THADDEUS POV
The next week, we headed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The sky above Manhattan hung low with dark, ominous clouds that seemed to promise rain but hadn't yet delivered. The Yancy Academy bus was parked just outside the museum, its old, dented frame rattling every time the wind blew a little too hard.
I was slouched in the farthest seat at the back of the bus. Most of the students were busying themselves with loud conversations, bursts of laughter, and the occasional argument. It was the typical morning mess I'd grown used to tolerating—barely.
Percy and Grover sat just ahead of me, with Percy idly staring out the window, lost in thought, while Grover was, unsurprisingly, trying to flirt with the girl across the aisle. The noise didn't let up, so I turned up the volume on my music, the beats doing a decent job of muffling the racket.
By the time we filed into the museum's spacious glass-domed exhibit hall, my mood hadn't improved much. The place was impressive, filled with ancient Greek artifacts, rusted weapons, delicate pottery, and faded artwork. At the center stood a series of massive sculptures of the Twelve Olympian Gods, their stone faces carved with an eerie, commanding presence.
Mr. Brunner, our wheelchair-bound teacher, was already in his element, rolling smoothly across the floor as he gestured to the statues. His voice carried easily through the room, filled with that kind of enthusiasm only history teachers seemed to have.
"There are twelve Olympian Gods," Mr. Brunner began, his tone like a storyteller warming up. "The major three were brothers, who divided the world among themselves. Zeus became the King of the Gods, ruling the skies. Poseidon claimed dominion over the seas. And their brother Hades..." he paused for effect, letting the words sink in, "ruled the Underworld."
Most of our class stood in loose groups around him, their disinterest visible. A few kids yawned; others exchanged glances that screamed "Why are we even here?" I stayed off to the side, arms crossed, my sweatshirt hood pulled up to hide my headphones.
Percy, predictably, wasn't paying much attention either... since when will he anyway? He kept glancing around the room, his gaze shifting from the statues to the exit, probably wishing he were anywhere else. Grover, on the other hand, was... well, being Grover.
He stood next to us and took his phone out as usual. While Mr. Brunner spoke about the gods, Grover "wisely" aimed his phone at the Aphrodite statue and snapped a photo of her exposed stone chest. He grinned to himself like he'd just discovered the world's best-kept secret.
"Grover," Mr. Brunner called out, his sharp tone cutting through the room like Zeus's thunderbolt.
Grover froze, his guilty expression as obvious as a neon sign. Slowly, he lowered the phone, but Brunner was already rolling toward him, his hand outstretched.
"Hand it over," Brunner said, his voice calm but firm.
Grover sighed dramatically and handed him the phone. Mr. Brunner examined the screen, holding the device up so the entire class could see the picture of Aphrodite's... assets. The room erupted into chuckles and a few outright laughs.
"What does this tell us about Grover?" Brunner asked, raising an eyebrow.
A girl in the front row didn't miss a beat. "That he's a sex addict."
The class broke into louder laughter, and Grover, like an opportunist, leaned toward her with a grin. "Hey, I knew we had something in common," he said, earning a few more giggles.
Brunner ignored him, "Possibly," he said dryly. "Grover may be a tad more... hormonally challenged than most teenagers, but he shares a weakness common to us all: lust."
Grover smirked and shot me a sideways glance. I rolled my eyes, already predicting where this was going.
Mr. Brunner continued, his voice taking on that storytelling cadence again. "Lust is not just a human trait. It is something the Greek gods themselves shared with us, though on a much grander scale. On several occasions, the gods would descend to Earth and—how shall I put this delicately?"
"Call a stork," I muttered, just loud enough for Percy and Grover to hear.
"Hook up," Grover said with a grin, clearly unfazed by the awkwardness.
Mr. Brunner shot him a pointed look but didn't entirely disagree. "Yes. They would 'hook up' with mortals," he said, his tone dry as the Sahara.
More laughter rippled through the group. Grover leaned back, clearly proud of himself, while I stifled a groan.
Mr. Brunner adjusted his glasses and gestured toward the sculptures of the Olympian gods that towered over us. "The children born from the unions between gods and mortals were unique beings. Can anyone tell me what they were called?"
He scanned the room, his gaze landing on Nancy Bobofit, who stood with her arms crossed and an expression that screamed troublemaker. Nancy was the walking definition of high school chaos—tough, perpetually angry, dripping with rich-kid entitlement, and somehow annoyingly good-looking in that way mean people sometimes are. Tattoos peeked out from under her sleeves, adding to her rebellious aesthetic.
"Ms. Bobofit?" Mr. Brunner prompted, raising an eyebrow.
Nancy smirked, relishing the attention. "Bastards? Mongrels? Mutts?"
Her two lackeys burst into laughter, their snickers echoing throughout the exhibit. Brunner's glare deepened, the kind of expression that could silence most students.
"Anyone else?" he said, scanning the class again until his eyes landed on me. "Thaddeus?"
I, of course, was oblivious... again. Lost in my own world, I had to raise the volume to drown it out with music.
That is until Grover—ever the helpful (or annoying) friend—decided to yank my headphones with one of his hands. "Dude," he hissed. "Pay attention!"
"Huh? What?" I blinked, looking around like I'd just landed on another planet.
"He's asking you a question," Percy said, pointing toward Brunner.
Mr. Brunner's gaze was fixed on me, patient but fixed. "Mr. Bartholomew," he repeated, "what is the proper term for the offspring of a god and a mortal?"
I sighed, leaning back against the glass display case behind me. "Demigods, Demi-Humans, Half-Gods," I said lazily. Then, with a smirk, I added, "Or if you're feeling particularly bored... Hybrids."
Percy rolled his eyes. "You could've just said 'demigods.'"
Mr. Brunner, however, looked pleased. "Very good, Mr. Bartholomew. Concise answers may not be your strong suit, but your knowledge is commendable. Take note, everyone." He turned slightly to Percy, adding with a pointed look, "Most especially you, Mr. Jackson."
Percy flushed slightly, muttering under his breath as Nancy and her crew exchanged smirks.
Brunner wasn't done. His gaze snapped back to Nancy, his tone sharper now. "As for you, Ms. Bobofit," he said, "and the rest of the class, it seems some of you need a little extra incentive to engage with the material. Perhaps a quiz will help."
Nancy's smirk disappeared instantly.
Brunner continued, "Tomorrow. Chapters seven and eight. I expect every one of you to come prepared."
Groans rippled throughout, but Brunner didn't waver, rolling his wheelchair slightly closer for emphasis.
Nancy muttered something under her breath, likely an insult, but I couldn't care less. I leaned toward Grover. "What'd I miss? Other than the question of course..."
"Nothing much," he whispered. "Just Nancy being Nancy."
"Figures," I replied with a shrug, putting the earphones back over my ears as Mr. Brunner launched into another detailed explanation about the gods.
While he spoke, I couldn't resist but look up at the statue of Zeus. His carved expression seemed to hold judgment as if he were silently disapproving of our antics. I shook my head. If those gods really exist, I thought, they must be facepalming constantly watching us humans.
Grover nudged me with his crutch, pulling me from my thoughts. "Hey, at least you got a compliment out of Brunner. That's rare."
I smirked. "Yeah, well, knowing random stuff is kind of my thing."
Percy leaned over, his voice low. "So, how long until Nancy screws this up again?"
"Give it ten minutes," I replied, already bracing for whatever chaos would inevitably come next.
Biggest mistake... Percy got in trouble afterwards...
Later that day, I found myself in Mr. Brunner's office. (I didn't brutally kill anyone and displayed their heads in the courtyard I swear.) Percy had apparently done something that caused a minor uproar, and I was dragged along as part of some intervention squad—or maybe just for backup. I wasn't entirely sure. All I knew was that before we left the museum, Percy had apparently caused a scene involving Nancy Bobofit and the fountain.
On one hand, it sounded like she probably deserved it. On the other, it didn't sound like Percy at all. He wasn't the type to start trouble—well, not intentionally, mind you. Either way, here I was, leaning against a shelf with Grover nearby, while Percy sat slouched in the chair across from Mr. Brunner's desk, looking like a storm cloud personified.
"Detention?!" Percy exclaimed, his voice edged with frustration. "But it wasn't my fault. I don't even know how it happened!"
Mr. Brunner folded his hands on the desk. "I believe you, Percy. But Dean Campbell wanted to suspend you. I argued for a compromise."
I snorted under my breath, leaning toward Grover. "Freakin' rich brats and their parents' connections," I muttered, just loud enough for him to hear.
Grover smothered a laugh, nodding in agreement. "Tell me about it."
Percy wasn't letting it go. "A month of detention is a compromise?"
"For you?" Mr. Brunner replied, raising an eyebrow. "Yes. You've attended six schools in eight years, Percy. You're barely holding a D-minus average. You are, as they say, on very thin ice."
Percy crossed his arms, his tone fused with defiance. "Perfect. I like cold water."
I had to admit, that comeback was solid, but Mr. Brunner wasn't entertained. "Do you really want to be expelled from yet another school?"
Percy's jaw tightened as he shot back, "Do I really give a damn?"
Before Mr. Brunner could respond, Grover stepped in, his voice softer but no less serious. "I do, Percy. So does Thad. And so does your mom."
Mr. Brunner's expression shifted slightly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Maybe you don't care," he said, his tone taking on a quieter, more solemn note. "But again, your mother does. Don't let her down."
Those words hit their mark. Percy's figure faltered, his gaze shifting to the window. Breaking the silence, Mr. Brunner stood and reached for a thick book on the shelf behind him. He placed it on the desk in front of Percy.
"I want you to read this," Mr. Brunner said.
Curious, I leaned in slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of the cover. The writing was in Greek, which only made it weirder. Why would Mr. Brunner expect Percy—hell, any of us—to read something in a language we barely recognized, let alone understood?
Percy's confusion mirrored mine. "You know I can't—" he began, only for Mr. Brunner to interrupt him.
"Try."
There was no anger in his tone, just quiet insistence. He pushed the book closer to Percy, leaving no room for argument.
Percy glanced at the book but refused to look directly at it, like it was going to bite him or something. The Greek letters on the cover seemed to taunt him.
I crossed my arms, "What's the deal with that, anyway?" I asked, breaking the silence.
Mr. Brunner glanced at me briefly with his unreadable expression. "You'll see soon enough, Thaddeus," he said simply before turning his attention back to Percy.
- - -
Once all is said regarding Percy's incident, we left the office. Then I found myself dragged by Percy to the school's old library, a place nobody cared about anymore. It wasn't even a good library—just a dusty relic with shelves that reached ridiculous heights, rows of forgotten books, and a musty smell that cried abandon all hope, ye who enter here.
Percy, for reasons I still didn't entirely understand, insisted I come with him. Something about paranoia. Whatever the case, I messaged Darren, letting him know I'd be home late. Outside, the sky continued its dramatic flair with rolling thunder, the kind that threatened rain but never quite delivered.
Inside, Percy and I sat at a long wooden table in the center of the library. He was hunched over Mr. Brunner's book, clearly struggling. I had my own book—similar in appearance, though infinitely more boring. The only other living soul in the room was a tiny, sweet-looking librarian who seemed harmless enough.
The library was eerily quiet, save for the occasional crackle of thunder outside. I wasn't really paying attention until Percy suddenly leaned closer to the book, his expression shifting from confusion to... shock.
"What the—" Percy muttered.
"What?" I asked, glancing at him.
"The letters," he said. "They... they changed."
I leaned in closer, curious. Sure enough, the Greek letters on the cover were somehow morphing into English. They now read, A Guide to Greek Myths and Legends.
Percy pulled the book closer, flipping it open and skimming the pages. "The father of the Olympians was Kronos," he read aloud. "He was the King of the Titans..." He paused, a small smile forming on his face. "I can... I can read this?"
I blinked at him. "You what? You can read Greek? Like, actual Greek-Greek? No, wait. Hold up. Those letters—those aren't even modern Greek. They're ancient. Percy, what the hell?!"
Percy looked just as confused as I felt. "I don't know!" he said, his voice rising. "I didn't even know I could do this!"
"Okay, seriously, what is up with today?" I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose. "First the museum, now this. Could it possibly—"
(And because the universe loves its dramatic timing, the answer to my question is not the one that came crashing through, quite literally.)
A deafening crash shattered the silence as the sound of breaking glass filled the room. Both Percy and I snapped our heads up just in time to see a massive horned creature burst through one of the leaded windows.
It landed with a heavy thud, the impact shaking the floor. For a moment, the creature was cloaked in shadow, but as it rose to its full height—easily over twelve feet tall—the dim light revealed its horrifying form.
The librarian let out a scream, but the creature wasted no time. With one swift motion, it swiped at her with an arm as thick as a tree trunk, sending her flying across the room. She hit the wall with a sickening crunch and crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
"What the hell is that?!" I shouted, jumping to my feet. Pure desperation took over as I used my magic to telekinetically shove a couple of tables between us and the creature.
Percy, wide-eyed and pale, stammered, "Thad? What's happening? What did you just do?"
"Less talking, more surviving!" I snapped, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the far side of the library.
The creature stepped into the light, and my stomach dropped. "Oh, no," I muttered, recognizing it instantly.
"What is it?!" Percy yelled, his voice laced with panic.
I shot him a skeptical look. "Seriously? Do you not listen to Mr. Brunner at all? That's a Minotaur! Half man, half bull, bad attitude, bad breath—basically all bad news for us."
The Minotaur let out a guttural roar that sent shivers down my spine. Then, in a voice that was somehow worse than the roar, it growled, "Where is it?!"
"Bolt for the door, Percy!" I shouted. "Now! Wait for me outside!"
Percy hesitated for half a second before turning and sprinting toward the exit.
The Minotaur, however, was faster. It lunged after him, its massive form cutting through the library like a battering ram. I didn't hesitate, throwing out a blast of ice magic to freeze its legs to the floor. For a moment, it worked—the creature stumbled, its legs encased in frost.
But then, with a roar of fury, it shattered the ice and grabbed a bookshelf, hurling it at me like a weapon. I countered with a fire spell, blasting the bookshelf into harmless splinters, but the force sent me skidding backward.
Meanwhile, Percy wasn't faring much better. The Minotaur reached him in seconds, grabbing him like he weighed nothing and hurling him into a bookshelf. Percy hit the shelves hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him and burying him under a pile of books.
"Oi!" I yelled, trying to draw the creature's attention. "Pick on someone who actually knows how to fight, you oversized beefcake!"
The Minotaur turned toward me, its snout flaring. "Good," I muttered. "Now we're getting somewhere."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Percy struggling to get up, still dazed. The Minotaur, however, wasn't done with him. It roared and charged, raising its massive arm to deliver a finishing blow.
"Not on my watch," I growled, summoning another blast of ice magic. This time, I aimed at the ground beneath the creature, sending a slick sheet of frost shooting toward it. The Minotaur slipped, its attack missing Percy by inches, and its arm smashed a hole in the library floor instead.
"Get up, Percy!" I shouted, preparing another spell.
Percy rolled out of the Minotaur's path, barely escaping its claws. I kept firing blasts of ice at the creature, trying to force it in place, but let's be real—I had no idea what I was doing. This was so not normal.
Percy scrambled to his feet and bolted around the corner of a bookshelf. The Minotaur roared, throwing another shelf at me. I dodged, narrowly avoiding being flattened, and chased after it as it thundered after Percy.
Percy kicks a wooden ladder into the Minotaur's path. For half a second, I thought it might slow the thing down— Nope...
The Minotaur smashed through the ladder like it was made of paper, splinters flying everywhere.
"Great," I muttered. "That's helpful."
Percy made a break for the library doors, but the Minotaur was faster. It swiped its massive claw, ripping through his jacket and sending him crashing to his knees with a cry of pain. The creature loomed over him, ready to deliver a killing blow.
"PERCY!" I yelled, panic creeping into my voice. "Get out of there!"
Without thinking, I launched a combination of fire and ice blasts, aiming to distract the creature.
Just as I started closing the distance to help Percy, the library doors burst open.
"Percy! Thaddeus!"
Mr. Brunner. On his wheelchair. Holding... Was that a fucking ballpoint pen?
"What the actual—sir, what are you doing here?!" I shouted. "This is NOT the place for you right now!"
"Save it, Mr. Bartholomew!" Brunner snapped back. He rolled further into the room, eyes locked on Percy. "Percy! Take this!"
He tossed the pen, and Percy—despite his confusion—managed to catch it.
"Click it!" Mr. Brunner shouted.
"What!?" Percy yelled back, his voice a mix of panic and disbelief.
"CLICK IT! The pen is mightier than the sword!"
Percy hesitated, then clicked the pen. And just like that, the pen transformed. It wasn't a pen anymore but a gleaming, razor-sharp sword. Percy stared at it, dumbfounded, the blade glinting in the dim light of the library.
"That's nice and all," I shouted, ducking behind an overturned table, "but COULD SOMEBODY HELP ME OVER HERE? I'm NOT trained for close combat!"
Percy snapped out of it and tightened his grip on the sword. "Right!"
The Minotaur, now fully enraged, turned its attention back to Percy. Percy raised the sword, looking slightly less terrified but still very much out of his depth.
The creature charged, and Percy lunged forward, swinging with all his might. The sword sliced deep into the Minotaur's arm, sending a spray of dark blood across the floor.
The Minotaur roared, the wound only fueling its anger.
"Nice hit!" I called out, launching a blast of fire at the creature to push it back. It staggered slightly but regained its footing, its yellow eyes burning with rage.
"I don't know what I just did," Percy said, his voice high with adrenaline, "but yeah!"
The Minotaur charged again, claws swiping wildly. Percy swung the sword a second time, this time cutting deep into its torso. The beast howled, clutching its chest as blood seeped between its fingers.
"Keep going, Percy!" I yelled, combining my fire and ice into one last, desperate attack. The blast hit the Minotaur square in the chest, knocking it off balance.
The creature roared one final time, its yellow eyes locking on Percy with a mix of hatred and something eerily like fear. Then, with a mighty leap, it crashed through another window and disappeared into the night.
For a moment, the library was silent except for the distant rumble of thunder and the crackling of burning books. Percy and I stood surrounded by destroyed furniture, toppled shelves, and random ice formations.
"I'm so dead," I muttered. "Darren's gonna kill me. Look at this mess."
Percy, still clutching the sword, watched as it morphed back into a simple ballpoint pen. He stared at it like it was the most confusing thing he'd ever seen.
I walked over, brushing ash and frost from my hands. "You okay, man?" I asked, checking him for injuries.
Percy, still shell-shocked, looked up at me. "What... what was that thing?"
"Did you not hear me earlier?" I said, exasperated. "That was a freaking Minotaur. We almost died, Percy. Died. And I had to use my magic to keep us alive, which, by the way, wasn't part of today's plan."
Before Percy could respond, Mr. Brunner wheeled closer, his expression serious. "We have to leave. It will come back for you, Percy. And, unfortunately, Thaddeus, you're a target now as well."
"Oh, fantastic," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "Because this day wasn't already insane enough."
Mr. Brunner didn't wait for further arguments. "We're leaving now."
Percy and I exchanged a glance. Neither of us knew exactly what was happening. Percy's voice cracked as he spun around to Mr. Brunner, still clutching the pen-turned-sword in his hand. "Coming back!? It was hurt—"
Mr. Brunner cut him off without missing a beat. "You both temporarily scared it off. But a Minotaur," he said, his tone heavy with emphasis, "can only be killed by severing the horn from its body. Anything else is just delaying the inevitable."
That depressing thought hung in the air as Mr. Brunner spun his wheelchair and rolled out of the library. Percy, wide-eyed and absolutely overwhelmed, followed him without hesitation. I trailed behind, trying to process everything while simultaneously regretting my life choices.
"A Minotaur!?" Percy blurted out the same thing again, his voice pitching slightly higher than usual. He was half a step behind Mr. Brunner.
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose as we exited the ruined library. "Ask another question," I muttered, "and you're getting the fireball."
Percy turned to me, mouth open to respond, then thought better of it and wisely shut up.
The storm outside rumbled louder, the sound of distant thunder chasing after us as if nature itself wanted to remind us that the day wasn't over yet.