A/N: This story, along with the separate fic 'Reading the Lightning Thief', will be updated every Thursday. Go to my (unfinished) profile to see the full update/posting days list.

Leo groaned quietly and shifted in his sleep. Something felt off, but not enough to rouse him from his slumber. He was too deep in his wonderful dream to care for much else other than what he was experiencing.

It was nice. He was living a happy, normal life in a nice, normal home cooking up his delicious chicken fajitas that his mamá used to make for him as a child. He even found himself singing the same tune his mother would always sung to him while she cooked, worked, and put him to sleep.

"Duérmete mi niño, duérmete mi amor," Leo heard the front door open, but thought nothing of it as he continued cooking and singing softly, "duérmete pedazo de mi corazón." Two steps of footsteps approached the kitchen, heavier steps almost blocking out the lighter ones, but Leo could tell.

"Leo?" Such a familiar and delicate voice called out. "We're home."

"Este niño mío que nació de noche, quiere que lo lleve a pasear en coche." The Latino reached up on tip toes to try and grab a couple plates, his apron that he just noticed he was wearing caught on a drawer and pulled him back down. Stronger, more muscled arms reached around and above him to grab three plates from the cabinet for him.

A deeper voice than the previous spoke up. "Keep singing while you finish up." Leo, still not looking at the familiar, yet oh so far away couple, continued with his lullaby.

"Este niño mío que nació de día, quiere que lo lleve a la dulcería. Duérmete mi niño, duérmete mi amor," he began plating their food, already knowing exactly how much to put on the two mystery people's plates. "Duérmete pedazo de mi corazón." He ended the song and turned to finally see who he was so feeding.

Only...no one was there. The kitchen was empty of all except him and Leo felt involuntary tears begin trailing down his cheeks. There was only one plate in his hands, instead of him balancing three and the pretty and spacious kitchen was gone, replaced by a cramped, filthy one while his food was gone and just a few burnt pieces of toast remained on his cracked plate.

What was going on?

His dream was shifting, spiraling out and tormenting him. He was alone, just like he always had been.

The plate slipped from Leo's hands in slow motion and shattered on the ground around his feet. The fire stepped back, stumbling and falling back against the counter. The darkness was encroaching upon him, dark tendrils wrapping around his wrists and ankles. Leo screamed and jerked away, but they held fast and continued entwining him in their dark coils.

"Mine. All mine. You're never leaving my pretty birdy."

Leo screamed just as the darkness swarmed into his mouth, choking him and sucking their air from his lungs.

-Break-

Leo woke up with a scream dying on his lips and scratching at his skin, his nails leaving angry, red welts in their wake. It was still pitch black out from what Leo could tell as he peered through the windows. He was alone, too, it seemed like as Zander was no where to be seen. Shaking and still reeling from his dream, Leo stood and began his exploration of his so-called savior's home.

He still couldn't find Zander though and Leo felt uneasy as he walked through the dark hall.

Shivers ran up and down Leo's spine as he reached to open a door, thinking it was the bathroom.

Oh, Leo was beyond mistaken.

A/N2: The lullaby Leo sings is called 'Duermete mi niño'.