CHAPTER XLIV:Hideout From Murderous Shadows.

The restaurant lay quiet with the occasional clinking of metal chopsticks against the ceramic plates.

Penny had taken a seat at our table, and was quiet. She ate very little while Olivia had already finished two plates of sushi and was on her third.

My focus was on the restaurant's guards. Six guards, each in samurai armor, on identical pedestals stands with a mark of Hephaestus on their left arm.

"They're Automatons." I said observing the guards.

"Yeah, that's why they're so fast." Olivia said.

"A perfect guard really. They blend in with the restaurant theme, and can be activated at a moments notice." Penny added.

"Excuse me girls, but I'm gonna need to ask you to consent to a guard detail for your room." Chai said walking over to our table.

"What for? The threat is gone." Olivia said.

"For now, that is. Selene will send more shadows, and the next group will be extremely powerful in her hours. Especially since it's a new moon tonight. I may be a powerful sorcerer of the light, but I stand no match for the moon Titan. With the guard detail you'll have a chance of fleeing, or getting ready for a fight depending on how insane you truly are." Chai said, his tone shifting from happy and cheerful to grim and depressing.

"Alright then. I'll get it." Olivia said, as she took the papers Chai was holding.

Olivia took a pen out, signing them quickly, and handed them back to Chai.

"Thank you, also the two gentlemen in the infirmary are almost out. The son of Apollo will be in your room waiting, the son of Hades will be by later tonight before lights out." Chai said, his tone becoming cheerful again, walking away.

"Should we go?" Penny asked twirling her chopsticks in her hand.

"Not yet Owl Eyes, I still haven't eaten yet." I said grabbing my chopsticks.

The cold metal placed itself naturally in my fingers, and I began eating. Penny rolled her eyes, and observed the restaurant. The noise and smell was probably overwhelming for her, and she probably wanted to leave to avoid a panic attack.

"If you want to go you can Owl Eyes. I know this restaurant is murder on your senses." I said.

Penny nodded quickly walking to the back of the restaurant, going behind two closed curtains.

"I never understood that. Is the heightened senses a kid of Athena thing, or is it unique to her?" Olivia asked.

"I believe it's a rare trait. I read it in a book somewhere, I think it's called Owl Sight. If I'm remembering correctly it can enhance one or all of your senses, they call it Owl Sight though because sight is the sense most commonly affected." I explained, remembering back to the book I had read so long ago.

"Sounds a bit like water weaponry." Olivia said.

I nodded knowing what she meant, the most dangerous type of combat a child of Poseidon can use. It's an ability that makes water form a sword or whatever weapon you need in your hand, and the water becomes as strong as tempered steel with salt or granite handles.

"Children of Hades just get resurrection." I said.

"Oh, what's that?" Olivia asked.

"It's a reanimating technique, but instead of others we bring ourselves back. We can do it once a decade, if we have the ability that is. Of course, dying is the only way to find out if we have the ability." I explained.

"Well, do you have the ability?" Olivia pressed, she nervously tapped her fingers on the table.

"I don't think so, even if I did, I definitely don't have it anymore." I said pointing at my hair.

Olivia nodded as she relaxed, I thought it was weird, but quickly shrugged it off as nothing.

The afternoon moved quickly, our table fell in silence with no one to keep the conversation going. I liked Olivia, but every time I was with her I felt uneasy and just not myself.

"It's dark out Mary, we should probably head to our room." Olivia said standing up.

I nodded as she walked away, I got up and quickly followed her, behind the curtain where Penny had gone. Two metal arrows pointed to the left and right, as I looked both directions I realized the atmosphere had changed. I looked behind us, and instead of curtains, I saw two large doors.

"It's a portal Dead Hair. Dependent on your need it can take you to a different part of the safe house. It saves space in a sense. Now what room are we in?" Olivia asked looking at the signs.

The one pointing to the left had 'Rooms 1-2500' written on it, and the one pointing to the right had 'Rooms 2501-5000' written on it.

"I believe it was room ten. Chai wanted us close to the exit." I answered looking down the endless hallways, could someone really go down these day by day?

Olivia and me stepped to the left, and a door was immediately in front of us. The door had a golden plaque screwed in the that has 'Room 10. Guests: Adam Flores, Mary Riley, Olivia Neptune, Penny White, and Seth Riley.' etched in, and filled with a black paint.

Olivia opened the door, and walked through with me close behind. In a white flash my surroundings changed, and I was welcomed by a cold room that smelled of vanilla and death.

I looked out to a small table to see Adam and Penny playing cards. How was Penny not phased by this? Last time she smelled death this strong she vomited.

My thoughts dwelled before I finally asked, "Penny. Don't you smell that?".

"Smell what? I just smell old books and metal." Penny said.

"Huh? I smell pinewood and roses." Adam said with a confused look on his face.

"Idiots, all of you, the room is enchanted for your comfort. The room, for me, is warm and smells of the ocean for me. The room smells, and feels, like the underworld for Mary. You get it?" Olivia explained clearly annoyed.

"Yeah, but one thing I don't get is why Adam smells pinewood and roses. Those two things don't go together often." Penny said looking at Adam, who's face was a dark red.

"Don't worry about it….." Adam said quietly.

"If I remember correctly Luna's favorite shampoo is rose scented." I said smiling.

Adam's face became a darker red, and he sunk in his seat. He hid his face with his cards, and shied away from anymore conversations.

"Too far?" I asked looking at Olivia.

Olivia's face held an unnatural, almost inhuman, smile "No. I think he deserved just that." she said keeping her smile in place.