Hey, special shout out to Goddess95, BJ-midge-4eva and every one who has reviewed so far! Thnx a lot! This chapter doesn't have much action in it, it's more about the characters thoughts and feelings about what has recently happened.
Enjoy!
Luv Aussie Heroine
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I kept my eyes focused on the road in an effort to stop myself from crying. Behind me, my little sister was bleeding to death. Okay Theresa wasn't really my sister but ever since we met at Brown Stone, I felt like she was family. All of them were my family and I would die for any of them. A loud sob caught my attention. Atlanta lay hunched over on Archie's shoulder crying. Archie had his arms around her and was rubbing the small of her back. Beside me, Odie was talking to Chiron and Hera on his PMR. His mouth moved so fast I couldn't make out what he was saying but from his tone he sounded like he would break down at any minute. But no one was suffering more than Jay. It the review mirror I saw Jay hover over Theresa as she lay across his knee. He was only wearing a white T-shirt now and his green jacket was wrapped tightly around Theresa's thigh. I knew that he was hit worst by it but some how he managed not to cry. Maybe he just didn't want the team to see him cry? I couldn't imagine what it must feel like to lose some one you love, especially when she was your closest friend and your soul mate. It would be even worse when you wanted to tell her you loved her but instead the last words she heard from you was when you were fighting. That must be hard. I pushed my truck as fast as it would go; feeling all the time it was still to slow. Finally I pulled up in front of the school. Jay was out in a flash and ran Theresa's body up the steps. Archie pulled Atlanta along and over took them to open the door. Odie shot around the back to grab his laptop which left me and Neil alone in the truck.
"That was fast," Neil piped up, trying to lighten up the situation. I only grunted as I raced up the stairs.
"Yeah Neil, I just hope it was fast enough."
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My heart pounded as I raced up the last few steps to the school. Theresa's body was clutched tightly to my chest as I ran. "Just a few more minutes and you'll be safe."
I whispered gently into her ear though I doubt she would hear me. Archie raced forward to push open the door for me. Atlanta trailed behind him, slower than usual like all her fire had burned out. I sotta knew how she felt. My attention returned to the angel in my arms. Her skin was getting colder by the minute and her breathing was shallow and uneven. I prayed that this wouldn't be the end. As we approached the janitor's closet, Archie twisted the key. Immediately we were standing in the home of the gods. Statues of the Gods and heroes adorned the walls, each telling a story. However I wasn't interested in the glory of the place, I ran past all the statues to Chiron's office. As I burst through the door, Hera was there waiting for me. Chiron had set up a bed in the centre and stood there ready. Gently I lay Theresa's body down in between the pillows and stepped back. Persephone moved into my spot and hovered over her student. Her hand flickered to Theresa's fore head as she closed her eyes. After a minute her eyes opened and met Chiron's and she shook her.
"Dragon poisoning, and a big dose of it," she whispered. Chiron stepped forward to assess her. As his hands moved lightly over Theresa's body, I was vaguely aware of Atlanta beside me.
"Is she going to be OK," Atlanta's frail lips whispered. Her tear stricken face looked up at mine and I thanked her silently. I wasn't going to be able to hold on much longer.
"The damage is severe but I won't be able to tell you a lot right now, why don't you kids go and get some rest and we'll call you when we have something." The old centaur moved towards Hera.
"Do you need anything from them?"
The queen of the gods shook her head lightly.
"Odie already told us every thing on the way here. Come young heroes and let Chiron begin his work." With that she waltzed slowly out of the room, followed by Archie who held Atlanta by his side. My eyes refocused on the bed where my heart lay. Gently, I stroked her cheek, wishing I could do more. Archie called out to me from the hall way.
"Please Theresa, Please be Ok," I whispered to her before turning around to follow Archie.
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An hour had pasted since the young heroes had first bought there friend into my office. During that hour I had examined every inch of her fragile body twice over hoping I had been wrong the first time. Nothing changed however. How had this girl become such a mess? Easy, Cronus was a vile and cruel being who took pleasure in harming others. But to use dragon venom? That was the lowest thing you could do. Dragon venom was an extremely painful way to die. My old grey eyes wandered over to the young girl lying on the bed. Her face was screwed up in pain but not a moan passed her lips. She was so young? Why was it always the young ones who suffered? In my time as a doctor, which was a long time since I am immortal, I have seen plenty of cases of dragon poisoning. No mortal has ever survived. I sighed as I walked down the hall to where the heroes waited. How do you tell 6 young kids that their friend will never awaken? That she will lie there in pain until Hades claims her, and that will happen before the sun rises? As I entered the room my heart immediately went out to every one in there. The big, bulky teen was sitting in the corner munching down on a bag of chips, to depressed to do anything else. Odie, the descendent of Odysseus sat at his laptop frowning and trying to find a cure. The other young heroine on the team was curled up crying next to her friend who tried his best to comfort her. But the one who caught my attention the most was the leader of the group. He sat there, staring at the ground with his head in his hands. You could tell he wanted to cry but didn't want to in front of his team. My heart especially went out to him. Both of them seemed really close. It was the way he looked at her or the way she sat near him that gave it away, they were in love. How horrible it must be to lose the one you love before you can tell her. Taking a deep breath I walked into the room. All of a sudden five sets of eyes bore into me. The leader how ever kept his head in his hands, punishing him self for what had happened.
"Any news Chiron?" the young heroine looked up from where she was crying and gazed at me.
"I'm afraid not dear," I choked sadly. "You see Cronus is famous for lying but this time he was telling the truth. Dragons' venom is fatal to any mortal who receives it. No one has ever survived it. Young Theresa will be gone by sunrise, I'm so sorry."
"Isn't there a cure?" Odie piped up desperately.
"I'm sorry but no, I have been searching for one for three millennia but haven't found a thing." I looked away from the teens, trying not to cry my self. The young heroine burst into a new round of hysteria. The leader's head suddenly poked up. He looked like a dying man on the inside; all the life and joy had left his body.
"Can we see her," he choked.
"Yes, but it won't bring her back I am afraid. Feel free to go in and say good bye because by sunrise she will be gone." The young leader nodded and stood up. Slowly he walked towards my office, all the life drained from his body. I don't know if she could still hear him but maybe it would help.
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I couldn't believe it, my best friend was gone? The thought bought on another round of hysteria. I felt Archie's arm pull me tighter against his body as Chiron left the room. Why did this happen to Theresa? What had she ever done to any one? More tears escaped my eyes as I leaned against Archie's shoulder.
"Come on 'Lanta, let's go for a walk." Archie whispered gently in my ear. Nodding slowly I pushed my self to my feet, thankful that Archie had though of some thing to distract me. Where would I be with out him? As we walked out of the room his arm wrapped loosely around my waist. My thoughts drifted back to my best friend lying in that room dying. Archie seemed to sense this and pulled me in tighter. We walked around for an hour, neither of us saying anything but lost in our own thoughts. Eventually I tripped and fell to the ground. After everything that had happened tonight I was completely worn out. Part of me didn't want to get up, just lay there and sleep and hope in the morning that this was all just a bad dream. Of course morning would only pull me further into the nightmare. Archie stared down at me, concern and worry filling his grey eyes. Gently he held out his hand.
"Come one Atlanta, you need to rest." I stopped crying long enough for him to pull me to my feet and guide me across to the near by steps. He pulled me into his lap and held me close, rubbing circle along the small of my back. I was all out of tears so I just lay my head against his body. His body quivered at my touch. We sat like this for I don't know how long. Suddenly I heard Archie cough and I snapped my head up to look at him. His eyes stared back at mine with new emotion now; urgency, compassion and something else I couldn't place.
"Atlanta," he began before stopping.
'What's wrong Archie?" I asked through my hoarse voice. He sighed and looked back down at me.
"Look how close we are." My eyes strayed to our bodies and the blood ran to my cheeks. I hadn't realised how close we had been tonight, the way he held me and comforted me.
I stared back up at him wondering what he was trying to say.
"I don't know how to put this Atlanta," he held his breath for a minute before continuing on.
"Seeing Jay lose Theresa like that, well got me thinking. You don't really know how much time you've got left with the people you care about and sometimes time runs out before you can tell them everyone they need to know." Archie seized my face in his rough hands and forced me to look up at him.
"What I'm trying to say is I don't want that to happen to me and to us. Atlanta I love you! I've loved you since the day we met and even though you properly don't feel the same way about me I need you to know before our time runs out."
For a moment I was speech less. What was I suppose to say? Yes I loved him too but why had he waited so long to tell me? Did it really matter? His grip began to loosen around me as he let go of my face. I couldn't just let him go.
"Wait Archie, I love you too!" At that moment I realised what that hidden emotion was, Love! He was now staring back at me with that same emotion glittering in his eyes. He moved closer to me. Suddenly I felt his lips lock against mine, kissing them gently. The kiss only lasted several seconds but it felt so right. Here in his arms was where I belonged. The though stabbed me, bringing me back to reality. Theresa lay dying in the other room and she'd never get the chance to find out that Jay really loved her, to be where she really belonged!
Archie pulled me closer to his chest until my head was resting over his heart.
"I'm sorry about Theresa, but I'm here if you need me." The words which were only a whisper rang through my ears. My body began to feel tired and heavy again. Slowly my eyes began to close and soon I was asleep, praying that at least part of this nightmare would be over when I opened my eyes.
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I walked slowly into Chiron's office, not wanting to accept it. Theresa couldn't just be gone like that? When my eyes fell on her body, I couldn't hold on any more. I rushed to her side and took her hand in mine. It was still ice cold, something that was never going to change. My other hand gently pressed against her cheek. At that moment I gave in. Warm tears began to roll down my face and on to our hands. I sat beside her head and began to stroke her cheek.
"I'm sorry Theresa, sorry I couldn't protect you." They were the only words that left my mouth. There was so much I wanted to say to her but I couldn't bring myself to say them. I sat there with her, just stroking her hair or cheek and trying to enjoy every last moment I had with her. I didn't bother to look up; gods passed by sometimes looking at us and sighing. What did they see? A dying girl who shouldn't be this way and a hopeless leader who couldn't even protect the one he loved. Her face twisted in pain and I knew she was hurting. Fortunately for Theresa the pain would end soon. My body shook as I sobbed. Why couldn't I protect her? My mind flashed back to when this all began. I promised her I wouldn't put her in danger by allowing Cronus to use her. Sure it would hurt both of us but at the time it seemed the best thing to do. Then when she finally moved on I couldn't be happy for her, I just ended up pushing us further apart. She got hurt when I was trying to protect her. Looking up at her I wished it was me lying there with the cuts and bruises, at least then she would be okay.
What would life be like without her? She was the one reason I was still sane. Theresa was always the one who listened to me no mattered how stupid my problems were. She was the one who comforted me and told me we were in this together. What was I suppose to do just forget about her? No! There wasn't much I could do for her now but I could promise her two things. Slowly I looked up at her.
"Theresa, I can't promise you much but I can promise you two things," I whispered.
"One, I will never forget you and two, I will hunt down and defeat Cronus if it is the last thing I do and make him pay for what he has done to you!"
This was when I noticed the chain around her neck. I thought Chiron had removed all her high heels and necklace beforehand? My fingers traced the outline of her neck until they brushed against something cold. Gently I picked up the small thing and gasped. Around her neck lay a small charred cat pendent, the same pendent I had given her shortly after we met. Why was she wearing it with Andrew? Suddenly it clicked; she never really gave up on me. After our fight she didn't hate me. The thought only hurt more when I though of what she had done to save me and why.
A loud chime sounded behind me and I glanced around to find the source. The clock above the door chimed again, saying it was six o'clock. Had I been here all night? Glancing down at Theresa's body suddenly gave me an idea. There was one more thing I could do for her before she died. Gently I scooped her limp body up into my arms and walked out the door.
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WOW, this story just keeps getting darker and darker. Sorry to leave with such a cliff hanger but I couldn't squeeze any more in, so you're just going to have to wait for the end. Thnx again to every one who has reviewed and keep it up!
Plz'n'Thnx
Luv Aussie Heroine!
