I wake up desperate, trying to breathe, my head hurts as I remember the fight with Thanatos and I lift a hand to rub my forehead when I feel something on my face. Panic overcomes me and it becomes even more hard to breathe as I try to feel my face under the bandages when uncle Osiris appears at my side, I look at him as he takes my trembling hands in his.
O-Calm down, easy, you're okay you're safe. Everything's fine, calm down. Don't try to speak yet.
His voice is low and gentle like hypnotic. I nod at him weakly and he smiles at me as he takes my hand.
O-Now, squeeze my hand twice for yes and one for no. Let's try, say yes.
I squeeze his hand twice and he smiles at me.
O-Are you tired?
I don't feel tired bit I don't want to get up either so I just shrug my shoulders a bit. I take it he understands my meaning by the way he laughs. Suddenly remembering Thanatos and all the auras that he stole I turn to him and I try to speak.
-T, t, Thanatos......... a...ura.
I close my eyes and pull my head back in defeat. He's right, I can't speak. It hurts to speak but I don't remember being hit on the neck or anything like that.
O-Don't rush yourself. You want to know what happened with Thanatos and the stolen auras?
I squeeze twice.
O-We managed to recover all the auras and as for Thanatos, they took his aura from him and was forced to live as a human child on Tartarus. Is that good a punishment on your opinion?
I smile and squeeze his hand twice again. He gives me a smile.
O-Are you hungry? I'll get something for you. Do you want to see someone? Everyone is outside.
I count with my fingers all the persons I want to come. My parents and my grandparents. He looks at me for a moment before asking.
O-You want four only?
I nod at him.
O-I know who you want. I'll send them right in.
I give him a smile before he leaves and it doesn't pass even five minutes before they all come back inside smiling at me in relief.
All-Tikvah.
I tilt my head to the side as some tears fall from my eyes. I hold out my hand to them and they come one by one.
T-My sweet child, oh I was so worried for you.
We hug and I look at her closely until I find her bracelet artifact. I search dad next, he too has his artifact. Then I take a look at grandma's hands, she too has her ring in it's proper place and then I turn to grandpa. I give him a tight hug, he rubs my back gently as I clench my fists into the back of his shirt. I take his face on my hands and check if he has his earring artifact. He does and I nod at him. Before he goes sir down I use the new language I've been learning late nights to surprise them. I let go of him and I sign my way at him. At first he looks surprised but then smiles at me.
->Was I asleep for long or just overnight?<
Ha-A whole week. It was a pretty bad hit but, everything will be just fine.
->How are the other gods and demigods and monsters doing?<
Ha-They're all resting up. Taking a break if you may.
->What about the other two monsters that helped me?<
Ha-Wich ones?
I look at him questioningly but still answer him.
->Slippery Hydra and fierce Medusa.<
Ha-They made sure everyone was accounted for and made sure we were able to manage ourselves without help before leaving.
He touches my shoulder to get my attention and I look at him, this time he too speaks in sign.
Ha->I'm sure they're fine. They survived Thanatos after all. Everything's going to be just fine.<
->Do you really think everything will be fine?<
He nods at me and he gives me a side hug before sitting down on his own chair. I hear the door swings open and I see Osiris as he enters with a couple of soft food to choose from. My eyes light up with joy and I bite my lip while bouncing up and down in the bed as he puts them in my lap. I look at each one trying to choose one flavor when I spot a spicy one, I smile as I take it. I guess I can't hide my emotion when he takes it from me.
O-Sorry, that one is for me. I'll get you one when you get better.
I roll my eyes and I end up eating the banana one. I give the other flavors to the others keeping all the banana to myself. They start talking between themselves and I don't pay to much attention until they mention moving from Olympus to earth. I look up and forgetting that I can't speak I blurt out.
-What?
I start coughing a bit by trying to scream with a damaged throat. They look at me worried. I look at grandpa and I ask him in sign.
->What do you mean you'll move from Olympus to earth?<
Ha-We have to fix everything Thanatos did on earth and make sure everything is fine before we leave and since it will take time we are going to stay here on earth for he time being.
->Good<
I nod at him and put the empty food cup on the table and lie down again on the bed. I let out a tired sigh as a doctor walks in the room smiling at me.
Doctor-I see you're awake. How are you feeling?
I shrug my shoulders in response.
Doctor-Does your neck hurts?
I nod at him.
Doctor-Does your head hurts as well?
This time I just shake my head at him. He comes closer to me and I sit straighter.
Doctor-I'm going to palpate your neck a little. Just to check.
He puts his notebook down and he presses his finger by my neck, is a bit uncomfortable but it doesn't hurt that much until he presses his hand on the front of my neck, I flinch and back away more out of pure instinct than anything else. I put up a hand almost touching my neck myself and let out a sigh.
Doctor-Sorry, does it hurt a lot?
I nod at him as he stands. He touches the bandages on my face and he nods.
Doctor-Hm, expect someone to take these off tonight or tomorrow.
I nod at him and he leaves, I touch the bandages in my face. I turn to my grandparents and ask them.
->What happened to my face?<
They look at each other and is the first time I see them extremely worried. Neither of them look at me when they answer.
He-Thanatos, he.....
She stops, unsure if to tell me or not. Grandpa turns to me and he takes my hand on his.
Ha-Is, your face that is, he, before kicking you he.....his aura burned your left side. I couldn't protect you. I'm sorry, truly, I am.
He hugs me tightly as he apologizes to me and I can feel the need to cry but I don't let the tears flow. I cling to him as I process everything, trying to make sense of it. I don't know when but I fall asleep. The next thing I open my eyes is morning and everyone else is asleep on the couchs and chairs in the room. I accommodate myself in the bed and I stretch my arms and my legs. I stop when the door opens and the doctor comes in with some scissors, a hand mirror and some other things. I sit again and he pulls a chair in front of me.
Doctor-Should I wake them?
I shake my head and he takes the scissors.
Doctor-Stay completely still, don't want to hurt you by accident.
He starts cutting some stitches from the bandage and I can already feel it loosening a bit. He starts cleaning my face a bit and then he acks away.
Doctor-There, is done. Would you like to see yourself in the mirror.
I nod and as he gives me the mirror I can feel my hand as it starts trembling. I take the mirror and slowly pull it in front of me as I close my eyes. I let out a deep breath before opening my eyes again and looking myself in the mirror. I pull my hand up to my face in disbelief, I sob and as I start crying I throw the mirror to the wall, breaking it and waking everyone in the room.
                        Hades POV
I wake up to the sound of glass shattering. I snap to attention almost immediately and I see the doctor trying to calm Tikvah down. She grabs him by the neck of his coat and shakes him violently. I summon my aura and hold her down and I can see the doctor call out someone before three other doctors come in to hold her down and he injects her with something to calm her down. Soon after as the medicine takes effect she falls asleep and I turn to the doctor.
-Will it heal?
He shakes his head.
Doctor-Perhaps I could if she would have been treated as soon as she was burn but considering how much got burned, for how long and the intensity of the damage. There's nothing else I can do. Right now the only way to not have the scar is........
-If she dies and reincarnates in a new body.
Doctor-Sorry but I can't do anything else.
-I know, I understand.
With that the doctor leaves and after a couple hours, two maybe three, Tikvah starts to wake up. I take her hand and she squeezes it weakly.
-Hey, how are you feeling?
She starts crying as she puts an arm over her face. I squeeze her hand reassuringly. She taps my hand and I let go and she starts signing.
Ti->I look horrible.<
-No, no, no. Don't say that, you're beautiful.
She points to her scar trying to get a point.
-Is not your exterior what matters, is what's inside what matters. If you're beautiful on the inside you're beautiful on the outside too, and you certainly are beautiful on the inside so.....
Ti->I'm beautiful on the outside too.<
-Exactly. Do not, again, do not feel ashamed or sorry about yourself. Come here.
I pull her into a tight hug and rub the back of her hair gently. I hear a sound from behind and I see that Osiris is sneaking out.
-Osiris, where are you going?
O-I have, I'm meeting up with someone.
-Better not be another girlfriend, be serious.
O-I'm serious, I think she is the one, in fact, I'm going to ask her to be my girlfriend today. So I better not be late.
Ti-Uncle has a girlfriend. Mmm.
O-Watch it, and she's not my girlfriend, not yet anyways but she will be.
-Go, unless you want her to go away, remember....
O-A gentleman doesn't leave a lady waiting you wait for her. I know I know. See you later. Tikvah, don't speak anymore or you'll get hurt more. Wish me luck, in silence.
I watch as Osiris goes away.
-I really wish he gets serious with his love life.
Ti->Meaning?<
-Nothing really. Just saying.
Ti->I want to go home. Can you ask the doctor when can I go home?<
She begs at me and I can't help a laugh.
-I'll ask, don't do anything crazy.
Just at that moment the doctor enters the room and gives her a smile, obviously ashamed she looks away.
Doctor-Good news, you can go home, soft foods, easy to swallow and no speaking for at least a week. Lots of water and well, I need the parents signature here. I'll leave it here, sign it when you're ready to go. Take your time. I have to go fill some papers and stuff. You can sign it and leave it here and go home whenever you want.
I nod at him and he goes away leaving the papers on the table. It turn to Tikvah and she's smiling, her eyes shining with happiness. I point to her sleeping parents and she makes a face at me incredulous.
-Sorry but I can't sign it myself. At least, let me get you something to eat. Be right back.
                        Tikvah POV
I watch as he goes away and I groan in silence as I have to wait for mom and dad to wake up. When suddenly and idea strikes me. I stand from the bed and wake up my mom. She wakes up after a bit of shaking. She looks at me confused and I show her the papers for her to sign. She takes it and stretches a bit. I sit on the edge of the bed and look at her expectantly, swinging my feet back and forth. She wakes dad up and when they're both awake they sign the papers.
I take the papers and put them back on the table. I jump in joy, smiling happily at them. I squeak when I feel someone grabbing me from behind and when I see, grandpa is looking at me devilishly. He points to the food and I take it joyfully and start eating it. I hear as he laughs at me, and I stick my tongue out at him. When I'm finished we all go home.