I felt like dancing. I was finally going to be whole again!
I was bouncing up and down in anticipation as I was led by Hades to a small room with a table that had a big, comfortable-looking blanket on it. Nico and Travis were following us in, also looking excited.
Hades gestured to the table and I climbed on top of it. Hades tried to make Travis and Nico leave the room. I smiled at Travis and he happily left, but Nico wanted to stay, so Hades let him since he needed "an assistant."
Hades handed Nico two glass jars. One was filled with rose-colored mist and the other was filled with yellow-tinted mist. I caught sight of a label on the rose-mist jar that said "Aphrodite." On the other jar, the label said, "Vampire." I knew instantly what they were: some of my parents' immortal energy!
Hades told me, "Try to hold still, Lyra. I'm not sure if this will hurt."
I became a living statue as Hades took a jar and opened it. He waved the mist over me and started whispering an ancient Greek incantation.
My eyes darted to Nico. He was trying to hold still, smiling as if he was seeing me for the first time.
Hades waved the other jar of mist over me, still whispering that strange spell.
A sudden shock of pain came over me and I screamed in terror, the shriek echoing in the cavern-like palace. Nico's hands gripped the table, wanting to help, and not knowing how to. I levitated in the air, still screaming.
When I descended back to the table, I could feel my body enveloping my spirit once more.
I opened my eyes.