Welcome everyone to chapter 28!

Real quick, I just want to remind you all that these are fanfiction stories which means that we readers come up with what happens. So I could say that Percy suddenly grows wings and claws to become a magical fairy-sloth and it'd all be fine. It's definitely against the original story's line but who cares? We make the rules in these stories so please don't argue about small details?

Also: I'm really excited about this story because one of my favorite characters starts playing with us!

I hope you enjoy and let's get right into this!


Amira was sitting at the hotel room's table when Hazel woke.

She hadn't slept the night before but felt no weariness. Instead of sleeping, she had sat out on the balcony with her thoughts. She had tried for hours to think of a way to fix her mistake but found none. So instead she had found a piece of paper and written down the prophecy Ella the Harpy had quoted, able to think of nothing new.

A Rider trapped from another land

Brought here by another's hand

Amira had been brought to Earth from Alagaesia by the hands of the Olympians. Those two lines were down.

Seven half-bloods shall aid her in quest

And help her complete impossible tests

The seven half-bloods had been Annabeth, Jason, Leo, Piper, Frank, Hazel, and Nico. They had helped her on her quest until the moment she betrayed them but what the impossible tests were, she didn't know.

She must search the darkest place

To find the Evil's hidden base

Amira assumed those lines meant when she traveled to the underworld and found Tartarus.

A test of strength she must complete

Unexpected friends again shall meet

Those lines confused her. She wasn't sure what the "test of strength" was. And who was her unexpected friend? It said she would meet them again so she was assuming they were someone she already knew.

Forced to choose her life or friends

She shall save the worlds or bring the end

Amira hated those lines. She felt so much pressure fall onto her shoulder whenever she read them that it made her head hurt. She didn't want to have to choose between her life or friends, especially when that decision determined the fate of both her world and this one.

"Good morning."

Amira looked up to see Hazel in her nightclothes, rubbing her golden eyes as she tried to fully wake herself. Her curly hair was a complete mess and made Amira have to hold back a laugh.

"Have you been up all night?" Hazel wondered groggily.

"Good morning. And yes, I have in fact been awake." She responded, giving her friend a smile and pulling out the chair beside her. Hazel sat, stretching her arms above her head.

"Why didn't you get any sleep? You need to keep your energy up." The Roman scolded. Amira smiled.

"You forget that I do not require as much rest as others. My energy and strength levels are plenty high enough, you do not need to worry. I can go days longer without sleep if needs be." She reminded her friend as she got her a glass of water. Hazel nodded her thanks, taking a long sip.

"Anything for breakfast or not yet?"

"I apologize but a meal has not been on my mind and I have done nothing."

"That's fine. We can get room service." Hazel suggested, remembering what Nico had told and showed her the last time they had stayed at a hotel. Seeing Amira's confused look she explained what it was. After they both changed into fresh clothes, Hazel found the hotel room's phone and ordered some food to be sent up. The half-blood then noticed the paper on the table. "What's this?" She asked as she picked it up. "It's your prophecy."

"Yes. I tried to decipher it as you slept but could think of nothing new." Amira explained with a frown.

"Don't worry. We'll figure this whole thing out." Her friend assured.

Room Service came several minutes later and the two paused their conversation to accept their food then returned to the table.

"So what do you think Tartarus's next move is?" Hazel asked around a bite. Amira shook her head slowly.

"I am afraid that I do not know." She paused before continuing. "However, there is one thing he told me that lingers in my mind."

"What did he say?"

"Well, I had angered him by claiming him as a liar and murderer. He told me that he could end me then and there but would not as he needed me alive for something soon." Amira explained. "I do not know what his words mean but I fear greatly."

"Maybe he wants to use you to launch another attack?" Hazel suggested but the Alagaesian shook her head and took a bite of her food.

"Perhaps but I do not believe so. He has countless monsters on his side that could attack just as easily, if not more so than I. He knows my magic has limits and can only be used in small amounts at a time. So I fear he means to use me personally for whatever he has planned."

Hazel looked thoughtful as she thought of her words.

"Do you think…?" She started then drifted off. Amira urged her on and she continued. "Well, it was just a thought but what if his physical form wasn't strong enough outside the Underworld? Because if so then he would need to find some other way to get to the upper world. He'd have to make or take a body that was strong enough."

"A host..." Amira realized, purple eyes wide. Hazel nodded, her worry shown on her face.

"Yeah. I mean it's just a theory but it's also a possibility. So until we know for sure, let's not assume and just keep our eyes and ears open."

The two girls agreed and finished their breakfast with casual conversation. Despite Hazel's efforts to distract her, Amira still felt uneasy and worried. If they were correct and Tartarus really did want to use her to take over her body-

Amira's thoughts were cut off when she felt her wrist tingle. She sighed heavily.

"Time to go?" Hazel asked sadly. Amira nodded with a sad look.

"Apologies. I hope though that he will wish only to speak with me but if not, I will try to complete my tasks quickly."

Amira hugged her friend then grabbed her pendant and traveled to the Underworld. As usual, she appeared in the creepy garden.

"Amira." Tartarus didn't seem happy and stomped heavily when he walked towards the former Rider.

"Yes, my Lord? You summoned me?" She asked, bowing.

"You wear new clothing." The primordial noted.

Amira looked down at the clothes that she and Hazel had chosen the day before: she wore a pair of dark blue jeans and a purple half-sleeve crop (at Hazel's continuous insistence) under an unzipped grey hoodie as well as her new calf-length black riding boots. The pendant from Tartarus hung on a silver chain around her neck and Hazel had placed her long purple hair in a braid that she draped over her shoulder.

"Indeed I am, my Lord." Amira nodded, dropping the topic at that. "Is there a reason for my summons?"

Tartarus crossed his giant arms. Despite her anger towards the primordial, he continued to intimate her with his size and radiating power.

"Yes. My plans are nearly complete. I have but only a few things left and for that, I need you to help me." He announced. Amira heaved a mental sigh.

'Delivery Girl Amira, at your service.'

== Ω Ω Ω ==

Just as the former Rider expected, the next five hours were spent with Amira fetching things, placing wards, and casting spells for the primordial.

The time between missions was spent with Hazel in their hotel room or in Persephone's Garden where Amira sat talking with her friend through mental communication. The majority of their conversation included casual small talk, planning, and descriptions of their worlds. Amira hated going back and forth between the lower and upper world just to cast a simple spell then go back but she held back her irritated remarks and muscled through it.

But it all went down that afternoon.

It was around four o'clock and Amira was in the middle of placing a spell on the road leading to Camp Half-Blood when she sensed something wrong. Twice she had to restart her spell because it kept getting cut off halfway through and she frowned as a suspicion began forming.

So as she cast her spell once more, keeping only half her focus on her spell and the other half on her surroundings. Her eyes narrowed when she heard the faint sound of someone's voice, barely audible. Her free hand slowly and silently moved to the hilt of Arvindr.

Her spell was once again being cut off so she released the spell and spun to the tree line and drew her sword, throwing out her hand.

"MALTHINAE UN TAELDA!" She shouted, aiming her magic in the direction of the voice.

(Bind and entrap!)

"LETTA DU GLADR VEL EDTHA!" The voice retorted.

(Stop the enchantment upon me!)

Amira's purple eyes widened; the shock of someone else being able to use spells spoken in the Ancient Language caused her concentration to break and her spell to fail. Then she gasped and her hands went to her mouth when she saw the spell-caster step into view.

"M- Murtagh…?" She gasped.

The Red Rider's face was grim as he walked closer to his brother's apprentice. He stopped several steps from her. Amira remained frozen from shock so he slowly took her sword from her numb fingers and dagger from her waist and tossed them behind him. She stood still for another moment, completely and totally shocked by his appearance, then she leaped forward.

"Murtagh!" She exclaimed with a sob-like laugh as she leaped forward to throw her arms around the older Rider's neck. The dark-haired Alagaesian stumbled back in surprise from the sudden attack but his hands instinctively moved to grab her waist. "Thank Islanzadi, Murtagh, I am so glad to see you!"

"You- wait what?! Hold on, just pause for a moment." Murtagh stuttered, pulling back from her hug. "You mean to say that you are glad to see me?"

Amira's cheeks reddened, her purple eyes shying away as she stepped back.

"As horrible as it is, yes I am." She agreed. Then she frowned. "But- but what are you doing here, Murtagh? How are you here?"

"The gods of this world summoned me." The older Alagaesian explained, straightening his tunic and sword belt. "As for why, I don't know."

"Whatever the reason is… I am glad to see you," Amira admitted sheepishly, brushing her hair from her face. She had a thought. "What of the others? Are they here as well?"

"No. They remain in Alagaesia as well as Percy. It is just you and I."

"Are they well? Has anything happened?"

"A lot has happened but everyone is fine. Never mind that though- Amira, what are you doing?" Murtagh asked with a confused frown. Amira's face dropped.

"Why do you ask if you already know?" She sighed.

"I want to hear it from you." He told her seriously. Amira shook her head, collapsing to her knees on the grass.

"I do not even know what I am doing. I am so… so confused. My mind and my heart are in so many places that I have no idea of my next actions." She confessed miserably.

"You're confused because you are focusing on the wrong things, Amira." Murtagh told her seriously, kneeling beside the younger girl. "Instead of trying to figure out what you might happen next, try figuring out what to do now. You worry too much and it clouds your mind and judgment."

Amira thought for a long moment before nodding slowly.

"You are right." She agreed quietly.

"You and Eragon are the exact same." Murtagh chuckled. He hesitated as he felt the urge to place his hand atop hers, having a feeling that she wouldn't like the gesture. "We can help you, you know."

"Huh?"

"Myself and the others that wait inside that camp." He clarified, nodding in the direction of Camp Half-Blood. "You do not have to do this yourself."

Amira was about to correct him that she wasn't alone then stopped. Only she knew that Hazel hadn't been killed. Murtagh noticed her pause and gave her a look. She sighed.

"You say that I need not act on my own but I do. I have no doubt that you know what I have done. After my actions, I deserve nothing more than to be alone." She muttered.

Amira's eyes widened in surprise when Murtagh grabbed her arms and spun her to face him. His own eyes were intense and serious as he held her.

"No not say that!" He scolded firmly, startling her. "Your mistakes do not define who you are, Amira; I know that better than anyone. Yes, the ones you called friends have no love for you right now but that does not mean you can't change and it does not mean that you deserve to be alone. Amira, you are stronger than you realize. You just have to see how amazing you are."

Amira was stunned by Murtagh's words. She had no idea he thought that of her. The two Alagaesians had argued and insulted each other since the moment they met so she had never even considered the fact that he may not hate her as much as she did him. And looking into his grey eyes… She saw that he believed every word he said.

"I do not... Murtagh, I-I want to believe what you say but it is hard." She stuttered, shaking her head. "I do not feel strong; I feel helpless an-and weak."

Murtagh let go of her shoulders and stood. He held his hand out to her and she accepted. The two Alagaesians faced each other for a long moment.

"Then accept the help you're offered. You said yourself that you have little control over your actions. So let go of your stubbornness for one damn second and let me help you!" He close to shouted, exasperation and something Amira couldn't recognize beginning to show through his voice.

Amira blinked. She silently noted that he had said "let me help" instead of "let us help" but she thought little of it.

"Murtagh, you should know by now that my stubbornness is not so easily brushed aside." She attempted to joke with a sad smile. "It is true that my oath compels me to do as he orders and I have no way to refuse but even so, I cannot let anyone help. He is too strong to be stopped; any effort given would be futile. I-I am truly sorry but I must reject your help."

Murtagh let out a breath slowly and ran a hand through his dark hair, shaking his head as he turned away.

"I was hoping beyond hope that you would not say that." He admitted quietly. Amira frowned.

"Why?"

Murtagh walked over to grab her sword from where he tossed it earlier. He looked it over for a minute before sighing.

"Malthinae un taelda." He chanted quietly, repeating the spell Amira failed to cast earlier.

(Bind and entrap)

Said girl's purple eyes widened when his hand glowed and she suddenly felt unable to move her body.

"Murtagh, what are you doing?! Let me go!" She demanded as she struggled against the invisible bonds. "Murtagh!"

"I am sorry but I can't. Not when you pose such a threat to our world." He apologized, refusing to look at her. Amria felt her eyes water.

"Please you cannot do this! You do not understand what will happen. Please, Murtagh, I am begging you!" She pleaded desperately. He pressed his lips together.

"Waíse hljödhr." He muttered, still avoiding her gaze.

(Be silent)

Amira was suddenly unable to speak as well as move. She tried to hold back her emotions as Murtagh turned towards the trees and whistled, long and loud in one low note. A minute later two people emerged from the forest and she dropped her gaze, tears threatening; she couldn't bear to see the looks on Jason and Annabeth's faces.

"Took a while but you actually managed to pull it off," Annabeth greeted with minor surprise as the two neared. The dark-haired Rider didn't bother responding, continuing to face away from his brother's apprentice. The blonde turned to Jason. "Take her back to Camp and find somewhere to lock her up."

The son of Jupiter said something but Amira didn't hear; her gaze hadn't left Murtagh. Finally, he turned back to face her and she was stunned to see a tear slowly making its way down his cheek. It was just a single tear but it said more to Amira than words ever could. His gaze told her his next action and she closed her eyes, a tear of her own falling silently. He muttered so no one besides her could hear:

"Forgive me Amira… Slytha."


And that concludes the twenty-eighth chapter of A Strange and Different Land!

Thank you all for reading and I hope you chose to continue the story. Please feel free to leave a review. Criticism, advice, compliments, or corrections are welcome.

Have a good one and I'll see you later!