Cecilia Holmes, Daughter of Minerva (Sherlock/Percy Jackson crossover)

Chapter 45

    I realized that I had put it off for too long— I could’ve made Claude’s demise much more traumatic if I had thought to plan ahead of time. But I didn’t really blame myself for ignoring the details of this particular task, even though it was so unlike me. I always usually planned things out and I never, ever cared about anyone other than myself. But working for Nemesis hadn’t made me hard or bitter— I had been hard and bitter before. No, working for Nemesis had changed me in a different way— it had made me a little more lazy and a little less selfish.
    But now it was time to act if I wanted to save John and the Doctor.
    It was time to break Claude’s heart.
    And, even though I could’ve planned better, it was still easy to devise his desolation.
    It shouldn’t have been.
    There should’ve been some hesitation of some kind. I shouldn’t have been able to figure out several different procedures without the sting of guilt. But it just proved that even after everything I’d been through…
    I was still the heartless monster everyone thought I was.
    “Hey, are you okay?”
    I looked up at Claude.
    His dark blue eyes stared straight into me. I blinked but didn’t look away, hoping maybe he’d be able to look into the depths of me and see what I was about to do. But he just stared and said nothing, waiting for my reply.
    I hated myself. Everything in me was sighing stupidly because of my undeniable crush on him, well, everything except for my head. My head was still developing ways to crush him more literally.
    I was obviously either in a state of surreality… or else love wasn’t as strong as I had always been told.
    I was dead inside, but I deftly gave him my warmest smile.
    “Yeah. Just tired, I guess.”
    I had always been a good actor.
    He squeezed my hand, affectionately. My heart fluttered as I glanced down at our shamelessly interlocked fingers.
    Intertwined fingers were supposed to symbolize intertwined hearts, weren’t they?    What would happen when I pulled away?



*



    Everything began to fall in to place, beginning with my lunch break.
    I chose a smelly burrito and some asparagus at the cafeteria and then turned to where Claude and I usually sat, wondering if I would regret my food choice later.
    I didn’t get to wonder long, because the Fates decided to help me out a little.
    I looked up in time to avoid crashing into the group of popular girls. I stopped, staring at each of them, dread slowly filling me. This was the same group of girls the empousa had been in, but nobody could seem to remember her the day after the incident, not even any of her close friends. That gave me hope, but some of them could still be empousai without me knowing. I examined them closely, trying to see through the Mist, but I didn’t see anything unusual.
    They smirked at me, and finally one of the girls, the new ringleader, it appeared to me, spoke.
    “So you’ve decided to cross the point of no return, huh?” she said smugly, crossing her arms.
    I knew exactly what she was talking about, but I decided to play dumb (or should I say normal?) and ask anyway.
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean,” she said with sneer, “that you decided to date the weirdest boy in school. Well done, Cecilia.” She began to applaud mockingly and the other girls joined in.
    Wow. Word really travels fast. Of course, these were gossips and Claude and I seemed to be a popular source for their ridicule and dirt.
    Ridicule and dirt.
    The dots connected so fast in my head that I was almost struck dumb.
    Almost.
    If I wasn’t a daughter of Minerva, I would’ve been speechless.
    But instead, I put my spontaneous plan into action.
    I smirked, and then forced a laugh. The girls silenced, staring at me. I wiped my eyes.
    “You girls really think I’m that dumb?” I exclaimed, giggling and shaking my head.
    They looked at each other, and then back at me.
    I sighed in fake annoyance and then rolled my eyes.
    “I’m not stupid, but I guess I can’t speak for you guys,” I snapped, but before they could rebuttle, I continued with some force, “Why do you think I have the best grades in school, huh? Why do you think I get free lunch at the cafeteria? Don’t you guys know that the weird Principle’s son you always laugh at is loaded?” I smirked at them, and then made a move to leave, but they stopped me, like I knew they would.
    “Wait, so, are you saying that…?”
    “Yeah, duh,” I said, looking at each of them, “I knew I was only going to be here for a few weeks, so I thought I’d tip the scale in my favor. So I’ll be his girlfriend, sure… until tomorrow.”
    A few gasps rose from the group and they began to whisper.
    “You’re going to dump him at Prom?”
    “No way!”
    “You’re good!”
    I smiled wryly, and then left at last. They didn’t stop me again but whispered excitedly amongst themselves about this new, juicy scandal I had given them.
    I felt very satisfied with myself as I walked to me and Claude’s usual table. The word would spread, and by tomorrow night, everyone, except Claude, hopefully, would know about my plan.
    And that would definitely rub salt in the wound.
    Claude looked up as I sat down across from him. He smiled at me and I smiled back.
    And I only felt guilty about my lack of guilt.
    But then suddenly Claude reached out and grabbed my plate.
    “Hey!”
    But before I could say anything else, he dumbed my food on the floor. I stared.
    “You know, this food really sucks,” he said, not even trying to be secretive about it. “Do you want to go out for lunch today?”
    I stared at him for a long moment.
    “Is this your way of asking me out on a date?” I asked incredulously.
    “Yep.”
    I erupted into laughter. It quickly got out of hand and tears sprang in my eyes. I literally could not stop laughing and I found it all suddenly hilarious.
    Here I was, the daughter of the two most brilliant minds of the galaxy, planning the demise of an especially unextraordinary demigod who shouldn’t mean anything to me, and yet I cared about him more than I’d cared about anyone in my entire life, except for maybe the “family” I was freeing by hurting him.
    It was all so hilarious.
    Soon I was just crying, but I masked it as laughter, wiping my eyes viciously.
    “Okay, Claude,” I forced my voice to be steady and enthusiastic, though all I wanted to do was sob. “Let’s go.”



*



    We left the school’s campus and walked to a nearby square that had several restaurants all in the same general area. Claude and I went into a fast food restaurant and, of course, he treated me.
    I took advantage of that and bought the fairly expensive items, but he remained happily oblivious.
    Oh, you stupid idiot.
    We hung out and talked about a lot of random things that I later couldn’t recall no matter how hard I tried. I figured they must’ve been really unimportant, then, and my mind had more important things to think about, anyway.
    As we walked back into the school, I could practically feel the buzz of the students. Nearly every eye turned on us as we walked by, hand in hand. Whispers became more fervent and giggles began erupting among some girls.
    Wow. Word really does spread fast.
    I glanced at Claude, but he didn’t seem to notice. He hummed quietly to himself, swinging our clasped hands and pulling me along beside him.
    We went to our lockers and swapped out our books before walking to our next class together. When we were almost to the class, I realized that I had to use the restroom.
    “Here, I’ll be right back, okay? I’ll meet you in there,” I said, releasing his hand and turning to walk back down the hall.
    “Okay!”
    I glanced back and smiled at him. He smiled and waved before facing the direction he was walking. I looked forward, just as I ran into someone.
    “Sorry,” I mumbled, stepping away, but the person grabbed my shoulder.
    “I knew a pretty girl like you wouldn’t be stupid enough to go out with a guy like him,” the jock said seductively, two of his buddies behind him shoving each other and nodding toward the two of us.
    “I’m not stupid enough to go out with a guy like you, either,” I hissed.
    “Aw, come on, babe, don’t be like that,” he said, running his hand down my back, stepping closer.
    I glared at him and jerked away, but then he grabbed me by the waist.
    That was a mistake.
    I looked up into his face as I grabbed his neck with both hands, pulling the tall teen down with all my might. I swung my leg up and my knee collided with his face. He released me but I kept a good grip on his head.
    I could’ve snapped his neck easily, and if I hadn’t been so out of practice, I might’ve by accident. But instead I shoved him as hard as I could, so he stumbled backward. I could’ve been done, but I was in a rage.
    I ran up and punched his face with all my might. He reeled over, falling onto his backside.
    Gasps rose up from the crowd surrounding us, but a couple of the guys cheered and then began to chant, “Fight! Fight!”
    And I was determined to grant their wish. I stomped toward the downed teen, cracking my knuckles, but then I heard a familiar voice.
    “Cecilia!”
    I paused and looked where the call had come from, just as a hand suddenly clamped down on my shoulder. I looked up into the face of a middle-aged teacher, who began to drag me away. Another teacher and the nurse were helping up the jock who was moaning and wiping his bloody nose.
    I tried to break free as I was walked through the crowd of students, but the man gripped my arm, firmly. Once I realized my struggle was useless, I surrendered.
    I tried to fully comprehend what I had just done and what the consequences would be, but all I knew was my heart was pounding, my hands were shaking, and my eyesight was blurred. I knew I should feel remorse or at least a little pitiful for the boy I had beat up, but I felt neither of those emotions. In fact, I was still infuriated at his insolence, though I knew I should have been expecting it.
    Blinking multiple times and trying to ignore the man’s strong grip on my arm, I began to search the crowd for Claude, whose voice I was sure I’d heard. I couldn’t find him, and I knew he was probably in class.
    But my eyes still searched.



*


    I waited outside the Principle’s office while the teacher talked to Mr. Eberhart. I could’ve easily ran away, but just because I was violent and ruthless didn’t mean I was dishonorable. I would face whatever was to come. I didn’t regret my actions, but I was worried how they would affect my plans. Would Mr. Eberhart even let me be his son’s Prom date now? Would I get expelled from the school? Had I crossed the line at last?
    I leaned against the wall next to the door, waiting to be summoned. The hall was empty except for a few last minute stragglers. I sighed and stared down at my shoes, silently.
    But then I heard footsteps approaching at a rapid pace, so I looked up. Claude gave me a stern glance which surprised me. In that moment, he resembled who he would become.
    I was stunned.
    The door next to me opened and the teacher walked out and told me to come in. But Claude put a hand on the man’s shoulder and then walked in without a word, shutting the door behind him.
    I looked from the shut door to the teacher, but he looked just as unsure as I felt. I looked back at the door. After a moment, the teacher grunted and walked away, leaving me alone again.
    I could hear voices talking inside, but they never raised above a normal tone, so I couldn’t make out the words. But finally their sentences shortened and the silence between the words became longer, and then the door opened.
    I looked at Claude’s converse.
    “My turn?” I asked, standing up straight.
    “No.”
    I looked him in the face. He smiled at me, weakly, and then glanced behind him. He shut the door to the office and then gestured down the hall.
    “Come on, we’re late for class.”
    I didn’t move.
    “I was supposed to see the Principle.”
    He took a step closer to me and looked down into my eyes.
    “You are excused,” he said, simply, “Now c’mon, let’s go.”
    He grabbed my hand and dragged my down the hall. I glanced back at the Principle’s office, and then jumped into step with Claude.
    And instead of thinking thoughts of surprise or gratitude, I plotted how I would use this turn of events in my favor.