The house of night wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Sure, I still struggled with the more conventual learning environments, but I excelled in my Parkour, Fencing, and Drama classes. When we first met, Professor Jason and I just seemed to click, and he quickly became my favorite teacher. That might also have to do with his class was teaching me how to scale buildings. Professor Mars was a great fencing teacher but quickly learned I was many areas ahead of the rest of his students- so I was the one that helped him with demonstrations. I still had to learn the fencing rules, but it was clear the only one comfortable with dueling me was Professor Mars. I was okay with that. Now my relationship with Professor Cassiopia is interesting. On the one hand, she guided me with being a novice in acting, matching me with the suitable Monologues and roles. On the other hand, she led me to discover that Nyx added a gift under my demigod belt.
Why would getting another gift be a bad thing? Let me explain this gift to you. In the vampyre world, some vampyres are given gifts by the vampyre goddess Nyx. Those gifts are called affinities, and a vampyre can have an affinity for virtually anything. Antipoe, for example, has an affinity for healing which I quickly discovered after watching another student fail a fall the second day of my parkour class. Nyx decided to have some humor and gave me an affinity for Acting. Usually, this is a great honor, and I should be grateful- which I am. But, for me, this means I have to fly 1,345.5 miles to a different House of Night so that my Affinity can be better nurtured as the Tulsa House of Night's Drama teacher also has an affinity for Acting. I also don't have any choice in the matter as Antipoe set everything up with the High Priestess of the Tulsa House of Night when she heard about my affinity.
So here I am, sitting in a private jet trying my best to find some gold drachmas. It was 6 am in NYC, so I knew my mom and Paul would be up. I, however, wanted to talk to the one person I haven't been able to speak to these past weeks. Annabeth. I became so focused on doing well at the place that I needed to stay for at least four years that I forgot to talk with my girlfriend. My mom told her what happened because I got a letter from Annabeth three days after getting to the House of Night. The letter wasn't a fun one to read. I could tell how worried she was for me, and I couldn't answer any of the questions she had. I had the answer- but I'm not sure if it will ever be the answer she's looking for.
"Percy," I heard Antipoe say as she walked over from her seat. "What are you looking for?"
"A gold Drachma. I have someone I need to tell about this relocation." I said and pulled one out of my bag, setting it on the table. "Do you have anything that can make a rainbow?"
Antipoe smiled and gave me a small table light out of her bag. It was made of copper and had a crystal attached and suspended so when the light was on the light would hit the crystal. "Chiron gave this to me when I had to leave camp for the House of Night. I still use it from time to time." She gave me a warm smile. "I've been using it more often since you were marked. Just turn the light on, and it will create a rainbow. Much easier than trying to use water droplets."
I smiled at her and set the light on the table in front of me. Antipoe sat across from me as I called Iris to connect with Annabeth. I sat back and watched as the message formed, and it showed Annabeth walking around camp with a clipboard with Travis Stoll. I smiled, thinking of fond memories of the cabin inspections. What I would give to be woken up at the crack of dawn to another cabin counselor to inspect my cabin of one. Maybe Chiron will allow me to have some nostalgia days after I make the change. My moment of happiness quickly faded as I felt a lump in my throat as I listened to what they were saying.
"I just don't know what to do," Annabeth said, her voice shaking. "I tried writing him a letter, but he hasn't responded. I talked with his mom, and she just gave me a sympathetic look and told me to give it time."
"You gave him a lot of heavy questions and choices you wanted him to answer," Travis said as he and Annabeth stopped walking. "It's only been a week."
Annabeth nodded and looked at her clipboard. "I know, I just want to know- everything is happening to him. If the roles were reversed, I'd want him to want me to answer these questions. Make the choices."
"Well, maybe he's ready to give you those answers," Travis said, noticing my face, and Annabeth turned around and saw me. "I'll let you guys talk this out." He left before taking the clipboard to continue the cabin inspections.
"Hey, wise girl," I said, my voice breaking. I chuckled and rubbed my neck. "I'll be honest- I uh, I took so long because didn't know what the right way to tell you." Annabeth nodded, and I took a deep breath. "This journey I am going on is only going to end in two ways; I am going to di,e or I am going to change into a vampire and outlive everyone. Including you."
"I know," Annabeth said, and her expression changed to one of worry. It wasn't pointed towards my answer; it was pointed at me.
"I don't think we should keep dating," I answered, and Annabeth nodded, understanding masking her worry. "If we keep dating, it will only end in heartbreak for either of us. You deserve to have a normal high school experience. I can't give you that."
"You don't have to explain it," Annabeth said, and she gave me a kind smile. "Percy, you think about others before yourself- you know that?" She chuckled a bit, and I saw tears welling in her eyes. "Promise me that you'll stay, my best friend? I don't think I'll be able to sleep without knowing what you're up to."
I smiled and chuckled, nodding a lump forming in my throat. "As long as you promise to continue being a Wise Girl."
Annabeth chuckled and nodded, "Deal, Seaweed Brain."
"Alright, now that the emotional stuff is out of the way," I said, taking a hard left out of the sad zone. "I am being transferred to the Tulsa House of Night. I'm no longer going to be living in New York."
"Tulsa!? Like Oklahoma?" Annabeth exclaimed, and I saw familiar faces gather around behind her. "When did this happen?! Is this also why you decided to break us off?"
"Okay, first thing," I said and heard the chuckles from the growing crowd and Antipoe. "It was decided by my High Priestess that I would be transferred to Tulsa yesterday. I was gifted an affinity for Acting by Nyx, and the Drama teacher there also has an affinity- so she would be a better Vampyre mentor for me. So my Dorm got packed, and I'm currently in a private jet..."
"You're flying!?" Annabeth yelled, and I couldn't help but start to chuckle.
"Hey, wise girl," I said with a smile. "Zeus can't touch me, or he'll be violating a treaty between him and Nyx. None of the Gods can really."
"Lucky bastard!" I heard Conner yell out, and then Chiron scolding him for language usage.
"Second question," I said, getting more serious. "I knew us being together wasn't a good idea the moment I finished your letter. I'm just terrible at communicating things fast."
I heard the crowd gasp as if they were surprised I wanted to break up with Annabeth, which caused Annabeth to roll her eyes and shake her head. "Keep me in the loop, Seaweed Brain." Amusement laced her words as she started to relax.
"Well, I'll let you go," I said, smiling at her. "I should get some sleep. It will be 10 am esteem time when I'm in Tulsa. Fledglings when."
"Sleep well, Percy," Chiron said, getting in the frame. "Is Antipoe there with you?"
"Merry Meet, Chiron," Antipoe said, and I noticed how she leaned over me. "Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again."
Antipoe turned the light off, and she smiled at me before putting the light in my backpack, and without a word, she went to the back of the plane. I decided not to worry about it and got as comfortable as I could, slowly falling asleep knowing we would be in Tulsa when I woke up. It felt nice knowing that Annabeth took it well.
When we got to Tulsa, everything started to move faster than it had before. Antipoe and I arrived at the House of Night less than an hour after exiting the plane. I was immediately faced with just how different a House of Night would be from the New York House of Night. It wasn't in the middle of a metropolitan area; I could see stables in the far-field. The more surprising thing that I noticed was how open the campus was. It reminded me of camp, and I was 1,345.5 miles away from it. However, my wonder was short-lived when I heard Antipoe start to address someone.
"Neferet! Merry Meet!" Antipoe called out before taking the woman's (who I assumed to be Neferet) forearm and shaking it. "That you for accepting my transfer request for Percy."
"It was a pleaser reserving that request," Neferet said, her red hair getting caught in a slight breeze allowing me to see the lace-like tattoos that framed her face. Her attention then turned to me, and she initiated the vampyre greeting with me. "It's a pleasure to see you joining our students here in Tulsa."
"It's a pleasure to be here," I said and started to look around again. "Everything is just so open."
"Yes, it is," Neferet said with amusement in her voice.
"I trust you will take care of Percy while he is here?" Antipoe said, interrupting Neferet before she could continue to talk to me.
"Of course," Neferet said, and I looked over to see her looking remarkably relaxed. "I will say Vento is eager to meet her new Fledgling, and I'm sure Percy would like to meet his roommate."
"I'm sure he is," Antipoe hummed and then put her hand on my shoulder, squeezing it. "While you show him around, I'll help your Warriors set up his dorm."
Neferet led me around with that final statement, and I met with Professor Vento, who had just a bit too much energy for 9 am. That's not to say Professor Vento was not kind. I just wanted to get into my new bed as soon as possible. At least I wouldn't have to go to class the next day. We got to the student common-room area, and there was a group of students hanging around one of the TVs; Neferet noticed them and led me to them with a smile on her face.
"Ah, Mr. Maslin," Neferet said, causing all of them to look back at us. "I'm glad to of run into you; this is Percy Blofis. He'll be your new roommate."
The guy sitting on the edge of the couch looked at me and then stood up to greet me. I took his forearm and shook it with a smile. "Nice to meet you; I'm Damien."
"I'll let you two get to know each other; I'm sure Antipoe will let you know before she's leaving." Neferet commented before walking off.
Damien motioned for me to sit with him and the three girls he was sitting with. "So, I do have to mention something before we become roommates," Damien said in a more severe tone, looking at the girls who I just noticed her watching my every move. "I'm gay; if that bothers you, then I suggest you head to Neferet's office."
I'll admit that I was shocked about the idea that Damien thought I would be bothered by him being gay. Then I remembered I wasn't in New York anymore. So I just nodded and fixed my bag on my shoulder, and sat next to Damien on the couch.
"Thanks for letting me know," I said, setting my bag down. "With all due respect, I don't care."
I watched as Damien's expression grew a bit amused, and he relaxed. "Good to know. Now that I know you're not going to freak out, these are my three best friends. Stevie Rae Johnson, Shaunee Cole, and Erin Bates." He pointed to each girl respectfully.
Stevie Rae, who, if I didn't know better, would have mistaken her for a daughter of Apollo, gave me a sweet smile waving. Shaunee had significantly relaxed and smiled, eyeing me up and down. Erin followed Shaunee but also messed with her hair ever so slightly.
"Is it true that you're a demigod!?" Stevie Rae blurted out, and I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Yes, it is," I said, relaxing. "Posideon is my dad."
"So, is Blofis just a coincidence?" Shaunee asked, and Erin perked up.
"Or! Did you change your last name to sound like a fish?" Erin continued, and that's when I noticed just how similar Shaunnee and Erin acted.
"Well, Blofis isn't the last name I was born with," I answered, and they both gave me a look like I was a giant dork. "I changed it to match my step-dad. He was the first person I saw when I got Marked, and he got me to the House of Night within 20 minutes during evening rush in NYC."
"That is adorable!" Stevie Rae said, causing me to chuckle, which led me to yawn. "Oh! You just got here, didn't you?"
"Yeah, Neferet showed me around some," I explained and rubbed my neck. "I'm so used to being in bed by 10 am sharp that I'm getting a bit sleepy."
"Then I have perfect timing," I heard Antipoe's voice behind me and turned around and smiled. "You're things have been moved into your new Dorm. I do hope to see you again. Merry Meet, Merry Part, Merry Meet again."
She then left, and Damien stood up with some pep to his step. "Let's get you situated into the dorm."
We said our good "nights" to the girls, and Damien led me to the dorm. These were the people I would be growing close to here at the Tulsa House of Night.