Chapter 3

In the gardens of the underworld

"Damn!" Layna tried sitting up but when she began to rise up pain shot through her left arm and her shoulder. "SHIT!" With a whimper Layna laid on her stomach trying not to move her shoulder or arm. But damnit! She had no idea where the hell she was! She had heard about the underworld but this area was too gorgeous to be the underworld. Apollo always said it was dark dreary and smelled of dead bodies, but the smell that reached her nose was that of ambrosia and narcissus flowers. Could this be the place where she will rest because she's dying or is dead? Layna stared to the left of her seeing the flowers sway in the breeze.

Wait a minute! A breeze? There was no breeze before! How did a breeze begin to make the flowers sway when I wanted them to! Layna looked up when the sound of wings flapping and a whooshing sound came from above. Her eyes met those of a female gargoyle. A female dragon gargoyle! Layna had been friends with one before she had left to join the ranks of Hades' Guardians. How she was able to reach those ranks were beyond her! She was such a ditz! Layna would always become annoyed with her! But she couldn't blame her because when she wasn't being ditzy she was really cool and smart.

Layna's eyes stayed connected to the dragon's when another dragon gargoyle came into view. The rainbow wings were shining just like, but it couldn't be!! It had to be! It was Agalia! Layna's eyes began to tear up as she saw her friend stare and then swoop lower to see her. Layna tried to get up once more but failed but this time when she began to fell she fell into the arms of the female dragon that had originally seen her. Her head lifted to find Agalia in front of her with tears in her eyes and whimpering at the extent of her friend's injuries.

"Hey Agalia!" Layna whispered with a weak smile forming on her lips. "Long time no see huh?"

"Yeah Layna!" Agalia whispered back petting Layna's hair and cuddling into her cheek. "Oh sweetie! Look at this! Hold on! We're gonna get help and get you healed up! Okay?" She said going into gargoyle form and flying away.

"I'll try to stay awake! Not sure if I can!" she whispered leaning on the dragon's arm and watching Agalia fly away. ~Man! In order to see an old friend again I have to be injured! Stupid battle! ~

"Easy! Calm your rage my friend! It will help the pain stop! But you must settle down. Do you understand Layna?" the dragon purred.

"Yeah! I understand you!" Layna told the dragon relaxing all of her muscles feeling the pain ebb from her brain and body. Layna purred and sighed when the pain fully subsided from her. That feels so much better! She is really cool and she's holding me like mother would when I got hurt!

As Layna leaned on the female's arm her eyes began to close. When her eyes were fully closed she heard the sound of stronger, faster, and larger wings. Then she felt the breeze but twice as strong like a weak wind. But she couldn't open her eyes to see what had made that sound. She knew it was a male gargoyle but what species was he? Was he like the dragon? Or was he an eagle? His scent was nice but not like that of the eagles. It was more like the smell of smoke from a good fire. Then she heard the male's voice.

"Is she alive?"

Okay that was way too deep and smooth to be from an eagle! But she couldn't place her finger on the species that's males spoke like that! God she'd have to look it up when she got home! If she could get home! How do you get home from the Underworld exactly? She'd have to ask Agalia when she could use her body again!

"Yes she's still alive! Is the lord on his way?"

The lord? Who was the lord here? Layna felt the blackness begin to creep up faster on her than ever before! She began to struggle to stay awake even if she couldn't open her eyes. Were those hooves she heard? No it couldn't be! Could it?

"Serene! How is she?" Wow that was a deep and smooth voice to! But it was so much darker than the first male's. How could anyone have a voice that deep? And what were they supposed to look like? Were they just as dark, and smooth as their voice?

"Alive but unconscious my lord! But her shoulder and arm are broken. It could be days before she heals fully let alone fly as a gargoyle again!" Layna couldn't hold off the blackness anymore with that last phrase uttered she truly did slip into unconsciousness.