by Holly Hook
"Ronin stopped being a jerk?" Mikey asked.
"Third and fourth years invited you to party with them?" Maria added.
"Yeah, I know. Weird," I said. I was glad for their humor because without it, I'd go crazy. Maybe I already was.
Then Maria got serious. She got off my bed and shook her head at me. "I've never heard of anyone being descended from Chaos before, though I guess everyone technically is."
I gulped. That didn't make me feel better. "I was hoping you'd know something. And I actually have, well, Chaos powers. I destroyed an eight foot tall scary librarian with this dagger." I lifted it only to feel the icy darkness flowing through me. "This is why the Lower Order came for us last night. Wow, I'm glad Zeus put protection around the campuses."
Mikey frowned. "Not cool, man."
"Yeah. If I can crumble a golem, what will the Lower Order want me to do?" I asked. A horrible taste rose in my mouth.
"Good point." Maria scratched her chin. "Hopefully only a few people know about your powers, Giselle."
"Or do they? Zeus knew or he wouldn't have sent Ronin to get me. The Lower Order knows." I shuddered, thinking of that groaning, terrifying void. "Ronin might help." At least I wasn't alone.
"He tried to 'help' by making fun of you," Mikey said, making quotation marks with his fingers.
I placed the dagger on my night table. As I did, the icy cold vanished, leaving me feeling like a person again.
What would I be in a few years?
"He was thinking he was helping." Why did I feel an urge to defend him?
"That's still not cool." Mikey shook his head.
"I know it's not." I faced Maria. "Think for me, please." I collapsed on my bed.
"Well, one of your parents must be descended straight from Chaos, too. Your grandma might know about this."
My throat dried out. Grandma's sobs rang in my ears. "I don't want to go back there because that means leaving campus." I eyed the security panel near the door, feeling like a jewel in a thick glass case. Or a cursed artifact.
"Well, the library was a bust and I haven't been able to find any old mythology books on the black market," Maria said, sitting beside me.
"We could still try the library again. Maybe Ronin could get us inside," I said.
"Or we could torture your grandma," Mikey suggested.
"We're not torturing my grandma. She's miserable enough. And when am I going to have time for that? Ronin's going to have me at lessons after classes, and we don't have a car to get to Colton Corners, either."
"Sounds like it," Mikey said. "Hence the torture."
I eyed my phone. "Well, the weekends might still be open. If we all went together, our chances would be better."
Carmen sometimes got to use her father's old car for errands. I was about to put a lot on her, but she was willing and would be dying to know the story behind the Ronin and unicorn picture. And I also didn't want to lose her as a friend.
"Tonight's a Friday," Maria reminded. "We're allowed to leave campus on the weekends so long as we stay in the nearby town. They've all signed papers so they can't sue the Academies if something happens."
"I was told it was dangerous for me to leave," I said.
Maria huffed. "Not fair. After what you did, I think you can defend yourself. Take that dagger with you. Text Carmen, right now, and offer to give her a tour of Cursed in exchange for a ride. We'll visit your grandma and get some answers out of her."
* * * * *
Saturdays on the Cursed Academy campus were relaxed, it turned out. Breakfast was whenever, and I nervously went downstairs with Maria and Mikey, the Chaos Dagger tucked into a side pocket I found in my purple uniform. At least I could hide my weapon and not get yelled at by the lunch lady. And I had it in case Wendy made good on her threat to send me to the Underworld.
I could do worse.
Much worse.
But Wendy wasn't at breakfast. Maria explained that the cool kids usually left campus on the weekends, going into town to shop. Relief. And of course they would. Even the fourth years were absent, and the dining hall only had a few people scattered around the tables.
After we were done eating, I texted Carmen. "Here goes."
She got back to me with a frowny face. Car's broken down. Dad has to fix the drive train. Expensive. We'll have to wait for the next paycheck.
I groaned and let my head slam to the table. "Well, we're not getting out of here this weekend." That left Ronin if he ever showed up.
"Is Colton Corners just a pit of despair or something?" Mikey asked.
"Yes. Even Cursed is better than Colton Corners," I said. "You live there, you're never getting out."
"But you did," Maria said.
I looked around the room for Ronin. He wasn't here. Of course, he'd be eating with the other Olympian kids, like I should have been. As I searched, Prometheus, once again in his black, wrinkled suit, walked into the dining hall. He paced around the perimeter of the dining hall, checking out everything, and as he approached our side of the room, I dug into my pancakes and bacon like he wasn't there. So far as I knew, he didn't know I was training with Ronin in the evenings now. And if he and Zeus hated each other as much as Ronin said, that wouldn't be a good thing.
"Morning, students," he said, stopping near our table.
"Morning," Mikey said through a mouthful of food.
"How is everything going?" he asked me. "I know you started late in the year."
The air stayed cool and my mark didn't burn. I took a breath, forcing down all feelings of anger. "Good. I'm doing better than I thought." Then I dared to meet his gaze.
The titan smiled. He was relaxed. "Excellent. I just came here to let you know something. We are tightening the rules on first years, who have yet to learn to control their powers. And word has reached me that the Lower Order was spotted on Olympian's campus the other night. Therefore, first years must remain on either campus at all times. I've hired additional guards to check everyone coming and going at night."
"You're forbidding first years from leaving?" Mikey asked. He dropped his plastic fork.
The titan frowned. "Yes."
A weight settled on my shoulders. This was one hundred percent because of me. I knew it.
I shrunk into my seat.
"We can't leave. Ridiculous," Maria said.
Mikey face-palmed. "Well, that leaves nothing to do. At least the computer lab has Internet. Maybe we can play some solitaire."
More questions burned. I thought of confronting the titan myself to see what he knew, but my gut turned at the thought. I remembered the heating air, plus the fire symbol on my wrist. What if Prometheus could control fire? The immortals' symbols usually gave you a clue as to what they could do. Yikes.
"We might have to wait a week or two to go confront Grandma," I said. "Until then, I'll see if Ronin can get us into the library. He's gotten a little better. I'll go look for him right now." Mostly, I wanted out of here.
"Don't tell me you're worried about him," Mikey said.
I swallowed.
I was.
Tingles broke out over my palms as I thought of Ronin's touch on my forearms. No, he was just trying to steady me.
"We can walk over to Olympian during the day, right?" I asked.
"It's still considered campus. On the weekends, we can, but we usually don't," Maria said. "You get stared at."
"I'm already stared at," I said.
"Good point." Mikey nodded.
I got up from the table and left the dining hall, half-expecting Prometheus to block the door and stop me. Though I technically wasn't breaking the rules, I had the sense he wouldn't want me just walking over to Olympian. Once I checked the hall and realized he was gone—in fact, he was sitting in a small room that looked like his office, typing away on a laptop—I left the main building from a side door and followed another trail that forked in the direction of Olympian. This was an approved trail, because a gate far in the trees was open halfway. And I wa
lked fast, so Maria and Mikey couldn't catch up with me.
I found Olympian spread out before me as soon as I crossed onto the well-trimmed lawn. People milled around this Saturday and even a few rust-free cars were parked in a giant roundabout that surrounded the fountain. I realized a statue of Zeus himself, not in his suit but in his ancient garb, rose from the center. Other details popped that we missed the other night. Shrubs carved in the shapes of warriors. Flowers lining the building, making it look inviting. Even the library tucked away on the far side of the building looked bright and happy with its locked doors.
And here was I, in a dark purple uniform.
A guy snorted over by one of the cars. An Olympian student was standing there, sucking down an energy drink with a couple of other guys. The three stared after me as I crossed the lawn, feeling very exposed, before getting into their car. Like typical jerks, they squealed off campus and left the sound of the growling motor behind.
The back of my neck prickled. I walked past a couple of girls sitting on the lawn, studying, and they stared after me, too. No one was stopping me, but it didn't matter. My stomach threatened to reject my breakfast. I looked like I wasn't supposed to be here.
"Giselle. What are you doing?"
I whirled. Ronin. He crossed the campus from the direction of a dorm building, all hot in his flowing robes. My breath escaped as he reached me, reached out, and put his hands on my shoulders.
The two girls were watching us.
Ronin's gaze flicked towards the main building of Olympian. "You are not supposed to be here," he said, shaking his head with a stupid grin. "Get back in your pen."
One of the girls whispered something to the other. I didn't imagine anything good.
"My pen?" I asked.
"Yes. The dangerous animal exhibit," Ronin said. "Get back, right now."
"What is your problem?" I thought I'd seen the real Ronin last evening, but now he was an ass again.
Ronin frowned a bit and shook his head.
And I got it.
He was pulling an act. We had to get out of the open.
Trying to breathe, I let Ronin turn me around to face the open gate. He led me back through it and into the trees, away from the stares.
Once on the empty trail, Ronin curled his fingers into my shoulder. But unlike with Randy, his grip was gentle. Electric. "You can't just walk over to Olympian's campus whenever. Technically you're not breaking any rules, but you're breaking the rules. I know we're all hot and amazing people over there, but—"
"What happened last night?" I had to know.
"It was hard, but I managed to convince Zeus that the golem was old and finally crumbled under its own weight. It happens once in a while with all those moving parts."
"And why did you do that?"
"You don't want people knowing you have powers. Now that you can't take them back, your best chances of staying out of trouble are to stay as unassuming as possible. Too much damage has already been done."
Anger flashed through me, along with a bit of that icy darkness. That Chaos darkness. I was full of that swirling void. I whirled to face Ronin. Was he just another Grandma or Randy? "No kidding. You didn't have to make fun of me, though."
Ronin gulped. "If people think I'm picking friends below my status, word will spread, and Zeus will not be happy with me."
"He gives a crap about that?"
"Yes. I wish I could hide my powers. Most people with Zeus's powers have him in their family trees from a long time ago. But I'm his son. I stand out."
"But I have nobody to live up to," I said, balling my fists.
"You have everybody to live up to. And Giselle, we don't completely know what we're dealing with. Everything's confusing."
We?
Ronin's implying that we're in this together?
"You're going to help me figure this out?" I asked. "I was hoping you could either get me into the library or drive me out to Colton Corners so I can get some answers out of Grandma." I was glad I didn't have to just ask.
He drew closer. "If I could, I'd bust that door down right now. People would laugh at me if they saw me going into the library. A son of Zeus is supposed to have brawn, not brains. He'd never give me a key. That door is magically guarded, too."
"What about transportation?" I tried not to sound disappointed.
"The car I had was an academy car. Students only get them for official reasons. I have no vehicle. Yeah, I know. My dad just can't afford one."
"You've got to be kidding."
Ronin shrugged. "Haven't proven myself yet. Zeus says training you is my chance. No pressure. And it's going to be an uphill battle with you."
"Argh!" I shouted. I searched for something to throw at Ronin, but there were nothing but leaves around, and I knew how well that went last time. "I'll handle it, okay? I'll train and learn how to kick ass while simultaneously tripping on my own feet."
He grinned. "That's the reaction I wanted. Maybe there's a bit of a tough girl in there after all. The thing is, I don't want to train you where Zeus can see. You learn to defend yourself, and I buy you time before you have to end up in my position. Deal?"
"Come on!" Why was this entertaining? Why was this conversation fun?
"I'll come and get you tonight," Ronin said. "In fact, I'll come right up to your room like a perfect gentleman, and as you open the door, I'll bow and offer my hand. Get your friends to distract anyone who might see. If they snuck over to the library with you, they'll be up for the task."
Chapter Twelve
I snuck back to the Cursed campus and hid out in my room for a while, lying in the bed and staring at the canopy.
My mind wouldn't stop spinning just like that void. I think of calling Grandma but I didn't think I could handle that right now. Was it so bad that I didn't miss her? She wouldn't give me answers, anyway. Not without backup.
So I texted back and forth with Carmen instead.
Looks like the transmission's shot, too, she says. I hate Colton Corners.
I miss you. Hope it's fixed soon.
Maria and Miley were awesome, but they were no replacement for my friends back home. Stupid car problems. Typical.
We're working on it, Carmen said. Randy wants to see you, too.
I said nothing to that. Of course Randy wouldn't tell the other Art Geeks he tried to come on to me. I thought of warning Carmen, but I couldn't find the guts to do it. She wouldn't believe that about Randy. The two had been close friends forever and unlike with me, I'd never detected any romantic tension between them.
I should have told her, but I just couldn't. Randy was about all she had left.
Hope you can get here soon.
Maria and Mikey came up, looking for me, and I told them what happened on the trail. "I need you two to distract the guards so Ronin and I can leave tonight," I said.
Mikey looked over his shoulder. "Might be tricky. Prometheus hired werewolves. Yeah, common. I saw them arrive when Maria and I were sitting on the front entrance steps. And trust me, I do not want to lure any of them to me. Yuck."
Maria pinched him on the shoulder. "At least you have taste."
"Ow!"
I didn't know whether to feel relieved or imprisoned. Maybe both. "Well, I'll be breaking the rules a lot more. Ronin promised."
"You rebel," Maria said.
"It's Ronin," Mikey reminded her.
"Look, I'll give you all the details tomorrow. I just need both of you to distract the guards as much as possible tonight so he can get over here. I don't think Prometheus will like Ronin coming here to get me."
Maria paces. "Well, they keep rabbits over in the barns to teach werewolves how to hunt and, you know, not kill people."
"They keep rabbits?" I asked.
Mikey nodded like it was no big deal. "Yeah. Animal rights groups hate it, but there's no other way. And rabbits breed like, well, rabbits, so they get used. And if we let some out in the right place, our werewolf guards won't be able to stay in thei
r places."
"But they're bunnies!" I said.
"Don't worry," Maria said. "Rabbits run pretty fast. I'm sure most will survive."
I'd forgotten about that and the reason Cursed was set back in the woods. "I guess that'll work. Ronin told me he'd try to be here at eight."
* * * * *
Mikey and Maria came through. True to their word, both the guards they said were standing outside the side doors were gone when Ronin and I made our exit from the main building. We ran across the campus grounds and into the woods, Ronin leading the way in his long leather jacket. Yeah, he had a long leather jacket on over his uniform, like an ancient bad boy, and I had to admit I really liked the look.
"You know, you look like a Greek biker," I said once we were in the trees.
Ronin grinned at me. "I've ridden a few times. And don't get any ideas from that either, baby."
"You're perverted."
"Aren't all guys supposed to be a little perverted? Come on. We've changed positions to a spot off campus and far away from hearing. But I had to bring a friend along."
"A friend?" All the strange tingles in my chest and on my palms died.
Ronin pushed some tree branches out of the way and squinted as he peeked into the vine-laden trees ahead. He nodded an all-clear and continued to walk, leading the way through hanging branches and tall weeds. "Cal's a descendant of Apollo. We've been friends since we started in Olympian last year. He's a good fighter, too. And you need to train against good fighters. You do know who Apollo is, right?"
"The god of the sun and the light," I said.
"Exactly. At least mentally you're not as clumsy as you are physically," Ronin said, looking back at me.
"Shut up," I said playfully. "And that's basic knowledge."
"Well, we know how to wake up your powers now," he said.
Translation: he would continue to be a jerk.
We continued through the woods until we came to an open field really, with a dilapidated shack on the far side that might have once been used by Olympian to store equipment. Another guy stood there already, pacing around the shack, and he wasn't bad-looking, either. Also in a white toga uniform, the blond guy, with hair the color of the sun, ironically, walked over and shook my hand. "Cal."
