Original at Goode High [Vampire Diaries/Percy Jackson Crossover]

Chapter 13: Perishable

Chapter XIII

Disclaimer: I only own the mortals and plot. All of the other characters and stories belong to Rick and the CW.

James panted harshly as he ran. His blood rushing in his ears was perfectly in time with the pounding of his feet on the sidewalk, and his brown hair was covered with sweat.

Thump, Thump, Thump

He was tiring, and the stranger was not. He needed to stop running, but how? Then he spotted a dark little alley. The boy let out a breath of relief as made a sharp turn into a side alleyway and pressed his back to the wall of a building. James hoped that this stranger was dumb enough to run straight instead of following his shadow down the alley.

Thump Thump Thump

When James finally peeked around the corner his pursuer was nowhere to be seen. He relaxed, but still did not dare to leave the alley way for fear of the man returning.

Thump Thump Thump

The day had started normal enough. He had been on the way to his favorite cafe for a little morning caffeine when he first saw the man. James noticed the man first, but then a horrible stench reached his nostrils. In front of the man there was a smoking pile of ashes that James realised with shock was the source of the smell. He attended enough burials at camp to know what that smell was; it was the smell of burning flesh.

As if he had heard James's revelation the man turned to look at James. He stood still for a moment as his eyes trailed up and down James's body, examining him. James was frozen as the man stared at his. This was no mythological monster; this was a mortal one. He had no idea what to do in that situation. As much as he would like to, he couldn't just go around attacking murderers with his sword.

Eventually the man's eyes settled on James's tattoo -- the one he received from the Roman camp once he became a full legionnaires. When he saw the tattoo, he lunged at James and he ran as fast as he could away from the man, and onto the streets of New York City.

James waited in the alley way for almost five minutes before he felt safe. When he was about to leave the alleyway, the side door of one of the buildings opened. Before James knew what was happening, the man grabbed him from behind and plunged something into his heart.

"It's nothing personal, but I can't have you telling your demigod friends about me," the man apologized as he laid James down in the alley. He dug into the boy's pockets, and pulled out a golden drachma. "There you go, for the afterlife." He laughed a little at the silly tradition, and left the alleyway.

As soon as the man left him, James used his last bits of strength to summon a rainbow and tossed the heavy coin in. Reyna's usual stern face greeted him, but when she saw the blood staining his shirt, her expression morphed into one of horror.

"What happened? Where are you?" she demanded. "James, who did this to you?" She could see the boy was dieing and whoever did this could not go unpunished.

"Mid City Alley, New York," James answered. His breathing was becoming labored and short. The boy was not going to last much longer.

"Go find Jason and Mrs. O'Leary. Tell them to shadow travel to Mid City Alley in New York," Reyna ordered one of the legionnaires that was in the room with her. "I'm sending help, James. Mrs. O'Leary, and Jason will find you. Just hold on 'till they get there," Reyna commanded. "James, you need to me who did this!"

"It was . . ." He paused, coughing uncontrollably, "It was a man. It was . . ." He was slipping away. He tried to fight, but he knew he would lose. He was going to die before Jason found him.