Pairing: Daniela x Black!Reader x Aphrodite
Pronouns: She/Her
Requested by: simp-x-girl
Warning(s): Angst, Near Death Experience, Self inflicted injury (for a ritual)
I wrote a lot in Isa's pov just so everyone can still see the reactions of Daniela and Aphrodite while also (via the ritual) getting an idea of what happened to the reader!
"[Y/N], welcome back!" Isa smiled as they took some bags of groceries from my arms. "Aph-."
"Lycans," I whispered, my eyes feeling heavy as the adrenaline wore off. "Not from the village."
"Easy," Isa nearly dropped the groceries when I began to sway. "Hunter!"
Isa POV
I caught [Y/N] with one arm before she could fall, asking Hunter to grab her for me when the witch entered the area. After Hunter had [Y/N], I kicked the door shut and rushed to the kitchen, handing the groceries to one of the other maids before returning to Hunter and [Y/N].
"Can you head to Olympus and get Apollo and 'Dite for me?" Hunter asked, her body hiding the damage to [Y/N]. "I can't stabilize her without proper equipment."
"Yeah, I'll-." I stepped out of the way when I heard buzzing, waiting until Daniela stepped out of her swarm to pull her away from the bed gently. "Dani-."
"What happened?!" Daniela growled and whipped around, making me step back and hold my hands up.
"Lycans. Not ones from the village, if what she said was true."
"You're questioning her now?!"
"...No, but if that's true, then-."
"Then what?"
"Then, she was lucky to survive the encounter, let alone get back to the castle. Hunter will do everything she can to keep [Y/N] alive," I promised as the redhead let tears fall. "I'll be back with Aphrodite and Apollo. Apollo will help better than we could."
"...Will she live?" Daniela whimpered, making Hunter glance back and send her a sad smile.
"We'll do everything in power to ensure she does, Dani. Apollo's the god of medicine and healing; he'll figure something out."
"Okay," The vampire sighed. "I'll wait in the hall until Isa returns with Apollo and 'Dite. Don't worry about Costin. He's still with Mother; he doesn't know something's wrong."
"Let's try to keep it that way," I awkwardly chuckled and walked Daniela into the hall. "I'll be back as soon as I can, Dani. Aphrodite won't leave your side once she gets here either, that much I can promise."
"...Thank you, Isa. I just hope-."
"She'll be fine — we'll find a way to make sure of that."
Daniela kissed my forehead before letting me leave, earning a low sigh from me when I stepped through the shadows and onto Olympus. 'Aphrodite's going to freak out. I'll tell Apollo-.'
"Why am I going to freak out?"
"DON'T-!" I yelped and nearly jumped out of my skin, whirling around to face the goddess. "GODS! Is that how everyone feels when I appear from the shadows?!"
"More or less," Aphrodite shrugged. "Now, answer my question."
"...Lycans attacked [Y/N] on her way back from the village. Hunter's doing her best, but she sent me to get you and Apollo."
"...How-How's Dani-?" Aphrodite cleared her throat and tried to get rid of the fear in her eyes. 'Even if you hide it from your physical form, your soul still shows your fear and concern.'
"Dani's," I sighed and shook my head. "She needs you. I'm pretty sure you both forgot that she's human — mortal."
"Don't continue that thought," Aphrodite hissed, making me sigh again. "And stop reading my soul. You know it'll blind you if you look too long."
"It only happens with you gods for strong emotions. Such as your mortal lover being on the brink of death."
"...Just go get Apollo!"
I bowed and left the goddess, jogging to Apollo's castle. 'If they weren't Karl's lycans, Hunter needs to check the seals around the village. I can't let her go alone, though, and Costin won't be happy if both of his parents are checking the seals. Not after this.' When I reached the castle, Apollo stepped out with his medicine bag, smiling solemnly before wrapping his arm around my shoulder. In a flash, we were in the castle, Apollo stepping away from me to enter the room Hunter was working on [Y/N] in. I turned my head to Aphrodite and Daniela, my heart breaking when I heard the muffled sobs from the vampire.
'Aphrodite's trying to keep it together too,' I frowned, watching the goddess hold Daniela and rub her back. 'She's lost mortal lovers before, sure, but there was something different about her feelings for [Y/N] and Dani.' I clenched my jaw and grabbed my jacket, slinking out of the room to go to Hunter's lab. With a deep breath, I drew Thanatos's symbol on the floor — doing the same for his twin sisters — and sat down, using one of my claws to draw blood. Once I swiped my blood over each symbol, they began to glow, summoning the three death gods.
"...I know the rules, but I'm begging you three to tell me anyway. I have to know what happened; Show me the attack."
The siblings shared a look before sighing, Thanatos stepping forward and placing his thumb in the center of my forehead, spinning his hand around to cup the top of my head. "Fair Warning; It's not a pretty scene."
First Person POV
30 Minutes Ago
"Thank you, Adina," I sighed in relief when she carried over the peppers Isa asked for. "You know Isa. They must have the ingredients they ask for, or their entire meal plan for the week is screwed up."
Adina giggled and placed a rose in the last bag. "It's because they don't want the girls to get bored of meals. The rose is on the house, by the way."
"...Am I supposed to give this to Lady Dimitrescu?"
The girl's face turned beet-red as she fumbled over her lie. "N-no! Y-you're su-supposed to gi-give it to Da-Dani! Wh-why would?! Why wo-would you-?!"
I laughed and handed her the money before picking up the last bag. "Yeah, sure, whatever you say. You know, Hunter's birthday party is soon. Dani's 'plus one' is our other partner; mine could be you if you-?"
"...I-I'd like that," Adina whispered with a shy smile.
'She has the biggest crush on Lady Dimitrescu. What a shame she doesn't know it. Maybe Hunter's birthday party will be the day she realizes it.'
As I left the shop, I handed a small bag of food and drinks to the orphan who walked over, smiling when she hugged me. 'That should keep her and her sister fed until Isa deems we have enough extra food to make them meals.' I patted her back and sent her on her way, setting off for the castle again. '...Maybe I'll talk to Dani and 'Dite about adopting those two. They shouldn't have to scavenge for food and live outside, especially so young. Plus, Costin would finally have other kids to play with. He couldn't get that, even when he stayed with the gods.'
A howl ripped through the air, making my heart nearly stop when I realized how close it was. '...No, Karl knows I go get groceries on Monday, and he knows not to send the lycans until half past just to be safe.' I glanced back and noticed a different kind of lycan cornering the orphan, Dahlia, filling me with rage. 'Stay away from her,' I set my groceries down and pulled out the gun Isa bought me, aiming at the creature. 'She and her sister have been through too damn much for you filthy things to make it worse.'
Isa POV
Present
"That's enough," Thanatos sighed, pulling me out of the memory. "...I think you know what happens next in the memories."
"Yeah," I sighed with a heavy heart, trying to hold back tears. "I'll go check in with Hunter and Apollo. Thank you, you three. I know Father will be angry, so tell him I'll hear his lecture after I get an update on [Y/N]."
"You should tell them about [Y/N]'s plan. Those girls are still alive, thanks to her. I'm sure Daniela and Aphrodite would want to adopt the children she risked her life for."
"...You're right. If Dani's better, I'll tell them. I don't want either to get more emotional than they are now."
"So far, her name isn't on any of our lists," The Keres said. "Whatever the fates are planning, they're keeping everyone in the dark."
First Person POV
"[Y/N]," Daniela kissed my cheek. "You gotta wake up, baby."
"Five more minutes," I groaned and turned away from her, burying my face in Aphrodite's neck.
"...I'd normally agree," Aphrodite hummed, gently pushing me away from her neck. "But we need you to wake up."
"I'm sleepy!"
"We know, but we miss you."
"...Huh? Just cuddle me."
"You're getting cold," Daniela whispered, the sound of her shifting away from me reaching my ears. "...So cold, I can't touch you anymore. Either of us."
Panic set in when the sound of Aphrodite shifting away reached my ears, trying to force my eyes open. 'Cold?! What is she talking about?! Why-?! Why can't I open my eyes?!' A loud, annoying beeping reached my ears, making me try to look around for the source of the sound. 'What is that sound? Why is it so loud?!' I focused on trying to open my eyes again, wanting to let out a frustrated cry when it still seemed impossible. 'I have to wake up. Something isn't right about this sleep. Wh-what happened before I fell asleep?!'
"How's she doing?" Isa's voice reached my ears. "Dani and 'Dite are..."
'Are what?! What did they say?!' I tried to focus on Isa's voice, only to be met with an unfamiliar voice.
"Well, she was stable," A man sighed, temporarily muffling the beeping sound. "But her heart rate suddenly picked up. I've resorted to using my powers..."
'No, not again! What else did he say?!'
"...Maybe she's trying to wake up?" Hunter suggested, making my lips twitch.
'Yes! Hunter, you get it! Please, wake me up!'
"Let's hope that's the case," The man hummed. "You got the poison out of her system, so she should recover faster."
Five Hours Later
"Dani, you shouldn't be in here alone," Aphrodite's voice reached my ears after what felt like an eternity of silence.
"I'm not alone."
"You know that's-."
"Hi, Auntie," Costin sniffled, making my heart ache. "Mama said I can join."
"Ah, that's what you meant," Aphrodite chuckled, but the pain was evident. "It's okay, Costin. [Y/N] will wake up."
"...Better," The child sniffled. "Pwomised to teach me. Pwomised to stay fow-fowever."
Five Days Later
"Now, who's visiting [Y/N] on their own?" Daniela teased with a hint of sorrow.
Aphrodite let out a strangled laugh before sniffling. "I guess I just didn't want you to see me like this. I'm immortal; I've lost mortal lovers before, but she was different."
"You speak as if we've lost her already."
"Apollo says the poison's out of her system, but she's still not waking up. It's a matter of whether she wants to or not, and I'm scared she might give up."
"Have more faith in our human."
"...I'm just- I miss her."
"I do too," Daniela whispered, making my heart ache more.
'I have to wake up,' I nearly sobbed. 'I can't leave them, any of them. What's stopping me from waking up?!'
"...'Dite, look."
"Holy shit," Aphrodite breathed before I felt the bed dip to my right. "...Baby, can you hear us?"
'Yes! I'm here, I swear!'
"Can- Can you try to move your fingers again?"
I focused on wanting to wake up again, letting the fear and anger wash over me. 'Please work.'
"That's it," Daniela nearly sobbed. "Come on, baby, you gotta wake up. You're so close; I know you are."
After what felt like hours — but was probably only a few minutes — I managed to open my eyes partially, wincing at the bright light that flooded in. The light disappeared quickly before a pair of hands cupped my cheeks, the coolness of Daniela's hands giving me a warm feeling — ironically. As my eyes opened further, my gaze landed on Daniela and Aphrodite, relief washing over me.
"Hi, baby," They whispered in unison.
"Waking to you both is always a treat," I rasped. "But this has to be the most relieved I've felt when waking next to you."
They giggled and kissed my cheeks, tears filling their eyes. "The feeling's mutual."