“How’s the training going?” He glanced at Allecto as she joined us.
“Satisfactory. She has some skills, but still lots to learn.”
He then looked at me. “How do you think you are doing?”
I licked my lips, unsure of what to say. I felt like this was some sort of test, and if I said the wrong thing I was going to be punished in some way. But I figured what was the worst that could happen, that hadn’t’ already happened. I was locked away in a gilded prison like Rapunzel or some shit.
“Okay, but I’d do better if I could train with my peers. If I’m going to be a solider in the Gods Army, wouldn’t it make sense that I learn how to fight with that army?”
His smile bloomed on his face, changing his demeanor completely. It was disarming when he did that.
“I’ll make you a deal. If you beat me in a contest of skill I’ll let you go to the academy to train with your…friends.”
My heart dropped into my stomach. What the hell could I ever beat Hades at? It was all just to humor me.
“What skill?”
“You choose.”
I thought about all the things I’d learned so far. I was good with a sword and spear and the bow, but I suspected he’d be better as he had hundreds of years of extra training. Hand to hand combat was out, he was stronger than I was, and he was a God for Pete’s sake. I was a great flyer, but again, he was Hades, he was born with wings I suspected. There was no way I could out do him even on my best day.
Then I thought of something, and I had to fight from grinning.
“Can I choose absolutely anything?”
He pulled a suspicious face but shrugged. “Sure.”
Half hour later, Hades and I stood at the far end of the training arena.
“This is ridiculous.” He shook his head.
“Hey, you said anything.”
“But this is not a skill.”
“Sure it is.” I hefted up the enormous meaty leg bone. I didn’t even want to consider what kind of animal it came from. All I cared about was whether it helped me win this contest. “At the academy Artemis trained us in how to handle various beasts. It is most definitely a skill.”
I looked down the length of the arena and prayed that I hadn’t over estimated my ability to entice a five hundred pound, eight foot, three-headed puppy. Cerberus sat on the floor waiting for Tisiphone and Megaera to let go of his leash. His tail was thumping so hard that it vibrated the entire floor.
After that night I had tried to escape and met Hades’ guard dog, I’d snuck out a few times and brought him treats. I was hoping that had endeared him to me. I was relying on an assumption that Hades didn’t show the dog a lot of affection, whereas I had. I’d given him many head scratches and belly rubs.
Hades picked up another meaty bone, gave me a jeering look, and then moved further down the room, away from me so there could be a clear winner of Cerberus’s affections.
Once we were both in position, Tisiphone and Megaera released their hold on the leash.
“C’mere boys,” I said, as I tried to lift the bone up into the air. It was damn heavy.
Hades didn’t have that problem, and he waved the bone up in the air. “A nice big treat for you. Yummy.”
I nearly burst into laughter at Hades saying the word yummy. He looked comical as well, waving the big bone around like a flag. Cerberus sniffed the air, and then padded toward his master.
“Cerberus! Come here! Come to Melany.” I hefted the big bone over my head like I was dead lifting a hundred pound barbell.
He stopped for a moment, turned his heads toward me, sniffing the air and whining.
“Boy! Come here right now!” Hades’ voice was stern, echoing through the studio.
Cerberus ducked his heads down.
“I’ll give you lots and lots of belly rubs!” I wriggled the bone. “And kisses!” I added.
That was the winner.
Cerberus bounded over to me, tongues hanging out. I set down the bone for him. But he wasn’t ready to eat yet, I had to make good on my promises.
“Good boy.” I scratched all three heads behind the ears, then moved my hands down and rubbed his big belly. He flopped over onto his back. I laughed as I ruffled his fur with my hands.
Hades walked over and shook his head, but I caught his smile. “Traitor.” There was no malice in his tone.
He dropped the bone down next to the other.
Cerberus rolled onto his feet, and then two of the heads chomped down on the bones.
I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face as I watched him devour the treat.
Hades sighed. “I suppose you won. Although I feel like you cheated.”
“Regardless, I won the bet. And you better keep your word.”
He nodded. “You can go in a sennight.” He moved toward the door.
“What the hell is a sennight?”
But he didn’t answer me, he just left.
I walked over to Tisiphone and Megaera who had been watching it all gleefully.
“What is a sennight? It better be like his version of tomorrow.”
Tisiphone patted me on the shoulder. “It’s a week.
I gaped at her. “A week? That’s too long.”
“Just be happy you’re going at all.” She extended her wings and flapped them out. “C’mon you still got training to do.”
I should’ve been happy that I’d gotten the better of Hades, but in fact, it was a moot point. I’d done nothing but showed myself to be a fool. To think I could get the upper hand on him. That was never going to happen no matter what I did. I hated that he had all this power over me. But he did, and I supposed I was just going to have to learn to live with it. Even if it made every atom of my being pulse with defiance.
Chapter Nine
LUCIAN
The lake came into view as we flew up as high as we could get. I led one of the six-member squads in the exercise with my wing mates Jasmine and Diego on my left and right respectively. Like fighter jets, we were learning to fly in formation. Our goal, set by Hermes, was to reach around five hundred feet in the air, maintain it, then descend to the lake’s shore.
I loved flying. It was one of my favorite things to do at the academy. Deep down I kind of wished I’d been called to Hermes clan, so I could be in the air all the time. But I knew my love of it and my skill along with my affinity to lightning had gotten me into Zeus’s clan, which was a good place to be. It was a clan of leaders.
I pushed a little more until I thought we had reached our height goal, and then checked over my shoulder at my team to make sure everyone was in proper formation. Mia who flew behind Diego struggled a little, but after a few moments she was able to get in line with Ren and Georgina. We flew like that for a few minutes.
Pride swelled inside. We’d been working well together for the past two weeks. I was glad that I had my friends in my squad. I didn’t know what I would’ve done if Hermes had put me in Revana’s squad. Gone along with it, I imagined. I wasn’t sure I had rebellion inside me.
That made me think of Melany. She would’ve kicked, punched, and screamed her way out of that situation. Or she would’ve pushed herself to the front position of that squad and forced Revana out. I smiled, thinking about her. But it faded when I thought about how long it had been since she’d disappeared.
None of us knew if we’d ever see her again. Every time I asked anyone, like Zeus or Demeter or Hephaistos, anyone who would listen for a moment, I got the same answer: I’m sure she’s fine, and will return soon.
Once we reached our pinnacle target height, I gestured to the group to start our descent to the lake. With me in the lead, we dove down. I reveled in the way my body felt zipping through the air. Flying was so freeing.
As we swooped over the tall trees surrounding the lake, it reminded me of all the times Melany and I had escaped the academy and gone on several secret flights. One time we even followed Dionysus into these woods and crashed one of his strange but fun pa
rties with a bunch of wood nymphs and a satyr or two.
Nearing the landing, I heard the sounds of more flapping coming from behind my squad. I looked over to see Revana and her crew coming in fast to the same spot we’d planned on landing. Before I could react, Revana collided with Georgina and knocked her from the sky. Georgina landed in a heap on the rocky shore of the lake.
The rest of us landed, and immediately rushed to Georgina’s aid. She was getting up, but shakily. Revana and her group landed a few feet away. Jasmine was up in Revana’s face before I could do anything about it.
“You did that on purpose.” Jasmine’s hands clenched into fists.
Revana smirked. “Not likely. Your girl there just doesn’t know how to fly. She should stick to what she knows best…gardening.”
That had the others in her group snickering.
Now that Isobel had been punted from the academy, Revana had two other nasty little minions, Peyton and Klara, to laugh at her pettiness. I didn’t know how I managed to stay friendly with her for so long. Before we came to the academy, she was most definitely snide and snobbish, but over the past few months she’d just gotten petty and mean, really mean.
The ground beneath our feet started to rumble. Then a couple of vines burst through the rocks, and wound their way toward Revana. One got very close to strangling her around the neck.
I stepped in. “Can we all just put all this crap aside and work together? That’s what we’re supposed to be doing. We are not each other’s enemies.”
Revana smirked, but the vines slunk back into the ground. I glanced over at Georgina as she lowered her hands.
“Ever the peacekeeper.” Revana took a few steps toward me, a finger twirling in her hair. “You know Lucian now that the trash is gone, there’s no reason for you to stay on the lower-class side of the academy.”
“You bitch.” Jasmine went to charge at her, but I grabbed her before she could.
“Revana, every time you open your mouth you prove just how classless you are. You may have been born to money but it certainly didn’t buy you any common decency.”
Jasmine laughed. “Oh snap.”
“Whatever. You’ll change your mind once I’m made overall squad leader. I mean, honestly, you’re not really much without your pet. However much I hated her, I can’t deny she was a fierce fighter. It’s too bad she’s not ever coming back. From what I heard, she’s pretty happy being shacked up with a God. I mean Hades is pretty easy on the eyes.” Revana turned and walked away, her group following her.
I watched her go, her words drilling into me hard.
“Don’t listen to her,” Jasmine said.
“Mel would come back if she could,” Georgina added.
“It’s been over a month. What if she’s right and—,”
“She’s full of shit, Lucian.” Jasmine picked up a rock from the shore and skipped it across the water. “Mel will be back.”
“I can’t wait for that. Let’s break her out.”
Everyone gaped at me. “What do you mean, break her out?” Ren asked.
“Let’s go to Hades Hall, break in and bring Mel back here.”
“Do you even know where Hades Hall is?” Georgina asked.
“No, but I’m sure we can find someone who does.”
The more I thought about it, the more determined I was to do it. I couldn’t stand that Melany had been gone so long. I knew she was probably sitting there wondering why we hadn’t come to get her yet. I didn’t want to disappoint her any longer.
“Tonight, we’re going to rescue Mel and bring her home.”
We agreed to meet just outside at the entrance to the maze at midnight. It wouldn’t be easy for any of us to sneak out of our clan areas. Zeus Hall was in the highest tower of the academy and the staircases were patrolled by various academy monitors. I called them guards, but I’d been assured that no one was stopping us from roaming the academy halls freely. Of course, that was bullshit, as I’d been stopped before.
So instead of taking the stairs, I opened a window in my dorm room, and jumped out, my wings thankfully making an appearance before I plummeted to my death. I flew around the monstrous stone building that was the academy and landed in the gardens near the maze.
Jasmine, Georgina and Ren were already there waiting. I’d told Diego and Mia not to come as a smaller group would be less noticeable. Jasmine wasn’t happy with me about that, as she didn’t get a lot of time to spend with Mia.
“Okay, we’re here. Now what?” Jasmine shrugged.
“Now we wait.”
“For what?” she asked.
A dark form stepped out of the maze. “For me I imagine.”
Dionysus lumbered into a pool of moonlight. He looked a bit unsteady; he was constantly leaning to his right.
Jasmine scowled. “Oh, you’re joking right?”
“Are you drunk?” I asked.
He shrugged. “That’s a matter of perspective.”
I shook my head, too anxious to find Melany to care. “You told me you could guide us to Hades Hall, so where do we go?”
“You need to find Hecate. She knows the way.”
“Who the hell is Hecate?” Jasmine asked.
“She’s the goddess of witchcraft.” Georgina’s voice was so low she was almost whispering.
“Yes, but her disciples are the Lampades, who are nymphs of the underworld. Hades Hall is in the underworld.”
“Where do we find Hecate?” I asked.
“In the woods. Near the lake’s shore, look for the largest oak tree. You’ll find Hecate nearby.” He took out a flask from his jacket pocket and took a swig. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some serious drinking to do.”
He gave me a curt nod, and then he stumbled away toward the back entrance of the academy, muttering to himself.
“Okay, let’s go.” I unfurled my wings to get ready to fly.
Georgina shivered. “Hecate is not someone we want to mess with.”
“I’ll deal with evil incarnate if it means getting to Melany.” I flapped my wings, lifting into the air. If the others didn’t want to come, I was fine with that. But after a few seconds, Jasmine and Ren joined me in the air. Then Georgina finally unfurled her wings and flew up next to us.
When we reached the lake, we touched down on the shore, not far from where we’d been earlier in the day during training. Jasmine created a small ball of fire in her hand for light, and then we walked along the edge of the woods looking for the biggest oak tree.
It didn’t take us long to find it. It wasn’t that it was tall, as much as it was wide. The trunk had to have been over thirty feet in circumference, and its branches were so big and heavy that a few of them touched the ground, spreading out along the forest floor. From one angle it looked like a giant spider with eight sprawling legs.
“Now what?” Jasmine asked.
Frowning, I walked around the tree, looking for something. I wasn’t sure what, but there was something odd about the surface on one side of the trunk. There was a large crack down the bark, all the way to the ground. It didn’t look natural.
I touched the trunk; it still felt like bark, but I couldn’t help but think there was something different about it. I then knocked my hand against it. There was a hollow echoing that resounded around me.
Then I heard a cracking noise coming from the tree. I took a step back, as a portion of the trunk moved, swinging toward me. It was a door. Before I could remark about it, a tall willowy woman, with black hair that hung to her waist, stepped out. She had a long wooden walking stick in her hand.
“Who knocks upon Hecate’s door?” Her voice was lilting, musical, very pleasant.
“Um, I do.”
When she turned to look at me the light from Jasmine’s fireball fell upon her face. She was beautiful, with pale flawless skin, and ruby red lips.
“What is your name?”
“Lucian.”
Her gaze then turned to the others. “What is it you want Lucian
and companions?”
“We want to go to Hades Hall.”
She frowned. “Why?”
“To save our friend,” I said.
Her eyes narrowed. Then another voice spoke; it was gravely, old sounding. “A girl. He wants to save his girl.”
I didn’t know where the voice came from, but it was definitely close by. Behind her, maybe, from inside the tree?
“Who told you to come?”
“Dionysus. He said you’d help us.”
“Liar! The boy lies!” The other voice came again.
Then Hecate started to shake and convulse.
“Are you okay?” For a brief second I thought about reaching out to her.
Stunned, I watched as her head turned ninety degrees. The sound of her bones cracking and twisting made my stomach roil.
Jasmine, Georgina and Ren all jumped back as a different face glared at me.
This one was old, and haggard. Rheumy eyes, crooked nose, liver spots all over her sallow cheeks. And when she spoke, she revealed rotten brown teeth.
“You lie, boy! Dionysus would never send you here.”
“He did.” Jasmine stepped forward. “He said you’d know the way to the underworld, to Hades Hall. How else do you think we found you?”
“Shut up, girl! We are not talking to you!” She lifted the walking stick and pointed it menacingly at Jasmine.
Hecate’s body began to shake again, like she was having a seizure, and then her head twisted back. “I’m sorry about that.” She smiled at me, and I was enchanted by her again. “For the path to Hades, you must pay a price.”
“What price?” I asked, although I was leery about what she’d demand from us.
“Your blood.”
Ren stepped forward and grabbed my arm to pull me away. “You can forget that lady.”
But I didn’t move. “How much?”
She smiled again, and it was sweet and alluring, and I suddenly wanted to fall at her feet. “Not much, just an ounce, not more. I need the blood of a champion for my spells.” She reached out a long slim hand and caressed my face. “You look like a champion.”
Demigods Academy - Year Two Page 6