greetings dear readers! I suppose I should apologize for the lateness of this chapter. When I said the next one would be uploaded soon in my head I meant the next day but then my own bone idle laziness got in the way and one thing lead to another and my definition of "soon" turned into "next year"

sorry

thanks to fantasy137 as always for editing every chapter, I admire your patience :)

enjoy!

Chapter 6: Cured

"What do you mean he's closing the gates to hell?" Layla asked after Nico had finished explaining what Hades had told him.

"With Hades it's better to not ask too many questions," Nico sighed. "He wouldn't tell why; all he told me was that 'it's what's best for us' and then he told me to bring you to the Underworld before he closes the gates or he'll sit back and watch us burn along with the rest of the world."

They were sitting in their cabin with no light but the dim green glow of the Greek fire torches. Layla stared at her brother in shock, but said nothing. She fiddled with the hem of her shirt as her mind muddled through all the information Nico had just given her and slowly comprehended what would be the result of the gates to hell closing.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice how her powers had gone into overdrive: the torches flickered on and off despite the fact that they were enchanted to never go out, shadows without a source began to move across the walls. Before it could get any worse, Nico grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Layla, look at me," he demanded. "Don't lose control again."

She took several deep breaths until the torches stopped flickering and the shadows disappeared. "I'm calm, it's fine," she repeated in a sort of chant until she finally got a hold of herself. "So," she said in an attempt to change the subject. "Thanatos can heal curses?"

"That was news to me too," Nico said. "Now, how about we go and see if Hades was telling the truth about that?"

Layla nodded and then, together, they walked to the Aphrodite cabin.

The mid-afternoon sun made them both squint as they emerged from the darkness of their cabin and out into daylight, despite the day being slightly cloudy and not what anyone would consider to be a very bright day. They didn't have to knock when they arrived at the Aphrodite cabin, given that as soon as they got there Piper swung the door open with a huge grin on her face and, after seeing Layla, wrapped her arms around her.

"I'm so sorry about what I said to you," she said.

"Uh," Layla said, frozen in shock by the sudden unexpected contact. "I kinda cursed you? I think we're even... you can stop hugging me now."

Piper immediately let go of her and instead settled for grinning widely at her. "Thank you for curing me... I know it was an accident."

Layla shrugged and looked to Nico in hope that he would know how to react in this kind of social situation.

He shrugged as if to say "Don't look at me."

And Layla shrugged back as if to say "Well it was worth a shot."

"Have you, uh, talked to Leo yet?" Layla asked after several long seconds of awkward silence. "He was really worried about you."

"I know," Piper sighed, "He's such a good friend." She said the word 'friend' in a strange tone, as if she didn't like the way it sounded when applying it to Leo, which made Layla begin to feel slightly defensive even though she had no idea why. "Thanatos just left though, I haven't had the chance to talk to anyone other than you guys."

"Let's go find him now," Nico suggested.

Piper nodded and gestured for him to lead the way.

"Piper?" Leo asked, looking up from whatever pointless project he'd been working on in the workshop to distract himself. "What are you doing out of the cabin? It's not safe! What happens if you get another hallucination?"

"Leo, relax," Piper smiled. "I'm cured; when Nico went down to talk to his father, Hades sent Thanatos to cure me."

"Thanatos?" Leo asked. "You mean the god of death?"

Nico sighed. "Yes, Leo, the fact that Thanatos can heal curses was news to all of us. Piper is cured let's be happy about that and move on..." he then added reluctantly with a worried glance at Layla, "We have bigger problems now."

Layla cringed at Nico's reminder of their current problem and dug her nails into the palm of her hand so hard that she nearly drew blood to stop herself from losing control over her powers.

"How exciting," Leo said, each word laced with sarcasm, "I love problems. What is it this time?"

"Hades wants to close the gates to hell," Layla said.

"What?" Piper gasped.

"But then where will all the dead people go?" Leo asked before shaking his head and saying, "Don't answer that."

"Hades wouldn't tell me why... he told me to get Layla and take her down to the Underworld, and then he would close the gates... he said that if we're not there by summer solstice he'd close the gates anyway."

"You're not going to go, right?" Leo asked, looking directly at Layla.

Layla shook her head. "Of course not! Closing the gates to the Underworld will create hell on earth – it'll probably be worse than that time Gaea kidnapped Thanatos..."

"Hades mentioned a prophecy but he wouldn't tell me it," Nico said. "I think it's time we gave camp half blood's resident oracle a visit."

CaliliaLiliana: thanks for reviewing! I'll be the first to review yours as soon as you find he means to upload a chapter

LeeOfHermes0330: aw thank you :) I recently re-read what i've written in this story and I kinda find it hard to believe anyone who thinks my witing is amazing, you're too nice *whispers* please continue...

I will upload again soon but there will be no definition of how soon that soon will be...