Chapter 25

Together Annabeth and Markos made their way back through the tunnel system, Markos was thankful he had Annabeth with him because he did not remember the way, she also gave him strength to keep moving even though his body was screaming at him to stop and recover.

Annabeth held the fire torch high so it illuminated the hallway, finally they rounded the corner and found themselves back to the dungeons. Annabeth dropped back allowing Markos to go to Hemera's cell, Markos looked into the cell fearing for a moment that it was empty but the familiar glow filtered through the bars

"Hemera" he smiled

The goddess looked up, her golden eyes finding him instantly

"Markos" she beamed back moving quickly to the bars, she placed a hand over his that held onto the bars "You're here"

Annabeth stayed back although her eyes saw everything, saw the way the goddess looked at him, the way her hand was over hers

"I feared that Annabeth would not get to you in time… I thought you were…" she didn't finish her sentence "She did find you, didn't she"

"She did thank you Hemera" Markos looked down the corridor to where Annabeth was standing, she smiled when she saw the love in his eyes, love for her.

Hemera followed his gaze, then dropped her gaze, she knew that the demigod had another, and this girl came to Tartarus to rescue him, they were meant to be.

"You need to get out of here" the goddess said quietly, her glow dimming slightly

Markos turned back to her "Not without you" he smiled at her "I made a promise and we have a way out of here"

"Markos" Hemera started looking back into the young man's green eyes, eyes that she had come to know well "This is my place, only Thanatos can open the door, you need to go"

"No" he disagreed "I'm going to get you out"

Annabeth stepped forward slightly as Markos took his good hand and tried to pull open the door, but it wasn't moving, he grunted as he was putting his body through more than it could handle in his current state

"Markos… Markos stop!" pleaded Hemera but Markos did not listen he threw his shoulder against the bars, a wound on his arm started to bleed again

"Markos! Markos!" the goddess reached through the bars and caught his arm, her strength forced him to stop, he turned his emotional gaze to the golden eyed goddess

"I know what you are doing Markos, but you don't need to repent for your sins" She swallowed the lump in her throat "You have nothing to repent for, you are a good man" she moved his hand to place it on his cheek

"I made a promise" he whispered

"I know" the goddess said trying to keep her tears at bay "But this is a promise you cannot keep, this is my curse Markos one that I cannot escape, it was created by the oldest gods"

She inhaled a deep breath

"But maybe I can help you with yours" she brought his face closer to hers, bringing her lips to his cheek, warmth and power flooding through his broken body. He gasped as he felt a searing pain cross his back, this was not like the other times she had healed him, the white light grew brighter and brighter

Markos felt his knees growing weaker and if it was not for Hemera's arms around him, he would have fallen, the power coming from her was almost too much for him to take, he felt her inside his mind. Felt her in his very soul, she was everywhere, his mind flashed to all their time spent together in the cells, the conversations they had shared, he saw it all.

The images faded as he focused back on the real world, the dark cells, the cold stone walls and the beautiful woman who was holding him up,

"Annabeth" called Hemera looking down to where the demigod stood, shock covering her features, she made eye contact with the goddess

"You must get him out of here now, his senses will come back to him soon, but now the both of you must leave before my brother returns for me" she said hastily

Annabeth took Markos's body weight, luckily he was still with it enough to use his feet but his head drooped, his eyes didn't focus properly.

"I'm sorry Hemera" whispered Annabeth "I wish we could do more, you saved Markos and I know how much he wanted to save you"

A single tear rolled down the goddess's pale cheek, Annabeth could see how much it pained her to be alone again

"It's the way it must be" her golden eyes landed back on Markos "Goodbye Markos son of Ares" she allowed her hand to drop from him

"Go now Annabeth, there is not a lot of time before day break"

Annabeth nodded solemnly and began to drag Markos back down the corridor, she had dropped the torch trying to hold him up. She heaved him along at a quick pace, she squinted into the dark trying to see where to take the turning.

"Come on Markos" she tried to hoist him up further but it was like he was made of lead "Were going home… together"

Her muscles began to burn under the extra weight, but she would not give up now, if Markos could survive Hades torture in Tartarus then she could make it back to the chariot, they had to be close now. Annabeth was sure of it, she bust into the open chamber

"Come on lets go!" called Thalia her eyes fixed on the two demigods, her hands gripped tightly around the reigns, the war hounds pulled at the chariot aching to return to the land of the living.

Annabeth lumbered Markos onto the back, dropping him at Thalia's feet, she leapt on and held onto the son of Ares tightly

"GO!" she yelled as Thalia snapped on the reigns and the war hounds dashed into a bright light.