Demigods Academy - Year One

by Elisa S. Amore

His office was dark and cramped with all manner of things: velvet covered chairs, round wooden tables stacked with glass jars and small boxes, piles of books and scrolls, shelves crammed with bottles of different colored liquids, and herbs and other plant based things that smelled horrible. He gestured for me to sit in one of the chairs, and he sat behind a very heavy-looking mahogany desk. He leaned back in his chair and put his feet up on the desk. There was a hookah on the desk, and he took a puff. He offered it to me, but I shook my head.

  “So, that was sure something.”

  “I didn’t tell anyone about you, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

  He pointed at me. “That is what I was wondering. I’d hate to be tortured like your friend Melany.” He made a face. “She did do well, though. Surprised the crap out of Zeus I’m sure.”

  “Someone did talk, though.”

  His eyes narrowed. “And you’re wondering whether I did?” He drew his feet off the desk and leaned in toward me. “I can assure you, mate, that would be the last thing I would do. Do you honestly thing we’re not all ruled with the same iron fist? Zeus likes his power and likes to wield it on whomever he wants.”

  I sagged in the chair. Everything was started to weigh on me, especially what had happened to Melany. I couldn’t get the image of her suffering out of my mind. Her scream still echoed in my head. I knew it would haunt my dreams for a very long time.

  “Look, I’m really sorry for what happened to your girlfriend. It was a terrible thing to watch. But she’ll heal. Chiron is a fantastic medic. And with my potions, she’ll be up and about in no time.”

  “I want to see her.”

  He put a hand to his chest. “I’m not sure how I can help you there.”

  I gave him a look. “How do I get into the infirmary?”

  “You can go now, mate.” He waved a hand toward the door.

  “I’m not leaving until you tell me how I can see Melany.”

  He opened his mouth and made a sighing noise. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

  “You’re immortal. You can’t die.”

  He waved a hand at me. “It’s a figure of speech, saying just how annoying you are.” He stood and walked to one of the shelves behind the desk. When he turned back, he had a silver flask in his hand. He gave it to me. “Give this to Chiron. It’ll buy you a few minutes with her I’m sure.”

  I tucked the flask into my pocket and left his office. Before I went by the infirmary, I snuck by the kitchen and stole a chocolate cupcake. I wrapped it up carefully and put it in my front jacket pocket. When I arrived at the infirmary, there was a lot of activity nearby, so I had to wait. Zeus, Hephaistos, Demeter, Ares, and Aphrodite all came and went, bickering amongst themselves the whole time. After the corridor emptied, I quickly walked to the main door of the infirmary. I was about to slip inside when I felt a huge presence behind me.

  I whipped around and came face to chest with Chiron.

  “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in your dorm. I’ll give you five minutes to get lost before I—”

  I thrust the flask toward him. “Dionysus sends his regards.”

  His eyes narrowed as he looked at me, then the flask. At first I didn’t think he was going to take it, but then he snatched it from my fingers. He uncapped it, sniffing whatever was inside. “You have ten minutes.”

  I stepped into the gloomy room; the only light came from a couple of lamps flickered in sconces on the walls. There were twenty small beds in two rows, one on each side of the room. They were all empty, save one. I could see Melany’s blue hair spread out over the white pillow.

  She was on her back, and her eyes were closed when I approached. I took in the ashen pallor of her skin and the hollowness of her cheeks and my stomach clenched. As I settled on the edge of the bed, her eyes blinked open.

  “Hey, Blue.”

  “Hey.” Her voice was hoarse and she grimaced.

  I picked up the cup of water on the table beside her bed and bent the straw for her, so she could take a sip. When she sat up, the sheet fell away from her neck and shoulder, and I saw the red puckered scars branching out across her skin. It looked like spider-webbed lightning on her body. A wave of cold surged through me. I had trouble swallowing as I took the damage in.

  “Oh, Blue…” I didn’t have the words.

  She lifted her arm to show me more of the scars that coiled from her shoulder to her wrist. “I’m told they’ll be permanent.” Her voice cracked a little, and she licked her lips. “I guess I’ll fit right in with these Gods and monsters.”

  “You’re not a monster.” I wrapped a tendril of her hair around my finger and gave it a little playful tug. “You’re still beautiful.”

  That made her smile.

  “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

  “Yeah, not how I thought my day was going to start.” She snorted and then grimaced as her body shifted in the bed.

  “Were you able to find out what happened to your adoptive mother?”

  She swallowed, a few tears rolling down her cheeks. “She didn’t make it out.”

  “Oh Blue, I’m so sorry.”

  I reached up and brushed her tears away with my thumb. I wished I could wipe away all her pain as easily. But I knew that it would be impossible.

  I put my hand in my jacket pocket and took out the cupcake; it was all mushed now. I unwrapped it for her. “I know this isn’t going to stop the pain, but it might help a little.”

  She took it from me. “Thank you. I’m starving.” She took a big bite and icing stuck at the side of her mouth.

  Chuckling, I wiped the chocolate icing off with my thumb, lingering a little longer than was probably wise. I licked it off my thumb, when what I wanted to do was kiss her long and hard.

  We locked eyes, and for a moment everything fell away. I bent down to her mouth and was about to touch my lips to hers when someone coughed from the door.

  “Time to go, Romeo.”

  Startled, I got to my feet and bumped her bed, jostling her a bit. She grimaced. I winced. “I’m sorry.”

  She chuckled. “It’s fine.”

  “I’ll see you later, okay?”

  Melany grabbed my hand before I could walk away. “Thank you, Lucian. For the cupcake… and for helping me get out. It means a lot to me.”

  “You’re welcome. Just get better. Hand-to-hand combat won’t be the same without you to spar with.”

  I left the infirmary, feeling both joy and despair. My emotions were so mixed up about Melany I didn’t know what to do. All I knew for certain was that I liked her. More than I ever thought was possible. And that was scarier than facing any of the Gods’ trials.

  Chapter Seventeen

  MELANY

  I spent fourteen days in the infirmary before Chiron said I was fit enough to go back to my dorm and to resume my training. Fourteen days of extreme boredom and bland, unappetizing food. I was only allowed visitors for a few hours in the day, and I was thankful for the snacks my friends snuck in for me.

  The first three days I spent lying in bed, unable to move much. I’d been mostly sedated during that time while Chiron tried to heal the scars networking across most of my body from the lightning. Pain had been my constant companion during those days. After that I’d been able to sit up, talk, eat, and accept visitors.

  The first time Jasmine saw me with my brand new lightning scar, she cried. Georgina was a little bit more reserved, but not by much. Ren told me I looked badass. And Lucian, when he snuck in after hours, told me how beautiful I was.

  I also received visits from Demeter; she brought me some books to read, and one time Hephaistos popped his head in, grunted at me, checked my hands to make sure they weren’t too badly damaged and I could still work with fire, and then left just as quickly.

  During the down time, I tried to get as much sleep as I could, as I was beyond exhausted, and my entire body ached. But it proved hard, especially since most times when I closed my eyes, I
kept seeing the pile of rubble that used to be my cottage and hearing the voice of the police officer saying he’d found a body. Not being active gave me too much time to think. Too much time to cry.

  By the time I went back to class, I was completely empty of tears.

  My first class back was elemental. When I walked into the training facility, there were a lot of stares at my newly acquired, full-body network of scars and whispers behind hands. But to my surprise, there were also some high fives, even from a few people I was not expecting.

  Diego approached me, a bit sheepishly, to my delight. “Hey Melany, I just want to say that what you did with that lightning was freaking hardcore.”

  “Thank you, Diego.”

  He held out his hand to me and I shook it. “And I dig your scar.”

  When he returned to his group at the water tank, I caught Lucian’s gaze, and I wondered if he had a little chat with his friend. He gave me a sly grin, and I returned it, with my heart fluttering a little bit extra.

  “No time for making goo goo eyes, girl.” I jumped back as Hephaistos poked me in the gut with the iron tongs. “It’s your turn to make some fire balls; you’re behind in the class.”

  I opened my mouth to say, “Hey, I was in the infirmary for fourteen days.” But he shook his head. “I don’t want to hear any of your excuses.”

  “Fine.” I walked up to the main fire pit where the flames flickered up five feet in the air.

  I lifted my hands, hesitant to spread them out toward the fire. Sometimes, they still hurt when I used them too much. Chiron had given me salve for them, and they were healing, but every now and then I got a sharp pain.

  Taking in a deep breath, I opened my hands and thrust them toward the fire pit. The flames instantly danced toward me, as if they were greeting me. Saying hello, welcome back. I smiled and coaxed the flames to me, until tendrils actually wrapped around my fingers.

  Jasmine and Georgina, who were nearby watching, gasped in surprise as I gathered the fire into my hands. I moved them around, caressing the flames, molding them into the shape I wanted. I kept at it until I had a sphere of fire between my palms about the size of a basketball. I looked at Hephaistos over the glowing red ball.

  I saw his lips twitch up into a smile, but then he immediately turned away and frowned at something someone else was doing. I couldn’t win with him.

  Pleased with the result of my firecraft, I bounced the ball in my hands, wishing I could toss it at something. Or someone. The prime target was glaring at me from across the facility. Revana was never going to be happy until I was either expelled or dead. I wanted to ask her, “Wasn’t my torture enough for you?” Obviously it wasn’t, as she still hate-stared at me like I’d stolen something from her.

  My gaze then landed on Lucian. Bingo. We have a winner.

  I didn’t steal him, as he was a person and not a possession, but I was sure he wasn’t her boyfriend. During one of his secret visits to the infirmary, I had asked him about Revana, and why he hung out with her. He’d told me because he didn’t know better. But now he did. That had made me grin like a love-struck fool.

  When we were switching stations to work with shadows, Lucian’s group and mine passed each other. Lucian grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the group.

  “I was going to mention this before, and I probably should have, but I didn’t want to bring it up so soon after…”

  “Go on. You got me curious now.”

  “When you were going through your trial and the lightning was wrapping around you, I saw… well, I think I saw a shadow protecting you. Putting some kind of barrier between you and the lightning.”

  I frowned. “You think Erebus protected me in some way?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m just telling you what I saw.” He ran his hand down my arm, then he returned to his group, and I went to mine.

  Erebus materialized in front of us. Today, he wore a top hat and carried a silver-tipped, black cane to go with his gothic look.

  “Welcome back, Melany.” He gave a little bow.

  I pressed my lips together in a facsimile of a smile. I wasn’t sure if he was being sincere or patronizing. He had that arrogant air about him.

  “Today, we are going to learn how to manipulate the shadows, to control them, not to just be able to camouflage inside them.”

  He held out his right hand, and after a few seconds, tendrils of darkness coiled around his fingers, then he circled his hand in front of him, and the black smoke made a loop in the air. Then he flicked his hand toward me, and that smoke loop wrapped around my wrist. Erebus flicked his hand backwards, and I was tugged forward by my arm. He’d lassoed me with a rope of shadow.

  Everyone laughed as I stumbled forward.

  Erebus closed his hand, and the shadow rope vanished, releasing me. “Get into pairs and practice. First, make the shadow rope, then try to catch your partner with it.” Since we were only a mere foot apart, he turned to me. “You can be my partner, Melany, since the group is uneven.”

  I almost let out a disgruntled groan but kept it bottled inside. I glanced over at Jasmine and Georgina. They both gave me concerned looks and I shrugged. Nothing I could do about it.

  I faced off with Erebus. He gave me a creepy smile as I lifted my hand and moved it through the permanent shadows swirling around us. Within seconds, I was able to manipulate the darkness through my fingers, making a circle in the air.

  Erebus nodded. “Not bad. You take to the shadows easily, I think.”

  Throwing it was a whole other matter. Every time I flung my hand forward, the smoke rope dissipated, and I had to start all over again.

  Under Erebus’s eagle eye, I created the smoke rope again, and this time when I threw it, I was able to get it around his arm. I almost threw a fist into the air. Instead, I yanked on the rope and moved Erebus forward.

  He smiled and tapped his cane on the floor; we were completely cloaked in darkness, and he was only a couple of inches away. He grabbed my arm hard.

  “Who saved you?”

  “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “During the trial. I saw the shadows shroud you. Without them, you would have certainly died.”

  I tried to pull away from him, but his grip was solid. His fingers dug into my flesh. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  But I did. Lucian had mentioned the same thing. He had insinuated Erebus had been the one to save me, but obviously that wasn’t the case. So who had?

  “You’re being protected, that much is obvious.” His hand tightened around my arm. “But understand this, Melany Richmond, that kind of protection comes with a cost.”

  I managed to wrench myself out of his grip, then the shadows fell away, and we were visible again. Flustered, I looked around at the others, but they were busy engaged in lassoing each other. I didn’t think they had even noticed we’d disappeared.

  After class I wasn’t sure if I should tell Jasmine and Georgina what had happened. I was definitely going to tell Lucian next chance we got to be alone, which wasn’t going to be any time soon, as we were ushered to our next class. The art of flying, which was a special lesson of transformation training.

  The training was going to take place outside, and the reason for it was immediate as Hermes flew in with large, golden wings flapping and landed on the field in front of us. As we all gaped in awe, he folded his wings behind him and walked toward us.

  “Good afternoon. Welcome to flying class.” Smiling, he looked at everyone. Out of all the Gods, Hermes was the most affable. He honestly didn’t look much older than we were, and always wore a buttoned-up shirt tucked into khaki pants and a bowtie. His dark brown hair always looked a bit unruly, and he constantly tucked it behind his ears.

  “Today, I’m going to teach you how to fly. I know this may seem like an impossible feat, but I assure you, it is possible for every single one of you. You are here at this academy for a reason. Because you all have Gods’ blood
running through your veins. And it’s through that you will be able to fly.”

  Heracles joined us out on the field, and I got a little bit nervous.

  “Now, learning to fly is really quite easy…” Hermes walked around then grabbed onto Diego, his wings unfurled, and they lifted into the sky.

  Diego’s face was comical, and I would’ve laughed if Hermes wasn’t taking him up three hundred feet into the air. My stomach flipped over as I craned my neck and looked up at them, hovering in the sky. Nervous chatter rippled among the group.

  “Vertigo ignites the fear of falling, hiding our will to fly.” Hermes’s voice boomed down to us. “So we must find our will to fly.”

  Then he dropped Diego.

  Diego’s screams echoed throughout the field as he fell. Before he hit the ground, Heracles was there. He caught him effortlessly and then set him onto his feet again. Diego leaned over and vomited.

  Hermes fluttered back down to the ground. “Who wants to try?”

  Everyone glanced nervously at each other. Then Lucian’s arm shot up. “I’ll go.”

  “Excellent.”

  Hermes grabbed Lucian, and they shot up into the air. My heart leapt into my throat, seeing him up so high. Then Hermes dropped him, and I put my hand over my mouth to stop the gasp.

  Right before Lucian hit dirt, crimson wings popped out from his shoulder blades, and he hovered in midair. He hung there ten feet above us, looking like a God. A gorgeous, golden God who took my breath away.

  Hermes flew down to hover beside him. “Well done, Lucian.” He beamed at him. “Now, who wants to go next?”

  Several hands shot up into the air.

  One by one, each student went up into the sky with Hermes and came down with wings. It took a few people a couple of tries, but eventually everyone produced ruby-red wings, even Revana, who unfortunately looked like a stunning Goddess.

  I was the last to go. I really didn’t like heights.

  Hermes stepped up to me. “Well, Miss Richmond, it’s now or never.”

  Jasmine touched my shoulder. “You can do it, Mel. It’s easier than it looks. Honestly.”