𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞

Chapter 19

The book opens and the screen shown the chapter title
'Annabeth Does Obedience School'

They stand in the shadows of Valencia Boulevard, looking up at gold letters etched in black marble
'DOA RECORDING STUDIOS.'
Underneath, stencils on the glass doors
'NO SOLICITORS. NO LOITERING. NO LIVING.'
It's almost midnight, but the lobby is brightly lit and full of people. Behind the security desk sits a tough-looking guard with sunglasses and an earpiece.
Sereia turns to Annabeth and Grover.
Sereia: Okay. You remember the plan.
Grover: The plan.
He gulps.
Grover: Yeah. I love the plan
Annabeth: What happens if the plan doesn't work?
Sereia: Don't think negative.
Annabeth: Right. We're entering the Land of the Dead, and I shouldn't think negative.
Sereia takes the pearls out of her pocket.

They begin to tense. Sirius and Remus keep looking at Sereia.

|Sereia: They don't seem like much of a backup in case something went wrong.|

"Did you need them?" asks a third year. "Yeah" They begin to worry even more.

Annabeth puts her hand on Sereia's shoulder.
Annabeth: Im sorry, Sereia. You're right, we'll make it. It'll be fine.
She gives Grover a nudge.
Grover: Oh, right. We got this far. We'll find the master bolt and save your aunt. No problem.
Sereia looks at them both, gratefully.

|Sereia: Only a few minutes before, I've almost got them stretched to death on deluxe waterbeds, and now they are trying to be brave for my sake, trying to make me feel better.|

She slips the pearls back in her pocket.
Sereia: Let's beat some Underworld ass.

"Language Miss Potter!" scolds McGonagall. "English, Greek, Latin, Atlantean and Parseltongue ." says Sereia grinning. Sirius laughs. Snape sneers at them.

They walk inside the DOA lobby. Muzak played softly on hidden speakers. The carpet and walls are steel grey. Pencil cactuses grow in the corners like skeleton hands. The furniture is black leather, and every seat is taken. There are people sitting on couches, people standing up, people staring out the windows or waiting for the elevator. Nobody moves, or talks, or did much of anything.

|Sereia: Out of the corner of my eye, I can see them all just fine, but if I focused on any one of them in particular, they start to look ... transparent. I can see right through their bodies.|

The security guard's desk is a raised podium, so they have to look up at him. The man is tall and elegant, with chocolate-coloured skin and bleached-blond hair shaved military style. He wears tortoiseshell shades and a silk Italian suit that matched his hair. A black rose is pinned to his lapel under a silver name tag. He stares at Sereia with narrowed eyes and tiled head. Sereia reads the name tag, then looks at him in bewilderment.
Sereia: Your name is Chiron?
He leans across the desk. Sereia can see her reflection in his classes. His smile is sweet and cold.
Man: What a precious young lass. Tell me, mate, do I look like a centaur?
Sereia: N-no.
Man: Sir.
Sereia: Sir.
He pinches the name tag and runs his finger under the letters.
Man: Can you read this, mate? It says C-H-A-R-O-N. Say it with me: CARE-ON
Sereia: Charon.
Charon: Amazing! Now: Mr Charon.