Chapter 15: Gods and Goddesses! Oh Shit!

His voice boomed against the walls and chilled my blood to the bone. My words were lost as his voice finally died away. He waited for my response and I realized my shock wasn't how I would normally act, even if this wasn't possible. I tried to calm my mind and mask my face once more, but it was slightly harder since his gaze was intense and watching my every move. I looked at the guys for support, but they seemed under a trance.

I felt my anger rising, these were my friends, guys I cared about. He was not going do this to us; I took a step toward him, ignoring my mind protesting. "I am not afraid of you. We are leaving, I must have my other protectors before one of you try to kill them again." I snapped and his face changed from calm to pure hatred. He was in front of me in an instant, glaring down at me.

"I will kill them!" then his face changed again into one of amusement. "Since when did you even want protectors? You used to believe that they only had one purpose and you didn't even use it." I blinked; I didn't understand anything he was saying about me. "People change." I muttered and he caressed my cheek, making me shiver again. "But you never will, you are our treasure, you will always remain the same."

I pulled away from him, and then looked at the guys. "Release them. I have changed and now wish for my protectors to be released." I said and he smiled, and then did a slight bow. "My pleasure." The guys both gasped and looked at us. I turned, hitting Hades with my hair and walked over to the guys. "Are you alright?" I asked and they nodded, and then looked at Hades.

"It is time to go." "I refuse to allow you to escape my grasp." His voice flowed over to us. "We refuse to be forced to remain here." I said over my shoulder and almost jumped as he was right there. "I could care less if they remained or not, they will be killed soon enough." I looked back at the guys, who were unfazed by this. "Demigods to the end, thinking they would be able to escape my grasp so easily."

I looked at the guys sadly, and then walked over to them. "Go make sure Percy and the others get back to camp safely, be sure that both of you get back safely." I whispered to them and then kissed both of them on their cheeks. They looked as if they were about to say something, but I turned and walked to Hades. "If I were to remain here of my free will, you will allow them both to leave unharmed." I said and stared into his creepy eyes, he smiled and nodded.

I glanced over at the guys, and then nodded. "Leave me and go." "Erika, we can't do that!" "I am who you protect! You are to leave me! This is an order!" I snapped at them and they looked shocked. Travis turned and pulled Connor as well out of the palace. "Giving yourself up for some useless demigods. How noble of you." He purred into my ear and I pulled away from him. "They are not useless, and I am not noble for making them leave me." he smirked. "Well I wouldn't worry about that anymore my sweet, because they shall be killed any minute now."

I jerked away from him and ran to a window and saw them running toward the boatman, who was just letting some new people off. "Let them go or I'll leave." "I cannot allow you to leave, but I also cannot allow them to live." I looked at the guys, they were almost there, they would make it, and I just know they would. The guards weren't fast enough, I thought to myself, repeating it over and over, they wouldn't make it to the guys in time to stop them.

The boatman would wait a second longer, just enough time to let them hop on, before setting sail and then they would be gone and safe. I thought this over and over, picturing it in my head, seeing it happen and sure enough, just as I saw it, it happened. I sighed a breath of relief and then remembered Hades. I turned and saw his face looked confused. "You never were this worried about half-bloods before."

"People change." "You won't though. You are not the same woman I once knew." I blinked, I was so confused, this was supposedly a Greek god, and they were supposed to be myths. I shook my head and walked away from the window, not able to see the guys anymore. I was alone in a world I never knew existed. "Lord Hades, it has been a long time since we were face to face. A lot can change in such a time." I felt it was right to say, but wasn't sure why.

He touched my cheek and I got a cold chill, he smiled. "You will remain here with me forever?" I looked away, not knowing what I should say, I didn't want to stay here, and I wanted to be with the guys. He frowned and grabbed a piece of fruit off a tree. "Eat this and you will have to stay here forever." "That is what happened to your wife." "Yes." "You wish the same fate of me?" he looked at me with such emotion.

"I wish to always have you at my side." I felt drawn to him; I realized that I was feeling sorry for this man. He was now just barely taller than I was, he seemed like he cared for me a lot and I felt my heart ache just a bit for him. I took a step toward him and touched his cheek with my hand, it was slightly shaking. "That is sweet of you…" "But it will not happen." I jumped at the booming voice and turned to see another man standing behind us.

"Brother, you shall not keep her here unless she wishes it and I doubt she will." He stood tall and power was coming from him in rays. He turned to me with a bright smile. "You wish to stay forever with him?" I looked at Hades and then this man, and then took a step away from Hades. "Do not forgive me, I deserve it not. However, I cannot remain here with you." I said and backed up to the other man.

"Take me back to my protectors, they were not to be harmed." I said to the man and he nodded, still smiling at me. I closed my eyes as he started to shine and felt his arm go around my waist. I opened my eyes to see a strange sight, the trio was on the beach again, and the guys were nearby, still hiding. "Your protectors are hiding from their fellow godlings?" I looked down and saw Percy and the others take off running from the TV cameras and head toward the airport.

I felt the man's arm tighten as I watched Percy board the plane. He didn't seem happy with him flying and I realized that he wasn't putting me down with the guys like I said. "Take me to my protectors." "Not at this moment." I started to struggle against his grip, but it was firm and I was powerless against it. He began to shine again and I knew I had to close my eyes or I would be hurt in a terrible way.

I opened my eyes once more and saw a brightly light room and there were different people standing over my body, I felt at home, yet like I had never belonged here. I tried to get up, but saw that I was tied down with golden ropes. I looked at the people, the man that rescued me was smiling down at me, but it was a sad smile. The others were people I never seen before, yet I felt as if I knew them. Most were looking at me as if I was an old friend that was hurt, those concerned eyes mixed with sad expressions.

I blinked a few times, trying to see if this might just be a dream, but nothing changed. "He is coming." One of the people said, looking away and at the door. A few moments later and Percy came walking into the door, holding a tube of some sort. He saw me and his eyes went wide. "What are you doing here Erika?" "Erika?" a few people murmured and started looking between us.