There were no referees in this game, so she could’ve stayed in the air and attacked me, but valor got the best of her, and after letting one of her own arrows go at me, she dropped to the ground. I easily dodged the arrow.
The demigod in the black armor swooped toward me. Lucian and the others flew up beside me just as his long sword made a dangerous arc at my face. I didn’t have my shield as it was too cumbersome to fly with so I couldn’t block it. I folded my wings in so I’d drop, but before I could act the clang of metal reverberated in the air as Lucian’s sword blocked the parlay effectively protecting me from injury. It was so loud it vibrated over my skin.
This gave me an opportunity to nock another arrow and let it fly. His armor deflected the arrow and didn’t make a blood splatter, but it did make him think twice about attacking all four of us, and he did a flying spin away from us, his wings like razors cutting through the air.
I was about to pursue him when Lucian grabbed my arm. “We don’t split up, Blue.”
I shrugged his hand off. “He’s retreating. We could bring him down if we all attacked him at once.”
“Together, okay? That’s how we’ll win.”
I nodded. “Sure. You’re in charge.”
He frowned, obviously not liking my tone of voice. But I couldn’t keep my annoyance and frustration out of it. I had that guy in my sights. I knew I could take him on my own.
Together, we swooped down into the battle that was raging on the ground. I could see Georgina wrapping vines around a raging demigod using her fire to burn away the plants just as fast. Ren had Heracles locked in a water tornado. Jasmine was trading sword blows with Helen who had traded in her bow and arrow with a short sword and shield.
I spotted a large bare chested man with huge curved horns coming out of his head standing on the ridge shooting arrows into the group. When he moved I saw that his bottom half was that of a goat, hooves and fur and all. I nocked an arrow and aimed it at him as I flew down toward the ground.
A high pitched shriek drew my attention as a fierce female warrior with spiked armored shoulder plates and long flaming red hair flowing out from under a Trojan helmet shot through the air and ploughed Hella right in the back, effectively knocking her down to the ground. Hella landed in a heap on a bunch of rocks. There wasn’t any red splatter but she definitely wasn’t moving.
Stopping on a dime, I spun around, and nocking an arrow I let it rip at the redhead. She smacked it away with her sword, and then let out another shriek as she dove at me. I grinned, eager for a worthy challenge.
Lucian flew up to me. “We need to head toward the field. There’s a break in ranks. Revana needs us there to protect the academy.”
“But I can take this bitch out right here and now.”
“Mel.” His voice was filled with anger, which in turn made me angry. I really didn’t need his lecture right now. “We need to work together as a team if we’re going to win this battle.”
“You guys go ahead and I’ll catch up. This won’t take me long.”
Lucian shook his head, but nodded to Quinn, and they flew off toward the field. Once they were gone the redhead hovered closer to me.
“I’m Enyo,” she said. “Goddess of war and destruction.”
“Melany. Human of rebellion and pissing people off.”
She laughed. “I like your scars. They’re very pretty.”
“I like yours too.” She had white lines down her cheeks, and down her arms, like tiger stripes.
“Each scar represents a kill I’ve made.”
I did a quick count of the scars that I could see and it came to over fifty. She was trying to scare me. And maybe if I hadn’t spent the last two months sparring with the Furies, the three most frightening women I’d ever met, I might have been.
“Good for you.”
She grinned, and I saw that her teeth had been filed down into points. She looked like a shark. “You are the one that Hades chose.”
“I guess.”
“I can see why. You have an air of fearlessness.”
“It’s a gift.” I shrugged.
She laughed. “Let’s see how long that lasts.” Lifting her sword, she flew toward me like a bullet.
My bow was ineffectual at this close range, so I let it drop to the ground, and reaching around my waist I unsheathed the two daggers I had strapped to my back underneath my cloak. I veered to the left, and spinning to the side, I swiped my knives. One blade caught her across the arm.
I’d forgotten that my weapons weren’t blunted, that they were real lethal weapons made to wound, and blood ran in rivulets across her pale skin. Shocked, she hovered in midair and looked down at the gaping gash in her flesh.
“You will most definitely pay for that.”
The horn sounded ending the battle. I didn’t know if it was because the enemy had broached our battle lines and reached the academy or if I had been caught breaking the rules of combat.
Enyo folded her wings in and she dropped to the ground. I watched as she landed, and the warrior in the black armor came to her side to inspect her wound. Others came to her side, both demigod and my fellow cadets.
Lucian looked up at me. Even from here I could see the disappointment on his face.
I floated down to the ground, folding my wings onto my back.
Everyone kind of gathered around me, but didn’t come too close. I saw looks of anger and fear on some faces. Before I could catch it, gratification swelled in my chest at the terror I’d invoked. Allec, Tis and Meg would be proud of me. I couldn’t wait to return home to tell them.
Heracles pushed through the murmuring crowd toward me. “You broke the rules, Melany. You disqualified the entire group from the battle.”
I looked around at the faces staring at me. Jasmine and Georgina both looked at me like I was a monster. My stomach roiled over at what I’d done. What the hell had come over me?
I shook my head trying to cast off the clinging anger that seemed to be wrapping itself tighter and tighter around me.
“I’m…I don’t…I’m sorry.” I licked my lips suddenly feeling sick.
“You risked getting expelled.” His voice was low as he spoke to me. I could see that he didn’t want to punish me.
“I understand.”
“Next time, you will be.”
Revana stepped out of the group. “That’s bullshit! She should be tossed out! Why are you always sticking up for her? She doesn’t belong here. She’s trash. Everyone knows it. Just look at her.”
A savage heat flared in my chest and rushed over my limbs. Hatred, pure and blazing hot, filled me. All I could see was a red haze before my eyes. Before I could stop myself, my hand clenched into a fist and I punched Revana in the face. Blood spewed from her nose as she stumbled sideways.
And Gods help me but I liked seeing her bleed.
Gasps sounded all around me. I spotted Georgina’s horrified face as she stared at me.
“Jesus Mel.” Jasmine’s voice came from behind me.
I didn’t turn around to face her. I couldn’t.
I wrapped my hand around the amulet around my neck, stepped into a shadow on the ground, and vanished.
Chapter Thirteen
MELANY
I didn’t know if it was my swirling mass of conflicted emotions that fueled my travel through the shadows, but I stepped out into the library in a matter of seconds. The trip was so quick, zipping through the ether, I ended up nauseated. I had to bend over and take in some deep breaths or vomit all over the nice clean hardwood floor of Hades’ library.
“Back so soon? I thought for sure I was going to have to come get you at the end of the day.”
I looked up as Hades strolled across the dimly lit room toward me, an air of extreme superiority wafting off him like too much cologne. He was haughty and entitled, behaving like he hadn’t stolen me away against my will for two months, lying to me the entire time.
And in that moment, I hated him with every fiber of my bei
ng.
Hands ablaze with fire, I launched at him, trying to wrap those fiery appendages around his throat. But he was quick and I suspected had anticipated my attack. He dodged out of the way as he pushed me to the side.
I stumbled into the drinks table, knocking over a decanter of water and two glasses. They shattered on the floor, sending shards of glass sliding across the wood. Water splashed over me and doused the fire from my hands. I turned and dove at him again this time with electricity coiling around my fingers. One touch and I would electrocute him.
He dodged away from me again, this time pushing me into the wall. I bonked my head against the wood paneling which just made me angrier. Incensed, I flung my hands toward him, intending to send a bolt of lightning at him, but the sparks fizzled, landing on the ground with little ping sounds. It was like one of those sparklers that people lit on birthday cakes or during Fourth of July.
“I’m getting tired of this game.” He cocked an eyebrow at me as if he was bored to tears with my outrage.
I glared at him as I focused on the shadows all around the room. I imagined them moving and swirling toward us. I pictured a rope of darkness twisting around Hades, squeezing. Squeezing until he couldn’t move.
With a flick of his hand, a tendril of shadow coiled around me instead. It wrapped around my throat, my wrists and ankles, pulling tight, and I was flung backwards. I hit the wall, the back of my head hitting the wood, enough that I saw stars. I was pulled upwards until my feet dangled three feet off the ground.
Hades strolled across the room until he stood right in front of me. “I admire your spunk. It’s one of the reasons I picked you. But did you really think you could use the shadows against me? I am the shadows, darling.”
I struggled against the restraints on my arms and legs but it was to no avail. I wasn’t going anywhere until Hades decided to let me go. I was at his mercy. Again. Always.
“Why are you so angry?” he asked, and I heard a genuine interest to know.
“You’ve had me locked down here for two months!”
He nodded. “Ah. I see. I was sure I explained how time worked down here. Every day here is like two of them topside.”
“You didn’t explain it. You let me believe I’d only been here for a few weeks when in fact I’ve been gone for months.”
He tapped his lips with a finger. “Hmm. I can understand why that would be upsetting. I apologize for not explaining the rules.”
I glared at him some more, trying to muster up some witty comeback but I could feel my anger dissipating like mist in the morning sunshine.
“Is there anything else you wish to yell at me about? You might as well get it all out in one fell swoop. It’s not good to bottle these things up. I heard it can cause stress related illness.”
I knew he was making fun of me. It was in his tone and the way he tilted his head to regard me with the slight upturn at the side of his mouth. Like a parent indulging a child having a rip-roaring tantrum.
I sagged into the shadows pinning me up against the wall. There wasn’t any more point to fighting. Hades was too strong; I was never going to win. Besides that, I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to hurt him. Maybe I’d just wanted that apology he gave. Some acknowledgement that this situation sucked for me.
With a wave of his hand, the shadow bonds evaporated and I dropped to the floor. I put out my hand to brace against the wall so I didn’t fall onto my knees. He reached for me. I shied away from his hand, but he persisted and grabbed my arm and led me to one of the chairs in front of the giant fireplace. A fire crackled pleasantly inside. Heat washed over me.
He poured two glasses of wine, set it on the table between the chairs, and then sat in the other chair. “Now, tell me what’s really unsetting you.”
Sinking into the chair, I smirked. “As if you care.”
“Of course I care, Melany. You’re important to me.”
I looked at him wondering if that was really true. He met my gaze, and I wasn’t one hundred percent sure what I saw in the dark depths. Could a God like Hades truly care? About the world? About me? I wanted it to be true, because at the moment I felt truly alone.
“I think the others are scared of me.” I was surprised by my confession. It wasn’t something I was sure I could talk about, especially not with him.
“Of course they are.” He picked up one of the glasses of wine and took a sip, watching me over the rim. “You’re fierce. You’re strong. You’re better trained. They’d be stupid to not fear you.”
I was startled to find that his compliments pleased me. I picked up the other wine glass and took a sip. The second the wine hit my tongue, my stomach growled reminding me I hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
Hades smiled. “Shall we eat?”
I returned his smile.
In the dining hall, the little wooden robots served us roasted duck and a warm beet salad. At first I wasn’t too sure about the meal, but after the first few bites my taste buds were in heaven. I finished it all in record time which made Hades chuckle.
“I like that you have such a hearty appetite. A lot of young women worry so needlessly about overeating. It’s stupid. Food, drink…these things should be enjoyed.”
I eyed him across the table wondering if there were a few other things that should be enjoyed that he purposely left out. Maybe it was inappropriate of me to consider those things but I couldn’t help it. Hades piqued several of my interests.
“Did you eat like this when you lived at the Demos estate?”
The question took me by surprise and I nearly dropped my fork that was halfway to my mouth. I hadn’t realized he knew anything about me besides that I’d passed the twelve trails, a feat no one else had ever achieved in the history of the academy.
“Don’t look surprised. Of course I know everything about you.”
“Why?”
“I don’t invest in something that I don’t know anything about. So I did my research on you.” He sat back in his chair. “Melany Richmond, eighteen, parents Andrew and Joanna Richmond, orphaned at age three and a half, lived in an orphanage until the age of thirteen when your mother’s estranged sister, Sophie, found you and adopted you. You came to live on the Demos estate where Sophie worked…I imagine living with Callie Demos was hellish. I bet she was furious when her shadowbox contained nothing but a simple birthday message and not the invitation she’d been expecting.” He chuckled to himself. “Such a vain girl.”
My heart squeezed painfully at the mention of my adopted mother, and I threw my napkin onto my plate. “I don’t want to hear anymore.”
“I know what happened to her.”
My eyes narrowed and I glared at him. The image of the pale hand I saw in the rubble of the guest house still haunted my dreams. I worked hard at diminishing the pain of that moment; I didn’t need it brought up all over again to torture me.
“She died in an earthquake,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Are you sure it was an earthquake?”
“I saw it. I saw the damage it did to the estate.”
“Did you ever think it was odd that there was an earthquake in Pecunia?”
I had thought it was strange at the time. I’d questioned it even. There was no fault line near that part of the country. I’d found that piece of gold rope at the site of all that destruction. I’d mentioned it to Zeus and was basically electrocuted nearly to death for it.
He stood, and then walked over to my side of the table. He pulled out the chair next to me and sat. “You know what I’m talking about.”
I frowned. “I’m not sure I do.”
“Someone released one of the Titans from Tartarus. Probably Atlas.” He waved a hand. “He likes to dig in the dirt.”
I leaned toward him. “Why would someone do that? And who would do that?”
“Why does anyone do anything? For power of course.” He rubbed a finger over his lips. “You found that piece of golden rope?”
I nodded.
�
��The golden rope controls whoever or whatever it’s wrapped around. And it could only come from one person…”
I knew the name he was going to speak before he said it. I’d had my suspicions from day one of being at the academy.
“Aphrodite.”
“She’s totally in cahoots with Ares,” I blurted.
Hades’ eyes narrowed. “I know they’re having an affair and have been for centuries, but what do you mean “in cahoots”?”
“The first night at the academy I saw them sneaking around the halls and I heard her mention something about a key, stealing it or something.”
Pressing his lips together, Hades nodded. “Just as I suspected.”
“Why would they release a Titan? Why destroy Pecunia and those other towns?”
“I suspect it was a test run for something bigger.”
“Like what?”
“That I don’t know.” His lips lifted into a sly smile. “Yet.”
“How are you going to find out?”
He pointed at me. “You’re going to find out. I’ve taught you how to travel through the shadows. You can use them to move around the academy. You can get into places that I can’t.”
I shook my head. “They’ll see me. It’s not like I’m invisible.”
“But you can be.”
“How?”
“I’ll show you.” He stood, and then offered his hand to me. I took it, and he pulled me to my feet. My skin tingled where he touched me. Licking my lips, unsure I liked that feeling, I tugged my hand away and rubbed it against my leg. It did nothing to diminish the pleasant sensation of touching him.
I followed him out of the dining hall, across the expanse of the corridor and into his personal suite. He led me to the far wall where a six foot high painting dominated the space. It depicted a nearly naked muscular man with longish black hair and rigid face, he had horns coming out of his head and fire coming out of his mouth. On the ground, cowering in front of him, was a beautiful young woman with long black hair and pale skin, wearing a long blue dress, it was slipping off to reveal her shoulder. It was a powerful picture and it made me shiver.
Demigods Academy - Year Two Page 9