Chapter Text
Percy Jackson opened his eyes to pitch black and immediately started cursing the gods for the nth time this month.(no surprise there)
He remembered (thankfully) that last night had been filled with warm food, and campfire songs; an amazing victory banquet if he ever had one.(he had sadly)
The war itself had come to its conclusion just about a month ago, and after the achingly long procession of funeral rights and post-battle repairs; Percy and Annabeth had submitted their applications to NRU and were waiting for their response. It was finally time to start enjoying living rather than paying for it.
The campers still milling around Camp Half-Blood caught wind of it and decided that it was cause for celebration. And celebrate they did.
Percy was unsure of how, but by the end of it all Clarisse had put three campers in a headlock simultaneously then dumped them into the lake, Grover had led a surprisingly accurate Samba class, and Will had declared his undying love for Nico quite loudly.(much to the glee of the surrounding crowd, less for the blushing embodiment of darkness)
All this without a drop of alcohol. Mortal party-animals could eat their hearts out.
The night ended when Chiron had to break up a gambling ring (On what? Don't question it.), the entire time muttering about how glad he was that the Party Ponies weren’t in attendance, and Percy decided to retire for the night to the lovely confines of Cabin Three.
Resolved to get a good night’s sleep, or whatever was left of it, he had blissfully closed his eyes, only to wake up in someplace jarringly different from his bed.
So different, in fact , that when Percy had tried to feel around with his hands and then his feet, he determined that he was in a coffin. He almost giggled. ‘Was this the gods’ form of dramatic irony?’ Had he avoided the clutches of death one time too many?
Just then, as he was about to try and kick the lid off , the problem was taken care of for him with a resounding crack and a flooding of dim light by some guy wearing a bird mask and a ridiculous tophat?
‘Man, my day just keeps getting weirder.’
Said Birdman tips his hat theatrically, “ Welcome to the illustrious Night Raven College, I am your honorable headmage Dire Crowley! “. Though barely discernable, the two golden pinpricks that were assumed to be his eyes narrowed in what looked to be recognition, sending a shiver down Percy’s spine.
“ Uh-” Just as sudden as he had appeared and before Percy could even formulate his very intelligent response, he left with a dramatic flick of his cape. ‘Well, maybe that’s for the better. Something doesn’t feel right about him…’
Percy used the current lack of attention to take in his immediate surroundings. ‘He needed to take stock of the situation quickly, and not succumb to the intense, almost asphyxiating feeling of despair that threatened to rock him to his core.’
A short once over all but guaranteed that Percy was yet again nowhere near home.
Was this how Dorothy felt when she told Toto that they weren’t in Kansas anymore? ‘ And now he was missing Mrs.’O Leary-’
On top of the weird green lanterns flickering overhead, and the empty floating coffins much like his own,everybody, and he means everybody was wearing a royal purple ceremonial robe.
Now that he looked down, he was wearing one too. ‘Great, just the thing Percy needed…cult worship’
Some people had animal appendages while others had pointed ears and an inhuman presence- and that’s not to mention the unmistakable aura of power surrounding everyone in his vicinity, even the most human-looking.
It felt like a diluted version of Hecate’s children’s magic, except with less divinity and more dexterity. If the children of Hecate wielded magic like a birthright, constantly cloaked in the stuff, using it as easily as one would a limb; these people held it inside like buckets of water varying in size.
This was decidedly not so good. It might come as a surprise to none, but Percy didn’t have the best track-record with gatherings of super-powered inhuman beings.
Although Percy could tell that some were much stronger than others, maybe even stronger than Hecate children, the magic they all held was liquid. It wasn’t in its purest form, but instead filtered through their own wavelength to match the person possessing it. Like water taking the form of any container you pour it in.
He was suddenly thrown from his track of thought when a booming voice sounded out right next to his ear. “ HUMAN, proceed to the seating as was arranged! Standing around dawdling is QUITE improper of you!”
Startled and somewhat annoyed, Percy turns to face a strikingly neon green haired teenager with what seemed to be a perpetual frown. He was wearing the same uniform that Percy had on, with the hood pushed back.
Lifting an arm he studied the same purple fabric now draped across his own body. Am I part of this?
Said teenager sighed gruffly and with surprising care grabbed Percy by the forearm to guide him towards a row of pews?
Is this a cult? For real? Bro….I was joking
The green haired boy grumbled as he took his seat just before Percy on the last row. “Look what happened because of your foolishness! We have been seated at the very back and will now be the last to receive a designated dorm! As can be expected for a human,”.
It was kinda ironic how, after years of being called a demi-god and a half-blood , now of all times in a weird cultish ceremony is when I get called human.
-and by the way he was speaking, this guy wasn’t exactly human.
Percy winced at the boy’s volume. “ Could you maybe lower your voice a little. What’s your name?”
The boy, seeming ruffled and a bit embarrassed at his own outburst, coughed into his hand and muttered, “ You may call me Sebek.”
Percy didn’t mind the volume too much, as used to being around hyperactive demi-gods as he was, but he didn’t want to draw any undue attention to himself at the moment. And-well… the boy seemed genuine enough to be somewhat endearing. For a potential member of this school/cult that is…
So he smiled and held his hand out, “ Well hi Sebek, and I guess you may call me Percy as well.”
Sebek’s cheeks reddened a bit as if he was unused to this sort of friendly nicety and begrudgingly (or that’s what he wanted Percy to think), took his hand, giving it a firm shake.
Percy felt a certain prickling at the hairs on his neck. He was being watched… but by who
He took another cursory glance, first at the surrounding crowd who all seemed to be engrossed in their own whispered greetings, and then to the sectioned-off panel of individuals standing before them. He shifted his gaze a bit, and there it was.
Somebody was standing a bit behind everything and simply staring at them. Percy could only make out two piercing red eyes before the feeling dissipated and the ominous being shifted their attention to the rising commotion taking place before what looked to be a giant mirror with a face hovering inside of it.
This was just great…