I didn’t want to disagree with her and tell her I didn’t believe her one bit.
Hermes grabbed onto my arms, flying us up into the air. My stomach dropped, and for a moment I thought I might retch. But I kept it together, focusing my gaze on him and not the hard ground four hundred feet beneath us and sudden, crushing death.
“Are you ready?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Good. Then that’s the perfect time to do something great.”
He let me go. I plummeted to the earth.
I squeezed my eyes shut, not wanting to see the ground as it came up to meet me, and thought about flying. How cool it would be. How amazing I would be flying around. How I was made of the power of wind.
I thought it would take me mere seconds to reach the ground. But somehow I still wasn’t there.
Then I heard loud gasps beneath me.
“Oh my Gods!”
“How is that possible?”
“Mel! You’re breathtaking.”
Slowly, I opened my eyes. I wasn’t a pancake on the ground; I was floating in the air. I could feel the rush of wind coming from behind me, along my cheeks. I looked down at the faces gaping up at me, and wondered why everyone looked so stunned. Hadn’t I produced wings like they had?
Hermes landed on the ground, reaching up and tugging on my foot. “Come down. Now.”
Surprised by the concern in his voice, I flapped my wings once and then settled down onto the ground. He hurried behind me, touching my back.
I looked to Lucian. “What’s going on?”
His smile nearly cracked his face. “Your wings, Blue. Look at your wings.”
Twisting my head, I looked over my shoulder to see huge, luxurious black wings protruding from my shoulder blades. Black, not red like everyone else’s.
“Uh, what the hell is going on?” I could hear the quaver in my voice.
Hermes lightly touched my shoulder. “You stay here.” He turned to the group. “Everyone else, please return to the school.”
Hermes then shot up into the sky and flew toward the outer building.
I looked at Jasmine, Georgina, Ren, and Lucian, pleading with them to stay with me, but they were herded away by Heracles. I heard a few people’s remarks as they moved back into the school.
“What do black wings mean?”
“Means she’s defective.”
I recognized that voice easily. Revana was obviously getting a kick out of this.
A few minutes later, Hermes returned with Zeus and Aphrodite, who were all flying in on golden wings.
The moment Aphrodite saw me she sucked in a breath. “How grotesque.”
Zeus walked around me, poked at my back, and ran his fingers over my feathers. That was a strange sensation that pulled at my belly. It didn’t feel good and made me a bit queasy. It was probably going to take a bit to be comfortable with the fact that I had wings, let alone black ones.
After some more intrusive poking and prodding, Zeus stood in front of me. “You can pull your wings in now.”
I did, the feeling of them receding into my body sending a shiver over the rest of me. “Do you know why I have black wings? Is it really bad? Am I diseased or something?”
He shook his head. “No, you’re not diseased.”
“Then why? Did I do something wrong?”
“We need to confer with the other Gods. I suggest you return to your dorm with your peers.”
I walked toward the doors to the school, but instead turned left to go out into the school grounds. I didn’t want to be bombarded with a million questions that I didn’t have an answer to. I needed some time alone to figure it out. There had to be a logical reason why I had black wings and everyone else had red ones. Maybe it had something to do with what I’d endured during the lightning trials. Maybe it had literally burned inside my body.
Chapter Eighteen
MELANY
I didn’t really know where I was going until I rounded the corner of the academy and spotted the tall hedge maze. No one would think to find me in there. I’d gone through the maze once before with Georgina and Jasmine; it was a bit harder on my own. I ran into three dead ends before I found my way to the center.
The moment I saw the white wooden gazebo in the middle, I heard music playing, the strains of something classical. As I got closer, I spotted a man in a dark purple suit jacket and slacks sitting inside the gazebo, strumming a guitar.
He looked up and smiled when I approached. “Hello there, Melany.”
“Hey?” I’d never seen him before. I would’ve definitely remembered, as he was strikingly good looking with sharp cheekbones, a strong jaw with a bit of scruff, and large, dark eyes under thick, dark eyebrows. He had dark hair that was swept back off his forehead and curled around his ears.
“How’s your day been?”
I sat on the bench across from him. “Not so good. Been kind of weird.” I tilted my head to study him. “Who are you, exactly?”
He stopped strumming and met my gaze. “Hades. Surely, you’ve heard of me.”
Although I didn’t want him to see my surprise, I couldn’t stop my eyes from widening. A little rush of adrenaline spiked through my body. Hades was a legend. The ruler of the underworld had a bit of a reputation. I was surprised to see him here, as I didn’t think he was welcome at the academy by the way I’d heard some of the Gods talk about him.
“What are you doing here?” I gestured to the gazebo.
“Playing a little guitar, chilling out a bit. I like to come here when no one is around.” He ran his thumb over the strings. The sound vibrated against my skin, making me shiver. “What are you doing here? Running away?”
“I’m not running away. I just needed a little time to myself to think.”
“About what?”
I snorted. “You ask a lot of questions.”
“I’m a curious kind of guy.” He grinned.
“Well, if you must know, I kind of sprouted black wings instead of red wings during flying with Hermes.”
He laughed. “Oh, I bet Hermes lost his mind, didn’t he?”
I smiled. “Maybe a little.”
“Then he flew off to grab old Zeus and whoever else to confer about this shocking occurrence, I’ll bet.”
“Yeah, he did.”
Hades shook his head. “Typical. And I imagine after a lot of poking and prodding and humming and hawing, they didn’t tell you a damn thing, right?”
I nodded.
“That’s why they don’t like me around here, and why I’ve never been part of the academy. Because I tell the truth. I don’t hide it away from you.”
“And what’s the truth?”
“That you’re different. And it’s awesome that you are” He played a few notes. “They’re scared of different. Different upsets their status quo.”
I eyed him, unsure if he was feeding me a bunch of crap. Although he’d have no motive to do so. He wasn’t even part of the academy. And he was right. They definitely didn’t like different.
“You should embrace your differences, Melany. It’s what makes you special. It’s what makes you powerful.”
“Blue? You in here?”
I looked up to see Lucian heading toward the gazebo. I smiled as he approached. “How did you know I was in here?”
“I may have not gone back to the dorms and hung around waiting for you. I saw you run over to the maze.”
I turned to introduce him to Hades but he was gone. I hadn’t even seen him get up and leave. The only thing that indicated he’d even existed was a guitar pick lying on the stone bench he’d been sitting on.
“What are you doing out here?”
“I was just talking to Hades.”
Frowning, Lucian’s gaze swept the gazebo. “Hades?”
“Yeah, he was just sitting there, playing his guitar.” I pointed to the bench. “We were talking about the academy and my black wings.”
Lucian sat on the bench beside me. “Blue, I
didn’t see anyone else when I came around the corner toward the gazebo. Just you.”
I grimaced. “No, he was right there.” I pointed to the bench.
“I’m sorry, but it’s impossible that Hades would be here. He’s not allowed to step on school grounds. There are wards or something preventing him.”
I got up and went over to the other bench and picked up the guitar pick. “Then how do you explain this?”
He shrugged. “Maybe it belongs to Dionysus. I’ve seen him around the academy carrying a guitar.”
I shook my head. That couldn’t be right. He’d been here. I’d talked to him. It wasn’t a figment of my imagination. But maybe I shouldn’t press the issue. I didn’t want Lucian thinking I was any crazier then he probably already did.
“Maybe you’re still tired from the trial. I can’t believe you’re actually walking around after that.” He got to his feet and came toward me. “And today was—”
“Messed up?”
“I was going to say amazing. You have black wings. It’s wicked cool.”
I made a face. “It’s not cool. It’s weird. Zeus and the others poked at me like I was some science experiment.”
He grabbed my hand. “It’s not weird. You’re not weird. You’re… special.”
Hades’s words played in my head again. What was so special about me?
“I bet everyone else thinks I’m weird.”
“Screw everyone else.” He tugged me closer to him. I looked up into his face, enjoying the way the gold flecks in his eyes sparked. “I think your wings are sexy.”
I made a face, pressing my lips together. My heart skipped a few beats. Flutters started low in my belly. “Sexy?”
“Yup.” He ran his fingers over my shoulder. “I’d love to see them again.”
I knew what he was doing. Making me feel better about my wings. Who knew Lucian was so damn sweet? I wouldn’t have ever thought that upon our first meeting. I’d thought he was a bit of a jerk.
He pulled me out of the gazebo and into the open. “If you show me yours, I’ll show you mine.” His sly grin made every muscle in my body quiver.
“What if I can’t do it without being dropped?”
“Just try.”
I took a few steps away from because I couldn’t coherently standing next to him. I squared my shoulders, concentrated on what I wanted to do, and then closed my eyes. Within seconds I could feel ripples up and down my back, then a bit of pressure, then…
My wings unfurled out of my shoulder blades and spread until they neared touched the shrub wall. I grinned in triumph.
Lucian beamed at me. “They’re commanding. Just like you.”
“You think I’m commanding?”
He put up his fingers, spacing them an inch apart. “Just a bit.”
Laughing, I pushed him. “Ha! You’re a funny guy.”
He took a step back, swirled around, and BAM! Out popped his wings. He flapped them once, and then they curled around him a little like a red shield.
I actually sighed at the sight of him. He looked more God-like then the Gods themselves. And I’m pretty sure he noticed because he grabbed my hand. “Let’s go flying.”
“What? I don’t think we learned that part.”
He shrugged, wings fluttering in the process. “How hard could it be?”
I hesitated for a moment, considering all the things I could’ve been doing. Sitting in my dorm room worrying about the implication of my black wings, or wondering why I saw Hades in the gazebo and Lucian didn’t. And decided that being here with Lucian, about to fly together for the first time, was the most exciting moment of my life and one I shouldn’t squander.
“Okay. Let’s do it.”
I spread my wings out as far as they could go and then flapped them once to get the hang of it. I flapped them again and again, and the power of it lifted me off the ground. Soon, I was hovering in midair over the gazebo. Lucian joined me.
Then I winked at him and was off like a shot. I could feel the power of flying surging through my body. It was euphoric. I did a quick glance over my shoulder to see Lucian easily catching up to me, a grin on his face.
I flew up as high as the spire on the main tower of the academy then zipped to the right and soared around the citadel, swooping down toward the training field, then up again. Lucian was right on my heels, never breaking form. He was gorgeous to watch, like a golden bird of prey, powerful and majestic.
He swooped in along my side, the very tips of our wings nearly touching. Together, we veered around the east wing of the school, past the dorms. If anyone had been looking out their windows, they would’ve seen Lucian spiral up into the air, like a blazing red and gold tornado. When he swooped down, he tapped my shoe, and then shot off toward one of the towers. Tag. You’re it.
Laughing I caught up to him, as he landed on the upper most balcony of the academy. He folded in his wings just as I landed beside him. We leaned against the railing and looked out over the vast grounds surrounding the school. I spotted areas I didn’t even know existed. There was an expansive wood over the horizon. The land looked like it went on forever.
“It’s beautiful here.”
“It is.”
I turned my head slightly to see Lucian staring at me and not the view. My cheeks flushed at the avid attention he gave me.
“You’re not even looking.”
He reached up and stroked his fingers over my cheek. “Oh, believe me, I’m looking.”
My belly flip-flopped and I swallowed nervously. It wasn’t that I’d never been intimate with a boy before. I had back in Pecunia. But it wasn’t anything like this. The boy wasn’t anything like Lucian, and I never felt this kind of intensity just standing near him, with just his fingertips caressing my skin.
A shiver rushed down my body, and I trembled a little.
“Are you cold?” He took a step closer.
I shook my head.
He inched even closer, until we were just a breath apart. Slowly, he moved his fingers down and traced a line along my jaw. Then with one finger, he tilted my chin up and softly brushed his lips against mine.
I couldn’t stop the tiny intake of breath, and he kissed me again, this time sweeping his tongue lightly against mine. The intensity of it, of him, took over, and I buried my hands in his golden waves and moved my mouth over his, tasting and teasing.
We kissed on that romantic balcony until the sun went down. It was positively perfect in every way.
Chapter Nineteen
MELANY
For the next few weeks, we were pushed harder in our training than ever before, and also introduced to new classes like swordplay, war strategy, potions and poisons, earth science, healing, and animal handling. The start of the trials was only two months away, and we needed to be ready to endure them.
No one was sure what the trials would entail, but we knew they weren’t going to be easy. I’d heard a rumor we would be pitted against one or two of the demigods in a battle situation, and we’d have to use our training to survive. Hephaistos had let it slip one night, when I’d stayed late in the forge to put the final touches on my shield, that I’d be using the shield during the trials.
Thankfully, I didn’t need to do the twelfth trial—Zeus’s lightning—as I’d already suffered through a form of that one and passed—well, survived, would be a better term for what happened. I had daily reminders of that every time I looked in a mirror. Despite most everyone saying how cool the scars were, they reminded me of that night of the earthquakes and the devastation I’d seen. And my great loss.
During the weeks of training, I ducked outside to the maze every chance I got to see if Hades showed up again. But every time he wasn’t there, more and more I came to the conclusion that Lucian had been right, and I’d imagined it due to overwork and stress. And I was definitely stressed, as we all were. Why my mind would conjure up the God of the underworld was beyond me. Why couldn’t I imagine unicorns and rainbows?
“
Oof.” The blunted tip of Jasmine’s sword struck me in the side. Again.
She frowned at me. “That’s the third time I’ve gotten you. You’re really distracted today.”
Today? She was just being kind and not mentioning the day before when she’d knocked me on my ass with an overhead swing of the blunted sword. I’d moved too late and tripped over my own feet. Just about everyone in class had laughed at that. Including Ares. He laughed the loudest, as usual. His laugh was like a donkey’s bray.
“Just thinking about the upcoming trials.”
“Oh, I thought maybe you were thinking about the trips to the maze you make almost every day.”
I pulled a face. “You know about that?”
“Yeah, Georgina and I followed you one time.”
I should’ve known they would have.
“It always appears like you’re looking for someone.”
I shrugged. “No. Just taking some alone time.”
Her eyebrows rose. “You sure you’re not having romantic rendezvous with Lucian?”
She said his name loud enough that he turned and looked over at us.
My cheeks flared red. “I’m sure.”
Except I was lying, and she likely knew I was lying, especially if she had followed me. Lucian and I had met up in the maze a few times and went flying together, always ending up on the balcony of the tallest tower to make out for an hour or so.
“Stop your chattering and do more sparring.” Ares marched up to us, his brow furrowed in anger. “That’s all you two do, talk, talk, talk.” He made a flapping motion with his hand. “Talking isn’t going to save you from a sword in the gut or a spear in the eye.”
From nearby, I heard Revana’s snicker.
“But it could save me from ever going to war in the first place.” The moment I finished the last word, I knew I’d made a mistake.
Ares’s face flushed beet red. He unsheathed the sword, his very real sword, at his waist and swung it toward my side. I drew up my shield just in time before his sword sliced off a nice thick chunk of my right flank. The tempered steel blade clashed against the metal of my shield. The sound reverberated through the gymnasium and vibrated over my skin.
Demigods Academy - Year One Page 14