To HoO Fan- (Chapter 58) Not quite! She's kind of dying and hallucinating Reyna's there, ain't that sweet? ^_^

Leo joined his dragon this time; they advanced, two white-hot streams merging into a river of unbridled flames. Calypso held back a little; she could feel the heat from here. A Blood tried to jump the fire. Leo got it straight in the face with a bluish fireball.

It was so much worse on the ground. The gunfire this close almost rivalled the thunder. Every so often, the ground would tremble with an almighty rumble. Calypso took this into account. And the storm. And the rain. The hurricanes. The flashes of green, now quiet. It was too much, too much. Whatever power Louisa had- this was beyond it. Tallying each bit, Calypso began to realise.

It was too much. Louisa was not drawing on her supply, but her reserves. Reserves that would eat up her life force.

"Leo!" She called, sprinting forward. It was like diving into a kiln. He had not heard her, blue flames over his body. The breach was almost sealed, they were ten metres from it, a few last defiant Bloods not quite understanding how deadly fire was. She yelled for him again, coughing as the heat crept into her lungs.

He heard her that time, looking back in confusion. She could only wheeze, pointing shakily at the sky. He did not understand, his fire dying. Festus finished the sealing on his own, standing guard and providing back-up. Leo slid down, knees buckling as soon as he hit the dirt. He toppled forward, groaning.

Coolness was starting to return. Calypso coughed, rushing to his side, a canteen of nectar at the ready. She had to help him sit up and drink, his skin still too warm, but pale and weary.

"What-?" He croaked, summoning enough energy just to look skywards.

"It's Lou." She replied carefully, pressing the canteen to his lips again. "We need to find her. This is too much, even for her." He grimaced, gripping her arm. He was wobbly and turned grey with the attempt, but he managed to stand. "If we don't stop her," Calypso pressed on, helping him back to Festus, "she'll use her life to feed the storm."

Louisa.

At first, she didn't hear the voice. She was bit preoccupied with her arm being munched on. She had lost her sword, where was her sword? She did have a sword, right?

Louisa.

She could feel every inch of her body and none of it, so intense the pain, her brain could not process it all. The Blood's jaws were getting closer, this really was it. She squeezed her eyes shut, head falling back to thump on the bloody grass.

"LOUISA!"

Something hit her face, spurring her to open her eyes. "Honestly." Neptune tutted, lowering his hand. "You complain that I ignore you; rather hypocritical, don't you think?"

"Dad?" He nodded, appraising her with a familiar sternness. Louisa looked down at herself. She was clean, unhurt. Her watch was on her wrist. "Why… why am I here? Why now?"

"You were giving up."

"I… couldn't do anythin' else." He scoffed, shaking his head and turning away. Louisa clenched her fists. "I couldn't! I was doin' everythin' 'n' it weren't workin'! I still-" Her voice caught. She could see Klouter. Saw the Keeper reaching for her. "They're dyin', Dad. L.J said I could help, but I can't."

"You forget yourself."

"Amnesia does that." She muttered. Neptune stood before her, only lowering his eyes to look at her. She hardly reached his shoulder. "Why didn't ya answer me earlier?"

"You need to go back."

"You brought me here." She glowered. He bowed his head to frown at her, a break in his otherwise rigid posture. "What?" His form flickered and he became Poseidon, his Hawaiian print shirt a blur of colours.

"You confuse me." He admitted, sighing. "Each time I think you're Roman, you seem more Greek. And each time I think you're Greek, you seem more Roman."

"I think I'm dyin', actually."

"Mm. Yes." He looked up, as if he could see back to the reality. "You need to go back."

"I heard."

"Despite your… possible outcomes, I believe my brother was right to return you to the world of the living. You are not finished yet." Louisa shook her head, biting her knuckles. He didn't get it, of course he didn't get it. "Do not be mad at me, Louisa. I have tried my best by you and your brothers."

"But ya still a god."

"I am."

"'N' there are rules."

"There are." He nodded. "Here." He extended his hand. Green light built in his palm, expanding into a metallic green trident. "This is not my own, before you get excited. But it is all I can offer you at the moment. Now, return. Help your friends. You can turn this tide." Something in his tone caught her ear. Something… soft, but toughened behind what little encouragement he could muster.

"OK." She said.

"You understand?"

"Think so." She took the trident, the weight familiar in her hand. "Dad?"

"Yes?"

"If this goes how I think it will… can ya watch after Callie 'n' Leo? Make sure they get home safe?"

"I will do my best."

"Promise." She insisted. "L.J said we had a magic river we promised on. Promise on that."

"The Styx." He clarified, giving an amused chuckle. She frowned, grip tightening on the trident. He sighed, squeezing her shoulder. "Very well." He flickered once more and Neptune's stony authority returned. "I swear on the River Styx to your terms; I will see Leo and Calypso home safely should you not be able to do it yourself." Thunder boomed. Louisa listened to it rumble away, taking a deep breath.

"Thanks, Dad."

"Are you ready?"

"Yes." She adjusted her hold on the trident, looked up. "Yes, send me back."