Ataraxia | wtm |

Demonic Teacher | Part 1

𓆩♡𓆪

"Who would like to read?" Darius questioned getting up and lifting the first book in his hand, gazing intently at the cover. Tracing the outline of the figure on it, he recognized her at first glance.

"I would," exclaimed Annabeth, Thalia, Nico and Grover at once.

They mutely stared at each other for a moment. Then the outburst followed.

"You all literally cannot read. Did all of you forget you are dyslexic?"

"The books are in Greek so we can read just fine. And anyway, Grover, you cannot put your input in here! You were with her from the very beginning, so naturally you know everything," Thalia complained turning towards him.

"That's the thing! Because I know everything I wouldn't falter in between as it's all in the past for me," Grover protested trying and failing to convince her.

"Execution of appropriate expressions is essential when reading out loud," Thalia sassed back at him shutting him up immediately.

"And you must be under the false impression that you can," Nico retorted back giving her a side-eye.

Thalia scowled at him defiantly, leaning forward just to smack him for that comment.

Nico backed up and pushed Jason in front of him who unfortunately received the blow aimed at him.

"Ow! Thalia!," Jason groaned trying to soothe the pain he received.

"My bad," Thalia cringed, retreating to her seat but saw Nico smiling smugly behind him.

"You little--," She tried to push past Jason struggling to get a hold of him.

The gods watched the exchange with great amusement and saw the others look unfazed like it was a daily occurrence.

"Is this normal?" Apollo whispered looking highly entertained by the scene unfolding in front of him.

"Dad, believe me, nothing about any of us is considered even remotely close to normal," Darius just sighed with exasperation at the chaos created just because of one question.

"How about," Darius announced loudly knowing if he didn't intervene now it would just escalate even further, "Annabeth you read first and then each of us will take turns after completing a chapter. And you both," he pointedly fixed them with a glance gesturing them to take a seat, "no more trying to strangle each other."

Both of them sat down silently.

No one ever wanted to be on the end of his disapproving stare. He could make you feel guilty even if you hadn't done anything wrong with just a look in your direction.

Darius passed the book to Annabeth and in the same way he had done, she gently traced the figure of her best friend.

She still remembered the last conversation they had. How Lea had patiently listened to her and comforted her when she suddenly broke down as everything became too much for her.

Zalea understood her. She completed her.

When Annabeth thinks of giving up, Zalea is there encouraging her to keep trying. Where Zalea listens to her heart first, Annabeth is there to make a rational choice.