It didn’t help that I could still hear the unnaturally deep vibrations of Kharon’s voice through the open windows. In contrast, Patro’s voice was lighter than usual, and he was constantly laughing. Since Achilles was muzzled, I heard nothing from him, but I couldfeelhis malicious presence.
I flipped over in the water.
Face first, mismatched eyes wide open, I screamed out bubbles.
“Do you feel better, kid?” Nyx asked when I came up for air. The water rippled nearby like she was swimming in a circle.
“No,” I said honestly.
“You should try eating a freshly caught rat. I swear,nothingin the world tastes better.”
“Rats are actually highly intelligent animals,” I replied numbly. “They’ve been known to make good companions.”
“So?” Nyx asked.
I closed my eyes and pretended I was an astronaut in the early two thousands, floating peacefully through space at the International Space Station. Titans didn’t exist, and Spartans hadn’t emerged. An old astronomy book in the library said mathematicians often became astronauts—I would have enjoyed exploring the cosmos.
“Hunting is great fun, you should try it,” Nyx said.
The illusion shattered.
My best friend was a talking poisonous snake and all space missions were abandoned after a lone Titan massacred almost every person in Florida—including all the scientists at Cape Canaveral. It was one of the first places they’d attacked.
Apparently immortal monsters were against space exploration and warm weather.Disheartening.
Neck prickling like I was being watched, I lifted my head and looked around—but I was all alone.
Nyx rambled on about stalking, and a bad feeling washed over me.
Something told me a hunt had already started but I wasn’t the predator.
I was the prey.
Flipping over, I resumed screaming into the water.
Chapter 13
Tests
Alexis
Professor Pine gave us a thumbs-up, and the raven perched on his shoulder tilted its head to the side.
Don’t give me that look, bird. I know you’re a surveillance drone.
“Good luck with Discipline and Power,” Pine said as he gathered his Thagorean papers and backed out of the classroom with his robotic spy.
The door closed gently behind Pine, and I groaned under my breath with the rest of the class as we waited for Augustus to make his entrance.
Only eight of us sat in the chilly academy classroom, since Christos and Iason had both been murdered by Kharon.
I was jealous.
Mental note: Pray harder for my soul.
It was still only August, but to survive the crucible, we had to make it until January.
There is a negative chance I last that long.
