Sometimes I wish I was Rylin…
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The cold dead eyes glared at me, and I snarled right back. The brick wall was hard against my back, and that meant no escape.
Too bad for him.
I drew Aryryn, anxious to finish the monster off. My sword gleamed in the dim light, and I saw the fear flickering in the monster's eyes. Its claws clicking against the pavement, it tried to decide what it wanted more-life or to fill its empty stomach. Finally the glazed look was replaced by a cunning glint in its eye, the resolve.
To kill me.
I waved at it eagerly. "Come and get it, butthead."
It snorted angrily, steam pouring out its nostrils. It charged me, throwing up its horns at my face. I jumped, pushing my legs against the wall in an inhuman leap over its head, the tip of the right horn scratching a thin line down my arm. It skidded to a stop, but not before I had shoved its butt.
He ended up with his head under a couple tons of bricks.
Mist seeped up out of the body, collecting in a whirlwind around me. The body dissipated, and I was left staring at an empty alley.
I glanced down at the scratch on my arm. It was only a faint pink line, thanks to the demigod side of me. I sheathed Aryryn, and examined the collapsed wall with a trace of proud accomplishment.
I took a deep breath. "You can come out now, guys."
A couple of kids scurried out from behind a dumpster. In the lead was a blonde boy with sparkling, mischievous blue eyes. A girl with dark hair and another boy followed, an exact replica of the older boy.
"What's your names?" I asked quietly.
"I'm Max, that's Alyssa and Ben." The older boy said. I looked him full in the eyes, examining the soul inside. His aura shone like a beacon, and I finally understood why monsters stalked him so relentlessly. He was a son of Zeus, the only one I had ever seen.
The younger boy's face was shining with innocence, and I glanced quickly into his aura, surprised at the pureness of it all. His eyes watched me almost gently. He could only be another son of Zeus.
The girl he had called Alyssa looked at me, and I almost winced at the darkness swirling in her aura. She looked to be about seven years old, but she was full of ancient power. One of her pitch black eyes winked at me.
"You're a daughter of Hades," I murmured.
"So?" I heard the challenging note in her voice. Max turned his head and met her eyes.
"She saved us, Lyss. You could be a little nicer."
She laughed, her voice trilling bitterly. "I have a long memory, Max."
"They aren't your memories, but your father's. You have nothing to fear from me." I said solemnly.
"So you say," Alyssa replied.
"It's true, Lyss. She's telling the truth," Ben spoke up for the first time. His voice was like pealing bells, and his eyes were linked to mine. I felt completely insignificant.
"If you say so, Ben." she said, looking bored.
"We've told you our names; now what's yours?" Max asked.
"Rylin. But I'm known as Ryley." Alyssa nodded appreciatively. Ben and Max looked at each other.
"Nice to meet you, Ryley." Max said secretively. "You'll join us, right? We need-"
"Of course," I interrupted.
We turned to the mouth of the alley, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.
Of course, to my eight-year-old mind, I didn't realize the significance of what had just happened, and the impact it would have on the fate of the world. I didn't think of the power that we had, or how really poorly we were defended.
It's my turn to protect you.
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Flashback time! If you R&R you can be my best friend...