Set In Stone (Thea X Nico)

"I'm going to kill you."

(Thea's POV)

After we made sure Nico was ready to go, we dragged ourselves downstairs to get our breakfast. The cheerful lady that was at the cashier the day before now waited at the bottom of the stairs, making me super uneasy. She wore an enormous smile on her face, a grey suit top, and a grey pencil shirt.

"Good morning, lovely guests." she purred, meeting my eyes.

"Hi." I got out before she started for a door that was across from the stairs.

"This way for breakfast." She opens the door to show us a table laid out with fruits, pancakes, waffles, cereals, porridge, and more. My mouth waters as I marvel at the food.

"Well, go on then." She says before opening the door wider. I look between Leo, Piper, and Nico, who all had hunger written on their faces, but they all seemed worried.

"Let's go, guys," I say, holding my ax tight next to me. I enter first, then Leo, Piper, and Nico follow close behind, all ready for an attack. I glance around the room, noticing all the windows that were at the far end of the room in a half-circle letting a lot of morning light in. The ceiling was low, and the walls were falling apart due to mold and lack of bug control. I sit at the farthest end of the room, ready to jump out of the windows at any moment. Nico sits across from me, Piper sits next to me and Leo sits next to Nico, making Nico move away slightly. Maybe this was safe.

"Dig in, guests. I will be back soon." The lady says before closing the door behind her. We all sit silently, waiting.

"Is this safe?" Leo asks as he pokes an apple with a fork.

"I think so..." I say before grabbing a waffle and placing it on my plate. I was starving, making me more than glad to take the risk for some good waffles. Nico glances at me wearily as I take a bite of my waffle. I chew for a few moments and then swallow, waiting.

"You feeling good, Thea?" I glance up at Piper, who was now gazing.

"So far, yeah." Piper and Leo cautiously grab food and begin eating, but Nico doesn't eat. A few moments later, the lady comes in. She seems taller now and not so happy.

"Are you all full?" Her voice was a growl, making the hairs on my back rise.

"Yes, we are," I say, leaning back into my chair.

"Good to hear. How about you, dear Nico?" Nico froze and looked over at the girl, his eyes widening. He stood up quickly, pulling out his sword and growing angry.

"What are you doing, Nico?" Piper asks as she peers back and forth from the lady to Nico.

"She's an Empousa, can't you see her fangs or her flaming hair?!" Nico yells, gesturing at the girl. I look at her but don't notice a thing. It was just the normal, overly cheerful lady.

"Oh, Nico, you didn't eat, I see." We all glance at the food, then at Nico's plate, which wasn't touched.

"How do you know my name?!" Nico shouts before walking closer to her.

"You told me it, of course, just yesterday, and I do not know what an Empousa is," Nico growls under his breath. Me, Piper, and Leo are still in shock at the fact that Nico thought she was an Empousa.

"Nico, maybe you're just seeing things. Sit-" Leo says before getting cut off by Nico.

"You are seeing things, guys. Now get up and help me. Whatever was in the food wanted you to continue seeing the mortal girl." We all slowly stood facing the lady, who grins wickedly.

"Ugh, Nico, you really had to spoil the fun. If you had just eaten, then I could have easily killed you. I guess your deaths will have to wait." She growls this before pouncing at Nico, who held his sword above him. He made an easy slice across her face but her acrylic nails (that's what I saw, because of the food.) reached out slashing Nico's right shoulder, making him belt in pain. Leo quickly reacts by throwing flames at her, which she easily dodges, then swiping her feet under Leo, making him collapse. She moves on to me. She slashes at my face, but I duck before slamming my shoulder into her face as she goes in for a bite. I slam the end of my blade on her head, making her stumble, but I react too slowly when she recoils, jumping right onto me, making me fall onto the ground with a thud.