Ilana lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her heart was heavy. Her eyes filled with tears. She hadn't slept in a long time, not daring to close her eyes for fear of the nightmares.
She didn't want to see them again. More specifically, she didn't want to see him again.
Jordan. Being killed, maimed, tortured. All because of her.
But maybe, just maybe, tonight could be different. Maybe no nightmares.
She sat up and turned, flopping back into her little pile of pilows and blankets she slept in. To make sure that no matter how she woke up screaming, she work up screaming into a pillow or blanket.
She pilled her New York Jets blanket tight around her, willing it to give her some warmth. And shut her eyes. If she could relax, just relax...
Sna-p! SNAP!
She heard a sound. Her eyes flew open, and all thought of sleep was pushed back as her muscles tightend. Her heart pounded. Her vision grew sharper. Her could fell adrenilne coursing through her veins.
Slowly, she sat up. Careful so as not to make the bed creak. She slowly grabbed her knife, willing her hands to be steady.
She said a silent prayer to Lord Mars, the Roman God of War. Willing him to be merciful and bless her with strength and guile.
She heard her window creak as the screen from the outside was removed. She heard a soft hiss that she did not recognize. She heard her window slide open silently. Strange, her window ALWAYS squeaked. But she had no time to think about that.
She heard a clatter, and took that time to perch herself on the small window ledge.
She saw someone begin to climb through. She waited for them to get in partially, enough that a simple nudge would topple them over,
She struck. She moved quickly, and pushed the intruder over the window ledge. But she lost her balence as well. The two of them fell to the floor in a heap of arms and legs. Ilana recovered first. Twirling her knife in her hand and bringing across the intruders neck, not enought to sut. But enough to threaten. The intruder responded with a kick to the side of Ilana's head. Ilana toppled over, her eyes watering.
Ilana let her body take over to fight. She reclaled the tricks that Billy had taught her.
When they go to punch you in the face, block, then punch them in the stomach while they are open.
The assilent lunged, and moved forward to her in the face. Ilana's arm came up and blocked. Her other arm punched the assailent's stomach. So hard, Ilana heard a gasp and felt a concave.
Then Ilana was grabbed from behind and yanked off the girl. Arms wrapped around her, pulling her up then off.
Ilana pitched her legs forward then back, slamming them into the legs of whoever was holding her.
The other assailent cried out then dropped Ilana. Ilana landed on the balls of her feet, and turned. She was grabbed and pushed to the ground by the assailent she had punched in the stomach. She felt a knee in the back of her neck.
"Calm down runt!" came a hiss form above her. "We aren't here to hurt you!"
"Really?" Ilana said, her voice dripping with sarcsem. "Never would have guessed!"
"Well then that knocks one off the list." laughed another voice. "No way you could be Athena, not sharp enough."
The light went on and Ilana got a look at the people who had come through the window.
The girl that was on top of her rolled off.
"Recognize us?" she asked, slightly cockey.
Ilana did, near instantaniously.
Piper McLean, and Annabeth Chase.