This part is pretty much like the old version of Hades's Invitation from the part where Zeta woke up after the broken incense incident to the time El tried to cut Z with celestial bronze. But there are some deleted parts and several editing since Z wasn't supposed to know the truth about her friends. Anyway, enjoy reading!

"Zeta!"

I am surrounded with sweet smell. This smell gets stronger and stronger that it disturbs me so much. I am forced to open my eyes.

"Umm..."

"Zeta! I'm so glad you wake up!"

I saw Charlie, all black and blue, yet smiling so wide that he makes me think I'm the best thing in his life.

"...What happened?" I sit myself up. My body hurts from lying on the rough stone floor.

"Nothing serious, don't worry! The bottle broke and the incense spilt, so everyone fell asleep. Well, there might be a little problem since the headmaster came right when your thunder hit the pig and fell asleep after the odor spread, but this place is used to trouble... er... don't you think so?" Charlie explains things cheerfully, but sounds doubtful at the end of his explanation.

What did he say just now? When your thunder hit? I thought it was just a dream!

Well, I'm in more serious trouble than Charlie might think! If the headmaster saw the thunder, what will happen to me then? Will I be expelled again like last time? No way, I've just felt being welcomed for the first time. I have El and Charlie here, no matter how nasty Bradley is. I don't even mind the Pig anymore, but leaving Bradley would mean the I would have to be alone again! I don't want it! No way! It's not fair! I don't even know what brings the thunder, but they can't take me away from my companions!

Suddenly my eyes burst into tears.

"H-hey! Zeta, what happened?" Charlie seemed panicked, I am not so sure since my view is blurred by teardrops. Somehow I also see a black, skinny figure on the open door.

"Charlie, Z! What's on?" I recognize Elvis's voice at once, "I was in the crazy headmistress's office when a kid from your class rushed in and told me you were fighting, Char, then the headmaster left and told me to wait, but she didn't come back so I came here! Tell me, why's everyone asleep?"

"Oh, it's just... Well," I notice Charlie glancing at me.

"What's with you, Z?" Elvis approached us. God, he's going to laugh at me now, seeing me crying like this, "Since when you're a crybaby? I thought you're so keen on acting tough."

I glare at him, annoyed, "I'm NOT a crybaby," I know El was just trying to make me laugh, yet my temper isn't in the mood of tolerating his sarcasm.

"Hey, I'm not serious! Just tell me what happened, okay?"

Charlie retells the story to El, then glancing at me again, "As for Z..."

I give a glare that shuts their mouths. I can't let them know I'm crying because I'm afraid I'd be expelled and lose them, can I? No way, they'll definitely laugh at me. Especially El. He's so going to laugh real hard.

"Char, when do you think these guys would wake up?" asks El.

"In a few minutes, I set it so."

"Then you had better rush to the infirmary to avoid suspicion, you're all bruised, you know! As for you, Zeta, you can help me make up something for the headmaster, right? I am supposed to be ignorant, you know."

"Yeah, sure," I nodded, "Hey, Charlie."

"Yes?"

"About your bottle..."

"Oh, it's okay really! I guess I'll take care of this mess for a while before going. Why don't you guys go ahead?"

"Let's go, Z," El drags me away.

"Well, see you later then."

As we walk away, I turn back towards Charlie for a while. Is it just my stupid hallucination, or did I just see the shattered bottle pieces fly and reform a complete bottle in Charlie's hand?

"Uh..."

"How are you feeling, Ma'am?" I ask the headmaster as she wakes up.

"What happened? I'm supposed to be in the 6th grade Spanish class...," says the headmaster.

"Zeta said you fainted in the class, so she brought you here, do you have anemia, Ma'am?" Elvis backs me up.

"I thought... I thought I saw... There was a fight in your class, right? And then... Then there was a thunder..., then I felt sleepy...," the headmaster inquires me.

"Oh, you must have been dreaming, Ma'am. George Cline took away Charlie Mitchell's stuff. When Charlie wanted to get his stuff back, Cline hit him. That's all. There was nothing like thunder, Ma'am! Not in a nice weather like this!" yeah, George Cline is Mr. Pig's real name (you can't be thinking that his birth name is Mr. Pig, can you?)

"You're right, Miss Skye. Thank you for the help by the way. How are the kids doing now? They are not fighting anymore, right?"

"No, Ma'am, but Charlie was hurt pretty bad so I sent him to the infirmary. Everything is under control!"

"You can return to your class now, Miss Skye," said the headmaster, "—and would you mind calling Mr. Cline for me?"

"I mind," what am I saying?

"Excuse me"

"I-I mean... Of course, I don't mind, Ma'am. I'll get him now, if you'd excuse me," wait, I think someone need to gag the Mr. Pig first!

"Uhm, Ma'am?"

"Yes, Miss Skye?"

"I think you shouldn't be too hard on George Cline," I can't believe I'm saying that. Even Elvis looks surprised, "It's normal, I mean, boys are always naughty, aren't they? He has got detention from Miss Kidjo anyway..."

"Really? I though Miss Kidjo never gives detention."

Whoops, "This time she does, Ma'am. I believe Cline's cleaning the rest room now."

"Wow, maybe I'll call for him later. You may leave, Miss Skye! I still have something to do with Mr. Lacroix," the headmaster shoos me away.

It takes an effort to ensure everyone that there was nothing like indoor thunder, and that narcolepsy disease was spreading in class so everyone fell asleep (I was jesting, JESTING! Of course they know about Char's potion). Once the class is settled, I run to the infirmary to check on Charlie and Mr. Pig. There I find the Mr. Pig hides behind his blanket at the sight of me, crying for his mamma like a wimp.

"I have a superpower," I threaten him, "—and I won't hesitate using that on you again if you dare speak a word about it! Not a word, not even for the headmaster, you got it?"

"...Y-yes... j-just don't do it... no..."

I feel like laughing hard. I can see Charlie from the corner of my eyes, trying to keep himself from laughing, "One more thing."

"If you mess up with me and my friends, I think you know what you'll get!"

"Y-yes... I-I will not disturb you again... I-I p-promise..."

I copy his sneer and leave the infirmary with Charlie. We meet Elvis on the way, "Three cheers for our big liar!" he punches my shoulder likely.

"Hey, don't call me that!" I talk back at him.

"You should have seen her giving the headmaster a piece of her mind, Charlie!" Charlie laughs a little as he listens to El, "And you haven't seen her threaten that big idiot. By the way, I think you owe me an explanation about your 'superpower', don't you think so, Z?"

I tell them what happened at my old school, then what happened with Mr. Pig, "It happened just like that... I have no idea what the hell it was!"

El and Charlie exchange looks, "You don't happen to have the same though with me, do you?" Charlie says to El. Elvis smiles at him, then they both burst into laughter.

"What?" I ask.

"Hey, Zeta," El pats my shoulder as he laughs, "I think, no, we think that you're maybe one of us!"

"What do you mean?" What are they laughing at?

"I'm trying to tell you that you might be a half-blood too."

Half-blood? What the hell are they talking about?

"El, try your pen-knife," said Charlie.

"You're right, Char!" El pulls a bronze pen-knife from his pocket.

"W-What are you going to do, El? Put it away!" I panic.

"It's okay, Z, this is celestial bronze. It won't hurt you at all if you are mortal, but well, if our guess is right, then it might hurt. Don't worry, though, it will only be a small scratch!"

Mortal? I don't get a word what they are talking about. The way El say it, it's almost as if he and Charlie aren't 'mortal'. Are they some kind of vampire or something like that? Something 'immortal'?

But that kind of thing only exists in stories, right?

El gently pulls my hand and makes a small cut on my fingertip, a drop of blood sneak out of the cutting, "Ouch!"

"Are you okay, Z? Sorry, I—"

"It's alright. Just. Explain. What. The. Hell. Is. Going. On."

Charlie gives Elvis a look, then they both smirk, "It turns out our guess is right after all."