Leo walked down the busy street, people bumped into him every few seconds, either talking on the phone, carrying a suit case, or heaving a backpack like him.
he had just gotten out of detention for starting a food fight for the third time this week. He smiled as he remembered the shocked look on piper's face as a lump of mashed potatoes was thrown in her direction.
His nimble fingers tapped his thigh and His curly dark brown hair hung over his eyes, as he made his way down the street in a hurry.
He knew if he didn't make it home (if you can even call it that) before 6:00 his foster father Robert would have his way with him. The thought sent a shiver down Leo's spine and he picked up the pace.
Leo turned into an alleyway knowing if he kept going the way he was, he wouldn't make it in time. The alleyway was dark and damp, dumpsters lined the walls of the two buildings that made the alley, Leo was kind of creeped about being in the dark alley all by himself, or at least until the girl came.
She had long golden curls cascading down her back, she wore a cheerleader's uniform and carried a stack of books, her face was smothered with makeup and she held her chin high. Leo was so distracted by her he hadn't realized he had bumped into her. Her books flew out of her arms and scattered on the pavement, Leo thought she'd yell at him or at least scowl, but she just looked at him with a sweet smile. "S-sorry" Leo stuttered nervously, dropping to his knees to help her pick up her books.
"It's okay she said in a soft voice as she picked up her last book and stood. Leo stood as well "sorry again" he said nervously.
He hadn't realized it before but now that the girl was standing in front of him something about her seemed…off, like she could just pull away the face of the sweet smiling girl and there would be a horrifying monster underneath, maybe he was overthinking it but one thing was for sure, he wanted to get away from her.
"I gotta go" Leo said quickly and walked past her. His escape failed as the girl placed a hand on his chest and pushed him back in front of her with surprising strength. Then the girl did the last thing Leo expected, she leaned in and smelled him as though she was breathing in the aroma of a rare steak.
She pulled away as a smile stretched across her stunning face. "Hello demigod" the girl said devilishly, a hungry look in her eyes. "What?" Leo was confused why had she called him a demigod? He'd heard the term before but didn't fully understand what it meant. The girl was now circling Leo, like a predator would it's
prey, her eyes danced with amusement, an impish smirk played on her lips, as she eyed the boy head to toe.
His dark brown, ridiculously curly hair hung over his big brown eyes, he wore a t-shirt, jeans and a faded army jacket on his scrawny form and his worn out duct taped sneaker tapped against the pavement nervously.
"Look lady, I don't know what kinda medication your on but I'm out." Leo tried to sound confident although his voice shook slightly.
Leo turned and headed for the other end of the alley. He didn't make it very far before the girl grabbed him by the shoulders and slammed him against the brick wall. Leo winced.
he opened his eyes and stifled a scream. The girl was no longer a stunning blonde. Her skin was inhumanly white, her eyes were red, and her teeth were now sharp fangs.
He looked down and stifled yet another scream. The girls legs were no longer that of a human's, her left leg was now a brown furry and had a hoof at the end, the other looked like a leg but was made of bronze.
Leo hardly had time to process this before the girl sank her fangs into his neck. Leo cried out and tried to push her off but to no avail.
Two people walked down the alley, one had a concerned look on his face but his friend nudged his shoulder "their just making out dude, it's no big deal." the guy shrugged and walked down the alley. Leo was confused how could these people think they were making out? when blood was staining his shirt and he was screaming. He yelled for the two guys but they were already gone.
The girl drank greedy mouthfuls of the demigod's blood as he cried in pain. Leo's vision started to fade he could feel the girl's fangs in his neck and the blood running down his shirt, but she was too strong. Leo soon started to go limp the only thing holding him up was the girl's firm grip.
Leo was certain that it was all over and he would die at the hands of the stranger with sharp teeth and red eyes.
At least he would never have to see Robert again, he would never have to face the bully's at school, or take anymore beatings. And suddenly the idea of dying didn't seem all that bad.
Just then the girls fangs slipped out of Leo's neck and her grip on his shoulders were released, the demigod immediately slid down the wall, his eyes rolling up in his head.
The empousa looked down to see a shiny bronze sword gutting out of her torso, the handler of the sword sliced it upward.
the empousa screamed as she burst into golden dust. Revealing the man behind her. He was a husky burly man, with a rough scarred face, and a brown beard.
Hephaestus sheathed his sword as he kneeled in front of Leo, his son who was slumped against the brick wall, with blood oozing from the bite wound in his neck.
Hephaestus picked up the boy and gingerly placed Leo's head on his lap. He pressed his hand on Leo's neck hoping to stop the bleeding. Leo coughed and his eyes slowly fluttered open.
Leo's head was pounding and there was a stinging pain on his neck. Through his blurry and dark vision Leo could see a man staring down at him with a worried look.
The man seemed familiar even though he had never met him before. It felt like he'd known the man his whole life but yet he was never really there.
"Dad" the word escaped Leo's throat before he could think twice about it.
Leo could've sworn he saw the man shed a tear before his vision turned to black again.