Alpha Academy: Misfit's Rise

Chapter Sixteen: The Attempt

Merlin ... Dionysus ... Loki ... where was Hades? Lucian had said to meet him there, but he hadn't said anything about how to find it. And once again, the map was no help. I was already ten minutes later than I told him I'd be. To be fair though, I did have a lot on my mind.

Since my first day here, I'd heard the words Misfit, Rusty, and freak more than my actual name. After my actions yesterday, I could add traitor and Clamor. I still hadn't figured out what the latter one meant, but based on the way everyone spat it out, I was sure it wasn't a compliment. It probably had something to do with defending a Witch against a Faerie, since Arthur seemed to be getting the same treatment for defending a Warlock against a Wizard. This was an inexcusable offense to the Wizards and Fae. If I thought it would at least win over the Witches and Warlocks, I was mistaken. They now viewed me with the upmost suspicion and avoided me even more than before. I wasn't just a weakling anymore, I was a weakling who needed to be taught a lesson. Needless to say, I was eager to get my magic back as soon as possible, and that meant not wasting a single second of my study session with Lucian.

I rounded the corner and found myself facing a large, black mural next to the door. I didn't need to see the room name to know I was here.

Stretched before me was a man on a throne of human skeletons, much like Persephone's throne, only larger. Though he and the throne were black, they both had a reddish glow, like blood. By his side was a large black dog with glowing red eyes—a hellhound. Around him were misty shapes of red and gray, shapes that looked disturbingly like people. Their long, gaunt fingers were stretched toward the King of the Dead. Their mouths were open; some silent, eternal scream etched on their lips.

Sitting on the teacher's desk with his feet dangling in front of him was Lucian, but he wasn't alone. Even in this lighting it was impossible to miss that encompassing ivy tattoo. It probably wasn't the best idea for me to be this close to Sedna. I always seemed to find a way to piss her off. Not that she looked like she could dish out much today. Her skin was still that sickly-pale of someone on a hospital bed, and the ivy in her tattoo looked shriveled up and lifeless. The scariest part was probably that she wasn't smirking. Or Lucian's arm around her shoulder, I wasn't sure which. He said something to her in hushed tones, and she laughed weakly.

"Thank you, Lucian, I know I'm not usually ..." she looked up to see me standing in the doorway, staring at them. I waited for her snarky comment, but it didn't come. She even sighed as she said, "I guess this is my cue to leave."

I didn't move as she walked past me. If she decided to throw a knife at my face, I wouldn't have much time to react. She stopped next to me, and I tensed, but there was no knife.

"Maeve told me what you did yesterday," she said. "Guess I owe you a thank you." Then she left. Guess that was the only thanks I'd get, but it was still better than a knife.

"Glad you could make it," Lucian said, but I kept staring after Sedna. This was something unsettling about her being so ... pleasant.

I glanced at Lucian. "Is she going to be okay?"

He laughed, despite this not really being a laughing matter. "Yeah. Maeve too, thanks to you." He was still smiling, but it was a little more distant. "I wasn't sure you were going to help her," he said.

I hadn't been sure either, but I didn't want to say that. So, I just shrugged. "It's no big deal."

Lucian chuckled darkly. "Oh, but it is a big deal. No one would stand up for a Witch against a Faerie, especially not a Faerie herself." He glanced at me, his eyes glowing. "You've turned everything upside down."

I swallowed. "Is that a good thing?"

He paused. "It's going to have repercussions. Only time will tell what kind." With that vague note, he leapt off the table.