Half-Blood High

XX

       Jason

"Are you okay?" I asked Piper in a low tone as we walked inside. She nodded, her features drawn tight. I grasped her hand and squeezed it gently, trying to be reassuring.

The first time we'd fought Alecto had been hard enough on her. I couldn't begin to imagine what she was going through now. Even I was shaken.

"Please take a seat," Mr. Brunner gestured to an empty cafeteria table. With a jolt, I realized it was the same table Piper, Leo and I had sat at the first day we'd met.

Huh. Ironic.

Piper sat down with Leo and I on either side of her. Hazel and Frank took the seats across from us. Hazel was sprouting some deep scratches, and Frank had several bruises on his neck from Megaera's claws. Otherwise, they looked fine. 

"I will be tending to Miss Chase's injuries in the nurse's office. If the rest of you will wait here for me, I will return shortly and assist anyone else who is also hurt. In the meantime, please help yourself to anything you find in the school's kitchen." He trotted off after Percy, who was carrying the blonde girl down the hall.

"What just happened?" Leo asked quietly. His usual humor was gone, replaced by something heavier, almost like grief. It was a startling contrast to his usual, high-energy self. I felt an odd urge to shake him and make him turn back to normal.

"We... fought demons?" Hazel answered. It sounded more like a question then a statement though.

"We fought the Furies," I found myself saying. "They're monsters from Greek Mythology. They serve Hades, helping him torture the evil souls."

Piper shivered. "And one of them was teaching at our school? They really should screen the applications more carefully." When no one laughed at her joke, I squeezed her hand.

Frank was frowning. "If they're mythical creatures, shouldn't they, you know, not exist?"

Leo shrugged. "Anything is possible. Or at least, now it is."

That pretty much summed up today.

I sighed. "Look, I doubt we're going to find out what's really going on until Mr. Brunner comes back. Until then, why don't we go search the kitchen like he said?"

This suggestion earned several nods of approval as we all stood up. Well minus Piper. She was still sitting.

I tapped her arm gently, and she looked up. "Are you sure you're okay?" I whispered.

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm just going to sit here for a minute."

"Okay. I'll bring you back something."

She grinned. "Thanks."

I hadn't realized how much I had come to care for her. It felt kind of nice to be able to care for someone.

Hazel, Leo, Frank and I made our way to the kitchen. Leo flicked on the lights when we entered, illuminating the stainless steel fridge and ovens.

"Anyone got a hankering for... biscuits?" Leo pulled a ziplock bag of biscuits out of the fridge. "Are these still good?"

"They look okay." Frank inspected the bag. "Do you guys have any jelly or jam?"

"Right here." Hazel tossed him another plastic bag of those tiny jelly squares. He grinned at her, giving her a look that made her blush.

Hmmm. Definitely not suspicious at all.

Hey, if Frank liked Hazel, that was fine with me. As long as he didn't hurt her. She was one of my closest friends. She was basically like my sister.

"I found some coffee," Hazel offered. "Anyone want a cup?"

"I'll take one," Frank said.

I nodded. "Me too. And can I get one for Piper as well?"

She nodded. "Three coffees coming right up." She set to work with the coffee machine. Pretty soon, the fresh scent of coffee grounds drifted through the room.

"Smells good." I said. "I think I'll take Piper some biscuits." I grabbed a couple of rolls and some jelly packets and left.

Piper had her head in her hands, her elbows resting on the table. I sat down next to her and slid a biscuit on a napkin toward her. "Here, eat this." She pinched off a small piece and chewed slowly.

"Piper, are you sure you're alright?" I asked gently. She nodded. "Yeah, I'm just tired. And pretty weirded out." She gave a half-hearted chuckle. "Who'd have thought we'd fight a spawn of Hades who's also a math teacher?"

"I don't really see the difference between the two."

She laughed louder, her face lighting up. Seeing her smile made something in me feel a bit better.

She took another pinch of her biscuit, then pushed the last half over to me. "You need some too." I took a piece, just to make her feel happy.

"Coffee's ready!" Hazel sang as she, Leo and Frank came out of the kitchen. She set two cups down in front of me and Piper. "Enjoy."

"Thanks." Piper took a sip. She seemed to perk up a bit when she did. I copied her, and the caffeine woke me up a little. We all seemed to be feeling better after some food, considering what we'd just been through. The mood was lighter than when we'd first come in here.

The sound of clopping reached my ears before I saw Mr. Brunner. He trotted in, a leather pack in his hands. When he saw the five of us eating, he smiled.

"Does anyone need immediate attention?"

Leo raised his hand. "I do." Mr. Brunner set his pack on the table and began pulling out bandages and paste. "Alright, What needs to be bandaged first?"

Leo looked bewildered. "Oh, you meant like, medical attention, didn't you?"

Mr. Brunner nodded slowly. "Yes. What did you think I meant?"

Leo shook his head. "Never mind. I'm fine."

While Mr. Brunner tended to Hazel's arms, I risked a question.

"Sir? Where did those Furies come from?"

He froze as he placed a bandage on one of her cuts. "Never say their names." He warned me in a low voice. The others stared at him in surprise. "Names have power Jason. I would be cautious when using them."

On that creepy note, he went back to bandaging Hazel.

"Hey," Percy entered with the blonde girl, his arm around her. They were waking slowly, her occasionally wincing as she moved. "Annabeth's awake."

"Ahh, Good. Glad to see you're better. Please, take a seat." Percy helped Annabeth sit down, then immediately claimed the seat beside her. Frank passed them both some biscuits and jelly, and the dug in.

"So," Percy said conversationally, "Where did you guys come from?" He addressed Hazel and Frank, who's bruises were disappearing fast thanks to Mr. Brunner.

Leo folded his hands. "Well you see Percy, when a man and a woman really love each other-."

Percy shot him a look. "I didn't mean it like that!"

The rest of us just laughed.

"We're from Jupiter Academy." Hazel said as she took a sip of coffee.

"Oh. Cool"

Mr. Brunner clapped his hands for attention. We all turned our gazes toward him. "If I may have your attention please?"

"I know all of you must have a lot of questions, and I will do my best to answer them shortly. If you could all wait one more moment, I must phone Headmistress Pa. When she arrives, we will give you answers."

That seemed okay with me. Mr. Brunner trotted up the hall to the front desk, leaving the seven of us all alone.
. . .
Thoughts?

Peace ✌️

-SilverQuillsandRoses