{BOOK 2} Percy Jackson's Sister

I Have the Best Recipe for Punch

      "Woah," Percy said.

       Woah was correct.

      The walls were festooned with all types of weapons, it felt more like the armory than the main entrance. Flags hung high, displaying the military school's logo, making the place seem even more dangerous.

     Thalia, Percy and I all nervously fidgeted with our weapons, concealed for now. Thalia and I wore bracelets, Percy had his pen. Annabeth moved forward, us following.

    "I wonder where-" she started.

    The doors slammed closed and shut off all air that was blowing in.

     "Ooo-kay," Percy said. "Guess we'll stay a while."

      Thalia threw her bag behind a pillar and we all followed, making sure no one could see.

     We didn't make it far before we heard footsteps.

     A man and a woman walked towards us in an unbelievably stiff posture. Their hair was gray and cut short, the woman had peach fuzz growing on her face while the man didn't have stubble in the slightest. The man's heterochromatic eyes unsettled me. One was a dark brown and the other a light blue.

     "Well?" The lady said. I wasn't sure if she had asked us anything yet, I tended to zone out. "What are you doing here?"

     "Um..." Percy looked at us for help. The duo was staring daggers at us.

     "Ma'am," I began. "We're just-"

     "Ha!" The man snapped, making us all flinch. "Visitors are not allowed at the dance! You shall be eee-jected!"

      He made the e longer than it had to be and his French accent was heavy. He looked about ready to kick us back to New York.

      Instead, Thalia calmly stepped forward. She brought her hand up to his face and snapped. A loud cracking noise emitted from her fingers and a small wind blew across the room, slightly ruffling the flags.

    "Oh, but we're not visitors, sir," Thalia said. "We go to school here. You remember: I'm Thalia. And this is Annabeth, Cassidy, and Percy. We're in the eighth grade."

     I had seen Thalia do this before, manipulating the Mist, but the man simply narrowed his eyes, suspicion growing on his face.

     "Ms. Gottschalk, do you know these students?" He turned to her.

      I bit my tongue and smiled. I turned to look at Percy who was trying really hard not to laugh. I knew we were thinking the same thing.

     A teacher named got chalk? Hilarious.

    Ms. Gottschalk blinked in confusion. "I... yes. I believe I do, sir. What are you four doing away from the gymnasium?"

     Before any of us could lie even further, we heard more footsteps. Grover ran up to us, his face breaking into a smile.

     "You made it! You-"

     His smile immediately dropped from his face when he saw the adults. "Oh, Mrs. Gottschalk. Dr. Thorn! I, uh-"

    "What is it, Mr. Underwood?" snapped the man, making it abundantly clear Grover wasn't his favorite student.

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

      Grover gulped. "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!"

     "It doesn't take four people to make punch-" I reasoned. Percy slammed his hand over my mouth.

     "That punch was pretty hard to make," he said.

     "Yes, the punch is excellent," Ms. Gottschalk said. "Now run along, all of you. You are not to leave the gymnasium again!"

      We walked past them and a chorus of "Yes, sir"s and "Yes, ma'am"s left our mouths. The man didn't seem convinced. I felt his eyes bore into us, watching us as we got away.