Page 100 of Blood of Hercules
Writing a number took a minute.
Slowly, digit by digit, I went through the sequences, following steps mostly by intuition. Some of it I remembered Pine talkingabout, but most of it was completely new. Each question was tied to ethical dilemmas with dozens of variables and steps.
The questions made the math on the merit exam look childish.
“Time’s up!” Pine announced. “Put your pen down.”
I’d barely gotten halfway through.
Time warped.
I blinked, and Professor Augustus sat in front of the class, meditating with his eyes closed. All the initiates were asleep around me.
Augustus shifted, and the scar across his sharp cheekbone was an angry shade of red.
His wide shoulders were in perfect posture.
Since I was half-slumped over with my left boob angling toward the floor, this was not relatable.
I squinted at the cruel professor.Have demons always been so attractive?
Smoldering dark eyes shot open.
“What—are you doing?” Augustus asked slowly.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Please don’t let him see me. Please don’t let him see me.
“Since I’m sitting directly in front of you, obviously I can see you.”
Ohmygod, he can read my mind. I need to kill us both.
Hands clapped together. “Alexis, open your fucking eyes. You’re speaking aloud and distracting the class—look at me. Now.”
I peeked my eyes open.
The class was in a state that could only be described as severely catatonic.Distracting them from what—death?
Augustus mumbled something about girls, dishonor, and the crucible.
“Preach, girlfriend,” I mumbled back.
His right eye twitched. “Calm yourself,” he said with a frown. “Focus on your center, find your inner calm.”
“Will do—Captain.” I bowed and face-planted ontothe floor. “Like a beached whale,” I said with my cheeks pressed against the rocks. “Don’t worry, the tide will pull me back.”
I rolled to my side.
Augustus looked worried.
I made a whale sound.
He did not make one back.This is why I don’t talk to people. They never understand me.
A muscle in Augustus’s jaw ticked as he stood up, leaned over, and hoisted me into a seated position.
The boy in front of me moaned in his sleep.
