Page 16 of Hades' Shadow
“In the very back of the village. It’s the only place that makes sense.” Adrian points ahead of us to the back gate.
“Okay, let’s go.” I take a step and a twig snaps beneath my foot. “Shit.”
Raven scans the village for any sign of movement and nods for us to continue. “I think it will be okay as long as no one is outside.”
“I still don’t want to make any noise,” I hiss, stepping even more carefully but watching my feet isn’t the best idea either.
We follow the trees around the back. Eyes follow me and I just have to hope it’s only the dryads and not a teacher sneaking up on us.
“I don’t think the locals like us hiding behind their trees,” Raven whispers.
She turns back to me with wide eyes just as a tree branch swings back to smack her in the side of the face.
“Watch out,” I say, but I’m too late and the branch snaps in her face just as she turns back around.
“Rude,” she growls at the tree.
A dryad steps out with her green arms crossed over her chest. “You shouldn’t be hiding in our trees because you are breaking the rules.”
“We are checking on a professor. There’s something going on with him and we are worried,” I try to reason with her.
“It doesn’t matter. You are trespassing.” She shakes her head, her emerald-green hair flying in her face.
Raven throws up her hands. “Fine, we will get away from your tree.”
We take several steps forward, but another tree branch snaps out, and I duck before it can hit me in the face.
Adrian turns to us with wide eyes. “We should probably get out of the forest.”
The dryad huffs, “I’m telling.”
Raven scoffs, “Tattletale.”
“I don’t know what that is, but I’m still telling.” Her brown eyes scowl at us.
“Whatever, let’s just go,” I grumble, grabbing Raven’s arm and dragging her through the trees where Adrian is standing.
“Look, we are almost back there anyway.” Adrian points to a small cabin settled back away from all the others just outside the gate.
“It’s not even in the village, technically.” I sigh.
This is much better odds of not getting in trouble. Can we get out of trouble on a technicality? Or can we continue to use our pass for saving the school?
“I don’t think they care that it’s not technically in the staff quarters,” Raven says.
“It’s worth a shot.” I shrug, strolling up to the front door of the small space.
I wait patiently for the others to join me on the small front porch and knock on the door.
“What?” Cross yells through the door.
We keep silent. Even though he already made it known he’s here, that doesn’t mean that he won’t refuse to open the door when he finds out who’s here.
“Who is it?” he yells through the door again.
I shake my head to make sure no one answers, and I knock again.
Cross opens the door with a glare. “What are you three doing here? This is forbidden.”
