Page 9 of Ares' Shield
“Let’s get this over with,” I say, and a shiver tracks down my spine.
Jayden nods and leads me down the hall to the headmistress’ office. He doesn’t let go of my hand the entire way and I can’t help but wonder at the sudden change.
Just a little while ago he wouldn’t even look at me. Now he’s holding my hand, supporting me.
Is it the threat of danger? He always seems to act possessive and overbearing when there’s danger.
He gets in his own damn way when there isn’t.
We pass the conference rooms and I stiffen. The conference rooms are probably my least favorite place in the academy.
“You okay?” Jayden asks, tugging on my hand.
“Yeah, just remembered the creepy voice.”
Was it even really a voice? I couldn’t hear the words. Who was it and why were they distorting their voice?
Is someone at the academy helping the enemy? It would make sense, but I figured it would all stop when Hecate was banished to Tartarus.
“Who’s capable of controlling someone like that?” I ask, racking my brain to remember the history.
“I don’t know, maybe a sorceress, but they were all killed in ancient history.” Jayden shrugs.
“You know we can’t trust that.”
The monsters of myth keep coming back from the dead to try to kill us and he thinks that’s an issue?
“You’re right,” he grumbles.
“Could we have an ancient sorceress on campus? Is that even possible?”
“I don’t believe anything is impossible anymore.” Jayden stops in front of the ornately carved door.
Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, is depicted on the door with an olive tree and an owl at her side. She looks every bit the warrior goddess in gold armor.
Jayden knocks on the door, and we wait. We almost never find Rebecca in her office. Now is no different.
“Where do you think she is?” Jayden asks.
“Who knows? Where she always hides when we need her.”
“She doesn’t hide and she’s not Adrian, so she doesn’t actually know that we need her.” Jayden raises a brow at me.
“Yeah, true. I’m just frustrated and frankly slightly terrified by the power that can control people.”
Admitting fear isn’t a sign of weakness. Hiding from fear is.
“It is completely unexpected.”
“Unexpected?” I glare. “I didn’t have mind control on my Halfling Academy bingo card, Jayden.”
Jayden bursts out laughing as he leads me back down the hall.
“You never expected mind control either? There were sorceresses who could do that kind of magic; I think Circe was one of them.” Jayden tugs my hand.
“Circe? Didn’t she turn men into farm animals or something?” I ask, wrinkling my nose.
“Yeah, pigs specifically. If she’s involved though, we are going to have worse problems to contend with than pigs.” Jayden shudders.
