章 115: Doting

 The ride to the palace was quiet, only the bumps on the road to be heard. The eerie silence didn't mean there were no words to be said. The silence alone said a lot in itself, the stoic masks on each person's face held sentences and the subtle stealthy stares that peered at Annabeth that didn't notice they were being watched made an entire conversation. Each word seemed to be on guard for the ticking bombs in each person's mind, their tightly zipped lips could loosen at any second. 

Kalmin and Alice sat with Annabeth, completely aware of the tension lingering in the air. Kalmin looked at Annabeth for a second and flinched when she turned to look at him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Justin's eyes dart away when Annabeth turned her head to him.