Magic Trials (Half-Blood Academy #1)(15)

Security seemed air-tight as I spotted heavily-armed soldiers on every few blocks on the island.

We passed by streets, buildings, stores, and a large park, which all looked nice. The demigod-controlled Staten Island hadn’t been tainted by the war between the gods and demons. This was probably what the old civilization had looked like before both types of assholes invaded our world.

The van cruised through a vast gate as it slid open from the middle. Etched into the left side of the reinforced red wall, giant letters of gold proclaimed this to be Half-Blood Academy. On the right wall, the school crest displayed an eagle above the waves piercing a lightning bolt with a blade that also looked like a key connecting the sky and ocean.

The eagle was the power sign for the God of War, the lightning bolt was the God of Sky’s birthright, the ocean was the God of Sea’s domain, and the blade was the Sword of Hades and Key to the Underworld.

The four demigods were the only direct descendants of Ares, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, and thus this military school was named the Half-Blood Academy. I wondered if I would meet the rest of the demigods before I either survived or perished in the ritual.

Armed soldiers waved for the van to roll ahead as they recognized everyone, except me, in the van. They probably didn’t regard me as much of a threat.

As soon as the van braked at the circular driveway in front of the main campus, its door opened with a sharp metal sound, spitting out half of the team.

They lined up on either side of the vehicle, waiting for me to let myself out.

I leapt out of the van, squinting as I surveyed the campus: a gem-like pond, lush gardens, century-old trees.

I was surprised at how vast this place was.

The skyscrapers were so modern with steel and glass, the old stone buildings had elaborate carvings that spoke of rich tradition and history, and the low-rise structures were in a Victorian style.

Several vans parked around the circle.

Suddenly I caught sight of Jasper and Circe at the far end of the square.

Jasper darted his worried gaze around the crowd, as if searching for me. Circe looked so thrilled at this new environment that she twirled in a small dance. My breath hitched in my throat. She was young. She had no idea what kind of tough life lay ahead.

It wasn’t dancing and parties and boys, for sure.

Now that we were inside this fence, we’d never have freedom, not unless we escaped.

“Jas, Circe!” I called, bolting toward them, but two of the soldiers who’d escorted me immediately blocked my path.

Marie dragged me back.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I said. “I need to see my friends!”

“I’m doing you a favor, girl,” Marie said. “I’m helping you survive in this place.”

“Demigod Axel has ordered that if you cause trouble, your friends will suffer the consequences,” Cameron said. “Do you copy?”

I glared at him, shaking in anger. He held my gaze, daring me punch him with my tight fists. He’d punch back, then probably shock me good with his lightning.

“You need to focus on your trial, Marigold,” Marie said, softening her tone. “If you live, you’ll get to see them once every three weeks in the main dining hall where all the students and trainers socialize. Your friends belong to the Other Academy on the secondary campus, a place for all other supernaturals, like witches, shifters, warlocks, mages, fae, and vampires.”

“But shouldn’t my friends be here for me during the trial?” I said in a last-ditch effort to get the Dominions to show a little sympathy or bend a little. “Could you talk to Axel about it, please?”

Marie snorted. “He’d have my head for calling him for something like that. Look, rules are rules. The Ritual of Blood Runes is only to be observed by the demigods, the senior Dominion officers, and other initiates. Outsiders, not even the leaders of the supernaturals who aren’t descendants of the gods, are not allowed to watch.”

“I just want to see my team one last time before shit goes down,” I said. “If I don’t make it, at least I get to say goodbye.”

“Then you make sure you make it,” Marie said.

There was no point in arguing with her. She knew it wasn’t up to me but the gods’ power that decided who lived and who was doomed.

I stared into empty space. I didn’t want to ruin the first day for Jasper and Circe in their academy life.

My shoulders sagged as I watched the soldiers take my former teammates down the opposite path and vanish behind a building trellised with ivy and lilac.

That might be the last of them I ever saw.





CHAPTER 5




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I joined twelve other candidates, some of them a little younger and some a little older than me. I bathed and put on a white robe, the only thing they offered me.

I was so sick and tired of fighting the Dominions and ending up nowhere, so I didn’t even bother to complain that I didn’t get to wear a bra and panties.

In low spirits and bare feet, I padded quietly down the cobbled path lined with red maple trees along with other initiates.

They had arrived a week earlier and already formed a clique. Six of them gathered around Demetra and Jack, hanging on their every word. The other four were outsiders like me.