Poseidon's Academy

Chapter 10. The Sirens' Song

Hailey stood in the grounds, just in front of the palace's entrance, forcing her gaze down to the rainbow reefs growing below the diamond floor. She refused to look at the sky. She wanted nothing to do with it right now. Not when her entire Powers class was standing around her. She could feel their eyes boring into her, waiting for her to give them a show.

Hailey had managed to avoid using her powers in front of anyone since the palace rose two days ago. But there'd be no avoiding it today. Not when Madam Norwood had decided to have Powers class outside.

'Okay, everyone break apart and practise your powers,' Madam Norwood instructed. 'If you can't use your powers out here, then pair up with someone who can and help them.'

Hailey resisted the urge to bolt back inside when Madam Norwood approached her. She would probably be like Hailey's last Powers teacher and try and mould her into a weapon so she'd be ready to fight the gods if they returned. Madam Norwood glanced at Demi, Jayden, Alec, and Aaron, who hadn't moved. 'I said to practise.' The four of them scrambled off, leaving Hailey alone. 'I never had a chance to assess your powers. Would you mind showing me?'

No was what she wanted to say, but she couldn't exactly refuse a teacher, unless she wanted a detention. 'Okay,' Hailey said slowly.

She finally raised her eyes. The sky was not happy: dark clouds crowded it, threatening to pour rain down at any second. It was the type of sky Hailey dreaded because when there was rain, a storm was never far behind.

She swept her hand across the sky, swatting away the clouds, which drifted into the distance as an applause broke out. Hailey shrank back when she realised her entire Powers class had been watching.

'Get back to work,' Madam Norwood snapped, fixing the other students with a stern glare. Demi gave Hailey a big smile and thumbs up. 'That was very well done,' Madam Norwood said to Hailey. 'Your powers are more advanced than I'd thought.'

Hailey blinked. Had a teacher just complimented her powers?

'I sense you can do more,' Madam Norwood continued. 'But I understand that you probably don't want to be seen as showing off. You can practise manipulating the clouds with wind for the rest of the lesson. I assume you can control the wind?'

Hailey nodded and waited for Madam Norwood to add that she wanted a plethora of tornadoes by the end of class.

'Good. I'm going to help some of the other students now.'

Madam Norwood wandered off, leaving Hailey gaping. That's it? She was happy seeing Hailey push a few clouds around? It appeared her new Powers teacher was nothing like her previous one after all.

Blue skies.

***

Classes ended and Hailey headed outside with her friends, who wanted to take in as much sky as possible before the palace descended tonight. She swatted away a few grey clouds before settling on the ground, next to a blue zircon tree.

'Where do the clouds go when you do that?' Alec asked.

Hailey shrugged. 'I don't really know. But as long as I can't see them, I'm happy.'

Aaron cocked an eyebrow. 'What've you got against clouds?'

'Nothing. It's lightning I don't like.' But she wasn't going to tell him why. 'What homework should we do first?'

'Hey, you're the Zeus, right?' a girl's voice asked.

Hailey didn't bother looking up to see who the latest harasser was. She concentrated on unpacking her book bag. 'Yeah.'