Chapter 3: Cosplay Hades Pays For My Room

"Now where is that troublesome Death boy!" He says. I stare at him. Who is this Death Boy and why does he seem like my type of friend? My answer was given as soon as a pale emo boy falls from the sky. I like this kid already, he made a beautiful entrance.

"10 out of 10 points, spectacular landing." I say to him.

"Tch" He says to me and scowls. Then he looks at Leo? Yeah that's his name. "Your stupid magic blocking shield made the shadows disorientated. I ended up in China...again. "

"Sorry not sorry Death boy." Leo says.

"Don't call me that" Emo boy says. I like him, he reminds me of a certain cosplaying boy..

*FLASHBACK*

Of course on this very day it had to rain. All I wanted was a nice day so I could find a place to live. My parents thought it was a good idea to leave a baby girl, also known as Moi, on the streets by herself. Luckily for me, a pack of wolves took me in and raised me as one of their own. The pack leader's name was Lupa, a very caring mother. She taught me everything I needed to know like reading, writing, how money works, how to fight, how to read people, and most importantly, how to give the best death glare. She told me I was very important to the Gods, but I didn't believe her. If I was so important to these gods, why am I on the streets? After I was taught everything, she told me that I needed to learn the mortal world. She sent me off with a that came from my mom, and one piece of advice. 'Go to the city that never sleeps'. From searching on the ever so helpful Google, I have figured out that Lupa wants me to go to New York. Well I started in California, and now I'm in Nevada. Only like ten more states to travel through… brilliant.

Anyways, I need a place to stay the night. I walk past a place called the Lotus Hotel and Casino. Maybe there's something interesting in there. Right as I'm about to walk in somebody yells "Don't go in!" I turn around to see a boy, about my age. He has messy black hair that compliments his dark eyes. They have a certain glint to them that shows he's a lot more than just a regular kid. His skin is faded, it looks as if he had the life sucked out of him. His clothing seems to have the common theme of black and skulls, excluding the aviator jacket that seems way too big on his slim figure. On his finger is a silver skull ring. Lastly he holds a blade black as night. Actually scratch that. The night sky is dotted with bright lights, full of glory. They connect to make constellations that tell a meaningful story, or represent an important event. His blade looks like the shadows themselves, giving off an unsettling aura. Overall... he's pretty good looking actually, despite his menacing aura, oh that's another trick I learned from Lupa, how to read auras.. But trust me, I'm not about to go and obsess over boys, it's a waste of time

"And why can I not enter this building?" I ask

"You shouldn't," He says.

"Uh I'm kinda on the run, and this seems like a fine establishment to spend the night," I reply.

"Please, you won't just stay just the night there." He scoffs.

"Care to elaborate?" I say while giving him a mischievous smirk. He seems to scan me, to see whether or not I'm worthy of this information.

"No." He says with a matching smirk. Great now I'm curious.

"Awe, don't you want to help a poor little girl like me out?" I say with the most sarcastic innocent smile ever. "There's got to be a good reason for me not to stay in this hotel."

"Yes, but you should just trust me enough to stay out of there."

"Would you trust a random boy that just told you not to go into a nice looking hotel?"

"...No"

"Then why should I?"

"Because"

"Geez sass much?"

"Look who's talking"

"Touche" He looks at me with a mad glint in his eye and holds out his hand.

"Follow me" Man he really expects me to trust him. I really don't trust him, but I've got nothing better to do. I grab his hand. Huh, it's cold, just like mine. He looks slightly surprised that I'm so cold, but I've never been a warm person, in personality or body temperature. He takes me to smaller hotel, not as nice looking but it has more of a friendly atmosphere. He walks up to the front desk and says "A room for two." The lady there looks at him crazy, probably because he is too young to live on his own. Or maybe its because he didn't say please, who knows, but she gives him a key and we walk into the designated room. He gestures for me to sit down on a bed.

"Good, now that we solved the problem of you needing a place to stay, I'll explain why you shouldn't go into that hotel." he says.

"Okay"

"That hotel, The Lotus Hotel and Casino, once you enter you won't come out in the time expected. When you enter, there are games, food, everything that keep you entertained."

"That doesn't sound that bad" I say.

"No, it's bad. It's horrible. The time you are in there is so much more than you think. For example, you could think you've been in there for 3 hours, when in reality it's been a week."

"Oh" I know, most intelligent thing to say ever. But what do expect? A random kid just came up to me and told me this.

"I was stuck in there for a long time. I was actually born in the 1930's." He says. I pretend to look unfazed but dang, that means he's like 80 years old. He looks at me curiously, like I'm a science experiment.

"I'm surprised, you aren't completely mind-blown" He says with a smirk. Man, he smirks a lot.

"Well I am a little surprised, I mean you don't look eighty." I admit.

"You don't age when you're inside"

"Makes sense I suppose"

"You're just gonna believe me instantly?"

"I'm bored anyways so why not" I say. I mean I was raised by a talking wolf. Things aren't that surprising anymore.

"That's really idiotic of you"

"Says the one who brought a random girl into a hotel room."

"Well I guess we could talk, and we won't be random people"

"Okay"

"Nico di Angelo, at your service. I lived in Bar Harbor, Maine at a military school for a while until I moved to New York. While living there my sister died, leaving me alone with a father that barely knows me and no mother. I ran away and now am resting in a hotel with a girl I don't know." He says. Man that sucks, losing his sister. He seems unfazed about the whole experience, but I look into his eyes and I see a lot of pain and sadness. He's like me, he grew up too fast.

"Wow, very blunt"

"Yup"

"I can tell you really loved your sister"

"Yeah, my heart broke when she died, but the past is the past and you move on."

"Very mature"

"Yup, now it's your turn"

"Fine, My name is Skyla Oshwin, I was abandoned as a baby. I was left on the streets. A wolf pack came upon me, and took me in. The leader Lupa taught me everything I need to know. A little while ago she told me to experience this world. She sent me off with my necklace that was left with me and one piece of advice. 'Go to the city that never sleeps' and so I'm heading to your old home New York." I also say very bluntly. His eyes seem to widen as I tell my story.

"Hmm interesting, well I would enroll in a school there, to decrease suspicion of a girl being homeless, assuming you don't want to go into the foster care system."

"No foster homes for me"

"I'm pleasantly surprised that you trust me to stay in this hotel instead of the other nicer looking one."

"Oh I don't trust you whatsoever, the only reason I'm staying here is because you paid
for it" He looks at me skeptically, but doesn't press.

"Well it was nice meeting you Skyla, perhaps we will meet again."

"Perhaps, but just one question."

"Yes?"

"Why do you carry a sword with you?"

"Uh, I'm cosplaying." He states. He totally looks like he's lying.

"Sure, who are you then?"

"I'm Hades"

"A teen Hades?"

"Yup"

"Okay then"

"Now I must be off"

"Later" I say as he walks out the door. Suddenly he turns back.

"Actually before I go, if you run into any trouble…" He takes out a bracelet. It's silver with a blue gem as the centerpiece. "Just press the gem in the middle" I look at him like he's crazy, but I do like the bracelet.

"Thanks I guess"

"You're welcome, I guess" He says with a smirk. He walks out of the room and hopefully heads down to the front desk and pays for the room.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

I give him one good look over. Messy black hair… check! Dark eyes… check! Pale skin… check! Black clothes with skull… check! Aviator jacket… check! Skull ring… check! And last but not least, his black sword… check! Well it seems to be him, only one way to find out.

"Long time no see di Angelo! No messages, no letters, no nothing! And wipe that scowl off your face, that's not a proper way to greet an old friend!" I say in the most mocking voice possible. He looks at me one more time like 'what the heck?' as I give him my hand to help him up. On my wrist is the one and only bracelet he gave me oh so long ago. A light bulb goes off in his head as he smirks.

"Well it has been a while Miss Oshwin"