I feel like Nova and Auggie have some cute little moments sometimes.
Ares’ P.O.V.“I did it, Ares. Last night, I finally did it! I can help Auggie now, so don’t worry, okay?” Andy told me with a smile. I noted the dark circles that encased those sky-blue eyes. She had stayed up late working on this. I didn’t mean to put this kind of pressure on her. I felt guilty, but I really needed her. This is the only way to make sure they stay safe. I'm not prepared to lose her or Auggie.“Please forgive me for asking you to do this in one day. I knew if anyone could do it, it would be you. You’re strong, Andy, one of the strongest people I know. I am not sure how you always keep that smile on your face no matter what is happening, but I hope it never fades. Thank you for your help today, my sweet elf.” I kissed her forehead, hoping to implant those words in her mind. “Any time, my air. I am here for you, whatever you need, whenever you need it.” She flashed me her radiant smile, the one that wrinkled the corner of her eyes. Nova, Auggie, Andy, and I all sat ar
Andy’s P.O.V.My heart raced as I knew the moment Ares spoke about was quickly approaching. I searched the area, taking in the sight of the woods. The usual vibrancy of the plants and trees was absent, leaving me feeling slightly uneasy. The trees had a deep, charred hue to them, with bark crumbling at the slightest touch. Everything had a dark, sinister energy, and the cold air felt like a warning, causing dread to course through me. “Where the fuck are we?” Auggie asked, spinning in circles as he looked around.“The dark woods,” Ares responded, his voice heavy with concern as his gaze swept across the tree line for any potential danger. “Give me the sword, Nova.”She stood rooted in place, her eyes wide as she scanned the eerie terrain. Ares reached around her, grabbing the sword, and slowly releasing it from her grip. I have never felt such darkness around me before. It felt almost suffocating, just like the black smoke that brought us here, stealing my breath with it. A bone chil
Nova’s P.O.V. Andy gave chase to Ares, and I gave chase to her. We were both being stupid, separating ourselves from our group, just as the witch wants I am sure. I couldn’t help though, thinking of Andy in these dark woods alone. She is strong, but she’s not used to not having a light. She doesn’t have the same darkness inside her as I. I have grown used to the cold chill of darkness when I use my siren. It seeps into your bones and calls for more. It is greedy and cruel, feeding off your darkest impulses. Andy doesn't know how to handle darkness, all she knows is light. Normally, her light can snuff out the darkness, but in a place like this, I don’t think it’s possible. The evil in the air is almost palpable. I can feel it calling to my sea witch siren now, the pull is so strong, growing the dark magic inside me. I had to pause for a moment to focus on pushing it back down. “Nova!” I heard Andy call out to me in the dark. “Andy?” I called out to her again. Her voice sounded
Jesse's P.O.V. “Auggie, don’t!” I yelled after him as he gave chase to Nova. They left me alone in the dark, hearing its whispers all around me. “Asshole.” I muttered into the dark. “You could have at least left me with some fire!” I yelled into the dark like he could actually hear me, even though I am sure he couldn’t. I get a feeling these woods do more than just keep you in the dark. I know these kinds of places can play tricks on your mind. The itch inside my head told me it was already happening to me. I took cautious steps, barely able to see what was in front of me. The red hue of the moon did little to light the place. I let it guide me as best it could through the trees. The only sound I could hear was the crunch of the dried out roots and leaves beneath my feet, along with the thundering of my heart. “Jesse!” Ares' voice called out in a panic. “Fuck off. I know that’s not him!” I yelled into the dark. Ares doesn’t panic, and he certainly wouldn’t call out to me and
Ares P.O.V. “You’re not the boy I cursed,” the witch said, as she leaned down to inspect me further. Her brows pinched in the center, and her eyes narrowed as she looked at me. She stood forward again, only tightening the grip of the darkness that I could not even budge. I even tried rewinding time on it, but this darkness has always been darkness. All I did was make it more potent by rewinding time on it. I was stuck, wrapped the same way mom wraps her victims in a cocoon of shadows, only this isn’t shadows, it is pure dark evil. “You hold the curse, so you must be his son, and he must be dead. Pity, I wanted to toy with him when he got older. I guess I waited too long,” she sighed like she really was that disappointed. I wanted to speak, to ask all the questions that were racing in my mind, but she had the darkness wrapped around me up to my nose. I am honestly not sure how I am even able to breathe right now. Her eyes continued to scan me, as if to memorize every part of my f
Augustus’ P.O.V. “Are you sure you’re okay now?” I asked Nova as she seemed to come to her senses again. “Yes, I promise. I am so sorry, Auggie.” She bit at her cheek with a guilty look in her eyes. “Don’t be. Let’s just go find Ares.” I held my hand for her take, leading us to where I felt pulled. In the distance, I could see a clearing large enough for nova to shift in. I smiled, feeling like something was going right. “Shift here and fly above me as I continue to look for Ares. Once I find him, I’ll send a flare up and we’ll meet you here in this clearing. I can fly myself so once you have Ares and Jesse, you take off and fly, okay?” I instructed her as I pulled her into the clearing. “Are you sure you don’t want me down here with you?” She seemed worried about me as she asked. “I will be fine. This is the best chance we have of leaving.” She nodded reluctantly as she let go of my hand. She shifted before me into her large jade dragon, slithering up into the sky. When
Andy’s P.O.V.I saw Ares run past me, knowing full well what I had to do now. I gave him a warm smile, willing to die for the man that looked like he had just faced death itself. The earth opened beneath me, allowing it to swallow me whole. I caught a glimpse of the darkness trying2 to make its way towards me before I closed the earth over me. I created the same bubble I had done with Nova, only I could make it larger and dig myself deeper, getting further away from the dark. I traveled on in the direction that Jesse and Ares had run, stopping about 50 feet later. This is where Ares said to wait. I counted to 300 before I opened the earth above me, allowing a surprised Auggie to fall in. I closed the earth before us, grabbing his flaming hand with my coated dragon scale hand. His flames still stung me, but not nearly as badly. Auggie shifted back to his human form, to not cause me further pain. “We have to run. She’ll be digging to find us. When we are about 50 feet away, you should
Ares’ P.O.V.Andy’s radiating warmth, and absolute love, had me even more confused than before. Her magic pressed into me, swirling inside me to heal every part of me that hurt. She pushed back the darkness that encompassed my heart. She mended my mind, my body and my soul, all the while letting me know how much she loved me. She loves me.I was having a hard time processing that anyone would choose me. I had never felt such a passionate love. The warmth that came from her infected my whole body, spreading through every cell that flowed through me until I felt her in every part of me. I swear it was like part of her soul was embedded with mine now. “Fight, my air.” She whispered to me after she broke the best kiss of my life. I couldn’t say anything as my voice failed me when I stared into those captivating sky-blue eyes of hers. She let me go, running off towards a stunned Nova and Gabriel. I think we were all stunned silent. Andy had never been so straight forward before, and I c
Andy's P.O.V.5 months have passed now and Elara has grown right before our eyes at a very rapid rate. She now looks to be 4 rather than just 5 months. We knew it would happen from Percy's warning, but it was still alarming to see. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with her still white hair that curled softly around her. She had her mother's eyes which at first were hard to look into without remembering her. Now, all I see when I look at them is Elara. That same bright-moon silver dawned her eyes shimmering against her pale skin. Her rosy lips and crimson stained cheeks contrasted well with her all white appearance. "Mommy, I'm bored," she complained, coming to take a seat on my lap. "I know sweetheart, but I have to finish tending to these plants for my final, and daddy's in class right now, taking one of his finals. Would you like to help me? I can show you how to grow a plant with magic," I offered her with a smile. "Okay, Mommy!" She jumped excitedly, looking all kinds of ador
Ares’ P.O.V.Elara stirred in my arms as she situated herself. My heart felt full with her in my arms. In a matter of seconds this child had me wrapped around her finger. She is my world, my heart, my everything. She and Andy take priority over everything in my life. I would kill for them. I would die for them. Seeing dad was an unexpected gift that both helped and eased my worries. I guess now it's time to tell mom and my other dad's. I don't know how they'll take it. Mom lost it when she found out what happened to me. I am worried how she'll react to Elara. I better do it now while I have the gale to do it. "I'm going to mom's, come with me?" I turned, asking them all. "You sure?" Auggie stepped forward, seeming concerned. "It's now or never. Besides, the longer I wait the more hurt she'll be." I looked into the future, seeing mom outside training. If I wait too long she'll be hurt that I didn't tell her. "Okay, then. Let's go." Jesse nodded. "This will probably be better if it
Percy’s P.O.V. My dear son, I am so sorry this has happened to you. You finally lifted the curse I could not, yet here you stood with a baby in your arms. Much too young to raise a child, yet alone one with such great responsibility. They granted me one more visit, and I saved it for this day in case this future came to pass. I had hoped not, but he chose correctly, and I couldn’t be more proud. He didn’t think selfishly. He let his child be born, even though it was one he did not consent to. I made Ares much in the same way that he conceived his daughter. I can’t exactly say anything about that. None of it was the baby’s fault, anyway. I watched Ares as he looked on to that child, like she was his everything. It was a sad sight to see, knowing that his future would be just as hard as his past, if not more difficult, despite the curse being lifted. I couldn’t help the sadness that filled my heart. This was not the future I wanted for him, it was not the one I hoped for. I know he wi
Augustus' P.O.V. Ares traveled us all back to the center of the maze, where just an hour before we had been having fun. That was the longest and most intense hour of my life. I'm not sure what happened those last few minutes of the battle. When things got dark we leaned into each other, and it unlocked something inside of Ares that we were all able to tap into. The feeling still lingered inside me, strengthening me with power and light. I scanned the area for Nova, but couldn't see her anywhere. She must have sensed me as a water portal opened before us, and Nova jumped out with Manny close behind. "I'm sorry I couldn't teleport you all out. I was only able to get Nova because we're mated. The dark forest hates relinquishing its prey," Manny explained with a guilty expression. "Thank you for rescuing her," I said, staring at Nova like she was my salvation. She's the only reason I live and breathe. She ran towards me, wrapping her arms around my neck. She sobbed into my chest, let
Jesse's P.O.V. With the sword in its hand, the demon lunged forward towards Nova. It clawed at her, piercing her skin right over her thigh as she retreated too slowly. The demon tossed the sword, having it land on the ground, looking like an Excalibur sticking out of the earth. It shined mockingly from 20 feet away. It would have done us well if Nova could have had the chance to use it. "Jesse, can you do it?" Liam asked, already knowing that I couldn't, but desperately wanting me to. I shook my head no, hanging it in disappointment for a brief second. "Then know that I love you, forever into all eternity." He shifted into King before me, biting down onto the demon's head, only to be met with a loud yelp of pain. The demon's blood was burning his mouth as if he had taken a bite of hot magma. Liam let go of the demon instantly, using his paws to slash at it instead. He shook his head, trying to shake off the pain from his mouth. The heat from the demon someone felt to increase. I
Nova’s P.O.V. The ghoul lunged, trying to bite a chunk of flesh off. I burned it away before me, turning it into a charred black lump. The smell of charred flesh permeated the air, and I felt my stomach turn in disgust. They already smelled bad, but it seemed burning them only made the stench worse. Auggie clasped my hand tightly as his fire coursed through me and combined with my own. Our fire joined when we became mated. There was no delay, no fight for control. It was natural, like an extension of myself. I blasted the ghouls as they approached, while Auggie tossed them with his shadows. My primary concern was the demon that stood at the edge of the woods. It seemed to watch, waiting for something, but I'm not sure what. I heard the baby cry in the cabin, earning not only the attention of some ghouls, but that of the demon as well. Ares seemed to pale as his eyes flashed and his face contorted with worry. Andy was in danger. I could tell by the change in his demeanor. He told L
Andy's P.O.V. My worst nightmare played before me. Ares had been wrapped in dark smoke and pulled away from us before my eyes. I tried to reach for him, but found myself grabbing air. He was gone. I spun around seeing the same horrified expression on everyone's face. "We have to go!" I snapped everyone out of their shock. "I can travel us there now. I've been practicing with Umbra and we can use the darkness better," Jesse said, answering the question of how we would get there without anyone having to ask. "Then let's go," Auggie said, looking the most determined I had ever seen him. I felt the beast inside me stir as anger coursed through me. She could be hurting him this very instant. I need to save the love of my life before she does irreversible damage. I felt the familiar cold of shadow traveling wrap itself around me as the settings set around us. Jesse had managed to pull us through Ares' shadow door. There was no stumbling or searching through the woods for him this time.
Ares' P.O.V. Andy's idea for her Christmas pity party was brilliant. I could feel the atmosphere changing around us, allowing for some laughter and joy to enter each of us. I know everyone is nervous and worried for me a lot. Hell, I'm scared, but with Andy by my side and Dad's words of encouragement, I think I can do this. I guess we'll see when she calls on me. I wonder though, when she calls me, will she call only me? Last time it was an accident that everyone came with me. I doubt she'd call them again, since they ruined her plans for me. I could see it in her eyes that night. She wasn't done with me. If she would have had her way, she would have raped me all night. She was determined to have a child, and for some reason she was determined to have that child with me. What if when she calls me again, she tries the same thing? The thought made my blood run cold and my body shiver. Andy noticed as she leaned in beside me, providing me with warmth only he touch brings me. She chas
Augustus’ P.O.V. Christmas was approaching us sooner than we would have liked. Instead of enjoying the holiday season we had all been on pins and needles, just waiting for the day we would face that crazy dark witch again. Ares trains every day with Andy by his side. Nova and I have been focusing on our fire training to use during battle, while she and Manny have been training on her control over her sea witch magic. We don’t want her to be overtaken again. She had delved into the darkness the week she had turned away from me. It had almost permanently stained her soul, but with the help of Andy they were able to banish that darkness. Ares has been more on edge than usual. I know that he isn’t the only one. Jesse and I have been talking and practicing. We’ve been trying to figure out what Percy meant when he spoke about us holding one another when things get dark. We aren’t the most poetic bunch, so we didn’t come up with much. It didn’t help that Jesse told me about the prophecy sh