In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.
Falling to her side, Reagan grit her teeth as she felt crushed glass jag into her side. Too tired to move, she stayed in that position as she continued to cry. She wondered how pathetic she looked at the moment. The daughter of Hephaestus bit her lower lip until she felt the salty taste of iron erupt in her mouth. “Rosemary…” She mumbled to herself as her vision went back and forth, from reality to fantasy. “I miss you so much..” She said, coughing out blood from her bite mark. She sniffled and tried to keep her eyes open, but the black dots kept winning the fight. “It’s my f-fault…my fault, I could’ve save y-you..I love you so much and I’m s-sorry…” She said, the black dots becoming larger and larger.
"I don’t know what’s happening to me, but whatever it is, I hope it leads me to you."
Nico had been searching the streets of Athens high and low, checking every building, restaurant, bar, everywhere, but he still couldn’t find Reagan. Where the hell could she have gone? Even Reagan’s friends were nowhere to be found…. What if she had lied? What if she didn’t go out with friends and chose to just get even more wasted all alone. Though Reagan was a very smart girl she was prone to making pretty horrible decisions.
Finally, as Nico was walking through the darker parts of Athens, he heard a familiar voice and stopped in his tracks. Looking around, the only place that it could’ve come from was the alley a few steps back. ”Reagan?” Nico called out. When he finally saw her, his eyes easily adjusting to the dark, he ran over to her. ”Reagan, by the gods, what did you do? What happened?”
Forcing her eyes open, her body suddenly felt weightless as soon as she saw Nico, the few things in her life that could calm her nerves easily. "Nico, w-what are you doing here?" She said, using her weak arms to try to help herself up, but to no avail. She looked up at him and let out a shaky sigh, shaking her head. "Nothin', j-just had a little too much to drink I suppose.." She muttered as her lips quivered.
the loss of a child is never an easy one. {aftermath of everlinda's death}
Sweet little flower of heavenly birth, you were too fair to bloom on earth. - author unknown
The day had finally came, Mick thought as he adjusted himself in the leather black seat. His fingers danced around anxiously on his arms, fear entered his mind while pain emerged from his soul. It was time. Two years after the tragic death of his daughter, Everlinda, he kept away from the media and press, needing time alone. After those two long years, he decided to come out and speak on about it. He forced a strained smile at the interviewer, watching as the cameras went on and soon the entire country would know.
"The loss of a child is never an easy one. My heart truly goes out to your family," The interviewer whispered, giving him a look of plea. Mick simply nodded, acknowledging her words. He just wanted to get this thing done and over with. "In one, two, three..." He heard the camera man say. He inhaled deeply, this would be a very long hour. "Mick, I'd like to speak for everyone when I say I am truly, truly sorry about the loss." She said, once again. Mick simply nodded, again. "You decide to talk about it after two years. Why, may I ask?" "Like you said from before the interviewer, the loss of a child is never an easy one. Everlinda wasn't just some person to me, she was my child, my entire world. I love her, two years isn't enough time, in my opinion, to grieve over her loss." He started out, his eyes tearing up at the mention of her name. The interviewer handed him a tissue, giving him another look.
She glanced down at her questions and started again, "How did you take it once you heard the news? If I recall correctly, she was in Athens at the time, you in London?" "Horrifying. Absolutely horrifying. Hearing the voice of a random stranger telling you that someone you raised, someone you loved, cared for had passed on...What was worse was that I wasn't even there. I was not in her presence, I did not hear her final goodbyes, I didn't hear her life goals, what she wanted her siblings to know. I didn't know anything." He explained.
"How did the rest of your children take it?" "Worse than I did, probably. Even though she is my child, she was their best friend, their older or younger sister. She was the light in the house, but the one who took it the hardest was Emilio. They were inseparable, always together. If you found Everlinda, Emilio wasn't that far behind. They were the closest, best of friends. They always had each others backs, always ready to defend and protect one another. When Everlinda passed away, Emilio didn't just lose a sibling; he lost his best friend, his protector, his guide in life. The rare few things that made my son happy. When he found out about her death while she was in Greece and he was in England, he couldn't bare the thought knowing he was all the way here and she was all the way there, while her corpse was far, far away from him." Mick said, using the tissue to wipe a few tears that had escaped.
The interviewer nodded, "From some inside people, there was a private funeral. Who was there?" "Mostly family, very close friends. The Richards, Wyman and Watts children were present. Keith, Bill and Charlie were present as well, it was comforting knowing that." "And her body, cremated?" "Her ashes were scattered by Jayden and Emilio in private places." He answered with a straight face.
"Mick, if Everlinda was here, standing next to you right now, what would you say?"
The interviewer spoke, setting down her cards as she stared him in the eye. Mick gulped, averting his eyes away. He squinted his eyes and saw someone leaning against the wall, near the camera man. He noticed how the girls hair fell on one side of her neck, the bottoms curled, the wacky and outrageous colors and patterns that worked perfectly together, the tattoos scattered on her skin, and his own smirk plastered on her lips.
"Everlinda.."
He muttered, and in response, the figure nodded, a smile forming on her face. "If she was here right now..?" He repeated, asking the interviewer for conformation, his eyes going back to hers quickly. Once she nodded, it went back to his daughters, her dark hues filling up with tears, just like his own.
"My sweet little flower, my Evie. Darling, you were snatched away from me too, too soon. How I wish I could have been with you love, holding your hand, screaming to the gods to take me instead, I had lived my life, you weren't able to. I'm so sorry I wasn't able to do that, Everlinda, forgive me. My career was never placed before you, know that. You, all of you, were always first in my life. When you were born, you always kept me on my toes and your mother absolutely entertained. Evie, you were my pride and joy. You made me the happiest man alive. I'm so sorry. I wasn't able to scold the boy who thought they were worthy enough for you, I wasn't able to approve of the boy that was worthy for you, I wasn't able to walk you down the aisle and hold my grandchild in my arms. I failed you as a father, Everlinda and I cannot say sorry enough. Words, time, nothing will be enough for me to end this pain, this grief over you. You were my flesh and blood, my love for you is eternal, Everlinda Catriona Jagger, my little princess. I only hope that the other side is finally peaceful enough for you. I love you more than anything."
He said, cracking a soft smile while the tears spilled. The entire room went silent and only the sniffles of the interviewer could be heard. He blew a kiss to her, which resulted in her catching the kiss, placing her hand over her heart. She mouthed an 'I love you', and soon vanished. "I think this wraps up the..."
The interviewer went on as Mick zoned out. He finally saw her, he finally was able to see her before she officially moved on, or however the Greek system works. He closed his eyes as he exhaled a shaky sigh, a smile nonetheless still on his face.
Yes, I am nitty gritty and my shirt's all torn,
But I would love to spill the beans with you till dawn.
Several hours had passed and in all honesty Nico wasn’t very surprised when Reagan still hadn’t come back to camp. When she went out with her friends the night tended to be a long one, Reagan not getting back in until maybe one in the morning at the very earliest. Nico didn’t mind though, she was young, she needed to live her life while she could. Plus, even if her friends were drunk they’d still be able to keep her safe like always.
It wasn’t until Nico’s stomach started to churn that he started getting antsy. Unsure as to what exactly was causing him to feel sick to his stomach, Nico stayed in his cabin for a little while longer, pacing back and forth before finally he couldn’t take it anymore and set off into Athens where he started to search for his girlfriend, Reagan, hoping to the gods and back that nothing had happened to her.
Falling to her side, Reagan grit her teeth as she felt crushed glass jag into her side. Too tired to move, she stayed in that position as she continued to cry. She wondered how pathetic she looked at the moment. The daughter of Hephaestus bit her lower lip until she felt the salty taste of iron erupt in her mouth. "Rosemary..." She mumbled to herself as her vision went back and forth, from reality to fantasy. "I miss you so much.." She said, coughing out blood from her bite mark. She sniffled and tried to keep her eyes open, but the black dots kept winning the fight. "It's my f-fault...my fault, I could've save y-you..I love you so much and I'm s-sorry..." She said, the black dots becoming larger and larger.
"I don't know what's happening to me, but whatever it is, I hope it leads me to you."
What was the purpose of living? That was the only question floating through Reagan's mind as she walked through the streets of Athens, drunk as hell. With a bottle of some cheap liquor from a store in one hand, two finished in her bag and another one ready to be downed, she stared down at the ground, stumbling along, bumping into a few people, letting out a couple of curses. She found the darkest part of the city, where the shadows were much lively than the people, and hid there, sitting in the alleyway, hoping no one would bother her now.
It was officially one entire year that Rosemary had passed on. The memory was clear as day, as if it happened a second ago. Tugging on the necklace around her neck, the one given to her by her younger sister, she let out a shaky sigh. It was her fault. It was her entire fault, she had a dagger, she was strong, she could fight. She could've taken on the damn monster and killed it, saving Rosemary. But no, she had to be weak, she had to be scared and wait, and listen to her sister die.
Reagan felt her hot tears stream down her face as she finished her bottle, setting it down next to her. Pulling her knees closer to her chest, she wrapped her arms around them and hugged close, not wanting to be seen anymore.
I have!? Oh my goodness, when? It’s five o’clock somewhereeee! [She started to roll around while singing the song.] An’ pour me somethin’ tall an’ strong, make it a “Hurricane” before I go insane. It’s only half-past twelve but I don’t care. It’s five o’clock somewhere.
I have!? Oh my goodness, when? It's five o'clock somewhereeee! [She started to roll around while singing the song.] An' pour me somethin' tall an' strong, make it a "Hurricane" before I go insane. It's only half-past twelve but I don't care. It's five o'clock somewhere.
[Reagan gave a look to the Hades boy, instead of waiting at the door frame any longer, she decided to crawl in next to him, giving him a sheepish smile as she flickered her eyes from his chest up to his eyes.] Well it’s not a bad thing, you know.