Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Please Not This Again
ROSE'S P.O.V
I sighed as I tossed a book aside then looked at the ever-growing pile, mom had stopped by to drop off some more but so far I wasn't having any luck. I leaned my head back as I sat in the bean bag over the entrance of the Labyrinth as I closed my eyes and thought to mom.
'I'm not finding anything on End or the end of the Olympians,' I said, 'I'm taking a break for now.'
'Okay, take care of yourself and be careful of going outside,' she replied as I grabbed my phone and checked Snapchat first. I smiled as I saw Sammy's body positivity picture on her story as I tapped through. My mind started straying to what Poseidon and Athena were telling me and then I started thinking about what Cass and Maria were doing when a new voice in my head startled me.
'Samantha Elizabeth Valdez, wake up this instant,' it said and my heart broke
"No," I breathed as I realized who it was, "not again," I cried as I rushed downstairs and turned on the news. As I turned it on, I fell into the couch as Alexis walked in, "Sammy, please survive."
Once the screen showed the school in flames as Calypso soothed me along with Annabeth. "How did you know," Alexis asked as I jumped up
"Calypso's in my head," I said as I started walking out the door
"What do you think you're doing," he then asked as I shrugged my coat on
"I'm not losing anyone else in this life," I said as I reached for the door
"Step away from that door this instant Zoë," Renée's voice said from the garage as I felt control being taken from my body
"I had that taken care of Renée," Calypso said through my mouth before she returned control to me and I crumbled onto the floor in tears.
"I need to go there," I said, getting up as the tears started rolling down my cheeks, "she can't be alone in there."
"You need to stay here," Renée ordered as she threads her power into her words
"Who's working," I asked, "you could disguise me as someone else."
"Why do you want to go there so bad," Lin's voice asked, "you're putting yourself in danger of being discovered if you go out especially to that hospital."
I looked at him, "Do you think that fire started by itself," I asked him, "I can go through what happened with Cal in my mind and she passed out with pain between her shoulder blades. Not only do I want to be by her side if something happens to her I want to be there to stop anything from happening to her if you know what I mean."
"But your cover," Renée began as I stood up
"Who's working," I asked once more, "because I am not losing another love if I can help it."
"All of them are demigods except for one in prenatal," John's voice said from the garage his voice full of sorrow. "Let her go," he began, "she's right about more danger and I think my father and your mother are already working on a disguise."
As he was saying this I felt my hair grow out as my clothes were changed from an oversized t-shirt and leggings to a sea green crop-top with a black leather jacket and torn jeans. "You look like a long-haired Thals," Lin said with a chuckle as I felt my jewelry appear on my wrists
I looked in a mirror that was in the hall and smiled, "Can someone hand me a pair of sunglasses," I began, "that's if Thalia had platinum blonde hair."
The only thing that didn't change with my looks was my eyes which I could show people if they asked who I was by not believing the fake name that I gave them. "You're right," Lin said as I looked at Renée who smiled
"I don't like this idea," she began as two figures appeared
"Zoë," Apollo began, "you will be led to a waiting room under the pretense of being one of Samantha Edwards cousins, Rachel Edwards, Leo and Nico are already there and Nico has already offered to stay the night."
I nodded as I chuckled at the coincidence, "Thanks for having me use my daughter's name Apollo," I said then nodded to Aphrodite. "Thank you both for this," I said as Renée and Calypso said something at the same time
"Run," it was included with Annabeth agreeing in my head after a sigh as I smirked and dashed out of the house and into the streets
'I'll take control if you ever get tired like I offered with Sammy but keep in mind that you need to slow down by the time you get to the hospital,' Calypso said as I turned corners
'I really need to exercise some more,' I thought back as I rounded another corner and groaned as the two mothers agreed
Once I could see the hospital I slowed my sprint to a jog before briskly walking into the emergency room as an ambulance just pulled in with its sirens on. "Hello," I began with a kind voice, "I am here as a cousin to Samantha Edwards, I saw that her school was on fire and luckily I was in town this time to be by her side."
"Name," the receptionist said as I leaned on the counter
"Rachel Edwards," I said as the receptionist looked up at me
"Okay just go down that hall little ways and you'll see a Latino Elf with an emo teenager and two supermodel lovers that also look like teenagers," she said as I nodded keeping the smile from appearing on my lips
"Okay, thank you," I said as I hurried down the designated hall, as I rounded another corner I saw them there. "Hello doctor," I said to the man who was leaving the room, "are you the person who's making sure Samantha recovers?"
"Yes, I am," he answered as he shifted his posture, "how can I help you?"
"I'm one of her cousins, Rachel Edwards," I began, "could you please tell me what her injuries are?"
The man sighed, "I'll feel bad for the doctors who tell her girlfriend this," he muttered as my eyes widened behind the sunglasses. "Samantha sustained third-degree burns along with a bullet wound to her back right in between her shoulder blades. We're doing whatever we can to keep her alive but survival isn't guaranteed and she may be paralyzed if she does," he finished as I nodded my heart breaking as he told me everything
"Thank you, doctor," I said as he nodded before walking away, I slowly walked into the waiting room and fell into a seat. I took off the sunglasses and covered my eyes as I started sobbing. "Why does this have to happen to me every time I find something that brings me joy?"
"I don't know kid," Leo's voice said as I felt his arm lay across my shoulders. "Are you from the family," he asked as I felt circles rubbed around my back. "I don't remember Samantha saying anything about cousins," he explained as I thought to Annabeth
'Did you tell anyone,' I asked as I continued to sob while nodding to his question
'Only Nico because he could tell someone by their lifeline,' she answered
'He's a spoilsport,' I thought back as she chuckled in my head with Calypso
"Yeah," I began as I regained my breath and sat back with my eyes closed, "I'm not related to her by blood though so she might not remember me."
"Why wouldn't she remember you," Leo asked as I opened my eyes looking up at the ceiling
"Because I look a lot different than when she last saw me," I answered as I turned my head to look at him. "Hey Leo," I said with a small smile
"I got the door for you two," Nico said from behind the door which closed
"Zoë," Leo began as I held up a hand
"Apollo and Aphrodite helped with this," I began as I felt a hat appear on my head. "They probably just added that to make my eyes hidden more," I said with a chuckle but then continued as Leo, Percy and Nico glared at me. "They wanted me to be here overnight with Nico in case something happens caused by a visitor."
"Why isn't Annabeth glaring daggers at you or protesting this," Percy asked glaring at me. "How did you even get here," he asked once more as I chuckled
"I did what she did when I came back," I began, "I ran and as for the reason why Annabeth isn't yelling at me is that she was probably watching everything from the back of my head."
"I'll stand by the door while you stay with her," Nico said, "I'll be in the shadows to be safe while you can do whatever you're going to do to make sure she's safe."
"Why are we taking these safety precautions it was just a fire and another shooting," Percy said as I looked at him then at Leo who nodded
"Dad," I began as I collected my emotions, "who else was shot in this shooting?"
Percy thought for a minute, "There haven't been any other victim reports but there have been people saying they heard a gunshot in the flames."
I looked toward Nico, "Were there any lives lost in that school due to gunshot wounds," I asked as he shook his head
"Not since that school shooting," he answered, "the only deaths there today were asthmatically related."
I nodded then turned back to my father, "Sammy was most likely targeted," I began. "Her last relationship was the leader of a gang while her father was the doctor for any gang members. Once her boyfriend died by the gang turning against him her family separated their ties with that gang after Sammy's wounds healed from that. She was there when he was shot and the bullet embedded itself in front of her heart. There are no records of this because Mr. Edwards repaired it himself after she cauterized it to get home without people questioning her."
"You're saying there may be a gang after her," Percy asked and I nodded, "how do you know?"
"I have some letters if you need proof," Nico said as Annabeth nodded
"I may not need them now," I said to them as they smiled sympathetically, "Sammy told me because that's how she knew to cauterize the dagger wounds and she needed to explain the scar above her heart. Nico and Annabeth probably know because Lin told him or Mr. and Mrs. Edwards told him about it and Annabeth was in my head when our first signs of them looking for her. There was this fan outside of the stage door when Sammy and I were going to visit Rachel. This fan had gifts for us and in the bags were chocolates, stuffed animals, and letters," I sighed. "One of her letters was a death threat to her saying that the gang will find her and kill her at the end of one of mine had their number of 103."
"How did she know all of this," Leo asked as I looked behind me, "she didn't trust me with this information."
"Because she's still learning to trust people Leo," I began, "she knows this because she was pretty much the gang's scribe. They couldn't kill her because she was the boss's girlfriend she probably doesn't trust men anymore because the gang beat her and tried to rape her but she kept fighting them off. She doesn't know why that's their number and why they're still using it but that's something she remembers."
Percy paled, "I need to go to mom's," he said as I arched an eyebrow, a letter suddenly appeared in his hand. "Read this," he said handing it to me
'Your world will crumble demigod
Stop meddling in our business or your mortal family will die along with your friends. Not only that but we'll share your secret to the world as well as the location of where your friends are kept. Heed our words and you will be spared.
Your Obedient Servant
103'
My jaw dropped as I read it once over, "Percy take your family to camp and for the love of Hades tell them of this threat," I said, handing the letter back to him. He nodded before disappearing in a cloud of mist. "Nico," I began, "do you have her death threat?"
"Right here Jackson," he said as he handed me the envelope
I sighed as I took it and opened it,
'To our dearest Samantha Edwards
You may have escaped from death this time but don't count yourself lucky
You will get your punishment for being the gang boss's girl and we will be satisfying ourselves the way that you denied many of us. After which you will meet a painful end, if you continue to hide from us your beloved Rose's life won't be the only one ruined. We will find you and kill you if it comes to that
Yours Truly
E-Team (find our usual signature in the other letters)'
"Can I please have mine; I need to compare handwriting with it," I said as Nico nodded, handing me the letter. I took it out of its envelope and placed the one I just read on top of it. "The handwriting is similar," I began, "can someone please call Lin and tell him that Percy had the same threat?"
"I'm on it," Annabeth said as she left the room leaving me with Nico and a dumbfounded Valdez
"Something's on your mind," Leo said, "what is it?"
"Why would they wish me well in one letter," I began, "and threaten me in two others?"
"I don't know," Leo began as I looked up to Nico
"Can I see one of the ones that she wrote," I asked as he nodded pulling it out of a satchel and handed it to me
"That's the last letter she wrote," he began, "she wrote to someone outside the gang but she still used their signature under her name."
'Dear Old Friend,
I am tired of this place; it is painful and gruesome. I wish I could get Nick out of this and move across Manhattan. I'm planning on parting my ways with this group because all that I have to look forward to is pain and fighting. The last people to jump me almost succeeded in taking my virginity but I won't ever let them win that. Nick hasn't been any help ever since he stood up for me once killing the first man who tried to strangle me. I haven't seen much of him anymore. Many people are saying that I should be in charge if he's out on missions but I decline them saying that I'd prefer writing than to leading this shithole. I'd rather rule over something more caring and helpful than a gang that kills people; I mourn the ones I had to kill with a gun. I hate killing innocent people for sport. I'll try and get to you as soon as possible after I get out of the gang but I can't tell you when that will be.
Always Your Friend
Samantha E. Edwards
103'
The letter fell to the floor as I stood up, "Is this person still living," I asked as Nico nodded. "Has Sammy contacted them or met them," I asked again as he nodded
"You know them," he said as I arched an eyebrow, "look at the address on the envelope."
I picked it up and looked at the address, "It's addressed to Toledo," I began as I looked it over. "I could read the name if it wasn't blotted out but I can read the address," suddenly I realized why the address looked so familiar along with her handwriting. "I lived here before CPS took me out of there," I began, "Maria, was the friend."
Nico nodded with a smirk just as Annabeth returned, "Do you know if your daughters are here," he asked as she nodded
"I was just coming in to tell you that they're coming if you wanted to surprise them," she said as I chuckled
"Nah," I began, "I need to talk to Maria anyways," I said just as the two came in. "Can I talk to you Maria, preferably in private," I asked as she nodded and the three people left the room with Annabeth closing the door being her. "Read this," I said, handing the letter to her. She took it and read it over
"How did you find this," she asked, "I thought I tossed it in the trash."
"Nico gave it to me," I began as I turned away from the mirror
"Who the hell are you," she asked me as I shrank into the corner
I tilted my hat up to show her my eyes, "Recognize me now," I asked as she nodded. "Nico has all the letters from that gang," I began, "most likely because Lin asked him to get any letter with the number 103 in it at the end. I asked to see the last one she wrote and it was that one," I sighed. "My question is do you want to take part in making sure she's safe with Nico and me? I'm a little butt-hurt about you not telling me about this but now's not the time to talk about it."
"That's the same person who wrote this letter," Maria asked, "how do you know? I haven't heard from her in years and you come up telling me that the woman you're dating is the same person I've been worrying about as much as I have been worrying about you."
I sighed as I slid the letter over to her that had the death threat that mentioned me. "Dad also got one which is why he's not here right not," I added as she read it. "If you're looking for the usual signature look at the letter that it was on top of," I said as she started looking at the three sheets of papers filled with so many emotions.
"How," she breathed as she picked up the letter, "how can they write something so kind to you then turn around and threaten your life on top of Sammy's?"
I shrugged, "That's probably how they work," I began, "she said in the letter to you that they kill people for sport so that most likely means they won't mind killing me or anyone who gets in the way. That's not the first death threat that I've had from them," I said as she looked up at me. "The letter that Percy got threatens not only him but his whole mortal and demigod family. They threaten to expose him and the locations of all the demigods."
"Why does this have to happen," Maria muttered, "so what you're saying is that your girlfriend was the scribe of this gang and the girlfriend of their gang boss?"
"She was the girlfriend of their former gang boss," I corrected, "the last day she was part of the gang he was shot and killed in an alleyway. She was by the end of the alley when the bullet that hit him lodged itself in her breastbone. She cauterized the wound before she rushed home to where Mr. Edwards patched it up and said that they were moving to help her cut ties. She explained everything to Lin and I when we got those letters, she didn't tell me that she had to kill people though."
As I was finished this Maria stood up and sat next to me, "I'll be in the room with you to keep an eye out for any danger," she began. "If they know that Percy's a demigod then either one if not more of them are also demigods so we have to be on guard for them."
I nodded as I sighed just as a knock came from the door, "Come in," I said as I stood up, "thank you, Thalia," I added in a whisper
I adjusted the hat as the door opened, "There you are, that supermodel girl said that you were in here talking to your friend. They moved Samantha into her room, I'm trying to find a way to contact Zoë and tell her about it," the doctor that I talked earlier said. "It seems that the hospital that took her left no contact information," he added with a nervous chuckle
"Doc," I began, "could you please close the door for a minute," I asked as he nodded closing the door behind him. I then took my hat off, "You already have told Zoë about this," I began. "Just please tell the rest of the staff that I'm her cousin who is staying the night with her friend and the emo boy."
The doctor grinned as he looked into my eyes, "It's good to see you healed and healthy Miss. Jackson, I apologize that I called your parents supermodels."
I chuckled, "That's fine," I began as I put the hat back on, "Just keep in mind that I'm Rachel Edwards when you're talking about me."
The doctor nodded, "Do you want me to lead you to her room?"
"Yes please," I said with a smile as I thread my hair through the loop of the hat. I soon met up with Annabeth, Nico, Bianca, and Leo
"What was it that you needed to talk to your sister about," Annabeth asked as I looked at her
"I'll tell you when we get into her room," I began, "she's probably still out right now," I explained as Annabeth nodded and Thalia came up next to me. My heart skipped a beat when I saw her bandaged up almost from head to toe. Her hair was singed as there were burns on her head that were shining
"How did she get this burned," Leo asked in disbelief as my heart broke remembering what I told her before she left
I fell into a chair across from her bed, the tears rolling down my cheek, "I told her to let the fire burn her so people didn't get curious if she walked out of flames unscathed. I thought she'd at least keep some of the immunity so she wouldn't be this burned."
I started sobbing as the doctor left, "You told her to let the flames burn her," Leo exclaimed and I nodded. "Why," he asked as I looked up at him
"What would happen to her if she escaped the burning building with nothing on fire," I began. "What would happen to her if the only mark on her body was of the bullet that could've killed her? Demigods would be revealed if she kept all of her immunity Leo do you want your daughter to be tested?"
Leo was speechless once I finished, "Rachel," Annabeth yelled as I looked up at her. "You're not the only one hurting here," she said as my shoulders sagged as I felt someone's hand on my back
"I'm sorry," I began, "I get on the defensive when someone I care about is dying and I'm being yelled at."
"My sister was this defensive when I told her that her biological family had died," Bianca began as I buried my head into my hands.
"Okay," Annabeth said with sorrow in her voice as I heard her shift her stance, "what was it that you needed to talk to Thalia about?"
I looked up and showed her the last letter Sammy wrote in the gang that might've been her death sentence. "This is her last letter," I began as she took it, "she wrote this to the address in Toledo that I stayed at before CPS took me away. That was Maria's address and I vaguely remember seeing the envelope about a day or two before I was taken from her house."
"So, she and Sammy were pen pals when my daughter was in that gang," Leo asked as I took the hat off
"Yes, and she's going to stay with Nico and me tonight," I said as my mother arched an eyebrow. "If this gang knows Percy's secret along with where the camps are that means they are most likely one or more demigods in this gang. What good would police officers do with something they couldn't see," I asked as she nodded. "Also, I won't be running away from home in this case if I find that Cal isn't in my head anymore," I added with a smirk
"That must be a headache," Leo muttered as I chuckled
"As Renée was charm speaking me to stay in the house your wife took control of my body to keep me from leaving," I explained as Leo's eyes widened
"I one hundred percent support her doing that," Annabeth said with a smirk, "I believe that you two are going to be here until she heals because I don't think she can be teleported with a chance of paralysis."
I nodded just as Nico nodded, "It's too risky."
"I just wish I was there to make sure this didn't happen or that she wasn't alone with this," I said with a groan
"You would rather be in a hospital be again," Leo asked in shock
"Look," I began, "I want to be in a hospital bed as much as the next person but I'm the person who told her to let the flames burn her conveniently on the same day the school's on fire and she gets shot. I'd rather be in her shoes right now than anything else," I finished the tears streaming down my face. "If I didn't say that she'd still be conscious or we'd all be at camp instead of here."
"You don't know that Zoë," Nico said as I crumbled back into the chair, "she could've been shot still."
I cried more because Calypso was telling me that he was right, "She was pushed back into the dressing room," I began as she showed me the memories. "She was trapped in the dressing room with fire, they knew where she went to school and if she stayed in there she would've died either way."
"Why do you say that," Leo asked as I looked up at him
"Does your abilities with fire include breathing through smoke," I asked as he shrugged
"I don't believe so because even I coughed whenever a room fills with smoke," he answered, his eyes widened after he realized what I meant, "Oh."
My lips thinned into a line as I saw his saddened face, "You guys can go back to camp if you have something on your mind or want to let off some energy. I'll stay here keeping an eye on her and I'm pretty sure Stephan wouldn't be far behind me."
"Are you sure," Annabeth said as I nodded
"You probably want to look into this E-Team gang since she might not wake up in a while," I said as she smiled. "You've been in my head long enough for me to guess what you want to do."
"I'm staying here in case a new unknown guest comes in," Bianca muttered as I chuckled. "I only figured to trust you considering you weren't on the floor still but yet I still don't know who you are."
I looked at her and raised an eyebrow, "You still don't know who I am yet you comfort me as I cry for Sammy," I ask as Bianca nodded. "You are the person who inherited more of Percy's Seaweed Brain," I muttered as Annabeth laughed
"Is that supposed to be a hint," Bianca began as I looked her once more
"Look into my eyes B," I began, "who else has these eyes? And who would know about removing your own immunity?"
At that moment Bianca shot me a glare, "Why did you disguise yourself Zoë," she asked me as I smirked
"Would you want people testing me if I appeared completely healed after I was supposedly sent to another hospital," I asked as she shook her head. "What would happen if I came up and said that I was here to see my girlfriend?"
"They'd put you through test after test," she said as I nodded, "okay so when Sammy wakes up, which she will, how will she recognize you?"
"You don't think she'd recognize me by my eyes and actions," I asked her as Annabeth laughed while walking out of the room
"Don't murder her," Leo said, "I need to blow off some steam," he added as I looked at him. He looked as sad as Renée did when I was in my coma
"Hey," I said getting up and grabbing his arm, "I'm sorry if I was harsh on you, I get really brutal when someone I care about is in the hospital because of me."
"How the Hades would you know about this happening," Leo asked as he turned to me
"I didn't but she would've been less injured if I hadn't told her that," I said as Leo shook his head
"Her and I would've done the same thing in that situation," he began, "if I had known about letting the fire burn you I would have done it when Gaea covered the place in flames."
"But Gaea probably would've kept you," I said as he shrugged
"We don't know that for sure," Leo said then glanced behind me as his daughter breathed steadily. "Tell me when something happens," he said as I nodded
"You know I will," I said with a smirk, "go blow off some steam, and if Stephan is there tell him that I'm here with her."
Leo nodded before running out the room yelling, "Annabeth wait up!"
"Are you staying here too or are we staying with three people to protect one," I asked Bianca as I looked at the time. It seemed in the time it took for me to run here and read the letters that revealed more of her past, the time flew by. I looked outside to see the sunset
"Poseidon needs me underwater for something," Bianca began, "he'd need Maria too but I think it's going to take as much to get her from Sammy's side as it would take you."
I chuckled as Thalia shot a glare to Bianca, "I think it's safe to call us by our actual names," I began looking at them. "Except for when we're at the theater or a Hamilton event with the whole cast I think it's safe to go with our legacy names because I think Sammy and I have an early summer," I explained as I threw myself into another chair
"Are you okay Zo," Bianca said as I looked up at her, "I haven't seen you like this in a long time."
"You just know how I am when the rolls are switched," I answered, "I'm still processing everything I read in that letter too. I can't imagine what that gang put her through for her to end up having a death sentence. What kind of things does she know that the gang wants her dead for," I asked as Bianca patted my shoulder
"Give your brain a break and stop thinking like mom for a few minutes," she began, "it'll do you some good."
"There's a problem with that," I muttered, "I can't stop thinking about this situation. My girlfriend was shot at, you would probably be thinking nonstop if something happened to your significant other that's connected to their past."
"I'll give you that," she said as she turned around to Thalia who was still next to Sammy's bed. "Thalia," Bianca began, "make sure she gets some rest okay?"
Thalia nodded, "You bet I will," she said with a smile
"The key time to fall asleep is around twelve-thirty since all of the rotations are done then," Bianca whispered as I smiled
"Thanks, B," I said, "go before grandpa starts getting irritated with you being gone for this long."
She smiled before running out the door after Leo and Annabeth, "You are too kind of a person to be going through this," Nico said from the door making me jump
"I forgot you were here," I said, "you are not the first person to say that."
Nico chuckled, "I'm getting some food for all of you, anything in particular?"
"A burger sounds good if they have any if not then some pasta," I muttered as Thalia agreed
Once Nico disappeared she spoke, "Why do two people who are absolute cinnamon rolls have to go through so many troubles?"
I looked up to notice she was crying, "Because many of the cinnamon rolls we know and love all go through their hardships," I began as I looked at her. "How long have you two been pen pals for, I don't think I've seen you cry for someone other than me or mom."
"Ever since you were orphaned," Thalia answered as she sat down next to the door. "You sit next to her with your hat on, you're her girlfriend," she ordered as I smiled
As I stood up without argument and scooted a chair by her bed I asked, "What kind of things did you two talk about?"
Thalia sighed, "She talked about how shitty the gang is and how gossipy her school friends were while I talked about what happened with school and how you were orphaned. I never thought that we'd be meeting, she's a fun person to be around," she finished with a smile. "Stop thinking that it's your fault," she added as I looked up at her. "You and B are too much alike and I can sense the guilt coming from you with this like I could sense the guilt coming from B after the crash."
"You two spent a lot of time after I disappeared didn't you," I asked as I held onto Sammy's hand which wasn't in a wrap
"We had our own club trying to look for you," Thalia said, jumping to the edge of her seat. "We looked through every foster home database when you didn't come for your recognition party," she began as I arched an eyebrow. "We were going to throw a party for you since you graduated from middle school. You do remember how we were all sisters back then?"
I chuckled remembering how Bianca once put me in a headlock, "Yeah, I remember," I began. "When did you realize that I was in New York," I asked her as she looked at me
"When the group home in Toledo said that you weren't under their jurisdiction anymore since you moved with the foster family after recognition. They told us the possible group homes that you could've been put in so we called each one looking for you until we called Graham Windham and they told me you were with a family called the Williams. If we knew they were abusive we would've gotten here sooner but by the time we both were able to afford to move here you already ran into Renée," she explained as I looked at her in shock
"You became detectives for years," I said as she chuckled
"Yeah and to find out all of our lives are changing," she said as she glanced back at Sammy's body. "I didn't think I'd be meeting her; I hadn't heard from her for a year after you disappeared and to find out that you met her before me."
"Sorry to take your thunder," I said as I looked at her as well, "I didn't know she was a scribe until that death threat that she got."
"She'll probably beat you in a writing contest," Thalia blurted as I glanced at her
"Do you remember how fast the person who taught me how to type was," I asked as she chuckled
"I mean in handwriting," Thalia said, glancing at the letters, "whoever this E-Team gang is they had a good idea with not turning to type their letters."
"Why's that," Nico's voice said from the doorway carrying two trays of food
"If the police found a discarded laptop they could probably go into the memory of that laptop and track the original owner," I explained as he handed me a burger. "That's if they didn't factory reset the thing," I added before biting into it
"Couldn't the police undo a factory reset," Thalia asked as I shrugged
"Don't know," I began after I swallowed, "they may be able to or they may not. That may be a thing dramatized by TV shows."
"They're earlier letters are typed out," Nico began as he sat down and I took another bite. "It seems that she was their scribe from the beginning so she might beat you in a typing contest."
I shrugged, "I'm not that interested in finding out," I said, "it's not that important to know who the fastest typer is."
"I'd win," Nico said before putting a forkful of pasta in his mouth, "I'd hold down one key until the time was up."
Thalia and I shot daggers in Nico's direction, "That is not what we meant by faster typer and you know that Di Angelo."
"How was I supposed to know, remember what time I was born in," Nico said with a mouthful of pasta as Thalia and I laughed
"You may not be interested in finding that out but I am," she said as I finished my burger
"I'm guessing you're going to get a lot of people interested that you'll start a typing competition between us," I asked as she grinned and I sighed. "Let's hope she pulls through this," I said then looked at Nico remembering something. "Have you seen her yet," I asked as his head snapped in my direction
"Not yet but if you fall asleep and I see her I'll wake you because I'm pretty sure you'd kill me if I didn't."
"You got that right," I said as he got up and set his tray outside along with my trash. Suddenly he sped over to me touching Thalia's shoulder along with mine once he got to me
Suddenly I was back in the coma realm seeing Calypso next to me, "About time you two made it here," she said with a smile. "Come on Samantha," she said looking at her body as I looked at Nico who sat in a chair and closed his eyes
"She's struggling too much," he said, "Zoë take her hand that might help."
I sighed as I walked up to her and grabbed her hand lacing my fingers through hers, "Zoë," Sammy's voice said from the door
"Hey Sams," I said with a smile as I looked at her in the doorway, "you're not dying but you're in the place of decision. Originally I wouldn't be able to talk to you along with Thalia but you'd talk to children of Hades. You'll also talk to Cal and the people that died that you missed. Luke was my guide with this. I don't know whether or not you'll have one but you'll most likely go throughout the hospital running into a few people from your past. I can't hug you or anything because you're pretty much a ghost but you could hug your biological parents, Cal and all the other missing demigods and past family members or friends."
"You're not mad at me for not telling you the things I did," she asked as I shook my head, "why?"
"You had your orders and that last letter you wrote said that you had guilt with those killings," I explained. "I can't be mad at you for something that happened in the past along with the fact that you feel guilty for it."
"Thank you," she said with a grin as more people started appearing she looked at Thalia. "Is her mouth open because we're in this realm or what?"
I chuckled as I placed her hand back on the bed, "Maybe a combination of both," I began, "She's your old pen pal, that orphaned friend she was talking about was me."
"You were so close with her and Bianca," she said with a grin, "they worried about you a lot. I wish I didn't cut ties with you Thaly."
"I wish you didn't go through so much shit," she said and an arrow appeared next to her head. "What the Hades," she said jumping six feet out of her skin
"Pleasure to meet you Miss Nightshade," I said with a smile as the woman put her bow away
"It is a pleasure to meet thee as well," she said then turned to Thalia, "I didn't appreciate when your namesake cussed so could you please refrain from doing so."
"It would be wise to respect the dead's wishes Thaly," I said with a smirk as Sammy giggled. I then looked at her, "We'll stay here watching for any trouble if you wish to go throughout the hospital talking to people. I can't go with you since I'm not your guide and I do not know who'd they be."
"I am her guide," a new voice said in the crowd that made Sammy stiffen, a man in a ghostly form stepped out from the crowd. "I know the people dear to her that she lost and I feel like I needed to make up for my actions in life."
"You must be Nick," I said walking up to him as he nodded, "May I introduce you to her mother Calypso Valdez," I said stepping aside just as the mother punched him in his face.
"I deserve that," he muttered, I then snorted to see several people with their weapons at the ready.
"I'm pretty sure their threat is that if you hurt her in any way that they will find a way to kill you even more," I said as he looked at them. "And I will be joining them with my sister Thalia, and the rest of her family."
He straightened looking at Nico before stepping closer to the group of ghosts that have their weapons pointed at him. "Be rest assured Zoë," he began, "I will not lay a finger on her. I do want to warn you that you are not the only ones who know when rotations are done and they will do anything to kill her. I wish I could stop them but they lost their trust in me," he said as I started seeing a soft glow out of the corner of my eye
"I don't think their trust isn't the only one you've lost," I said standing face to face with him. "She lost hope that you'd come to help her from the beatings that you allowed in your command. She almost died with you if it wasn't for where she stood Nicholas, it was because of your recklessness in leading a gang that her trust and hope were lost and she was hurt more than you. I suggest that you fix that by treating her right while guiding her to the right places in this damned hospital or I will personally ask Hades to solidify your soul so I can beat the crap out of you anyway I see fit," I finished growling. "I'm pretty sure she won't see a problem in burning you either," I added as he shrunk back to the corner. "I apologize for the cursing Lady Nightshade," I said as she nodded
"You are definitely more fit for her than I ever was," Nick said as I returned a glare to him
"At least I won't turn a blind eye to her pain that's caused by my hand," I growled once more. "If there are any other guests here, tell her the truth of how many people you can tell their future and take her to her parents and other people that want to talk to you. I won't be surprised if Cal follows you," I added sending a hint in the mother's direction. "I will be asking Nico to make it so I can still see this realm until she wakes up," I added once more as the son of Hades nodded.
Nick swallowed, "You got that Jackson," he said before darting from my gaze almost running into Sammy. "Hey there Sam," he said fearfully as she shot glares at him
"Sams," I began and she looked at me, "one hit for revenge and if he gets to hurting you, you can have all the hits you want but be sure to include your mother in it."
She grinned as he leads the way out of the door, "I love you so freaking much," she said as I smiled
"I love you too," I said with a smile as I felt something poke my back, "can I help you?"
I turn to see a mirror image of Leo, "Hello Zoë," he began with a wide grin as I arched an eyebrow
Then my heart skipped a beat as I looked at the dead and missing demigods in front of me. "You're Sammy's namesake," I began, "Hazel," I called and soon she stepped out from the group. "I figured a reunion was in order before you tell me what you wanted to," I said with a smirk
"That isn't Leo," Thalia said appearing next to me as I looked at my sister
"No," I began with a grin as the two hugged, "that's Samuel Valdez, otherwise known as Sammy. Hazel had a crush on him in their time before she moved to Alaska with her mother that led to their death. Sammy is Leo's great-grandfather that's why they look alike," I explained as he turned to me
"Thanks for explaining who I am to the whole room," he said with a grin
"What else am I supposed to do when a mirror image of your great-grandson is poking at my back to talk to me," I asked with a smirk. "What do you want Valdez," I asked once more as he chuckled
"Do you trust me," he asked as I sighed
"Sometimes I don't trust some things Samantha and Leo come up with but I still go with it," I answered as Hazel snickered
"Glad I'm not the only one who does that," he said with a wide grin, "what I'm going to say to you is that you keep her safe as much as possible. I wouldn't put it past her father to burn through your immunity if you hurt her purposefully."
I smiled, "Would I be here right now if I wanted to hurt her," I asked just as Nico groaned
"Zoë," he said, "Sammy's getting hurt, I can make it so you can help her but you're going to need to sit here passed out."
I looked toward the group as they nodded then I looked at Thalia, "You got the watch," I asked as she nodded and I sat next to Nico. Suddenly I was out of my body running in the direction that Sammy and Nick went in not too long ago. I threw a dagger at Nick who stood over my girlfriend
"It's not me Jackson," he cursed as the dagger embedded itself in its skin, "it's him."
I looked passed him to see a dark figure fighting Calypso, "Cal," I called out and handed her a pen that she took. "I don't know who you are but stop messing with my girlfriend," I said as I uncapped the other pen and rotated my other wrist. "Take her back to her room Nick, there are some people that could nurse her back to health in there."
"You got it," he said as I heard my dagger fall to the floor
"It is not my time to fight you yet," a voice boomed from the dark figure, "hurry back to that room or the team that summoned me will have their wish."
After realizing what the voice said a minute after the figure disappeared I dashed back to her room with Calypso behind me. "I returned your body to you, you now have the capabilities of one of my children," Hades' voice said in my head once I stepped into the room failing to notice my body.
"Thanks, Hades," I said as I grabbed the person who was looming over Sammy's body and punched them in the face. "Get away from her," I growled as the man stumbled into the corner, "if you're a demigod then fight the demigod way instead of a cowardly gang who chooses when they attack. You raised an evil that could destroy this whole world just to kill one girl."
The man stumbled into a corner, "She deserves what's going to come to her," He snarled. "I thought you were still knocked out taking care of the help that we summoned."
"I had a little godly help of my own," I said with a smirk, "since you know my father's secret you should stand up and fight against us as you were trained to."
"Perhaps we're not as ready to take her life as we thought," he growled before he disappeared. I sighed before turning around to where Nick was taking care of Sammy with Calypso. "How is she," I asked, "and what happened?"
"That figure attacked us as I was making it to Mr. and Mrs. Edwards," Nick began as he rubbed his arm
"Sorry about throwing the dagger," I said as I approached her head, "Hey there," I said as I brushed a hair off of her face. "How are you feeling," I asked as she looked at me her eyes wide
"Please don't say that thing put you in a coma," she said as I chuckled
"No," I began, "Hades helped me out so I could help you guys out," I explained as she smiled
"Well at least you're not in another coma," she said with a chuckle as I smiled. "I've made my decision without seeing my parents," she said
"Are you sure you don't want to see them first," I asked her as she smiled
"I'll see them," she said as she sat up, "can you come with Nick and me since you can interact with us like a Hades kid?"
I smiled, "Yeah, I'll come with you after I make sure Thalia and Nico can wake up," I said as I helped her up. "What did that figure do to hurt her," I asked
"It attacked from behind and somehow went through her," Calypso said, "I'll come with you for extra backup."
As she was explaining this I shook Thalia awake, "Intruder alert," she said once she woke as I chuckled
"He's taken care of Thaly," I said with a smirk as she shot a glare at me, "wake Neeks up, Hades gave me the ability to fully interact with spirits so I could help them."
"Is Sammy okay," Thalia asked squinting across from her, "I can't seem to see her."
I smiled and touched her shoulder, "Is that better," I asked as she jumped out of the chair
"Jesus," she cursed as I laughed
Sammy stood right in front of Thalia with a big grin on her face, "Hey Thaly," she said. "Yes, I'm fine Z and Cal are going to come with Nick and me to see my parents before I vocalize my decision."
"Okay, it's good to know that you're safe especially with Zoë and Cal with you," she said as I grinned
"She'll always be safe with us," I said as I nodded my head to the door while grabbing my hat. "Come on guys we don't have all night," I said with a smirk
"I gotta say," Calypso said walking up to me, "her coma is more eventful than yours."
I chuckled, "That's because mine was more of a reunion and it wasn't caused by a gang that has demigods in it," I explained as I put the hat on to cover my eyes. "Would you rather have that for me than her," I asked as she chuckled
"I'd rather no one have it," she said, "Why are you still wearing that?"
"The only person who knows that I'm here is her doctor," I began, "the rest of the hospital thinks I'm healing somewhere else."
She nodded, "Sorry I forgot," she said as I smiled
"It's fine, you're not used to being in my head," I said just as I felt fingers lacing into mine. "Excuse me I think your daughter needs me in the front with Nick."
"You're fine I'll keep watch back here," she said mimicking my smile
"You okay," I asked as I felt her grip my hand
"Just scared and nervous," she said as I looked at her
"I understand why you're scared but why are you nervous," I asked as she glanced at me
"I'm nervous to see how my parents react to me dating you," she said as I smiled
"They already know," I said as she arched an eyebrow at me, "they knew when I met them and asked me to treat you well."
"You got a lot of threats," she said with a chuckle as I grinned
"You have no idea," I said as I rubbed the back of my neck with my free hand, "I even had a threat from Pipes and a judo-flip from your mother and mine," after I finished Nick whistled. "They told me to treat you better than he did," I said nodding in his direction
"I do not hold offense to that," he said, "I didn't treat her as I should've."
"That you did Nicholas," a familiar voice said as we passed two people
"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Edwards," I said as I turned to the smiling couple, "it is a pleasure to see you again."
"Please don't say you're in another coma Zoë," Mrs. Edwards said as Sammy darted to her biological parents
I grinned, "Luckily I'm not," I began, "Hades blessed me to interact with you guys to help with what just happened not too long ago."
Mr. Edwards nodded, "You should take something from her book Nick, could do you some good in the next life."
Nick chuckled as I glanced at him, "That's if I get done with the Fields of Punishment, I heard a new soul might by joining me soon and I may be able to go for rebirth soon."
My lips thinned into a line as I thought of who it might be, "I think I have an idea on who that person maybe," I said as the two parents chuckled
"Who," Mrs. Edwards asked as Nick shifted his stance
"Remember that man who was my guide when I was in a coma," I asked them and they nodded. "He may have lied about how many people he could tell me how they'd feel and their future."
"So, your own brother lied to you," Mr. Edwards asked as I shrugged
"I'm not all that sure," I began as both of the parents around me raised an eyebrow. "I may have judo-flipped him and kicked him in the groin as I found out but as I was doing this he had this golden haze over his eyes."
"So, you think someone was controlling him in the afterlife," Calypso asked and I nodded. "How," she asked as I shrugged
"If the being who was controlling him was already dead I could understand how," I said thoughtfully
"You really are my Smart Guppy," she said with a smile
"And you're my Brave Embers," I said with a smirk as she shot a glare at me, "what, I am taller than you."
"That's a good one," Calypso said as she busted out in laughter
"It is good to see you again Calypso," Mrs. Edwards said with a grin as my girlfriend's mother recomposed herself
"It's good to see you as well," she said with a grin
"You and Mrs. Jackson should visit sometime," she said as I smiled
"I don't think that you'll be seeing my mother anymore unless you are watching the living," I began. "She was returned to her body when I was teleported to camp," I explained as they smiled
"Well let's hope that Calypso soon follows in her footsteps," Mr. Edwards said as Sammy walked back to us and thread her fingers back through mine. "You two take care," he added before they disappeared
"I'll miss them," Sammy said with a pout as we made it back to her room
"I'll see what I can do if you want to see them again," I said as I rubbed my thumb over the back of her hand as we neared her door. "Ready to vocalize your decision," I asked, "or do you want to say your farewells beforehand?"
At this point, we had walked into the room seeing every missing and dead demigod in front of us. She scanned the room looking at all of them, "It was nice meeting you all but I think I know my path," she said with a smile as she returned her ghostly gaze to me
Nick stepped forward, "And what shall that be?"
"I'd rather not give Zoë another heartbreak and live as long as I can with her," she said brushing a strand of my hair from my eyes before disappearing as a gasp came from the bed
I dashed to her bed lacing my fingers through her hand as I looked through her pained amber eyes. "Life does look better for you," I said, "I don't think I could stand talking to a ghost form of you."
She giggled as I smiled, "I love you, Smart Guppy."
My grin widened as she said her first words before waking up and I saw her feet moving. "I love you too Brave Embers," I shot back at her as she grinned through the pain. "It's okay for you to be in pain you don't have to hide it," I added as she clenched my hand a sigh of relief escaping my lips as a chair was pushed under me and I sat down eventually falling asleep at her side.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone