Henry's blood brown eyes stared into the goddess' sapphire blue ones in utter shock. A goddess... Here... Talking to him! Of all people! She leaned back in her chair and played with one of her golden locks of blond hair as she smirked in amusement.
"I'm betting three drachma that you can't name who I am in one try, Henry." She teased, her eyes glittering with enjoyment. But he already knew who she was.
"Your Aphrodite!" He smiled again, handing him three of the golden coins she had wagered as a prize. "But, aren't you not allowed to be here? After all, Elisabeth-"
"Isn't my child." Aphrodite interrupted, taking out a pack of gum. "Want one? It's strawberry flavor." Henry leaned closer to her, holding his head in his hands, trying to rap his brain around what she just said. Running a shaky hand through his hair, he looked back at her with a determined look.
"No thanks." he said, and Aphrodite just shrugged and popped a peice in her mouth. "But why do you say she isn't your daughter?"
"Easy, she's not." Aphrodite stated in a bored tone. "I was paid to claim her. Best hour alone with Ares out of my existence." Henry looked between Elisabeth's peaceful face and Aprodite's, noticing for the first time how different they were, look wise that is. Elisabeth had a natural beauty to her, her features just perfect for her. But there was nothing that looked like it was part of Aphrodite's DNA pool. Their noses were completely different, their eye shape were totally not a match, not even their face shapes were the same. Elisabeths was a more rounded and smooth shape while Aphrodite had a more angular face. Don't get him wrong, they both looked amazing, but Elisabeth was just more... His type of beauty.
"So..." He looked at Aphrodite again, a little less afraid of her than he originally was. " If she is not your daughter... Then who-"
"No ones. She's not a 'daughter' of anyone." Aphrodite mused as she blew a bubble. It didn't pop in her face, it was more of she blew and it deflated from a hole that had formed. "Mortal or immortal." She added, like it was an afterthought that wasn't really that important. She smiled sweetly as she sat up strait and crossed her legs daintily. "Much like you, as a matter of fact."
"What do you mea-"
"Sorry, no more questions." The goddess of love stated, putting on a serious face. It could have looked a little more serious if not for the bubbles she was blowing with the bubble gum. "I only have another five minutes before I have to attend another boring meeting. Like, seriously! Why do we have to always have a meeting about boring things, when we could be actually working to fix the problem! Like the lack of love in a relationship now a days! Instead of talking, just rekindle the flame! You understand me,right?" Honestly, he did.
"Yeah, it sucks. I see couples fighting over the stupidest things, and they could be so perfect together if they just shoved it aside and moved on." Aphrodite's seriousness shattered when a grin that stretched ear to ear slipped through, and she started squealing like a fangirl at a concert.
"Finally! Someone who understands something important!" She had to take a few breaths before she could jump back on topic and remake that serious mask again. "But, I'm not here to gab. I need you to do something for me." Henry arched an eyebrow, leaning his elbows onto his knees and holding his hands together.
"So, let me get this strait, a goddess needs help from me?"
"Yes, or to be more accurate, you will be helping yourself as well as me." She corrected, smiling sweetly like she had nothing to hide. "But, I would suggest you listen closely. It's going to be very important for you to fallow what I'm about to say very closely." Henry started to nod, but stopped.
"May I ask for something first?" The goddess arched an eyebrow, her sapphire eyes glittering with curiosity. "When I do everything you ask of me, I want you to explain exactly what you meant by 'much like me.' and the comments before it." Aphrodite smiled sweetly and nodded her head.
"Sure kid. Though, you will both find out soon enough. Ok, down to business." The goddess stood, the room becoming dark as she glowed. The unearthly light cast shadows across the room, that eerie feeling in the pit of Henry's stomach that he hadn't given much thought to growing in intensity.
"You must do three things, Henry Plutaina, and you must do them exactly the way I tell you." She said in a commanding and powerful voice. He couldn't help but flinch a little bit. "First, sneak into the attic at the Big House and talk to the Oracle. She will tell you the prophesy that will either condemn you or be your salvation. Second, you must travel to Hade's fortress and speak to Persephone. Listen to her sad story that she will tell, and remember it for as long as you love Elisabeth. Trust me, this part is the key important part to all this. And lastly, I need you to live through this. No matter how low your spirit goes, no matter if she chooses another man over you, stay alive and live." She smiled at him and placed a hand on his cheek. It was so warm and soft, like silk sheets coming right out of the dryer, Henry closed his eyes and just enjoyed the feeling. "Thank you, Aphrodite." "Oh, don't thank me." She said as she retracted her hand from his face, a playful smile on her lips. "You and her fates have been tied since you were made." His eyes opened and he looked at her, his mouth opening to ask more questions but she stopped him before he had the chance to speak. "Oh, and by the way, gift for you." She said, handing him a simple silver band with intricate designs and diamonds in it, like a-
"Why an engagement ring?" He asked, looking at her in confusion.
"Trust me," She said as she winked at him. "you will know exactly what to do with it when the time comes."
"But-" He said, standing up still holding the ring in his hands. But it was too late. Within the blink of an eye, she was gone. It was just him, Elisabeth, and the machines beeping in time with her heartbeat.
Beep
Beep
Beep
Beep
There were so many questions now. What was Aphrodite talking about when she said that they weren't anybody's child? Why was she so keen on him going to see an Oracle, much less see Persephone or stay alive?How did this help a goddess at all? And why this ring? What was it's purpose? Sitting back down, Henry looked at the ring in his hands, his questioning gaze scrutinizing every detail of it. I could have been better, he would admit. It was too flashy for Elisabeth, she would have gone with a simpler version, just the silver band with a single swirling patter around the whole band. No diamonds, nothing over the top, just one engraved swirl around a plain little band of silver.
"Uuuuhhhh" Henry looked up, surprised to hear a groan coming from inside the room. He looked around in a panic, pocketing the ring as fast as he could in his jean pocket, but there was no one there. He breathed a sigh of relief, glad that it wasn't his brother- 'Not brother... He is not my brother. Not after this.' He thought to himself, only to have his train of thought crash. "Henry?"
Henry looked slowly at the bed, the one person he did not expect to see up for a lot longer smiling faintly at him.
"Elisabeth?" He said in a soft voice, his smile reaching his eyes as they started to let tears escape. She slowly raised her delicate, paper pale hand and whipped away his tears, holding his cheek. It wasn't cold, not like it was when she had gone into the surgery. It was warm, and the touch was enough to make him close his eyes just a little. This was better than Aphrodite's touch.
"You saved me?" She asked, smiling weakly as she forced her amber eyes to stay open. She sounded weak, and powerless. So... not her.
"Yeah." Henry said softly. "I saved you." She smiled a little and closed her eyes, her hand slipping off of his face and back to her side. He held her hand gently, letting her know he was there, but more for himself when he felt the fresh guilt for not being there to protect her wash over him again. She was breathing heavily, trying to get air into her patched up lung, her eyes closing slowly as she slipped back into her drug induced sleep. "I'll be right here for you. I'll be right here till you wake up."
"Henry..." She said in a hushed and dry whisper, her voice fading as her eyes closed.
"Yeah?"
"Can you sing to me? And hold me like you did on the roof that night?" She said sleepily, forcing her eyes open again. Those amber eyes were darker now, their usually light gone. She wasn't innocent to the horrors of the world now. Even if it was just the drugs that they had her on, maybe she would never have that same shine in her eyes as she used to. That shimmer in the eyes of a girl with a dream and the innocence to propel those dreams into reality. That thought scared him, cutting him to his very bone.
"Yeah.." He said, picking her up gently and repositioning her so that he was holding her in his arms and her head was resting on his sturdy shoulder. "But I won't sound good. I was always a horrible singer." She laughed a little, a twinkle of her old self shining though just the slightest bit.
"I think your the best singer in the world." He smiled a little, kissing her forehead out of lack of caring at this point. Tears started to blur his eyes and he just held her close, just one more time.
"Well then, in that case... I'll sing you a lullaby."
Tina and Toby fallowed one if the nurses through the white hallway to the room. They had arrived a while ago, but waited in the car until they thought that Henry should have a little more company than just the injured Elisabeth.
"Here's her room, miss." The male nurse said, turning in his heels to get away from them. Well, of course they would looked scary, they drove all night just to find this place. "If you need anyone, just flag down one of the other nurses." He said hurriedly.
"Thanks!" Tina shouted after him, flipping him off when he turned his back. "Fag." She grumbled. Toby had thrown on a nice Bruce Springsteen shirt and some worn out work jean before they left, his hair still in messy, windblown dreads from having the car windows down the whole way there to keep him awake. Tina, on the other hand, was only wearing a slinky, sexy leather dress, a pair of biker boots, her blind glasses on, and her baseball cap. So, when someone started staring at Tina, Toby looked like he was going to rip their heads off.
"We'll, that was tedious." Toby said in boredom.
"What, didn't get to fight for the monster?" Tina teased. Toby took her hand in his and bowed slightly, kissing her hand
"More like fight for my princes, my love." She smiled deviously and kissed his lips.
"Don't make me steal a room for us."
"Someone wanting to play doctor?"
"Depends, am I the nurse?"
"You would be the patient, more than likely."
"Then yes."
"Well," Toby said as he put one hand on the door nob to the room where she was suppose to be. "first we make sure Elisabeth and Henry are ok." Tina sighed, nodding a little.
"Fine."
Toby opened the door just a little bit, and stopped. Tina looked at him curiously, then peered in with him. Henry was holding Elisabeth close to him, her body resting comfortably against him, as he sang to her. She looked like she was already asleep, but he began singing in a soft, smooth voice that was very pleasing to hear.
"Rest your weary head on me
I'll catch you every time you fall.
And I'll never wonder
'Do you ever need me at all?'
If you need some company
You just need to give me a call.
I'm right here
Standing right in front of you.
Waiting
Just waiting for you to catch up so we
So we can be
Be something we were meant to be.
Will you ever love me?
Like I loved you...
Like I still do..."
Tina looked at Toby in amazement. 'Did you know he could sing?' She mouthed to him, looking up at him in aw.
'No.' He mouthed back.'Don't mention it.'
'Ok.' Toby slowly opened the door a little more and walked in. "Hey..." Henry looked up at them and smiled sadly.
"Hey."
"How she doing?" Tina asked, still trying not to look like she was about to cry.
"Better. Doctors said she would have to stay for another week."
"That's good though!" Tina said, jumping up and down. "We can get her out-"
"No." Both Toby and Tina looked at him in surprise. He was glaring at them, his eyes slowly turning black before their eyes. "I have something to do first."
"Ok..." Toby took a step closer to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down, ok? This wasn't your fault."
"I know." Henry said as he shifted Elisabeth off of him and slipped out of the bed. "But I know who's it really is."
"Henry, if your going to do what I think you are going to, that's not the answer." Tina said as she gave him a tender hug. "Killing him won't do anything." Henry arched an eyebrow, a small smirk on his face.
"What about-"
"No violence." She stated coldly. "She wouldn't want that." Henry sighed and nodded, going over to his cloak and mask that Aphrodite had inconsiderately left on the floor."What are you doing?"
"I made a promise to Nico I would tell him where his daughter was." Henry stated, pulling the mask over his face, his voice deepening into a unfamiliar and different tone. "And I will honor my word."
Toby looked at Tina, who was also staring at him, and they both looked back at Henry in confusion. "Don't you want to stay here with Elisabeth?" Tina asked, a little hesitantly. Henry shook his head.
"There is something I need to do." Was all he said.
And with that, he was gone.