Awakening (Book One of the Eklektos Series)

Chapter Twenty

In Monday's first class, Ares handed her a leaf sword to start off with. It was an awkward, clumsy weapon. Kali couldn't get used to the balance. There was something about holding a sword that was different to the staff. It was a blade. For cutting, hacking, slashing. The staff could break bones, but a blade felt...real. She wasn't playing with a stick she found in the woods.

Her hopes of partnering with Ben were dashed. He was nowhere in sight. Not to mention, Ares was working closely with any demigods that had switched to new weapons. Kali was relieved he seemed to be honouring their agreement. Leering was at a minimum, and he didn't try to touch her at all. Not even to correct her stance. Ares seemed different as well. Quiet. Reserved, even.

Kali hadn't been able to focus on her other classes before, so it felt like she was in every class for the first time. The next week went by in a dizzying whirl as she struggled to catch up and get her bearings. Sailing and Navigation wasn't as interesting as she hoped; with her ancestry, she expected to be fascinated. Even so, she took diligent notes and tried to pay attention.

For the first time since Kali had started, Athena was teaching Maths and Stratagems. Usually, Hadriel took every class. Kali preferred him, in all honesty; Athena was intimidating. Her harsh grey stare pinned Kali down, analysing her through the class. When it was over, Kali was prevented from fleeing when the goddess asked her to stay behind.

Once they were alone, Athena scrutinised her, searching for answers to the questions she had yet to ask. Kali knew well enough to stay silent. Eventually, Athena stated "You defeated my brother in battle."

"Hardly." Kali muttered under her breath.

Her voice was a whip, snapping "Your modesty is admirable, but irritating."

"I'm not being modest. He let me win." She could feel that Athena found very little admirable about her. The goddess didn't like her one bit. Perhaps it was because she was beneath her, with perceived delusions of grandeur. Kali didn't know why, but this was one being she would be very careful with.

Athena's lips twisted sourly. She must have heard that Kali couldn't lie, but she still did not believe her. "He has never taken such an action before. Even with demigods he has courted."

"Other demigods he's courted haven't said no." She replied, a little too quickly. Her palms were sweaty, but she refused to wipe them. She needed to appear logical. She needed to get out of that room in one piece. She could fall apart later.

"Interesting." Athena murmured to herself. She turned back to Kali with a new intrigue sharpening her gaze. Kali shrank back under the weight of the stare. That look, astute and severe, sent shivers down her spine. "You may leave."

Kali muttered an awkward "thank you" and hurried out of the classroom. It took everything she had not to break into a run. It didn't occur to her until much later that Athena was Tom's mother. She wasn't sure if that made her obvious dislike better or worse.

Throughout the days, Kali couldn't help but notice how wary many of the demigods were of her. The initial awe wore off quickly. More whispers and stares followed her than on her first day. Aphrodite's daughter, Amanda, had been ignoring her since their altercation in the first week, but even she could not resist the urge to stare. Only when she thought Kali wasn't looking, of course. Her bodyguard, Hannah, was not so subtle.

Trevor had taken to assaulting her at random intervals. Luckily, he was loud. He lumbered like a bear, calling a war cry, every time. It was easy enough to dodge and avoid him. But despite her laughing it off, it scared her. He scared her.

Jem and Carl seemed uncomfortable with the extra attention, so Kali started slipping away at lunch. Most of the time, she hid in quiet corners of the library. To her disappointment, she didn't run into Hades, but she managed to study for the time she was there. When the stresses of the day built up, she would return there after dinner to explore and unwind.