A/N: Set between HoO and ToA and after QoAaD (written before it was published so sorry in advance if there are inconsistencies). All characters belong to Rick Riordan and Cassandra Clare.
JULIAN:
"I don't get why they're making us go to mundane high school all of a sudden," I say, more to myself than to anyone else.
"I don't think it's that much of a bad thing," Emma says. "A chance to be normal."
"But we're not normal, and don't try to tell me you want to be, because I don't believe it for a second. You love being a shadowhunter," I say.
"Obviously, but it's been so intense lately that it'll be nice to have a break and leave the worrying to other people. Older people. We can get used to just being a couple," she says.
"You know you're really cute when you talk about us like that," I say. She's lying on my bed, blonde hair splayed across the pillow, shining in the Los Angeles morning sun that streamed through the window. In winter, her runes were stark against her pale skin, but now, at the end of the summer she had a deep tan, "and you're on my shirt."
"That was kind of the idea," she says, "it means you can't put it on." There's a small smirk on her face. "You know we have time before we need to leave." She pulls a strap of her sundress down off one shoulder and I'm gone. After so long trying to hide our feelings, the novelty of finally being able to be together, carefree, still hasn't worn off. I lower myself slowly onto the bed and our lips brush against each other lightly. I'm kissing her gently, but she pulls me down onto her, smiling against my mouth. Her nails dig into my back as she grinds her hips into my crotch. If I had any semblance of control before, it's gone now. She knows how to completely undo me. I feel her tug at my belt as my hand slides gently up her leg, but at that moment the door burst open.
"Catarina's here…" someone starts to say. In my shock, I roll off the bed, dragging Emma with me, and we end up in a heap on the floor. I look up to see Kit in the doorway, clearly not knowing where to look.
"We're coming," I say. "Just…give us minute. And get out?" Kit hurries away, the door slamming behind him, and Emma bursts out laughing. "It's not funny," I say, though I'm trying not to laugh myself. "The kid's probably scarred for life."
"C'mon, Jules," she says, "it's not like he could see anything."
"No, but he's old enough to know exactly what was going to happen," I respond. I'm actually mortified, and slightly scared that he's going to tell Jace and I'm going to have to hide for the next week. Though it's still better than if it was Ty, Dru or Tavvy. Fewer awkward explanations for me. At least Helen's back from Wrangel Island now so I'm off the hook for 'the talk.' I push Emma off me, and grab my now crumpled shirt from the bed. As I'm shrugging it on, Emma stops me, and I feel her draw an iratze on my back. I look at her questioningly and she shrugs back.
"I drew a little blood. Didn't want it to stain your nice white shirt," she says nonchalantly. I shake my head slightly.
"It's completely crumpled anyway. What's a bit of blood?" I say coolly. Now that I'm back in control of the situation, I want to make her suffer, but she just smiles sarcastically at me as she leaves.
"You coming?" she asks. I glare at her and follow her out of the door.
JACE:
The shimmering portal opened on the lawn at eight on the dot. Punctual as always, Catarina, I thought. Kit is the first to step through, and he smiles shyly. Ty follows immediately after, and Kit immediately looks more confident. Those two are good for each other, they help each other a lot. It's a couple of minutes before Julian and Emma step through. Mark comes last.
"Your shirt's looking a little rumpled, Jules," I say, winking at him. I know full well why that is; Emma looks great in the dress she's wearing.
"They were having sex," Ty says. Kit glares at him and Emma glares at Kit.
"You told him?" she says. Kit looks at his feet and mutters something inaudible.
"We weren't…" Julian says sheepishly, "…yet," he adds when I raise my eyebrows at him.
As much as I enjoy watching people in uncomfortable positions, this was getting uncomfortable for everyone, including me, so I quickly changed the subject. "We're just waiting for Isabelle," I say.
"As usual," Alec adds.
"What are we waiting for, people?" Isabelle says as she strides out of the institute.
"You," I say, and look at Clary, who rolls her eyes.
"I can't believe you're wearing that to school," she says, but Isabelle just shrugs. She doesn't respond but we all know that she'd say that she always needs to look her best.
PERCY:
I was still in the shower when there was a knock at the door. Startled, I look at the clock. Paul would be leaving for school and I realise that I haven't told him that I'm meeting Annabeth and the others, rather than going with him.
"You almost ready, Percy?" he calls.
"I'm coming in later with the others. Sorry, I forgot to tell you," I shout back.
"Alright, I'll see you in class," he says.
I shut the water off. "Uh, Paul…" I say.
"Yeah?"
"You teach English."
"I know."
"I'm severely dyslexic."
"Right, gotcha. Maybe see you around school then. In case I don't, I'll say it now. Try not to burn it down."
"It's been three years, Paul, and I haven't yet!" I say mock offended. It's a reasonable request. I have been known to burn down schools before, though strictly speaking it was never my fault.
"I know. But there are nine of you this year. And five are you have big powerful dads." Again, very reasonable. My father is Poseidon, one of the gods known as the 'Big Three'. The other two being Zeus and Hades. My friends Thalia and Jason are Zeus's kids, and Hazel and Nico are Hades'. A pretty dangerous combo for us all to be in one place, but hey, what's life without a little danger. Boring. And besides, we're always armed so if anything does come for us we can kill it. Hopefully, that won't burn down the school.
"We'll be careful," I promise, and Paul leaves. I get dressed, one advantage of being the son of Poseidon is that I can dry myself instantly. Mom's still asleep, so I swipe a couple of blue chocolate chip cookies from the plate in the kitchen on my way out.
The nine of us were gathered around my locker, while we waited for the school day to start. We wouldn't get many opportunities to all be together during the day, since we're spread across the school. Annabeth, Thalia and I are all seniors. Jason, Piper and Frank are juniors, and Nico, Hazel and Will are sophomores, albeit Nico and Hazel have fake identities – they couldn't exactly enrol with birthdates before the Second World War. Jason was saying something that, honestly, I wasn't paying any attention to, when the main doors to the school were thrown open loudly. A tall, dark-haired girl strode confidently, flanked by a boy who was clearly her brother, and a blond boy who carried himself with the air of someone who knew he was the best. Six more people followed them, all confident. As the blond boy walked past, he made eye contact with me, and I fixed him with the 'wolf stare' that I learnt from Lupa, but instead of fear, a faint amusement flashed across his face. I noticed then that everyone one in the corridor was watching them.
"What's with them?" I asked.
"How are they all so attractive?" Rachel asked at the same time, taking me by surprise. She must have come in behind the other group. Rachel is our Oracle of Delphi, a mortal girl with the gift of clear sight who hosts the spirit of the oracle.
After a moment of silence, Annabeth whispered, "did anyone else notice how they were in perfect spearhead formation?"
"Maybe they're demigods?" Piper suggested.
"Well they're not from Camp Half-Blood or Camp Jupiter," Jason said.
"I'll ask Magnus if he knows them," Annabeth said. "Percy, can you ask Carter?"
"Who are Magnus and Carter?" Will asked.
"Magnus is Annabeth's dead cousin, and Carter is the Pharoah," I say. Will looks at me blankly, but the bell rings for us to go to homeroom and we separate. I walk with Thalia to class.
"I don't think Magnus or Carter will know them," she says. "I think they're just obnoxious rich idiots who think they own the ground they walk on and the air they breathe."