The Afterlife

GPOV…

Ruby woke on Hade's bed in his room in his palace. She sat up and tried to remember what happened.

Nico and I were talking when he stabbed me, she thought.

She quickly checked her chest and it felt fine. There were no marks or scars which mean that she dead, it had to, right. Nico had killed her, he just stabbed her.

Ruby started in to into shock. If she was dead what happens now, what does she do now?

"You're going to fine," Hades said from the armchair by the fireplace in the room.

"How can you say that, Nico killed me for no reason," Ruby said faster than her ears could hear.

"He has a reason but I think it is best for him to tell you," Hades said.

"What do you mean?" Ruby asked still stuck on the thought that he had no reason.

"He's down in the sitting room waiting, he won't leave until you talk to him," Hades said.

"He killed me and he wants to talk about it," Ruby said.

Hades didn't reply he just sat there so she decided to talk with Nico. She mainly wanted to yell at him but if you think about it that was talking.

Ruby left Hades' master bedroom and entered the sitting room where she found Nico sitting on the floor staring into the fireplace. He looked like he hadn't moved in hours. But as soon as Ruby sat down next to him he moved and he reached over and hugged her. She instantly pushed him off.

"I'm so sorry I didn't know what else to do?" Nico asked so shaky that he was shaking.

"What do you mean?" Ruby asked.

"Aphrodite wanted me to make you drink a potion that would make you forget that you were in love with my father," Nico said.

"You were going to make me forget?"

"Yeah," Nico said ashamed.

He turned back to the fireplace where he stared at the flames.

"I wanted to do it as well," Nico said.

"Why would you do that?"

"Because I love you, I wanted you to love me," Nico said as he instantly turned to face her.

"Okay," Ruby replied slowly.

"But when we were talking and I said that you were changing my father into a better person I realised I couldn't do it and I knew that if anyone could change him it would be you," Nico said.

"Is that why he's moody," Ruby asked.

"What do you mean?"

"He was very quiet and didn't talk that much," Ruby said. "Do you think that is because you love me?" Ruby asked.

"Loved you," Nico said. "I drank some of that potion after I killed you because I couldn't live with being in love with the girl my father loves and the girl I killed," Nico said.

Ruby and Nico sat there in silence.

"I hope this whole being dead this doesn't turn me into a zombie, I have expectations to stand up too," Ruby said with a smile.

"I'm pretty sure that's not how it works," Nico replied with a bigger smile.

"I'm pretty sure I know."

"I'm pretty sure you don't."

"Like I said at the beginning, young people I will never understand you," Hades said from behind them.

Ruby turned to see him standing there. He stood there with no emotion but Ruby didn't care that much about that.

"Well maybe you're jealous that you can't have a conversation with someone that makes absolutely no sense," Ruby said.

"I am certain that I'm not jealous," Hades replied.

"Oh right, you have no emotions," Ruby said as she stood up.

"I have emotions but jealousy isn't one of them, I don't need it," Hades said.

"I'm pretty sure that was jealousy earlier," Ruby said as she placed her hand on his chest. "And your cute when your jealous," she added.

For the first time she felt something similar to a heartbeat. It was slow but it was there. Hades leaned down and kissed her before she could kiss him.

"I'm still here, could you at least wait until I leave," Nico said as they broke apart.

"Okay, if you want to face my mother's wrath go ahead, leave," Ruby said as she turned to face Nico.

"What's she going to do? Kill me, I wouldn't be surprised," Nico said.

"She could curse you so that you can never talk again because I would like that," Hades replied.

"Thanks a lot," Nico replied.

"No problem," he replied.

- THE END -