Chapter 2 (I Find an Old Enemy/A)
Hollywood Arts. I basically never left.
While I'd been here, it was peaceful. I knew that it would be that way, but I digress. It's so delightful there. My musical skills as a son of Apollo earned me high prowess at the school; so of course, I'm staying there another year.
I knew all of the important people there. At least, the ones I do know. Tori, Andre, Beck, Jade, Cat, Trina…and of course Robbie.
Anyway, the next day was the last day of school. So obviously, I had to work fast.
It scared me how easy it was, and I found it strange that Robbie couldn't figure it out sooner.
Lunch was when I pieced it all together. Robbie and I sat with Tori and Andre and they welcomed me back. "So where were you the last week?" Andre asked.
"Georgia. I wanted to go surprise my mom for Mother's Day." Total lie. I love my mom, but I could just send her a present…less air fare…
"Aw, that's sweet," said Tori. "So you stayed there a whole week?"
"Well, she really misses me when I'm way out here."
Beck and Jade walked up. Beck noticed I was back. "Hey, Aaron. Where you been?"
"Yeah, where? Whoops, don't care." Jade often got on my nerves, as well as other people. Like Tori. Strangely, she never seemed to diss Cat…I thought about that as I relayed the story to her and Beck.
"So, uh, how've things been since I left?"
"Fine," said Beck.
"But that substitute teacher is a little creepy…" added Tori.
"You mean that Needle guy?" That Needle guy was really Dr. Thorn, from Westover Hall. I knew just how creepy he was, but I also knew just how easy he'd be.
"Yeah, him. Don't you hate that accent?"
Everyone nodded. Trina walked by and noticed me. "Oh hey, it's that Adam kid."
"My name is Aaron, Trina." Then I realized it. Looking at her enough, she was clearly a…
"Robbie, can I talk to you for a minute? Okay, great. Come on." I dragged him off. "Two things. First, you know what Needle is, right?"
"A manticore, yeah. Can you take care of him?"
"Definitely. Now the second thing is more important. I'm pretty sure Trina is a half-blood."
Robbie's eyes widened. "Trina? Does that mean…"
"Yes, Tori's probably a half-blood too."
Robbie looked both ways, then leaned forward a bit. "Who's their parent?"
"I don't know. But I'm pretty sure it's not Ares or Hephaestus. The prime possibilities are Hermes and my dad, Apollo. I hope they're Apollos, I want to train them!"
"Amazing how they've gone pretty much undetected for 17 years…"
I looked out at Needle. "You're forgetting him."
"You said you'd handle him!"
"Yeah, but I don't know how to do it in front of all these people!"
"I'll think of something," Robbie finalized as Tori called us. "Just give me time!"
"What were you two talking about over there?" asked Andre in a rather suggestive-ish voice.
"Just…a prank I'm going to pull on Needle," I said, thinking fast.
"Prank?" Jade heard the word 'prank' and immediately tuned back into the conversation. Obviously she's a half-blood too, and I knew straightaway her parent…
"Yes, Jade. A prank on the sub."
"You probably shouldn't do that, Aaron," Tori said. "What if you get caught?"
"Tori, when I want to be bad, I never get caught."
(Brother)
Okay, I need to think of a prank, and fast! I thought to myself.
Hiding in a room between periods after lunch, I worked on ideas. Multiple thoughts were either impossible or would be too easy to figure out, but eventually an idea made itself clear. Manipulating the light around myself due to the power of Apollo, I made myself invisible to everyone around me. Just in case it didn't work, I kept a cloak of Mist around me as I snuck into the cafeteria, grabbing all the pie, and stuffing it into a sack I found in the room. I went to the classroom that Needle would be teaching in just a few minutes after, and wrote on the wall in pie filling "NEEDLE SUCKS" and then planted the pie bag in Jade's locker.
Once I was done, I went about my business as normal. And after a few minutes…
"SACRE BLEU!"
The trap deployed itself.
Some students went to see what happened. I made sure to go with them, to keep from leaving any evidence towards my involvement. Robbie, Cat, and Tori were in the crowd, so once it dissipated, they came up to me. "Was this your prank?" Tori asked sternly.
"Yup. Fun, huh?"
"You shouldn't have done that. Have you seen how strict he is?"
"Yes, I have." They didn't know it, but I knew firsthand how strict Needle was. "Chill, Tori. I'm pretty sure you're not my mother."
"And I believe I am your teacher," said a horrible French voice.
"Mr. Needle, what a surprise," I said, turning to him.
"You do realize I heard everything you said?" he failed at saying.
"Of course, Mr. Needle. I suppose you want me to come with you to the office?"
A devilish grin crossed the manticore's face. "No, no. I think I'll punish you myself." He grabbed me by the hand, and dragged me away. I yelled, "Tori! Help! Bring everyone you can!" I left her with a confused look on her face. "Trust me!" I added. That didn't seem to work, however Robbie seemed to know what I meant.
Everything was working out right.
"You did this?" Needle asked once we were inside his classroom.
"Why, yes, Mr. Needle. I did." I knew the spikes would start launching any minute, as I instinctively started to reach for my flare gun.
"You do not belong here, boy. You are not a normal human."
"Neither are you, Needle. I see you figured me out almost as fast as I figured you out."
"Demigod scum!" he howled as the destruction began. I could clearly see him in his full form now. As he took aim at me, I took a rubber band out of my pocket. As I stretched it, it turned into my bow. When he fired, I sent out a small heat wave, knocking the spines back. Then I shot an arrow into his leg.
As he howled, he burst through the wall to the outside. Jumping through, I watched as he screamed, and then willed the arrow to burst. His leg was in tatters, all over the grass. Taking advantage of his screams of pain, I took out my gun and shot him in the mouth, detonating the flare. Just as easy as I'd expected, and I didn't even need my lance.
Somehow, his head flew completely off, and landed in the grass along with all the pieces of his leg. I picked it up, looking in the eyes of my defeated foe.
"WHAT WAS THAT?" I heard Tori scream. Turning, I saw her, Jade, Cat, Robbie, and even Trina. Obviously, they saw everything, although I wasn't sure about Cat. They were all rather wide-eyed, though, so they either saw the manticore, or me shooting the teacher. I stared at them for a few seconds, but ran off with the head. Hiding around a corner, I became invisible, hiding the head in my arms as well.
Running off, I decided I'd tell them later. Once I knew for sure if all four girls were half-bloods, I'd spring it on them. I went back to class and blended in until school ended.
OMG! I'm going camping in a hotel at a beach for a week, and I can't bring my compuper! D: So Chapter 3 will take a little while longer, but it'll be Tori POV, so it's worth it :D Review!