𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 - 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒚 𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒙 𝒐𝒄

¸„.-•~*°˜¨ 𝑶𝑵𝑬 ¨˜ˆ°*~•-.„¸

It was an eight-hour drive from New York to Bar Harbor, Maine. Sleet and snow pounded the highway. Phoenix, Davey, Annabeth, Thalia, and Percy hadn't seen each other in months, but between the blizzard and the thought of what they were about to do, they were too nervous to talk much. Except for Percy's mom. She talks more when she's nervous. By the time they finally got to Westover Hall, it was getting dark, and she'd told them every embarrassing baby story there was to tell about Percy. 

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

Westover Hall looked like an evil knight's castle. It was all black stone, with towers and slit windows and a big set of wooden double doors. It stood on a snowy cliff overlooking this big frosty forest on one side and the gray churning ocean on the other. 

"Are you sure you don't want me to wait?" Sally asked. 

"No, thanks, Mom," Percy said. "I don't know how long it will take. We'll be okay." 

"But how will you get back? I'm worried, Percy." 

Percy hoped he wasn't blushing. It was bad enough he had to depend on his mom to drive him to his battles. 

"It's okay, Ms. Jackson." Annabeth smiled reassuringly. Her blond hair was tucked into a ski cap and her gray eyes were the same color as the ocean. "We'll keep him out of trouble." 

"All right, dears," Sally said. "Do you have everything you need?" 

"Yes, Ms. Jackson," Thalia said. "Thanks for the ride." 

"Extra sweaters? You have my cell phone number?" 

"Mom—" 

"Your ambrosia and nectar, Percy? And a golden drachma in case you need to contact camp?" 

"Mom, seriously! We'll be fine. Come on, guys." 

She looked a little hurt, and Percy was sorry about that, but he was ready to be out of that car. If his mom told one more story about how cute he looked in the bathtub when he was three years old, he was going to burrow into the snow and freeze himself to death. 

"Thank you Ms. Jackson!" Phoenix smiled exiting the car behind Percy and her friends.

The wind blew straight through her coat like ice daggers. Once Sally's car was out of sight, Thalia said, "Your mom is so cool, Percy." 

"She's pretty okay," Percy admitted. "What about you? You ever get in touch with your mom?" 

As soon as he said it, he wished he hadn't. Thalia was great at giving evil looks, what with the punk clothes she always wears—the ripped-up army jacket, black leather pants and chain jewelry, the black eyeliner and those intense blue eyes. But the look she gave Percy now was a perfect evil "ten."

 "If that was any of your business, Percy—"

"We'd better get inside," Annabeth interrupted. "Grover will be waiting." 

Thalia looked at the castle and shivered. "You're right. I wonder what he found here that made him send the distress call."

Phoenix stared up at the dark towers of Westover Hall. 

"Nothing good," Percy guessed. 

The oak doors groaned open, and the five kids stepped into the entry hall in a swirl of snow. All Phoenix could say was, "Whoa."

 The place was huge. The walls were lined with battle flags and weapon displays: antique rifles, battle axes, and a bunch of other stuff. She knew Westover was a military school and all, but the decorations seemed like overkill. Literally. Her hand darted to her wrist, where she kept her golden bracelet gifted to her by Aphrodite. She decided a knife would be a better option than a bow and arrow for the dark castle.