Hades' Lost Daughter

Chapter Four

Have you ever felt as if you were a cloud floating in the sky and then suddenly, BOOM! You are dropped without a warning. That's how I felt once I had fallen asleep. The difference was I couldn't open my eyes, it was like I was paralyzed and then a strange warm sensation started to increase inside of me.

At first, it was only a little, just a comfortable warmth inside of me, but the heat only increased much more and, after a while, the temperature was unbearable. I felt as if I were boiling alive...painfully.

As much as I tried to open my eyes or scream, it was useless. It felt like I was thrown in an oven and burned alive, with no way to escape. As much as I pushed my body to react, there was no response and I had to endure the fire inside of me. I could only wait for what seemed like an eternity until the fire died down and I was able to breathe normally again.

My senses were slowly coming back and the first one to come back was my hearing.

Whispers were echoing all around her and then I could start to move my fingers slightly.

"Did you guys see that?" Asked my friend, Alex.

"I did," said Barbara in shock. I heard the movement of someone moving towards me carefully. "Aileen? Sweetie, if you can hear me open your eyes."

Her voice sounded much clearer now and I tried to do what Barbara said but her body wasn't cooperating. My eyes remained sealed shut.

"I think she needs a little more time," suggested another voice from someone I hadn't expected to be there, Andrew.

Irritation suddenly filled her and she imagined glaring at the boy in annoyance. Why was he here? She barely even knew him.

The sound of feet retreating caught her attention and as they retreated, a door closed after them. I sighed in my mind, thinking everyone was gone but then I heard someone sitting down next to my bed.

"Princess, you have to wake up, sooner or later you have to take control of what's happening." My breath hitched in my throat as I heard him speak. I had expected him to be the first to leave but he didn't. And why had he called me Princess? Was that some sort of nickname he had for me?

Andrew must have noticed the difference in my breathing because he grabbed my arm softly and I suddenly felt at peace. The sound of waves echoed in my mind and I inhaled deeply.

Suddenly, I heard a door open. "Andrew, what are you doing here? Let's go." Whispered Barbara sternly. That was the first I'd heard Barbara use that tone, she normally tried to be more comprehensive. It was odd to hear her speak like that. Slowly, Andrew's hand moved away from my arm and I heard his feet retreat before I was left alone in the room.

For a while, I tried to move my limbs once again but they felt too heavy at my sides. I didn't exactly know how much time passed by but I was sure it was at least an hour. Barbara checked on me a few times, without saying a word and just stopping by quickly.

The last time she did, she sat next to her silently and let out a sigh. The hesitation was evident in the air.

"It's nighttime now, sweetie. I know how much you love this time of the day." She paused and I imagined she was sitting on the edge of my bed, looking out the window up to the bright moon. "Since you were little, you would say the moon gave you energy. That it fueled you as if she were speaking to you. Tonight the moon is shining bright." Barbara said softly and I made an effort to move again.

There was some firmness in my movements as I tried to lift my arms. My eyes began to itch underneath my eyelids and I took a deep breath before opening my eyes. To my surprise, they did. I looked at my surroundings and noticed I was lying down on a bed in the infirmary. The smell of disinfectant filled me and I wrinkled my nose in disgust.

"Aileen," said Barbara, her voice was filled with relief. She scanned me quickly, running her hands over my arms in disbelief and when her eyes landed on mine, she gasped and covered her mouth with a hand. "Oh my, Aileen, your eyes."

I looked back at her in confusion, my body stiffening. What was wrong with my eyes?

Barbara seemed to read her expression because she quickly reached for a mirror from a drawer and handed it to Aileen. I took the mirror with my weak, trembling hands and prepared for the worst. I had never seen Barbara's face paled as much as it did at that moment.

I lifted the mirror to her face and opened her mouth in shock. My normally grey eyes had now darkened slightly and they were filled with more intensity as sparks seemed to radiate from them in a swirling fire. Like electrical shocks.

I took the glass of water Barbara had gotten and drunk from it until it was empty. My mouth didn't feel dry anymore and I found the strength to speak.

"How-" my voice cracked slightly and I cleared my throat. "How is this happening? Do you know something?" I put down the mirror and stared at my friend intently, waiting for her to say something.

Barbara gave me a reassuring smile and pondered on what to say. "Yes, I know what's happening. But I can't tell you just yet. I'll explain everything once you turn seventeen. You will have to be patient."

My eyes widened and I quickly shook my head. "But that's six days from now. Why do I have to wait? If it's so important you can tell me now."

Barbara shifted uncomfortably and turned away from me. "What?" I asked slowly as I scanned her face.

"Well sweetie, you weren't out for just a day, it's been four days now," explained Barbara softly.

I felt the blood drain from my face and I closed my mouth a couple of times before I could speak again. "Wow then, the day is almost here."

Barbara nodded her head slowly made her way towards the door. She stopped just as she was opening the door and gave me a small smile. "It's time you get your rest. You look very tired. I'll be back in the morning, sweet dreams." And then, she was gone before I could stop her and urge her to tell me more.

To say I was restless was an understatement. I kept on shifting from side to side trying to sleep but my mind had other ideas. Doubt and questions were eating me alive. Something was definitely changing inside of me.

I sat up and clenched my teeth together as the pain coursed through my column. When I managed to get up and out the door, I walked quietly towards the stairs. By the time I reached the last floor, I was breathing heavily and my forehead was sweating with strain.

I opened a door after walking a bit more and the night's breeze swept past me. It was getting colder every day as October started to settle in.

I wrapped my arms around me, suddenly wishing I had brought a blanket. I headed towards a bench in the middle of the roof and slowly sat down and looked up at the sky. I hadn't realized someone was here with me until he spoke. "And Your Majesty awakens," he said teasingly behind her.

I turned around and glared at the guy behind her. "What do you want, Andrew?" My tone was filled with annoyance. I still couldn't understand why Andrew's presence bothered me so much. It was something I couldn't help.

Andrew sat down next to me and shrugged. "Nothing. To be honest, I didn't know you were here. I just couldn't sleep and decided to come here."

I studied him closely before sighing and nodding my head in defeat. He was telling the truth. I got up and headed towards the door without a word.

"Where are you going?" He asked quickly in confusion.

"Downstairs," I answered curtly as I reached the door.

"I'll walk you," he instantly offered. He got to his feet and walked towards me but I quickly placed my hand between us.

"It's fine, I think I can find my own way back, thank you," I said tightly and he flinched but quickly hid his confusion behind a neutral expression.

Andrew nodded and put his hands in his pockets uncomfortably. I didn't stay long. I opened the door and walked to the second floor to where my room was. The walk was slow but not as painful as the way up to the roof.

I opened the door and found my roommates snoring softly as they slept. I let out a sigh and went to my bed to lay down. It was much more comfortable than the one in the infirmary and suddenly, all the tension in my body drifted away.

...

To everyone's surprise, I got up before the alarm went off and I hurried out the door, fully clothed. My dark long hair was in a ponytail as I walked to the cafeteria. For some reason, I was feeling very energetic.

Few people were already awake and having breakfast at their usual spot. I just took a bagel and headed towards an empty table beside a window.

Outside, clouds were forming and I frowned as all the questions in the back of my mind came rushing back. One more day until I would find out what was happening. I didn't know if I was going to be able to wait that long and I considering comforting Barbara but I wasn't sure if I wanted to know the whole truth.

"Wow, you're awake," he said behind me.

I held back a groan and looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Are you following me? Or better yet, do you want something?"

Andrew shrugged, unbothered by my tone. He put his hands in his pockets, something he seemed to do a lot when he was nervous, "not exactly."

I raised an eyebrow. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Andrew sighed, "tomorrow you'll know everything."

Suddenly, my eyes widened and all my annoyance was forgotten. How did he know something was going to happen tomorrow? "Wait, you know what happened to me? Or what is happening to me?"

Andrew nodded and sat down on a chair in front of me.

"It's something that happened to all of us," he explained.

"Us?" I asked in confusion and Andrew nodded as he explained.

"There are four of us and at the age of 16, right before we turn 17, we... change." He trailed off when he noticed my discomfort. Change? Into what? What was he talking about? My thoughts tried to guess what he was trying to say but she soon gave up when he interrupted. "Aileen, look into my eyes, like really look at them."

Hesitantly, I did what I was told and gasped silently. His blue-grey eyes weren't just blue they also had some green in them, they sparkled and they looked like waves in an ocean, flowing slowly from blue to green.

"How is that possible?" I asked in bewilderment.

"It's like I said, all of us go through changes," he said with his arms crossed in front of his chest. Both of us stayed quiet after that, unable to say something. Andrew was looking intently at the sky and he sighed before saying anything. "Look," he said not taking his eyes off the sky. I did what he said and my eyes widened when I saw clouds begin to crowd overhead.

Rain began to pour down to the ground. I still didn't get what I was supposed to be looking at. Andrew took his eyes off the clouds and the rain stopped. "What just happened?" I asked slowly in shock. I wasn't sure of what was happening and I didn't know if I wanted to find out now.

"I'll do it again but you just focus on the clouds, try to channel your energy, your fire, your electricity to the clouds." He said and I stared at him like he was crazy, what was he talking about?

Andrew smirked, noticing my discomfort. "Just trust me."

I wasn't completely sure but I looked at the clouds that were now pouring down. "Focus Aileen," said Andrew again, his voice beginning to sound distant. Yep, he was definitely crazy.

Once again, I looked at the clouds and did what Andrew had told me. Channel your energy. How? I didn't know was supposed to happen but I kept staring at the clouds thinking about lightning and fire.

Suddenly, lightning landed way too close to my liking and landed on a tree outside. The tree started to go up in flames. I yelped and stared at it in awe.

"Aileen, stop, you're going to start a fire," whispered Andrew putting a hand on her shoulder. His voice was laced with wariness.

I shook her head and watched as the rain put down the fire. Few of the teens who had seen what had happened stared outside in shock and wonder. I was out of my seat in a second, feeling the blood drain from my face.

"I didn't do that. It was just a coincidence, right?" I asked weakly, feeling my hands begin to tremble.

Andrew didn't say anything, he just stared at me intently. I gasped and shook my head as I tried to walk but my head was beginning to feel dizzy.

Firm, muscular arms led her back to the nearest chair. "The first time it takes a lot of energy from you. You will need to rest." Andrew said softly and I pushed him away quickly.

"Forget it, you're crazy, out of your mind," I said quickly as I began to walk away from him.

Andrew laughed and shook his head. "Whatever you say, daughter of Hades."

Hades? What is he talking about? "Hades? Who is Hades? Is that supposed to be an insult?" I echoed my thoughts and something sparked inside of me. My eyes intensified and the temperature rose around us.

"Aileen calm down or you'll start a fire," Andrew said as he tried to touch my arm with his but I pushed him away.

I couldn't calm down. Instead, I stormed off and into my empty room. He is crazy, right? And, who is Hades? What is that supposed to mean? For some reason that felt important.

Those questions circled my mind over and over again and outside, the loud sound of thunder and lightning raged on. I sat down on the floor and covered my ears with my hands, willing the adrenaline inside me to flow away.