It makes sense. Kicking the nereids out of the palace won’t make them stop trying to find a way to resurrect the gods. It probably won’t even stop them from figuring out a way to come back and kill all of us students. ‘Yeah, I suppose that’s true.’
‘Now, I do believe it’s Sunday. You should be sleeping-in not wandering around the palace.’ Amathia opened the door and ushered Hailey outside. ‘Do not fear, I will continue to watch my sisters.’
And so will I.
***
Hailey slipped into the stable with Aaron, their book bags slung over their shoulders, and gave each horse a quick pat before sneaking into Rain’s stall.
‘We’re hiding,’ Hailey told Rain as she latched the gate behind her. ‘Just pretend we’re not here if someone comes in.’
Rain snorted and bobbed her head.
‘Thank you.’ Hailey scratched her behind the ears before joining Aaron on the ground in the corner, next to a polished-coral trough full of water. He was staring at the ceiling. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Yeah.’ He flicked a piece of hay. ‘I just don’t see the point in all this.’
‘How can you say that when last year you kept telling us we needed to take care of the nereids ourselves?’
‘And look where that got us last time.’
So he is freaked out about the Underworld. I’m not alone. ‘You’ve been acting really weird since we got back to the Academy,’ Hailey began, some of the tension in her stomach loosening now that she could finally talk about her fears with someone. ‘And I think I know why.’
Aaron tensed, eyes growing wide. ‘Really?’
‘Yeah, that potion Madam Norwood gave us to block emotions about the Underworld has worn off, hasn’t it? You’re scared, and that’s why you don’t want to spy on the nereids— you’re afraid of them.’
Aaron’s shoulders dropped. ‘Yeah, that’s right. I don’t want you thinking I’m a coward.’
Hailey hid a smile, happy to know she wasn’t the only weak one. ‘I don’t think you’re a coward. The potion didn’t work on me either. I keep having nightmares about the gods returning. That’s why spying is important to me. I can’t risk the nereids finding another way to bring back the Olympians. I’m terrified of the prophecy coming true.’
‘Why didn’t you say something sooner?’
‘Same reason as you—I didn’t want to appear weak. No one else has nightmares like me.’
‘Hailey, even if the gods did come back, no one would expect you to stand up to them. You’re a civilian, not a trained soldier.’
Hailey tapped a finger on her necklace. ‘Maybe. I don’t know. It’s always been a fear of mine.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Aaron told her, his demeanour a lot more enthusiastic. ‘We’ll make sure the nereids don’t wake them up.’
‘I’ll hold you to that.’ She smiled, beyond relieved that she wasn’t alone in all of this. ‘So, do you want to talk about the Underworld?’
He frowned. ‘What do you mean?’
‘You know, about what scares you.’
‘Oh. I… those rooms were pretty scary—the ones that brought our fears to life.’
Hailey would never forget them. They were so dark, and as soon as you thought about something that scared you, it appeared. She’d had to face about a thousand tarantulas because of it, not to mention her dead father. ‘What happened in your room?’
Aaron shifted on the ground, and dropped his eyes to Rain, who was lying by the trough, nibbling on some hay. ‘You were there, and Demi, Jayden, and Alec. You told me you hated me and would never forgive me for something I’d done. You left me there in the dark, alone.’
Guilt clenched Hailey’s heart, which she knew was stupid since it hadn’t actually been her. ‘Aaron, I would never do that, and neither would the others. We’d forgive you for anything.’
Aaron smiled sadly. ‘I wish that were true.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Nothing. Come on, we should probably stop talking in case the nereids come in. If they hear us before they get to the stable, then our plan is ruined. Let’s just do our homework.’ He started pulling textbooks out of his book bag.
Hailey didn’t say another word, figuring Aaron was probably right about the nereids potentially hearing them. She wondered if he’d suggested they stop talking because of that, or whether it was an excuse to stop talking about the Underworld. She wouldn’t force him to talk about it anymore. She’d done her best to let him know he wasn’t alone.
Two hours later, Hailey and Aaron decided to abandon their posts and head outside to the grounds, where they found Jayden and Alec under a pearl tree not far from the palace, hunching over textbooks.
‘Where’s Demi?’ Hailey asked, settling on the ground.
Jayden shrugged. ‘When we told her we were coming out here to do homework, she said she’d pass and stayed back in the common room. So did the nereids go into the stable?’
Hailey shook her head. ‘Nope.’
‘You guys will never believe what I just saw.’ Demi plunked down beside Hailey. ‘I saw Nemertes talking to Cady.’
‘What?’ Hailey’s jaw dropped. The nereids never spoke to humans unless it was to hiss at them.
‘I glanced out our dorm window, which is spelled to look into the back of the grounds—opposed to looking into the dorm of whoever is sleeping on the other side of ours.’
‘We know how the windows work,’ Aaron interrupted.
‘Anyway, I saw Nemertes and Cady talking.’
Jayden narrowed his eyes. ‘About what?’
‘I don’t know. I can’t read lips.’
‘That doesn’t make any sense.’ Alec scratched his head.
‘No, it doesn’t,’ Hailey agreed. ‘Someone needs to talk to Cady and ask her what Nemertes said to her.’ Maybe the nereids are planning on killing students off one by one, and Nemertes was trying to lure Cady off somewhere.
‘I’ll do it,’ Jayden offered. ‘We’re friends, she’ll talk to me.’
Demi frowned. ‘Friends? Since when are you friends with her?’
‘Since I found her crying a few times after Venus terrorised her. We’re not good friends or anything. We just talk from time to time.’
‘When?’ Demi demanded. ‘I’ve never seen you two together.’
‘I didn’t realise there was a rule that I wasn’t allowed to talk to other people.’
‘There’s not,’ Demi said quickly. ‘I was just wondering.’
‘There she is.’ Aaron nudged his chin towards the palace, which Cady was about to enter.
‘Be right back.’ Jayden sprinted over to her.
Hailey watched Cady smile when Jayden tapped her on the shoulder. She wasn’t sure she’d ever seen Cady smile before. She was Venus’s favourite Unique to torment, and she was so shy Hailey didn’t think she had any friends. Cady was always alone, which made her a good target for the nereids, since it would probably take a while for someone to notice she was gone, giving the nereids extra time to kill a few more students.
‘Do you think he likes her?’ Demi asked Hailey quietly.
Hailey cocked an eyebrow. ‘Why? Are you jealous?’
Demi snorted. ‘No, of course not. Just curious. Forget I asked.’
Hailey smirked, but let the topic drop because Jayden was sprinting back to them.
‘Well?’ Aaron prompted.
‘Apparently, Nemertes was just being Nemertes. She was coming back from a swim and Cady was the only person in the back of the grounds. Nemertes called her a disgusting human or something and told her to get out of the palace.’
‘So nothing new then,’ Hailey remarked, relieved Nemertes wasn’t luring students away to kill them… yet.
8
Mid-Semester Break
Hailey sat at her desk in her dorm, scribbling down the characteristics of a gorgon for her Monsters and Creatures homework.
‘Hello,’ someone said right behind her.
Hail
ey’s head whipped around. Nemertes lingered a foot away, smirking. Hailey shot to her feet and backed up against her desk, the polished coral pressing into her spine. ‘What are you doing here?’
Nemertes’s smirk widened. ‘I came to inform you you failed. You couldn’t stop me. I have resurrected the Olympians.’
Hailey shook her head. ‘You’re lying.’
Nemertes clicked her fingers and Hailey’s dorm vanished, replaced by the mine in Tartarus. ‘Someone wants to meet you.’ Nemertes’s eyes glistened with amusement before she blinked out of existence, lightning striking the ground where she’d stood.
‘No!’ Hailey cried. ‘You’re dead.’
‘Not anymore.’ Zeus stretched his fingers towards her.
Hailey sucked in a breath when she woke up. She kicked off her duvet and fought the urge to scream in frustration. She was so sick of that stupid dream. She didn’t need to be constantly reminded of what would happen if the nereids succeeded in their plans.
Two months had passed by, and despite hiding in the stable every day after classes, Hailey and her friends hadn’t even seen the nereids, let alone overheard any diabolical plotting. Hailey was hoping they weren’t up to anything after all, or that Amathia had thwarted them somehow. But she wasn’t ready to give up on spying yet. Although she wouldn’t have to worry about it for a week, because she was heading home for mid-semester break.
Normally, students spent it at the Academy, but the rumours were that someone’s parents had complained to the School Board about the students not being allowed to go home, and Amathia had had to change the rules. So now Hailey was heading home for a week with her mum, which she was pretty happy about.
By the time Hailey got dressed and moseyed into the common room with Demi, Madam Grayson was already handing out travelling necklaces to the second years, who were snatching them from the wooden chest in their overseer’s hands. The second they put the necklaces on, they smeared into a swirl of colours before vanishing.
‘Jayden’s getting us some,’ Alec said, wandering over with Aaron from the study side of the common room.
‘I’m here.’ Jayden strode through the horde of disappearing students and handed Hailey and the others a necklace with a gold-winged pendant on it. ‘Is it still okay if I stay at your place, Alec? My parents said the orphanage they’re volunteering at in Cambodia is busy, and they won’t get back in time to see me.’
‘Yeah, my parents are excited about having company.’
‘You can always stay at my place for the week,’ Demi offered.
‘Don’t worry, Dems, you’ll get to see me when you and Hailey come to visit Alec in a few days.’
Demi’s shoulders slumped a little. ‘That’s true.’
‘I’ll see everyone then,’ Hailey said, and placed the necklace over her head, closing her eyes and thinking of home.
Tingles swept over her body like pins and needles, and when she opened her eyes she was back in her blue bedroom. A teenage girl sat on her bed, grinning. ‘Sweet heart, I missed you.’ The girl leapt up and threw her arms around Hailey.
Hailey tensed and moved to pull away. But then she smelled the familiar scent of turpentine mixed with vanilla, and relaxed, squeezing the girl back.
When she pulled from the hug, Hailey noticed the girl’s deep auburn hair, which was pulled into a messy ponytail, and paint-smeared overalls. Hailey would have recognised her sooner if she’d been expecting her. Although technically she had been, just not looking like she did.
‘Mum, you know I hate it when you use your powers like this. Please change back.’
The girl’s grin widened, and her face began stretching and contracting at the same time, and she shot up several inches. Her features stopped changing once she looked about thirty. But Hailey knew she was several years older. Her mum, Evonee, was a Hebe, which meant she could look as young as she wanted.
‘Happy?’
‘Yes.’ Hailey hugged her mum again. ‘I’ve missed you.’
‘Me too, kiddo.’ Evonee squeezed her back before settling on Hailey’s bed. ‘So, what have you been up to? I haven’t received any letters about how you’ve disappeared again, so that’s a good sign.’
Hailey smirked. ‘Not much.’ She perched beside her mum, her mattress feeling like a rock compared to her sea-sponge one at the Academy. ‘We’ve been learning about gorgons in Monsters and Creatures of the World.’
‘Boring.’ Evonee waved a hand. ‘I want to hear about the palace.’
‘You know I can’t.’
‘Just try. Maybe the spell or whatever it is isn’t working anymore.’
‘The palace is amazing and in the grounds there are…’ Hailey’s voice choked off, like someone had snatched the words from her throat, and her jaw locked.
A spell protected Poseidon’s Academy so that anyone who had been there couldn’t tell someone who hadn’t about the palace, which meant her mum had no idea about a nereid teaching her Ancient History classes through a memory ball, or the jewel trees in the grounds. Hailey couldn’t even write about it without her hand having a seizure.
Evonee’s face fell. ‘Maybe I’ll have to enrol there myself.’
‘No,’ Hailey begged. ‘I love you, but I can’t go to school with my mum.’
Evonee laughed. ‘Yeah, I guess. Okay, let’s make your favourite—chocolate-chip pancakes.’
***
Hailey materialised in front of London Station and glanced about, but couldn’t see Demi among the people popping into existence around her. She took off her bronze travelling necklace, wishing it had the power to take her to Alec’s house in Manchester. Unfortunately, it was only strong enough to take her around London, which meant she’d have to catch the tube the rest of the way.
Demi materialised in a swirl of colours beside her a few minutes later. ‘Hey, Hails. Let’s go.’
They ambled into the tube station. An open space stretched before them, bustling with people. To the left was a series of archways with platform numbers painted above each one. To the right was a row of automatic ticket machines, and above them a screen displaying tube times and platforms.
Hailey and Demi drifted towards the ticket machines, patiently waiting in line. An alarm blared, drawing Hailey’s attention back to the archways, where a man was banging his fist against an invisible barrier in front of Platform 5. ‘I gotta ticket. Stupid archway’s broken!’ the man drunkenly declared as a security guard grabbed his arm and steered him out of sight.
Demi nudged Hailey in the back. ‘Your turn.’
Hailey stepped up to the machine and typed in Manchester for her destination. She fed the machine ten pounds and received a ticket with the words Manchester Platform 3 printed along with a pair of gold wings.
‘Okay, let’s go,’ Demi said, collecting her own ticket.
They pushed their way through the crowd towards Platform 3. The moment they stepped through the archway, their tickets vanished, like they had never existed in the first place.
The platform—which was basically just a giant empty hall with a few seats spread out—was packed with about fifty people.
‘Why does everyone have to catch the same tube,’ Demi muttered, fighting through the crowd so she could stand behind the yellow line that stretched down the length of the platform.
Whoo, whoo, a whistle sounded in the hall a minute later, and everyone surged towards the yellow line. Hailey had to dig her heels into the ground to keep from being shoved forward. The air shimmered in front of her, like heat waves rising from the road on a hot day, and a train materialised. A pair of gold wings was painted on all twenty carriages, spelled with transportation magic—just like the travelling necklace Hailey had used to get to the station.
‘Manchester,’ someone called. ‘All aboard for Manchester.’
Hailey piled onto the tube with Demi and the fifty other people on the platform. There were no seats, only empty space and hanging handles.
‘Alec’s place better be wo
rth it,’ Demi grumbled after someone bashed her with their umbrella. ‘I hate public transport.’
‘Me too,’ Hailey agreed, wrinkling her nose against the stale stench of body odour.
‘The tube to Manchester will depart in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.’
Hailey’s grip tightened on the handle above her. A whoosh sounded and her body exploded in tingles as the tube, and everyone on it, swirled into a mixture of colours. Everything reformed a few seconds later.
‘Manchester Station,’ the conductor announced when the doors slid open.
Hailey and Demi poured from the tube, gulping in clean air before bustling down a set of stairs into an underground space bursting with people, cafes, convenience stores, and a busker playing the guitar.
‘Let’s get out of here quickly.’ Demi grabbed Hailey’s hand and yanked her through the crowd towards a wall of automatic ticket machines.
This time Hailey typed in Alec’s address: 5 Herodotus Place, Perseus Estate. She dropped two pounds into the coin slot, and a pair of gold wings appeared on the screen. Hailey pressed her fingers against the symbol, shivering as tingles swept up her arm and swarmed through her body.
The world swirled around her until she found herself standing in front of a set of gold towering gates. She peered through them and gasped at the enormous yard and mansion on the other side. ‘This can’t be right.’ She pulled out the piece of paper Alec had neatly written his address on and compared it with the mansion’s number. It matched.
‘Medusa, Alec’s rich!’ Demi said, materialising beside Hailey.
‘Yeah. I can’t believe it. I wonder why he never told us.’
‘Hello, anyone there?’ Demi called into the speaker on the gate.
‘Who wishes entrance to the Parkers’ estate?’ a man’s chipper voice asked.
‘Um, Demi and Hailey—we’re friends of Alec’s,’ Demi said.
‘Enter.’
The gates swung inwards with a slight creak.
‘Wow.’ Demi gasped as they stepped onto a stone pathway leading to the mansion.
Poseidon's Academy and the Deadly Disease Page 9
