Poseidon's Academy

Chapter 19. The Chest

Every hope Hailey had had of not getting expelled vanished.

Amathia loomed in the doorway, surveying each of them. Hailey tensed when her eyes shifted to her, expecting to find anger and reproach in them, but they shone with her usual warmness. She's probably waiting to get angry after she makes sure none of us are bleeding to death, Hailey thought.

'I see we have a new addition to the palace,' Amathia remarked, reaching down to pet Rain before focusing her attention back on the eight of them. 'I'm interested to hear where you've been.' She glanced at Kora, who was covered in dried and oozing blood from the various wounds she'd absorbed. 'It was noble of you to heal your friends, Kora, but I think you have expended your powers enough for one day. Please go to the healing wing and let Madam Mendem take the injuries from you. Tahlia and Jayden, would you please assist her there. Everyone else, come with me.'

Amathia gracefully pivoted and left the stable.

Hailey shared an apprehensive glance with her friends before stalking after her. She sighed as they trudged down the hallway. This would be the last time she walked through the palace. After telling her she was expelled, Amathia would probably send her to her dorm to pack her things before giving her a travelling necklace and telling her to get out.

Amathia steered them into her classroom, where she settled behind her desk as the five of them slumped into chairs in front of her. Amathia leaned forward. 'I must admit, I was unaware of your absence until the early hours of this morning. I pride myself on knowing the happenings within the palace-especially the ones students don't want me knowing about-but I had an urgent matter to address yesterday, which distracted me from noticing your disappearance. For that I apologise. You should not have had to endure a night away from the palace. A rescue team should have been sent for you.'

Hailey's jaw dropped. Did Amathia just apologise?

'I know you are all fatigued, but it's important you tell me about where you have been for the past day. Who wishes to begin?'

'It all started with me,' Kendra said, giving Amathia a detailed explanation of everything that had happened, with Hailey and her friends telling their side of things once Kendra was finished.

Amathia didn't interrupt; she merely nodded thoughtfully as they spoke. She straightened in her chair when they finished. 'It appears you have all partaken in an epic adventure worthy of Homer. With that said, you should consider yourselves extremely fortunate to have survived the island.' Amathia paused, which served to increase the building tension in the room as she prepared to pass her verdict on them. 'I ask you never to do anything so foolish again while you're under my care here.'

Hailey gaped. Amathia wasn't kicking them out?

'You're not expelling us?' Demi dared to ask.

'How could I expel you for nobly risking your lives to save a friend? Yes, it was unwise to pursue Kendra instead of informing me or another teacher, but your intentions were good. And as for you, Kendra, I can understand why you felt the need to leave. I will make sure my sisters and I ride the hippocampi more so they don't feel trapped. Although it does concern me why you didn't think to speak with me about your concerns prior to endangering your life.'

'Because I didn't think you would let me go.'

'If you'd explained your feelings to me, I would have accompanied you-along with Madam Grayson.'

Kendra's features tightened with guilt, and she dropped her head. 'I'm sorry. I'll never do it again.'

Hailey couldn't believe they were actually getting away with what they'd done. She thought it was safe enough to ask the question that had been bugging her since that morning. 'Amathia, why did the palace go underwater a day before it was supposed to?'