Deviant Descendants (Descendants Academy Book 2)

by Belle Malory

  Xander stopped me from hitting Riley that day by the fountain, but she didn’t fully understand why. She was, for now, blissfully unaware of the Silver Oath and that Xander was sworn to protect her at any cost. It needed to stay that way.

  I sat on the edge of my bed, inhaling a shaky breath. If she learned the truth, she would use him to get to me—just like she did with Connor.

  Connor.

  I winced, remembering how far she went to hurt me. Not for one second did I believe Riley ever loved him. If she did, she wouldn’t be here, in Mythos. It was obvious she used Connor, and he played right into it like the fool he was.

  Ione eyed me through her vanity mirror. “Don’t worry, Sheridan. Everything will be fine.”

  As much as I wished that were true, it didn’t feel like everything would be fine. It felt as if I were on a steadily sinking ship. At some point, I would have to jump out.

  “She’ll never learn the truth.” Ione sensed where my thoughts had traveled without me having to say anything.

  I nodded, hoping she was right.

  Ione’s methods were unusual, but she always had my back. For someone who hated me so vehemently only a few months ago, it was still surprising. Somewhere along the way, my biggest enemy had become my closest friend.

  “Thanks, Ione.”

  “Don’t mention it.” She swiveled back around, an idea lighting her blue eyes. “Aphrodite is holding a dinner party tonight. You must come.”

  “I don’t know…” I chewed the inside of my cheek. With everything going on, a party probably wasn’t a good idea.

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “Socializing will be good for you, fire-blood. You’re going, and don’t you dare argue. I did, after all, save your reputation.”

  3

  An hour later, we were dressed in our finest silk togas, our heads covered in gold laurel leaves. Every mage was a vision of loveliness, in matching shades of lavender, pink, and white. The dinner hall was romantic too, decorated with hundreds of roses and candles, the ceiling spelled to look like the night sky. These particular descendants wouldn’t have it any other way. After all, they were the rulers of love and beauty.

  But they weren’t the only descendants present. Once per semester, it was tradition for each of the houses to host another, to help foster relationships. Tonight, we were hosting House Poseidon.

  I fidgeted nervously, reaching for the charm bracelet that was no longer there. My wrist still felt naked without it. It was such a small thing, but I loved that bracelet and resented Riley for poisoning it with lethara.

  Peter Hallas saw us enter the room and came over to say hello. “Ione,” he said, nodding elegantly. “Breathtaking, as always.”

  I stopped myself from rolling my eyes. Aphrodite descendants were sophisticated flirts. They always complimented one another’s beauty, just as Ares descendants admired one another’s strength. It was just their way.

  Ione smiled. “Thank you, Peter.”

  “And Sheridan,” he added, looking me over, “lavender suits you far better than red.”

  My cheeks warmed at the subtle dig, and I wondered if he was still butthurt over my dual-enrollment.

  “It’s been years since Arcadia had a geniox.” A warm smile spread across his face. “And an honor to have one in our own house. You should have told people sooner.”

  Hearing that from him put me at ease. After several weeks of everyone treating me like a traitor, I’d been doubtful. Scorned and hated yesterday, honored and envied today. Such a thin line between what was acceptable and what wasn’t.

  “To be honest, I only recently found out.”

  More like, I recently found out Ione was a highly skilled gossip. I glanced at her and she winked.

  “Well, we’re thrilled.” He held out each of his arms for us to take. “Come on, ladies. Let’s get some food. I’m starving.”

  From there, the night passed with little drama. Everyone was polite, and no one made me feel like an outsider. Not on purpose anyway. Part of me still questioned my own belonging.

  The Poseidon descendants reminded me of literal fish out-of-water, appearing uncomfortable and otherworldly. Dressed in coral and turquoise, they had pointy teeth and big, vacant eyes. Their pallid skin was covered in metallic tattoos, and their laurel leaves were encrusted with pearls and seashells. The point of the event was to socialize with them, but I gave up after the first three or so awkward conversations. I didn’t know how to act around people anymore, and they didn’t warm up to me either.

  As the night wore on, I found myself alone beside the drink table, looking up at the clock on the wall every few seconds, wondering if it was too early to leave.

  “How’s it going in the Mirror Realm?” Peter said, approaching me once again. “Make any progress yet?”

  His company was much better than the odd fish people. “To be honest, not so good.”

  “What’s the problem?”

  “My subjects genuinely like each other, but they’re letting little things come between them.”

  An understatement. Mia and Ben had it bad for each other, but they were both too stubborn to make the first move.

  “Isn’t that the way life goes?” Peter chuckled. “It’s our job to ensure love outweighs circumstances. You must get them to see that.”

  As he spoke, his gaze drifted across the room, resting on Ione. She smiled at something one of her friends said, totally unaware of his attention. His hopeless expression made me do a double-take.

  “You’re right, I’ll work on that. Any tricks or tips?”

  But he wasn’t listening. He was still staring at Ione, as if he’d forgotten the rest of the room, the way Xander sometimes looked at me.

  “Um, Peter…are you…” I wasn’t sure if I read this situation correctly, and I didn’t want to overstep.

  But he guessed where my thoughts went. “In love?” He nodded. “It’s no secret.”

  “With Ione?”

  “Yes.” He tapped the rim of his soda with his fingers. “I’m pretty sure she feels the same.”

  That explained a lot.

  Lately, she was always nervous before events like this. Before we came here, she redid her hair and makeup dozens of times. And when Peter greeted her, her face brightened as if he was the sun to her moon.

  Peter returned his gaze to mine with a miserable sigh. “Circumstances.” He answered my next question before I could ask it, then straightened, his expression unreadable. Anyone standing nearby would never detect the torment I just witnessed.

  Circumstances.

  That one word spoke volumes.

  “I had no idea.”

  He cleared his throat, forcing a dimpled grin. “You could brew a potion to rev up some hormones. For your subjects.”

  I nodded. “Sure, I’ll try that.”

  “But like I said, love must outweigh everything else…”

  With a wink, he drifted from my side. As if the moment never happened, he was already back to working the room, charming a group of third years and wearing his standard mega-watt smile.

  He and Ione were more alike than I realized; both had a knack for keeping their emotions hidden. I made a mental note to pry the details out of her later. We were supposed to be friends, dammit. She was supposed to tell me about stuff like this. Then again, there could be a reason she never brought it up. Actually—I remember her saying something very similar.

  Love is only good under the right circumstances. Sometimes, as much as you think you’re perfect for someone, it doesn’t work. Like a puzzle piece in the wrong box—it doesn’t fit, no matter how hard you try.

  I sucked in a breath. She had brought it up; I just didn’t know she was referring to Peter. He was the puzzle piece that didn’t fit. I wondered what circumstances were so great that they kept them apart.

  “You look like a crayon that wandered outside the lines.”

  I blinked, so caught up in my own thoughts I hadn’t noticed the Poseidon descendant
approach.

  She was one of the strongest of their house, a wisp of a girl everyone called Storm. The nickname came from her unique set of abilities—she could create actual storms. Thunder and lightning, and all. Unlike her delicate features though, her voice was throaty and unexpectedly forceful.

  “A what?” I said, confused.

  “Tell me something, Sheridan.” She tilted her head to the side. “Is it true you’re the youngest mage to summon a soul weapon in Arcadian history?”

  Her eyes were an odd silvery color that twisted and clouded around black irises. “It’s uncommon,” I swallowed, “but I don’t know if I’m the youngest.”

  “Certainly the youngest I’ve heard of.” She circled around me in a kind of predatory manner. “Tell me something else. Why do you let them get to you?”

  Them? “What do you mean?”

  “You’re a geniox, arguably one of the more powerful mages of our time, and yet I find you here. Hiding in the corner, as if you don’t realize you’re a force to be reckoned with.”

  My cheeks flushed, and I wasn’t sure how to respond, but I refused to be intimidated. “I’m used to staying out of everyone’s way—” I nodded toward the drink table. “And I was hoping there would be something stronger than punch.”

  Her mouth curved up on one side. “I like you…even if you are naïve.”

  The backhanded compliment made me straighten. “Well, I’m new to this world. I’m still learning the ropes.”

  “Poor excuses.” She shrugged, unapologetic. “You understand enough. People should stay out of your way, not the other way around.”

  I opened my mouth, but I was too stunned to speak.

  “Here’s my unsolicited advice,” she said, before I had the chance to say anything. “Don’t bother trying to fit in. In places of magic, you’re better off embracing what makes you unique.”

  I got the feeling we were discussing a lot more than what was on the surface. Storm reached for two glasses of punch from the table, handing one to me. With a swirl of her hand over the rims, she whispered, “Vocatus.” She held her glass up in salute. “I’ve officially chosen my side.”

  I only gave her half my attention, too busy trying to figure out what she did to my drink. “Side?”

  She took a giant swig, and I figured it was safe to do the same—ah ha. I licked my lips, feeling the burn of alcohol. What a nifty little trick.

  “Your sister approached me about forming an alliance.”

  I snapped to attention, my stomach hollowing. “She did what?”

  Storm was a Poseidon descendant. She manipulated wind and rain. I could only guess what Riley wanted from her.

  “There’s the naivety I mentioned.” She tsked, shaking her head. “While you’re hiding in corners, your sister is busy networking, building an army of powerful friendships.”

  I tightened my fingers around my glass, trying not to lose my shit there in front of everyone. Riley’s obsession with my destruction was getting out of hand. Then again, the curse was simply working in perfect order. Fantastic of my sister to play right into it.

  “What did she offer you?”

  “To lend me her magic, at any time, as long as I swore to do the same. I’m no fool though. I’m aware she’s after your blood. An alliance with her means helping her take you down.”

  I swallowed. “What did you say?”

  “Nothing. I wanted to meet you first. Now I have, and I’ve decided to align myself on your side instead.” With a wave of her hand, a golden coin formed, lying flat against her palm. She handed it to me. “My seal of support.”

  I turned the coin back and forth, marveling at its weight and power. I’d read about these seals; they bound two individuals together, sort of like a contract. With hers, I could summon Storm at any time, but she could do the same with me.

  “Why?” It didn’t make sense that she would choose me. Riley was the one everyone liked.

  “Because you’re the more powerful sister.”

  I shook my head.

  Nothing good could come from this. I decided long ago, should the curse manifest, I wouldn’t be on the killing side of it. If Riley wanted to bind herself through magical contracts, that was on her. Being bound to the curse was already more than I could handle.

  “Look,” I sighed. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I’m not building an army.”

  “Says the dead girl walking.”

  I shrugged. “Perhaps.”

  Death was a fate I had to accept.

  Storm nodded, then finished her drink and set it on the table beside us. “You might change your mind. Just know, if you need me, I’m available.”

  With that said, she disappeared into the crowd.

  I thought about what she said as she left, the sea of faces around me becoming a blur. A lump grew in my throat, making it difficult to swallow.

  It was getting to me, the seriousness of what was happening. No matter how much I tried to ignore it, Riley wasn’t letting this go. My own sister. The girl who used to braid my hair and taught me how to ride a bike. The girl who hugged me when I was afraid. We made blanket forts together, pretending they were castles in a fairytale land. Now we were in a deathmatch.

  When Riley came to Arcadia, she told me this wouldn’t end well. She told me the only way it ended was with her knife in my heart.

  But it kind of felt like it was already there.

  4

  I snuck away from dinner early, retreating across campus to my dorm. The orange-tinged Blood Moon was full and bright. I steered my gaze up to the night sky, traveling over the constellations, thinking of my dad and the times we spent stargazing through my little telescope back in Davidson.

  “Always look for Polaris first, then go from there.” He told me that every time, as if he were the world expert on star maps.

  “Why?” I said.

  It seemed like a silly rule. The North Star wasn’t even the brightest; I never understood why it deserved so much attention.

  “The other stars are unreliable, you can’t trust them,” he said with a wink. “They’re full of lies and deceit. Never believe they are who they say they are.”

  I rolled my eyes, chuckling. “And Polaris always tells the truth?”

  “Of course!” he said, as if the star were his best friend. “Polaris will always be unwavering, lighting the way, shining in the darkest of skies. For centuries, that little star has helped guide us. So, when your universe feels like its spinning out of control, just look to Polaris. She will always shine true.”

  And just like that, the most popular star in the sky became my favorite. I couldn’t help but look at her and think of my dad.

  House Aphrodite was empty when I returned. The halls were lit only by the moonlight streaming in from the windows, the marble floors carrying echoes of my footsteps. A fresh stack of books waited upstairs on my nightstand, if I could summon the energy to impress them.

  A deflated sigh escaped. Impressing the books would help me take my mind off things, but all I really wanted was to curl under the covers of my bed and cry for hours, feeling sorry for myself. I’d been holding it down for days, keeping my head held high, even when I was an outcast. But this…this was a new low. I mean, I knew my sister was wicked. Riley had done enough to hurt me in the past; she’d stolen my boyfriend, poisoned me with lethara, and took delight in my downfall.

  Now she was initiating war.

  We weren’t playing one of her twisted games. This time, she was serious. She meant to kill me, and part of me had still been hoping she would wake up and remember I was her sister. That hope was squashed when Storm told me Riley was seeking seals of support. Talk about getting the rug swept from under my feet.

  Even now, I cautiously peeked around corners and down hallways, wondering if a monster was waiting on the other side. Cheers to Riley for turning me into a walking, paranoid mess.

  Scents of polished leather, evergreen, and freshly fallen rain struck me as I rounded
the last corner. Recognizing the warm, inviting magic instantly lifted my mood. A slow smile spread across my face; those were fast becoming my favorite scents.

  Xander stood by my door, leaning against the frame. For several long moments, my mind went blank as I took in the sight of him. Tanned skin, heavy-lidded eyes, and soft lips next to that strong, square jawline. Adding to his overall perfection was a mischievous charm; he was up to something.

  “Hello, gorgeous,” he said, the timbre of his voice deeper than usual. “Want to go to a real party?”

  He made the offer sound like a forbidden temptation. I was pretty sure I’d let him take me anywhere, even into the pits of hell.

  “What kind of party?”

  He straightened. “An Ares one.”

  Scratch that—I’d let him lead me anywhere except there. “Hard pass.”

  I had enough of Ares torture in class. I didn’t need another round in my spare time.

  “Not so fast.” Xander placed my arm into the crook of his, causing my belly to do a little flip-flop. “Ione’s rumor worked. The whole school thinks you’re a geniox. Besides, you’re the only first year to score a soul weapon. Do you know how amazing that is?”

  My cheeks warmed at his compliment, but I was still hesitant. “Her rumor spread that fast?”

  He nodded. “You’ll be welcome. Fair warning though, it’s nothing like your delicate Aphrodite parties, with your crystal chandeliers and flowers. Nothing breakable, no prim and proper nonsense, and everyone gets pretty loud.”

  Hmm…

  Sounded tempting, but the last party hadn’t gone that great. I wasn’t sure I was up for another this soon. “I don’t know,” I hedged. “I found out some things about Riley.”

  He groaned. “Can we forget about Sister Satan for one night?”

  “She’s building an army,” I said, point-blank.

  His eyes flared. “How—”

  “She’s going around, asking for seals of support. Storm told me. She gave me hers.” I showed him the golden coin, twisting it between my fingers.

  “Whoa…” He ran a hand through his hair. “I didn’t expect her to go this far.”