𝒍𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒛𝒆 - pjo x hp [₂]

xxxvii. the exception

𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐀 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐊𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐋. The kids were absolutely wild—and she's seen the Gryffindor common room after some wild parties. So that was saying a lot.

"This is worse than public school," Kayse muttered, his hand that was intertwined with Raya's pulling her close. "And I mean, that's saying something."

Raya hummed lightly in agreement. 

There were black and red balloons all over the gym floor, and some students were kicking them in each others faces, or trying to strangle each other with the crepe-paper streamers taped to the walls. Some of them shouted as they climbed the actual walls and a group of students cheered when they fell. Kids made out in secluded corners, sloppy and unsure and a little bit too public for Raya's liking.

"There they are." Grover nodded toward a couple of younger kids arguing in the bleachers. "Bianca and Nico di Angelo."

Raya followed his gaze, noticing the two of them.

The girl wore a floppy green cap, like she was trying to hide her face. The boy was obviously her little brother. They both 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. His sister seemed to be scolding him about something. She kept looking around like she sensed something was wrong.

Raya was pretty sure they weren't arguing in English. Their mouths didn't make the right shapes to be speaking the language. If she had to guess, based on last name alone, it was probably Italian.

"Do they know?" Raya asked Grover, still watching the siblings but keeping it subtle.

Grover shook his head. "You know how it is. That could put them in more danger. Once they realize who they are, their scent becomes stronger." Grover looked at Percy, and he nodded as if he understood the smell.

Raya wondered if the empathy link let him a little bit.

"So let's grab them and get out of here," Percy shrugged.

He started forward, but Thalia put her hand on his shoulder. The vice principal, Dr. Thorn, had slipped out of a doorway near the bleachers and was standing near the di Angelo siblings. He nodded coldly in the group's direction. His blue eye seemed to glow.

Raya knew he hadn't been fooled by the Mist... but seeing the way he watched them was still a little unnerving. He wanted to know why they were there.

"Don't look at the kids," Raya ordered quietly. "We have to wait for a chance to get them. We need to pretend we're not interested in them. Throw him off the scent."

"How?"

"We're four powerful half-bloods," Raya reminded them. "And we've got a Wizard and a goat."

"Exactly," Thalia agreed, which Raya found the tiniest bit surprising. "Our presence should confuse him. Mingle. Act natural. Do some dancing. But keep an eye on those kids."

"Dancing?" Annabeth asked.

Thalia nodded. She cocked her ear to the music and made a face. "Ugh. Who chose the Jesse McCartney?"

Grover looked hurt. "I did."

"Oh my gods, Grover. That is so lame. Can't you play, like, Green Day or something?"

"Green who?"

"Never mind. Let's dance."

"But I can't dance!"