A cruel smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. There was a glint of something dark in the girl's cold blue eyes.
Most wouldn't attempt to chase this girl - her harsh expressions scaring off most who dared to approach. Some days, she got the chance to lure someone into the dark and twisted Alleys of which she ruled.
Today was one of those days.
The girl was running - not that fast, she didn't want the three guys to loose her in the crowd that edged away from the shadows of her Alleys.
Finally, she skid to a stop. It was evening, the sun was setting, making the skyline turn a mixture of colors. The street she'd stopped at was best know as The Entrance, and children were taught at a young age to avoid The Entrance after dark, lest the Huntress grab you while your young.
But that was ridiculous. The Huntress didn't like to take children, she took those in under her wing whom didn't have parents or who had nowhere to go.
Besides, were those even children?
She heard a yell from the men trailing her, and when she looked back she saw the sign of the Ares Kingdom.
The Huntress smirked. This would be good - as she backed into the shadows that most in Kingdom of Zeus avoided, still smirking, she could see the hesitation on the mens faced. Everyone in Olympia's 12 Kingdoms knew of what lurked in the Alleys.
For instance, even someone from Poseidon's Kingdom could come to visit during the Summer Solstice and stay away from what reached for those in the shadows.
It was mostly The Huntress who went out hunting, though, but those who she saw as her sisters rather than her children helped to back her up during the final staged of her hunt.
Speaking of the final stages, The Huntress could feel her sister's presence behind her. The stood silent, unseen, waiting.
The three Ares Children (they were always their children, always pawns of the Kings and Queens) entered the alley way, albeit rather nervously. Their leader raised his sword, the metal shining in the darkness.
The alley was thin, but long, and as they entered the mouth of the alley with The Huntress nearly the doorway, the Ares Men really couldn't see her.
So, she called out in a child's voice:
Ring around the rosy,
She let out a giggle, practically hearing the shit-eating grins on her sister's faces while she continued the eerily creepy song with them adding their voices into the mix.
Pockets full of posy,
Ashes, Ashes, we all...
Her voice grew faint, giggling again in a sinister voice as she and her sisters watched the children of the King of War look around crazily, swords raised high - but not well.
So, carefully, she pulled the dagger she always had with her from her boot, knowing that her sisters would follow her lead.
Fall down,
She finished with the four girls behind her, and threw her dagger at the ring leader.
Their shrieks echoed down the almost tunnel-like alley, but all of the daggers missed.
Better to scare them then to wound them and leave a mess.
(-)
It took a while for the warriors to calm down - if that was the right word. When they did, however, they approached closer to where The Huntress stood.
"HEY!" The leader yelled. "I heard some bitches lived here, is that true?"
In a moment, the three guys went from feeling confident to being very, very in over their heads.
Annabeth took the right, grabbing one man's arm firmly. Her bone sword shone white against his dark neck.
Reyna took the left, her own weapon digging into the other goon's skin.
Her other two sisters, Piper and Hazel, took the back, guarding the exit. Archers emerged from the surrounding two buildings, bows taunt and arrows ready as they leaned out the windows.
The Huntress smiled her smile, blue eyes shining with mirth. She took three steps forward before reaching her arm out, skin pale and nearly glowing out in the darkness.
Her fingers gripped the ring leader's chin, forcing him to look up at her. She was taller than him, and with a flick of her wrist the man's sword was thrown into the small amount of brush and leaves the alley had to offer.
"Do you know who I am?"
The clear, nearly melodic voice split through the tense, almost evil silence.
"Princess Thalia," The man whispered, shivering.
"Why did you venture into my kingdom?"
"To challenge The Huntress, Princess."
"And who is The Huntress?" She asked, digging her red painted pointer finger into the man's cheek, left hand still gripping his chin. The pale mark it left made a lightning bolt.
"You, Princess Thalia."
Thalia, the daughter of Zeus, smiled briefly. It wasn't a happy smile, it was cold and evil and sharp.
"Bring them to the chambers." She said, releasing the man. The Huntress backed up, nodding to Piper as she came to lead the foolish, foolish man into their sprawling mess of a kingdom. "Annabeth, Reyna, you watch them. Hazel, Piper, find our brothers. It's time we have a talk.
...I'm tired, okay?