Well, fuck me.
“Later,” JP winks, and I smother a smirk.
As we gather around, Zeke pulls Reaper into his lap and pulls up a webpage all about the upcoming Gauntlet. The main page lists all the attending academies and their specialties.
A bone-numbing chill that has to be one of my symptoms runs down my back and into my arms, and I wrap my arms around myself without thinking. Within seconds, a heavy blanket is draped across my back, and I look over my shoulders, but I can’t tell who did it.
“Thank you,” I mumble to whoever is watching me like a hawk.
“This is Cyanide Conservatory,” Zeke says, as he clicks on the first link, pulling up a class picture of students wearing a combination of light-green uniforms and dark-green capes and a small school bio underneath. “Cyanide Conservatory is an academy that is proud to specialize in poisons and herbs. We accept all supes, along with the unique plant shifters and angels, but we have higher attendance of witches and Fae,” Zeke reads off.
“Think of assassins,” Ryker adds, nodding at me.
“And snakes, like Jules,” JP snorts.
“Bad blood?” I question, arching an eyebrow.
“We’re considered princes here, but unlike us, Jules is a fae that uses his powers to manipulate everyone to get what he wants.”
“Is that what I felt down in the cafeteria?” I ask as anger rolls down my link with Knox.
“Yes,” Knox growls.
“It’s best to stay away from him, unless you’re prepared to counter his effects,” JP warns.
Oh. Well, that’s good to know.
“Angels?” Knots perks up. “You mentioned Angels? How did the angels go through? I thought they were only allowed to attend Purgatory Prep; that’s what’s written in the Accords,” he insists.
Levi gives Knots an accusing glare. “How doyouknow about the Accords?” he asks, his tone cutting but firm. Knots gives him a knowing look.
“How else would I know?” he spouts back with a cocky swagger, and I kinda miss having that banter with him. What am I saying? I straight up miss my Door Knight, but I’m stubborn, and I flat out refuse to make the first fucking move.
“They’re fallen, Knots,” Ryker interjects, giving our DK the answer he’s looking for. “They were exempt from the Accords, so they chose another school.”
“Ah, that makes sense.” He sits back and motions for Zeke to continue.
“Why would angels be concerned with acorns?” Moni asks, popping up to her larger height.
“It’s Accords, Moni,” Levi says, pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing.
“Is that a type of new nut?” she asks as Chester pulls her to his lap and strokes her long green tresses.
“Not at all, Moni. The Accords are a formal agreement between Purgatory Prep and Heaven, dating back to the school’s founding. They would accept all angels and give them a safe place to learn and train their magic, no exceptions.”
“Damn, that’s heavy shit,” Lynx says. “Who’s up next on this dick-measuring contest of schools?”
“Let’s check out Poseidon’s Grotto.” Zeke clicks on the next link and another class picture of students wearing light-blue uniforms, and blue gauze draped behind them like a living waterfall. “Poseidon’s Grotto is an academy that specializes in advanced technology and scientific weapons. We also lead the planes in all water-related and waterproofing items. We are capable of accepting all supes.” Zeke gets a big smile on his face.
“Dude, you have some drool right there,” Knox says, pointing to his own lip. Zeke clears his throat and tries to wipe his mouth discreetly, but we all see it.
“Well, it’s nice to know where all the advancement in tech is coming from,” I hedge, not sure that it’s truly a good thing.
“Are we sure it’s a good idea that the Harpies are the ones with that knowledge?” Moni asks, peeking over the top of the monitor.
“Well, it’s not like we have a choice in the matter,” Ryker points out.
“Do we know of anyone from the academy?” I hedge, worrying my lip.
