The Fallen Goddess...PJO

Chapter 2

Armani pov

The weird thing about military schools is that the kids go absolutely nuts when there are special events, and they get to be out of uniform. I guess it's because everything's so strict the rest of the time, they feel like they've got to overcompensate or something.

There were black and red balloons all over the gym floor, and guys were kicking them in each other's faces, or trying to strangle each other with the crepe-paper streamers taped to the walls. It was basically a bunch of Ares kids trying to fight to the death. 

The girls moved around in football huddles, the way they always do, wearing their best makeup, extravagant clothes and heels. Every once in a while they'd surround some poor guy like a pack of piranhas, shrieking and giggling, and when they finally moved on, the guy would have ribbons in his hair and a bunch of lipstick graffiti all over his face. 

Some of the older guys stuck to looking uncomfortable, hanging out at the edges of the gym and trying to hide, like any minute they might have to fight for their lives, which was crazy cause we were doing the same thing. Basically, it was a typical awkward middle school dance.

'That was close!" Grover said. "Thank the gods you got here!"

Annabeth, Thalia and I greeted Grover with a hug, while Percy gave him a weird handshake.

It was good to see him after so many months. The last time I saw him was when he was cross-dressing as a female Cyclops. He'd got a little taller and had sprouted a few more whiskers, but otherwise, he looked like he always did when he passed for a human. He wore a red cap on his curly brown hair to hide his goat horns, baggy jeans and trainers with fake feet to hide his fury legs and hooves. He was wearing a black t-shirt that said 'Westover hall: grunt'. I wasn't sure whether that was Grover's rank or the school's motto.

"So, what's the emergency?" Percy asked.

Grover took a deep breath, "I found two."

"Two half-bloods?" Thalia asked, amazed. "Here?"

Grover nodded.

I assume finding more than one half-blood is rare from everybody's reaction, so...if it's rare, that means danger and danger means death. So basically this is another life-threatening quest, being Percy's friend is never easy. Huh...

"A brother and sister," the satyr said. "They're eleven and thirteen. I don't know their parentage but they're strong. We're running out of time, though. I need help."

"Monsters?" Annabeth asked.

"One." Grover looked nervous. "He suspects. I don't think he's positive yet, but this is the last day of the term. I'm sure he won't let them leave campus without finding out. It may be our last chance! Every time I try to get close to them, he's always there, blocking me. I don't know what to do!" Grover said, looking at Thalia desperately.

"Right," she said. "These half-bloods are at the dance?"

Grover nodded.

"Then let's dance," Thalia said.

"Who's the monster?" Annabeth asked.

"Oh," Grover said and looked around nervously. "You just met him. The vice principal, Dr Thorn."

"Oh! There they are," Grover nodded towards a couple of younger kids arguing in the bleachers. "Bianca and Nico Di Angelo."

The girl wore a floppy green cap like she was trying to hide her face. The boy was obviously her little brother. They had dark silky hair and olive skin, and they used their hands a lot as they talked. The boy was shuffling some kind of trading cards, and his sister seemed to be scolding him about something. She kept looking around like she sensed something was wrong.