Daughter Of Lightning - Book 3 (A Percy Jackson x OC Fanfic)

CHAPTER 2

(Percy's POV)

A weird thing about military schools: kids go absolutely nuts when there's a special event & they get to be out of uniform. I guess it's because everything's so strict the rest of the time, they feel like they've got to overcompensate or something.

There were black & red balloons all over the gym floor, & guys were kicking them in each others faces, or tried to strangle each other with the crepe paper streamers on the walls.

Girls moved around in football huddles, as usual, wearing lots of makeup & spaghetti-strap tops, brighl colour pants & shoes that looked like torture devices.

Every once in a while they'd surround some poor guy like a pack of piranhas, shrieking, giggling, & when they finally moved on, the guy would have ribbons in his hair & a bunch of lipstick graffiti all over his face.

Some of the older guys looked more like me—uncomfortable, hanging out at the edge of the gym, trying to hide, like any minute they have to fight for their lives. Of course, in my case, it was true…

"There they are." Grover nodded toward a couple of younger kids arguing in the bleachers. "Bianca & Nico di Angela"

The girl wore a floppy green cap, like she was trying to hide her face. The boy was obviously her little brother. They both had dark silky hair & olive skin, & they used their hands a lot as they talked.

The boy was shuffling some kind of trading cards. His sister seemed to be scolding him about something. She kept looking around like she sensed something was wrong.

Annabeth said, "Do they...I mean, have you told them?"

Grover shook his head. "You know how it is. That could put them in more danger. Once they realize who they are, their scent becomes stronger."

He looked at me, & I nodded. I'd never really understood what half-bloods "smell" like to monsters & satyrs, but I knew that your scent could get you killed. The more powerful a demigod you became, the more you smelled like a monster's lunch.

"So let's grab them and get out of here," I said.

I started forward, but Nora who was still holding my hand pulled me back.

The vice principal, Dr. Thorn, had slipped out of a doorway near the bleachers & stood near the di Angelo siblings. He nodded coldly in our direction. His blue eye seemed to glow.

Judging from his expression, I guessed Thorn hadn't been fooled by Thalia's trick with the Mist after all. He suspected who we were. He was just waiting to see why we were here.

"Don't look at the kids," Thalia ordered. "We have to wait for a chance to get them. We need to pretend we're not interested in them. Throw him off the scent."

"How?"

"We're four powerful half-bloods. Our presence should confuse him. Mingle. Act natural. Do some dancing. But keep an eye on those kids."

"Dancing?" Annabeth asked.

Thalia nodded. She cocked her ear to the music & made a face. "Ugh. Who chose the Jesse McCartney?"

Grover looked hurt. "I did."

"Oh my gods, Grover. That is so lame. Can't you play, like, Green Day or something?"

"Green who?"

"Never mind. Let's dance."

"But I can't dance!"

"You can if I'm leading," Thalia said. "Come on, goat boy."

Grover yelped as Thalia grabbed his hand & led him onto the dance floor. Annabeth smiled.