So, in other words, those fucking Storm Birds will get off scot free. I wish those Harpies would just choke and drown on their own mucus already. At least with real Storm Birds in Australia,they have a repetitive, loud mating call. All the harpies have is an uncanny way of getting in our way and pissing me off.
For now, the leaders have charmed the basement of the Admin building to monitor the area. The special room is spelled to capture whoever shows back up once the Admin building is open.
Dad kisses me on the forehead before he leaves, and I’m left sitting on the floor, lost in a dusty cloud of fucked up feelings. It’s probably best that Dad’s gone, because I have no idea what to say or how to respond right now, so I sit and stuff my face with food as everyone else around me gets ready for the day.
“You okay?” Knots asks, sitting next to me and handing me a glass of water.
“If OK stands for Obviously Kerfluffed, then yes. I’m peachy.” I faintly smile, taking the glass and taking a sip. ‘I wish I could go back and not ask those questions,’I admit, switching to talking through our link.
“True, but then how would you be able to grow from this?” he volleys, pushing a brunette curl back from my face.
I throw a glare his way without any heat.
“Stop throwing your wisdom my way. It’s not appreciated at this moment. I’m trying to pout and feel sorry for myself.” I push my bottom lip out further to make my point, and Knots’ laughter makes me crack my persona.
“You might not appreciate it now, but you obviously needed it.” He smiles at me for a moment and then suddenly pulls back and blinks a few times before a loud voice comes through the room.
“Attention, students. The official Gauntlet meet-and-greet will be taking place in the Nova Hub ballroom at six o’clock. Participants of the Gauntlet, please make your way to the auditorium in the Administration building within the next ten minutes for the Pre-Gauntlet Orientation. Thank you.”
The announcement repeats two more times, but I’m already up, rinsing, and putting my bowl in the dishwasher as everyone meets by the door to put on their shoes.
“Oh my berry nips. I’m so excited,” Moni squeals, and Chester immediately raises his arms as Moni’s eyes roll back.
“How many is that? I lost sight of her this morning,” JP admits.
“Only four.” Chester smiles as he leans down and kisses her cheek, waking her back up.
“Aww, I love the way you wake me up.” She smiles sweetly at him. “My favorite is when you use the big red vib?—”
Chester immediately slaps his hand over her mouth as his cheeks pinken. “I’m glad you enjoy the many different ways. I’ll continue to use them,” he says, and pushes Moni in front of us and out the door. Ryker busts out laughing, and JP starts dry heaving.
“God, the mental images arekilling mehere. Dear Fates, please bleach my mind and give me new eyes. I can’t unsee that. Why did I have to have these powers out of all of them available?” JP whines, and Zeke cuddles up next to him, kissing him on the cheek.
“Relax, it just means you have to dootherthings and burn those into your mind. I’m sure you can come up with more pleasurable images.” Zeke smiles wolfishly and smiles at me as JP’s gaze turns my way.
“Oh, hell no. I’m having a family crisis right now.”
“What better way to get your mind off of it?” JP smiles and wiggles his eyebrows.
“We’ll be in a bigger crisis if we don’t get to the auditorium,” Levi reminds us, pulling our attention back where it should be.
Good point. Let’s learn how not to die during this week of Death.
Ryker
As we walk into the auditorium, the first thing I notice is the number of students and the lust that’s wafting in the room. Thank the Fates I’ve already fed this morning, not to mention my experience going through Level Two in the Trail of Worth. I don’t think any amount of lust could amount to that power, or how it made my skin react. If I could handle that, then this is nothing on the scale, and a small scrape against the wall that will disappear in a few moments.
I can immediately spot the other incubi in the room as they roam around and feed like rabid dogs in heat, finding their hitsoff of others. Which only tells me their schools haven’t taught them subtlety at all. They will be the type of student contenders who will come at you from the front and not hide the damn knife in their hand.
Dumbasses.
“Let’s make our way to the front,” Levi calls out and leads the way.
Really? The front? Just because our parents are in charge doesn’t mean we always have to be in the front; can’t we be rebels at some point in our lives? But I follow because it’s better to show solidarity than to fight over seating when enemies are chomping at the bit to tear us apart or look for any weakness.
As we move past a particularly nasty group ofstudents who are being too rowdy, pushing each other, one reaches out for Moni’s vines, and on instinct, my left wrist flicks out. I try to suppress the small smile on my lips as the perpetrator grabs their hand back and screams at the star embedded into their flesh.
“Oh my word, that looks like it hurts,” Moni says as she tucks herself into Chester’s side. Rez’s eyes narrow in on the weapon and immediately swing to me, where I give her a wink and blow a kiss.
