Scarred Siblinghood - A Percy Jackson And The Titan's Curse Fanfiction

1 - I Put My Mediocre Italian Skills to The Test

The Friday before the winter holidays Percy's mum took me and Percy to a new boarding school. We picked up our friends Annabeth and Thalia on the way.

It was an eight-hour drive from New York to Bar Harbor, Maine. Sleet and snow pounded the highway. Annabeth, Thalia, Percy, and I hadn't seen each other in months, but between the blizzard and the thought of what we were about to do, we were too nervous to talk much.

By the time we finally got to Westover Hall, it was getting dark, and Sally Jackson had told Annabeth, Thalia and I every embarrassing baby story there was to tell about Percy.

Thalia wiped the fog off the car window and peered outside. "Oh, yeah. This'll be fun."

Westover Hall looked like an evil knight's castle. It was all black stone, with towers and slit windows and a big set of wooden double doors. It stood on a snowy cliff overlooking this big frosty forest on one side and the grey churning ocean on the other.

"Are you sure you don't want me to wait?" Percy's mother asked.

"No, thanks, Mom," Percy said. "I don't know how long it will take. We'll be okay."

"But how will you get back? I'm worried, Percy."

"It's okay, Ms. Jackson." Annabeth smiled reassuringly. Her blonde hair was tucked into a ski cap and her grey eyes were the same colour as the ocean. "We'll keep him out of trouble."

Percy's mom seemed to relax a little. She thinks Annabeth is the most level-headed demigod ever to hit year 9. She's sure Annabeth often keeps Percy from getting killed. She's right.

"All right, dears," my mom said. "Do you have everything you need?"

"Yes, Ms. Jackson," Thalia said.

"Thanks for the ride," I added.

"Extra sweaters? You have my cell phone number?"

"Mom–"

"Your ambrosia and nectar, Percy? And a golden drachma in case you need to contact camp?"

"Mom, seriously! We'll be fine. Come on, guys."

Annabeth, Thalia and I followed Percy outside. The wind blew straight through my leather jacket like ice daggers.

Once my mother's car was out of sight, Thalia said, "Your mom is so cool, Percy."

"She's pretty okay," he admitted. "What about you? You ever get in touch with your mom?"

Thalia was great at giving evil looks (like me), what with the punk clothes she always wears – the ripped–up army jacket, black leather pants and chain jewellery, the black eyeliner and those intense blue eyes. But the look she gave Percy now was a perfect evil 'ten'.

"If that was any of your business, Percy–"

"We'd better get inside," I interrupted. "Grover will be waiting."

Annabeth looked at the castle and shivered. "You're right. I wonder what he found here that made him send the distress call."

I stared up at the dark towers of Westover Hall. "Nothing good," Percy guessed.

The oak doors groaned open, and the three of us stepped into the entry hall in a swirl of snow.

All I could say was, "Whoa."

The place was huge. The walls were lined with battle flags and weapon displays: antique rifles, battle axes, and a bunch of other stuff. I mean, I knew Westover was a military school and all, but the decorations seemed like overkill. Literally. My hand went to the chain on my jeans, where some of my larger lethal weapons (e.g., double headed axe, sword, bow and arrow, mace, nun-chucks, chakram). I could already sense something wrong in this place. Something dangerous. Thalia was rubbing her silver bracelet, her favourite magic item. I knew we were thinking the same thing. A fight was coming.