Chapter Text
“Well, your pupils dilate fine,” The cabin head of Apollo, Cleo, noted. “For spending five years as a tree, that Fleece certainly did its job.”
Thalia Grace snorted. “Yeah, it certainly did something right.”
Cleo frowned, lowering her notepad. “Thalia, we talked about your negativity.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Thalia rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“About what?” Thalia lashed out, snarling. “My best friend being five years older than she should be? Or my other best friend trying to kill me in some pathetic rebellion against his father? Maybe even that stupid kid that everyone tried to replace me with! Tell me again, please, exactly what I should be positive about!”
Cleo sighed. “Thalia-”
“Thalia!” Grover called, sticking his head in the doorway. “Annabeth needs you!”
“Grover, you and Annabeth both know that you can’t steal my patients while I’m in a session with them!” Cleo snapped, spinning around in her roller chair. “Get out.”
“It’s fine,” Thalia shrugged. “You were finished anyways. Let’s go, Grover.”
“Tha- We weren’t done yet!” Cleo shouted as the pair walked out. “Thalia!”
“Are you sure you’re okay to leave?” Grover asked anxiously. “Cleo seems sort of upset.”
Thalia waved a hand. “She’ll live. What’s going on with Annie?”
“Well, she’s crying and won’t come out of the bathroom,” Grover replied slowly. “She just yelled at me when I asked what’s wrong…”
“Lead the way,” Thalia grinned, shoving all of her anger to the back of her mind. “I’m sure I know just what to do to help.”
-
Thalia didn’t like how some of the people at camp looked at her. It was almost with hatred? But not quite. Jealousy, maybe? She didn’t know what it was all she knew was that she did not like it. Another thing she was not a fan of was-
“Did you hear about what Percy said?”
“You will never be as good at sword fighting as Jackson if you don’t practice!”
“Percy helped Clara find her doll! Isn’t that so sweet?”
Percy. Fucking. Jackson.
Don’t get her wrong, Thalia didn’t hate the kid or anything. He really was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Everyone at camp had projected the image of her onto him and that pissed her off. When someone mentioned one of their names, the other quickly followed. They were pressed up on pedestals and Thalia was sick and tired of having to climb the damn thing.
It was during Annabeth’s birthday party that Thalia had finally had enough. She doesn’t even really remember what happened. Only that some camper had asked Annabeth a question about Percy, and it was like a fuse was lit inside her. Thalia yelled and set off some literal sparks and stormed out, leaving thunder rumbling in her wake. She didn’t even know where she was heading, just that she needed out.
She ended up in the woods, some rock formation that she vaguely remembered was named after her father, where she curled up and started to cry.
Everything was just all so much, her heart cried. Not even a full month ago, Thalia was a fucking tree ! How was she supposed to live up to that stupid image people had of her! She was a kid in a fucked up world and she was just so tired at pretending the world didn’t leave her behind.
“Here’s a mint, Thalia,” Percy Jackson murmured as he sat beside her quivering form.
She glared up at him. “What are you doing here?”
He laughed dryly. “I’m psychic.”
“Don’t fuck around with me, Jackson,” Thalia sneered, shivering.
“Sorry, sorry.” There was a moment of silence. “We are not the same.”
“What?”
“We are not the same,” Percy repeated. “Everyone expects us to be, but we aren’t.”
Thalia looked at him, confused. “What the hell does that mean?”
“I am not trying to be you,” Percy said slowly, rain dripping down his cheeks. “And your friends are not trying to replace you with me. You and I are not interchangeable.”
“What would you even know about that?” Thalia laughed bitterly. “You’re the new and shiny toy! Of course you don’t see anything wrong with it?”
“You were the one who just came back from the dead,” Percy shot back. “A lot of my friends were yours first, and they have been avoiding me to hang out with you. And I can’t even be mad about it! You literally came back from the dead!”
“You’re weird.”
“And you’ve got a little bit of tree sap on your forehead.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Just take the damn mint, Grace.”
Thalia took the mint.
-
Percy was practically vibrating off of his bench at the dining pavilion. Today was August third, the day Castor was coming back to camp! With Tyson going off to learn how to do forge work under the sea, Thalia waking up and all of their mutual friends flocking to her, Percy had gotten pretty lonely. There was only so many times he could spar with Clarisse or hang with Silena before they ran out of things to do. So yeah, Percy was pretty excited to see one of his best friends in person again.
“Peek-a-boo!” A voice whispered in Percy’s ear as hands came up to cover his eyes. “How dost thou, hero?”
Grinning ear to ear, Percy turned and tackled the one behind him in a hug. “Cas!”
“My ribs! My ribs, Perce!” Castor cried, laughing on the floor. Percy started laughing too.
“Yo, Percy,” Thalia called from the table over. “Who’s smiley?”
Castor popped up, strolling over with his hand extended to greet the daughter of Zeus. “Hey! Castor Brennan, son of Dionysus. You?”
“Uh, hi?” Thalia blanked, shaking Castor’s hand. “Thalia. Grace. Daughter of Zeus.”
“Cool. Percy, your cousin is cooler than you! She said hi!”
Percy snorted, shaking his head and sitting back down at his table. “Sit your ass down, Brennan and tell me all about South Carolina.”
Dinner was nice. Even if he could feel all the shocked eyes from the new campers who hadn’t seen anyone treat Percy so casually before. Castor was back and camp and now the only piece missing was Rachel.
It was kind of weird. Before, in the time before he knew Castor, all Percy longed for was the summers. At camp he had friends. It wasn’t that Annabeth or Grover avoided him during the school year, they were all just busy. But now, Percy was most excited for the school year. Spending time with Rachel and Castor outside of all the stressful expectations was freeing. Percy wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Hey.” Castor bumped Percy’s shoulder with his own. “Do you wanna go make s’mores with me?”
“Duh,” Percy smiled. “Race you.”
-
“Perseus Jackson. So glad for you to join me. Have a pomegranate.”
Percy stared in shock at the god of the Underworld sitting across from him at a little diner booth in his dream. “What. Lord and Uncle… what is this?”
Hades rolled his eyes and poured something from the teapot into his own cup. “I’m attempting courtesy, nephew, no need to look so moronic. Have a pomegranate.”
“Is there a particular reason why we are having a fucked up little tea party?”
Hades’s responding smile was all teeth. “I’m getting to that. Have. A. Pomegranate.”
“Uh,” Percy responded intelligently. “I’ve read a myth where those are used to trap someone in the Underworld. Thanks, but I’ll pass.”
Hades sighed. “My beautiful wife. Yes, she did eat pomegranate seeds, but those were Underworld fruits. These are ones she grew on the surface, perfectly fine. But oh well, your loss. Now, about why I summoned you here today-”
A horrible thought occurred to Percy. “Wait, did something happen to Bianca or Nico?”
“No!” Hades scoffed. “Although it is because of them. They have been talking about… hanging out with you.”
“Hold on, what -?!”
“That’s what I said!” Hades groaned, tossing back his cup of mysterious liquid. “They’ve also been begging me to let them go to school. Kids! Wanting to go to school! I knew letting them have cable down here was a bad thing!”
“You have cable in the Underworld?”
“I’m a god, Perseus.”
“Fair enough.”
“You are going to lunch with my children tomorrow. Any other needless questions?” Hades asked, tone bored.
“Uh… no?”
-
“I know I risk sounding like a two-thousands romcom, but you are coming to my birthday dinner tonight, right?” Percy asked as he triple checked his room for anything he might have left out of his suitcase.
“Ah, yes, the timeless movie, Bethany, I Made Biscuits!” Castor replied, sarcasm dripping in his tone as he lounged across one of the bunks.
Percy snorted, jumping back and flouncing on his own bunk. Then he sighed and held his knees to his chest. “I’m so ready to go home, Cas.”
“I know, Perce, but blue cake, blue birthday,” Castor hummed, sitting up. “To me, fair friend, you can never be old!”
Despite himself, Percy cracked a smile.
“Now, c’mon!” Castor smiled toothily. “Your mom should be here any minute.”
Percy’s mom was in fact there, speaking with Argus at the boundary. Her hair was down and curled around her face which lit up when she saw the boys making their way up the hill. Percy basked in his mom’s beautifulness and warmth and ran to tackle her in a hug.
“Oof,” She laughed as she hit the ground. “You’re getting a bit too big for this, sweetheart. Oh, I missed you too! Happy Birthday, Percy.”
“I love you, Mom,” Percy whispered into her hair.
She laughed again. “Love you too, baby. Let’s get on home.”
-
“Okay, everyone this has to be perfect!” Rachel exclaimed as she lit the last candle on the blue birthday cupcake. “Cas just texted me, they just got to the apartment! As a reminder, do not shout ‘surprise’, Percy will actually have a heart attack. Got it?”
“Can we still shout, ‘happy birthday’?” Nico asked, hand in the air.
“Uhm- wait until he already knows you’re there. Any more questi- Quick! The door!”
“-and then Silena chased the Apollo kids away with her eyelash curler and honestly that was the funniest- Wait, why do I smell candles?”
“Happy Birthday, Percy.” Bianca smiled, holding up a hand in a wave. “We have cake!”
Percy blinked, dumbfounded as he took in the scene. Rachel was sitting on the counter, cupcakes all around her. Bianca and Nico were sitting on the floor by the kitchen island. Sally and Castor were standing behind Percy with a big smile on their faces.
Rachel could see Percy shutting down a little bit before something in his eyes locked and a smile grew on his face. “Aww, guys. You shouldn’t’ve.”
Nico was practically vibrating in excitement as he zoomed over to Percy and gave him a big hug. “Happy Birthday! I got you a gift, wanna see?!”
Percy untensed a little, looking down at where Nico was beaming up at him. “Uh…sure. What you got, Neeks?”
“Yuck,” Nico shuddered, letting go of the son of Poseidon. “Don’t call me Neeks .”
Sally smiled. “Now, now, let’s let Percy have a cupcake before gifts, Nico. We wouldn’t want those candles to go out.”
“Aww, you’re right,” Nico pouted. “Sorry, Mrs. Sally!”
“And a one, and a two,” Rachel hummed as she held out the blue cupcake with a badly drawn smiley face made with white icing. “Tada! Blue cake!”
Percy took the cupcake, staring at the two candles with amazement. “You… You planned this?”
“Duh!” Rachel rolled her eyes fondly. “You think Castor or Bianca know how to bake-?”
“Hey!”
“You’re not wrong, Rach.”
“Besides,” Rachel continued, slinking an arm around Percy’s shoulders. (She was still taller than him, score!) “What else are best friends for?”
Percy started crying.
“Oh, honey!” Sally cried, settling on Percy’s other side. “What’s the matter?”
“I-I don’t kn-ow!” Percy hiccupped, face in his hand not holding the cupcake. “It’s j-justt- I’m n-not used to people c-caring this mu-much!”
Rachel and Castor exchanged a look from above Percy’s head. “Shh, Perce.” Rachel soothed. “It’s alright. We’re here now and we have cake and hugs.”
Percy cried harder.
“What about the girl and boy with pretty curls?” Nico asked innocently. “They seemed like they cared a lot. Where are they?”
Percy looked up, tears staining his flushed cheeks, blowing out the candles as he exhaled. “Well-”
Knock, knock, knock.
Sally hummed, turning to look out the peephole before gasping and pulling the door open.
It was Grover. Grover was standing at the door, shuffling his hooves as he held out a wrapped present about the size of a shoebox in front of himself. “Hey, Perce. Happy birthday…?”
Percy was in shock. Rachel quickly reached out and grabbed the cupcake before it could fall. “Grover…? You’re- You’re here ?”
Grover smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, man. Of course! It’s your birthday!”
“It’s nice to see you again, Grover,” Sally smiled warmly, ushering the satyr in and closing the door behind him. “You’re right on time.”
The party was a resounding success if Rachel had any say in it. Percy had eventually stopped crying, and everyone was sure to look away when Grover hugged him. The blue cupcakes were even better than they looked (which to be fair Rachel didn’t have much experience baking) and even the gifts part was going well. Nico and Bianca’s joint gift was a large box of fidget toys, Grover’s was a wonderful jar of blue M&M’s, Castor’s was Avril Lavigne concert tickets, and Rachel and Sally’s…
“So, your mom and I were talking,” Rachel started, when Grover and Castor were busy debating the di Angelo siblings on the couch. “And we think we figured out the solution for your next school.”
Percy snorted, sipping at his sparkling blue water. “What is it?”
“I’m being homeschooled this year and I want you to join me.”
“Huh?”
“Think about it, sweetheart,” Sally leaned forward at the kitchen table. “You’ll get to go at your own pace, you’ll be with Rachel, and you won’t be fussed at for your ADHD.”
“No, I understand that. I just-” Percy turned to face his best friend, confusion painting his face. “I don’t understand why you would want me to do it with you.”
Rachel’s heart splinted a little bit. “Oh, Perce,” she said softly. “I love you. You saved me. That’s why. I don’t need any other reason.”
Percy started crying again. Rachel handed him another cupcake.
-
“No, Percy,” Rachel pinched the bridge of her nose as she sighed. “We both know that is not how ‘wind’ is spelled, stop fucking with me.”
Percy snickered, leaning his head back to stick his tongue out at his friend. They all were spread out amongst Rachel’s living room. Castor was sprawled on a loveseat, Rachel on the couch, and Percy on the floor by her feet. “But there could be an ‘H’ in it. You never know.”
“Shut your damn mouth! Tell him, Castor!”
The son of Dionysus glanced up from his homework before smiling back down to his notes. “Rach, stop lying to the dyslexic kid.”
“I am not!” Rachel screeched, throwing a throw pillow beside her at Castor. He swiftly dodged it and wrote something down.
“I’m bored.” Percy groaned, flopping onto the floor.
“Hi, bored. I’m dad.” Rachel and Castor spoke in unison.
“It’s not even October yet, stop with the creepy things.”
“You’re just jealous, Percy.”
“Of what!?” Percy squawked.
Castor smirked as he curled up his knees to his chest. “That you’re not the only psychic one.”
“Give it a rest!” Percy grumbled. “I am not psychic!”
“Yeah,” Rachel grinned. “And I’m not an Oracle.”
“You two are just mean.”
“But you love us~!”
Castor started laughing, and Rachel followed him, and Percy followed her and soon they were all gasping for breath. During their laughing fit, Castor had joined Percy on the floor, leaving Rachel looking down at them. Her hair was spread above them like a curtain and Percy couldn’t keep relaxing. He was here. He was safe.
“I have a question,” Rachel said quietly, flipping her hair over one shoulder as she leaned back up. “You two don’t have to answer it.”
“Okay…” Castor replied.
“What was happening when you died last time?”
Percy immediately tensed up. He could feel Castor beside him forcing himself to stay calm. He tried to take a deep breath in, but the air was getting stuck on the way to his lungs.
“The ship,” Percy rasped. “I remember The Princess Andromeda exploding and me sinking beneath the waves. It’s funny. I think I drowned.”
It was a moment before Castor could respond. “...It’s hard to remember. Luke’s ambush through the Labyrinth. I know my arm was almost completely gone but that wasn’t what killed me. Maybe a head wound? It’s all kind of fuzzy.”
It was another few moments before Rachel slid onto the floor beside her boys and held her knees close to her chest. “After Percy died, it was chaos.” She started. “No one was even sure what happened, at least that’s what Annabeth said when she came to tell me the news. Just. You never came back, and everyone assumed the prophecy would fall onto Nico. Then I became the Oracle, and it-” Rachel choked up, tears welling up in her eyes.
Percy scooted against her side, wrapping an arm around her waist in a hug. He saw Castor do the same on her other side and they just held her as she cried.
“It didn’t end well,” Rachel sniffed as she collected herself. “Can we leave it at that for now? I don’t think I can go into it yet.”
“Of course,” Castor replied. “We are always here for you, Rach.”
“Yeah,” Percy whispered. “Yeah.”
-
“What’s your Halloween costume going to be!?” Nico exclaimed the moment Percy slid into the McDonalds booth.
“Wow, you’re real enthusiastic about that, buddy.” Percy blinked, taken aback.
Binaca groaned. “Nico. Volume.”
“It’s okay,” Percy yawned. “Just a bit early. My Halloween costume? I haven’t thought about that yet.”
“I’m going to be Fred and Cerberus is going to be Scooby-Doo!” Nico beamed. “I keep telling Bianca she should be Velma-”
“Nico, I’m too old for dressing up,” Bianca said, rubbing her temples. “I don’t have time for that!”
Nico dropped back in the booth, pouting. “You never have time for me anymore, Bia.” He grumbled. Oh gods, no . Not a pouting twelve year old.
“What if I dress up with you, Nico?” Percy blurted out. “Rachel can be Daphne, and I can be Shaggy?”
“You will!?” Nico’s eyes sparkled as he sat up in his seat. “Oh my goodness! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Bianca met Percy’s gaze and sent him a thankful look before tugging at her brother’s sleeve. “C’mon, Neeks. Father wants us to bring him back some sort of Happy Meal.”
“Wait, Bianca,” Percy exclaimed as the siblings moved out of the booth seat. “There are some really nice thrift stores around here. When Halloween gets closer, would you like to look through them for costume pieces with me?”
The daughter of Hades looked at him for a moment before the corners of her lips quirked up and she nodded. “Sure, Percy. I’d love to.”
“Cool, cool.” Percy could feel the tips of his ears grow hot from embarrassment. “Just let me know whenever.”
“I’ll do that- Hey! Nico! Stop touching all those buttons-!”
-
Something was crushing all the air out of his lungs, all of the bones in his body, all of the thoughts out of his head. Those were the things Grover noticed upon becoming aware again.
Well, this was not something he had on his bingo card this year.
“Hello?” The satyr called out from his consciousness. “Is anyone there?”
An immense pressure was all around him, growing larger and larger, and then all of a sudden there was nothing.
“ Fuck… Not again… ” A voice echoed throughout the space. A familiar voice.
“Percy?” Grover’s head snapped up urgently. “Percy, is that you?!”
“Shit… Yeah! Yeah, it’s me.”
“What the hell is going on?” Grover shouted, wading about trying to find the source of his best friend’s voice.
Percy didn’t say anything for a minute. “Don’t worry about it, man. Just wake up. I’ll be alright.”
“I’m not just going to leave you here, dude,” Grover scoffed. “No way. Let me help you!”
“Oh, G-man,” Percy said softly. “I wish it was that easy. Wake up, buddy. You can ask me about it when we are awake.”
Frustratingly enough, Percy was right. Grover was already experiencing the hazy feeling of being close to waking.
“You better let me know when we wake up! I’m holding you to that, Percy!” Grover shouted and then he was gone.
Percy sighed. “If you would ask, I would answer,” He whispered as he shifted the weight of the sky onto his back. “But you never seem to remember…”
-
“The superior breakfast food is waffles, not pancakes, you heathen!” Bianca exclaimed, tossing a particularly garish shirt in Percy’s direction. The two had honored their plans from earlier that year and were in one of the dirt-cheap thrift shops around Percy’s apartment.
Percy caught it, snickering wildly. “See that’s where you’re wrong. Pancakes are easier to cut so they must be better.”
“Hmph,” Bianca crossed her arms across her chest lightheartedly. “I guess so. But your taste still sucks- Ooh! How about this shirt?”
“Eh, I feel like if I wear that your father might send me to the Underworld. Personally.”
The shirt in question was a black printed T-shirt with a skeleton cat playing with a ball of yarn. Underneath it was printed ‘Schrodinger's Cat. Wanted Dead or Alive.’
“Yeah,” Bianca stifled a laugh and tossed the shirt back into the bin in front of them. “Hey, Percy? Are you sure you’re alright spending Halloween with Nico and I?”
Percy blinked. “Is that a problem? If it is I don’t want to like get in the way-”
“No! No you aren’t getting in the way,” Bianca rushed, turning to face the son of Poseidon. “But you don’t owe us anything. You could just stop trying.”
“Why would I do that?” Percy asked, eyes scrunched up. “I like hanging out with you guys. I like to think we are friends. Or well, cousins.”
“Oh. Oh!” The daughter of Hades flushed, burying her face in her hands. “I’ve…never actually had a friend before. Wow. This is…”
Percy snorted and tossed an orange sweater at her. “Here. Perfect for Velma next month.”
Bianca clumsily caught the sweater and held it to her chest tightly. She smiled at Percy; the most genuine expression he had seen her make. “Thanks, Percy.”
“Uhuh. Now let’s find a crappy green shirt for yours truly.”
“If you say so, psychic boy.”
“ Anyways . How’s school treating you?”
“Ugh,” Bianca wrinkled her nose as they moved to the next bin over. “It’s weird. Nico seems to like it though.”
“I asked how you liked it though.”
Bianca sighed a little bit. “The girls in my class are sorta mean. They make fun of me for not having a boyfriend or any sort of crush on anyone.”
Percy squinted. “You guys are literally in eighth grade. What does that matter?”
“Exactly!” She said, slamming her hands down on the edges of the thrift store bin. “We aren’t even in high school! Why does everything have to be about dating and shit!”
“Woah. You just cursed.”
“My dad can’t wash my mouth with soap up here. I'll be fine for now.”
-
“Hey, Percy,” Annabeth gripped the landline to her ear tightly. “Happy Thanksgiving. I know we haven’t talked in a while... I’m sorry. I’m sorry I was such an asshole. I miss you.”
“I was the bad guy, I know that now,” The girl continued, taking a steadying breath in. “I was being petty and jealous and judgmental, I know. I was scared, I guess. You got close with all these other people, and I was scared that I lost my friend. I shouldn't’ve acted the way I did, and I am sorry. If there is anything I can do to fix what I’ve done, please. Let me know. I miss you, Percy. Call me back.”
Annabeth slammed the phone back on its receiver. Her cheeks were wet and warm.
Huh. She was crying.
“Annabeth,” Her father said from the doorway. “Your brothers need the phone. Want to come help me with dinner?”
Annabeth sniffed. “Yeah, I’ll be right there, Dad. Thanks.”
She looked once more at the landline before rushing out of the room like a whirlwind and never looking back.
-
Thalia doesn’t understand how Chiron managed to convince her and Annabeth to take the side-quest of picking up a baby half-blood. The eight hour drive, turned ten by traffic was not fucking worth it.
“I understand that this is your winter break, but I must deeply urge you to take this quest. Grover is going to meet you there.”
Oh yeah. Grover.
“Annie,” Thalia said, elbowing the sleeping blonde. “We’re in Maine, get your ass up.”
“Another five minutes…” Annabeth grumbled, grabbing Thalia’s arm and cuddling it close to her chest.
“Annie~!” Thalia tugged on her arm. “C’mon!”
“Ugh. Fine.” Annabeth reluctantly opened her eyes, squinting due to the overwhelming snow all around her.
The daughter of Zeus chuckled. “Let’s go, Grover’s waiting for us.”
The two hopped out of the car and with a nod to Argus, it peeled away with a cloud of smoke and the squeal of tires. Thalia glared up at the dark castle-like architecture of Westover Hall. It looked cold and dark. Why anyone would send their kids here, Thalia couldn’t understand. But then again, she hadn’t officially been in school since she was eleven. Annabeth shivered, wrapping her arms around her shoulder and Thalia sighed. She broke free of her thoughts and ushered her best friend into the creepy castle of doom. The entrance hall was huge and in Thalia’s opinion resembled a museum more than a school. Lining the walls were all kinds of old weaponry and battle flags for days. All of it was sending chills down Thalia’s spine. She rubbed her bracelet in an attempt to comfort herself.
“C’mon,” Annabeth muttered, shaking the last of her grogginess out of her system. “We need to find Grover.”
The pair of demigods hadn’t gone very far before two figures materialized out of the shadows to greet them. “Hmm,” The woman declared. “Just what in the world are you two doing?”
Thalia and Annabeth exchanged a panicked glance but before they could even say anything the man scoffed. “Hah! Unregistered visitors are not allowed at the dance! You shall be eee-escorted off of school property!”
Thalia scrunched up her nose at the atrociously thick French accent. The way the man’s blue and brown eyes were staring at her only intensified the chills running down her spine. She stepped forward and snapped, loud and clear, feeling the Mist rustle around them.
“Oh, but we’re not visitors, sir,” Thalia said. “We go to school here. You remember. I’m Thalia. And this is Annabeth. We’re in the eighth grade.”
The male teacher narrowed his two-colored eyes. He looked at his colleague. “Mrs. Gottschalk, do you know these students?”
“Oh?” The woman blinked, as if she was just awoken from a deep trance. "I… yes. I believe I do, sir… Annabeth. Thalia. What are you doing away from the gymnasium?”
It was at that moment Grover decided to run in from who knows where. “Guys! You made it! You- uh.” He stopped short when he saw the teachers. “Haha, Mrs. Gottschalk. Dr Thorn! I, hm.”
“What is it, Mr. Underwood?” The man sneered. Just hearing the malice dripping from the tone was enough to figure out his thoughts of the satyr. “What do you mean ‘they made it’ ? These students live here.”
Grover swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. “Yes, sir. Of course, Dr Thorn. I just meant I’m so glad they made- uh, the punch for the dance! The punch is great. And they made it!”
So called Dr. Thorn glared at the group of literal children, while his coworker Mrs. Gottschalk just sighed dreamily. “Yes, the punch is excellent. Now run along, all of you. You are not to leave the gymnasium again!”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Won’t happen again!”
“Of course.”
The group of teenagers chorused as Grover shuffled them towards the echoing music from down the hall. Once they were out of earshot of the pairs of teachers, the tension in Grover’s body melted away. “Oh, thank the gods,” He laughed breathlessly. “I hate those monsters so much.”
“Are you alright?” Annabeth asked, fretting over him like a mother hen. “You look like you lost weight?”
“I’m fi- Annabeth. I’m alright!” Grover protested as the daughter of Athena picked at his curls. “It’s just really cold up here. I found two.”
“Two half-bloods?” Thalia replied, crossing her arms. “Here?”
Grover nodded. “A sister and a brother. Thirteen and eleven. Rather strong too. The last time I smelled something this strong was…”
“...Percy.” Annabeth finished for him, her face doing a weird twitchy thing.
“...Yeah.”
“Any monsters?” Thalia asked to break the awkward silence.
“Oh, yeah. That vice-principal Dr. Thorn. Not sure what he is yet, but it’s definitely him.” Grover sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “C’mon, I’ll walk you to the gym. I don’t like leaving them unattended for too long.”
The trio walked swiftly down the hall and to a door that had music so loud it pulsed through the hall. Thalia took a deep breath and pulled open the door.
“Oh, you gotta be fucking kidd-!”
-
Castor loved his friends. He really did. But why in the hell did they have to embarrass him in public.
“Guys, guys, please stop,” He begged, body racking in laughter.
“Aww, Cas,” Rachel smirked. “You don’t like the macarena?”
“No!” Castor hiccupped. “No, I don’t!”
“I don’t know, I think he might be fibbing~!” Percy said, smiling in that crooked mischievous way that had the hair on Castor’s neck stand up. He sent a pleading glance at Bianca, who was sitting on the bleachers in front of them.
“Oh. Oh, no. Leave me out of that !” Bianca laughed as she half-heartedly organized one of Nico’s stupid card games while the boy himself got some punch.
Castor sniffed. “I see. You all hate me. Be as wise as thou are cruel.”
That got a laugh out of Percy, and he tossed an arm over Castor’s shoulder. “Brennan, you are fine. Loosen up a bit, won’t y-”
“Jackson?”
Ironically, Percy’s entire body stiffened like a cat. He turned behind him sharp enough that Castor was worried about him hurting himself.
“Percy!” A familiar voice bleated and rushed to hug him. Seeing Grover must have flipped some sort of switch in his best friend, as he relaxed slightly.
“Hey, G-man,” Percy said softly, patting Grover's back. “How’s it going?”
Grover sniffed and hugged him harder. “Cold. Glad you’re safe. I’ve been having weird-bad feelings recently.”
Castor looked over at Rachel. Her face was abnormally stoic, and her fists were clenched so tightly they were white. He put a hand over one of them and she dropped the fist. Red crescents could be seen on her palm. He sighed, looked back up to his other best friend and saw him unnaturally still in a staring contest with Annabeth Chase.
Well. Shit.
-
Bianca did not like people who made her friends uncomfortable. Staring at Percy’s uncomfortable form standing opposite of that blonde girl she first met him with- (Anna? Annabelle? - she felt goosebumps on her arms. Rachel backed up to the bleachers beside Bianca and muttered. “I’m going to go find Nico. Or else I’m gonna punch someone.” Bianca nodded and closed up her brother’s card tin.
“A mortal. Really, Jackson?” The blonde girl said shakily.
Percy shook his head. “What? Me and Rachel-”
“Rachel and I.” Castor interrupted.
“-are just friends.”
“All of that aside,” Grover said, looking between his friends confused. “What are we going to do about-”
“Frankly, Annabeth. I don’t see what Percy’s friendships have to do with you.” Castor snapped, crossing his arms over his chest.
The girl, Annabeth, had the audacity to look hurt. “Percy’s my friend, Brennan.”
“Then why did you only call him once since he left camp?” Castor started. “That’s not even counting the amount of time you actually spent with him all summer-”
“Cas. Drop it.” Percy said through gritted teeth.
“No, Perce! I won’t!” The son of Dionysus exclaimed, turning to face his best friend. “You miss her but all she does is treat you like garbage! Don’t make excuses for her!”
“I’m no-”
“You missed me?” Annabeth’s voice cracked. “I… I thought…”
Percy sighed. “I do miss you. You are my friend. You’re just so- so insecure about being friends with me. You expect me to start every conversation and only be friends with you. I miss you, Annabeth, but like I said last summer, there has to be some change.”
No one spoke. Annabeth sniffled. Castor moved to sit by Bianca. Percy rubbed his hand on the back of his neck.
“Hey, Grover,” The punk girl behind Annabeth spoke up. “If that’s the girl, where’s the boy?”
“What?”
“If she-” the girl pointed at Bianca, “is the sister. Where is her brother?”
“Nico went to get us all drinks.” Bianca stated, head held high, expression not letting any of her dislike show. “Rachel just left to go get him.”
“Wait… I don’t see her hair…” Castor muttered, eyes darting around the gym.
“ Fuck. ” Percy whispered, hands holding his face. “Dr. Thorn. We need to get going, like, yesterday.”
-
Rachel found Nico close to the exit doors, trying to balance five cups of Hawaiian punch. She chuckled, tension leaving her body upon seeing the kid. “Do you want some help?”
“Huh?” Nico responded; confusion evident until he processed who was in front of him. “Rachel! Yes!”
Rachel swept over and plucked three of the cups from the son of Hades. “There you go, squirt. Let’s head back.”
“Ahem.”
Rachel’s brow furrowed as she turned around, seeing the same clean-shaven teacher with heterochromia that Percy had been making demon eyes at the entire dance. Then the image overlaid with that of a furry ghoul whipping around a tail full of porcupine-like quill.
Goddamnit.
Rachel smiled politely at the monster. “Yes? What do you need?”
“What are you doing with this child?” The beast snarled.
“Dr. Thorn, this is my friend,” Nico spoke up, his usual smile dimmed. “Is there something wrong?”
“Something came up with you and your sister’s… transcripts . We needed the two of you to… go over some things.”
Golly gee, could this guy act any more obvious?
“How about I walk him?” Rachel suggested, tone like sugar.
“Oh, no-”
“It’s really no problem,” Rachel pressured.
“I- I want her there!” Nico exclaimed.
The monster, Dr. Thorn, scowled. “Very well then. Let us go.”
Rachel nodded. I swear to all the gods, if Percy and Castor don’t show up to help us, I am going to jump off a cliff somewhere .
-
A million little things were going through Annabeth’s brain as she ran alongside Thalia and Percy.
“You want to explain this again, Kelp Head?” Thalia demanded.
“Bianca and Nico are my friends. Rachel can see through the mist. Dr. Thorn is a monster. How can I make myself any clearer?” Percy huffed.
“Maybe, I don’t know, start by saying where you know them from?!” Thalia snarked.
“Percy saved them from the Lotus Casino two summers ago.” Annabeth responded. “Their dad-”
“Is still unknown.” Percy cut her off. “The mortal was their mother. Anything else?”
“Why is such a strong monster chasing them?” Thalia questioned. “Where is it taking them?”
“Here! Through the woods!” Grover shouted. “I can smell them!”
The woods were snowy and dark. Annabeth got her New York Yankees cap out and placed it on her head. She took a deep breath in and then started running faster. As the woods spit her out by a seaside cliff, Annabeth searched frantically for the bright red of the mortal girl’s hair. There! Right by the edge. Annabeth rolled her shoulders back and ran straight into the mortal and the younger demigod, plowing them down.
“What-!”
“Hey! Asshole!” Thalia yelled, advancing with Aegis, her shield. “Eat shit!”
“Nico! Rachel! Stay down!” Percy shouted, running out behind Thalia.
The noise of Grover’s reed pipes rose and fell, growing thick roots out of the ground that wrapped all around the manticore's torso, pulling him down.
All of a sudden, the piercing sound of a hunting horn echoed throughout the woods.
“No…” Dr. Thorn gasped. “It cannot be-!” He thrashed around, breaking the roots and landing on all his legs, hissing.
Dozens of shiny silver arrows shot from the woods and into the ground surrounding where manticore was held down. The monster growled but it was quickly cut off by an arrow striking true in his shoulder.
Annabeth’s expression spasmed. The Hunters of Artemis.
Several young girls rushed out of the woods, armed with arrows and fierce expressions. “Permission to kill, my lady?” An older girl with dark hair and a silver circlet asked.
A younger girl, with full auburn curls nodded. “Permission granted, Zoë.”
“If I cannot have them alive, I will have them dead!” Dr. Thorn snarled, lashing out at where Percy, Annabeth, Rachel, and Nico were huddled.
“ Shit. ” Annabeth muttered, lunging and shoving Percy aside. Apparently, Rachel had similar thoughts as she pushed Nico aside as well. This was not enough and the two rapidly got swiped off the cliff by a falling manticore.
-
“NO!” Percy screamed, running to the edge of the cliff and looking down.
“Fuck.” Castor whispered under his breath, closing his eyes.
“Nico!” Bianca called, scooping up her younger brother and cradling him to her chest.
Grover simply looked over the cliff with mourning eyes.
“Zoë Nightshade.” Thalia’s voice was uneven with rage. “Amazing timing, per usual.”
The hunter, Zoë, scanned their group. “Five half-bloods and a satyr, my lady.”
The girl beside her hummed sadly, looking out to the horizon. “Some of Chiron’s little ones.”
“What are you doing? We need to go save them!” Castor called, looking around at his friends’ distraught expressions. “We need to help!”
“There is no helping your friends, young demigod.” The auburn-haired girl said.
“Who on Earth? Why should we listen to you? We need to go now, before it’s too late!”
“You dare-”
“Zoë.” The unnamed girl replied sharply before softening her tone. “He does not know. There is no disrespect within his words.” She turned to say something to Castor, but a voice behind him spoke before her.
“Lady Artemis,” Percy’s voice was flat, but not disrespectful. “It is nice to see you.”