-Addie-

I was scared. Just as frightened as when I was in Tartarus. There was no way out of this, or at least I couldn't think of one. For hours I just stared at my feet bound in chains to the rock. I had tried to use my powers, but it was no use. With the dreamshade, I was basically just a mortal, no divine powers at all. It wasn't like the last time. I looked down at my wrists. Someone had removed all of my weapons, including the bracelet that Tiberius had given me. Even my knife that I kept stuck in my boot was gone. This time, I didn't have a brother or a husband to come to my rescue. I had Apollo, but I feared he would be forbidden from interfering. I was still a mortal, although I was ageless.

"Well, well, well…how the mighty have fallen."

I lifted my head, seeing a man clad in gold in front of me. Hyperion looked as smug as ever, motioning to the guard to let him in. I shot him a glare, and he just chuckled in response.

"You're looking a little under the weather, dearie."

"And you still look like an asshat, what's new?"

"There's that attitude! Tell me, is that why the Olympians enslaved you because you are nothing but an ignorant heathen?" He laughed, looking absolutely gleeful. It's not my fault I enjoyed kicking his ass. It was the price you had to pay in the immortal world. When they had a chance to come back at you, it was with a vengeance. Immortals were terrible about holding grudges.

"I see your helmet is still dented from where I knocked you out. Dear old mummy couldn't get that out for you?"

I knew I had hit a nerve. That's another thing immortals don't like. They hate being bested by a mortal because it makes them feel inferior, or at least that's what I figured. Hyperion glared back at me, a cruel sneer on his face. He rushed over to me, grabbed me by the throat, and pinned me against the back of my prison. My feet were dangling in the air, and I could smell his awful stench. To me, he smelled like something burning, but not in the pleasant way a fire could smell. It was more like burning flesh. He pulled out a syringe, slamming it into my neck. The fuzzy feeling intensified, washing me away. My eyelids drooped, and Hyperion dropped me to the ground. He kicked me in the side a few times, my breath completely leaving me. He grabbed my face, pulling it up so it was just inches from my own.

"You think you are so big and bad, but you are nothing but a weakling, a mortal. She's letting me be the one to spill your blood for her," he said with a sneer. "I'm looking forward to watching the light die from your eyes."

He shoved me away, slamming my head against the wall. My vision went black, and before I could even think about trying to fight back, I slipped into unconsciousness.

I heard the clanking sound from metal, and I began to stir. I opened my eyes, my vision still blurred where I had been asleep. My neck was sore from Hyperion stabbing me with the needle. I couldn't have been out for very long, because the dreamshade was really strong still. My body just would not respond to what I wanted it to do. I tried to focus on the movement near me. I lifted my arm, but a gentle hand held it down.

"Shh," the voice whispered. There was pressure on my ankle, and I moaned. I felt so bruised and battered. The weight of the shackle left me, and the person started on the other.

"My head," I managed to whisper. There was this awful pain, and the person brushed my cheek.

"Stop, Addie. You have a concussion, and I had to give you a stronger dose. Just rest, I'm going to get you out of here."

Whoever it was removed the last shackle, and then picked me up in their arms.

"Hang on," the voice whispered. It was a voice I knew well, and I found that I wasn't scared. He wouldn't hurt me. I know he wouldn't. I lifted my arms, clinging gently to him. His touch was gentle, and he kissed my hair.

"You were right, Addie. I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

He smelled like the ocean, and I drifted off, unable to stay awake any longer. It was a dream; it had to be a dream…..

There was yelling, and I tried to concentrate on the words. They made no sense to me, like I was listening to an unknown language. I fell to the ground, but I didn't have the strength to pull myself up to see what was happening. He was calling my name, but I couldn't yell back no matter how I tried. I was trying to make sense of everything, but even my mind had become sluggish. Somebody jerked me up, and a painful throb went through my head.

My consciousness faded to black once more.

Something tugged at my mind. A memory, one I wasn't entirely sure was real.

You'll know what to do when the time comes.

My eyes opened, and I saw a figure chained and sitting on the ground beside me. His brown hair was covered with dirt, and one of his eyes was swollen shut.

"Ry?" I croaked. He looked down at me, worry crossing his features. He reached for my hand, helping me get up into a sitting position.

"How are you feeling?"

"Okay," I whispered. I couldn't look away from the shackles on his ankles. He had been beaten pretty badly. There was a bandage around his arm, along with a lot of smaller cuts and bruises. "Ry, what happened?"

He took a hold of my hand, squeezing it gently.

"I tried to get you out of here," he whispered. "Gaia knew I would try. I'm not fan of the gods, but I wasn't going to let her kill you."

I pulled my hand away from him, wrapping my arms around my knees. I was still mad at him.

"I got to the tunnel, but it had caved in. I can't move the earth like you can. It was a trap because she expected my loyalty would waiver. I fought Hyperion, but once the giants got involved, I didn't stand a chance. I'm so sorry I got you into this. Addie, she tricked me."

"Like you didn't think she would?" I snapped at him. "Ry, Gaia is no different from any of the primordial deities. They do what they want when they want, and it's to Tartarus with everyone else! She's evil! Why in Zeus's name did you side with her? I know you are smarter than that!"

He looked ashamed, as he should. He began strumming his fingers against his knee, a nervous habit he had picked up from our mortal father when we were little. I almost wanted to smile when I saw that, but then I remembered where I was.

"Addie, I didn't choose to be reborn. I was scared that the curse would follow me into the next life. Hell, I was surprised I even made it into Elysium. When I found out that it was all a set-up, when she came to me….I was so angry. I always thought the way they handled the crossover was terrible. And the way they scorned us! All I ever wanted was peace, Addie. That's all we ever wanted! She told me what they had made you do, and when I found out about Ares, that was it. I flew into a rage. They are selfish and cruel, and you never deserved that. I knew he had most likely used the curse to his advantage, and I wanted to make them pay. I saw it the minute I told you. I wanted your freedom. I didn't stop to think about it until you called me out. Then, I was so worried that they had brainwashed you into their way of thinking, that they had destroyed you past comprehension. I thought after everything we had been through, I couldn't see how you could side with them. I let my anger get into the way."

I just looked at him, and I felt the tears start to fall. I was never a sobbing type of girl. I was good at hiding my emotions. Ry pulled himself beside me, brushing the tears off of my face.

"Addie, you were right. She tricked me. She said that she'd let you live if I could capture you, if I knew of a way to keep you out of the fight. I told her I would need some supplies. When she figured out what the dreamshade did, she used it too heavily. I would never have let her sacrifice you."

"And now we are both going to be sacrifices, aren't we?" I asked him. My voice sounded hollow and empty. I felt that way too. He nodded, and I just hugged myself.

"I think that's her plan. She just needed two of the blood of Olympus, and we both certainly have plenty of that. I messed up, Addie. I let my temper get in the way. I always needed you there to balance me out. You're my other half, my sister. I would spend the rest of my days taking the worst punishment in Tartarus if it meant that I could take this back. Can you ever forgive me?"

I looked at my brother, at the earnest way he was pleading with me. Tears fell down his cheeks, and something in me broke. I may be dead soon, and I knew my brother.

"You are an idiot. You are rash and stubborn, and you don't think before you act!" He looked down, clasping his hands together. "And I love you. I understand why you did this. Of course I forgive you."

He looked up, and I pulled him into a hug. He held me to him, and I relaxed in his embrace.

"I'm still furious with you, though," I quietly reminded him.

"I'd be worried if you weren't."

For a long time, we just sat like that. I laid my head on his shoulder, and as comforting as my brother's touch was, there was only one thing that I wanted.

"Addie, tell me everything. I want the truth from you, not Gaia. Tell me of your life since I died."

So I did. I told him everything, even some things about Ares. I told him about how some of the gods were kind to me. I told him how I had made it my mission to help those in need. I explained how I spent years as a slave before they started to notice me for what I really was. I told him about Tartarus, and the friends I had made. I mentioned the prophecy, the other demigods, and how the some of the gods had apologized for what they did. I told him about the good I had done, and the things I was forced to do that I regretted.

"And what about Apollo?"

"Orion," I sighed.

"I can tell you care for him, just explain why Addie. I want to understand."

"I don't know what to tell you," I whined.

"What about the first time you realized you cared about him, the first time he surprised you."

I thought for a minute, and I realized that it was a long time ago, back when I had first started to get to know him.

"The first time we really talked was after the last time with Ares. He didn't ask questions about why I had bruises and cuts. He just healed me, and we talked. Years pasted, and he became my friend. I didn't feel so alone, and I could talk about things without him getting angry with me. He began to look out for me, giving me rest when the others were harsh. About two hundred years later, he overheard a conversation between Ares and me. A son of Hermes had sought me out, but I had respectfully declined him. When Ares heard, he came to me, saying that I belonged to him, that he could do with me what he pleased. He said that just because he hadn't "played with his toy" lately didn't mean I was free to do what I wanted. He got a little more graphic, and then stormed off. Apollo confronted me about it, demanding that I tell him. It was a direct order. I didn't have a choice. When he realized how far it had gone, he stopped me. He looked horrified. He said he was going to tell his father, but I begged him to keep it a secret. I didn't want anyone to know. It would have just made it worse. He agreed, but only if I promised to tell him if it ever happened again. Thankfully, it never did. It was the first time a god did something for me."

"I loved Tiberius. He was a good man, but someone I will never see again. Apollo has protected me, and saved my life more than once. I…I love him, Ry. I know it's not smart, but he's been my friend for so long. He's trusted me, and I failed his trust."

"What do you mean?"

The tears started falling again. I left Apollo angry, and that was going to be my last memory of him. I wished I could see him again, tell him I was sorry. I wished I could tell him that I loved him.

"He freed me," I wept. "He removed the curse from me, at least for him. He told me not to come here, and I ignored his wishes. I ignored the god of prophecy! I shouldn't have yelled at him, and I'll never get to tell him I'm sorry."

Orion leaned his head on my own, taking my hand in his.

"I'm sorry. Addie, I'm sure he knows you didn't mean it. I've never met one person that thought you did something out of spite. You've always just wanted to help. He was just worried about you. If you talked to him, I'm sure he'd hear it. They hear everything you know," he added with a small smile.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out the bracelet that Tiberius had given me. He slid it on my wrist, and a small smile came on my face.

"I saved it for you. Happy early birthday," he whispered. I had completely forgotten about my birthday. It wasn't like I had celebrated it in the past thousand years.

"You remembered?" I muttered to him. My brother and I were actually born on two different days. He was born before midnight, and I was born after. I had completely forgotten my birthday coincided with the Feast of Spes.

"Born on the day of hope," he whispered to me. "Pretty crappy birthday present, being sacrificed to raise a goddess. If she didn't have her sacrifices, there would be no way she would be strong enough to defeat the gods."

"It's a crappy birthday for both of us," I told him with a chuckle. After a minute of silence, Ry gave me a gentle squeeze.

"He'll come after you, Addie."

"What do you mean?"

"I saw him after you came to Olympus to deliver a message to Gaia. I wondered why he looked so devastated. The Olympians will not often do something to incite Zeus's wrath, and he did for you without hesitation. He will come after you."

I sighed into Ry's shoulder, closing my eyes. For a while, we just talked, trying to keep our hopes up. I knew Apollo loved me, and a part of me wanted to see him again.

"Ah, sibling love, how touching. I didn't know Poseidon's infernal twins could be so adorable!"

We both turned to see Hyperion and one of the giants standing by our prison. I really loved my brother in that moment. I shot them a glare, but my brother, the impertinent ass that he always was, made an extremely rude gesture to Hyperion.

"It's midnight," Hyperion snarled.

"Today is our day of hope, and the day we will raise the earth mother with her beautiful sacrifices," the giant rumbled.

A/N: Sorry it took so long! I was sick again (ARGH!). Please excuse the typos, and I apologize for the feels (not really). I will not be able to update until after the 28th, as I have a test I have to study for. HOWEVER, I will try to get it up ASAP.

Remember, if there is a scene you would be interested in seeing in a different POV, you have headcannons, or there is backstory/one-shots you'd like to see, please let me know!

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