Page 122 of Blood of Hercules
Wait . . . what did I just write?
General Cleandro tried to take my paper, and I held on to it for dear life. “No,” I grunted, desperate to hold on to my too honest words.
Sadly, he easily ripped it out of my hands.
He walked away, and blessedly, I fell over, head hitting against something soft that grunted. Immediately, I fell into the darkness.
“ALL RIGHT, THAT’S ENOUGH REST, I’VE GIVEN YOU AN ENTIRE HOUR... EVERYONE, WAKE UP.” Someone kicked me in the side. Hard. “EVERYONE, GET UP NOW.” Heavy boots stomped around, and initiates moaned.
A weight lifted off my thighs.
Something caught in my hair, like someone was lying on it, and the pain in my scalp forced my eyes open.
Coughing, I somehow pulled myself back into a seated position.
My stomach revolted, but nothing came out—I hadn’t eaten or drank indays—and I shivered from body aches.
I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t feel my face or my eyes.
Professor Augustus’s voice echoed far away, “Here is the order of how you scored on the test, from best to worst: First, Cassius Hermes. Second, Alexis Hert.” He paused to glare at me with disappointment (apparently he didnotascribe to the ideology that second was best), then continued, “Third, Alessander Poseidon. Fourth, Maximum Hera. Fifth, Leo Apollo. Sixth, Drex Chen. Seventh, Titus Dionysus. Eight, Dimitrios Apollo.”
“DimitriosApollo,” General Cleandro’s voice boomed. “WAKE THE FUCK UP RIGHT NOW!”
The lump on the ground in front of me stirred.
General Cleandro grabbed it and lifted it up. “You’re running the circuit with me, son, let’s go.” He shook the lump back and forth until it stood on two feet and followed him, albeit shakily (he was dragged out).
“Two weeks have passed,” Professor Augustus said, and someone sobbed with relief. It might have been me; I couldn’t tell.
“However, we have spoken with your mentors and have decided that you willnothave a break this week. The crucible will continue for two more weeks.”
Someone cried out. This time, it was definitely me.
Chapter 14
Alliances
Alexis
My stomach turned to ash.
No break, no food, no rest, no mercy.
Sobs echoed.
“Please no,” Maximum whispered in the front of the class (relatable).
Professor Augustus sighed. “Pull yourselves together. For Kronos’s sake, you’re Spartans. Start acting like it.”
There was no god in this cruel, monster-filled world.
“Only two more weeks of study.” Augustus scowled down at me, like everything in the world was my fault. “Then you’ll get your days off.”
Studywas an interesting word choice. I would have chosentormentorhellacious suffering.
Augustus rubbed his temples. “Stopwith the dramatics—or you’ll all join Dimitrios on the circuit. Is that what you want?”
The room fell dead silent.
