Annabeth Chase and the Titan's Curse

Chapter 3 - We go to military school

Percy's mother, Sally, was great. She talked non-stop during the eight-hour trip from New York to Maine, filling the awkward silence between us demigods with relentless chatter. I don't know how she managed to do it, especially seeing that we were driving through a blizzard, sleet and snow pounding the car, but she never seemed to falter.

Percy didn't seem to like it as much though, seeing as Sally was talking totally about him as a kid. Thalia and I learnt all sorts of things, like when he was one, Sally had showed him the cake she'd baked for him, and he'd crashed straight into it, flattening it completely and coating himself in icing.

I couldn't help but laugh at all her stories, especially seeing that Percy had gone bright red in embarrassment. He looked like he wanted to throw himself out of the car while it was still going. He was the only one relieved to finally arrive at the Westover Hall, despite the mission ahead of us.

"Oh, yeah," Thalia said, peering outside through the blizzard. "This'll be fun."

I didn't agree. The boarding school was an old castle, made of black stone and set above a cliff that over looked the raging ocean on one side and pointy forest on the other. The castle had all of the traditional features, towers and slit windows and massive barricaded doors. The only thing that would have completed the picture was a wall, but I was disappointed by its absence.

"Are you sure you don't want me to wait?" Sally asked, turning to look back at us.

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

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

Percy blushed even brighter. He looked ready to jump into Tartarus.

"It's okay, Ms Jackson," I said, smiling reassuringly. "We'll keep him out of trouble."

Sally relaxed slightly. She and I got along pretty well, having chats about Percy and what stupid things he'd done lately. She knew that she could trust me.

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

"Yes, Ms Jackson," Thalia said, smiling slightly. "Thanks for the ride."

"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."

Thalia and I grinned at each other as we slid out of the car. Percy looked so hot and flustered that I wouldn't have been surprised if the snow started to melt around us.

Sally blew us some kisses, wished us luck and waved as she drove off. We huddled together as the wind howled around us, making me cold instantly, despite my thick coat, heavy boots and ski cap. I was wishing I was back in the car now, with the heater on full blast.

"Your mom is so cool, Percy," Thalia said, watching Sally's car disappear from sight in the falling snow.

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

Instantly, the air got colder, if that was even possible. I swear I could feel electricity popping around me as Thalia glared at Percy. I wasn't feeling real safe just then, trapped between the two most powerful demigods alive.

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

"We'd better get inside," I interrupted, hoping to stop Thalia from frying Percy. "Grover will be waiting."

Thalia looked up at the castle, thankfully forgetting her anger. "You're right. I wonder what he found here that made him send the distress call."

"Nothing good," Percy suggested.

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The entry hall of the castle was amazing. It seemed to stretch for ages and was packed full of weapons: swords, battle axes, spears, bows, arrows, shields, muskets, rifles, armour. Battle flags hung from roof and a carpet stretched out before us.

"Whoa," Percy said.

I agreed, if I could find my voice.

Snow was swirling in from the open door behind us, but none of us were tempted to close it. As amazing as it looked, the place had a feeling of danger. I could already sense the presence of a monster. Percy and Thalia seemed to also. Percy stuck his hand into his pocket as if reassuring himself that his pen-sword was there and Thalia rubbed her silver bracelet.

I tapped my side, making sure my Yankees cap was there before sliding my hand inside my jacket, feeling the comforting firmness of my knife. If we had to fight, I needed to know that my weapons were ready at hand.

"I wonder where -" I started to say when the doors behind us slammed shut.

"Oo-kay," Percy said. "Guess we'll stay a while."

From the far end of the hall came some strains of music. It sounded like the kind you'd hear at a dance. I sure hoped not. I'd never been one of the girls who love to dress up and dance. I'd rather have been studying.

We stashed our over night bags behind a pillar so they wouldn't get in our way. Hopefully we'd remember to come back for them later. Starting down the hall, we hadn't got far when a man and a woman marched toward us, just appearing out of the shadows.

They were both dressed in dark military uniforms and walked straight-backed, arms swinging at their sides. Their hair was cut short and they had stern faces. Immediately, I felt like I should be saluting them.

"Well?" the woman demanded. "What are you doing here?"

"Um . . ." Percy said, looking helpless. I just hoped that he wouldn't come up with a story like he'd done with Medusa, back on our first quest. He'd told her we were orphans who had got lost from our circus caravan. "Ma'am, we're just -"

"Ha!" yelled the man. "Visitors are not allowed at the dance! You shall be eee-jected!"

He had a French accent strangely, so strong that it made understanding him slightly difficult. He had a handsome face with a strong nose and square jaw, but his eyes ruined it. One eye was blue and the other was brown. It gave him a lopsided, demented look, especially seeing that both of them were looking at us maliciously.

Thalia quickly took care of that. She snapped her fingers, throwing a sheen of Mist over the man and woman. Chiron had showed me that trick years ago, but I'd never been able to master it. Magic and such things were not my expertise.

"Oh, but we're not visitors," Thalia said. "We go to school here. You remember: I'm Thalia. And this is Annabeth and Percy. We're in the eighth grade."

The man narrowed his eyes, and I felt for a heart-stopping minute that he hadn't been fooled. But then he turned to the woman beside him, who had a dreamy look on her face all of a sudden.

"Ms Gottschalk, do you knew these students?" he asked her.

I heard Percy stifle a laugh beside me, obviously finding it funny that a teacher was called Got Chalk. If we weren't in danger at the moment, I probably would have laughed too. Maybe later though.

"I . . . yes. I believe I do, sir," Ms Gottschalk said, blinking contentedly. Then she frowned at us. "Annabeth. Thalia. Percy. What are you doing away from the gymnasuim?"

I sighed, relieved that we'd made it. Then Grover ran up.