Chapter 48: Chapter 48

S A V A N N A H

I THINK THAT it would be easier to jump into a vat of acid than to tell someone that their sister had jumped into the path of a psychopath’s sickle for you. Of course, that alternative could not really do much in terms of killing a Grim Reaper. But it would still hurt less than the pain I was feeling.

As I was walking over to Lewis, I was trying hard not to cry. The heavy lump that formed in one’s throat when they were on the verge of tears was not something that I should have been feeling.

Yet there it was, suffocating and restricting my empty lungs. With every step I took, the more unsteady I became. Phee-Phee walked beside me but even he could not comfort me.

Nadine had given her life for me; for my cause.

Her death had not been in vain. But telling the people whom she had left behind…they might not see it that way.

Lewis was smiling, innocently oblivious to the impending development; with his adorable dimples and curly brown hair. I could not help but picture how I was about to shatter that into pieces with one sentence.

How can I dare to do that to him—

—Oh my gods, I cannot do this.

I was about to stop and turn back around like a complete coward when he spotted me and called out my name. I froze.

“…Shit,” I hissed, and then tried to look a little more presentable, but I still could not shake the guilt. “Hey…” I breathed, giving a small wave.

“Hey. Hello to you too, Mr. Phoenix,” he said to Phee-Phee. Then he frowned and glanced around uncertainly. “Oh, have any of you seen Nadine anywhere? I’ve been asking around and no one seems to know,” he chuckled softly, scratching the back of his neck. He had a deep bleeding cut along his bottom lip, which made me start in alarm.

“Oh —I did that, actually,” he admitted sheepishly, holding up one of his nunchucks. Blood glistened at the end of the curved blade. “I ran into Hermes. He didn’t do much though —only a quick stab,” he then gestured to his side, where there was a dark red patch.

“Wait, it wasn’t an obsidian weapon?” I checked, looking closer at the wound. It seemed to be healing fairly normally. Thank goodness —Hermes really had been trying to be as least deadly as he could.

“No, I think that it was regular iron,” he confirmed, sighing. Then he shook his head, refocusing and looking at me intently. “…So, about Nadine. Do you know where she is?”

I flinched, and then glanced away. He had done an effective job at distracting me until just then. Now I could not stall any longer. I wondered where to start —and more tears consequently spilled. I looked up at Lewis and watched his smile fall. It made me feel worse, and my shoulders jerked up as I then let out sob.

“Savannah…what’s wrong?” he asked nervously.

I shook my head, my vision blurring.

“Why are you crying?”

My crying then suddenly became audible, and I rushed forward and hugged him fiercely. He staggered backwards in surprise, but then he wrapped his arms around me uncertainly. I continued crying, letting out all of the emotion which I had been suppressing. It was such a sudden release that I wondered if I had ever let the fact sink in before.

Lewis patted my back comfortingly, but I knew that I could not leave him guessing —though he probably now had an idea.

“Lewis,” I sniffed, withdrawing. “I’m so sorry.”

“For…what?” he asked, frowning softly.

“It…it was an accident,” I assured. “It should’ve been me, I know that, but she just jumped in front of it —Lewis, I need you to know…”

I then trailed off as he did not interrupt me in any way. Was he simply processing? “…Lewis?” I asked again.

He was completely still.

He stared at me blankly, and his eyes looked completely empty. It was as though someone had taken his soul. I shook him gently, but he still did not respond. It began to frighten me.

“Lewis…please, there wasn’t anything that I could do,” I went on. “It happened so fast, and I was busy with Hera. Horkos came up from behind me and he had obsidian plated sickles —”

“No,” he finally said; in the quietest and emptiest whisper. I felt all and no emotion in its singular syllable. “…No way,” Lewis said a little louder, clenching his fists. I stiffened. He was becoming angry. “She’s not…she can’t have…She wouldn’t. She wouldn’t do this to me.”

I could see a layer of tears glistening in his eyes, but none of them fell. It made me wince, as a sudden sharp pain sliced through my chest.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

He did not respond. His expression slowly became distant and unreadable. As though the Lewis I had gotten to know was disappearing.

“She gave her life for you,” he eventually stated flatly, unblinking. I pressed my lips into a line and averted my gaze. Then I nodded slowly. “…She had promised to do that for me,” he murmured.

I blinked. “Lewis, I would be more than willing —”

“Don’t,” he suddenly snapped in a much firmer tone, grabbing my arms and forcefully shoving me away from him. “Just…don’t, Savannah.”

He looked at me with such wretched anguish that it almost felt as though I had been the one who had killed Nadine.

“I don’t need nor want whatever it is that you’re trying to do,” he deadpanned. “So, don’t even.”

“…Okay,” I said shakily. I could not force it upon him. “But…at least hear my apology,” I asked earnestly.

He then scoffed. “You know —it’s actually kind of funny,” he said bitterly. “I always knew this day would come —a day when she would be gone. When it happened the first time, it wasn’t that bad because we were together. I guess I was naïve. Because now…it’s as if I’m being forced to live on without her, as mortality intended.”

“Aw, Lewis —”

“Make this count,” he cut me off, narrowing his eyes. I beheld the roaring requiem within that blue. “At least promise me that. Do not let her death —her sacrifice,” he amended quickly, “…be for nothing.”

I nodded slowly, before glancing aside. I could not bear to face him. He had such a cold and hollow look; an expression that did not suit him. I had not anticipated this kind of reaction. I knew that I was fairly terrible at delivering bad news. I was not any better at dealing with it either. I could not compare my pain to the pain he was experiencing.

“Hey,” Abigail made me jump as she suddenly came up to us.

Her jacket and jeans were frayed and tattered, her hair loose and wild; and she had torn off the hem of her t-shirt to wrap around her wounded arm in a crude bandage, that was now stained red.

“Zeus wants to talk to everyone…”

She paused as she then read the situation. Solemnity replaced her hardened displeasure when she saw our faces.

“Give us a minute,” I whispered.

She nodded curtly, before walking off.

Lewis’ clear aquamarine eyes turned to slits as I looked back at him. “What do we need a minute for?” he commented nonchalantly. “I have nothing more to say to you.”

Then he turned to walk after Abigail.

I could not move. I was utterly shaken. Phee-Phee cooed and brushed against my leg but it made me want to crumble to dust.

Perhaps I had expected Lewis to be in denial. Or I had wanted him to confide in me and cry on my shoulder.

But whatever reaction I had selfishly thought he would have had, did not compare to the sudden cold change in character. Or perhaps, it shook me more to think that that part of him might have always been there.

✠

Zeus was on his feet again —the wound on his leg having ceased to bleed, though he had a slight limp. The colour had understandably drained from his face, and he was looking grave as he tried to be his usual 'Lord Zeus'.

He regarded us wearily along with all of the damage we had caused. So few —there were far too few Reapers standing with me now. The bodies of those who had lost their souls had been blessed by Thanatos and were burning away into mist by his magic. Ice blue frost and snow were the only signs that the Págos had even been there and fought.

And I tried not to stare, tried not to remember that I knew none of their names —but I knew that I would never forget a single one of them.

“Poseidon,” the god of lightning started, “We are going to have a few words when we get back to Olympus.”

Poseidon grumbled.

Hera marched to her husband’s side and took his arm. “Are you all right, Zeus?” she asked. “Your injuries do not seem too severe, though. I can go and get some ambrosia if it is urgent.”

“I will live,” he answered gruffly. “Right now, we need to worry about what we are going do about this mess.”

“And what about Savannah?” Hades asked.

The Lord of the skies did not look all too willing to address me.

He sighed and tilted his head from side to side. “…Your courage did not turn out to be completely useless,” he admitted. “You even helped me see that change is in order. However, you did kill a god. By law, you should be killed as well,” he pointed out. I rubbed my arm self-consciously as everyone who had not known gasped and gaped at me. “But technically, you also killed the law. And you did it in retaliation. And I can understand that rage.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“Can we please stop talking about it like that?” Artemis grumbled, glaring at me in particular. “As though he is completely gone forever. Because he is not,” she said darkly.

“Well, he is not here right now,” Hades said dryly. “In fact, I can tell you exactly where he is —”

“If you dare to say it, I will not hesitate to shoot you in the eye,” she threatened, waving her bow for emphasis.

“Shut it, you two,” Zeus snapped, glaring at them.

The rest of us looked on in amusement as soft thunder rolled across the sky. Both of the gods wavered, before reluctantly backing down.

“Savannah,” Hera then addressed me. “You must understand that we are not letting you get away with anything —rather, there is no point in punishing you properly for a crime that momentarily does not classify as one,” she clarified. “Given the help that you offered me, I found it fitting that you should be given a less severe penalty.”

I blinked, before nodding in understanding. I supposed that the queen of the gods and I could now be considered even.

“So,” Zeus went on, “I have given some thought to a different form of a way to reprimand you.”

I paused. But I should not be complaining —the gods were not going to kill me after all. But if so, then what exactly did the almighty Zeus have in mind as an alternative punishment?

“…To make you a god.”

There was deathly silence.

My eyes widened and I nearly choked.

He did not repeat himself. He did not need to.

“Zeus,” Hades clipped his brother’s name. “What do you think you are doing? If this is some form of a practical joke —”

“Why would I joke about this?” the god asked, taken aback. “It is not exactly a gift, mind you. As a Grim Reaper you can still have a degree of mortality. But if I make you a goddess, you will be cursed with immortality.”

“Cursed,” Hades echoed, clenching his jaw.

I swallowed nervously.

“Zeus, you have to tell her the rest.” Hera then nudged him. “Your reasoning doesn’t sound too enticing right now.”

“Oh,” he quipped, nodding importantly. “Right. I was thinking —there is no god of half-bloods. What we propose is that you can put your idea into practice and look out for the half-bloods of the world. You will train them, teach them to abide by divine and mundane law, and how to master their abilities. You should know that if a case fails, it will be your responsibility to do what has to be done.”

“You’re actually willing to take my offer seriously?”

“Well, yes,” he said as though it were obvious.

Though I knew what his last point meant. I would have to be the one to execute them. No, I decided. It would never come to that.

I closed my agape mouth and glanced at those who had fought by my side. They did not look too sure. I looked up at Hades. He was frowning at the ground now, deep in thought. Thanatos was looking disinterested, as usual —which was strange, because I would have thought that he would be very much against the idea of having me around forever. My gaze slid to Abigail and Chainsaw Guy.

The blonde raised an eyebrow, which probably meant that she did not have an opinion; or that I should not be asking for one from her. Chainsaw Guy simply shrugged, which was not a surprise.

I then glanced at Lewis.

He was twirling one of his nunchucks thoughtfully, glaring at his feet. He looked up and met my gaze. He did not look away in a huff. He stared right back at me; completely deadpan. I could not blame him for the way he was feeling. I bit my lip as I felt the sting of tears.

The news had not had time yet to sink in.

I swallowed hard and then turned to look at Søren. His expression made me waver. I could see the apprehension in his eyes. He did not need to say a word to tell me not to trust the gods. I knew that well —it was not as though they had given us a reason to trust them in the past.

“It is not an easy course to take,” Hera then said.

“There will be things to leave behind,” Zeus sighed.

“But not your friends. Grim Reapers are essentially immortal,” Artemis then murmured. “So, where is the issue?”

I paused and realised what she was saying. I would not outlive any of the people I knew —except for my mother. Oh gods —what would Phoebe think about this? But it was not as though she could prevent it. At least eternity would not be lonely with most of my family already being gods.

“…Nothing is undying,” I finally said, stepping forward. “Everything fades eventually. But this isn’t it. It’s just the beginning. I have an opportunity to make a big difference in the world. I…I want to shoulder that responsibility. I want to be there when no one else is.”

“Forever is a long time,” Thanatos then sighed. “And half-blood gods will keep popping up everywhere.”

And whose fault would that be?

“I know,” I quipped, sticking my nose up. “But I really want to offer the support that so many others didn’t receive. I want to stand for something. That’s all this was about,” I said earnestly. “Fighting for lives like mine.”

Grim Reapers and gods alike murmured uncertainly, but no one offered any further arguments.

“I certainly have no objections,” Apollo smirked, which was followed by a swift jab in his side from Artemis.

“All right. Fine,” I said quickly in an effort not to let my voice break. I straightened my spine, before walking forward and facing the god of the skies. “…I accept my punishment,” I declared.

I glanced back at Søren out of the corner of my eye. He was frowning at his boots. I looked away, unable to deal with the feeling of guilt. I knew what turning into a god would mean. I would have to say goodbye to him one day. But I could not think about that right then.

“Let the ceremony preparations commence,” Hera declared, raising her arms and waving them in a beckoning manner. “We shall host it on Mount Olympus.”

“Before any of that,” Zeus then cut in, “We need to clean up down here. We caused much of the destruction —it is only right that we must help with

major repairs.”

“But if we fix anythin’, the mortals may get suspicious,” Poseidon rightly pointed out, much to everyone’s relief. “As far as they know, it be a tsunami that tore through New York.”

Zeus looked on wearily. “…Right.”

Everyone then dispersed, gathering their weapons and things.

I walked around amongst them, earnestly thanking all of the Grim Reapers who were left and accepting half-hearted congratulations. Most of them would be going to rest in their apartments —I was allowed to invite only my friends to the Rebirth ceremony. I decided that would mean Søren and Lewis.

But then I felt as though I owed Chainsaw Guy and Abigail a form of gratitude for risking their lives, so I extended the invitation. They were genuinely surprised —though even more surprisingly, they accepted.

As for the family I had around; Hades’ frown did not disappear, and Thanatos had developed a scowl.

“Savannah,” Hades sighed. I held my breath in trepidation. But there was no resentment in his eyes. “I know that it’s a punishment, but…I am actually elated that you’re alive. This has never happened before —a half-blood being granted the title of a god. But we need it. We need you.” He then put his hands on my shoulders, a smile tugging at his lips.

I smiled up at him weakly.

“I can’t believe I have to put up with you forever,” was the start of Thanatos welcoming speech. “…Is that one of my Phoenixes?”

He eyed Phee-Phee suspiciously.

“He’s mine now,” I told him proudly, stroking Phee-Phee’s back as he perched on a branch beside me. “And what do you mean by ‘put up with me’?”

“Uh, just that?” Thanatos scoffed. “You are insufferable. Yes, we may be siblings, but siblings fight all the time, don’t they?”

“Exactly —just look at mine,” Hades quipped.

“But I thought we bonded back there,” I scoffed, lightly punching Thanatos’ shoulder. “You even saved my life.”

“Savannah,” he then said seriously, grabbing me by the shoulders. “Now that I know you, I would die for you.”

I blinked, slightly taken aback.

“But, I would also want kill you. It’s a contradictory notion,” he smirked.

I snorted. “Feeling’s mutual,” I returned, removing his hands.

Phee-Phee and I then went off to offer our aid, because I wanted to keep myself occupied. I needed a distraction. I had the feeling that if I just stood around and took it all in, everything would hit me at once and I would go into shock and I would never be able to move again.

I knew that it was not good for me —but there was too much that had happened in the last few hours.

Søren then caught up with me as I was helping someone carry a giant sledgehammer inside the apartment building.

“Hey,” he said. “Are you…okay?”

“Peachy,” I deadpanned, then waving the other Reaper off.

Søren frowned, unamused by my sarcasm.

“How are you really?” he asked gently.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. “Honestly, I’m a little out of it. I feel like everything is moving so fast. And I know it’s not exactly a choice, and that my immortality is going to be a good thing in the long run; but I can’t help feeling like I’m standing under another one of Poseidon’s waves.”

“That’s understandable,” he quipped. “But look, I’ll be around as long as I can. I’m practically immortal too.”

“True,” I admitted, smiling.

Then my gaze drifted and caught sight of Lewis across the street. He held my gaze for a moment, before turning away and waking off.

I sighed in defeat and rubbed my arms.

“Hey, where is Lewis going?” Søren asked. “Isn’t he going to stay for the ceremony?”

I stiffened, realising that I had gotten my hopes far too high when I expected him to stay for such a thing.

Søren softened, looking concerned. “And…where’s —”

“Don’t,” I cut him off quickly. “Don’t…say it.”

He frowned, a little offended.

“It’s just…” I struggled. “Nadine…she’s gone.”

He stiffened, then knowing why Lewis was leaving. “Oh.”

“She…died for me,” I rasped.

He flinched as I kicked at the ground, pressing my lips into a line.

“I think…I think it’s best to leave Lewis alone and let him grieve,” I murmured, watching his retreating figure.

I hoped that he would be all right, wherever he would be going.