Going To The Mall (Private)

Taylor Lilian Brooks
Daughter of Khione

---

Taylor was already drenched in sweat. Try jogging up and down a hill for fifteen minutes. She just hoped that she wasn't as smelly; it would take even more of the mall's air conditioning system to get rid of that. She tried to ignore the stares they got from the people they passed by. She really hoped she didn't stink.

"Hm?" Taylor asked in-between pants, only vaguely realizing that Alaska asked a question. You can't blame her. Her ears were practically filled with the sound of her pumping heart that it was hard for her to hear the things that were going on. A few seconds passed before she got an idea of what her sister asked.

"Well--there's--Kyle," she gasped out, taking a few moments after each word to breathe, "--Kate--Naomi--Adelynne--Alec--" she paused, wondering if there were more. Well, she'd remember them later or something, probably while she was off catching her breath. "--what about--you?"

Taylor Lilian Brooks
Daughter of Khione

---

Oh, gods. Taylor wasn't a big fan of hanging out in the mall, but at least it was cold in there. It wasn't as cool as she had hoped though, and she could tell that Alaska felt the same way. Maybe it was just a thing with the children of Khione. Anyway, she tried to ignore the awkward glances she got from the onlookers. What? So they were a little sweaty. Wasn't it normal for two teenage girls to go jogging?

"I don't really care. I'm still a little full, actually," she said, short of breath as she tried to fan herself with her hand. "Anything with food and I'm game. Not too picky, actually. So... your choice?"

Taylor Lilian Brooks
Daughter of Khione

---

Alaska's question caused Taylor to burst into chuckles, earning confused glances from the onlookers. She knew that her sister meant it literally seeing that both of them were sweating bullets, but she can't help but reply in a cocky tone, "Yes, I'm definitely hot."

Taylor wasn't exactly vain. Or maybe she was. She liked to think that it was more of radiating great amounts of self-confidence.

Still laughing, she wiped off the bands of sweat forming on her temple. She threw her a teasing glance. "What about you? Are you hot?"

Taylor Lilian Brooks
Daughter of Khione

---

Taylor nodded, getting the hint. She still couldn't get over that 'hot' comment though. Gods, she was vain. Smiling at the thought, she tried to will herself to think that she was feeling cold. Maybe being used to freezing temperatures back in the cabin made her even less tolerant of heat. Ah well, at least she took comfort in the thought that she wasn't the only one getting sick of the less-than-perfect temperature in here.

"I could just stand in front of the AC all day." She looked around, realizing just how huge and wide the mall was. Whoa, when was the last time she had ever been to this place? A girl who didn't shop--she must be part of some sort of rare species.

"Where do you wanna go?"

Taylor Lilian Brooks
Daughter of Khione

---

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea," Taylor mused, before she grabbed Alaska's wrist and led her to the nearest AC unit she can find. The sheer cold from the AC brought her intense relief, and soon she found herself sighing in contentment. She opened one eye to see where exactly they were--a clothes shop, she realized. It wasn't just any clothes shop though. It looked like the type that sold those expensive designer clothes that people only bought for the sake of flaunting their money. She didn't mind at first, but then a salesman drew closer to the two of them.

"Anything I can get you, Madam?" he asked in a raspy voice. Taylor waved him off impatiently.

"We're just looking around," she said airily, crossing her arms on her chest. She made a small show of picking out some random shirts in the nearest rack, all the while savoring the chilly temperature courtesy of the ever-so-awesome AC. The man didn't look too pleased with her but he offered a forced smile and left.

Following him with her eyes, Taylor couldn't help but feel that something was off here. "I have a bad feeling about this," she told Alaska under her breath, trying to move her lips as little as possible. The salesman leaned against one of the corners, sneaking glances at the two demigods.

Taylor Lilian Brooks
Daughter of Khione

---

Taylor skimmed through the colorful shirts on the rack Alaska pulled towards them, but her mind was elsewhere. She frowned slightly, trying to avoid the gaze of the salesman, but he seemed to be intent on spying on them. Did he think they were going to steal some clothes? Her hackles rose at the thought of being accused of something she didn't even think of doing. Did she and her sister look like thieves? Her hands subconsciously balled into fists, trying her earnest not to glare at the salesman.

"I don't know. Maybe it's just me," she mumbled in the same quiet tone as before. She was perfectly aware that the man was still sneaking glances at them. "I feel like we're being watched. Let's get out."

Her hand closed on Alaska's wrist and she tried to lead her younger sister out of the store, but the salesman moved in their way. Taylor narrowed her eyes and took a wary step back. She frowned slightly. Did he seem slightly bigger than before?

"I didn't think you'd leave so soon," he said, an animalistic edge to his tone.

Taylor grimaced. Oh gods, please don't be a maniac. "Yeah. Look, we didn't steal anything, okay?" she said flatly, raising her eyebrows at him.

But the man only smirked. And there was no doubt about it now. He really was growing. Not only in height, but in the amount of hair too. Wait, it looked like... fur. Realization dawned in Taylor's features and she suddenly pulled Alaska with her to the deeper parts of the store.

"Crap, should've known. Mantic--" she cut off suddenly, remembering that it wasn't wise to say the monster's name. "Er, half-man half-lion thing. Get--" And before she could tell Alaska to get her weapon out, she was suddenly knocked away from the other demigod, face planting on the nearest wall.

Taylor Lilian Brooks
Daughter of Khione

---

Groaning, Taylor staggered back into a standing position. She rubbed her forehead, the part of her face that absorbed most of the collision. Greek curses streamed out of her mouth at the pain. Whipping around, she looked just in time to see Alaska using a belt, cowgirl-style. The manticore hissed at her, trying to avoid the belt. Taylor could see a knife lodged in its front leg, monster blood dripping out of the gash.

The few people around them, mostly the store workers, finally figured out that something bad was going on. She didn't know what the Mist made them see but it was enough to send them scrambling out of the store screaming for security, leaving the monster with the two demigods. Without hesitation, Taylor finally pulled the ring off her finger and her celestial bronze blade materialized in her hand. "Over here, fur-brain!"

Taylor lunged, sword in hand, just as the manticore's attention turned to her. Ducking to avoid a well-aimed blow from the monster's paw, she spun and drove her blade to his side. Damn, this guy's thick... she thought, as the momentum of her attack wasn't enough to cause a deep wound. Nevertheless it still stung, evidenced by the snarls ripping out of his throat.

"You should know better than to mess with us," Taylor spat out through clenched teeth, narrowly missing the manticore's claws. It was then that his scorpion-like tail whipped towards her direction. A slight hint of a smirk crossed the monster's face, an expression Taylor didn't understand. Then a myriad of sharp spikes burst out of the monster's tail. She was about to roll away when she realized that she wasn't the target.

The poisonous darts were headed for Alaska.

Taylor Lilian Brooks
Daughter of Khione

---

Everything seemed to whiz by like a blur that Taylor barely had any grip on what was going on. She saw Alaska duck and breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that her sister dodged the spike attack. She was about to lunge for the manticore again when a celestial bronze knife came slicing past her, the weapon sticking deep into the monster's chest. Within the next few moments the manticore shrieked, exploding into a column of golden dust before even hitting the floor.

Panting and mindful of the slight pain on her forehead, Taylor drew closer the monster remains and picked up Alaska's knife. She cringed slightly--who wouldn't be disgusted if he were holding something covered entirely with the ashes of a dead monster? "You did it!" Taylor said, turning to her sister, but the sight of her was enough to wipe off the triumphant grin on her face.

"Hey hey hey," she chanted under her breath as she hastened to where Alaska was. She grabbed the girl's arm, not meaning to be rough but she was more concerned with keeping her standing than being gentle. "Where did it get you? Can you see? Talk?"

Taylor found her answer before Alaska can reply. Her eyes spied one of the manticore darts sticking out of her leg. Should she pull it out? What if it did more harm than good? Taylor had never been great with first aid. Biting her lip to prevent herself from panicking, she shifted her gaze back to Alaska's face. "We have to get you back to camp," she said. It was the only way. If they brought Alaska to a hospital they would be bombarded with a million questions and Taylor can't exactly tell them that the injury was caused by a monster from the Greek myths. She slung her sister's arm over her shoulder for support. "Can you walk? If not, just say so. I think I can carry you just fine."

Taylor kept glancing at the store entrance as she spoke. Last thing she needed was a bunch of security guards in the scene. Not knowing what else to do, she started praying. Dammit, Mom, a little help would be great...

Taylor Lilian Brooks
Daughter of Khione

---

Taylor was pretty anxious. The poison was spreading right now and especially in Alaska's fatigued condition, she guessed that it wouldn't take her a lot to pass out. She must be really strong though, she noted, if she was still able to walk in her condition. Taylor's arm was on the ready, prepared to reach out and grab her sister if she suddenly collapsed. Looking back at the mall behind her, she felt thankful that the security personnel hadn't come to their aid. The curious and suspicious glances of the civilians they passed by were enough to deal with.

"Not much far," she said slowly, not really meaning it. It took them a little less time to go to the mall earlier because they were jogging. Who knows how long it would take to walk the whole way back to camp? Besides, Taylor was really getting worried about Alaska's state. What if they spent a long time walking and when they got to camp, it was already too late? Gods, that wasn't an option. With a grim expression on her face, Taylor took Alaska's wrist and made her stop. She fished a golden drachma out of her pocket and tossed it to the street. "Stop, chariot of Damnation," she said, but in Greek.

The coin sank in the road like it was made of water and dark grey smoke started to appear, taking the form of a taxi. "Go in, I don't think we can afford much time," she told Alaska in a hurry as she opened the foggy taxi door for her.

Taylor Lilian Brooks
Daughter of Khione

---

Still queasy about the ride, Taylor managed to stagger out of the foggy taxi in one piece. Her head pounded and it felt like she was about to throw up. Damn, that thing was fast. Trying to divert her mind's attention from the bile surely forming in her stomach, she turned to Alaska to see her hopping on one foot. She grimaced. Could Alaska hop all the way up the hill?

Taylor grasped the girl's arm to steady her as they made their way up the hill. When they reached the top, she stole a look at Alaska's condition and figured, what the hell. Taylor hoisted the girl up on her back, placing her arms around her shoulders and holding both of her legs up with her own arms. "Don't complain, this'll get you there faster," she said through gritted teeth. Thank gods she did exercise everyday. Lifting Alaska up was almost a piece of cake.

Jogging through the grasslands, Taylor with Alaska on her back finally reached the infirmary. She lowered the girl down as Apollo campers came rushing to their aid. Struggling to catch her breath and wiping the beads of sweat that formed on her forehead, Taylor panted, "Manticore spike. Right leg. Around a half-hour ago."

Taylor slumped against the nearest wall, Taylor could only look on in silence as the healers went to work, asking Alaska questions she couldn't hear because of the pounding in her ear.