𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐈𝐋¹ || 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐎𝐍

𝐗𝐗𝐗𝐈𝐗

✦ 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘 ✦

IT WAS AN EIGHT-HOUR DRIVE FROM NEW YORK TO BAR HARBOR, MAINE. Sleet and snow pounded the highway. Aurora, Annabeth, Thalia, and Percy hadn't seen each other in months, but between the blizzard and the thought of what they were about to do, they were too nervous to talk much.

Except for Percy's mom who talks more when she's nervous and Aurora who took it upon herself the entirety of the ride to ease the nervous tension with random stories that made Sally Jackson crack up laughing, forgetting that they were about to embark on another dangerous demigod escapade.

"I literally almost burned down Camp." Aurora said nonchalantly as Sally burst into a fit of laughter. "Just imagine... all these monsters trying to destroy it but it gets taken down by a 14-year-old girl because she can't cook for shit."

At this point, Sally couldn't even reply anymore as she tried to calm herself down at the thought, Annabeth, Thalia, and Percy joining in laughing as the silver-haired girl pout.

"I guess I never quite mastered the art of baking," Aurora admitted with a laugh. "I'm more of a 'burnt offerings' kind of girl."

Sally grinned, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, everyone has to start somewhere. Maybe I can teach you a thing or two about baking sometimes."

Aurora's eyes lit up with excitement at the suggestion. "Really? That would be amazing! I could definitely use some help in the kitchen."

As they continued to chat animatedly about cooking and baking, Percy couldn't help but feel a swell of affection for Aurora. Watching her effortlessly charm his mom and lighten the mood with her humor, Percy marveled at her ability to connect with people and put them at ease.

He knew that Aurora had a knack for turning even the most stressful situations into moments of levity and camaraderie. And as he listened to her banter with his mom, Percy couldn't help but feel grateful to have her by his side, not just as a friend, but as someone who could brighten even the darkest of days with her infectious laughter and warmth.

By the time they finally got to Westover Hall, it was getting dark, and by that point, Sally had told Aurora, Annabeth, and Thalia every embarrassing baby story there was to tell about Percy.

Thalia wiped the fog off the car window and peered outside. "Oh, yeah. This'll be fun."

Westover Hall looked like an evil knight's castle. It was all black stone, with towers and slit windows and a big set of wooden double doors. It stood on a snowy cliff overlooking this big frosty forest on one side and the grey churning ocean on the other.

"Are you sure you don't want me to wait?" Percy's mother asked.

"No, thanks, Mom," Percy said. "I don't know how long it will take. We'll be okay."