Chapter 29

A/N: Hey. Wassup, my homies? Okay, I just spent the weekend in Berkeley. Don't blame me.

Hope you like this…and please review. I was a bit tentative about writing this chapter. Don't forget to go read The Survivor!

Aria POV

I woke up the next morning with a pit of despair lodged directly in my stomach.

"You'll be fine," James consoled me. "We can do this." He cupped my cheek and planted a small kiss there.

I leaned into his touch. "I'm scared."

"There's no need to be. We've got Edward, plus Alice and Jasper in the classroom next door. You know how capable they all are."

I nodded, but the dark lump still ate away at my insides.

I couldn't eat anything at breakfast, no matter how much Esme and Rosalie insisted.

"You'll need your energy," Esme said, in one last-ditch effort.

James ran his hand over my shoulder. "She won't eat now," he said in my defense. "I'll make sure she does at lunch."

"I will, too," Rosalie said, with a fierce determination. I smiled half-heartedly at her, mentally reminding myself to stay out of her way at lunch time.

Throughout the ride to school, James kept his hand on mine. I was grateful for that – his thoughts of comfort and safety were a million times stronger when he was touching me.

Multiple times, Bella swiveled around in the front seat to face me and took my other hand. I knew what she was thinking. She was scared, too. But she had faith in Edward; she was confident that he would be able to protect all of us should the need arise.

I tried to draw some comfort from that.

I knew I was being stupid – I had backed this idea up, after all. But it was hard not to be nervous, drawing from my past experiences with monster teachers.

James knew this. He knew all about these encounters, and though he couldn't relate, he was doing the best he could to console.

Those memories had been plaguing me since we'd decided on this plan. Each time it drifted to the surface of my thoughts, I pushed it down again. But I knew I was fighting a losing battle.

I pitied the humans, sometimes. They couldn't have such awesome lives like me.

Sarcasm fully intended.

The first four classes of the day flew by like a Pegasus that was high on caffeine.

You know, the way that time flies when you just want it to stand still? Exactly like that.

*O*

"Aria, you have to eat something," Rose said, looking worried.

I shook my head. I just knew that I would throw up anything that even dared to enter my mouth.

"Sweetie, if you don't eat, I'm going to force feed you," James whispered into my ear.

I glared up at him, but he just smiled at me mischievously. Angrily, I grabbed the slice of pizza that he was eating and took a bite.

I chewed it forcefully, as if taking out all of my frustration on that little bite of pizza.

"Happy?" I growled.

"Eat more," Bella said. She looked just as worried as Rose. "You'll need it."

"Can I eat later?" I pleaded. "Once Biology is over, I'll feel good enough to eat."

That is, if we all don't die during the class, I thought morosely.

James's hand squeezed my knee, and I didn't have to look at him to know that he didn't like that last thought.

Don't think like that, he admonished.

I turned away from him, hiding my dark, despondent thoughts.

Don't do that, he pleaded. Don't shut me out.

I felt his ankle rub against mine under the table, and he pushed the leg of my jeans up until our bare skin was touching.

I couldn't hide anything like this, when he was touching me, skin to skin. I couldn't.

Just like I couldn't muster enough courage to eat.

Just like I couldn't fight the memories of the last time I was in a classroom with a teacher.

You're not in the past, he told me. You're here. Those classrooms have nothing to do with the one you're going to go to right now.

I shuddered, doing my best to hide it from the rest of the Cullens.

You're with me, not alone in the human world. You're strong. You can do this.

"Aria?" Alice's voice pierced the reverie that James's thoughts had sent me into.

"Don't disturb her," Edward said. "They're communicating."

I sent a silent thought of gratitude towards him before sinking back into the world that had no monsters.

Just a little bit longer…

The bell rang, ending my period of respite and telling me it was time to face the monster – quite literally.

"Come on, let's go," Bella said, touching my shoulder softly.

We can do this. His ever-lasting voice of comfort once more wrapped me in that cocoon of safety.

I clutched his hand as we walked down the hallway, so much that I think I stopped his circulation.

The door creaking open sounded like the Furies of Hades screeching their worst insults at me.

I took a deep breath. I can do this.

The walk towards Mr. Banner felt like a march towards hell.

"Ah, James and Aria, is it?" he asked, pushing his glasses up his nose. I fought the urge to simply finish him off right then and there.

"Yes, sir," James said, squeezing my hand. "We're the advanced students."

He nodded, fixing each of us with his glare once. "Very well. Go take a seat."

James tugged me along the aisle of the classroom, depositing me in one of the only two empty seats left in the classroom. Bella and Edward sat right in front of us, providing that crucial line of defense.

As Mr. Banner started the class, James once again linked his ankle with mine. Comforting thoughts began to flood my brain, and I relaxed slightly from my tense position.

Start reading his thoughts, James urged me. I nodded minutely.

Focusing on the back of Mr. Banner's head, I willed myself to dive into his brain.

And was met with a mental block.

What the hell?

James, there's a mental block, I thought. What do I do?

Tell Edward, he responded. See if it's blocking him out too.

I nod again.

EDWARD! EDWARD! I scream in my mind. If you can hear me, move your head a centimeter to the left.

The head of bronze hair in front of me moves barely a centimeter to the left.

Great. I can't read Banner's thoughts, I thought at him. There's some sort of mental block. See if you can. Move your head back to the right if you can.

I waited a minute, knowing that it will take Edward some time to sort through all the human voices filtering through his brain.

Another minute, and he still hasn't moved his head.

You can't? I thought. Edward turned his head once to the left, and then once to the right. To the casual observer, he would just be thinking.

To me, this is a sign of negation. Neither of us can penetrate this mental shield right now.

So what on earth is causing it?

Might be someone else protecting him, James theorized.

I swooped in on Banner's mind again, hoping to crack some of defenses. Again, I was hit with the hard wall of thought-blocking, a pure frustration. To me, there were no cracks in this shield. It was absolutely impossible to get through.

Damnit. What type of technique is he using?

Come on, Banner, what the hell is going on, I thought, out of pure frustration. What surprises me is that Mr. Banner turned around, looked me straight in the eye, and shook his head.

What.

I think he might have noticed that I was trying to probe his mind.

Damnit, James thought. Now what?

Now we wait, and we have to have another strategizing session. Preferably with Annabeth and Percy, I responded.

Iris Message? he asked.

You know it, I answered.

So right now, there was nothing for me to do. I didn't know where the goddamned shield was coming from, I couldn't read Banner's mind, and neither could Edward.

Another strategizing session clearly needed to happen.

How could a monster perform a mental mind block? I ran through the list of mind blocks in my head (yes, I get the irony), trying to figure out which one he might use.

Seeing as he was either a monster or the helper, none of the ones that apply to demigods would work.

The only other options are methods that apply to Gods…and surely no one would shield Banner.

Right?

I pondered this new piece of information, wondering if someone really does still hold a grudge against us after the last Giant War.

Gaea is defeated. None of her minions will retaliate, unless they have a death wish.

So who else could be shielding Banner's mind?

I ran through the list again, going through the book as if turning pages. None of the methods could possibly apply to a monster alone – they simply do not possess the powers to block a demigod – or a vampire, for that matter. Their only option would be to run other things through their heads – like singing Disney songs, or reciting thing sin other languages. Since none of this is happening in Banner's head, I knew that was not the case. I couldn't even get a read into what was happening there, let alone any distractions.

And to top it all off, he seemed to be able to sense that I was trying to probe him. Either me or Edward, that is. And he wouldn't be able to sense Edward – his tactics aren't invading, like a demigod's are.

So that leaves…one option.

A god is shielding Banner. Some traitorous heavenly being has decided to wreak havoc on us barely four months after the last war. Needless to say, I will be having a very serious conversation with my father soon.

And with Chiron. This needs to be discussed, and I couldn't rely on the fact that I'd gotten every single mind-blocking technique. I might have missed some – even a demigod can.

I fidgeted subconsciously in my seat, not really aware of my movements until James placed a calming hand on my knee to still me.

I know you think it must be a God, he thought. But there might be another answer. We'll have to ask.

I know, I thought back. But we really have no idea right now. And besides that, I'm pretty sure there is no other option.

Hey, you think if we make him drunk his defenses will go down? James relayed his brilliant idea to me.

I pondered it. I don't know. Is it worth a shot?

It'll make every human in the room drunk also, but yeah, it's worth a shot, he responded.

Tell Edward. Make sure he knows what's going to happen to Bella, I warned. I wouldn't want Bella to become all tipsy and Edward to freak the fuck out. 'Cause that would be just unfortunate.

I sensed James communicating with Edward, and then Edward nodding his head in agreement.

Let the drunkenness begin.

The absurdity of the plan struck me. It was thought of on the spot, would make several humans get shit-faced, and yet, we were going through with it.

This is when the demigods start to get desperate.

I felt James concentrate, and I curled my ankle around his to give him a little bit more energy. I couldn't transfer much with the minimal skin contact, but I doubt Banner would be thrilled if I suddenly threw myself on my boyfriend in the middle of the class.

The stench of grapes began to permeate the air. It was sour, but sweet, at the same time.

James closed his eyes and flexed his arms back, making the smell even stronger.

The people a couple rows in front of us began to sway. It was working. Slowly, the entire class was put under the spell, leaving only Banner to be drowned in drunkenness.

Slowly, slowly, I felt his mind become overtaken with the haziness. His mental block was slipping away, inch by inch.

Yes, I thought triumphantly. I can hear a bit.

James squeezed my hand encouragingly.

I focused harder on probing his mind, forcing the shield away bit by bit. It was so fucking slow.

Finally, I got the first coherent thought through.

I know you're there, Aria. And reading my mind isn't going to get you anywhere.

I nearly fell off of my chair from shock.

A/N: Ooo, a cliffie. If y'all review, I just might update faster! Also, if you want Mr. Banner's POV on this chapter, make sure to mention that in a review! :)Hugs

Also, to Katie, my official favorite Anon reviewer: SEE. I UPDATED. ARE YOU HAPPY NOW? ;D

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