by Simon Archer
“Thank you,” Sarah said. “Now go.”
I did as I was told without hesitation, especially after Khryseos and Argyreos barked once more at me. The three of us darted back towards the quad, the dogs running ahead of me and I trailing behind. While my running had improved over the last year, I didn’t have four legs.
We approached the quad where a group of students was gathered. This would have been unusual except for the volume of students present. Khryseos and Argyreos stopped on the edge of the circle of people. I looked at them both, and they nudged me closer toward the crowd by pushing the back of my legs.
“Okay, okay,” I assured them, “I’m going.”
Once I entered the group, I looked back at my dogs, who disappeared again in the blink of an eye, having accomplished their duty.
When I turned back to the center of the circle, I finally saw what was going on. There was a large piece of parchment posted to the oldest oak in the quad. It looked like an old-fashioned wanted poster, like something in the Sherwood Forest. The archaic nature of it took me aback, but it was the notice itself that was the most shocking thing.
In a fancy script, the notice read:
Expulsion Notice
As it is stated in the Demigod Elemental Military guidelines, active officers in the Military and/or students may not bribe, threaten or blackmail another officer or student for higher grades and/or a position in the military or for any other reasons.
Due to a violation of this rule as set in place by the Elemental Officials, Irema, daughter of Hypnos, has been expelled from the Demigod Academy for the Elemental Military. In violation of the same offense, Sherry, daughter of Pan, has been officially discharged from the Military.
This notice takes immediate effect.
“Holy shit,” someone said to my left.
“They’re not kidding,” said a first-year from somewhere in front of me.
I took a couple of steps back and removed myself from the crowd. I knew Irema and worked with her on the mission against the chimera. I’d even helped save her life from Kari and her collection of mud monsters. She was a talented student with the ability to put people and creatures alike in a trance. I never thought she would have done something so stupid, as centered and determined as she was. It seemed ridiculously out of character.
I’d just seen her yesterday when she congratulated me at the opening ceremony. I had been looking forward to getting to know her. Now, she was gone. For good.
Unexpectedly, thoughts of Karen and Rachel came to mind. I didn’t even like Karen, but something in my gut told me I needed to warn her. If she was caught by someone else and blackmailed them to keep quiet about her little hookup, even though it wasn’t bad, they could use it against her to get her kicked out.
Part of me really wanted to just let things lie. Karen was her own person, making her own decisions. I wasn’t responsible for her. And hell, if she got kicked out, I could have the whole suite to myself.
I sighed, knowing that was not what I was going to do. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t at least try to warn her. Then, after that, if she still decided to make stupid choices and got caught, then I did everything I could do.
Through a series of mental curses, I picked up the pace and ran to our dorm room. There was a good chance that Karen was at her own form of work-study, whatever that was. But I knew the dorm was a good place to start, considering it was common ground for the pair of us.
I scaled the dorm stairs two at a time to reach the third floor at a faster rate. In a furious rush, I threw the door open to an empty common area.
“Karen?” I called out. “Karen? Are you in here?”
I knocked on her closed door, which wasn’t fully closed, so it opened of its own accord. I peeked in and noticed that, too, was empty. Her bathroom light was off, so unless she was peeing in the dark, I didn’t think she was in the dorm at all.
“Damn it,” I muttered to myself.
I put my hands on my hips and thought about the various possibilities of where she might be. This campus was so large. I wouldn’t be able to search all of it. Not within a reasonable time anyhow. Plus, there was no telling where she and Rachel might be holed up doing the gods only knew what.
Maybe Karen saw the notice on her own. That one on the oak tree couldn’t have been the only one they posted.
There was a knock at the door, and I jumped at the sound of it. A flash of red hair poked its head in since I didn’t bother shutting the door in my rush. I quickly recognized KC, Karen’s half sister.
“Hey Cameron,” KC said brightly. “Is Karen here?”
“No, she’s not,” I said with a sigh. “You looking for her too?”
“We were just supposed to meet up after she was done at the studio,” KC said with a shrug as she stepped fully into the room. “I thought she would be done by now.”
“Studio?” I perked up, excited at the unintentional lead.
“Yeah,” KC said, disconcerted by my disproportionate excitement. “She works in the art studio for her work-study. She restores the ancient paintings to look like their original state.”
“Oh,” I was taken aback. “I didn’t know she could do that.”
“It’s her power,” KC informed me with a small nod. “Has to do with beauty and all that.”
“Gotcha,” I said, interested but not really caring. My brain zeroed in on the fact that I had a clue as to where Karen might be. “Well, I’ve got to get going KC, but you can wait for Karen here if you want. I don’t mind.”
“Oh, I don’t have to--” KC protested, but I zipped past her before she could finish her sentence.
“Just shut the door behind you, okay, thanks, bye!” I called out behind me as I sprinted down the dorm hallway.
The art studio was across campus, but I made it there in a reasonable time. Along the way, I passed other trees and even some lampposts that had the same notice about Irema and Sherry’s removal from the Military. At the sight of each one, I knew I needed to get to Karen.
I wove through the halls of the studio at a slower pace, so I could peek into each of the rooms. Some of them had their blinds down, or other doors didn’t have windows at all. Most of the rooms I tried were locked, but others opened up to empty classrooms, focused on various art forms. I ventured on, determined to find my horny roommate. Because if she blackmailed someone other than me and they chose to go public, she would get in serious trouble. Like expulsion trouble.
Then I came to our Grecian art classroom and found one of the few open doors. Without thinking, I burst through the door, since it was one of the rooms with a solid door which made sense considering what kind of art we studied there. However, to my complete and utter shock, I saw a pair of naked bodies going at it for the second time in twenty-four hours.
Only this time, it wasn’t my new roommate and her soldier lover. It was my best friend and her branch leader.
11
“Fuck,” I hissed as I ventured into the art classroom, shutting the door behind me.
At my entrance, Beth and Bella froze in place. They were balanced on the concrete circular platform that Bella had posed on only just that morning. Now the two of them were there, in quite a compromising position, and admittedly, part of me was impressed by the strength and the physics that it required to work.
“I thought you locked the door,” Beth said to Bella, seemingly unphased by my presence.
“I thought you locked it,” Bella retorted unhelpfully.
“Turns out neither of you locked it,” I snapped.
“Damn,” Beth muttered.
“Not you too,” I grumbled as I covered my eyes. Completely fed up with this entire situation, I put on my authoritative voice. “Beth, put some damn clothes on.”
I waited patiently as the two of them reassembled themselves into something more decent.
“We’re good, Cameron, though I don’t see why you wouldn’t just join us,” Bethany announced, the shame and annoyance evi
dent in her voice.
I removed my hand from my eye and shot daggers at both of them with a glare that could melt ice. “Not like this Beth. Do you know what you’re doing?”
“I would say that Beth is very knowledgeable in--” Bella started, but I cut her off before she could finish.
“I know what she’s knowledgeable in. Not what I meant,” I corrected. “Do you plan on blackmailing or bribing each other for a better position in the military or to keep this relationship a secret from your branch?”
My eyes shot back to Bethany. “What are you doing, Beth? Seriously? You were here when Tris got kicked out, and now they just booted a couple more people. Relationships are good and all, but not with a branch leader!”
I saw my friend’s eyes widen in surprise, although Bella didn’t seem phased by the news. I was vindicated to know that something was getting through to her.
“Yeah, Irema from Enka and some soldier named Sherry,” I continued.
“Sherry, daughter of Helios or Sherry, daughter of Pan?” Bella asked, with a finger raised as if she were a kid in a classroom.
“Daughter of Pan, but what the hell does it matter?” I looked incredulously at her, perpetually annoyed at her nonchalance.
“Sherry, daughter of Helios, was a bitch, so I wouldn’t be sad about her leaving,” Bella said with a shrug. “But Sherry, daughter of Pan? Man, that’s a shame.”
“Yeah, and wouldn’t it be a shame if it happened to you? Both of you,” I said, my glare whipping back and forth between the two of them.
“You’re not going to tell on us, are you, Cameron?” Beth asked, looking like a puppy who had chewed on my favorite pair of shoes.
“Of course not, but that’s not the point,” I argued.
“If you won’t tell, then there’s nothing to worry about, it’s not like we’re bribing or blackmailing you to keep your mouth shut.” Bella said. She made a move forward, to step past me toward the door, but I blocked her way with my body, lifting myself to my full height, which was about even with hers.
“There’s plenty to worry about,” I growled, pushing Bella back with the intensity in my voice. “What if it hadn’t been me who walked through that door? What if it was Vivien? Or one of the work-study students? Or a guard doing rounds? Literally anyone else but me would have thought you were blackmailing your student into sex and would have landed you two back out on your asses in the mortal world. Or maybe you would have blackmailed them to stay quiet about what they saw. This was public indeciency as well as just being stupid.”
That comment finally seemed to shut them both up, even casual Bella with her laid back air. The two of them shared a glance and then, surprisingly, blushed and looked away, a giggle bubbling up in Beth’s throat.
I noted the exchange with a disgusted look. A suspicion bloomed in my mind and started to worm its way through my consciousness. “What is wrong with you, Bethany?”
“Nothing,” Beth insisted, addressing me as the blush suddenly left her cheeks.
“Why did you do it?” I flicked my eyes over to Bella so that my friend would know what I was talking about.
“I think the question you mean was ‘Why did you do her?’” Bella said, a clever smirk on her face.
“Oh gods,” Beth rolled his eyes, but a playful smirk appeared on her face as she shoved Bella. The branch leader grabbed Beth’s arm and pulled her close, so that they were chest to chest, gazing into one another’s eyes.
It was as if I was witnessing this all over again. They couldn’t keep their damn hands off each other, just like Karen and Rachel. I jumped into action and raced forward to yank Bethany out of Bella’s grip. Using my strength, I pressed Beth back a few feet away from the soldier and grabbed both of her forearms.
“Beth, you weren’t like this last night,” I said with all the seriousness I could muster. “Why did you do it?”
“You wouldn’t understand, Cameron,” Beth protested, growing angry with me for the first time during the whole conversation.
I narrowed my eyes at my friend, my suspicion growing. “Why not? Why wouldn’t I understand? I thought you wanted to be with me and Jade and Daniella, so try me.”
“Because when Bella and I saw each other, we just had this… ” Beth’s light and airy voice trailed off when Bella chimed in on cue.
“Connection,” the Eda soldier answered.
At that one word, my doubts were confirmed, and I concluded something was seriously wrong here. My best friend was using the exact same words that my roommate had used to defend her relationship within a day of each other. That was no coincidence. The conspiracy grew in my mind and extended to Irema and Sherry. If someone had asked them what happened, I bet they would have the same excuse as these other two love-struck couples I witnessed.
“Beth,” I said slowly, drawing out her name, hoping she would listen to me. “This isn’t real. Something’s… happened to you. You don’t really like this girl.”
“Of course I do,” Beth said just as Bella said, “Of course she does!”
I inhaled sharply as the realization hit me. I was way in over my head. All I could think to do was get Beth away from Bella, and maybe my friend would come to her senses.
“Come on, Beth,” I said as I forced her towards the door. “We’re leaving.”
“What? No!” Beth protested as she dug her heels in, using her weight against me.
“What are you doing?” Bella cried out like I was murdering someone in front of her eyes rather than just threatening to take Beth away. The inappropriate overreacting startled me. “You can’t take her!”
“Yes, I can,” I said, regaining my footing, “and I will. Come on.” I spoke the last two words with a grunt as I tried to shove my friend forward.
Then there was a shiver down my spine. It was a feeling I hadn’t experienced in such a long time. I almost didn’t recognize it right away, but luckily, my synapses fired quickly, and habit took over.
I sensed the blade before Bella could fully get it out of her boot. Taking a chance, I released Beth and shifted my weight to one leg. I lifted the other one and fan-kicked Bella’s wrist, the one that held the small knife.
The leader was caught completely off guard and howled as my foot connected with the fragile bones in her hand. The knife flew out of her grip and skittered across the concrete floor. I rushed for it without a second thought. When I picked it up, the nature of the weapon registered. It was a crudely made blade, something older that hadn’t held up well. It was an heirloom, kept for more sentimental value rather than practical use. However, it was the only thing Bella had on her, so it was her one resource.
In the heat of the moment, I calculate the best tactical route. I wondered how deep this “love” for one another yet and what they would do if it were threatened beyond taking one another away.
So I put myself in a position I never thought I would be in. I slipped behind Beth, who dove for Bella while the leader mourned her surely broken wrist. Then I wrapped one arm around her middle and pointed the tip of the knife to my friend’s throat.
My dramatic action sucked all of the air out of the room. Bella and Beth both froze, the soldier from her spot on the floor, my friend in my arms. I fought back all of the guilt and shame that threatened to surface as I held the blade to Beth’s neck. I never wanted to do this to any of my girls. Even if Beth wasn’t completely in a relationship with us.
“Beth’s mine,” I said to Bella in a sinister voice, sounding more like a villain out of a cartoon than an actual declaration. It was the truth, part of it at least, so I wasn’t exactly lying. But it seemed to do the trick because Bella’s face twisted into one of worry and pain.
“No, please, don’t hurt her,” Bella begged me, reaching out with her uninjured hand as she sat on her knees. The sight was so pitiful. I really hoped she wasn’t as conscious of her actions as she would normally be, because I was sure that any soldier of the Military would be ashamed to act in such a manner.
&
nbsp; “I’m going to take her with me, and if you don’t let us go, you will never see her again,” I threatened, continuing my gravelly sound.
Then, I guided Beth towards the door, walking backward so Bella could keep her eyes on the pair of us. Beth’s heart was racing so fast I could see her pulse jumping out from the artery in her throat. I made the conscious move to shift the knife farther away from actually harming her because it was just the illusion I needed. There was no reason to put my friend in actual life-threatening danger.
“Beth,” Bella cried, her voice weak and her eyes on the verge of tears.
“It’s okay,” Beth assured the soldier. “I’m going to be okay.”
The sincerity in their voices nearly broke me. My heart squeezed in my chest at the fact that Beth didn’t seem to remember or care about our moment with the others in the kitchen. But I held true to the notion that my friend wasn’t thinking rationally, for whatever reason.
We made it to the door, and like a true kidnapper, I commanded Bethany to open it. She did as she was told, while I kept the knife to her neck. It took a solid minute for us to navigate out the door, looking more like a comedy show than an actual hostage situation, but we broke out into the hallway. I released Beth and shut the door behind us, hoping that the separation would clear her mind.
For a moment, my friend just stood there, looking rather dazed. I held the doorknob in one hand and the knife in the other, just looking at her.
“Beth?” I asked with caution.
Suddenly, Beth charged me with heavy fists. I ducked out of the way, and her hand smashed into the solid oak door behind me. The crack of the wood and of her knuckles echoed in the empty hallway. Despite the injury, Beth went after me again. I stood my ground and blocked her from the door as she dove for my hand, which still gripped the handle.
With a swift movement, I lifted my knee and struck Beth in the groin. The daughter of Demeter keeled over, unable to resist the urge to cower and cup her womanhood. I caught her as she teetered over in pain, preventing her from collapsing on the floor.
