Page 194 of Blood of Hercules
Helen used a fork and knife to delicately cut a date into tiny pieces.
She was so ladylike; it was cute.
“All right, let’s go. We can’t be late,” Patro ordered. Internally whimpering, I grabbed another handful of food and ate it as quickly as possible.
“Good luck! Knock all those boys dead!” Helen cheered as we disappeared in a crack of smoke.
Unfortunately, that will probably happen.
Her enthusiasm for life was extremely unrelatable, and slightly off-putting, but also sweet.
She inspired me to want to kill myself less. Maybe.
The Crimson Duo left me on the front lawn.
When I entered the icy darkness of the mostly empty classroom, General Cleandro sat at the desk with his feet up, and Augustus was smiling while chatting to Cassius.
His face dropped when he saw me, and he scowled.
I flipped him off and said, “Get freakin’ lost.”
In my head.
In real life, I averted my gaze and collapsed onto the floor where I always sat, groaning as a rock bit into my left butt cheek.
“I can’t do this again,” Nyx moaned around my neck. “It’s sooooo cold in this awful mountain.”
“You’re telling me,” I whispered as softly as possible, hyperaware that I was probably speaking some freaky snake language.
In the front of the room, Augustus whipped his head around. Soulless black eyes narrowed on me as Poco climbed onto his shoulder.
Cassius followed his gaze, then looked back at the professor with confusion.
“Yep,” Nyx said. “Those are bedroom eyes. This is not a drill. It’s happening. Augustus is giving you bedroom eyes. Wow—this is escalating.”
I choked on air. “If by bedroom, you mean the eyes you give someone who’s manacled in your dungeon—then yes, that’s exactly what’s happening.”
“Oh yeah,” Nyx hissed. “That could also work. If the dungeon has red lights, whips, and chains everywhere. Also, seductive music and chocolate.”
I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose.Please God, bring me a new best friend. Make her less of a horny pervert. Thank you.
When I opened my eyes, Augustus had turned back to Cassius, and his smile had returned.
Bas-turd.
I slumped onto my side and fantasized about all the creative ways I could off myself. Frankly, at this point, I didn’t care if Carl Gauss thought I wasn’t accomplished in the afterlife (I cared).
Carl can suck on my . . . stuff.
“Why am I actually so lame?” I whispered to Nyx, wishing I could swear like a sailor.
A thin tongue flicked against my cheek. “I fear it’s my fault for sheltering you,” Nyx said seriously. “I should have bullied you more. Instead, I let you grow up into a weirdo. I’m sorry.”
I choked.
Why does everyone always answer my facetious questions?
“Alexis, you’re here early too!” Blond hair gleamed with blue highlights.
