light 'em up [private]

This day turned out to be a disaster. Can some higher being just take pity on Rielle and kill her right then and there?

First, her father - the mortal one, the one she actually loved - picked her up for their rare monthly outings which consisted of them talking - well, him talking - and movies and dinners and whatnot. Rielle had really looked forward to the trip, she even dressed nicely and smiled when Steven Winters came, but then she smelled the strong scent of alcohol off him. She couldn't blame him, he was never really the same since her mother and sister died, but Steven was slowly changing for the worse. Even when he talked, she could sense the loneliness behind his words. It got to the point where Rielle, who never had much patience to begin with, just announced that she'd rather return to camp on her own, just because she couldn't bear to see the pain her father went through.

Later on, as she stopped by Starbucks before going back, Rielle realized how terribly awful she acted. Her stomach turned just thinking about it. What kind of sensible human being walked out on her own father? She'd taken a table for two near the window so that she can dramatically look out of it, all the while mentally kicking herself for acting the way she did. Gods, the regret was unbearable! Even the bitter coffee scalding her tongue didn't seem like enough punishment. Not only was she shunning potential friends, now she was also turning her back on her own family. Rielle sighed and leaned back on her chair, swirling her coffee - could this day possibly get any worse?

There were dreams again last night, but satyrs gone wild this time, shooting them with a gun. Maybe he should ask Chiron about this. “Or maybe I read too much of the suspense novels I bought from a book sale,” Adam told himself.

Whatever it is, it will have to wait because he needs to focus on his task right now. And that is getting the 7 year old twins, Stella and Luna, ready for their summer school. Ballet class this time. It was swimming class and an art class before. He smiled at them as they were trying to put on their shoes as he remembers his own childhood summers spent in London. It was full of learning how to ride a bike or skateboard and playing until late afternoon basketball and soccer in the fields few blocks away from their house. But they are in Manhattan now. There are no more fields but rather sky high buildings, no more empty streets to practice riding bike but rather streets filled with cars honking at each other every minute and most importantly he’s not a kid anymore but a teenage guy with responsibilities.

When he finally said goodbye to the twins, he decided to sit on the bench near their playground. This quiet moments are the ones he live for. He likes thinking and analyzing things that are happening in his life. In their small apartment it’s almost always chaotic that makes it impossible for him to think and reflect. The twins playing and shouting, sometimes even crying, his mother rushing to her next work to make both ends meet and his Nana playing her songs on the radio for the Nth time. He stopped counting when he realized his Nana has no intention of pushing the stop button and will just let the CD rewind until she fall asleep and play it again the next day. He loves them of course, he will do anything and everything for them, but there are times like this when he just need to be calm and have peace of mind, especially now that he will soon go back to the camp.

He totally loves the camp that he sometimes feel guilty of staying there and not helping his mother with the bills, twins and everything else. Fortunately his mother has always been supportive. “Go. Don’t worry about us. Be like your father and save the world,” she would always say.

It was already 9 when he reached Starbucks. Not for coffee but rather for work. Sometimes he thinks it’s crazy how people are willing to spend that much on coffee, but then he will realize that at least it gives him job.

“Gosh, I love your eyes!” one of the customer told him. It was really just normal eyes for him but apparently a lot of people love it especially his mother who even describes it as “illegally blue” due to its rich shade of blue. He told the customer his thanks as he gave him his order. He glanced at his watch, just 30 minutes after reaching the place. “This will be a very long day,” he told himself as he pours steaming coffee and prepares it just as how the customer like it.

After lunch break, he then noticed this girl enter the shop. He usually don’t really give a care about his customers but there’s something with this girl, like she was ethereal. That and that she really looked someone who badly needs coffee into her system. He laughed at himself with that thought and just went on with his work. But after quite a while, he found himself staring at her that he was almost embarrassed by the way he was acting. So he turned around and walked away heading to the employee’s area but all along wondering why she got a table for two and if she got a date for the afternoon who never showed up.

Though absorbed in her thoughts, it didn't take long for Rielle to notice that she was being watched. She spared a half-glance at the barista, a swift movement she didn't even know if he saw. What was the big deal? What the hell did she do now? First her father and now this... A scowl tugged on her lips as she looked back at the window. She was used to people staring - she's had enough experience with it in class where people talked behind her back,  about how she talked to walls, about how she was the only Asian in an obviously American family... The memories made her exhale sharply in disgust. Society can be so judgmental.

She started to drink the rest of her coffee. The urge to leave this place and mope somewhere else had grown stronger. She snuck another look at the counter and saw that the barista had gone who-knows-where - thank the gods. Truth be told, she would be sorry to leave. Other than that guy, everyone else minded their own business. On another table sat a student typing furiously on his laptop. Two tables away, a pair of girls conversed about the latest fashion trends. To her right, Rielle spotted a man in full corporate attire chatting animatedly to his iPhone. It had been a good place to be alone with her thoughts but she really ought to get a move on, not just because of the barista but because of other reasons... demigodly reasons. After taking one last sip, Rielle gently set the styrofoam cup back on the table. She stood up to leave.

That was when the doors slid open, and an ominous hissing filled the air, as if hundreds of snakes had just slithered in.

"The ssssscent issss ssstrong, Ssssisssters..."

Rielle froze, and slowly turned.

No fewer than five Scythian dracanae entered, their serpentine bodies sliding effortlessly inside the cafe. Their scales shone green and they each held a golden spear. When they opened their mouths, they bared their fangs.

A lump had formed in Rielle's throat as she stared, wide-eyed, at the monsters. To answer her previous question: yes, this day could get worse. Leaving seemed like a much brighter prospect now.

The mortals didn't even blink at their entrance, one or two spared them a look but no one screamed, no one took notice of the monsters in their midst. The Mist worked its magic well. Unfortunately, Rielle can see them for who they were. And they can see her for who she was.

The one in front faced her, perfect white fangs bared in an ear-to-ear grin. "Well if it isssssn't a daughter of Hadesss..."

Rielle saw no other way. She ran.

Rielle, the other customers saw. But they were also quick to notice when the dracanae gave chase and overturned tables in pursuit. Crash, bang - soon the cafe was in pandemonium - sreams and curses filled the air, punctuated by chairs hitting the floor. Rielle bolted for the only exit that wasn't blocked by the monsters - the door behind the counter labeled 'Employees Only.' Screw the rules.

As she slammed the door closed, Rielle found herself face-to-face with the barista who had eyed her for a good long while. Her scowl deepened. "Aaaand it's you."

Can't her luck get any worse?

That was when the door behind her burst open to reveal the dracanae she left behind.

He sensed them before he saw them, the air just got heavier and suddenly it’s hard to breathe. That’s one lesson that years of training in the camp can give you. You can grow so accustomed to fighting monsters that you can feel them in the air you breathe, like it’s poison creeping into your veins. Instinct washed over him and he made a mad dash to the employee’s exit door at the back. Damn, he would not let his co-workers think that he’s some crazy kid if they see him fight with them. So leaving now and get a good yell from the boss is a much better option rather than losing the job forever. As he was to turn the knob to run away from the café, he heard tables being overturned and chairs pushed like there is a cat and mouse chase happening.

“Could it be, no, there can’t be another demigod in there. But what if..?” Adam thought to himself.
With heavy heart he then decided to go back and check the scene, silently hoping that he misheard everything and there was just some drunk guy or a broken hearted girl or anything else humane which at least are controllable rather than monsters who are actually immortal.

He then heard a door being slammed shut and the next thing he knew is he’s face to face with the girl he was staring at a while ago. Wow, with everything that’s happening around it seemed like it was days ago.

“Aaand its you,” she said. She looked nervous and in a rush. She’s not even supposed to be here, unless she’s running away from something. Then it hit him.
“Are you..?” but the sentence was never finished because they heard loud consecutive bangs on the steel door. Great, so much for our first meeting.

“I ssseeee you’ve brought a friend with you, daughter of Hadesss”
Crazy thoughts filled Adam’s head and he doesn’t even know which to process first- that he’s locked up in the employees locker room with the daughter of Hades or that outside are dracanae who sounds very excited on killing them.

Before he could process everything the door swung open and he was welcomed with green scaly skin, yellow eyes and forked tongues. Some people were glancing at them like they are some kind of weirdos but they probably thought this was just some kind of a girl fight over a guy, game of hide and seek and anything else but would never come close to the truth.

He grabbed the lid of a tank closest to him and hurled it into the dracanae’s face. It distorted her face but made her laugh.

“Ssson of Apollo, you look grree” Adam did not let her finish but pull out a small dagger he always carried around and stabbed her in the gut in which she disintegrated. He felt happy, proud actually that even though dagger is not his weapon of choice he did good with that dracanae. Maybe he should practice with it more. But the weapon choice is not what is very crucial right now. There are still dracanae lurking near them and any minute now they will come charging at them.

Rielle didn't have to answer his unfinished question - the dracanae behind her made sure of that. She swerved just as a lid came barreling at the monster's face. So the barista was a son of Apollo. That would explain his accuracy. At least he's helpful, she thought sourly, still not getting over him staring at her. Hades kids had problems with grudges - that was a universally accepted fact.

The moment of triumph didn't last long, however. Before she could even draw a sigh of relief, Rielle watched in horror as the other dracanae scrambled over their disintegrated comrade. Instinctively, she grabbed the first thing she could get her hands on - an unopened bag of coffee beans, typical - and hurled it hard at the next monster. She didn't bother to see if it connected. Rielle tugged on the barista's sleeve to get him going. Grudges or not, she did not dislike him enough to wish him death.

And speaking of death... she grew increasingly aware of the heavy sinking feeling in her chest and the tingling in the tips of her fingers. Was it just panic? Adrenaline? Or was it a premonition of someone's demise?

Gods how Rielle loathed this power.

"Move!" she commanded, no longer tugging on the barista but hoping he had enough sense to follow. Before she could take another step, a golden spear whizzed past her head, missing her ear by inches. She turned to see another dracanae crossing the doorway, the spear of its dead companion now gripped in its clawed hands.

It happened so quickly - one moment Rielle was defenseless, in the next she wielded a scythe dark as night. Her trusty weapon was out at last, no longer the keychain she kept in her pocket. She hardly heard the slight buzzing in the background - sounds of of pastries spilling out of the boxes the previous spear had hit, of the other employees' incoherent screams and their hurried steps as they too backed away from the scene. Who knew what they saw, but apparently it was dangerous enough.

The dracanae laughed - or Rielle thought it did from the sounds of its hisses. "Come to play at lassssssst, darling?"

Rielle only gripped her weapon tightly, her lips in a thin line.

The monster charged and Rielle parried the spear with her scythe, hooking both weapons together. She spun, aiming a kick at the monster's gut. A heavy crunch confirmed that her shoe made its mark. In another fluid movement, the Stygian iron scythe disentangled with the dracanae's spear and plunged mercilessly into its chest. With one last hiss, the monster exploded in a shower of yellow dust.

As the spear landed by Rielle's feet, she turned to see two more dracanae squeezing through the doorway, and shadows of more behind them. They seemed to have learned their lesson well, no longer engaging them one-by-one. Soon, their numbers will overwhelm them. Rielle started to back away. She took note of her surroundings - shelves full of pastry boxes and coffee beans, counters with plates and other kitchenware... just what one would expect from the back room of a coffee shop. Rielle did not know this territory well enough to use it as a war zone. Breathing heavily and ignoring the panicked chattering of Starbucks employees behind them, Rielle raised her scythe in warning. She might be outnumbered, but she sure as hell won't go down without a fight.

He’ll give her the credit. She could really fight well. But what else would we expect from the daughter of none other than the God of the Underworld. It’s a good thing that his bow and arrow have already materialized from being a bracelet. “Maybe, just maybe we could beat them all,” Adam tries to reassure himself.

He couldn’t think straight for the moment. It’s not as if this happens to him every day that would enable him to formulae a ready plan for this. Gods if he even knew there would be dracanae to try to kill him today he would not even be here. It’s not like he welcome things like this.

But he needs to think fast, the dracanaes are coming and there’s just two of them. But two makes a team right but sadly the dracanaes’ numbers are already worth a legion. They keep coming and coming from gods know where.

He saw her getting ready to fight. Does she even realize he’s here? They could form a plan or something. But something tells him it’s better to throw questions at her later and start thinking for their survival.

As they go nearer, Adam could fell his senses sharpen, and as closer as they get, the more guarded and aware he becomes. He’s ready anytime now, an arrow already fitted into the strings of the bow. He aimed and consequently fired an arrow at one of the dracanae, the one his manager is trying to run away from. He wondered what they see but decided it’s not really important right now because he‘s the one who can see right through them. He’s the one confronted with the truth.
“Think of yourself as the hunter and not them. Do not be the prey.” He thought to himself as he gets a firmer grasp on his bow and continued the fight.

He can feel the adrenaline rushing to his veins, as he tries to block out the rest of the world as he takes a meticulous aim. The next arrow tears through the neck of the dracanae near the counter, leaving nothing else but sparkles of yellow dust. The next one went straight to the head of another dracanae. As the fourth arrow easily found its way to the opponent’s stomach, he thought how long could they last this battle while all the while following the rhythm of reloading, aiming then shooting.
He felt stunned when a spear went past through him missing his head with just an inch. The dracanae was disintegrated before she could even pull out another spear. His bow drove deeply into the side of her chest. Adam now reloaded, shifting his aim from side to side, called out to the other demigod, “we got to run!”

He armed his bow again, ready to shoot and took down and disintegrated two more. But they have to run now. He may soon run out of arrows and the girl may get tired eventually. They can fight yes, but hey they are not immortal with unlimited strength.

“Follow me, to the back door”, he called out while purposely letting all the things in the room fall behind him to have a little head start.

They had officially turned the Starbucks' employee area into a war zone. Arrows flew and found their mark. Those that did not disintegrate upon contact met their demise on Rielle's unforgiving scythe. She slashed where she could, slicing monsters open, deflecting the spears that were thrown. She missed at least one, but she sighed in relief as Apollo boy had the sense to dodge.

Apollo boy was a decent fighter himself, and that was putting it mildly. None of his arrows were lain to waste. Rielle found herself being so impressed beyond her will that she almost missed what he said next.

Following his lead, Rielle swept her scythe over the nearest table, pelting the monsters with plates, boxes, and food ingredients. Then she used her scythe to send the whole table at them, hopefully slowing them down. She glanced at the employees cowering at the side, fear written all over their pale faces. They shouldn't have any problem with the monsters once both demigods were gone - they were but harmless flies to the dracanae. Leaving a mess of boxes and tables behind, Rielle followed her new ally out the backdoor and into the alley.

The first thing that hit Rielle was the smell. She wrinkled her nose at the large trash bins, but this was no time to criticize anything. She made a grab for the boy's arm to pull him towards the crowds of busy New Yorkers and hopefully lose the dracanae in the process. She would let go of him as soon as they reach the main street. They just needed to get far away enough to throw them off their scent.

Funny thing though, Rielle pondered as she walked briskly along the street. Of all the excursions she had with her father, she never really experienced a monster attack of this magnitude... not that she was complaining. Gods knew how worse it would have been if she had her father with her rather than this Apollo fellow. And speaking of this stranger, he was honestly a much better ally than she could've hoped. For one thing, he didn't get in her way unlike some incompetent demigods at camp. Not that she would ever admit it aloud, though.

Her scythe already back to being a keychain inside her pocket, Rielle weaved in and out of the crowd, throwing an occasional glance over her back to make sure they weren't being followed. She gave the Apollo boy a fleeting look, her eyes softening, but she turned away just as quickly. "Just so you know, you're probably going to get laid off for that." She looked straight ahead, not daring to meet his gaze. "Sorry."

Rielle tensed as she heard the police sirens, no doubt heading to the Starbucks joint they just left. She looked back and saw that no one seemed to pay them any heed. The ever-busy city offered the perfect camouflage if you knew how to blend in - just look like you need to be someplace urgent. Right now, Rielle had nowhere to go but camp and until she figured out how to get there, she was bent on looking busy. Her chest heaved, her breaths came in ragged gasps - but she was a woman with a plan. Or soon-to-be-plan. The specifics... she was working on them.

She gave no indication that she heard Apollo Boy even if she perfectly did - it's just that she was more focused on getting back to camp. The boy mentioned that he was also heading back soon, but it did not seem like an invitation - and to tell the truth Rielle preferred to be on her own. The thought even comforted her. Risking her safety on others had never been her style.

When he called her again, she finally stopped and glanced back, wondering why he hadn't even left her yet. She expected him to say goodbye. After all, he knew perfectly well that she was a Big Three Kid. Wasn't that enough to make him leave? Hello, walking monster magnet over here? She looked at where he pointed - Jed's Diner, the sign said - and she narrowed her eyes at him. Perhaps he had nice intentions, they did need some rest and it seemed like an okay place to think up her plan but Rielle, being the cynic that she was...

"So you actually want a repeat of what happened at Starbucks? Who knows what will happen if the monsters catch wind of us there - "

But then she cut off, her eyebrows creasing.

"...did you just say nectar? In that place?"

How can he keep smiling? Are his face muscles out of whack? Why is he so smiley like hasn't he noticed that we are tailed by dangerous snake women?

Reluctantly Rielle followed the boy in. Bell chimes jingled at their arrival. Her stomach growled softly as the scent of frying bacon filled her nostrils. She held her breath but it was futile - bacon was not to be ignored. She attempted to maintain her dignity by keeping her chin held high and her arms loosely crossed, pretending that her mouth wasn't watering at the food.

Rielle did not know why she still followed this complete stranger into this diner, but she wasn't letting her guard down. She stood near the exit while Apollo Boy caught up with his friend. Watching them both warily, Rielle was only half-focused on their conversation as she also considered the many ways she could escape if the scenario turned dour.

'Adam,' that was what the manager called her ally. At least now she could stop referring to him as Apollo Boy. After a slight pause, she followed Adam into a booth, her lips in a thin line as her eyes wandered. The themes of red and yellow irked her a little. They might be intended to make customers warm and happy but Rielle felt the entire opposite - her stomach squirmed uncomfortably and her skin crawled at the thought of the dracanae finding them here. Looking down she even spotted a yellowish stain on her blouse which made her swallow thickly. Nothing like a bit of monster remains to make her lose her appetite. She started to shake it off under the table while Adam ordered Food of the Gods - Really. How original. Not, she thought. Rielle didn't even spare a glance at the menu she was given, her focus now on the outside. Any slightest hint of the monsters and she'd be out of here in a flash.

She was distracted when Adam asked for her name, and she turned back to him with her signature poker face. "Rielle. Just Rielle."

Another lengthy pause as she looked back outside. Just the typical New York crowd. Nothing out of the ordinary. Rielle sighed.

"Look, Adam - it's Adam, right? - I appreciate what you did in Starbucks and what you're doing now, but after this I'm going back to camp. As for whatever damages I caused I think a couple of bucks would help cover it? If not I can call my dad and it won't be a problem -"

She reached for her side only to stop. A chill ran down her spine as she looked down at the empty air.

She left her bag at Starbucks.

"Gods damn it," she muttered under her breath. Lost without money while miles away from camp. Record broken for worst day ever. She took a deep breath and faced Adam. "Anyway. I can have my dad call you or something once I get a hold of him, so just leave me with your contact info and we're good, okay?"

Rielle looked down at her plate - bacon strips and burger. Despite the appetizing meal, the rumbling in her stomach was already replaced by a heavy sinking feeling in her chest. Why did she have to leave her bag? Why? She took a long sip of her drink to help ease her growing worries. It seemed like just a glass of coke, but she could taste a slight tang of tiramisu - just as sweet as her mother used to make it. Warmth spread from the tip of her tongue to the rest of her body, the exhaustion ebbing away. Thanks to the nectar, she felt as good as new. Well, almost.

That certainly took her aback.

So Adam wasn't always the smiling ball of optimism Rielle took him to be. She could only stare at him as he finished speaking. Huh. That cold response was rather... sudden. It had not been Rielle's plan to offend him, far from it actually, but her lack of tact must have done it again.

"Well. That's very... gallant of you then," she said, wondering if this was again a wrong thing to say. "Thank you," she quickly added, before he could make another comment about it.

Adam was right though, she had the absolute worst luck in New York at that moment. But that did not mean she was going to snuggle up to him like some pathetic damsel in distress.

"I won't come running back, if that's what you're worried about. I can manage. If not, well, then I guess I'll meet my real father at last."

She downed the rest of the nectar, fully replenishing her strength, and slid out of the booth without touching the rest of her food. She slightly nudged it towards Adam. "At least have this as payment, then. For something to eat later, since I cost you your job."

Without pausing to consider any negative outcomes caused by what she supposed was an honest way to repay him, Rielle started the brisk walk out of the diner and into the dangers that awaited her.