Lydia Aquillo Ramirez POV

Xavin has been nothing but a nag all day to me, but Ava's really hit it off with him, which is good. Its kinda funny, even this morning all I thought about was myself and how I looked. Somehow, today's has already changed me. I mean, other people matter too. Anyhow, Xavin's been leading the way, and we've followed, sometimes hopping on his horse back for fun. I was really confined that we weren't getting stares, I mean, riding on a centaur, but Ava explained that there's some mist stuff that does it.

"So..." Avaline says "you guys tired?"

"Yeah, a bit." I say.

"Are you kidding? My energy is soaring!" Xavin announces enthusiastically.

"Mines hanging out with the slugs on the ground."

"You half bloods tire way to easily! We've still got, like, ten minutes till it gets dark!" I raise my eyebrows.

"Ten minutes?"

"Yeah, well, the suns starting to set, so..." Avaline cuts in.

"Should we settle down for the night or keep going?"

"The monsters are everywhere around here. I vote we continue on."

"Yeah, oka-"

"Hello, dears." A quiet, gracefully voice says. We all spin around and search for the source of the voice at the same time. A tall, pale skinned lady walks from, well, nowhere. She just appears. She looks young, with brunette hair and blue eyes. "Were going on a little trip." I suddenly feel spur dizzy and grab for Avaline as we seem to fall into nothingness.

But I guess it isn't nothingness, because smack! We landed on a bridge. I'm pretty sure it's the golden arch, but it's completely empty except for me, Avaline, and the lady.

"Where's Xavin?"

"Oh, he would have spoiled your little trip here. Let me introduce myself. My name is Gwezyn." Little fangs, like vampire fangs, protrude from her mouth. Why didn't I notice that before? Though Avaline's older than me, she's clutching my hand with fear. "I've taken you here because you two get to make a little decision! You see, my order is to kill ONE half blood. There's two of you. So one of you gets to live, and the other must die. Whichever lives will go back to Xavin, and I'll leave you alone."

"What? We're not going to let ourselves die!" Avaline says, her voice wavering.

"Oh, you're not, are you? Well, here's my little proposal." She grins evilly "one of you has to kill yourself in the next three minutes. If not, I'll kill you both instantly. Think carefully. One of you could live." Then she smugly steps away. I stare at Avaline and she shakes her head.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do it. I don't want you to do it either." She looks down the railing, far below where one of us, if not both, will set our deaths." Should we jump together?" She looks terrified. Suddenly I feel as if I, in my thirteen years, am far older than her. I need to make a decision, and I have to do what's eight. I feel queasy and sad.

"No, no, one of us can live, We can't waste that hope. I... I... I'll jump. I'll go. Then you will get to camp half blood, and you'll be okay." I can't believe what I'm saying. Just a day ago I was that girly, stupid kid packing her suitcases and applying her makeup. Now I'm volunteering to die fir my new best friend.

"I could never live with that. If one of us goes, so should the other."

"No, I can't let you die! If I jump and you get to camp, then you'll be able to keep living. That's how it need to be. I don't want to die, I love living, life is a wonderful thing. But I can't let you die either, and if we both die that's two wasted lives instead of one, So I MUST die."

"No..." She chokes back a sob.

"I'm waiting!" Gwezyn says. I stare at Avaline for moment. We are deathly silent. Then I quietly start to song, a song I'm just making up, just to help her. I evangelize I'm going to die. Why...?

"The sun will rise, the grass will grow, the clouds will drift, the wind will blow, the leaves will fall, The spring will cease, the flowers will die, and so must I..." this can't be happening! I can't believe this! It all happened so fast, one moment we were happily walking with Xavin, the next we had to make a life and death decision. Avaline hugs me and quietly whispers

"I'm so, so sorry. And... thanks. I'll never forget, I swear. I won't forget you, ans I won't forget what housewarming for me." I slowly pull away and walk to the railing, staring down below. I crawl up over the bars and stand on the tiny ledge separating me from Avaline and my death. I close my eyes, and I hear Avaline shrieking and starting to cry as I jump. My hair flies behind me in the wind as I fall. My heart must be stopping because everything is fading to white. All I can feel is that wind as I fly down into the water below. Avaline is going to live, Avaline is going to...

:'(

Okay guys, I'm really sorry. I desoerately needed a death scene, come on... but I feel really guilty. Did you think this was sad? I've gotten some practice with my hg stories. Anyhow, the sincerest of apologies to Drake Son of Hephaestus for killing off one of his characters very fiest. On the bright side: at least Avaline didn't follow through with the whole both jump thing...and, very few characters will die. I mean, AT LEAST half will live, most likely more. So, if you review (review!) Tell me what you think of the first death. Sad enough? I mean, keep in mind that she's thirteen... which makes it that much sadder. PLEASE REVIEW! Again, sorry Drake Son of Hephaestus that I killed her first... don't hate me...

Opinion question- Was Lydia's death sad enough?

Trivia question- What is Piper's dad named?