Olympus Academy

Chapter II

Eduardo’s body turned a crisp black as the flames licked his flesh. Many girls looked away, not wanting to see the body of their beloved crush being burned to a crisp. The ceremony and sermon was now over so it was time to wait for the burning to be over. I looked around the uniformed black crowd. For once, the Mountain students weren’t floating around in the air. Instead, their feet were firmly on the ground as a sign of respect. And maybe a hint of fear.

After the freshman boomed in the auditorium, we were all rounded up and told to go straight back towards our dorms. The Valentine class’ dorm was in the East, Mountain class’ dorm was in the West and Tempest class’ dorm was in the North. Surprisingly though, Eduardo’s body was found near the Tempest dorms.

When I first saw his body, I felt my body almost collapse on the marble floors. His flesh had gone through a paper shedder. Eduardo’s skin was torn open every which way. His eyeballs were rolled to the back of his head and his hair was dyed crimson. A lake of crimson blood bubbled beneath him. Eduardo, Hercules’s descendant, was murdered.

A chill went down my spine, recalling the sight. Eduardo was the strongest and fastest student in Olympus Academy. Dean Winston was constantly praising him. In fact, every single teacher praised him. He was the golden boy of the school. And for him to be massacred? That was enough to leave everyone in a frenzy.

I felt Andrea wrap her arms around my waist. Her face matched her hair. Her eyes were replaced with waterfalls and she cuddled up next to me. I ran my hand back up and down her back.

“Ssshh. It’s going to be okay,” I promised.

“He’s d-d-dead,” she stuttered. Andrea started to gasp for air, clinging harder than ever.

“Everything is going to be alright,” I reassured, not sure if I had the right to.

“He was murdered,” Andrea whispered, holding back a scream. I could hear the restraint in her voice. She wanted to scream, kick and fling her arms around. It was taking everything in her power to keep everything inside.

“Dean Winston said he’s going to get to the bottom of this,” I pointed out, starring at our Dean. He was wearing a crisp black suit, his hands never leaving his sides and eyes fixated on the fire. “We’re all going to be safe.”

“You don’t believe that,” Andrea declared, taking a step back. For a moment, I was taken aback. Suddenly, she didn’t look so meek anymore. In fact, she spoke so loudly, people started to turn around to look at us, including Dean Winston.

“Shhh,” I hushed, stunned by Andrea’s behavior. I knew she had a thing for Eduardo but this was completely out of her nature.

“Sofia, Eduardo was murdered. You can’t bel-”

“Excuse me,” interjected Dean Winston. “Some respect,” he added, in a softer tone.

“I’m sorry,” apologized Andrea, not really meaning it. I crinkled my eyebrows. What the hell was going on with her?

“Andrea,” I whispered, hugging Andrea. “I know you cared for him.” I sighed. “Let’s go.”

“No. I want to stay,” she retorted, in a hushed voice. She turned her body away from me and faced the fire.

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            “Was Eduardo and Andrea a thing?” asked Jen, with both her legs over the chair’s arms.

            “Apparently,” I sighed, not focusing on the textbook in front of me. “I know something went down in the Forest between the two of them.” Jen arched an eyebrow.