I closed my eyes and immediately fell into a peaceful, trancelike state.
Just kidding—I fell asleep sitting up.
Clap.
I jolted awake.
“What did you experience while meditating?” Augustus asked as he glared at us suspiciously. Poco was belly-up, asleep, across his head.
No one spoke.
General Cleandro grabbed the black box, and the tall heir with blond hair shot his hand in the air. He was one of the boys who’d studied instead of sleeping during the break.
Augustus smiled at him. “And you are?”
“Cassius, heir to the House of Hermes.” The blond initiate uncrossed his legs and showcased his ankles—flesh-colored wings detached from his golden skin and fluttered at his heels. “When I meditated, I became aware of a pleasurable tingling in my head. I could alsofeelall the built-up power inside my legs.”
Nice. He has cankles.
The freakish wings fluttered faster.
Augustus said something about harnessing our powers, but I was too cold and tired to pay attention.
He glared down at me like he suspected I was an idiot—whichwas ironic because Poco was gnawing on his crown—and I deeply regretted being born.
Time continued its slovenly march forward.
Defense and Power blended into Thagorean class, then Lost Classical Lore.
I didn’t take notes.
The chilled air of the mountains penetrated my bones.
Latin stories about Cyclopes blended into mathematical equations that predicted the future, then were replaced with hours of meditating (sleeping with my eyes open).
Am I even alive?
I couldn’t remember.
In the middle of a depressive episode, I raised my hand. “Can I use the b-b-bathroom?”
Augustus arched a dark brow, skeptical, since we hadn’t eaten or drank anything for days, but then he scoffed and pointed at the door.
“Quickly—but don’t expect special treatment because you’re a girl,” he said, and Poco pointed with him. “You’re the one who decided to participate in this.”
Did I? I don’t remember anyone giving me an option. Also, since when does the toilet constitute special treatment?
I hobbled out of the classroom, skin prickling under Augustus’s intense glare, then collapsed onto a broken toilet seat and cried.
Rust scratched through my toga and probably gave me a venereal disease, but I didn’t even care.
He hates me.
I’m so tired and cold.
So hungry.
“I can’t do this,” I whispered. “I can’t. I can’t.I can’t.”
