Zia's Destiny

"Zia Johnson," said a talking skeleton, "The Princess of the Dead will see you now."

"I said drop the princess!" came a girl's voice. A black arrow shot out from the throne room and hit the skeleton in the chest, knocking our two of his ribs; they clattered to the floor and the skeleton bent hastily to pick them up.

"Sorry your highness," he apologized, then nodded Zia in. She stepped in cautiously.

"Hey kid, what's up?" said the girl. She looked to be a young teen, with golden hair and grey eyes. She sat casually on the large black throne with both her legs hanging over one of the arm-rests. She had her gaze not on Zia, but on her arrows, which she was sharpening with a long hunting knife, as if uninterested or bored.

"I thought I was coming to see Lord Hades," Zia stammered.

"He's on vacation."

"Where's Persephone?"

"It's July."

"Who are you?"

"His daughter." All the girl's answers were short and blunt.

"Can I go now?" Zia asked.

"Not yet."

"Why not?"

The girl narrowed her eyes. "You have a request."

Zia blushed. "Well my aunt-"

"Died and you want to bring her back."

"How did you-"

"You can't do it."

Zia's eyes filled with tears. "Why not?"

"One: No one is brought back from the dead. No one. Not even me. Yes, I'm dead," she said, seeing Zia's stunned face. "And two: your aunt chose rebirth. She's not here."

"Rebirth?"

"Yep. But that's all the questions I have time for today." Zia turned to exit. "Hey wait, you want this bow?"

"What?" Zia asked, taken aback.

"You're on a quest, right? It's a gift. Not like I'm going to use it."

Zia blushed again. "I can't shoot."

"Hmmm," the girl mused again. "Your mom was great with a bow." She plucked the bow string. It made a zing! that echoed around the throne room.

"You know my mom? I can I bring-"

"Would you stop asking to bring people back?" the girl laughed. "And haven't you guessed who I am by now?"

Zia stared, confused and clueless at the girl sitting on Hades' throne.

"I'm your Aunt Ava."

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