Moonlit Tides

Chapter 3

So you've met Bessie! Yay. Cows are great. Anyways, I've been trying to update more regularly, but school is taking up a lot of my time. Here goes.

Also, I'm using the Titan's Curse for the plot. I don't own it, it's Rick's, just wanted to put that out for proper credit.

3rd person pov

The night with Bessie had been something new, but forgotten as time went on. Days at camp sped by and Persephone had gone back to school. One that would actually accept her was hard to find, Gabe made sure she didn't forget.

The school year had been a drag so far, so Percy was relieved to hear from Chiron over winter break. A quick quest to pick up a couple of demigods. Strong ones too, according to Grover.

That led to where she was now, heading to Westover Hall in Michigan. Percy was presently in the backseat of her mom's car with Annabeth as Thalia lounged in the front seat. She groaned as her mother recalled yet another embarrassing baby story.

Persephone didn't mind too much though, it was something that made her mom smile. A rare occurrence as of late. Thalia smirked at her from the rearview mirror as Sally gushed on about a particularly messy bath she'd given her years ago.

Persephone winced as they hit a bump on the icy road. Gabe gotten mad after she spilled his beer on the already stained carpet. He should have been glad she opened it for him.

She had bruises running along her back and covering her ribs. He was not a forgiving person.

Thankfully no one seemed to notice her grimace as they continued. Snow softly fell as they drove and their hot breath fogged the windows. A wave of heat from the air vents hit Percy, it was steadily warming her bones.

Her teeth stopped chattering by the time the car pulled in front of the large foreboding school. The military academy stood tall and daunting, like a castle, on a snowy cliff overlooking the ocean.

The three girls got out after promising to keep a certain daughter of Poseidon out of trouble. Sally fussed over them more before driving away. She gave them a quick wave as she rolled out of sight.

Thalia sighed after she left and said, "Your mom is so cool, Jackson."

"She's pretty okay," she admitted.

Then she asked about Thalia's mother, immediately wishing she hadn't. The look the punk gave her, with the torn army jacket and leather pants and the chains, was an evil ten.

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

Annabeth interrupted her, saying that they should head inside. It was cold and Grover was waiting, so they went in without a word.

The three of them stepped into the entry hall, the wooden doors closing with a long groan. Percy couldn't help but be amazed as she looked around the huge room.

There were weapons and battle flags lining the walls, old rifles and ancient battle axes. A bit overkill if you asked her. Something felt off though, there was something dangerous. Percy's hand went to her pocket and gripped her lethal pen. Thalia was rubbing her silver bracelet, Aegis in disguise. A fight was coming.

Annabeth had started to speak, but was cut off by the front doors slamming shut.

"Oo-kay," Persephone mumbled.

"Guess we'll stay awhile."

Music echoed from the opposite end of the hall, something you'd dance to. They continued after stashing their overnight bags behind a pillar. It hadn't been long before a man and woman marched out from the dark to intercept.

The pair both had close-cropped gray hair and military uniforms sporting a red trim. They walked stiffly, as if metal rods were strapped to their spines. The man was clean shaven, but the woman had a wispy mustache.

"What are you doing here?" The woman barked.

Crap.

She realized they didn't have a plan for this. She hadn't even considered that someone might question a few kids sneaking into school, too focused on finding Grover that the group hadn't given it a second thought. They didn't even talk about how they'd get inside.

"Ha!" The man snapped suddenly, making her jump.

"Visitors are not allowed at the dance! You shall be eee-jected!"

The man sounded like he was French, pronouncing his J like in Jacques. He was tall and thin, sporting a hawkish face. Percy found it hard not to look up his nostrils, flaring whenever he spoke. He had one icy blue eye and a hard brown one.

She figured he was about to throw them out when Thalia did something strange.

The daughter of Zeus snapped loudly, the sharp sound echoing. It carried a gust of wind with it that washed over all if them. It seemed to even rustle the stiff banners along the walls.

"We're not visitors, sir." Thalia said seriously.

"We go to school here. You remember: I'm Thalia. And this is Annabeth and Percy. We're in eighth grade."

The man narrowed his eyes, but he seemed to be hesitating. Clearing his throat, he looked at his colleague beside him.

"Ms. Gottschalk, do you know these students?"

Persephone bit her tongue to stifle her laughter and passed it off as a cough. A teacher named Got Chalk? They had to be joking.

"Yes. . . I believe I do, sir." She frowned at the three girls.

"Annabeth. Thalia. Percy. What are you doing out of the gymnasium?"

Grover burst in, breathless before they could answer and nearly blowing their cover.

"You made it! You-" he paused when he saw the two teachers, stammering.

"What do you mean, they made it? These students live here."

"Yes, sir. Of course, Dr. Thorn. I just meant, I'm so glad they made. . . the punch for the dance! The punch is great. And they made it!"

Thorn glared at them and Percy thought one of his eyes had to be fake. She just didn't know which one. A dark look passed over his face before he let them go.

The four of them scurried down the hall to the gym. Thalia explained that Chiron had taught her how to use the Mist as they went. Persephone had wondered why he hadn't shown her too.

So here it ends. Sorry about the wait, AP homework takes up too much of my life. I'll be working on the next one for now.