‘I did warn you not to stand too close.’
Hailey whipped around. Venus lurked behind her, her face equal parts nefarious and furious. ‘What do you want?’
‘To let this little harpy know I’m not okay with her moving into my dorm.’
Hailey glanced at Hope, who seemed as confused as her.
‘What are you talking about?’ Demi snapped.
‘You didn’t hear? Madam Grayson had half my dorm emptied to make room for her.’ She poked an accusatory finger at Hope.
‘I didn’t ask them to do that,’ Hope spluttered.
‘Back off,’ Hailey warned. ‘You can’t do anything, there’s a soldier right there…’ Her words trailed off when she noticed the entrance was soldier free. That’s weird.
Venus smirked. ‘He’s dealing with another commotion.’
Demi rolled her eyes. ‘Let me guess, the twins are behind it?’
Venus shrugged. ‘Maybe.’
‘You can’t blame Hope. She hasn’t done anything wrong,’ Hailey protested. ‘We’ll talk to Madam Grayson and get this sorted out. She can stay in our dorm.’ Hailey couldn’t believe Madam Grayson would put Hope—someone on the verge of PTSD—in a dorm with Venus: a psychopath who takes pleasure from inflicting pain and misery on others.
‘It’s too late. My spa is already gone.’ A knife flew from Venus’s hand.
18
Athena’s Revenge
The knife sailed between Hailey and Demi, embedding itself in Hope’s chest. Hope’s eyes grew wide as she slipped backwards. Hailey and Demi reached for her, pulling her forward before she could fall through the force field, and lowered her gently to the ground. Blood spilled over the diamond floor, but it quickly began receding like a puddle of water drying up under the sun—thanks to the floor’s self-cleaning abilities.
‘Just a reminder of what will happen if you impose on my territory too much.’ Venus strutted away.
‘It’s okay, Hope.’ Hailey squeezed her hand. ‘We’ve got you.’
Hope opened her mouth to say something and then closed it, a trail of blood leaking over her chin as her head lolled to the side and her eyes turned glassy.
‘I’ll get Madam Mendem.’
Hailey grabbed Demi’s wrist before she could get up. ‘It’s too late. She’s dead.’ Tears burned her throat.
‘What do we do?’
‘Wait, I guess.’
Hailey yanked the knife, which Venus had stolen from the main hall, from Hope’s chest and tossed it through the force field, the water tingeing red with blood as the blade sank out of sight. She resisted the urge to chase after Venus and strangle her. Just because Hope was immortal didn’t mean it was okay to kill her. She couldn’t understand how anyone could be so evil. Hope was innocent, and now she’d probably come back even more traumatised than before.
‘Maybe she’ll get expelled for this,’ Demi remarked, sensing Hailey’s thoughts.
‘How does she know how to throw a knife anyway?’
‘Probably her older sister.’ Demi shrugged. ‘She’s an Ares or something. Apparently, she’s a bigger psycho than Venus and got expelled from just about every god school when she was sixteen. I think she’s in jail now.’
‘Venus is the nice one? Now that’s a scary thought.’
Hope dragged in a breath, her eyes flying open.
‘You’re alive!’ Demi exclaimed.
‘Do you feel okay?’ Hailey asked, helping Hope sit up. Her blue button-down shirt was completely covered in blood, but it didn’t look like she was bleeding anymore.
Hope nodded and touched the spot where Venus had stabbed her. ‘Yeah, it’s all healed.’
‘So that’s your new dorm mate,’ Demi said.
Hope gulped.
‘Don’t worry, we’re not letting you stay with her,’ Hailey promised. ‘Come on, we’re telling Madam Grayson what she did.’
Hope shook her head. ‘No. I don’t want to cause any trouble.’
‘Trouble?’ Demi cocked an eyebrow. ‘She just killed you in broad daylight. What do you think she’ll do to you when you’re sleeping?’
‘I don’t want to make things worse. She knew I was an immortal. I think she was just angry. If I stay out of her way, she’ll hopefully calm down.’
‘But she killed you,’ Demi said again as if Hope wasn’t understanding the situation.
‘You can’t let her get away with it,’ Hailey agreed.
‘It’s not your choice,’ Hope snapped. ‘You can’t force me to do something I don’t want to.’ She sprang up and stormed towards the palace.
***
Ancient History was the first class on Monday, and Hailey took her regular seat in the front row with her friends. Hope sat beside her, clutching her hands in her lap.
‘It’s okay,’ Hailey assured her. ‘This is a fun class.’
Amathia stood at the front of the room. ‘Let us begin.’ She touched the orb on her desk, white light flooding the room like an explosion of lightning. When it faded, Hailey was standing a few yards from a marble temple bordered with white pillars. A few more yards from the temple was a woman lowering a bucket into a well.
‘There she is.’
Hailey turned to the man standing beside her, her heart leaping into her throat. He had black hair and a short beard sprouting a few grey hairs. Poseidon! It’s just a memory. He can’t hurt me.
Poseidon’s dark blue eyes focused on Hailey and she tensed, thinking maybe Poseidon could sense her hiding inside Amathia’s body. ‘Keep watch for my wife.’
Hailey nodded. ‘As you wish.’
Poseidon prowled towards the woman, who was now balancing the bucket on the well’s edge. She spun around. ‘Poseidon,’ she squealed with delight, wrapping her arms around him.
‘Come, let’s go inside.’ Poseidon clasped the woman’s hand.
‘No.’ She dug her feet into the ground. ‘We cannot defile a temple.’
‘It is only Athena’s,’ Poseidon argued. ‘My prude of a niece could stand to have a few temples defiled.’
‘It’s not right, Poseidon,’ the woman protested, but a smile played across her lips.
‘Come now, Medusa, I will protect you.’
She hesitated. ‘All right.’ She giggled and let Poseidon lead her inside.
Eww was all Hailey could think. She also felt a little sad, because she knew what was going to happen next.
Poseidon exited the temple about ten minutes later. ‘Farewell, Medusa,’ he called behind him and strode towards Hailey, who tensed again. ‘I will meet you back at the palace,’ he informed her before vanishing in a tornado of water.
Singing pulled Hailey’s attention back to the temple. Medusa was strolling towards the well, humming a song. She reached for the well’s bucket as a shower of owl feathers floated down beside her. A woman wearing a gold helmet and holding a spear materialised.
Medusa gasped and knocked the bucket over, water pooling in the dirt. ‘Athena!’ She dropped her head. ‘How kind of you to grace me with your presence.’
‘Do not act so daft, mortal,’ Athena hissed. ‘I know what you did in my temple. How dare you sully my sacred place!’
‘I-I-I am sorry, Athena.’ Medusa fell to her knees on the muddy ground. ‘I beg your forgiveness.’
‘I’m not the forgiving type.’
‘Wait!’ Hailey called in Amathia’s voice, advancing towards the pair.
Athena glared at her. ‘This does not concern you, nymph.’
‘She is not at fault,’ Hailey argued. ‘Poseidon lured her. You cannot punish her for being a weak mortal and giving in to a god.’
‘Watch me.’ Athena plucked an amber potion bottle from her Grecian dress and smashed it on the ground.
Vapours rose from the oozing liquid, swirling around Medusa like smoke. She clawed at the mist, which seeped into her skin, before a bloodcurdling scream tore from her mouth.
Hailey watched with a mixture of curiosity and revulsion as
Medusa’s brown curls began shivering, each one slowly transforming into a hissing snake.
Medusa reached a hand up to touch her slithering hair. ‘I’m a monster!’
‘Yes.’ A malevolent smile curved Athena’s lips. ‘One that will never enjoy the company of mortals again. For every human who gazes upon you, you will transform them into stone. Enjoy your lonely life, Medusa.’ Athena spared a glance at Hailey. ‘Swim away, little nymph. I’m sure Poseidon will wish to know the fate of his beloved.’ She cackled. ‘No, actually, I do not believe my uncle will care.’
The world flashed white again, and Hailey was back in Amathia’s classroom. A chair clattered to the floor beside her as Hope bolted from the room.
Hailey darted after her, making it outside in time to see her dash down the hallway leading to the stable. ‘Hope,’ she called and was about to run after her when Cady wandered from the left hallway; her eyes grew wide when she saw Hailey. ‘Cady? What are you doing here?’
‘I… um… I told Madam Grayson I was sick to get out of class—skipping class is the only way I can wander around the palace without Venus ambushing me.’ She lowered her eyes to the ground, and Hailey resisted the urge to hunt Venus down and make her swear never to so much as glance at Cady again. ‘Anyway, I was curious about the barrier PET is trying to get past, so I went to have a look.’
‘Really? Did you find it? What was it?’ Hailey imagined enormous crystals shooting from the ground to the ceiling, crossing over each other.
‘Just a force field.’
‘Oh.’ That wasn’t anywhere near as interesting as an impenetrable wall of crystals. ‘How did you get past PET?’
‘I can blend in with my surroundings.’ Cady pressed herself against the wall, her skin almost becoming transparent as it changed to match the crystal wall’s pale blue colour.
‘Wow.’ If Hailey hadn’t known exactly where Cady was standing, she never would have noticed her. ‘You’re like a chameleon.’
Cady peeled away from the wall, dropping her disguise. ‘I guess.’
‘Look I have to go,’ Hailey said, remembering that she was supposed to be looking for Hope. ‘But you should really try to stand up for yourself against Venus—and if you get a chance to rip out one of her curls, take it.’
Cady smiled a sad smile. ‘I wish it were that easy.’
‘Hope,’ Hailey called, slipping through the slightly ajar stable doors, having an inkling that Hope was borrowing her hiding spot.
Hope sniffed from behind the left door, her face red and splotchy from crying.
The horses whinnied in greeting, but Hailey ignored them—they could wait five minutes for a pat. ‘Hope, what’s wrong?’ She dropped down beside her, the dried seaweed crunching beneath her.
Hope sniffed again and wiped her eyes. ‘That was horrible—what Athena did to Medusa. It wasn’t her fault. She didn’t deserve that. Why were the gods so cruel?’
‘I’m not sure, they just were.’ Hailey didn’t know what other answer there was. ‘I’m surprised you feel anything about it. The memory ball is meant to block emotions once you’re out of the memory.’
‘Maybe it doesn’t work on immortals.’
‘You know it happened a long time ago. The gods aren’t around anymore.’ At least not alive enough to turn people into monsters. ‘They can’t hurt anyone else.’
‘It was awful.’ Hope hugged her knees.
‘Let’s talk about something else,’ Hailey suggested. ‘How’s Venus as a dorm mate?’ She figured if anything could overpower Hope’s fear, it was probably anger towards Venus.
Hope shrugged. ‘She’s okay.’
‘Okay? She killed you last week.’
‘Well, she hasn’t tried again. Although she might if I have another nightmare. I woke her up last night when I screamed.’
‘I really think you should see Madam Norwood. She could help you.’
‘Maybe.’ Hope wiped her nose with her sleeve. ‘Look, I don’t want to be rude, but do you mind leaving me alone for a little while?’
‘Of course.’ Hailey understood needing alone time better than anybody. ‘As long as you’ll be okay?’
Hope nodded. ‘I feel better now. Maybe the emotion-blocking part of the memory ball was a little delayed.’
‘Okay.’ Hailey climbed to her feet. ‘I’ll meet you after class.’
19
Eavesdropping
Hailey lounged in the grounds with Demi, Jayden, Alec, Aaron—and about half the student population, since it was the weekend. They lazed beside a seaweed tree, its seaweed branches dangling inches from the ground.
‘Looks like Venus has been torturing Cady again.’ Aaron nodded to the palace, fifteen yards away.
Cady sobbed her way towards an aquamarine tree, dropping to the ground and pressing her hands against her face.
‘I’ll see if she’s okay.’ Jayden hurried over to her, Cady wrapping her arms around his neck the second he sat down, and pressing her face into his shoulder.
‘Why—’ Demi began and then made a choking sound that quickly turned into a coughing fit.
‘Are you okay?’ Aaron asked.
‘Fine.’ Demi’s voice was raspy. Achoo. ‘Uck, I think I’m getting sick.’
Alec shuffled away from her. ‘Don’t give it to me. I’ve got too much studying to do.’
‘Sir, there’s been a situation.’
Hailey peered through the hanging seaweed, spotting Jake staring at the sea a few feet away. He turned to face the soldier—the one Hailey had named Scar—approaching him from the stable’s exit. ‘What happened? Did you get past the barrier?’
‘No, sir. The nereids attacked us while we were working on the force field. They started throwing sea-urchin darts and screaming they’d kill us if we didn’t leave the palace.’
Please, please, please, don’t tell me they’re on the loose.
‘Where are they now?’
‘We stun-gunned them and dragged them back to their room, sir.’
Thank the Tyches, Hailey thought, grateful she didn’t have to worry about the Nereids slinking around the palace while plotting how to kill Hailey and everyone else in a giant flood of water or something.
‘How did they escape in the first place? Who was guarding them?’ he demanded as three pink dolphins swam past the force field.
‘Hart, sir. We found her unconscious.’
‘Feisty bunch, aren’t they?’ Jake watched the dolphins as they drifted further away. ‘Life would be so much easier if we could feed them to a sea-monster,’ he remarked.
You can say that again, Hailey thought.
‘The leader wants to speak with you, sir.’
‘Very well.’ Jake marched towards the stable doors, Scar trailing behind him.
‘Wow.’ Demi shook her head. ‘I can’t believe the nereids actually attacked PET.’
Aaron leapt up.
Alec frowned. ‘Where are you going?’
‘To find out what’s happening. Are you coming?’
‘The soldiers won’t let us anywhere near the nereids,’ Hailey pointed out.
‘The soldier guarding the stable is gone.’ Aaron nudged his head to the PET-free stable doors. ‘We can sneak in through there and down to the nereids’ room to eavesdrop.’
‘Ooh, spying again. I love it,’ Demi said, and then sneezed.
Aaron shot her a hard look. ‘Don’t you dare sneeze or cough in there.’
Demi saluted him. ‘Yes, sir.’
Hailey, Demi, and Alec followed Aaron into the stable, where Hailey tensed, expecting a soldier to appear. But only the horses were inside. They whinnied in greeting.
‘No one make a sound,’ Aaron whispered as he paused by the doors into the hallway, peeking his head out. ‘It’s clear.’
They slunk towards the nereids’ room, stopping before every hallway so Aaron could peer around the corner to make sure no PET members were lurking. Hailey held her breath each time, waiting to get caught, but
thankfully PET didn’t appear to be guarding the palace’s hallways at the moment.
Ten minutes later, they reached the nereids’ room, which was at a T-intersection of hallways. Hailey and her friends hid in the hallway just to the left of the open door. They pressed themselves against the wall, the jewels and shells poking into Hailey’s back. She stayed as still as possible and listened to the voices drifting towards them.
‘We will end your lives if you do not leave our palace. You cannot make us prisoners in our own home.’
‘I already have,’ Jake retorted. ‘And I’m here to talk to Amathia, not you.’ Hailey exchanged a confused look with her friends. What’s Amathia doing down here? Hailey couldn’t imagine her helping her sisters attack PET. In fact, she couldn’t imagine her helping her sisters with anything.
‘I would like to know why I have been arrested when I was not involved in my sisters’ attack,’ Amathia’s voice asked.
‘Is this true?’
‘Yes, Colonel,’ Scar said. ‘But as she is the nereids’ leader, we assumed she’d organised it.’
‘She is not our leader,’ Nemertes spat. ‘She is a traitor.’
‘I assure you, I was not involved. I would never aid my sisters in harming anyone.’
‘Let her go,’ Jake ordered. ‘And next time, ask me before assuming someone guilty and arresting them.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘There is another matter I would like to discuss with you, Amathia. I’m giving you one last chance to let us past that barrier.’
‘Is your Hecate running out of spells?’ Amathia inquired, an edge of ridicule to her voice.
‘I’m giving you three days,’ Jake informed her. ‘If you don’t let us through the barrier in that time, I will blow up the palace and see what artefacts I can dig from the remains.’
‘I see.’ Amathia’s voice was even, not giving away the slightest inkling of fear or concern. ‘Thank you for the warning.’
Someone cleared their throat. Hailey’s head snapped around. A female soldier with jet black hair stood in the hallway. ‘Sir, you might want to have a look at this.’
Busted.
Jake marched from the room, his eyes widening with surprise for a second before focusing on Aaron. ‘Really, Aaron? I thought I taught you how to be stealthier than this. Obviously, you weren’t paying attention or you wouldn’t have been caught.’
Poseidon's Academy Box Set Page 47
