41 Chapter 41: Our Lives Change for Good

Sammy's P.O.V

My grip released from hers as I heard her finish and felt her faint squeeze, "I'll try not to leave you again," I said as a tear rolled down my cheek.

A scoff reached my ears, "You do know that you cannot control that no matter how much you prepare for it," Chaos' voice echoed. "Your relationship with that Jackson is so cute it's nauseating," he added with less of an echo that made me spin on my heels to face him, "Surprised to see me?"

I smirked as I walked in the light, "Only a little," I began as I looked at him in the purple eyes that he has never shown to anyone else aside from her dreams. "What are you doing this for," I began once more after the long pause, "is it to try and convince us to side with you so you could spare my life? You should know that a Jackson wouldn't do such a thing even if a loved one is on the line. You should also think how these Jackson have some Athena in them as well," I finished with a growl. "There is no way in Hades that I will give up to you just to save my hide," I began once more, "I know you organized this punishment and realized your mistake once you brought me back after what I said to Zoë. You are not the real Chaos and you will never replace her."

"You are smarter than I pegged you for," he began, "how did you come to the conclusion before your dear girlfriend?"

I sighed, "Just because I'm in a relationship with a Jackson whose nickname has to do with brains does not mean I take the Seaweed Brain mantle. Most Greek history may not speak of Chaos as a person but I managed to ask someone to get me some Greek reading in the hospital. This book unfortunately burned in the hospital fire, fortunate for you however because it spoke of Chaos being a sister to you."

"Well then," he began, "I'm glad to know that book had burned almost with your remains," he paused to look at me. "You broke an Oath, however,�� he began as I looked at him, "your training will not be forgiving."

"How did I break an Oath when the Fates who play with my life permitted to tell those people," I began, "how is that breaking an Oath when they are the ones who are permitting me? After all, I didn't swear upon your name," I paused as I heard snarling surrounding me. "I swore upon your sisters," I finished as I readied my sword and dagger, "I will fight through every monster that you give me so I can see Zoë and meet the right Chaos."

He smiled, "You can try," he said before he disappeared and I heard the monsters coming up behind me. "You can thank your girlfriend for bringing up the fact that your scent was covered for your whole life."

I dropped down just as I saw the monster behind me pounce, I stuck my sword and dagger up into the air and began shooting fire out of it as I willed the winds to spin in a circle. "Gives me more of a feeling that I'm fighting for my life," I muttered once he finishes, "good luck with your war End," I finished as I felt every monster touch the flaming tornado and disintegrate. Soon I stood up from the circle and started slashing at monsters left and right. Anger took over my body and soon I found myself in the type of autopilot that I never thought I'd see myself in.

I was angry

No, I was furious

I didn't want to go through this training just to die at the hands of the man who knows what his mistake will be. I didn't want to leave Zoë alone to fend for herself even if she had her siblings and mine by her side. I don't want to see the pain in her eyes without me there to comfort her. I want to be there with her not in the grasps of three old women who can be controlled by the evil brother of the creator.

"I don't want to die," I whimpered as I spun in my circle of gold before collapsing, "I don't want to leave you, I don't want to see your pain again. It hurt me seeing that only for the week or so that I was in her head I don't know how I can handle it for however long it'll take for them to get me out."

I sat there on my knees, crying, as I thought through all the scenarios that may happen where I could be there to help. I didn't notice the feet by me until I felt a hand rest on my shoulder, "You do know there is a way for you to survive," her voice began making my head snap up to see her eyes mixed with the colors of Annabeth's and Percy's

"But I don't want to betray you," I began as I stood up, "I'm trying to think of ways to get out of this without me dying but I can't think of anything."

She smiled softly, "Sweetheart," she began softly, "I wouldn't mind if you changed sides just to survive. I'll join you no matter what," she said and I froze

"You need to brush up on your acting," I began as I lit my body on fire, "I know you're not her for two reasons. The first is that a Jackson would never stray to the side of evil unless the one they loved has been kidnapped to the side of evil. They would do whatever they have to do to get their loved ones back even if it means killing someone."

"What is the second, my dear," she asked as she stepped back from me

I glared down at the fake version of her as I willed a ball of fire into both hands putting all of my power into it, "Brave Embers is my nickname," I growled before I released the power onto the monster who faked the actions of my girlfriend. Right as the last of the flames left my hands I crumbled, "Thank the Fates she tossed me my fireproof clothing," I muttered before the darkness consumed me.

Zoë's P.O.V

I bolted up, a shrill scream coming through my throat as I felt the pain go throughout my body. It felt as if waves upon waves of fire had just consumed me and was slowly burning me away, or maybe a huge sunburn.

"Why does it hurt so much,�� I said as I scrambled up my feet and looked at my arms, "what the Hades?"

Scars littered my arms as I started walking into the darkness, I could sense water up ahead if I could take a dip in it then it could offer some relief to this pain. I could also get a good idea of what was causing it, but why would I feel burning pain?

Soon, I reached a fountain that was big enough for me to jump in, I layed down so everything from the head down could be wet. Once I let the element soak me I closed my eyes and sighed as energy seeped back into my veins slowly. "Time to look at this," I muttered as I slid up my shirt, "how do I have all these burn scars when I'm fireproof?"

I asked myself that question as I looked over my body to notice every piece of it was covered by a bright red burn scar. As I got my shirt back on I heard some sounds off in the distance but then a voice

Her voice

"I could explain those for a price," she began as I looked to face her

"Depends on what the price is, Valdez," I began, "you already have my undying love."

She smirked, "How about my undying loyalty if I switched to the side of End?"

I bit my lip, where is this coming from, "Why would you want to join End? He could kill you with a snap of his fingers," I asked as I stood straight in the fountain, the water no longer wetting me

"What if he was the only one to make it so I didn't die," she asked as I readied a dagger

"I have an idea," I began as I tested the person in front of me, I had a suspicion that she wasn't my Brave Embers

She sighed, "What is it," she asked as she got closer to me, "that could defend myself from the almighty End?"

"Well, now I'm not going to tell you," I began as I thought through my plan, "unless you tell me what I want."

"What may that be," she asked as she stood at the edge of the fountain

"Why do I have burn scars over my whole body," I asked as I neared her

She smiled, "Why that's something that you'll have to find out, my dear," she answered as I stared her down. "You can't get all of the answers from me," she added as I stepped toward her

"You want to know what I figured out," I began as I made it to her and cupped my hand over the fake lover's cheek

"What may that be my love," she asked as she leaned into the contact grabbing my wrist

"Is that you're not my girlfriend," I began as I dropped the dagger, grabbing her wrists and flipping her into the water.

"What," the fake spluttered as I marched to her, "how?"

As I closed the distance between us I watched as she scrambled to her feet and her true form starting to show. "First of all," I began, "Sammy would not be hesitant to get into the water with me," I paused as I picked up the head of the monster. I was infuriated that End would try to get me on his side just to try and save my girlfriend. "Second of all," I began as I raised the monster's head so it would look at me in the eyes. "Samantha Valdez never uses those cutesy nicknames," I finished before I slammed the monster's head into the water and got the sword ready. "I hope you rot in Tartarus," I finished after about a minute of holding its head in the water. I held it there for a little bit longer before I sliced its head off where it dissolved into dust. Suddenly, I realized why I had felt the burns over my body. "Oh no," I began as I looked at the burn marks on my arms, "she had to."

Sammy's P.O.V

I bolted up spitting water out of my mouth as I felt pain around my neck, "The hell," I asked as I coughed up water seeing it puddle all over the floor. I scrambled to my feet as I looked around the darkness, a faint throb coming from my neck as I finished coughing out the water. I started walking into the darkness as I looked for anything that could show my reflection or at least bring some relief to the pain that I was feeling.

Soon, I approached a fountain, as I neared it I realized that it had a crystalized look to it and looked deep enough for me to get into. I stepped in and soaked myself to the neck letting the powers that Poseidon had given me do its job. "I wonder what caused this," I began as I stared up into the darkness, suddenly realization dawned on me as I bolted up into a sitting position and looked at my reflection. Right at the base of my neck was a scar that went all around my neck, "She decapitated me," I muttered as I looked into the darkness, "they tried to recruit her too but they failed because she killed that monster."

I smiled as a tear ran down my cheek, "I'm glad you had the strength to do that," I began, "I'm sorry for hurting you, Smart Guppy."