The Shadow Summoner | Book Three - PJO Universe

two

FOOD AND CONVERSATIONS

Sally Jackson was a witch to rival Circe. She had transformed Meg from a street urchin into a shockingly pretty young girl.

Megs dark pageboy hair was glossy and brushed. Her round face was scrubbed clean of grime. Her cat-eye glasses had been polished so the rhinestones sparkled.

She had evidently insisted on keeping her old red sneakers, but she wore new black leggings and a knee-length frock of shifting green hues.

Sally had figured out how to keep Megs old look but tweak it to be more complementary. Meg now had an elfish springtime aura that reminded Ariana very much of a dryad.

Apollo choked back a sob.

Meg pouted. "Do I look that bad?"

"No, no." He managed. "It's just..."

"Ignore him, he's very dramatic." Ariana said, cleaning up her school supplies and shoving them into her backpack.

"Well," Sally Jackson said with forced cheerfulness, "how about I make some lunch while you four ... talk."

She gave Percy and Ariana a worried glance, then headed to the kitchen, her hands protectively over her pregnant belly.

Meg sat on the edge of the sofa. "Percy, your mom is so normal."

"Thanks, I guess." He picked up a stack of test preparation manuals from the coffee table and chucked them aside.

"I see you like to study." Apollo said. "Well done!"

Percy snorted. "I hate to study. I've been guaranteed admission with a full scholarship to New Rome University, but they're still requiring me to pass all my high-school courses and score well on the SAT. Can you believe that? Not to mention I have to pass the DSTOMP."

Ariana, too, had been offered a place if she wanted it but to be truthful Ariana still didn't know if going to New Rome University was what she wanted.

Still, no matter what she chose Ariana was going to complete her senior year. At least then Chiron would stop nagging her at trying a normal life.

Her argument to the centaur was that camp half blood and the gods were her normal. It was all she had ever known.

There had never been a time in her life when she ever doubted the existence of the gods since she had been brought up around it.

How could she question it?

Still, Chiron persisted she at least gave normality a chance. He said it would be good for her character building and to get away from camp.

"The what?" Meg asked.

"An exam for Roman demigods." Apollo told her. "The Demigod Standard Test of Mad Powers!"

Ariana frowned. "That's what it stands for?"

"I should know. I wrote the music and poetry analysis sections."

"I will never forgive you for that." Percy said.

Meg swung her feet. "So you're both really demigods? Like me?"

"Afraid so!" Percy sank into the armchair, leaving Apollo to take the sofa next to Meg. Ariana sat on the side of Percy's armchair. "My dad is the godly one - Poseidon."

Percy looked at Ariana to introduce herself. "Oh, my dad is Hades."

Apollo furrowed his eyebrows. "Hey! I thought you were the daughter of Hades and Persephone, legacy is Poseidon? Don't hide your divinity Ariana Parker!"