BOOM. A tall, handsome man with long dark hair and a laurel-wreath crown stalked into the classroom with a scowl. He had a colorful phoenix on his shoulder.
“Fox, heir to the House of Athena,” General Cleandro said as he greeted the newcomer.
“General, like always, it’s an honor.” Fox bowed his handsome head, then his eyes roamed over the classroom. His upper lip pulled back with disgust.
General Cleandro pointed at Leo. “Your mentee seems to have a sleeping problem.”
Fox’s scowl was downright vicious. He stomped over to Leo and wrenched him up by his toga. He screamed something, and the feedback was excruciating, then he slapped Leo across the face. Hard.
I rubbed at my wrists.
“ENOUGH LOLLYGAGGING! GET UP AND GO... GO... GO!” General Cleandro’s voice exploded through the room as his hawk flapped its wings.
Stumbling—drowning in nausea from the excruciating ringing in my left ear—I followed the rest of the class out of the room.
Fox led, dragging Leo roughly behind him by his ear. Hisphoenix let out a shrill noise, which almost sounded like a cat’s meow.
We ran out of the chilly mountain—straight into hell.
Sunlight blinded, muggy air suffocated, heat punished, and grass squished warm beneath my bare feet.
The sun was bright and high in the sky, and there were barely any clouds.
I’d forgotten what warmth felt like.
Fox led us down the grass path, which transformed into pebbles and slanted up a mountain. His phoenix flew high above, its tail a rainbow of colors.
On wobbly legs, I willed my mind to wander.
I prayed time would warp.
Every second was an infinity—every step was agony.
There was nothing to distract me from the burning in my legs and the heavingagonyin my struggling lungs.
Sweat poured off my face.
Every step of the ascent worsened.
Wobbling, eyes blinded by exhaustion, I teetered near the mountain’s edge.
Far away, on the other side of a mountain, a maniacal, bloodthirsty scream echoed.A Titan.
Shocked, I tripped over a rock and plummeted toward the?—
“Stay next to me, be careful. The Titan is far enough away it can’t get to us.” Drex pulled me away from the cliff’s edge, then dragged me forward.
I tried to push him away, but he didn’t budge.
I shook my head desperately because I didn’t have the energy to tutor him. Icouldn’t.
“Calm down,” Drex said. “I don’t expect anything in return. Fucking relax.”
I tripped over another rock, but his hold on my toga kept me upright.
I was incoherent and unwell, spit dribbling out of my lips as I huffed and heaved. Gagged and cried.
Eons later, wefinallymade it to the stopping point at the top. I keeled over. Every breath hurt; every heartbeat sent anguish throbbing through my limbs. I couldn’t see anything.
