Poseidon's Academy and the Deadly Disease

by Sarah A Vogler

  ‘I’m going to kill her!’

  ‘No.’ Ava grabbed Riley’s wrist, orange juice dripping from her black hair. ‘It’s fine.’

  ‘What was that?’ Demi looked as stunned as Hailey felt.

  ‘Clarissa,’ Ava ground out the name through gritted teeth. ‘The third-year bully who likes to let Others know how unwelcome they are here.’

  ‘We’ve got one of those.’ Demi clutched the fork in her hand tighter. Hailey guessed she was imagining it being Venus’s skull.

  ‘I think every year does.’ Ava smiled sadly. ‘Come on, Riley, I need to get cleaned up before class. It was nice meeting you.’

  ‘See you round.’ Riley waved goodbye.

  ‘Um, this might sound like a stupid question,’ Hope said, lowering her voice, ‘but why are there Others in the school?’

  ‘Because Poseidon’s Academy is a trial school for people with god and Other powers being together,’ Hailey explained. ‘We call them Uniques here though. You’re not anti-Unique, are you?’ she added, worrying Hope’s silence might’ve been from distaste rather than shyness.

  ‘No,’ she said quickly. ‘I’m just not used to it.’ She bit into a strawberry. ‘So why can students with god powers bully them like that?’

  Hailey swallowed a spoonful of creamy porridge. ‘Because they’re smart enough to do it when there aren’t teachers around.’

  ‘Don’t worry, we make sure Venus—our year’s bully—gets plenty of torment in return,’ Demi assured her.

  A conch shell blared in the distance, signalling the start of classes in ten minutes. Cutlery clattered and chairs scrapped across the pearl floor as students finished their breakfast and bustled from the main hall. About forty students were left sitting, mostly from her year, and a few older students lucky enough to have a free period.

  Demi jumped up. ‘Come on, Hope, let’s check out the grounds. It’s the best part.’

  Scorpion stood in front of the double doors in the entryway. He held up a hand to stop Hailey, Demi, and Hope as they strode towards the doors. ‘Why aren’t you in class?’

  ‘We’re second years,’ Demi said matter-of-factly. ‘We’ve got the rest of the week off to recover from the trauma of monsters attacking us.’

  ‘Trauma? Back in the Amazon Jungle I lost my entire team to an anaconda with bullet-proof skin, and the ability to spit blinding venom. I spent three days running for my life in that monster-infested jungle, and did I get a day off to recover from the trauma? No. I got shipped out an hour after I was rescued.’

  Demi cocked an eyebrow. ‘Um, okay. Well, we’re allowed not to be in class.’

  Scorpion rolled his eyes and moved aside, muttering something about kids these days not having any stamina.

  ‘So this is the grounds.’ Hailey gazed up at the azure blue sky, feeling as though today would be a good day.

  ‘Incredible.’ Hope reached up to touch a topaz dangling from a branch.

  ‘I know.’ Demi picked one up from the scattered pile on the ground. She sighed. ‘But they don’t let us keep them.’ She let the topaz slip through her fingers; it made a tiny chink as it landed.

  ‘Okaeat.’

  Haley spun around. Amathia smiled at the three of them before disappearing back into the palace.

  ‘Ooh, I love this part.’ Demi bounced on her toes.

  Vibrations shot through the ground, and the palace began sinking, water replacing the sky. The descent felt like descending in an elevator, only much prettier. Fish dashed past and coral reefs gleamed like rainbows. The palace slowed to a stop, not at the bottom of the sea, but deep enough that the surface was no longer visible.

  ‘Wow.’ Hope darted to the grounds’ edge. ‘I’m guessing Hephaestus made this.’ She touched the force field and gasped when her fingers passed through.

  ‘Yes, he did.’ Hailey moved to her side, watching a squid swim past the force field. ‘It only works to keep the water out though.’

  Hope stared at the water dripping from her fingers. ‘That’s dangerous.’

  ‘Only if you’re stupid enough to walk into it,’ Demi said.

  ‘Or be pushed,’ Hailey added, scowling at the memory of Venus shoving her into the icy water last year.

  ‘I did warn you not to stand too close.’

  Hailey whipped around. Venus lurked behind her, her face equal parts nefarious and furious. ‘What do you want?’

  ‘To let this little harpy know I’m not okay with her moving into my dorm.’

  Hailey glanced at Hope, who seemed as confused as her.

  ‘What are you talking about?’ Demi snapped.

  ‘You didn’t hear? Madam Grayson had half my dorm emptied to make room for her.’ She poked an accusatory finger at Hope.

  ‘I didn’t ask them to do that,’ Hope spluttered.

  ‘Back off,’ Hailey warned. ‘You can’t do anything, there’s a soldier right there…’ Her words trailed off when she noticed the entrance was soldier free. That’s weird.

  Venus smirked. ‘He’s dealing with another commotion.’

  Demi rolled her eyes. ‘Let me guess, the twins are behind it?’

  Venus shrugged. ‘Maybe.’

  ‘You can’t blame Hope. She hasn’t done anything wrong,’ Hailey protested. ‘We’ll talk to Madam Grayson and get this sorted out. She can stay in our dorm.’ Hailey couldn’t believe Madam Grayson would put Hope—someone on the verge of PTSD—in a dorm with Venus: a psychopath who takes pleasure from inflicting pain and misery on others.

  ‘It’s too late. My spa is already gone.’ A knife flew from Venus’s hand.

  18

  Athena’s Revenge

  The knife sailed between Hailey and Demi, embedding itself in Hope’s chest. Hope’s eyes grew wide as she slipped backwards. Hailey and Demi reached for her, pulling her forward before she could fall through the force field, and lowered her gently to the ground. Blood spilled over the diamond floor, but it quickly began receding like a puddle of water drying up under the sun—thanks to the floor’s self-cleaning abilities.

  ‘Just a reminder of what will happen if you impose on my territory too much.’ Venus strutted away.

  ‘It’s okay, Hope.’ Hailey squeezed her hand. ‘We’ve got you.’

  Hope opened her mouth to say something and then closed it, a trail of blood leaking over her chin as her head lolled to the side and her eyes turned glassy.

  ‘I’ll get Madam Mendem.’

  Hailey grabbed Demi’s wrist before she could get up. ‘It’s too late. She’s dead.’ Tears burned her throat.

  ‘What do we do?’

  ‘Wait, I guess.’

  Hailey yanked the knife, which Venus had stolen from the main hall, from Hope’s chest and tossed it through the force field, the water tingeing red with blood as the blade sank out of sight. She resisted the urge to chase after Venus and strangle her. Just because Hope was immortal didn’t mean it was okay to kill her. She couldn’t understand how anyone could be so evil. Hope was innocent, and now she’d probably come back even more traumatised than before.

  ‘Maybe she’ll get expelled for this,’ Demi remarked, sensing Hailey’s thoughts.

  ‘How does she know how to throw a knife anyway?’

  ‘Probably her older sister.’ Demi shrugged. ‘She’s an Ares or something. Apparently, she’s a bigger psycho than Venus and got expelled from just about every god school when she was sixteen. I think she’s in jail now.’

  ‘Venus is the nice one? Now that’s a scary thought.’

  Hope dragged in a breath, her eyes flying open.

  ‘You’re alive!’ Demi exclaimed.

  ‘Do you feel okay?’ Hailey asked, helping Hope sit up. Her blue button-down shirt was completely covered in blood, but it didn’t look like she was bleeding anymore.

  Hope nodded and touched the spot where Venus had stabbed her. ‘Yeah, it’s all healed.’

  ‘So that’s your new dorm mate,’ Demi said.

  Hope gulped.
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  ‘Don’t worry, we’re not letting you stay with her,’ Hailey promised. ‘Come on, we’re telling Madam Grayson what she did.’

  Hope shook her head. ‘No. I don’t want to cause any trouble.’

  ‘Trouble?’ Demi cocked an eyebrow. ‘She just killed you in broad daylight. What do you think she’ll do to you when you’re sleeping?’

  ‘I don’t want to make things worse. She knew I was an immortal. I think she was just angry. If I stay out of her way, she’ll hopefully calm down.’

  ‘But she killed you,’ Demi said again as if Hope wasn’t understanding the situation.

  ‘You can’t let her get away with it,’ Hailey agreed.

  ‘It’s not your choice,’ Hope snapped. ‘You can’t force me to do something I don’t want to.’ She sprang up and stormed towards the palace.

  ***

  Ancient History was the first class on Monday, and Hailey took her regular seat in the front row with her friends. Hope sat beside her, clutching her hands in her lap.

  ‘It’s okay,’ Hailey assured her. ‘This is a fun class.’

  Amathia stood at the front of the room. ‘Let us begin.’ She touched the orb on her desk, white light flooding the room like an explosion of lightning. When it faded, Hailey was standing a few yards from a marble temple bordered with white pillars. A few more yards from the temple was a woman lowering a bucket into a well.

  ‘There she is.’

  Hailey turned to the man standing beside her, her heart leaping into her throat. He had black hair and a short beard sprouting a few grey hairs. Poseidon! It’s just a memory. He can’t hurt me.

  Poseidon’s dark blue eyes focused on Hailey and she tensed, thinking maybe Poseidon could sense her hiding inside Amathia’s body. ‘Keep watch for my wife.’

  Hailey nodded. ‘As you wish.’

  Poseidon prowled towards the woman, who was now balancing the bucket on the well’s edge. She spun around. ‘Poseidon,’ she squealed with delight, wrapping her arms around him.

  ‘Come, let’s go inside.’ Poseidon clasped the woman’s hand.

  ‘No.’ She dug her feet into the ground. ‘We cannot defile a temple.’

  ‘It is only Athena’s,’ Poseidon argued. ‘My prude of a niece could stand to have a few temples defiled.’

  ‘It’s not right, Poseidon,’ the woman protested, but a smile played across her lips.

  ‘Come now, Medusa, I will protect you.’

  She hesitated. ‘All right.’ She giggled and let Poseidon lead her inside.

  Eww was all Hailey could think. She also felt a little sad, because she knew what was going to happen next.

  Poseidon exited the temple about ten minutes later. ‘Farewell, Medusa,’ he called behind him and strode towards Hailey, who tensed again. ‘I will meet you back at the palace,’ he informed her before vanishing in a tornado of water.

  Singing pulled Hailey’s attention back to the temple. Medusa was strolling towards the well, humming a song. She reached for the well’s bucket as a shower of owl feathers floated down beside her. A woman wearing a gold helmet and holding a spear materialised.

  Medusa gasped and knocked the bucket over, water pooling in the dirt. ‘Athena!’ She dropped her head. ‘How kind of you to grace me with your presence.’

  ‘Do not act so daft, mortal,’ Athena hissed. ‘I know what you did in my temple. How dare you sully my sacred place!’

  ‘I-I-I am sorry, Athena.’ Medusa fell to her knees on the muddy ground. ‘I beg your forgiveness.’

  ‘I’m not the forgiving type.’

  ‘Wait!’ Hailey called in Amathia’s voice, advancing towards the pair.

  Athena glared at her. ‘This does not concern you, nymph.’

  ‘She is not at fault,’ Hailey argued. ‘Poseidon lured her. You cannot punish her for being a weak mortal and giving in to a god.’

  ‘Watch me.’ Athena plucked an amber potion bottle from her Grecian dress and smashed it on the ground.

  Vapours rose from the oozing liquid, swirling around Medusa like smoke. She clawed at the mist, which seeped into her skin, before a bloodcurdling scream tore from her mouth.

  Hailey watched with a mixture of curiosity and revulsion as Medusa’s brown curls began shivering, each one slowly transforming into a hissing snake.

  Medusa reached a hand up to touch her slithering hair. ‘I’m a monster!’

  ‘Yes.’ A malevolent smile curved Athena’s lips. ‘One that will never enjoy the company of mortals again. For every human who gazes upon you, you will transform them into stone. Enjoy your lonely life, Medusa.’ Athena spared a glance at Hailey. ‘Swim away, little nymph. I’m sure Poseidon will wish to know the fate of his beloved.’ She cackled. ‘No, actually, I do not believe my uncle will care.’

  The world flashed white again, and Hailey was back in Amathia’s classroom. A chair clattered to the floor beside her as Hope bolted from the room.

  Hailey darted after her, making it outside in time to see her dash down the hallway leading to the stable. ‘Hope,’ she called and was about to run after her when Cady wandered from the left hallway; her eyes grew wide when she saw Hailey. ‘Cady? What are you doing here?’

  ‘I… um… I told Madam Grayson I was sick to get out of class—skipping class is the only way I can wander around the palace without Venus ambushing me.’ She lowered her eyes to the ground, and Hailey resisted the urge to hunt Venus down and make her swear never to so much as glance at Cady again. ‘Anyway, I was curious about the barrier PET is trying to get past, so I went to have a look.’

  ‘Really? Did you find it? What was it?’ Hailey imagined enormous crystals shooting from the ground to the ceiling, crossing over each other.

  ‘Just a force field.’

  ‘Oh.’ That wasn’t anywhere near as interesting as an impenetrable wall of crystals. ‘How did you get past PET?’

  ‘I can blend in with my surroundings.’ Cady pressed herself against the wall, her skin almost becoming transparent as it changed to match the crystal wall’s pale blue colour.

  ‘Wow.’ If Hailey hadn’t known exactly where Cady was standing, she never would have noticed her. ‘You’re like a chameleon.’

  Cady peeled away from the wall, dropping her disguise. ‘I guess.’

  ‘Look I have to go,’ Hailey said, remembering that she was supposed to be looking for Hope. ‘But you should really try to stand up for yourself against Venus—and if you get a chance to rip out one of her curls, take it.’

  Cady smiled a sad smile. ‘I wish it were that easy.’

  ‘Hope,’ Hailey called, slipping through the slightly ajar stable doors, having an inkling that Hope was borrowing her hiding spot.

  Hope sniffed from behind the left door, her face red and splotchy from crying.

  The horses whinnied in greeting, but Hailey ignored them—they could wait five minutes for a pat. ‘Hope, what’s wrong?’ She dropped down beside her, the dried seaweed crunching beneath her.

  Hope sniffed again and wiped her eyes. ‘That was horrible—what Athena did to Medusa. It wasn’t her fault. She didn’t deserve that. Why were the gods so cruel?’

  ‘I’m not sure, they just were.’ Hailey didn’t know what other answer there was. ‘I’m surprised you feel anything about it. The memory ball is meant to block emotions once you’re out of the memory.’

  ‘Maybe it doesn’t work on immortals.’

  ‘You know it happened a long time ago. The gods aren’t around anymore.’ At least not alive enough to turn people into monsters. ‘They can’t hurt anyone else.’

  ‘It was awful.’ Hope hugged her knees.

  ‘Let’s talk about something else,’ Hailey suggested. ‘How’s Venus as a dorm mate?’ She figured if anything could overpower Hope’s fear, it was probably anger towards Venus.

  Hope shrugged. ‘She’s okay.’

  ‘Okay? She killed you last week.’

  ‘Well, she hasn’t tried again. Although she might if I have
another nightmare. I woke her up last night when I screamed.’

  ‘I really think you should see Madam Norwood. She could help you.’

  ‘Maybe.’ Hope wiped her nose with her sleeve. ‘Look, I don’t want to be rude, but do you mind leaving me alone for a little while?’

  ‘Of course.’ Hailey understood needing alone time better than anybody. ‘As long as you’ll be okay?’

  Hope nodded. ‘I feel better now. Maybe the emotion-blocking part of the memory ball was a little delayed.’

  ‘Okay.’ Hailey climbed to her feet. ‘I’ll meet you after class.’

  19

  Eavesdropping

  Hailey lounged in the grounds with Demi, Jayden, Alec, Aaron—and about half the student population, since it was the weekend. They lazed beside a seaweed tree, its seaweed branches dangling inches from the ground.

  ‘Looks like Venus has been torturing Cady again.’ Aaron nodded to the palace, fifteen yards away.

  Cady sobbed her way towards an aquamarine tree, dropping to the ground and pressing her hands against her face.

  ‘I’ll see if she’s okay.’ Jayden hurried over to her, Cady wrapping her arms around his neck the second he sat down, and pressing her face into his shoulder.

  ‘Why—’ Demi began and then made a choking sound that quickly turned into a coughing fit.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Aaron asked.

  ‘Fine.’ Demi’s voice was raspy. Achoo. ‘Uck, I think I’m getting sick.’

  Alec shuffled away from her. ‘Don’t give it to me. I’ve got too much studying to do.’

  ‘Sir, there’s been a situation.’

  Hailey peered through the hanging seaweed, spotting Jake staring at the sea a few feet away. He turned to face the soldier—the one Hailey had named Scar—approaching him from the stable’s exit. ‘What happened? Did you get past the barrier?’

  ‘No, sir. The nereids attacked us while we were working on the force field. They started throwing sea-urchin darts and screaming they’d kill us if we didn’t leave the palace.’

  Please, please, please, don’t tell me they’re on the loose.

  ‘Where are they now?’

  ‘We stun-gunned them and dragged them back to their room, sir.’