Melina grinned at Echo, Nolan, and Mercury, "How was your first day?"
Echo just grinned back. She had never loved school so much. Being with her friends, the specialized lessons, the good lunches…it was all perfect. Plus they were all demigods or related to demigods, so everyone related to monster problems.
Mercury sighed happily, "This is so cool. I mean, I miss my parents, but getting to be here with everyone is awesome. And I don't have to try and explain that I'm dyslexic to all of my teachers, again."
Melina nodded, "Right? Especially when you get good grades because then they don't believe you."
Gareth jogged over, "Echo, I told your father I'd walk you and the twins home."
"Alright, I'm coming." She quickly hugged Mel, "See you guys tomorrow!"
"See you!" Mel turned back to talking to Linus.
Echo followed Gareth to the sidewalk. It was the perfect first day back to school, especially after such a long summer. She would have sword lessons on Tuesdays after normal classes. Archery on Wednesdays. Her summer had been wonderful—Hawaii, the twins' birthday, her trip to Camp with her Papa. It had all been picture perfect, though it felt like all the pictures were missing something. Someone.
"Hey, can we stop by Dad's practice on the way?" Ana asked, grinning, "We made candy in our culinary class."
Aurora smirked, getting a sort of devilish look, "Mine blew up."
Echo shook her head, "That makes you way too happy."
Ana rolled her eyes, "Well,mine turned out. I want to take some to Dad."
"I think he'd like that. And it is on our way." Echo looked at Gareth to confirm.
Gareth shrugged, "Sure, as long as I can taste it."
Ana pulled out a bag and offered it to him.
He pulled out some bright red candies and popped one in his mouth. "Mmm, cherry."
Ana made a face, "You sure they're good?"
He laughed, "Ana, it's great. Seriously, you could sell these."
Ana grinned, "Thank you."
"Come on, at this rate we'll never get home in time." Aurora groaned, pushing Ana a bit.
They all started walking, goofing around, talking about their classes. The teachers.
Echo had Percy for English, Mr. Pace for Chemistry, Uncle Austin for music, and then some other half-blood adults that she hadn't met until today. Papa would be her art teacher. He worked in the mornings because he liked having lunch with Dad, and then go home to work on illustrations and make dinner. It was a a woman named Emily Powers who taught the culinary classes, and she had talked at some length this Dad and Papa. She wondered if she would hear what that was about later.
"Travis and Riley are coming over tonight." Echo reminded her sisters.
Rory grinned, "I love it when Riley is over! He…" Her face fell.
"Reminds you of Declan. I get that. He reminds me of Declan too. There's definitely a resemblance." Gareth said, understanding.
We stopped at the clinic, going in. There were a couple patients in the waiting room, talking with Dad.
He glanced over and grinned, then continued his conversation with the patients.
The little girl was looking at Echo and her group with curious eyes as they settled on the other side of the room.
Echo smiled at her and waved.
The girl smiled back.
Echo could tell the girl was sick, very sick. She could also see that her Dad had done some healing on the girl, there was a sort of glow about the girl and Dad that Echo had started noticing after Dad healed people.
"Yes, they're my girls. I'm very proud of them." Dad replied to the woman, he was smiling at them.
Ana took that as her cue that it was safe to approach, "I brought some candies for you, Dad." She gave him the bag. "They're cherry."
Dad grinned, offering one to the women and tasting one himself. "Good job, Ana, they're great."
The little girl was grinning, "You made them?"
Ana nodded, "I did."
"They're really good."
Ana pulled out another bag, "Here, if your mom says its okay."
Her mom nodded, "Thank you, Doctor Solace."
"We'll see you in a couple days." He saw them out, then smiled at his kids and Gareth. "This is a welcome surprise." He tightly hugged Ana.
"Well, your clinic is on our way home, and Ana wanted to bring you those candies." Echo kissed his cheek. "And Aurora and I just love you."
Aurora nodded, "We don't need a reason."
Dad laughed, giving them all tight hugs. "You should get home. Your papa will be expecting you. Echo, can you pick up the DVD player from Gareth's dad?"
Echo nodded, "Yeah, once these two bozos are home I'll head over with Gareth."
He nodded and kissed her cheek, "Love you," he kissed Rory's cheek, "love you, and I love you." He finished by kissing Ana's cheek.
"Love you too." They chimed together, then followed Gareth out as another patient came in.
They went home.
Travis and Papa were sitting on the porch watching Riley play with a soccer ball.
Echo kissed her Papa's cheek, then caught Riley as he jumped into her arms and hugged him tightly. "Dad asked me to go get the DVD player."
Papa nodded, "Alright, I better check on dinner. You two had better go clean your room." He warned the twins.
"Daddy, can I go with Echo?" Riley asked, his eyes big and hopeful.
Travis looked at Echo to make sure she was okay with it.
She nodded.
"Alright, but you behave."
"Yes, daddy!" He gave Travis a quick hug and then took her hand and one of Gareth's.
The others went inside as Echo, Gareth and Riley walked to the Valdez' house. Riley was telling Echo about school, and that he was going to try out for the soccer team.
She was about to reply that that was awesome, when a van pulled up and a group of people in ski masks hopped out, taking Gareth by surprise with a baseball bat to the head.
"Run, Riley!" She went to pull her knife, but the people were fast.
One of them caught Riley.
Echo lashed out, managing to get out a scream before they overpowered her.
The last thing she remembered was her Papa and Travis yelling their names, and the van door closing as they sped away.