I’m glad I failed, she thought, stepping into the grounds and smiling at the blue sky, her eyes matching its bright shade. The sky was a part of her; one she couldn’t live without.
Madam Norwood led them to the back of the palace, where a bizarre bluish-green grass coated the diamond ground. It was soft and squishy beneath Hailey’s shoes, and felt like walking on spongy rubber.
‘Everyone form a line so I can assign you a task.’
‘Let’s be first.’ Demi grabbed Hailey’s hand, pulling her to stand right in front of Madam Norwood. ‘Boys, hurry up,’ she snapped at Jayden, Alec, and Aaron, pointing to the spot behind her for them to stand.
‘There are no points for being first in line,’ Madam Norwood told Demi, who shrugged with a well-I-like-being-first kind of attitude. ‘I want you to help Hailey with her powers today, Demi.’
Demi’s shoulders slumped.
‘We’ll work on your powers next class,’ Madam Norwood assured her. ‘Now, Hailey, I want you to focus on controlling wind by getting it to lift Demi off the ground and landing her—gently—in a specific spot.’
‘Ooh, I get to fly,’ Demi chimed while Hailey gulped.
‘Maybe practise away from the others,’ Madam Norwood added.
‘Come on, Hails.’ Demi yanked her towards the edge of the grounds, far enough away that she could barely hear the other students. A black octopus with fluorescent green spots lingered on the other side of the force field, watching the two of them. It probably knows how badly I’m going to suck at this and is waiting to laugh at me, Hailey thought.
‘This will be fun.’ Demi grinned. ‘I’m not even upset about missing out on using my powers anymore.’
‘Don’t get your hopes up too high,’ Hailey told her. ‘I’ve never done anything like this before. There’s a good chance I’ll drop you in the sea.’
‘I trust you.’ Demi threw her arms out and tilted her head up. ‘Now make me fly.’
‘Okay.’ Hailey stretched her hands towards Demi, warmth flowing down her arms and into her fingertips as she concentrated on creating a pocket of wind around her friend.
Demi’s hair whipped about and she grinned wider. ‘And… lift off.’
‘Here goes nothing.’ Hailey raised her hands, focusing on containing Demi in the pocket of wind. Demi rose a few feet off the ground. ‘Wow, I can’t believe that worked,’ Hailey said; she hadn’t expected Demi to move even an inch off the ground.
Demi crossed her arms. ‘Come on, Hails, I could jump higher than this. I want to touch the top of that tree.’ She pointed to the tanzanite tree she was floating beside, which was tall enough to reach the palace’s second floor.
So far so good, Hailey thought. ‘Let’s do this.’ She raised her arms higher, her powers flowing through her fingertips and into the sky.
Slowly, Demi floated higher and higher, until she was level with the top of the tanzanite tree. ‘Woo, I’m flying,’ she squealed and did a flip.
‘Blue skies,’ Hailey said, feeling just a little proud that she’d managed to exceed the expectations she’d put on herself.
Her proudness lasted for two seconds before her control over the wind faltered and Demi swayed to the side.
‘Whoa, careful, Hails.’
The wind tossed Demi to the other side.
‘Stay still,’ Hailey ordered the wind. The warmth flowing through her fingertips grew hotter as she tried to reinforce the pocket around Demi, imagining the wind acting like the force field that surrounded the grounds, only instead of repelling water, it repelled gravity. But she could feel the wind leaking out, like air seeping from a punctured balloon. ‘Come on,’ she growled through gritted teeth, concentrating so hard her hands shook.
The wind broke free with a WHOOSH and flung Demi to the right. She screamed, flailing in the air, trying to grasp on to something… But there was only wind, and it was working against her.
She hit the ground. Hard.
3
Practice Run
‘Demi!’ Hailey bolted towards her, praying she hadn’t just killed her best friend.
Demi’s eyes flicked open and she winced, cradling her right arm against her chest. ‘I think my arm’s broken.’
‘I’m so sorry. I lost control.’
‘Is your arm the only thing that hurts?’ Madam Norwood was beside Demi. The rest of the class had scurried over to see the action too. ‘You didn’t hit your head, did you?’ asked Madam Norwood.
‘No,’ Demi groaned through clenched teeth. ‘My arm broke my fall—and the squishy grass stuff.’
Madam Norwood glanced over her shoulder to the watching students. ‘Kora, I think it’s time for you to practise your powers, if you’re willing to.’
Kora nodded and knelt beside Demi, placing her hand over Demi’s broken arm. ‘How does that feel?’ Kora asked her.
‘Like there’s a warm light knitting my bone back together,’ Demi said dreamily, almost as if she’d taken a bottle of painkillers.
Madam Norwood straightened. ‘Get back to work the rest of you,’ she ordered the snooping second years.
Jayden, Alec, and Aaron hesitated, but the stern look Madam Norwood shot everyone sent them away. She turned to Hailey. ‘Don’t let this discourage you. Getting a handle on using your powers for new things takes time.’
‘But I’ve never hurt anyone before.’ At least not any humans, she thought to herself.
‘It was an accident,’ Madam Norwood said. ‘Next time don’t raise the person you’re carrying so high, that way if you lose control, the fall won’t hurt them.’
‘I don’t think I was meant to use my powers to carry people.’ Hailey never wanted to try it again.
‘Never let fear stop you from unleashing your powers’ full potential. I need to monitor the others. You can stay with Demi and help her with her powers for the rest of class.’
‘Thanks, Kora,’ Demi said, bending her arm back and forth. ‘I really like your pink streaks by the way.’
Kora admired one of the pink strands in her honey blonde hair. ‘Thanks,’ she said in an Australian accent. ‘I thought it looked cooler than the red ones I had last year.’
‘I’m sorry you have to deal with a broken arm,’ Hailey told Kora, guilt hanging heavy in her chest.
Kora carefully climbed back to her feet, while clutching her right arm to her chest. ‘It’s good for me to practise. And if I concentrate really hard, I can heal myself before class ends.’ She left to sit a few yards away.
‘I really am sorry, Demi.’ Hailey helped her friend up.
‘Stop it. I’m the one who asked you to take me up that high. It was the first time you’d ever carried someone on wind. Let’s just call it you getting even with me.’
Hailey cocked an eyebrow. ‘Even?’
‘Yeah, don’t you remember in sixth grade when I was learning to grab people with tree branches? You volunteered to help me, and when I picked you up with the branches, I dropped you halfway and you twisted your ankle—plus the branches were so tight you had cuts and bruises all over your arms.’
‘I forgot about that.’ Hailey remembered now fighting back tears as the branches bit into her skin. She hadn’t wanted to destroy Demi’s confidence by telling her she was hurting her.
‘Well, I’ve always remembered how you told me not to worry, that practise would make me better. So that’s what I’m telling you now. And if I hear you apologise one more time, or say you’re too scared to try, then I just might have to get one of these trees to grab you.’
Hailey smirked. ‘Okay.’
‘Class is over,’ Madam Norwood announced fifteen minutes later. ‘Read chapters three and four in your textbook before next class.’
‘Don’t go anywhere.’ Master Anderson marched from the side of the palace, wearing his usual attire of gold shorts and a white polo shirt. ‘PE is outside today. Everyone come here.’
Hailey and Demi scooted over to Master Anderson with the other second years, where
they regrouped with the boys.
‘You okay, Dems?’ Jayden asked.
‘Yep, Kora healed me all up.’ She gasped when she saw Aaron’s face; blood gushed from his nose. ‘What happened to you?’
‘Alec,’ he said simply.
Everyone looked at Alec, who blushed. ‘Madam Norwood made me practise taking people through walls.’ He lowered his eyes. ‘It didn’t really work.’
‘As you all know, the biennial obstacle course race is happening in two days,’ Master Anderson said.
‘I’m trying to forget,’ Demi mumbled.
‘As some of you are competing, I thought we’d use today’s class as a training session. Basically, I want everyone in groups of eight. Four people will use their powers to prevent the other four from making it to the opposite side of the grounds. The other four can also use their powers to make it through the obstacles created by the first group. Okay. Team up.’
‘Good thing Venus and the twins aren’t in this class or Master Anderson would probably force us to join up with them for practise,’ Demi said.
‘At least we’d be competing against them and not with them,’ Hailey countered, relishing the thought of using her powers on Venus.
Tahlia came over to them with Tanzy and Lexa, Tahlia’s long ebony hair gleaming like satin in the sun. ‘Mind if we join you?’ she asked, her words tinged with the same Australian accent Kora had.
‘Sure,’ Hailey said.
The boys shifted uncomfortably, no doubt remembering back to last year when Venus and the twins had compelled them to attack Tanzy and Lexa.
‘No Kora?’ Jayden asked.
‘She’s still healing, so Master Anderson told her to watch instead,’ Tahlia explained.
Hailey felt a tug of guilt. Everyone makes mistakes, she reminded herself, trying really hard not to feel like the biggest Zeus failure to ever live. ‘So who wants to be who?’
‘Since you’re competing in the obstacle race, maybe you should get some practise in,’ Tanzy suggested.
‘No thanks,’ Demi said. ‘I’d rather use my powers to stop you. I’m feeling a little villainous today.’
‘Okay,’ Tanzy agreed. ‘So who from your side is joining us?’
‘Aaron,’ everyone said, pushing him forward.
He dug his heels into the ground. ‘Why me?’
‘Because you’re the fitness junkie,’ Demi said matter-of-factly.
‘I’m not really in the mood. I think Alec should do it, since his powers aren’t defensive. Otherwise, he’ll just be standing around.’
Alec looked a little hurt but switched places with Aaron.
Hailey, Demi, Jayden, and Aaron spread themselves out towards the edge of the grounds so there’d be four phases of obstacles. Jayden would use his powers first, Demi second, Aaron third, and Hailey last. Although she doubted she’d need to use hers, because the only person getting through Aaron’s force field would be Alec.
Master Anderson blew on a conch shell, the bellowing horn signalling the obstacle’s start.
Alec, Tahlia, Tanzy, and Lexa rushed forward, only to be knocked down by a wave roaring into the grounds. They scrambled back up and Jayden sent another one. This time Tanzy was ready. She clicked her fingers, and the wave vanished, not leaving so much as a drop of water behind. Jayden was too surprised to use his powers again, allowing Alec and the girls to dart into Demi’s territory.
Demi rubbed her hands together, her devilish grin widening. ‘This is gonna be fun.’ She reached a hand towards a nearby seaweed tree; its seaweed branches stretched down to the ground, slithering like snakes towards Alec, Tahlia, Tanzy, and Lexa.
‘Ugh, the trees are alive,’ Tanzy squealed, raising her hand to click her fingers.
One strand of seaweed leapt into the air like a striking python, wrapping around Tanzy before she had the chance to use her powers and make it vanish.
Demi giggled, watching the seaweed take down Alec, Tahlia, and Lexa, too, curling around their shoulders, stomachs, legs, and feet. They squirmed, trying to free themselves, but the seaweed only squeezed them tighter.
‘Kind of hard to click your fingers when your arms are pinned, isn’t it, Tanzy?’ Demi mocked. She turned back to Jayden. ‘Looks like my powers are stronger than yours.’
‘I wouldn’t be so cocky.’ Jayden nudged his head behind Demi.
Demi spun around in time to see Alec, who had escaped, tear apart the seaweed restraints around Tahlia, Tanzy, and Lexa. ‘Argh. I hate your stupid Heracles powers,’ Demi huffed at Alec as he passed into Aaron’s territory.
Aaron raised his palms.
Tanzy was slow to realise what was happening and bumped into his force field. ‘Ouch,’ she yelped, rubbing her nose. She clicked her fingers before kicking her foot out. The force field rippled like a lake someone had thrown and stone into, and she yelped again.
‘Okay, so your powers don’t work on force fields,’ Tahlia said, putting her hands on her hips. ‘Other ideas?’
‘I can pass through,’ Alec offered. ‘But I can’t take anyone with me,’ he added sheepishly.
‘I can get us over,’ Lexa said. ‘You go first, Alec, and be ready to catch.’
Alec frowned but didn’t argue. For a split second, his body became all blurry, like an out-of-focus photo, and he stepped straight through the force field. The moment he was on the other side, Lexa grabbed Tanzy’s hand and levitated forty feet into the air before swinging Tanzy forward and letting go. Tanzy squealed and Hailey watched, horrified, thinking she’d hit the ground. But Alec caught her.
‘I won’t let you do that again,’ Aaron said.
‘We’ll see.’ Lexa touched back down on the ground and grabbed Tahlia’s hand. She lifted a few feet into the air, and Aaron moved his palms up, shifting his force field to block her. At the same time, Lexa and Tahlia landed and crouched down to rush under the gap Aaron had created.
Wow, Hailey thought, that was pretty smart, and then she realised it was her turn to stop them. She threw her hands forward, warmth flowing through her fingers and shooting towards Alec, Tahlia, Tanzy, and Lexa. The four of them suddenly stopped, their hair whipping out as they stumbled back a few steps.
Hailey grinned, the warmth surging from her fingers continuing to flow, as she watched the other team battle against her wind. Their cheeks flapped about, and their steps were so tiny that it looked as though they were moving in slow motion.
‘This isn’t working.’ Tanzy said, stumbling backwards from the wall of wind with Alec, Tahlia, and Lexa for the fifth time.
Tahlia whispered in Lexa’s ear, and then Tanzy and Alec’s. Unease settled over Hailey. What are they up to?
Alec and Tanzy bolted for the left and Lexa levitated into the air, her long layered hair fanning out around her. They’re attempting to divide and conquer. Well, they underestimated me, Hailey thought.
She moved one of her hands up, the wind extending to block Lexa; although she wasn’t sure what levitating would achieve—only flying would get Lexa across. Hailey shifted her other hand towards Alec and Tanzy. A gale of wind blasted towards them, creating another wall of wind to keep them from circling around.
‘Um, Hailey,’ Aaron called to her.
Hailey glanced over her shoulder and came face to face with Tahlia, realising too late that the other three had been a distraction.
‘Sorry,’ Tahlia said, and blew a puff of gold dust into Hailey’s face.
Hailey swiped at it, but her eyes were already drooping, and she collapsed a second later, falling through darkness until she landed in a cavern that reeked of rotten eggs. Flaming torches lined the rock walls, casting a dim light on the iron bars in front of her. She was back in the Underworld’s dungeon.
‘No,’ she gasped, wrapping her hands around the warm metal and shaking the bars. ‘I don’t want to be here. Let me out!’ she screamed, her voice echoing down the passageway that stretched past the hundreds of other cells. They were all empty. Hailey was trapped down there com
pletely alone. ‘Please, let me out!’ she shouted, shaking the bars again.
‘You always were a pathetic Zeus.’
Hailey whipped around. ‘Hades?’ she choked out, staring wide-eyed at the man standing in the cell with her. She could never forget those cold black eyes.
‘My brother Zeus would be so ashamed to know his powers fell to someone as unworthy as you,’ Hades said, his skin looking especially sallow in the flickering torches’ light. ‘What does it feel like knowing how much weaker you are than everyone, and how much you disappoint others?’
Hailey pressed her back against the bars, trying to create as much space between her and the god as possible. ‘I’m stronger than you think. I defeated you.’
Hades tapped his lip, thoughtful. ‘Hmmm, from my memory it was more your friend who defeated me. My fireball ricocheted off his force field. All you did was point a wand while I was distracted with my dead wife. As I said, you’re pathetic, and weak.’ He clucked his tongue. ‘I don’t think my brother would even waste the energy in killing you… Right, Zeus?’
Lightning struck the ground in front of Hailey, blinding white light filling her vision before her eyes opened and she sucked in a breath.
‘Whoa, Hails, are you okay?’ Demi asked.
Hailey blinked, gazing around. She was lying on the spongy grass at the back of the palace, with Demi, Jayden, Alec, and Aaron staring down at her. She thought back to Tahlia blowing sleep dust at her and realised the whole thing had been another stupid nightmare.
‘I was dreaming I was bac—’ She pressed her lips together, remembering she was the only one struggling to get over the Underworld. ‘It was just a bad dream.’ She shook her head, trying to clear away the grogginess confusing her. ‘Where’s everyone else?’
‘Classes ended ten minutes ago,’ Jayden explained, extending his hand down to help Hailey stand up.
‘Yeah, and we lost,’ Demi said with a pout. ‘If we’d had Alec on our team instead of Aaron, then the others never would have been able to get past me.’
Poseidon's Academy Box Set Page 31
