CHAPTER XCIX:Death’s Lullaby.

I sat there watching helplessly as Penny and Cerberus fought Adam and Olivia. Adam released arrow after arrow towards Cerberus, as Penny and Olivia fought sword to sword. I gained some last minute strength and started crawling towards Seth, I had to be near him. My mouth felt dry and my vision darkened at the edges as my blood spill out on the icy ground. I tried standing up, but I fell.

I looked over at Penny, she had locked blades with Olivia, and was winning their tug-o-war. That was until Cerberus barked at Adam catching Penny off balance. Olivia gave her a strong kick away, and Penny got hit in the head by Cerberus' tail. The blow knocked her out cold and Olivia turned her full attention to Cerberus.

I tried to get up, but I fell back down. Every bit of strength I had was gone, I welcomed the darkness. I, Mary Lucia Riley, The One of Dreams had failed to keep Olympus safe. At best, I had armed them but they were fighting an enemy who knew all their secrets. Armed or not, they would fail. Finally, the world fell silent. I looked up to see I was at The Styx, Charon waiting for me.

"Well hello Mary, I was wondering when you'd get here," Charon smiled, pulling his hood down.

"You knew?" I asked stepping forward.

Charon looked down. "I knew you were dying Mary, it wasn't a matter of 'if' for me."

I looked at him, his scythe was stalling the boat so it wouldn't move. The Grim Reaper had a heart, but only the dead knew that. The living wouldn't understand anyway. Draco slithered up to me, and climbed up to my shoulder effortlessly.

"What will you do?" Draco asked.

I stepped on the boat, and looked Charon in the eyes. "Take me to Elysium."

Charon looked stunned and went to say something, but paused. "Yes Princess," He muttered out as he rowed down the River.

The ride was quiet, and Draco curled up on my lap. I did everything I could to make sure this wasn't my fate, but at the end of the line I failed. My life came in brief broken flashes as Charon stalled in his rowing, waiting for me to change my answer. The ride took longer than ever, pause after pause made it feel like an eternity. The longest moment of silence in my life, dragged out over 17 years of memories.

By the time we had reached the shore, Seth was waiting there with the last person I expected. Zeus stood there, waiting for Charon's boat. I stepped off and looked at Seth, his stomach was still open from the wound. My eyes burned again seeing Seth, it took every bit of strength not to fall down and hug him.

"Why are you here?" I said, looking at Zeus.

"I judged you to fast Mary, you have lost a lot for Olympus. You have sacrificed even more for us by carrying our banner," Zeus stepped up to me, "You have been a great warrior. You have been an even better Oracle. I Zeus, Son of Rhea and Time, remove your curse. If you choose to fight once more, you will have your full power. If you choose to join the dead and their legion, Elysium will have a fine guard. May you rest in peace or give our enemies hell, Mary Riley."

Zeus walked away and vanished in a strike of lightning. Seth stared at me and sighed like he was disappointed. Tears came forth and everything broke free, I practically tackled him in a hug.

"I'm so sorry….i'm so fucking sorry….I couldn't protect you!" I yelled between sobs. "This was all my fault! I dragged you along on this quest! I got….i got you killed!"

Seth hugged me back, "Sis…it's not your fault. None of it is, The Morai made a plan and we followed. I'll find a place among the dead, you go back and find your place among the living."

"I don't want to, Seth. I fought and I lost, there's no going back for me. I failed Seth, if I go back I will just fail again. Even if I go back I can't beat Khaos," I said, hugging Seth tighter.

Seth looked at me. "Khaos wins the moment my powerful and amazing sister stops fighting. When her shield breaks and her sword falls into Tartarus," He smiled.

"What about you?" I asked, a slight smile coming across my face as tears still left my eyes.

"Oh don't worry about me, I'll rest in Elysium for awhile then come back. Probably join Pluto's guard, maybe take Keaton's place as Legatus Legionis. Or become Tribunus Laticlavius for awhile, it might suit me. The military work, I mean," Seth said.

"What if I need you?" I asked looking at him.

Seth smiled a bit, "You won't, you're Princess of The Underworld. However, you're the most powerful kid of Hades so just summon me. I'll always be there for you."

"Seth," I said, calming down.

Seth looked at me, slowly wiping away tears, "Yeah sis?"

"I'm sorry I wasn't a better sister to you. Thank you for always being there for me anyways," I almost cried again.

"You were the best sister I could've ever asker for, now go back and kick Olivia's ass for me," Seth pulled away and motioned me towards the boat that was waiting for me.

I nodded and set foot on the boat, Charon started rowing me back up the river. He whistled quietly with no tune, just something to cut through the silence. Draco had rejoined me on my shoulder, head perked up waiting for the next chapter in this journey.

"Charon?" I called out.

"Yeah kid?" Charon rowed the boat slower.

I looked up at him. "Do you like your job?"

Charon seemed amused at the question. "Sometimes, especially when I'm taking people who are going to be punished in Tartarus. Do you like yours?"

"Most days, Charon. Other days I have to kill old friends," I answered.

"Olivia is still your friend, but her soul is tainted by an old spirit. One who cannot cross over into death, one who cannot come down the River. You will kill Zeno Neptune, and he'll come down here as he has a thousand times and be stuck in Tartarus once more until the right soul comes along. Olivia will find her place among the dead as a hero or faded soul I know not, but she will remember you as a friend. Will you not?" Charon resumed rowing at his full speed. Within moments he started whistling again, and I saw a bright light. My fight against Khaos resumed.