A/N: So sad, when a story begins to come to a close...

~*~

Three days had passed since Nico and I were reunited. I was out of the infirmary and out and about again. Percy had lent me his amulet and I had healed quickly.

The same couldn't be said for Asha.

The amulets could heal...but they were mostly weakened. Asha's injury was horrible, and the amulet wasn't doing much help. We kept her on a steady diet of ambrosia and nectar, but she wasn't waking up.

Meetings in the mess hall were more of a forced cheerfulness. I mean, obviously they were happy that Nico and I were still alive, but it was a bittersweet victory.

We all felt bad being happy when someone was suffering.

Nico and I started visiting Asha twice a day. We both felt guilty. Me, for letting her come on this stupid quest, and Nico for causing it in the first place.

"It's more my fault then yours." I whispered to him one night while we stood beside Asha's bed. Nico shook his head. "If I wouldn't have let my guard down this wouldn't have happened in the first place."

I bit my lip. I hated it when Nico got stubborn like this. "Yeah, but if I would have said no to the Amazons-"

"Erica, stop." Nico snapped, holding a finger up to my lips. "Please just let me take the blame. It would make me feel better."

I raised my eyebrows. "Living with the guilt would make you feel better?" I asked. Nico didn't respond immediately. "She could get better." He said.

I threw my hands up in frustration. "Really, Nico!? Let's be honest here! We know that she's not getting better! We're just kidding ourselves by hoping!" I yelled.

Nico looked away from me. "I just wish my dad could have saved one more." He murmured. I watched a tear trace its way down his cheek and drip to the floor.

I felt my heart twist itself into a knot. "He already broke his own laws for us, we can't make him break them again."

When Nico didn't reply, I continued. "He already did enough, Nico. Don't hate him because he couldn't save everybody."

I glanced down at Asha and sighed, remembering the kind twinkle behind her eyes. I shook my head. "I think that's enough for today." I said quietly.

Nico kissed me on the cheek. "See you in the morning." He whispered. I nodded and he walked away, leaving me alone with Asha.

"I'm so sorry." I told her, even though I knew she couldn't hear me. "Your memory will live on. I swear it on the River Styx."

I left the room too, my heart heavy and my mind buzzing. I had just made a promise that, if broken, could kill me.

But, I was done being afraid of death. For now, I was going to keep my life as easygoing as possible.

~*~

The next morning, while we were all at breakfast, Annabeth came running in with some news. "Asha's awake," she began. We all cheered. "But she's...she can't..."

We all got up and ran down the hall. Turning into the third room, we found Asha. Her eyes were open but there was something different about her expression.

"Asha?" Reagan whispered, walking forward cautiously. Asha turned her head. Her eyes were unfocused.

We all gathered around her bed. Asha looked at each of us in turn, but didn't say anything. "What's wrong with her?" I whispered to Annabeth. "I don't know." She replied.

Nervously I glanced at Asha. "Do you think she'll be okay?" I asked.

Suddenly, Asha's hand flung out. She grabbed my wrist and hung on like her life depended on it. "You," she growled, her eyes suddenly focusing. "Thank you."

Okay, so this really doesn't sound that scary, but it was. "Thank you" isn't a scary phrase, but the way she said it made it terrifying. She said it like she was angry.

"For...for what?" I stammered, twisting my wrist. Asha stared at me. "For avenging me."

"No!" Reagan screamed, running up to Asha and holding her shoulders. "No you can't die! You can't!"

Asha gripped Reagan's arm. Her breath rattled in her chest. "You have to let me go, Reagan." She choked. "Asha-"

"I CAN'T LIVE LIKE THIS!" Asha screamed. She shuddered. Reagan's eyes widened. "I won't...let you...try and save...me."

Tears traced winding tracks down Reagan's face. She let go of Asha and backed away.

Asha looked up at Lola, who had been standing silently next to Reagan. "Kill me." She whispered.

We all gasped. Lola stared at her old friend and backed away, fear glittering in her eyes. "No." She hissed.

Asha took a shuddering breath. We all lapsed into silence and watched the two friends stare each other down.

Lola turned away and walked out the door. Asha turned to me. "Goodbye, Erica." She murmured. "No, Asha please." I begged.

Asha looked up at me. "I won't last...much...longer..."

Reagan laid a comforting hand on Asha's shoulder. Asha gasped. Her eyes rolled up into her head and she started to shake. "REAGAN, STOP!" Piper screamed.

Reagan drew her hand away, fear written on every inch of her face.

Asha's eyes closed. We all looked away. Then I heard the rattle of her breath.

"What did I do?" Reagan asked. I bit my lip. "I don't know. We should probably leave her in peace for now though."

Nico gently kissed the top of my head before leading everyone else out the door. As I began to follow them, I heard Asha speak. "Erica?"

I turned around and looked at her. "Yeah?"

She took a harsh breath, one that made me wince just to imagine the pain of it. "Thank you for the adventure. I hope-" she coughed dryly, "that you will always have the same good heart."

"Please, Asha..." I whispered. She shook her head. "Remember me..."

Asha took one last breath. The light disappeared from her eyes and her chest moved no more.

"I will remember you." I sobbed. "I will."