Fire & Flood (Mythverse #1)

Book 2 Chapter 33

33

We’re all sent from our morning classes to the outdoor amphitheater for an Academy-wide meeting. There’s some grumbling from Priapus as he makes his way down the wooded path, and a stifled groan every time his wheelbarrow hits a tree root.

Cassie and Fern settle in on either side of me as we find a seat, and I sneak a glance at Val. But he’s on the far side of the theatre, deep in conversation with some other vamps. Their eyes are dark, their voices a low rumble, a few fangs erupt as their voices raise in argument.

It makes me nervous watching them. Tensions are at an all-time high and I’ve got a feeling those vampires—including Val—probably aren’t arguing over ways they can help bring everyone together again.

As Themis takes the stage, I do a quick check for Nico. I haven’t seen him since the raid. After checking in with Cassie, I came back to my room to find Tina feeling much better…well enough to yell at me for not putting Vee’s vomit back into her soil for the extra nutrients.

It had fallen on me to tell Tina that Larissa was dead, and I’d been surprised to see some blood tears well in her eyes. Vee hung her head too, leaves drooping, when Tina left. She didn’t come back to the dorm until halfway through the night.

But Nico I haven’t seen…and he’s not here in the amphitheater now. I wonder if he’s patched things up with his mom. I really hope he hasn’t.

“Attention, everyone,” Themis says, her voice immediately settling the students. Mr. Zee and Hermes are sitting in chairs on the dais, Mr. Zee staring moodily at his feet as Themis makes her announcement.

“As I’m sure you’re all aware, Mount Olympus Academy sent in a tactical strike team yesterday to eliminate the last of the monster cell that kidn*pped one of our students and tortured another.”

There are some claps and cheers from the crowd, as some students do what they think Themis wants—applaud the death of monsters. But she raises her hand for quiet, and everyone settles again.

“And while the actions of the monsters are inexcusable, I’m sorry to say it has come to our attention that other atrocities occurred yesterday.” There’s a low murmur, but Themis continues.

“War is ugly, no one can argue against that. But who do we become if we sink to the level of our opponent? How can we claim to be superior to our enemy if we employ their own tactics? We fight for glory and we do it with honor.”

There’s a smattering of applause.

“We do not send a plague to do our fighting for us,” Themis says, her voice rising.

There’s a rumble of agreement from the students.

“We do not drag a defenseless seer from her bed in the night,” Themis cries.

Shouts answer her, the benches growing more agitated now.

“We do not murder children in their mother’s arms,” Themis says, her voice now low, dull. Threatening. “And we do not encourage—no, order—students to attack another student.”

She’s met with silence, students looking at one another questioningly, unsure how they are supposed to respond.

“No!” Themis shakes her head. “We do not. Unfortunately, someone who was entrusted with your education”—she shoots a dark glance at Mr. Zee, but he’s staring at the floor between his feet— “has taken it upon themselves to behave in a manner that is unbecoming to the Academy. Bring her in!”

Behind Themis, Kratos emerges from between two pillars, barely able to hide his delight as he leads Maddox by the elbow. Her head is high, even when Themis matches her gaze. Maddox scans the crowd, and some students sit down quickly, as if afraid to be caught participating in her downfall.

“I have done nothing wrong,” Maddox says, her voice loud and carrying. “I am a werewolf and a warrior, and I fight for what I believe in,” she declares, baring her teeth.

“You killed a vampire!” someone shouts from behind me, and general agreement rises from the crowd, along with a low, gathered hissing from fellow vamps.

“And I’d do it again,” Maddox shouts back. The hissing rises in intensity.

“Enough!” Themis shouts, her booming voice shutting down both the students and Maddox. After Maddox has settled, the three werewolves who attacked Val file in behind her, heads down, feet dragging.

“These students,” Themis says, indicating the werewolves, “attacked another student. This is against the student code of conduct and would normally result in expulsion. However, as they were only following orders from supervising faculty, they will only be on probation.”

With this the werewolves are dismissed, and Themis turns her attention to Maddox.

“Maddox Tralano, for war crimes, and fatal assault upon a student of the Academy, you are hereby dismissed from your position and banished from Mount Olympus Academy.”

The hissing is back. Louder, this time.

“Fired!?” someone shouts. “She murdered one of us and all you do is fire her?”

There are some murmurs of agreement, but most of the students are bewildered, looking back and forth between Themis and Maddox, unsure who to believe, or who to follow.

Themis nods, as if in agreement with whoever shouted. “For her crimes, Maddox Tralano is expelled from school grounds, and a dose of the shifting plague will be forcefully administered to her.”

Maddox reacts violently to this, fighting against Kratos’ grip. He has her tight, and though Maddox is a frightening creature in her own right, Kratos is a god. He has to hold her as Themis reads out her sentence.

“Maddox Tralano,” Themis declares. “You will be rendered human.”

A few days later, during Maddox’s usual class time, I instead visit the future site of the Larissa Golov memorial building for s****l health and information. I guess her parents wanted to make sure she’d always be remembered. In her letters home she’d raved about Priapus’ class and how much she was learning. So now, thanks to a generous donation made in Larissa’s name, he’ll now have a permanent place on campus to misinform students.

It’s a sweet, odd, and unintentionally hilarious tribute. Just like Larissa—it’s perfect.

“Priapus really pushed for a big old bus too, so he could spread his knowledge around the world,” says a voice in my ear. “Thankfully, the Golovs thought that was a bit much and shot it down.”

“Val,” I say, turning to him. “How are you doing?”

I’m a little nervous seeing him again after he was in such a dark place after Larissa’s death. But now he’s wearing one of his usual T-shirts. Today’s has a half-eaten fortune cookie with a fortune that reads, This cookie is poisoned. The nearly radioactive tension that surrounded him last time is gone too.

Which seems…fast.

In answer to my question, he gives a half shrug. “Larissa is dead. And yet life goes on. It feels like it shouldn’t, or like everything should feel different. But it isn’t. I wake up, drink blood, go to class. It’s all the same as always, and yet…not.”

I nod, understanding completely. I felt the same way after losing my dad.

“I’m sorry, Val.”

This earns another shrug. But then he reaches out and takes hold of my hand. We stand side by side, fingers linked, studying the empty space that will soon be Larissa’s memorial. I think of all I’ve lost, but of all I’ve gained, too. My friends. My dragon. My sister returned to me.

Life does go on. And I’ve found a way to go with it.

I lean my head against Val’s shoulder, feeling lighter. Almost at peace.

The dangerous monster faction is gone. Sure there’s still a war going on, but that’s been the case for centuries. Maybe now, though, it will go back to being more of a cold war with spy games and tracking, but no battles. No killing.

Val’s lips brush the top of my head.

I slowly turn, lifting my face to his.

This could be my happy ending, I think.

And then the screaming starts.