All Is Fair In Love And Friends

*listen to Elysium, Honor Him, and Now We are Free while reading this chapter, it will totally heighten the feels. sorry, but this is going to be a sad chapter*

Riley felt like she was dying. She felt as her breaths shallowed and became airy. She sensed her life slipping away. She felt a warm hand press her arm. Riley stopped shivering. She recognized that touch, it belonged to Theo.
She faintly smiled at her little brother. A tear slid down her cheek. Her breaths slowed and became gasps.
"I love you." She whispered.
Her father, Percy, knelt beside his daughter and gripped her hand. Tears glistened. Riley smiled again.
"Thank you Daddy...for giving me the best life I could ever ask for." She whispered.
"No....no, no, no! She's dying! No!" Jasmine cried. Tears slipped out of her eyes. "I can sense it...Riley, don't go." She pleaded.
Riley smiled once again. "Some things are meant to be. Don't worry Jasmine, I'll never forget you." She croaked.
By now not a dry eye was in sight.
"No! Please! Take me instead, take me instead." Annabeth murmured.
"Mom, it's okay. You don't have to. Just, always tell Theo of his big sister. Okay?" Riley placed a hand on her mothers.
"I love you all." Riley whispered. She felt her breaths getting shorter and shorter.
Riley smiled. She gazed at her friends and family. "I'll never forget you, even if I'm sent to the fields of Asphodel. You made me who I am today."
"I love you, Riley." Lucas spoke up. "But you're not going to die. I won't let you."
"Lucas, it's okay. If the gods choose this, then let it be." Riley said. She held her hand to his cheek.
"But you're the child of the Prophecy." He insisted.
"No, I'm not. I get it now. I understand what Apollo was trying to say to me." Riley answered.
"What do you mean?"
Riley smiled again. "Just let me go. Let me free. It will come to you."
"No! My baby, you don't deserve this..." Percy was definitely crying now.
"Dad....it's okay. I promise, I'll be back. I swear it on the River Styx. I won't forget about you all. I swear, I'll come back. I will always be here for you. I swear on the River Lethe."
"I will always love you guys. Okay? Just....raise Theo the right way." Riley whispered.
Then her breathing stopped. Her eyes remained open. And then they closed on their own. A faint smile was still planted on her lips.
"Wiley! Wiley! Wake up! Big sissy....wake up." Theo cried through his tears. He pushed her, tried to get her to "wake up." When she didn't, Theo starting crying.
Annabeth picked up her son. She began crying with him. Percy wrapped his arms around both of them. Silent tears slid out of his eyes. They looked back at their daughter, who was now still. Her smile was still there. A warm breeze blew in through a window.

Lucas's POV

Lucas walked out of the infirmary. Tears stained his cheeks. The scenery was beautiful. The warm sunshine mingled with the trees and grass and flowers.
His grief rose. The world should've been cold and gray, Riley was dead. She was gone.

That night after dinner, Chiron burned Riley's shroud. She wasn't in it, but that didn't make it any better.
Riley's shroud was beautiful. It was gray silk with an owl and a trident on it. Blue waves embroidered the edges. Under the symbols were the words
A true hero, even in death. Loved and missed by all, Riley River Jackson.
Another breeze ruffled the night trees.
A whisper sounded in Lucas's ear.

Lucas....remember me. I love you.
Come find me, when I call you.
I am always in your heart.

Lucas was startled.
Riley had whispered to him.
That meant, Riley was dead. She was really dead.

Notes

Sorry for the SUPER sad chapter. It will make sense when the story is done. But anyways, thanks for reading you sessy unicorn!!
~stay beautiful~
XOXO,
Nova