Unexpected Visits
MALIAH
My entire body ached, my chest being the center of the pain. I really outdid myself, and it was stupid. Of course, I didn't think I would let out that much energy, but it couldn't be helped now. I roll my head over, and immediately groan when I feel the pounding sensation. It starts in my temples, but moves around all over my skull. Someone clutches my hand.
"Be still," Tony says, "your body underwent a lot of stress."
Katelynn and Tyler were both asleep on the bed next to me, and the twins were on the one by them. Sophia and Allison were sitting across from me and Elysium was at my feet.
"I-" my throat burns, "It hurts."
"I know it does," he says grimly. I can only imagine that he truly does know, that he's experienced this first hand, "but you've got to do your best to relax."
"Thank gods you're alive," Allison says, "my sister said you should be feeling better within a few days, you just have to take it easy."
I immediately try to sit up, but Tony forces me back down, almost without any effort.
"Listen to me for once, Mal, try to relax," he says, "you met your entire quota today. You couldn't imagine how many monsters there actually were out there. You're going to hurt yourself even more if you aren't careful and I won't stand for it. You're like my sister so I want you to get better as soon as possible. Don't delay it for yourself any further."
I sigh, he was right.
"I'm sorry." I tell him, tears building in my eyes.
"No," he says, softly, "it was my fault. I shouldn't have asked that of you. I wasn't thinking. It was ignorant on my part."
I squeeze his hand and look over at Katelynn and Tyler, "Are they okay?"
"Yeah, they'll be fine. Everyone was okay thanks to you," he tells me.
I finally relax into the bed, and my breathing calms, "Where's Chiron?"
"Zeus has pulled him away," Tony tells me.
"They're back?" I ask, snapping my head to him.
Ouch, that hurt.
"Yeah. For the most part, the gods are okay. Aphrodite took a bad beating, so she'll be lying low for a little while."
"But Apollo?" I ask.
Tony smiles at me sympathetically, "He's okay. You two need to talk."
"We kind of have. I mean sort of. I'm relieving him of his duties of training me."
"How is that a talk?" he asks.
"It's complicated." I assure.
Allison looks at both of us, confused, but she doesn't ask us anything. I'm grateful for that. It would only be awkward to inform her that I am in fact in a love triangle involving both her crush and her father. Oh gods, what the hell is going on with me? Even just thinking about that sentence sounds scandalous. Being a demigod was far more complicated than I could have bargained for. The monsters, the dying, and the hardships I could handle. I don't know about the rest of this stuff, though.
"Zeus visited while you were out," Tony tells me, "he was worried. He wanted to stay, but you know Hera."
I sigh, "I'm shocked she was even okay with him being here."
"He was, too."
"I miss him. I miss all of my family," I said, crying.
He sighs, and climbs into the bed with me, pulling me into a hug.
"I know," he tells me, "I know the feeling. Dad is dropping by later, though. Would seeing him cheer you up some?"
I nod, and that ends our conversation. Soon, I'm asleep again and I'm faced with my brother, Jason Grace.
The walls around him are stained with his blood, some of it fresh. I wonder how many times this petty woman has killed my brother just to bring him back and do it again. He looks up at me, and his eyes widen in shock.
"You look worse than I do," he says.
I laugh, "Wow. That says a lot about my appearance then, I suppose."
He smiles at me, "Are you okay?"
"No," I tell him honestly, sitting in front of him, "I'm in so much pain, physically, emotionally. It just doesn't end."
"It will one day. How is that god treating you?"
I look away, "It's complicated."
"Isn't it always for us?" he asks me.
I nod, "Are you okay?"
"I've been worse. Hey, I wanted to talk to you about something. There are two kids I need you to find. They're being held at another one of Melanie's camps. They're in deep danger if they don't comply with her demands, and I don't think they want to."
"How do I find them?" I ask.
"You found Tony. I know you'll figure it out," he tells me.
"Just like I'll find you, too." I promise.
He smiles at me, "I can't wait to hug you when you do. You'll save us all."
My eyes open and they land on a familiar god with sleeked back hair and dark eyes. Tony is asleep next to me, and it's dark out now. The god had been smoothing down both our hairs. He offers me a smile.
"Hello, my niece," he says.
"Hi, uncle," I smile.
"He really outdid himself today. He shadow traveled so much, but he did no more than you, I suppose. It was foolish of both of you." he scolds.
Elysium was still here. She nudged Hades' leg and slobbered on the floor around him. Whenever she wasn't with me, she was back with him and the other hounds. I guess staying here to care for us, she missed him.
"I won't deny that. I guess we just bit off more than we could chew today. It was dumb of us to go out with that many numbers."
"No," he denies, "it wasn't your fault. Melanie had a hand in it, as well. Luckily you're done with that part of your training for now."
"Oh," I say, "I see."
"You didn't overwork yourself too much, did you?" he asks me.
"No, I think I'm okay," I say, truthfully.
"Tony cares for you. He values your friendship deeply, you're his family. I have something to tell you. I will tell Tony, eventually, but I need someone to know. I'm sure you've heard of your friend Katelynn getting a quest in the future." he says.
"Yeah," I say, "I recall something about that."
"Tony has a sister, too. She's about two years younger than you and Sophia. Katelynn is going to be the one to go find her in about a year. Neither of them know, yet. She just knows she has a large quest ahead."
"Why are you telling me?" I ask him.
"You know Tony, he'll want to rush off and find her. I need you to keep him grounded. Plus, I'd like you accompany Ms. Michaels. I get to choose who goes to find her. I would like it to be you two and Apollo's newly claimed daughter," he tells me.
"Oh," I say, "why us?"
"Something just feels right about three strong women venturing off to bring home another," he tells me with a smile.
"So next year?" I ask.
"Yeah, about a year and a half. Around the time for camp next year."
"Why are you telling me so soon?" I ask him.
"I don't care for many things, as you may know. I have a few people that I do care for, though. My sons, their sisters, all of them. You. I just needed someone else to know about her."
"Wait," I say, cocking my head to the side, "you said sisters? Plural?"
"Oh," he says, "yeah. Plural. Melanie brought back more to life than just your brother. She returned my daughter, Bianca, to the living as well. She died when she was only thirteen, but that damned woman restored her life and even aged her in the process. My poor daughter had so much stolen from her. It just seems unfair that this would happen to her, as well. But getting her back will happen, too, just not as soon as I'd hope."
"Bianca?" I ask, "Bianca Di Angelo? Nico Di Angelo's sister?"
"Yes," he says.
I nod, "Oh."
We both stare at Tony and I realize that he'd make an excellent big brother. He was cold at times, and rough around the edges, but he truly loves those he cares for. He's a good person.
"Do you understand, now?" he asks me.
"I do. I have to keep him grounded."
He nods, "I have to leave now, do tell him I said hello."
I giggled.
"What?" he asks.
"You and Zeus both passing by and only being able to talk to the other's child. It's amusing." I say.
He rolls his eyes, "Of course it is."
I lay back down, relaxing again and Hades is gone. Tony snores softly next to me, and the rest of my friends breathe in their own paces. I cared for them all, even Tyler and Allison to an extent, and I'd do anything to protect them. Once we found Tony's sister, the list would go on just in time for us to head to war. I sigh. This was never going to end. I knew I was destined to survive the war, how else would I defeat the goddess, but no one told me anything about my friends. I knew it was naive to think that all of them would survive, but I decided then and there that it was up to me to make sure I tried my best to keep them all alive.
