[ chapter six . . .  a weighted heart ]

THE LAST THING ESTELLA THOUGHT SHE WAS going to do on winter break was go on a demigod extraction.

The explanation of this situation was a not a quick throw away line but, long story short, Estella and Percy were hanging out.

Naturally, Percy had lost track of time and Thalia and Annabeth came over to pick him up.

Thalia and Annabeth were confused as ever to see Estella hanging out with the raven haired boy. But it was the first time seeing her after years apart so it didn't matter.

They were going to drop Estella home but there was a monster attack at convenience store. Estella was now on a car ride to Maine.

But, it was an eight-hour drive from New York to Bar Harbor, Maine. Sleet and snow pounded the highway. Estella didn't know how to feel anymore. She was off to find some demigods. She was reunited with who she would consider some of her closest friends. So she kept quiet.

It seemed like everyone was too nervous to talk much. Except for Sally. She talks more when she's nervous. By the time they finally got to Westover Hall, it was getting dark, and she'd told Estella, Annabeth, and Thalia every embarrassing baby story there was to tell about Percy.

Thalia wiped the fog off the car window and peered outside. "Oh, yeah. This'll be fun."

Estella first met Thalia when she was seven and the blue eyed girl was twelve. Estella was now fourteen and Thalia was... well no one knew. But it was weird. The girl Estella used to look up to seemed now around her age. And also her height.

But she was still the same girl. From the way she spoke, to the way she dressed and the way she'd hug you so tight you couldn't breathe.

Estella glanced out of the window too. Westover Hall looked more like an evil castle than a school. It was all black stone, with towers and slit windows and a big set of wooden double doors. It stood on a snowy cliff overlooking this big frosty forest on one side and the gray churning ocean on the other.

"Are you sure you don't want me to wait?" Sally asked.

"No, thanks, Mom," Percy said. "I don't know how long it will take. We'll be okay."

"But how will you get back? I'm worried, Percy."

Estella could see Percy's cheek get washed over with a rosy tint from the embarrassment and tried her best to hide her laugh.

"It's okay, Ms. Jackson." Annabeth smiled reassuringly. Her blonde braids were tucked into a ski cap. Annabeth hadn't changed much since she and Estella were 11. She had that calculated look in her eyes and made sarcastic jokes that made Estella smile. "We'll keep him out of trouble."

Sally seemed to relax a little. It's clear that she knows Annabeth is probably the most levelheaded demigod their age.

"All right, dears," Sally said. "Do you have everything you need?"

"Uh—yeah, Sally," Estella said. "Thanks for the ride."

"Extra sweaters? You have my cell phone number?"

"Mom—"

"Your ambrosia and nectar, Percy? And a golden drachma in case you need to contact camp?"

"Mom, seriously! We'll be fine. Come on, guys."

Percy stepped out of the car and the three girls followed him outside. The wind blew straight through their jackets like ice daggers and some snowflakes fell from the sky.

Once Percy's mom's car was out of sight, Estella heard Thalia say, "Your mom is so cool, Percy."

"She's pretty okay," Percy admitted. "What about you? You ever get in touch with your mom?"

Thalia was great at giving evil looks, what with the punk clothes she always wears—the ripped-up army jacket, black leather pants and chain jewelry, the black eyeliner and those intense blue eyes. And the look she gave Percy now was a perfect "ten."

"If that was any of your business, Percy—"

"We'd better get inside," Annabeth interrupted. "Grover will be waiting."

Estella nodded along and looked back at the school. "You said he sent a distress call? What is it about?"

"Nothing good," Percy guessed.

The oak doors groaned open, and the four of them stepped into the entry hall in a swirl of snow.

"Whoa." Percy said.

The place was huge. The walls were lined with battle flags and weapon displays: antique rifles, battle axes, and a bunch of other stuff. Annabeth had told Estella this was a military school but it Estella thought it would look a lot more like if East High from high school musical had a pallet swap, than this.

Estella gripped her guitar charm necklace. There was definitely some off about this place. She could sense it as she slowly turned around on herself to get a full look of the place.

Annabeth started to say, "I wonder where—"

The doors slammed shut behind them.

"Oo-kay," Percy mumbled. "Guess we'll stay awhile."

They stashed their overnight bags behind a pillar and started down the hall. The four demigods hadn't gone very far when footsteps sounded on the stone floor, and a man and woman marched out of the shadows to intercept the four.

Both the man and woman had short gray hair and black military-style uniforms with red trim. Also, they both walked stiffly, like they had broomsticks taped to their spines.

"Well?" the woman demanded. "What are you doing here?"

"Um..." Percy stammered. Estella guessed they might've not planned for this. "Ma'am, we're just—"

"Ha!" the man snapped, which made Estella jump. "Visitors are not allowed at the dance! You shall be eee-jected!"

He had an accent—French. He pronounced his J like in Jacques, He was tall, with a hawkish face. His nostrils flared when he spoke, and he had heterochromia—one eye was brown, one was blue—like an alley cat's.

Estella imagined many different scenarios she figured he was about to toss them into the snow or call the police on them or something, but then Thalia stepped forward and did something.

She snapped her fingers. The sound was sharp and loud. Estella could even feel gust of wind ripple out from her hand, across the room. It washed over all of them, making the banners rustle on the walls.

"Oh, but we're not visitors, sir," Thalia said. "We go to school here. You remember: I'm Thalia. And this is Annabeth, Estella, and Percy. We're in the eighth grade."

The male teacher narrowed his two-colored eyes. It took Estella a bit to figure out what was happening. But she felt amazed by Thalia's powers when she did.

He looked at his colleague. "Ms. Gottschalk, do you know these students?"

Estella looked at Percy. She could already get an estimation of what he was thinking. His green eyes locked with hers and they hid their slight smiles as much as possible.

A teacher named Got-Chalk?

The woman blinked, like someone had just woken her up from a trance. "I... yes. I believe I do, sir." She frowned at the teenagers. "Annabeth. Thalia. Estella. Percy. What are you doing away from the gymnasium?"

Before any of them could answer, more footsteps were heard, and Grover ran up, breathless. "You made it! You—"

He stopped short when he saw the teachers. "Oh, Mrs. Gottschalk. Dr. Thorn! I, uh—"

"What is it, Mr. Underwood?" said the man. His tone made it clear that he detested Grover. "What do you mean, they made it? These students live here."

Grover swallowed. "Yes, sir. Of course, Dr. Thorn. I just meant, I'm so glad they made... the punch for the dance! The punch is great. And they made it!"

Dr. Thorn glared at them. Estella had decided that she was a bit tired of being glared at, but then Mrs. Gottschalk said dreamily, "Yes, the punch is excellent. Now run along, all of you. You are not to leave the gymnasium again!"

They did not need to be told twice. The four—now five—of them left with a lot of "Yes, ma'ams" and "Yes, sirs" and a couple of salutes.

Grover hustled them down the hall in the direction of the music.

Estella could feel the teachers' eyes on their backs, but she decided to ignore it and walked closely to Annabeth. She overheard Percy ask in a low voice, "How did you do that finger-snap thing?"

"You mean the Mist? Hasn't Chiron shown you how to do that yet?"

Grover hurried them to a door that had GYM written on the glass.

"That was close!" Grover said. "Thank the gods you got here—wait Estella?"

He gave the brown eyed girl a big, warm hug. And despite that warmth, she froze for a moment before melting and reciprocating and awkwardly patting him on the back. It wasn't that she didn't miss him. It was just different seeing the people you care about after years of separation.

"I'm so glad you're okay. When Silena said you left to your mom's, we didn't know what to do."

"I'm sorry about that." Estella smiled sheepishly as she let go. Truth to be told, Estella did secretly regret leaving. Not telling her friends left a weight on her heart. Despite try not to, she thought a lot about them. What if something bad happened and she could've prevented it. Then she tried to argue against herself. She might die at sixteen anyway. What if it's best that they don't get too attached.

Then, Annabeth and Thalia both hugged Grover. Percy gave him a big high five.

Grover had gotten a lot taller since the last time Estella had seen him, as did everyone else. And he looked like he always did when he passed for human—a red cap on his curly brown hair to hide his goat horns, baggy jeans and sneakers with fake feet to hide his furry legs and hooves. He was wearing a black T-shirt that took Estella a few seconds to read. It said WESTOVER HALL: GRUNT. Whatever that meant.

"So what's the emergency?" Estella asked.

Grover took a deep breath. "I found two."

"Two half-bloods?" Thalia asked, amazed. "Here?"

Grover nodded.

Finding one half-blood was rare enough. Annabeth had also mentioned that, Chiron had put the satyrs on emergency overtime and sent them all over the country, scouring schools from fourth grade through high school for possible recruits.

It seemed like camp was in some desperate times. They were losing campers. They needed new fighters.

"A brother and a sister," Grover said. "They're ten and twelve. I don't know their parentage, but they're strong. We're running out of time, though. I need help."

"Monsters?"

One." Grover looked nervous. "He suspects. I don't think he's positive yet, but this is the last day of term. I'm sure he won't let them leave campus without finding out. It may be our last chance! Every time I try to get close to them, he's always there, blocking me. I don't know what to do!"

Grover looked at Thalia desperately.

"Right," she said. "These half-bloods are at the dance?"

Grover nodded.

"Then let's dance," Thalia said. "Who's the monster?"

"Oh," Grover said, and looked around nervously. "You just met him. The vice principal, Dr. Thorn."

Estella was surprised that military schools even had dances, let alone the fact that the kids go absolutely nuts when there's a special event and they get to be out of uniform.

There were black and red balloons all over the gym floor, and guys were kicking them in each others faces, or trying to strangle each other with the crepe-paper streamers taped to the walls. Girls moved around in little huddles, wearing spaghetti-strap tops and brightly colored pants and high heels. Not Estella's personal preference. She would've worn something a bit less neon.

"There they are." Grover nodded toward a couple of younger kids arguing in the bleachers. "Bianca and Nico di Angela"

The girl wore a floppy green cap, like she was trying to hide her face. The boy was obviously her little brother. They both had dark silky hair and olive skin, and they used their hands a lot as they talked. The boy was shuffling some kind of trading cards. His sister seemed to be scolding him about something. She kept looking around like she sensed something was wrong.

Annabeth said, "Do they... I mean, have you told them?"

Grover shook his head. "You know how it is. That could put them in more danger. Once they realize who they are, their scent becomes stronger."

"So let's grab them and get out of here," Percy said.

Estella put her hand on his shoulder before he could start forward. The vice principal, Dr. Thorn, had slipped out of a doorway near the bleachers and was standing near the di Angelo siblings. He nodded coldly in our direction. His blue eye seemed to glow.

Judging from his expression, Estella had deduced Thorn hadn't been fooled by Thalia's trick with the Mist after all. He suspected who they were.

"Don't look at the kids," Thalia ordered. "We have to wait for a chance to get them. We need to pretend we're not interested in them. Throw him off the scent."

"How?"

"We're four powerful half-bloods. Our presence should confuse him. Mingle. Act natural. Do some dancing. But keep an eye on those kids."

"Dancing?" Estella asked.

Thalia nodded. She cocked her ear to the music and made a face. "Ugh. Who chose the Jesse McCartney?"

Grover looked hurt. "I did."

"Oh my gods, Grover. That is so lame. Can't you play, like, Green Day or something?"

"Green who?"

"Never mind. Let's dance."

"But I can't dance!"

"You can if I'm leading," Thalia said. "Come on, goat boy."

Grover yelped as Thalia grabbed his hand and led him onto the dance floor.

Annabeth smiled.

"What?" Percy asked.

"Nothing. It's just cool to have Thalia, and now Stella, back."

She pulled off her ski cap, and her braids tumbled down her shoulders. Then she smiled softly at Estella. "You missed a lot."

"I can tell." Estella smiled. "I always told you you should get your ears pierced and you kept on telling me no." She motioned towards the owls earrings Annabeth wore.

"Shut up." Annabeth joked.

Estella and Annabeth chatted idly in peace. Percy had went and gotten them some snacks, which they heavily appreciated. It was then when Estella realized.

"They're gone."

"What?"

Annbeth followed her gaze. The bleachers. The two half-bloods, Bianca and Nico, were no longer there. The door next to the bleachers was wide open. Dr. Thorn was nowhere in sight.

"We have to get Thalia and Grover and Percy!" Annabeth looked around frantically. "Oh, where'd they dance off to? Come on!"

She ran through the crowd. Estella was about to follow when a group of girls got in the way. She maneuvered around them but, by the time she was in the clear, Annabeth had disappeared. She turned a full circle, looking for her or Thalia and Grover or Percy. Instead, she saw something else.

About fifty feet away, lying on the gym floor, was a floppy green cap just like the one Bianca di Angelo had been wearing. Near it were a few scattered trading cards.

Then Estella caught a glimpse of Dr. Thorn. He was hurrying out a door at the opposite end of the gym, steering the di Angelo kids by the scruffs of their necks, like kittens.

Then she turned the opposite way and saw—Percy!

Estella rushed over too him and gripped his wrist, tugging him behind her. He dropped the bag of chips and soda cans he had brought and took his pen—riptide—out of his pocket.

"Is everything alright? What's going on—where's is?"

"I don't know." Estella said while ran after Dr. Thorn. She took off her necklace and decided that this situation called for her spear—erastís, which roughly translated to lover, or paramour—and followed Dr. Thorn through a doorway that led into a dark hallway.

Estella heard sounds of scuffling up ahead, then a painful grunt. Percy uncapped Riptide.

The pen grew in his hands until his held a bronze Greek sword about three feet long with a leather-bound grip. The blade glowed faintly, casting a golden light on the rows of lockers.

They jogged down the corridor, but once at the other end, no one was there. Estella opened a door and found that she and Percy were back in the main entry hall. Estella didn't see Dr. Thorn anywhere, but there on the opposite side of the room were the di Angelo kids. They stood frozen in horror, staring right at her and Percy.

Percy advanced slowly, lowering the tip of his sword and Estella hesitantly followed suite. "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you."

Neither answered. Their eyes were full of fear.

"My name's Percy," the green-eyed boy said, and kept his voice level. "And this is Estella. We're going to take you out of here, get you somewhere safe."

Bianca's eyes widened. Her fists clenched. Estella realized. She wasn't afraid of them, rather warm them.

Estella whirled around and something went WHIIISH! past her and to Percy's shoulder. He was then slammed into the wall.

He slashed with his sword but there was nothing to hit and Estella stood defensively in front of the Di Angelos

A cold laugh echoed through the hall.

"Yes, Perseus Jackson" Dr. Thorn said. His accent mangled the J in my last name. "I know who you are. Estella Rosewood. Back so soon?"

Dr. Thorn had thrown a poison tipped dagger at Percy and he was now pinned to the wall.

Estella forced herself to concentrate. Danger now moved toward them. Dr. Thorn stepped into the dim light. He still looked human, but his face was ghoulish. He had perfect white teeth and his brown/blue eyes reflected the light of Percy's sword.

"Thank you for coming out of the gym," he said. "I hate middle school dances."

Estella tried striking with her spear, but only grazed a bit of Mr. Thorn coat as he dodged gracefully.

WHIIIISH! A second projectile shot from somewhere behind Dr. Thorn. He didn't appear to move. It was as if someone invisible were standing behind him, throwing knives.

Next to Estella, Bianca yelped. The second dagger impaled itself in the stone wall, half an inch from her face.

"All four of you will come with me," Dr. Thorn said. "Quietly. Obediently. If you make a single noise, if you call out for help or try to fight, I will show you just how accurately I can throw."

XOXO MARY !

no Percy and Estella dancing for you

anyways welcome to the actual plot of this act.

there's not much here but we get Thalia Annabeth and Grover !!!

Percy and Estella are the type of friends that automatically look at each other when anything remotely funny happens and then laugh because of that.

Thanks for reading !!