Chapter 23

Damien had watched as Reyna began to fall away from him, he heard Hazel calling out her name, he lunged forwards and grasped her arm tightly, but her falling body pulled him closer to the edge and he had lost his footing, the dirt crumbling under his feet,

But he had held onto her, he was not letting her go. As they fell, he tried to see anything but it was so dark and he and Reyna had both dropped their flashlights in the fall, their light sending quick flashes on what little surrounded them

So he did the only thing he could, he pulled Reyna close and wrapped his arms around her, trying to protect her, he knew that the best way to fall is to keep your limbs close to your body protecting your head, so that's what he did, he protected Reyna, cradling her to his chest.

He kept himself braced for impact knowing that it was going to hurt like hell or worse, but if he could at least save Reyna then that would be enough for him.

The impact was worse than he had imagined, pain flared through his body and his limbs fell away from Reyna, but he was still awake which he couldn't decide whether that was lucky or not, he was glad to be alive but the pain that was surging through his body made him almost wish he was dead.

"Damien?"

He heard her voice barely, but he couldn't answer, he couldn't even move, all he could feel was pain, blood rushing through his ears

"Oh Gods Damien is that you?" she asked, panic in her normally calm voice

He attempted to take a deep breath, pain exploding in his chest, all he could manage was a wheezed moan, he wasn't even sure if it was audible

"Damien, talk to me" she said trying to remain calm "Please" she begged

Damien wanted to respond, he willed his voice to work but nothing came out, he needed to know that she was safe, that she had made it down okay

"Can you squeeze my hand?" she asked taking deep breaths

He felt a pressure wrap around his hand but he couldn't move, he couldn't hold her, anger began to flood him as he tried desperately to clasp her hand, his breathing became more rapid

"Damien calm down" she said hearing his breaths "It's going to be okay… I'm going to make this okay, just be still" she vowed

He felt her hands move from his hands and for a moment he was filled with fear, fear that she had left him alone in the dark, but then he could feel her hands spread across his chest, there was such pain in his chest that he could feel tears streak his face

"Mother, Bellona give me the strength I need" she whispered "Allow your power to pass through me"

Warmth began to spread through his body, starting at his chest and slowly making it's way down his limbs and towards his fingers and toes, like it had back at the motel and instantly he knew what she was trying to do and it had taken such a toll on her last time, he tried to tell her to stop, but his voice still didn't work.

Suddenly there was a glow coming from somewhere and Damien craned his head to see that the tattoo that Reyna had on her forearm glowed gold, illuminating her features slightly, he couldn't help but be in awe of her. Her beauty wasn't just her looks but her soul as well, she was such a kind and warm person, Damien couldn't understand why she kept that side of her hidden from others, she radiated strength and everyone knew it but they rarely saw the other side of her.

He continued to watch her, her eyes were closed in concentration and a crease formed between her perfect brows, but then he saw a tear rolling down her cheek, she was in pain, she gasped.

Damien chest tightened at the sight of her in pain, he used every ounce of his gaining power to speak

"Reyna stop" he gasped

She was taking his pain, she was in agony because of him and he couldn't let that happen, but still she continued, tears escaped her lashes, rolling down her cheeks, glittering gold with the glow of her tattoo

With what little strength he had he grasped her wrist and tried to pull her away but she held onto him, her strength outweighing his right now

"Reyna!" he breathed, looking up at her but she still did not open her eyes, sweat beading on her forehead

She was now gritting her teeth with the strain of using her powers to heal him, Damien could feel his strength returning to his body and he managed to pull Reyna's hands from his chest, causing the Praetor to fall forward. Damien just about caught her, holding her close to him, cradling her head against his chest, hand stroking her hair softly

"Reyna?" he whispered to her "Talk to me"

The glow from her tattoo faded and they were plunged into darkness once again, Damien wheezed as he forced himself to sit up, his fingers going to her neck searching and praying that he would feel a pulse

"C'mon Reyna" he begged

He breathed a sigh of relief when he felt the steady thrumming of her heartbeat beneath his fingers, he held her even closer and placed a light kiss on the top of her head.

He then looked around, hoping his eyes would adjust a little, he started to see edges and shapes, but nothing definite, he squinted, he reckoned that they were in a small clearing at the base of the cliff that the pair of them had tumbled down, he could make out trees nearby

Next he listened, hoping to hear anything that could help him, the rustling of leaves, gentle rumble of thunder overhead, there was some sort of water nearby, he could hear a quiet trickling of water.

A thought hit him, were there dangerous animals in this jungle, or worst monsters that hid in the shadows, he had a sinking feeling that they were being watched, he reached down to his waist and unbuckled his belt, a gift from Reyna last year, he whipped it and it straightened into an imperial gold sword, he gripped the hilt and guarded Reyna and himself with it.

He didn't know how long he waited with her in his arms but after a while he heard a distant calling, he wasn't sure where it was coming from but he knew that voice came from a small woman with crazy curly hair.

Damien took a deep breath, covering Reyna's ears "HAZEL!" he bellowed out, his voice echoed off the cliff he and Reyna had fallen down,

Silence fell and he feared that he had imagined the voice

"DAMIEN!" he heard in the distance

"HAZEL WE'RE HERE" he strained his voice as he shouted into the darkness

A few seconds later Damien saw a light shining far off though what he assumed were trees, within a minute the daughter of Pluto had found them, her eyes growing wide as she took in Damien's battered body and the unmoving Reyna in his arms

"Is she…?" Hazel's words failed, her a hand going to her mouth

Damien shook his head "She is just out… she did something, healed me I think?"

Hazel nodded and knelt next to her friend, she shone her light over Reyna, she had a few minor cuts but nothing that seemed serious, she checked her pulse again, and checked her eyes

"She has used too much of her powers, she probably just needs to sleep it off" Hazel moved some hair from her face "Using it drains her"

"She can heal people?" Damien asked

"Not exactly" Hazel said turning her little medical training to Damien "Oh Gods Damien" she said in shock as she took in his gashed head and bruised features, blood covering most of the right side of his face

"I've had worse" he attempted to joke but neither of them laughed so he changed the subject quickly "What do you mean not exactly?"

Hazel began wiping the blood from Damien's face "It's something she gets from her mother, she can give her strength to others, it can come in different ways, Demigods have faster healing abilities due to their godly parentage, she just gave you her strength to heal yourself"

"Right, but she is going to be okay though right?" he asked his hand continuing to stroke her hair "She saved my life"

Hazel smiled at his obvious affection at her "She just needs rest, she done this before and was better after a long sleep"

"Okay" he nodded "Good"