The lost Auras

Chapter 11

Hydra and I turn around to find Layla standing in the doorway.
- Layla, I shout. I run up to her. Just seeing her face makes me realize how happy and relieved I am to see her.
- Oh, Kira. I've been so worried. I know you're not a criminal, but Hercules keeps ordering our department around and it's been a total mess, but I'm so glad you're okay and, Layla says.
- Layla, I'm fine. It's fine, I say. I hug her tightly. She hugs me back and I feel the tension drain out of her.
- Kira, what's happening. What's going on, she asks. I lead her back to the table. I give her as quick a rundown I can on what's happened since I saw her last. Breaking Hydra out, seeing Meg, fighting Hercules. And then getting information from Cassandra. Layla's eyes widen with each revelation, but she listens seriously.
- What can I do to help you, she asks.
- We need you to retrieve information, Hydra says. Layla looks at me for confirmation and I nod. She gives Hydra her full attention.
- I need all relevant files and articles about Zeus and Hercules, says. He grabs a waiter's pad left out on one of the tables and scribbles something down. He tears off the paper and hands it to Layla.
- You need to meet Kira and I in Brooklyn, down at the Boar Back bar, Hydra says. Layla looks from Hydra ro the address on the paper, a little unsure. I touch her arm.
- Don't mind him. He doesn't have a social function, I say. That brings out a smile and I smile back.
- But we do need you to do this, I say.
- I know. I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't willing to, Layla says.
- Please, Layla. Be careful and smart when you try to get the files. We don't know who's watching at H.E.R.A, I say. I look her straight in the eyes.
- I don't want anything bad to happen to you because of me, I say.
- No worries, I can handle this, Layla says. She squeezes my hand before she leaves. Hydra watches her go and then turns to me.
- Are you sure about this, he asks. 

Hydra and I make it onto the subway some time later. Josh had sent me off with a hug and a take-out box full of food, telling me to be careful. I try to remember the reassurance I felt then as I worry about Layla.
- There's nothing to be anxious about. Layla will be fine. I mean, she's Layla, I say in my head. I sigh as the events of the day start to take their toll on me.
- Being jerked around like this is exhausting. I don't think I'll be able to move soon, I say. I rub my eyes, yawning.
- If you can't take it, I'll leave you at the next stop, Hydra says. Hydra and I both know there's no way he's getting rid of me that easily, not after all this. But I play into his mood.
- You would, wouldn't you. You would totally leave me stranded in a subway station. At night. By myself, I say.
- Yes, he says. No hesitation whatsoever. I punch him in the shoulder. Hydra doesn't even budge, just raises that irritating eyebrow at me. I humph, crossing my arms.
- Though I'm not surprised. This is coming from the man who made me sleep on the cold, hard floor, I say.
- You wouldn't take the bed, he responds dryly.
- Even with you being so stubborn, I was going to give you a blanket. But then I was slapped for my trouble, he says.
- Of course I slapped you. You were being all creepy, looming over me like some boogie monster, I say.
- Boogie monsters don't exist. Spirits that haven't crossed the Styx, however, Hydra says. A cold chill runs down my spine at the thought. I jab him in the side with my elbow.
- Why are you trying to give me nightmares, I ask.
- Well, you're awake now, he says.
- Unfortunately, I say.
- Then stay awake until we get to my place. I'm not going to carry you out of here if you fall asleep, he says. I gape at him.

When Hydra and I reach his hideout, we're still going back and forth.
- You're evil, I say.
- I've been called wicked, he says.
- Wicked evil, I yell.
- That has a nice ring to it, he says. I groan, rubbing my temples.
- I'm going to have nightmares about the Styx tonight all because you didn't want to carry me, I mutter.
- Why on earth would he have to carry me, I have no idea, I say in my head.
- You have your nightmares, I have mine, he says.
- What is he trying to say, I ask in my head.
- I'll jump on your back right now, I say.
- What, he asks.
- I will jump on your back and I will make you give me a piggyback ride up to your apartment, I say.
- Just try it and, he says. He stops abruptly, going still.
- What is it, I ask. Hydra puts a finger to his lips
- I hear something, he says. I hold my breath and strain my ears.
- I can't hear anything, I say in my head.
- I'm going to look around. Stay close, he says. I nod. The shadows seem to loom even larger around us.
- If this is a joke, I'm gonna beat you up, I whisper fiercely even as I follow closely behind him.
- Shh, he says. He sticks to the walls as we search outside.
- No one has ever found this place before, he says. We spend a few more minutes outside, but nothing jumps out at us. No lost spirits, not agents, no Hercules.
- Okay, come on, he says.
He approaches the entrance to his apartment. I can hear my own heart pounding. He places his ear near the door and his hand on the doorknob. He turns the knob slowly, slowly, but then throws it open and I cling to Hydra's back, squeezing tight.
- Hey, he says.
- What. What is it, I ask. He disentangles himself from me.
- See for yourself, he says. No one is inside. I turn around this way and that, taking in Hydra's entire apartment.
- Well. That was, exciting, I say. We check out his apartment to see if anything is missing or messed with.
- Nothing seems out of place, though you'd know better than me, I say. Hydra finishes rifling through the paperwork and photos in his bag.
- Everything's here, even my files, he says.
- But, I ask.
- Something's not right, he says. He frowns, clearly uneasy.
- I think, with everything that's happened, you've just gotten a little paranoid, I say.
- Paranoia has saved me more than a couple times, he says.
- I get it, but your apartment is small. There's no one hiding on the corners, I say. I point at the bed.
- You need to relax. You need to sleep, I say.
- Sleep is the last thing I need, he says. He takes a folding chair out of the closet and places it by the large windows.
- I'm going to stay up and keep watch, he says.
- All night, I ask.
- All night. I have to make sure no one is watching us, he says.
- Paranoid, I say.
- Get some sleep, he says.
- I think I'll stay up with you, actually, I say. His expression is unreadable as he looks at me.
- Your funeral, he says. I scowl and settle in next to him.
- Can you not use that expression, I ask. He smirks.
- I thought I was supposed to be the paranoid one, he says.
- You are paranoid, but that's no reason to jinx it. Or for you to stay up alone, I say. A thought occurs to me, and I grin victoriously.
- In fact, that's exactly why I need to stay up with you. To prove that you're worrying for no reason, I say. He chuckles, and I feel a swell of affection.
- He should really smile more, I say in my head. He shifts slightly, and I realize how close together we're sitting. I can feel his warmth through his shirt. We're only half-leaning against each other, but I can feel his nearness like an electric pulse all through my body.
- What is it about him that affects me so strongly, I ask in my head. I steal a glance at his face, and see that he's already staring at me.
- His eyes are so intense. Good thing he can't actually read minds, or I'd be in trouble, I say in my head.
- Tell me something, I say. He lifts an eyebrow.
- What do you want to know, he asks.
- I don't know, anything. Tell me something I don't know, I say. He thinks for a moment.
- Did you know that lightning strikes the Earth somewhere 100 times every second, he asks. I roll my eyes.
- I didn't know that, and that's terrifying. But I meant tell me something about you, I say.
- Then you should have specified, he says. I nudge his shoulder.
- I just did, I say. He sighs.
- Fine. I love macaroons. Especially from this one bakery on the Lower East Side. It's a little shop, family-owned for generations. I've been there often enough that sometimes they'll give me a couple of free ones with my order, he says. I look at him to see if he's teasing, but he looks genuine. He's even smiling a little bit.
- Your turn, he says. 
- What. No, I say.
- It's only fair, he says.
- Fine. Well, speaking of baked goods. When I was a teenager, I got my first part-time job. I'd meant to save it up, or spend it on things I really needed. But I was just getting into baking, and I ended up spending the entire paycheck on baking supplies, I say. I squint up at him, embarrassed but he looks amused.
- That certainly sounds like you, he says. I elbow him in the side, laughing.

We keep on like that for hours, talking and teasing each other. It's nice. The next thing I know, I'm waking up against his shoulder.
- Wha. What time is it, I ask. Hydra gives me a soft look.
- It's late. You should get some sleep, he says. I'm about to argue, but as soon as I open my mouth, I yawn.
- Yeah, okay. Just for a little while, I say. I slip under the covers. I'm out by the time my head hits the pillow.

I wake up some time later. The moon is still hanging high in the sky. I look around the dark apartment sleepily and spot Hydra. He's fallen asleep in his chair.
- That can't be comfortable, I say in my head. I get up very quietly, taking a blanket off the bed and tiptoe over to him.
- Geez, he's going to catch a cold, and then where will he be, I ask in my head. I cover him with a blanket. Hydra stirs a little, frowning. Before I realize what I'm doing, I lean forward and press a light kiss to his forehead. Hydra settles down as the crease between his eyebrows disappears. Gently, I tuck in the corners of the blanket, making sure he's nice and warm. I watch him for a while, admiring how the moonlight illuminates his face. He seems much younger like this. It almost seem like he doesn't have the weight of the world on his shoulders. I suddenly feel very lucky that I get to see another side of him.
- Sweet dreams, I say. I return to bed and fall asleep with a smile on my face.

The next morning, I wake up before Hydra. First thing I do is check to make sure the blanket didn't fall off in the middle of the night.
- It probably sucked sleeping in that chair all night. He's gonna need coffee, I say in my head. I rummage through the cupboards when I hear a groggy voice.
- What are you doing, he asks. I glance over my shoulder to see Hydra running a hand through his hair sleepily, yawning.
- Oh my, he looks kind of cute like that, I say in my head.
- Hey, rise and shine, sleepyhead, I say. My cheerful tone makes him scowl.
- Stop doing that, he says.
- What, I ask. He waves a hand over me.
- Being all bright, he says.
- You're just grumpy because you slept in a chair, I say. Hydra grunt.
- I'm making coffee. That should wake you right up, I say.
- Your coffee is terrible. Let's just go out and buy something, he says. He grabs a change of clothes and marches into the bathroom without another word.
- Okay, scratch that. Not cute at all, I say in my head.

After Hydra and I grab breakfast at a diner that's almost as good as Poseidon's, we make it to Eryn's bar in the afternoon. I'm temporarily taken aback by the hustle and bustle that greets us when we open the door.
- So this is what it looks like when it's busy, I say in my head. Patrons take up nearly every available seat, drinking and having lunch.
- Guess we caught the lunch crowd, huh. Is there even a place to sit, I ask.
- Over here, Hydra says and tugs me to an empty booth in the very back. We sit down and a waitress takes our drink order. I spot Eryn in the crowd, but she is so busy with all her customers. I can't even catch her eye to say hello.
- Looks like Eryn's got her hands full, I say. I watch as she takes orders, disappearing into the kitchen and then behind the bar. This is all while taking the time to make chitchat with her customers.
- I'd go crazy, I say.
- That's how she gets her information. If they feel comfortable around her, they're more likely to spill secrets. And sometimes even throwaway information is valuable, Hydra says.
- You should moonlight as one of her bartenders, I say.
- One minute it's too slow and the next, not slow enough. I'd go crazy, he says. I laugh. Glancing at the entryway, I see Layla show op just then, her boyfriend Bruno in tow.
- Layla, I yell and wave her over. Layla whispers something to Bruno and he nods, heading over to the bar. Layla walks to our booth and scoots in beside me.
- The big lug didn't want me coming to this part of town alone. Gods, I love the guy, Layla says. Hydra cuts her off before Layla can go on.
- Did you bring the files, Hydra asks. Layla hands me a flash drive and places some folders on the table. Hydra swoops them up immediately, speed reading through them.
- Thank you, Layla, I say. I slip the flash drive in my pocket and gesture to the files.
- What'd you find out, I ask. Layla looks around and leans in close.
- Zeus is the one who signed off on Hercules's godly tasks, Layla says.
- What, Hydra shouts. His sudden shout interrupts my thought.
- He's dying, Hydra asks.