Chaos Brewing

Chapter 3

I woke up with more energy than I'd had in a long while. My little escapade the night before must have helped rid me of some excess energy and lulled me into a peaceful, dreamless sleep. It didn't take much for me to decide that I would be trying to go out every night if it kept me from having demigod dreams. After being plagued by them for years, it was relaxing not to have them for one night and would be even more relaxing if I could avoid them altogether from now on.

My excitement for that night's patrol would have to be put on hold as I still had to get through the day first. I groaned at the thought as I wasn't in the mood to get out of the comfortable haven of my bed. The beds at camp just couldn't compare to the luxury that my millionaire 'parents' could afford. 

After finally getting dressed for school, I dragged myself downstairs for breakfast. John sat down at the head of the table as I walked into the dining area and Jessica was already seated at his right and had probably been there for a while. John smiled when he spotted me, Jessica looked me over with a harsh eye. 

"Good morning," Jessica said with a forced, overly cheerful smile as I took my seat across from her, on John's left.

"Morning," I replied, flashing her a quick smile. Moments later, a butler, who I didn't know worked here, and a handful of obviously new staff brought in plates of food. When my plate was placed in front of me, I instinctively took hold of the edges of the plate to pick it up so I could burn a portion for my father. However, I stopped myself and passed off my action as simply pulling my plate a little closer. I then started on my stack of pancakes and assorted fruits.

I hadn't made that mistake since I'd gotten here. There was definitely something off with me. Maybe the good night's rest wasn't so good after all. 

"So, Persephone," Jessica said, popping a strawberry into her mouth. "I was thinking that it would be best for us to stop downtown at the dance academy after you get out of school. I would like to have you enrolled in some dance lessons there."

I nearly choked on my food. She hadn't been kidding about considering dance lessons after all. 

"Uh, sure," I responded, almost coughing to keep myself from suffocating on my food. Jessica looked at her husband fondly and then glanced back at me. 

"It's so exciting, you'll have a great time with it. Now finish up and get ready, you don't want to be late for school." 

I looked towards the door and saw Tiffany waiting for me. With a small nod to Jessica and John, I left for Tiffany's company and her experience of getting me to the 'proper' standard of being ready for school.

The school day was surprisingly uneventful. I managed well enough in my classes and I only caught onto a handful of judgmental looks in the halls between my morning classes. Then during lunch, the day turned into a disaster. Dick invited me to sit at his lunch table and as we walked to the cafeteria after our shared class, some of the older students cornered us in the hall, attempting to trap us outside of the cafeteria. 

There were about four of them, all much taller and bulkier than the two of us, though as a guy, and as a sixteen-year-old, I might have been a match for them. Too bad that my great grandparents had it out for me after I ended both wars they attempted to start. 

"Well looky at what we've got here, guys," one of the guys with short cut blond hair and a muscular build said, getting obnoxiously close to Dick. 

"Looks like a freshman to me, Jack," One of the others chimed. "Do ya think it's him?"

"Of course it's the Circus Freak, you moron," The blond said, grabbing Dick's shoulder and pushing him towards his lackey. "Don't you see the unnatural blue eyes? Only a freak like the Circus Freak Nerd has eyes that weird. Look at them, Brett, they're practically glowing."