Familiar Face

The ride only lasted about half an hour but in that time Skylar managed to tell five awful jokes, embarrass Nico by making hearts for him out of sunlight and recited a few of her father's awful Haikus much to everyone's despair. So when they finally stopped in the mall parking lot it was a relief. Naomi gives each of the kids a bit of money, although Isaac and Nico were hesitant, as they walked inside the large shopping center. First they would grab some lunch at the food court then do a bit of shopping. Skylar grabs Nico's hand before they walk inside. Something's been bugging her since they first got in the car.

"What does your sword look like to mortals?" She questions the dark-haired boy gesturing to the weapon clipped to his jeans.

"It tends to vary depending on how thick the mist is. I'm not really sure." Nico shrugs.

"I see." Tugging on his hand Skylar leads him back to the others who stopped to wait for them. She bites her bottom lip in thought. For now the mist should hide it and she couldn't ask him to leave it in the car. Maybe she could use that if needed but hoped it would not be required. It was still in the experimental phase. Her body moves slightly closer to Nico as the crowds around their small group starts to thicken. They maneuver through the surprisingly busy mall and arrive at the food court.

"It's like the whole city is here today." Isaac complains rubbing his side where someone accidentally elbowed him.

"There isn't a holiday and it is a school day. Maybe there's a big sale going on?" Will suggests as they get in line for some food.

"That could be. You kids stick together alright? I don't want you getting separated." Ms. Solace tells the kids. After finding out what everyone wanted she pays for the food and they snag a booth in the corner of the food court just big enough for them. Halfway through their meal Skylar notices Nico just poking at his barely touched food.

"If you don't like it we can get you something else." She nudges him gently nodding at his plate.

"No it's fine I'm just not that hungry." Nico mumbles pushing his plate away.

Skylar puffs out her cheeks in protest. "There's no way you can't be. You barely ate any dinner last night and missed breakfast." She picks up his fork twirling a bit of pasta onto it and held it toward his mouth. "Now open up Ghost King."

Nico's cheeks flush and he turns his head away from the food. "S-Stop it. I told you I'm not hungry."

"Nico. Eat the food or so help me I'll have Will hold you down and force feed you." Skylar's expression hardens, her blue eyes darting to her brother then back to Nico.

"Honey you can't just force someone to eat something they don't want." Naomi calmly tells her daughter from across the table.

"Y-Yeah. Ms. Solace is right you can't." Nico tells Skylar crossing his arms over his chest. Her blue eyes twinkle at the now issued challenge. She moves close to Nico leaning her face dangerously closer to his.

"Challenge accepted."

That ladies and gentlemen is how Ni di Angelo learned how forceful the Solace twins could be together.

Naomi tells the kids to have fun while she caught up with a friend. They agree to meet up at the fountain in two hours before parting ways. Grumbling to himself Nico trudged behind Isaac and the Solace twins. After the events that transpired at lunch he refused to walk anywhere near Skylar or Will. Instead he chose to walk by himself. His chocolate brown eyes watched the other shoppers walking by, his hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets. He hated crowds. They made him feel trapped. Why anyone would willingly walk through herds of people to buy clothes he'd never understand. What happened to the good old family markets where everyone knew each other by first names?

Skylar was going through a similar situation not too far away from him. Her hand unknowingly reaches out to grip the back of her brother's shirt. Will glances back at her, his eyes softening in realization. He motions for Isaac to follow as he leads Skylar to an area with less people. His sister's breathing became faster. Being around a large group of campers was one thing. Walking through a mall full of strangers was another. She couldn't shake the feeling a monster could attack at any moment. Things had been too quiet since they left for camp. No monster sightings whatsoever.

"Sky, just breathe." Will whispers placing his hands on her shoulders. He mimics the breathing exercises they learned from reading medical books. Skylar slowly begins to follow along breathing in sync with him. "Easy...good."

"What's going on?" Nico asks having noticed the trio stopped.

"Skylar doesn't do well in large crowds. She's usually fine walking close to someone but with this many people..." The son of Apollo trails off focusing back on his sister. Her breathing began to even out but her ocean eyes still looked frantic. Nico steps up beside Will placing a hand under her chin and shifting her focus onto him.

"Thinking about it will only cause you to panic further. Focus on me. Listen to my voice. I won't let anything happen to you." He tells her sternly. Skylar nods slightly at the son of Hades. Lightly tapping Will's hand with her own she silently thanks him.

"I-I'm okay." Her voice comes out quiet. Nico laces his fingers with hers giving them a gentle squeeze. He may still be mad about earlier but she needed support.

"How about we head into a store? Maybe doing a bit of shopping will distract you." Isaac's green eyes light up at the chance to buy a few new items. Will agrees and they set off into a clothing store Isaac insisted they visit. Instantly Isaac goes over to a rack of clothing filled with nothing but knitted sweaters. Will sets his sights on a table with folded tank tops but glances back at Skylar.

"You sure you're alright? If it gets to be too much we can just find mom and head home." He frowns his eyebrows furrowed.

"I'm fine Will. If anything happens I have Nico with me. Go ahead and look around." Skylar shooed him away walking to inspect a few blouses that caught her eye. In reality she hated having them worry about her. She thought she was over her crowd anxiety but the gods had other plans apparently. Shifting through the different colored shirts she tries striking up a conversation with Nico.

"I'm sure you're still mad about me forcing you to eat but I have something to give you when we get home." Nico acknowledges her words but chooses not to say anything. Pulling a few articles of clothing off the rack she drapes them over her arm with the intent to purchase them.

"Come on Nico. I'm just worried about your health. You're basically just skin and bones at this point." She prods his cheek gently with her finger.

"Has it ever crossed your mind that maybe I don't want your help? Just a minute ago you were a step away from a panic attack. Worry about yourself for once in your life!" His voice raises slightly drawing the attention of a few shoppers.

"Ahh...right sorry. I'll just go pay for these. Be right back." Skylar trudges away leaving Nico to internally kick himself.

"Nice going Nico you just yelled at your girlfriend for caring about you." He mutters moving to wait by the entrance for Skylar to return. A few minutes pass by and instead of the blonde girl he's greeted by Isaac and Will both holding shopping bags.

"Yo Nico, you didn't find anything?" Isaac questions looking at his empty hands. Nico shakes his head glancing back into the store for any sign of Skylar.

"Sis is still shopping huh? We're gonna head across to the shoe store if you guys want to meet us there." Will points to a shoe store not too far away from them. The son of Hades gives him a slight nod indicating he would. Isaac tugs Will toward the store rambling about how he saw sneakers with his favorite video game characters in the window.

Nico shuts his eyes groaning to himself. He should be out finding answers about his mother not galavanting around a shopping mall like a bunch of teenage girls. No offense to his girlfriend intended. So far he had no leads on what happened to her and his father was no help. Even the memories of his departed mother were too foggy to even comprehend. Talking to Bianca gave him no new information. She only told him to give up on finding the answer. It's almost as if something or someone didn't want him to find the truth.

"Neeks? Hey Nico!" Skylar calls snapping her fingers in front of his face. She'd been standing in front of him for a few minutes now trying to get his attention. Whatever he was thinking about had his full attention. Well, drastic measures it is. Leaning down slightly she presses her lips against his feeling him jolt from the sudden contact. Pulling away she rests her forehead on his watching as he comes back to earth. His cheeks flare up at the public display of affection.

"S-sky? When d-did you get back?" Nico stutters.

"A few minutes ago. You were way deep in thought so I did the only thing I could think of to snap you out of it. Everything okay?"

"Just tired. What took you so long in there?" He raises an eyebrow at her as she begins to fidget.

"I-I just had to put a few things back. Where'd Will and Isaac run off to?" Her blue eyes look around.

"They went to the shoe store over there." Nico points. Skylar follows his finger setting her sights across the way. Releasing a small hum she starts off in that direction swinging her shopping bag in one hand. The dark-haired boy follows after linking their pinky fingers together. She steers them both to a small store on the corner filled to the brim with everything a nerd could ever want. Nico's eyes light up at the sight of Mythomagic cards picking up a box in his hand and reading the back.

"Hm? What ya got there?" Skylar reads over his shoulder. "Mythomagic?"

"It contains a limited edition deck along with three ultra rare cards and the Titan expansion deck. I've heard of it but never actually seen it before." Nico says awestruck but shakes his head placing the box back on the shelf. That was all in the past. He didn't have time for games anymore when he was basically living it.

"You're not going to get it?"

"No. Can we just get out of here?" He asks shoving his hands in his pockets nodding toward the entrance.

"In a second I saw something over here I really want." Skylar bolts away weaving down the aisles bustling with merchandise and out of site. Nico sighs choosing to look at some action figures from a science fiction show he's never heard of before. Making sure Nico isn't anywhere near the Mythomagic section Skylar doubles back around picking up the box he'd been eyeing and sets it on the counter.

"That'll be $85.69." The store clerk dressed in a superhero shirt tells the young girl. Retrieving her wallet she counts out the dollar bills combining her money with what her mother gave her. Ninety. I won't have much left for anything else but Nico's worth it. Skylar slides the money over the counter and receives her change. The employee hands her the bag which she shoves into her bag along with the clothes she bought. Reaper lets out a displeased hiss before settling atop the merchandise.

"Sorry boy, it'll be a bit of a tight squeeze." She whispers thanking the employee and meeting up with Nico. "Alright, you ready to go?"

"I've been ready since we walked in."

Rolling her blue eyes at him she links arms with the protesting son of Hades heading off to the shoe store. Upon walking inside they didn't expect to see Isaac arguing with a salesperson over a pair of sneakers. Not just any sneakers. These had a cartoon dinosaur with a large nose plastered all over them in various colors. Will stood off to the side his face pressed into the palm of his hand. How this nerdy brunet became his friend he'd never understand.

"He's been ranting about them not giving him his beloved Yoshi, whatever that is, since we got in here." Will sighs dejectedly as Nico and Skylar walk over.

"Is that what the cute dinosaur on the shoes in the window are called? I'd be upset too if they took him away from me." Skylar snickers.

Her brother gives her a look saying 'you're not helping.' "Just help me get him out of the store before they call security."

"Aye sir." Making sure nobody is watching them she conjures a thin stream of light identical to fishing line. Flicking her hand she loops it into one of Isaac's belt loops. "Gotcha." Gripping the string in her fingers she begins to walk backwards slowly dragging a bewildered Isaac with her.

"I'm so sorry about our friend." Will rubs the back of his neck nervously dashing out of the store with Nico. Skylar continues pulling Isaac with her until they reach a secluded corner.

"Let me go! I want my Yoshi sneakers!" Isaac huffs struggling against her.

"They're just shoes! Get ahold of yourself." Skylar grunts digging her heels into the carpet. The scene reminded her of the kids she used to see on leashes being lead around by their parents. She releases the line allowing Isaac to stumble forward and kiss the ground. The son of Aphrodite lets out a groan of pain.

"Oops. My hand slipped." Nico smiles faintly at the sight while Will wants nothing more than to just go home.

"I should've read a book at home. All this over a dinosaur." He muttered exasperatedly throwing his hands in the air. Isaac sits up rubbing his sore face grumbling about how all he wanted were a pair of damn shoes but the saleslady wouldn't sell it to him. Something about him smelling weird.

Skylar freezes on the spot. "Isaac. What did you just say?"

"That she wouldn't sell me the sneakers? She was being a bi-"

"After that! Something about your smell?" Skylar interrupts.

"Oh, that. She said I reaked and wouldn't sell me anything. The nerve of some people! I mean come on I showered this morning. I'm as fresh as you can get thank you very much." Isaac pouts.

"We need to go. Now." Nico urges his eyes landing on a group of men in uniform slipping in and out of the crowd. Their faces began to twitch morphing into that of a creature's.

"You don't need to tell us twice." Will begins to walk at a brisk pace the other three following after him. Nico drew his sword startling a few people into moving out of their path. Removing the ring on her finger, Skylar grips Spitfire in her right hand. Digging toward the bottom of her bag she produces three arrows notching one and gripping two between her teeth. Don't ask how she managed to fit so many things into this bag. It was basically like a black hole.

"We need to find Naomi and get out of here!" Isaac shouts as the group begins to sprint.

Skylar releases one arrow into a man's head that transformed into a cyclops. Nico slashes at it turning it into gold dust. That only angers a few more monsters into running toward them. Pandemonium began to break out around them as mortals panicked trying to flee from the fighting. More monsters began to morph out of their disguises in pursuit of the demigods. They run as fast as their legs can carry them rushing outside the mall with those trying to escape.

They take a minute to catch their breath on the side of the building. Skylar walks over to Will relinquishing Spitfire to him along with the remaining arrows she stuffed into her bag. Her brother looks at her questionably.

"We need to split up that way we can find mom faster. I'll act as a decoy and catch up to you guys when I can." She tells him glancing back at the mall doors. Monsters slowly began to trickle out mixing in with the panicking mortals. Her hands began to glow as power surged through her.

"I won't just leave you here!" Will shouts grabbing ahold of her arm. They needed to split up to cover more ground and locate their mom. He understood that all too well. Skylar was trusting him with the only solid weapon at their disposal leaving herself only with her photokinetic abilities. It just wasn't sitting well with him. His sister didn't have unlimited power. At some point it will diminish and when it does...

"Do as I say William!" Skylar demands running out of their hiding spot to grab the monster's attention. Her brother goes to follow only to be intercepted by Nico.

"Go. I'll stay and help her. " Nico summons a small army of undead and following after Skylar. Isaac looks uncertainly from Will to the fight. His battle axe now clutched in his hands.

"Will we need to go. They'll be fine, this isn't their first fight." He tugs on Will's arm gesturing to another entrance into the mall. Will nods slightly running with Isaac in search of Naomi.

Letting loose a ball of concentrated light Skylar gains a bit of distance between her and the momentarily blinded monsters. Right after she impales a dracaenae through the chest with a shard of energy watching her turn into dust. Skeleton warriors rush past her assaulting the remaining disoriented beasts drawing her attention to Nico who was slashing his way to her.

"What are you doing here?" She asks throwing glowing knives into the eye of a cyclops.

"As if I'd let you throw yourself into danger alone." Nico grunts deflecting an attack.

"I just don't understand where they came from. Unless...no there's no way he found us." Skylar's eyes widen.

"Sky pay attention!" Nico jumps in front of her running his sword through an Empousa. She lets out a loud shriek before disintegrating. Skylar gathers a large mass of sunlight into her hands. Releasing it into the air it solidifies into spears destroying any remaining monsters. Grabbing Nico's hand they head back into the mall in search of her mother.

"I hope Will and Isaac found mom before he does." The look on her face was tense

"Who's here? Do you know something about this?" Nico presses as they run.

"Dustin! He's been searching for Isaac ever since his first attempt to kill him ended in failure. This is really bad." Skylar peeks around from behind a pillar surveying the area. Shoppers were still evacuating but there weren't any sign of monsters. Swallowing the bile rising in her throat they press on weaving through the crowd. Don't panic, you need to find them.

"What's so dangerous about one demigod?"

"Charmspeak." Was her blunt response as they turn the corner skidding to a halt at the towering fountain before them. Perched at the top was the platinum blond himself. Nico pushes Skylar behind him to shield her from the demigod sneering down at them. Two hellhounds stood at attention beside him rivaling Mrs. O'Leary in size. Two bodies lay by his feet. Will and Naomi Solace. Isaac was nowhere to be found. Skylar's bow was discarded glowing faintly in the fountain's water.

"So nice of you two to join us. It saves me the trouble of hunting you down." Dustin smirks rising to his feet and pulling Will up halfway by his hair. Her brother lets out a defeated groan. Skylar's eyes flare up with hatred at the sight. "Such a pity. I was hoping he'd put up more of a fight."

"You'll pay for laying a hand on my brother." Skylar growls readying an attack.

Laughter echoes through the room as the baby blue-eyed boy stares down at her. "By all means give it your best shot." He smirked tossing Will to the side.

"With pleasure." Fueled by anger Skylar charges in without much thought. A total contrast to how she usually fights in battle. Any and all rational thinking had gone out the window replaces by the hatred building within her that she harbored for Dustin. Moving her left hand in a wide ark she summons a barrage of knife-like objects impaling one of the hellhounds and jumping atop the outer rim of the fountain. The hellhound howls in pain falling onto it's side and exploding into fine powder.

"Skylar no!!" Nico yells rushing after her. Dustin laughs at how foolish she is watching as his last remaining hellhound leaps from the stone platform slamming the girl into the floor. Pain flared down her spine. Skylar grunts trying to free herself from under the animal's large paws.

"Did you actually think I would allow you anywhere near me? Toss your weapon into the fountain son of Hades or I shall order the beast to rip out her throat." The platinum blonde paces the edge of the fountain. Anger courses through Nico at the Hellhound's jaw drawing closer to Skylar's neck. It's jaw opening and snapping shut, taunting him.

"Nico don't do it!" Skylar yelps. The hellhound's claws dig deeper into her body, its jagged teeth dangerously close to her skin.

Fuming, Nico throws his sword into the fountain watching as it sinks to the bottom. He's forced to his knees by a demigod servant of Dustin's, a knife held to his throat. Five monsters varying from a cyclops to a telekhine surround them. They walked right into an ambush. Played right into Dustin's hands.