Poseidon's Academy

Chapter 9. Midnight Snack

The grounds erupted in chaos. Students screamed and bolted towards the palace to find cover. Hailey and her friends leapt to their feet, ready to join the stampede.

But they didn't take one step before Amathia called out, 'Calm down.' Students froze where they were. 'There's no need to be afraid. Look.'

Hailey stared up, her mouth popping open.

The palace was rising, pushing through the sky of water like an elevator zooming from the bottom of the sea. Higher and higher it rose, until finally the water rolled off the force field.

The sky gleamed down at Hailey mockingly as if saying, 'I win.' Her fingertips tingled, and she shoved her hands into her pockets. There was no way she was using her powers with so many students around.

'From this day forth, the palace will rise from the sea once a week for three days,' Amathia announced, her voice somehow ringing out over the entire grounds. 'I believe we will all benefit from some fresh air and sunlight.' She briefly glanced at Hailey, who could practically hear Amathia's voice in her head saying, 'You cannot escape your destiny.'

I was doing just fine, Hailey grumbled to herself. But she had to admit, she was a little relieved she'd never experience the pain the prisoners on the documentary had from not using their powers.

'Eikaatva adaur,' Amathia's voice rang out.

The force field deactivated, welcoming in a gentle salty breeze that drifted through the grounds.

Hailey finally recognised the language Amathia spoke—only because she had a class on it. It was Goldarin: the original language of the Titans and gods, and the first race of humans.

Amathia glided back inside as what looked like half the student population poured into the grounds. They stared up in awe, acting as if they'd never seen the sky before.

'I bet you're desperate to use your powers,' Demi remarked.

Hailey shook her head, continuing to ignore the tingling in her fingers. 'Nope.'

'You shouldn't be so shy,' Demi said. 'Give them a show.'

Yeah, so that a million students swarm me; what a great idea. 'I'm heading inside before anyone remembers I'm a Zeus. See you later.'

Hailey lowered her head and pushed her way through the horde of students, praying to the Tyches of the world that no one would recognise her. Thankfully, everyone was too busy looking up to even notice her.

She glanced up, too, when she reached the palace's entrance, the azure blue sky forcing a smile to her lips. 'Hello again,' she murmured and passed into the entryway, where students flooded the staircases, all of them eager to get outside. 'Excuse me,' Hailey said, squeezing onto the stairs.

She wriggled her way up all of two steps before someone up ahead called out, 'Hey, that's the Zeus.'

Hailey stiffened.

'You're the Zeus?' the boy next to her asked.

'Show us your powers,' someone else demanded.

'Yeah, come on. I want to see a cyclone. Or a monsoon.'

'I want to see snow,' another voice said.

'No. I'm not using my powers.' Hailey attempted to push her way up the stairs again, but the students blocked her.

'Why not? You're the Zeus, aren't you?'

'I don't want to,' Hailey snapped and reeled around, ramming her way back down to the entryway, where students swarmed her, continuing to bombard her with requests. She needed to get away. 'Leave me alone!' she shouted and barged through the students, breaking free and sprinting through the left archway.