𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑛𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒¹

𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝐾𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑠

‧̍̊˙· 𓆝.° ｡˚𓆛˚｡ °.𓆞 ·˙‧̍̊

PERCY TRIED SO HARD to make Grover spill the truth for months, but the satyr kept his lips sealed. It was impressive in Astoria's eyes. Nonetheless, it drove Jackson absolutely crazy, and she knew exactly how. His grades slipped, fights ensued, and nightmares of Mrs. Dodds plagued his dreams. He even reached a point where he sought after Astoria just to know he didn't hallucinate.

"I'm not just making it up in my head, right?" He paced around. "I mean, you saw it, too?"

"Yes I did, Percy." Astoria tapped her fingers on her arm. "If you really want to know then look for Mr. Brunner after school. The truth will come out then," she said, really wanting to continue studying for her exams.

That night, Astoria slipped out of her dorm and into the dark, empty hallways. If she was right, Percy would finally know the truth. As if on cue, the sea green eyes met with hers. He motioned her over to hear Grover's and Mr. Brunner's conversation.

"...alone this summer," Grover was saying. "I mean, a Kindly One at school! Now that we know for sure, and they know too-"

"We would only make matters worse by rushing him," Mr. Brunner said. "We need the boy to mature more."

"There may not be enough time. You saw her yourself! The prophecy-" Astoria blinked owlishly. Who's the 'her' they're referring to? She glanced at Percy who was even more confused as he listened to the conversation. "The summer solstice deadline-"

"Let him enjoy his innocence while he still can, Grover. As the girl already knows, there's no need for any unnecessary pressure."

"Sir, they both saw her..."

"It was his imagination," Mr. Brunner insisted. "The Mist over the students and staff will be enough to convince him of that." Astoria silently stepped back. Percy had dropped his mythology book, and it landed with a thud. The girl silently yelled at him to grab the textbook before they got caught. Snapping out of it, he picked up the book and they backed down the hall.

A shadow slid across the lighted glass of Brunner's office door, the shadow of something much taller than Mr. Brunner's schoolteacher form, holding something shaped like an archer's bow. "Let's go." Astoria whispered, dragging Percy into an empty classroom.

A few seconds later, a slow clop-clop-clop was heard, like muffled wood blocks, then a sound like an animal snuffling right outside the door. Percy and Astoria held their breaths, sweat trickling down the demigod's neck.

Somewhere away from the classroom, Mr. Brunner spoke. "Nothing," he murmured. "My nerves haven't been right since the winter solstice."

"Mine neither," Grover said. "But I could have sworn..."

As their voices faded into nothing, Astoria let out a sigh and slumped to her knees. "I am so glad I didn't get caught."

"They think I'm in trouble." Percy muttered.

"Not think," Astoria corrected, "they know." Checking to see if the light were out, Astoria stood back up and dusted herself off. "Goodnight Percy, and don't take Mr. Brunner's words too harshly." She unlocked the door and headed back to her dorm room.

After exams, Astoria began packing up to go home, although she wasn't sure she had one. After coming into this universe, nothing about her physical appearance really changed; she was just younger and her wounds disappeared. So, it was safe to say that she didn't possess another person; her soul was still tethered to her physical body for an unknown reason.