Captured into Love

I can feel the magic floating in the air
Being with you gets me that way
I watch the sunlight dance across your face
And I've never been this swept away
All my thoughts just seem to settle on the breeze
When I'm lying wrapped up in your arms
The whole world just fades away
The only thing I hear is the beating of your heart
And I can feel you breathe, it's watching over me
And suddenly I'm melting into you
There's nothing left to prove
And baby, all we need is just to be
Caught up in the touch, slow and steady rush
Baby, isn't that the way
That love's supposed to be
I can feel you breathe, just breathe
In a way I know my heart is waking up
As all the walls come tumbling down
Closer than I've ever felt before and I know
And you know there's no need for words right now
As I can feel you breathe, it's watching over me
And suddenly I'm melting into you
There's nothing left to prove
Baby, all we need is just to be
Caught up in the touch, slow and steady rush
And baby, isn't that the way
That love's supposed to be
I can feel you breathe, just breathe
Caught up in the touch, the slow and steady rush
And baby, isn't that the way
That love's supposed to be
I can feel you breathe, just breathe
I can feel the magic floating in the air
Being with you gets me that way
-Breathe- Faith Hill
Eliza
I woke up to someone knocking on my door. I could tell right away that it wasn’t Nico. His knock was four soft knocks, as if he wasn't sure if I was still asleep. On the other hand, this was three sharp knocks, as if this person, if I didn't answer, would knock down my door. I got up and paced to the door, quickly running my fingers through my hair. I opened the door to see a thin women with dark hair and pale skin.
“Persephone.” I said. She invited herself in and scanned Nico’s room. She focused her eyes on me and frowned. She walked around me in a circle, studying me, she seemed to scanning me for flaws,
“My darling.” She said in a sickly sweet tone. “It looks like if you have adjusted well to the Underworld. She stopped and stared into my eyes, making me feel cold all over. “You could stay here, you know, It just takes three simple words.”
“Er.. Thanks but, I'm quite fond of sunlight.” I said.
She glared at me. “Well maybe I can.... convince you. She finished in a tone sounding eerily like Medusa’s. She strode out of the room before I could say anything,
Later, around lunchtime, I started feeling very sick. My whole head was nauseous and my stomach hurt really bad. I could barely walk without hunching over in pain, my eyesight went funny, and I dashed to the bathroom where I retched over. I limped over to the bed and tried to cover lots of blankets over me. I felt ice cold, and I was sweating and shaking vigorously. I heard a soft four knocks, and immediately knew it was Nico. I couldn't, I wouldn't let him see me like this. No, not happening. I wanted to see Nico though.
“Come in.” I croaked. I tried to look fine. Nico slowly opened the door, and looked right at me. He didn't say a word, he just walked over to me and took me in his arms. “Nico-” I had started to say, but he kissed my forehead, and I was silenced.
“You have a fever.” He whispered, I started to shake again, and he took the blankets off of me, gently set me against pillows, and walked over to his backpack.
He pulled out a can of soup, and I laughed, which came out more like a cough. “Your prepared for everything, aren't you?”
The corner of his mouth twitched, and he put the soup in the microwave sitting on a dresser, next to a mini fridge. “Yeah pretty much.” After the soup was done, he stuck a spoon in the can and handed it to me. The soup tasted really good, and Nico sat at the edge of the bed and put his head in his hands.
After I was done, I put the soup down. I stared at Nico’s back. I didn't know what to say. I just looked at him. He was so strong, so handsome. “Are you.. ok?” I asked, feeling much better from the soup.
He turned to me, and stared at me with intense eyes. He moved over the bed and wrapped his arms around me and kissed the side of my head. “Im just worried about you, thats all.”
I soon realised how exhausted I was, and quickly fell into a dreamless slumber. I woke up with Nico’s arms around me, and I turned over to him. He was asleep, but his eyes quickly opened and focused on me. He put his hand up my cheek and brushed my hair out of my eyes.
“Hi.” I squeaked, nervous of what to make of him here.
He pulled me into his chest and kissed my forehead. “Your fever's gone.” He whispered.
“Yeah.” I whispered in reply.
“So… do you wanna get up?” He asked.
I put my arm around him and buried my face into his shirt, “Nah.” My voice came out muffled, and Nico smiled into my hair.
A few days passed of Nico just taking care of me, telling me stories and making me laugh. He would stay with me every night to comfort me, and to take care of me when I got really ill. Soon enough, I was better again. But Nico still stayed, and I allowed him to. I dont know why, maybe I just got use to his presence.
One night was different though.
Nico had just taken me on a star walk in the fields, and things got really intense, but nothing happened. I woke up in the middle of the night to him kissing me. His hand was gently cupped on my face and he was kneeling on the bed, ready to pull away quickly. The light touch of his skin was enough to wake me up. My eyes fluttered open, and my eyelashes brushed his skin, causing him to pull away. “I’m so sorry...you looked so peaceful...I just-” he stammered. I cut him off with a kiss, and his nervous demeanor melted. He started to kiss me back. His hand cupped my face again, the other ran across my shirt and over my ribs. I flinched and squirmed away, breaking the kiss.
“What is it?” Nico asked, concerned.
“You're tickling me!” I giggled.
‘You mean like...this?” He teased, reaching both hands down and across my stomach this time to tickle me. I squirmed out of his reach, laughing, and rolled off the bed and ran, Nico chasing me.
I screamed. “Stop!” in between laughs but it had no effect. Nico grabbed me from behind and tickled me until I fell to the ground with him with laughter, I slapped his hands away giggling, but didn't move.
I rested my head on his shoulder. “I don't think I’ve ever heard your laugh before.” He whispered into my ear, sending chills down my spine. “Its beautiful...I should tickle you more often.”
“Hey!” I joked, swatting at him. He stood up laughing, and helped me up too.
“Um...Eliza can I ask you something?” He asked.
I was going to say something snarky, maybe stupid, but then I looked into his eyes. I felt like I could get lost in them, and I wanted to. He chose me, out of all the pretty girls.
He chose me.
“Sure.” I managed, trying not to lose my mind, for it was merging with his.
“Will you dance with me?”
“...Yeah.”
He swept me off my feet, and put his hand on my waist.
A gentleman's dance.
Percy would approve.
Nico gently swayed me around the room until I felt lost in space. We weren't in the Underworld anymore. We far among the stars, dancing next to planets and sun. We were far away from anything, nothing mattered. He took me in his arms, and I finally felt like I had something to lose.
"Night Changes"

Going out tonight
Changes into something red
Her mother doesn't like that kind of dress
Everything she never had she's showing off

Driving too fast
Moon is breaking through her hair
She's heading for something that she won't forget
Having no regrets is all that she really wants

We're only getting older, baby
And I been thinking about it lately
Does it ever drive you crazy
Just how fast the night changes?
Everything that you've ever dreamed of
Disappearing when you wake up
But there's nothing to be afraid of
Even when the night changes
It will never change me and you

Chasing it tonight,
Doubts are running ‘round her head
He's waiting, hides behind a cigarette
Heart is beating loud, and she doesn't want it to stop

Moving too fast
Moon is lighting up her skin
She's falling, doesn't even know it yet
Having no regrets is all that she really wants

We're only getting older, baby
And I been thinking about it lately
Does it ever drive you crazy
Just how fast the night changes?
Everything that you've ever dreamed of
Disappearing when you wake up
But there's nothing to be afraid of
Even when the night changes
It will never change me and you

Going out tonight
Changes into something red
Her mother doesn't like that kind of dress
Reminds her of the missing piece of innocence she lost

We're only getting older, baby
And I been thinking about it lately
Does it ever drive you crazy
Just how fast the night changes?
Everything that you've ever dreamed of
Disappearing when you wake up
But there's nothing to be afraid of
Even when the night changes
It will never change, baby
It will never change, baby
It will never change me and you


“Three words….” I mumbled.
“What was that?” Nico looked at me.
“Oh… er… nothing.”
“Eliza, lying is a sin.”
“Since when did you care about sins?”
“Since I met you.”
I swallowed. “Well… something Persephone said.”
Now he was startled. “Persephone talked to you?” He asked, concerned,
“Yeah, walked in here and told me if I said three words, that I could stay forever.”
Nico held me by the shoulders. “Eliza?”
“Yeah?”
“Never say those words.”
I was a bit surprised when he said that. “Why? Do you know what they are?”
Nico’s eyes filled with pain. “Yes, I do.”
And we left it at that.
Dancing left me exhausted, I didn't know the time. I soon was closing my eyes and listening to the beat of his heart. Suddenly, Nico laughed into my hair and picked me up, bridal style. I took in a sharp breath. He walked over to the bed and gently set me down. He sat on the edge of the bed and gently stroked my hair. I pretended to be asleep. Nico kissed my forehead and started to leave. I suddenly dawned on me that I hadn't had a single nightmare since he had stayed.
“Nico?” I whispered,
he stopped in his tracks.
“Could you-could you-...”
Nico smiled and walked back over and crawled in next to me and kissed my head.
“Yeah.” He whispered.

Notes