Kaie's eyes flew open. The concrete beneath her was warm.
She blinked, eyes searching for a window. Light streamed in through the dirt covered glass. The sun was well above the building. How long had she been unconscious?
She cussed and stood, thankful she hadn't lost her bag while porting. She had to be crazy to have ported in such shape.
She started to scold herself the stopped as her memory came back. Not crazy, just chased. They would find her soon.
She didn't know how but they would find a way. She had to force herself to keep moving. She exited the abandoned warehouse quickly, paying attention to her surroundings.
As she approach the street, a shadow fell ominously over her. It was close to noon. Where would...fuck!
Kaie flipped backwards, nerves humming with adrenaline. Of course it would be him.
It had only taken Nico a few hours. She was definitely here.
He shadow jumped, following the thread.
He landed and rolled, dispersing the extra energy from the shift. The city was busy around these few buildings but this small area was silent, broken only by hurried footsteps.
Running along the rooftop, roasting in the heat, Nico caught the sound, sure enough it was her. He couldn't stop himself from grinning. This new talent was coming in handy.
The girl had only a backpack with her. The knives she had used in the alley against the lamia were no where to be seen. Could she be foolish enough to have left them in the bag?
She stopped, tense as if she felt him watching. He knew he had to move before she disappeared again so he jumped off the roof.
She flipped backward with a lethal grace, he missed by an inch.
Instead of immediately disappearing, she pulled one of the elegant knifes from the small of her back.
Stupid Nico. Real Stupid.
How had he not considered a back sheath hidden by the jacket she wore? He could tell she wasn't the type to go anywhere unarmed, the number of knives in her apartment backed his hypothesis up.
Why else would she wear leather jacket in this heat anyway. His stupidity was compounded when he realized he had done the same thing. Jacket, knives, the whole kit.
Kaie couldn't teleport out. She was too tired and ran the risk of teleporting herself into a wall or some other object. She was hard to kill but combining her molecules with those of say concrete would definitely do it. Stupid laws of nature.
Still, this son of Hades was most directly responsible for this mess. Kaie wondered how he was tracking her. The mark made it impossible for the Gods themselves to follow her.
What was so special about this one demigod? She would have answers and if they came with a little blood and sweat, all the better.
Nico was surprised when she didn't teleport away. She must be limited like he was.
He surprised himself by trying diplomacy first. "The Gods want to talk to you. I don't know what you did and I don't really give a shit but I'm stuck with the job of bringing you back to Olympus."
She was silent. "Just come quietly." Great. He sounded like a character straight of a bad cop TV show. "They brought in everyone. Hunters, campers, you can't run." She stayed silent. If looks could kill, Nico would be long gone.
He felt like he was in a bad cowboy movie. Two people at opposite ends of an alley. Tense and ready to fight, interrupted only by the wind. All that was missing were the tumbleweeds.
The woman was still, her weight balanced on the balls of her feet, body positioned to limit the surface area he could hit.
Nico pulled out a long hunting knife from his boot. If she wanted a fight, she would get one.
She lunged first, her knife sliding through the air that filled the space his head had occupied a heartbeat ago. Gods she was fast!
Nico surprised himself in letting out a half laugh. He hadn't had a good fight outside of sparring with Percy in a while. This could actually be fun.
She slashed, he dodged. He moved forward, she moved back. It was a strange dance but fitting of two such similar people. Not that either one realized this yet.
Sweat soaked Kaie's clothing. Her jacket was too much in the heat but it was the only one capable of concealing the small arsenal hidden on her person. What had been a boon in past years now impeded her movement, slowing her down. The only positive was that the son of Hades was in the same position.
She was distracted, Nico took the advantage and slid. His boot hit her knee and he heard a sharp crunch as she fell forward.
She rolled with the hit admirably though, pulling him down with her. They fell, bodies hitting the asphalt hard.
Her elbow connected with his face, snapping his head back. Nico's resolved solidified.
This needed to end. Now. It didn't matter if he couldn't take another shadow jump.
He simply had to. He grabbed for her neck, fingers grazing her skin as their eyes met. Anger and adrenaline mixing in both gazes. The world around them dissolved.
A shockwave ripped through the air. They fell, limbs flailing. Nico's back hit sand, two ribs bruising a moment later when she landed on top of him, unconscious.
Nico knew he had to get her cuffed now, before she teleported again but the second he tried to move, darkness enveloped him.
Hours Later:
Nico stared up at a very, very blue sky. Three small dots circled above him, where they buzzards? He groaned and began to sit up, freezing when he realized that the red head was still unconscious and lying on him.
If he was a gentleman he wouldn't use the time to his advantage. Thankfully he was the son of the Greek god of the underworld and definitely not a gentleman.
She she wasn't being rude, slamming doors in his face, or attacking him she was actually rather hot. Nico sighed, and reminded himself of his priorities. He needed to get this mess cleaned up. He moved stiffly, ribs reminding him of the crash landing.
Sorry it has taken me longer than usual to get this up. Life was being troublesome. Thanks for everyone who has read and reviewed. Please continue to do so. S I didn't know how much it meant to a writer till I started posting this story. Any feedback is helpful.
Next Chapter: Kaie and Nico take a walk that ends with tequila. What could go wrong? :D