A/N this  chapter will probably be another sad chapter, but we are almost done with those for this book, the first part of the next chapter will probably be sad as well, but after that things should cheer up a bit.

Luke's point of view

We gathered in the amphitheatre where the shrouds of all the fallen demigods were going to be burned. My father and Chiron stood by the fire where the shrouds would be burned. Before the first shroud was placed on the fire, Chiron spoke briefly about the fallen hero, and one of the demigod's siblings came forward and recounted memories of the fallen demigod. The same thing happened before each shroud was placed on the fire.

For Nathan and scooter, a sibling spoke about them. I couldn't bring myself to talk about scooter, and I hadn't really known Nathan that well, other than the fact that he had been Christina's boyfriend. The reason why I was so bothered by his death was because he had basically sacrificed himself for me and the others that Tartarus had captured. One after another the shrouds were burned. Even after all the shrouds had been burned, the mood in the camp remained somber.

After the shroud burnings were finished we all wandered off to continue with our usual activities. Now that the war was over Nico di Angelo had resumed teaching the sword class, and Chiron was once again the only instructor for archery. I assumed my dad had returned to Olympus after the shroud burning since I didn't see him around camp afterward.

That night, for once, my sleep was dreamless which was a relief considering that I didn't need dreams to worry about since I already had everything that had happened in the war. The next morning I got up, got ready, and went to breakfast when the conch horn blew. As usual I sacrificed food to my dad, finished eating my breakfast, and then went off to my first activity. After archery, and a failed attempt at the climbing wall I was about to go to my next activity when my dad walked up to me.

Noticing the few small burn holes in my shirt he asked, "climbing wall?" looking slightly amused.

Slightly embarrassed I just nodded.

I guess that since he could tell that I wasn't really hurt he was amused instead of concerned.

Hoping I didn't sound rude I asked, "Not that I'm not happy to see you, but why are you here?"

Obvious amusement still on his face my dad said, "Did you forget what I said yesterday?"

I thought back to our conversation the day before and realized what he must be referring to. I said, "Oh right."

 Dad just chuckled amused.

He asked, "Are you ready?"

I answered, "As ready as I'll ever be."

He nodded and grabbed my arm before teleporting us away.

I wasn't sure how I felt about visiting Christina in the underworld, I was pleased to be able to see her one last time, but I was still a bit nervous.

When we reappeared we were obviously in the underworld. My dad let go of my arm and began leading me toward a building that was obviously Hades' Palace. When I looked at it I realized that it looked a lot like the throne room of the gods on Olympus. I realized that he must have built it that way back when he wasn't welcome on Olympus. I followed my father, and I glanced around I saw what was obviously the fields of asphodel, and further away the fields of punishment.

Slightly confused I asked my dad, "I thought we were going..."

Cutting me off he answered, "We are, but I have to speak with Hades for a moment first." I nodded accepting that.

As we were about to walk through the palace gates I heard a female voice that sounded like it was coming from above us say, "Well Honey, back again are we? I have to say I'm disappointed that you accepted immortality."

As the voice spoke I looked up to see who the voice belonged to, and saw what had to be the furies overhead. My dad responded, "Sorry Alecto, but I did. Regardless even if I had stayed a demigod I would never let you get the better of me."

After we were a short distance away I asked, "What was that about?"

My dad answered, "She was my first monster, Hades sent her after me when he thought I had stolen his helm of darkness. Since I defeated her she hates me for it. It was only a few years ago that I killed the habit of calling her by the alias that she used when she was hiding as one of my sixth grade teachers." 

 I accepted that answer and we kept on going. Like he said he would my dad spoke briefly with Hades before returning to me and teleporting us to the entrance to Elysium. I suppose he teleported us to avoid the crowds in asphodel. It looked like measures had been taken to thin the crowds, but there were still a lot of souls there.

Before we entered Elysium I asked my dad, "How did you convince Hades to let us do this anyway?"

My Dad replied, "Well we are on decent terms these days so I called in a favor, after some convincing he agreed."

I nodded and once again he asked, "Are you ready?"

I nodded and we continued, entering Elysium.

After we had walked a short distance into  Elysium  we saw her. She was in a parklike area sitting on a bench with Nathan. They looked so happy despite the fact that they were in the underworld I almost didn't want to disturb them. I was about to suggest leaving them alone when Christina noticed us.

She told Nathan, and then they both stood, and walked over to us.

When they reached us I honestly wasn't sure what to say to them. After they had died there were several things that I had wanted to say to them, but now that I am in front of them I don't know what to say.

Christina beat me to it, looking at Dad she said, "I never got the chance to say this sooner, but thank you for saving me, and adopting me. I don't know what would have happened to me if you hadn't. That day you saved me, and gave me a new home despite the fact that I was born a daughter of your rival. After you adopted me you continued to help me. You cared for me as if I was your own child, even though technically I wasn't. I can never thank you enough for what you have done for me, but please do one last thing for me."

"Of course," Dad said.

Before stating what she wanted dad to do Christina said after shooting me a stern look, "I want you to do this as well Luke."

I nodded, indicating that she could continue, she said, "I want both of you to stop blaming yourselves for my death. I chose my fate, and I chose to die saving someone I cared about even if he followed me here not long afterward. After saying that she glanced at Nathan. before continuing, "Neither of you could have stopped what happened to me, so stop beating yourselves up for it. " 

Dad and I nodded. I knew that I would at least try for her.

Dad was the next one to speak, looking at Christina he said, "When I helped you, I was just doing what I felt was right. I knew that if Ares even bothered to claim you, you wouldn't get the help that you needed at the time, except maybe from Chiron.

I know how Ares treats his children, and I knew that you deserved better than that. As for you being the daughter of my rival, I didn't care about that. Just because I hate Ares, that doesn't mean that I hate his kids. I knew that you couldn't help who your father was, so it would be foolish of me to hold that against you."

Nathan looked at me and said, "Like she said, don't blame yourself for my death, I chose to die saving you and the others, you couldn't have done anything to stop it."

 I nodded, but it would take time before I could completely accept the fact that their deaths weren't my fault.

Finally coming up with something to say I stepped closer to Christina, and said sadly, "I miss you so much, so does dad."

She replied, "I know little brother, and I'm sorry about that but it was my time. We may not have been able to fully get to know each other, but you are still a younger brother to me. for now you will have to accept that I can no longer be there, perhaps someday we will see each other again, but I don't want to see you any sooner than I should."

I nodded, I would try for her.