percy jackson · leo valdez · annabeth chase · piper mclean · jason grace · hazel levesque · frank zhang · demigods · heroes of olympus · riordanverse
The fluorescent lights of Lakes High cafeteria hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the scattered tables and the lingering smell of soggy pizza and floor cleaner. In the middle of the room, seven figures sat clustered together, their trays empty except for one—Leo Valdez, who had somehow amassed a small mountain of Fonzies packets. The others shot him looks of exasperation, but their attention kept drifting toward the distant, muffled beat of drums echoing from the music room. Annabeth's eyes narrowed as she caught the rhythm. "That's got to be them," she murmured. The group rose as one, leaving Leo scrambling to gather his snacks. They moved through the hallways, the sound growing clearer—a frantic, skilled percussion that spoke of practiced hands. The door to the music room wa…