Kiera thought of running. And when she looked toward flight, she saw escape. Freedom was on her breath, and she could taste the tangible air like a meal. And Kiera hadn't wanted anything more than freedom for a long, long time now.
She bent over, one foot propped against the side of the iron-framed piece of shit bed, and laced up her favorite pair of black-steeled boots. Firm along the ankle, just barely reaching the base of her calves. The black was worn, long worn, but it gave her an edge. A really good edge. More importantly, they were hers. And given that everything Kiera owned could fit in a school-bag…needless to say, she didn't take off those boots.
Four hours. Kiera had four hours before her absence would be noticed, before her name would go to the police, and before she was sent straight to juvie for running—again. But even a ten by ten inch cell would be better than the home she was in now. The bruises dotting her now-purple eye was proof of that.
Boots laced up, Kiera swung her bag over her back and calmly walked out the front door. She did not run. She did not glance around all suspiciously—because that's where she'd gone wrong before. Four hours. She had four hours.
"And I'm going to go on a stretch and guess you aren't taking a friendly stroll."
Shit. Kiera stopped short. She ground her teeth. She clenched her fists. And then she turned and faced her damn brother. Half-brother.
"Nico."
"Kiera." He shoved his hands into his pockets. "It's time you come home."
xXx
"We need her here, Chiron, and you know it." Nico's voice hissed behind the door. Kiera tilted her head and strained to hear more, her enhanced-hearing only doing so much for her.
"What I know is she is a scared girl, Nico. Her fate—"
"Eavesdropping isn't polite, you know." Will chuckled and dropped in front of Kiera, his eyes instantly going to the bruise around her eye. "Want me to take care of that?"
Kiera only shook her head and broke off a piece of ambrosia she'd snagged from a camper. "No thanks. I've got it." She leaned back and away from her brother's boyfriend, her eyes held at a careful guard. She kept her gaze on her boots, spread out in front of her. "But you can tell your boyfriend to stop kidnapping me."
Will chuckled again, but the smile didn't quite meet his eyes. "Nico does what he wants. And I would hardly call it kidnapping."
"No? Then what would you call being stalked, thrown through a shadow, and getting locked in an office." Kiera stood and wrapped her arms around herself. And for once she wished she could claim the shadows as her brother could, but instead she was stuck with her damn curse. Thanks dad.
"Kiera. What happened wasn't your fault."
"I didn't ask for your damn opinion Dr. Sun. And I'd appreciate you not lecture me." Kiera moved toward the door, but found her path suddenly blocked by Will. "Move out of my way. I'm leaving."
"Kiera—"
"I said get out of my way!" Kiera growled. She didn't move. Didn't even raise her voice past a threat. But she still found herself faced with two more people in the room.
"Don't touch him." Nico warned, suddenly by Will's side.
She saw the fear in his eyes, the hand warding her off as he moved Will behind him. Guarding Will, against her. Kiera pursed her lips and shook her head "Nice. You shouldn't have brought me back, Nico. I killed three people, and that isn't easily forgotten." And careful not to touch anyone, she pushed past her brother and out of the Big House.
Camp Half-blood. She remembered when this felt like home.