Wednesday
The chilly october wind pierced Xerxes' layers of clothing. Grey clouds allowed only a few rays of sunlight to warm Manhattan. The rain, at least, had ceased.
Based on Kaltre's instructions, the demigod's parents lived here. The Gelu's Fang described a blue Prius with hoof dents on the hood. Unless there was another besides the one across the street below, his search was over.
Xerxes didn't believe that, however. The most powerful demigod of his time, cozying up in his old home? With his family so close? Additional information would have to be retrieved.
Xerxes resisted the temptation to check his gear. Everything was as it should be, as it always was. Taking his eyes off the site was a mistake others made. His patience was to be tested here. He could be here all afternoon.
And he was.
By the time it was dark enough for stars, his mood was dampened a bit. He made his way to the fire escape. He descended quickly but silently. The street was a little more than halfway empty. Too many eyes for Xerxes to sabotage the Prius. But maybe he could set a little trap, just in case.
He walked quickly; anyone looking would see a worker trying to get home to the warmth. What he would do required timing and precision, luckily not too much stealth. He dug into his tunic, pulling out an imperial gold wire and two attached hooks.
Didn't look like much, but its strength was Rhinoceros could be decapitated with this thin wire.
As he walked, he threw it forward, wrapping it around the wheel axle of the car behind the Prius, then in another fluid motion the back wheel of the older blue car.
Nearly invisible, no one would see it. Especially not a panicked mother.
Xerxes ducked down an alley. He pulled out a gel-like cylinder. Sending a current into it, it briefly glowed bright red. If any mortal looked at it directly, they would be drawn to it like moths. No one answered the call: No witnesses. Xerxes scurried up the ladder, making only the slightest noises.
The rooftop access was a mere nuisance. Then he was descending a dark stairway. A spell would consume too much power. He uncorked a bottle and drained a clear liquid. All became defined: the stairs, the rails, the stains on the walls. Halfway down, he slipped through the door and emerged into the third floor hallway. The shady lighting didn't clash with the effects of the potion, a benefit of using harpies.
Apartment 25, 27, 29, 31. Xerxes stopped there, all the way at the end of the hallway. He leaned in. No noise inside.
His hand wrapped around the hilt of his blade. Slowly, he unsheathed it, holding it in front of him. The blade was specifically designed for hunting demigods. As such, it glowed whenever god blood was near. It was not glowing now.
Cursing silently, he sheathed it. A simple spell silenced the hinges. He worked lockpicking magic and opened the door. No lights were on. Everything was quiet.
The place was very organized. All was clean. A stack of boxes were integrated seamlessly into the corner of the room: diapers, wipes, clothes, toys. Sally Jackson liked to prepare.
Xerxes made his way towards the hallway leading to the rooms. Three of them. He silenced the hinges on the first door and swung it open. His night vision proved valuable in identifying Percy Jackson's treasured items. Nothing valuable to Xerxes, however.
Nothing, he thought, but this. A shirt of his. He tucked it away. Emerging, he tried the second room. A bathroom.
The last door swung open without noise.
There they were. Paul and Sally, sleeping peacefully. Sally on her side, one hand on her baby bump. Xerxes would have placed a sleep spell on Paul Blofis and probed Sally's mind for what he needed.
But the Gelu commanded a different fate.
His thrust planted Messorem savagely into Paul's heart, killing him instantaneously. Sally bolted upright. The sight of her husband's new weapon sheath was perhaps enough to drive her to insanity. Xerxes' hand slapped her mouth, holding it shut. He was on top of her, holding her down. He drew a smaller blade, a dagger and held it up.
"Keep screaming and your baby dies." He said softly.
Sally's hysterical sobs ceased instantly, though her tears and shaking continued. Sticking the hilt between his teeth, he placed a hand on her forehead and began his work.
He quickly searched her mind, looked everywhere for any clue pointing towards Percy Jackson. Her consciousness was a faint presence. Her rational thinking was all but erased, he could feel. Not quite insane but so very close to the brink. He knew what push was required.
Only an address swam up from her memories. A starting point.
Xerxes released his mental hold on her. Still dazed from the mental intrusion, still blinded by tears, she did not see him grab the blade. She did not see ever again.
Xerxes let his breath out. His job done, he stood, yanking Messorem from the corpse. He cleaned it off with the bed covers. He paused at the door, tossing a jar of greek fire onto the bed. A fireball spell and the flames began to remove the evidence. He quickly made his way to the entrance, locking it back up.
Retracing his steps, he was a block away when the first signs of a fire emerged and two before sirens began. A small parking garage was further down and a black Ford waited for him.
5 minutes more and he was driving away to Percy Jackson's new suite.
Let me know what you think! I enjoy feedback.
I update every Monday and Friday. From here on out, chapters will have larger word counts. These first two were to set the tone and introduce characters.
Don't die from corona. :)