5th Period
Percy sat at his desk, bored, wishing that he was still on break.
"Do you remember class on what I've told you in the beginning of the first semester?" Ms. Hecate asked.
Hecate sighed when no one answered, "Well I told you we'll be doing a project about creating a virus and fixing it, right?"
The class groaned as they remembered the project the teacher talked about months ago.
"Good news, you'll be working with a partner and it isn't a solo project." Ms. Hecate announced.
The class let out a collected cheer. Ms. Hecate held a finger out to silence the class. "However, I'll be choosing your partners."
The cheers turned into groans as soon as Ms. Hecate told them.
"Please assemble into your groups once I tell you your groups." Ms. Hecate instructed.
"Alright, now Dakota you'll be with Sam-"
Percy tuned out the rest of the pairings until she got to his, "-Percy you are with Luke".
Percy froze. Luke; the one who pushed him down the stairs on the first day of school, and he happens to be the biggest enemy of his half brother, is now Percy's partner.
Great.
He glanced at Luke who was smirking and motioned for Percy to join him at the empty computer besides him.
Percy sighed and pushed down the overwhelming feeling of uneasiness as he gathered his things before joining Luke.
"Well Jackson, I guess you'll be stuck with me until the end of the semester." Luke let out a small laugh while popping something into his mouth.
"It's just for this class Luke."
Luke let out a louder chuckle, "We will see about that." He popped more into his mouth.
"Pardon my manners Jackson, would you like an olive?" Luke asked sliding the jar of olives that was hidden out of his sight closer to him.
"I'm not a big fan of olives." Percy said as something in the back of his mind was screaming at him. He couldn't figure out what, but the uneasy feeling was now in full drive.
"Suit yourself, Jackson." Luke let out another chuckle at Percy's dismay.
A quiet knock interrupted the class as a office-student-aid entered the classroom with a pass in hand.
Ms. Hecate let out a quiet curse as she took the pass from the student, and gave them a quick nod to dismiss them.
"Percy Jackson you are needed at the main office." Ms. Hecate read the note out loud.
Percy's face drained at the announcement. Why was he needed at the main office? A tugging feeling in his gut made him glance at Luke who was smiling.
Percy ignored his expression and gathered his belongings before snatching the pass from Ms. Hecate's hand and making his way towards the main office. He bumped into Jason who also had a pass.
"Percy! I got a pass saying I'm needed at the main office. What do I do? Am I in trouble?" Jason hurriedly spoke in a panic.
"Slow down. I got the same pass too. I'm not sure why? But knowing you got the pass as well makes me feel a bit better."
"That makes me feel worse. What happened if someone died and they're gathering us to break the news." Jason said his voice raising in pitch with anxiety.
"That scenario didn't even cross my mind. I'm sure it's fine Jason. I don't think they tell us like that if someone died. I think they would've sent us to the counselor's office for that reason."
Jason let out a breath of relief, "I think that's the most reasonable thing I ever heard you say. You're right, they will send us to the counselor's office. I didn't think you had it in you to come up with a reasonable counter argument."
Percy stopped walking, "Excuse me?" Percy didn't think Jason had it in him to insult him to his face.
"Did you guys get the same pass?" Thalia asked joining them in the walk towards the office.
"Oh my Gods! Someone DID die!" Jason exclaimed his breath picking up pace.
"Someone died?" Thalia asked with raised brow.
"What? No - Jason we just went over this. No I don't think anyone died. There needs to be another explanation as to why the three of us are needed at the office." Percy tried to reason with the panicked Jason.
"You think Triton got the same pass?" Thalia asked.
Percy stopped again, "Shit I forgot! No Triton didn't get the pass, he had an allergic reaction earlier and was taken in to the emergency room."
"Maybe he's the one who died."
"No one died Jason! I would've known if he did, way before the office will tell me. Again we're going to the office not the counselors."
Jason didn't look convinced this time. Percy rolled his eyes at his persistence to think someone died.
They rounded the corner to the main office underneath the stairs. Thalia took initiative and grabbed the doorknob before turning it.
As soon as they entered, the main office was filled with muffled shouting. The receptionist and the office staff were staring down the office hallway with wide eyes.
The staff took one glance at the cousins before motioning for them to go down the hallway.
"You three are needed in the principle's office down the hall."
The three shared a look before preceding the receptionist instructions. As they drew closer the two voices became recognizable, as it's their fathers.
Poseidon felt his face heat up as he shoved down the urge to strangle the principal in front of him.
This wasn't the first time he talked to the principal as he often came down here to settle the situations between Triton and Luke.
This one however, is the first time he was joined by his brother, and they glowered at the sorry excuse of a principal.
The principal was under the influence of something as he stumbled when he walked, and was slurring his words. He was a chubby man with his Hawaiian shirt bunched around his protruding belly, his greasy hair fell in front of his eyes when he stumbled.
"I have nooo idea what you two are talking about? No one entered the school that wasn't supposed to."
"We literally got a confession of someone poisoning my son on school grounds" Poseidon said through clenched teeth.
The principal; Mr. Dionysus shrugged, "Like I said, there were no visitors that entered the school premises today."
"Is that alcohol I smell on your breath?" Zeus growled.
Mr. Dionysus eyes widen. "No."
Zeus raised his voice "Unbelievable! You know if I didn't know your father I'll be marching to the school board, and heaven forbid-"
A knock on the door stopped from Zeus from finishing his threat.
"Come in." Mr. Dionysus squeaked out.
The door opened with Thalia standing in front of Jason and Percy.
Poseidon exhaled in relief, seeing his youngest son unharmed lifted his heart a bit. He turned back to the principal who was cowering in the corner.
"I don't understand how you let in strangers come into the building? I was told security was one of the best in the country."
Mr. Dionysus gulped, "Sir. How many times do I have to tell you that there were no unknown men that entered the school premises?"
"Then explain this!" Poseidon slammed the letter he received onto Mr. Dionysus's desk.
"I just got a letter threatening my son's life with a allergic reaction, which he had an attack on your school grounds! The letter predicted how he would've consumed them, and I don't know about you but putting olives in someone's water bottle isn't normal."
Poseidon took another breath, "There's only one man who've made these threats, and I'll ask again; how could you let him in? How could you let this happen?"
"Mr. Olympion, please listen." Mr. Dionysus pleaded.
Poseidon felt his insides light on fire as the principal continued to deny his incompetence. "No. You're the one who needs to listen. I was told that this school is one of the most secure schools in the world. How is it that you let an unknown man into this school? That man could've been an active shooter for all we know!"
"Mr. Olympion, what I'm trying to say is-"
"He's right, and I never agree with him. There's no excuse, I have two children attending to this school. Now, my nephew is in the hospital from a man who wasn't supposed to be on school grounds. Explain."
"IF YOU IDIOTS WOULD LISTEN OR LET ME TALK!" Mr. Dionysus yelled back.
Poseidon raised a brow at the principal. Ahh, Mr. Dionysus wanted to go on that route then. He glanced at Zeus, whom the principal interrupted. Zeus's face was entirely red and his eye started to twitch.
Mr. Dionysus coward back into his corner, as realized what he did.
"Mr. Dionysus, I thought I made it clear that I know your father very well, as him and I are very very close. It would be a shame if I told him how disrespectful his son was to me, especially after all I have donated to the school."
Dionysus gulped. Poseidon gained the confidence and he preyed upon the opportunity to strike with his own threat.
"It would be a shame indeed. Imagine what the school board will think if one of their biggest sponsor's drops out as well as the sea rescue program I offer this school? Isn't that your biggest vocal point about this school for recruitment? Now future students will miss out having a semester learning at one of the best aquariums this world has to offer. And what about the school's swim team? Surely Goode is known for their most successful record-breaking sports team. My son has broken several state records for the four years he been here. Yet it seems that isn't enough for you, now is it?"
"Please just let me explain." Mr Dionysus squeaked out.
Poseidon crossed his arms waiting for whatever pathetic excuse the principal can give.
"I and the Goode staff are very grateful for the donations and programs that you two have so graciously offered this school. Now if you would like to accompany me into the security room, I can show you the tapes of those entering or exiting the building today."
Mr. Dionysus lead the group into an adjoining office that had walls of monitors viewing the security cameras.
The principal picked up the remote and started to rewind the feed back to this morning.
"Now the center monitor is viewing the camera located above the main entrance. It's the only entrance that isn't locked, it's for students who come in late. If someone came in it would've been through that door." The principal said while pointing at the monitor.
They rewind the tape to early this morning, filtering through students entering in the building. No one other than students entered through that door.
Poseidon looked towards Zeus who's also confused. Kronos should've entered that door.
"You see, no one came into the school that wasn't a student. I don't know what exactly is going on with the letter, but I can assure you no stranger walked through those doors" The principal crossed his arms.
"Are saying a student sabotaged his water?" Poseidon asked.
"Well it was no adult, unless it was one of staff which I doubt." Mr. Dionysus huffed.
"Didn't he impersonate a staff member at the aquarium?" Zeus asked Poseidon.
Poseidon frowned, "He did. I haven't been able to find out how he entered undetected but he was able to get past security."
"I'm sorry, but I'm confused. Who are you talking about? Does this person have any correlation to who you thought entered our campus?" The principal asked.
"Yes. They have broken through my security before. They're capable of many things, and bypassing security is one of them. Are you sure all of your staff are accounted for today." Poseidon asked.
Mr. Dionysus paused, "Again I'm sure that none of my staff was responsible-"
"I'm taking that as a no then." Poseidon grumbled.
"Not necessarily-"
Dionysus stopped his sentence after looking at the brothers.
"Alright, I open an investigation on this incident. I cannot guarantee that anything will come out of it. But it's the best I can do." Mr Dionysus said.
Poseidon and Zeus shared a look before nodding, "Alright, but I expect us to be in on this investigation. This is a very serious matter and we need to be informed of any new developments." Zeus informed standing straighter to assert dominance.
"Alright I will. Is that all?" Mr. Dionysus sarcastically asked.
Poseidon glared at the principal after he made the unsavory comment.
Once the group walked out, Jason asked "What exactly is going on?"
"There's been another incident-"
"Yeah, like we haven't figured that out already" Thalia interrupted her father.
"I'll explain it later. I'm pulling the both of you out of school today. Possibly maybe take you out for the remainder of the week."
"Is that really necessary?" Jason asked.
"Anything is necessary when your grandfather is involved."
Poseidon separated from Zeus and his niece and nephew as he headed towards his vehicle. He took out his phone and called his wife to see how his eldest son is doing.
"Hey, how is he doing?"
"Better. The swelling finally went down, so the doctor released him."
"He's home?"
"Yes. We got home thirty minutes ago, he's in his room resting."
"Did the doctor say he was in the clear, or do we still need the monitor him?"
"Mostly clear. He might have another flare up, but nothing severe. He might get sick due to the amount of epinephrine that was administered"
"Did you pick up his new epipens? Or would you like to me to pick it up?"
"I picked it up on the way there. Hopefully these two won't fail."
"Alright, I had a talk with the principal, and picked up Percy. We are on our way home."
"I'll see you when you get home. I love you."
"See you then. I love you too."
Poseidon hung up the phone as he buckled his seatbelt in. He looked over to his youngest.
"Well your brother got released from the hospital. He's not one hundred percent yet, so I'll expect you to not start anything with him."
Percy snorted, "When have I ever started something with him? He's the one who starts them, I just fight back."
Poseidon held back an eye roll, "Well then, don't fight back and ignore his attempts."
Percy grumbled and crossed his arms and slouched back in the passenger seat.
"Zeus is being serious when he said about pulling you and your cousins out for the remainder of the week."
Percy stayed silent, Poseidon took it as his queue to continue.
"I'm at a loss of what you grandfather wants, or what he's trying to prove? Whatever it is, he's being serious about it. He will go to extreme measures to get what he wants, and what happened today was one of his attempts to prove he will stop at nothing."
Poseidon lied. He did know what his father wanted, but he wasn't going to give in to that want. It's better that Percy didn't know that part of his grandfather messed up mind.
"Your uncles and I will continue to get in touch to try to solve this grand scheme of his. And whatever is happening about your grandfather isn't concerning you, the fact that I'm willing to talk to my siblings on a daily basis should be."
Percy listened to the radio in the car, his father hasn't said much, other than the brief conversation about his grandfather.
In all honesty, he didn't quite know how to feel. This was becoming more real than a letter, and knowing what happened to Bianca…
Percy shivered as Poseidon pulled the car up to the driveway. They exited the vehicle once it was parked and Percy was startled to see Amphitrite waiting at the front door.
"Did you find out if Kronos was at the school?" Amphitrite asked.
"He didn't enter the one entrance that was unlocked, but that doesn't mean he wasn't there impersonating staff. Zeus got the principal to instigate an investigation, but I doubt that will lead to anything. The principal isn't the wisest man, and I'm sure he was either hung over, or took something as he wasn't all there."
"So you're saying there isn't any evidence of him being there? Do you think he sent Oceanus to the school, or maybe he had someone else tamper with Triton's water?"
The voices that were screaming at Percy in fifth period reignited as his mind was trying to tell him something that he couldn't piece together.
"That I don't know. I haven't seen Oceanus since the aquarium incident, and he wasn't on the tape. It isn't like my father to hire random person to do his tasks, it doesn't it make impossible though, especially when he's trying to be unpredictable."
Amphitrite broke eye contact with Poseidon and turned her gaze to him, "Percy did you see anything? Or know anything that may connect with what happened today?"
He froze. It wasn't like Amphitrite to ask him directly other than snide remarks. She usually got his father to ask him these things for her.
"No. I haven't seen Triton all day, nor have I seen Oceanus or Kronos in school." Percy responded ignoring the voices the head saying he did know more.
Mr. Dionysus - In the PJ series he's the Son of Zeus. He's the Greek God of Wine and The Camp Director of Camp Half Blood - Not by his own will. He's the principal in reference to the camp director, and he's drunk due to him being a God of Wine. He isn't related to Zeus in this Au, but his father and Zeus know each very well.
In the wise word's of Reyna - "Without you (Referring to Annabeth), I doubt Percy could find his way out of a paper bag." - House of Hades, Chapter 77.