𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑛𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒¹

𝑅𝑒𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑

‧̍̊˙· 𓆝.° ｡˚𓆛˚｡ °.𓆞 ·˙‧̍̊

ASTORIA ENJOYED SPENDING TIME with Thalia for the past months. She was cool, hip, amazing, and everything in between. And her style? Astoria was her number one supporter and fangirl, and Thalia didn't seem to mind. In fact, it fed her ego everytime the mortal guffawed at her and started glowing, literally.

After the quest, Astoria's powers have grown, and her emotions began influencing her abilities. When ecstatic, there would be a light outlining her figure, only turning a searing intensity when angry. Poor Travis and Connor were the first to feel her wrath after slipping fake cockroaches under her bed covers.

Nontheless, camp was great and homey like always.

The friday before Percy's winter break, Sally Jackson called her, inviting her into the apartment. Astoria immediately agreed, knowing the third book is starting.

"I'll be there at three, Sally!" Astoria responds.

"I have cookies ready for you as well, sweetie!"

Cookies.

"I can't wait!" the girl cheered. "See you in an hour!"

"See you later!"

The call ended and Astoria wasted no time making her way to the apartment building. Now that Stinky Gabe has become artwork, the home has never felt more comfortable.

Clearing her throat, Astoria raised her hand to knock on the door.

Before she could do anything, the door opened and she saw Percy with a huge blue cookie in his mouth as both hands were preoccupied with luggage.

"Athoria (Astoria)?" he said in surprise.

"Hi?"

"Oh good, you're here!" Sally clapped. She ushered the girl inside. "Here take this container of cookies, and we'll be on our way to Percy's new boarding school. There's a blizzard coming soon, so I'll have to give you a coat, just in case."

"No worries, Sally," Astoria puffed her chest. "I brought everything that I need in my bag, including my snow jacket!"

"Smart girl," the woman patted her head. Astoria melted at the touch of warmth. "Now let's get going, kids."

They went in the car and drove off, picking up Annabeth and Thalia on the way.

It was an eight-hour drive from New York to Bar Harbor, Maine. Sleet and snow blanketed the roads and the car, but the car was warm and toasty. No one talked except Ms. Jackson. She told all sorts of embarrassing stories of Percy when he was younger, eliciting a laugh out of Astoria every now and then. By the time they arrived to Westover Hall, the sun was setting and the snowstorm was letting up.

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

Astoria was impressed to see that Rick Riordan never missed a detail about the school. It was indeed an evil knight's castle that stood like an ominious shadow.

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

"No, thanks, mom," he replied. "I don't know how long it will take. We'll be okay."

Astoria grimaced at his words. It will not, in fact, be okay.

"It's okay, Ms. Jackson." Annabeth smiled reassuringly. "We'll keep him out of trouble."

Sally relaxed a bit, comforted by Annabeth's words.

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