Chapter 1

589 16 3
                                    

Isen's POV

I sat hunched over my computer in the library, eyes exhausted from staring at the blue screen for such a long time. When I looked over at my best friend Blyke, he also appeared to be pretty fed up with our task and had simply logged off and laid his head on the desk. His scarlet hair was splayed out in all directions like an explosion of red paint around his head. I rolled my eyes and went back to my research but couldn't help frequently looking over at Blyke to see if he was truly asleep. I understood why he was tired. Roughly a week ago, Headmaster Vaughn had given us a special task, to track down "high-tiers" and invite them to Wellston, as our numbers were seriously dropping. Naturally, we were honoured because who doesn't want a task from the head himself!? However, I had to admit, after a week that produced nothing, the novelty was wearing off.

I was just preparing to give up for the day when I spotted John stalking towards us. This can't be good. I realized that Blyke was still asleep and shook him hard, hissing 'Get up! John came in!' in his ear. He lifted his head off the desk immediately and blurted 'I'm awake.' I had to stifle a laugh because his hair was all sticking up around one side as if he had gelled it that way. I jumped up and ruffled it to help it resemble normality just as the King reached our table. John, well, there is no way to describe him other than plain scary. His face is permanently set in a scowl and everything about him, his gait, speech, even his black hair, all scream aggressiveness. I felt myself shrink under his gaze, feeling like a mere ant compared to this great monster looming over me. I tried to compose myself but must have failed miserably for both John and Blyke looked at me as if I was crazy.

'He's not that scary, Isen,' Blyke muttered under his breath, nudging my arm as he said it. John visibly rolled his eyes at us before getting straight to the point.                   

'What have you found?' he demanded, glaring at both of us. Well, we're doomed. We have absolutely nothing. I was trying to find the words to say when Blyke stepped in for me.

'Nothing yet,' he said with no hesitation, 'but we are working on it.'

'If you haven't found anything, why are you sitting here doing pointless research? You're clearly expected to get out and find the high-tiers yourselves.'

Blyke and I both knew this but we had decided it would be easier to go out with a destination in mind, which meant a bit of research first. John stared at us unblinkingly as we tried to find an explanation. After a good 30 seconds, he sighed.

'I'll do it myself then.'

The King shut his eyes and when he opened them again, they were glowing. He seemed to look past us and was clearly concentrating hard because he seemed be staring straight at us even though I knew he wasn't. A minute passed and then the golden glow died down and he gave us a single word, 'Manhattan,' before striding out the way he had come.

I let out a breath I hadn't even realised I'd been holding and slumped against my chair, resting a hand over my eyes. Blyke chuckled and poked me in the side.

'Cheer up,' he said, 'at least we have a lead now. You're good at this type of thing, I'm sure you'll figure it out.'

I lifted my hand slightly, touched by his compliment. In the end, I nodded and replied, 'I guess, but there's no way I'm doing anything else today. There are only three days till the summer holidays, let's go out and have some fun. I'm sure Remi is bored.'

Blyke brightened as well. 'Yeah.'

The next day...

'Yes!,' I exclaimed, looking over at Blyke in triumph.

'What,' he said in complete monotone, dragging himself over to my side of the table.

'I found it, the exact address and the people who live there! We have all the information now, we can go to the headmaster at last!'

Blyke finally showed some interest. 'Wait, really?' he said. Clearly he didn't believe me.

'Yes, Upper East Side of New York. Three people living there: Paul Blofis, Sally Jackson and a guy named Percy Jackson who is definitely the one with the ability. I found numerous news reports of unexplained events around that area and Percy seems central to most of them.'

'Wow we'd better go then!' Blyke said excitedly, rushing back round the table and shoving his belongings into his rucksack with so much enthusiasm about getting out of the library that it was hard not to follow suit. 


UnKnown Powers (An UnOrdinary/Percy Jackson crossover)Where stories live. Discover now