out my dress, my heart pounding so fast I thought it might jump out of my chest.

Leo's head still rested in his hands as he sat there.

I stopped in front of him, not knowing what to say or do. How did I start? What do I even say?

"What do you want to know? Just leave me alone?" Leo spoke, not looking up.

"Are you sure," I said my voice a bit shaky.