I frowned, confused. My gaze swung over to the fire station and I gasped.
Revana had vines wrapped around her head, over her mouth in particular. Every time she struggled, the vines seemed to be pulling even tighter until her eyes bugged out. Then I noticed the vine had originated from a plant near my shoe. I jumped to my feet, and immediately the vine went slack, and she and Isobel were able to tear it off her face.
The second she was freed, Revana came at me like a freight train. “You bitch.”
I managed to dodge her first punch before Demeter intervened.
“Enough.”
“She tried to kill me!”
Demeter made a face. “I’m sure that’s not true. It was totally an accident, wasn’t it, Melany?”
I nodded.
Zeus peered down at us from overhead. “Everything all right down there?”
“Yup, just a little mishap.” Demeter gave him the thumbs up. “Nothing to worry about.”
“Should we discuss it in council chambers later this evening?” He narrowed his eyes at me.
Demeter shook her head. “No, I don’t think that needs to happen.” She glanced at Revana. “No one’s hurt. Right?”
Revana glared at me but shook her head.
“You see, it’s all good.”
“Return to your training.” Zeus turned and gestured to his class, who were all peering over the side.
Revana, accompanied by Isobel, returned to the fire station. Everyone else went back to what they were doing before chaos had ensued. Demeter put her hand on my shoulder.
“Where did that come from?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I was just sitting there.”
“Something happened.”
“I got angry I think.”
She nodded. “I have to say I’ve never seen anyone in all my years of teaching do that at this level.” She winked and patted my shoulder. “Well done.”
Finished at the other elemental stations, we all gathered around the pool to wait for instructions from Poseidon. The other professors had joined us as well to watch. Nerves zipped through me, and I couldn’t stop fidgeting.
“The object of this exercise”—Poseidon leisurely walked behind us, handing each of us a small mesh bag—“is to stay underwater and collect as many rocks as you can. Sounds easy enough. Except for one thing… you will have to evade my adorable pet Charybdis.” He pointed to the water.
I gazed down into the pool to see a three-foot long, serpent-like creature whipping around in the water. I’d never seen a Charybdis in person, but the rumor was they possessed nine eyes that circled a round mouth lined with razor sharp teeth. I swallowed the bile rising in my throat.
“Don’t worry, a bite from a baby Charybdis isn’t lethal, but it does sting a bit.” He grinned. “The prize for gathering twenty of more rocks is the favor of the Gods, and you will enjoy a lavish dinner in Zeus’s Great Hall with me and Zeus himself.”
I saw a lot of excited faces at that prospect. I wasn’t one of them.
“BEGIN!”
One by one, my fellow recruits dove into the pool. I watched them go under, frozen in spot, completely petrified, the images and sensations of my dreams holding me hostage. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t jump in.
Then Poseidon shoved me in from behind.
As I plunged under the water, I nearly collided with Jasmine, as she grabbed a couple rocks and put them into her mesh bag. When she saw me, she gave me a thumbs up and pointed to the rocks. I nodded and kicked my legs to dive to the bottom.
I scooped up a handful and put them in my bag. Movement next to me drew my attention. I looked up just in time to get Revana’s fist in my face. The viscosity of the water softened the blow, or I was sure that it would’ve knocked me out. Blood floated in front of my eyes. It was coming from my nose.
She reared back to hit me again, when Lucian swam in between us. He shook his head at her, pointing for her to go. She did, but reluctantly. When she was gone, he swirled around to me, pointed at me, then gave the okay sign.
I nodded to let him know I was fine. Smiling, he scooped up a couple more rocks and put them in my bag. I shook my head at him but couldn’t stop the grin on my face. My stomach lurched, and my grin faded in an instant when I spotted the Charybdis swimming right toward us. It must’ve been attracted to my blood.
I shoved Lucian to the side just as the creature lunged. I kicked up with my legs, giving me leverage, and punched it right under its mouth. My stomach churned at the feeling of its fleshy mass on my skin. But it did the trick and it scuttled away.
Lucian looked wide-eyed at me. I gave the okay signal and pointed at him. He nodded. Together, we gathered more rocks. I looked around and noticed there were only about five others in the water with me and Lucian. Ren, of course, and Marek, Revana, and two others I didn’t know well.
After another minute, my lungs started to burn. The incident with Revana had distracted me, but now that I was floating here, I was reminded of being back in the portal and not being able to breathe. Noticing my rising panic, Lucian swam close and grabbed my hand. It helped calm me down a little.
After another minute, one of the others kicked to the surface. Then Revana looked over at us, and I could see the anger on her face. She struggled to stay under. She started to thrash around, as I imagined the urge to open her mouth pounded at her. She flipped me the middle finger and then kicked hard up to the surface.
I, too, began to struggle. My head grew fuzzy. Black spots started to form in my vision. Then the whispers infiltrated the back of my mind.
Don’t be afraid. Let go of the panic. You won’t drown. I won’t let you.
I didn’t know who was talking to me but I listened. Lucian eventually let go of my hand, kicking up to the surface. Then Marek went up, and then the other girl who I didn’t know. It was just Ren and I left. When he noticed, he swam over to me, smiling.
We happily floated in the water together. My lungs started to burn again, but Ren looked like he could stay down here forever. I wondered if he was half fish. He most definitely had Poseidon’s blood swimming through his veins.
Knowing Ren would win the prize, I was more than happy to give up and swim to the surface. I was about to when his face changed and his eyes widened. I could sense movement behind me. I spun around to see the Charybdis’s mouth just about to clamp down on my head.
Chapter Twelve
LUCIAN
I paced along the edge of the pool, trying hard not jump in, especially after I saw the Charybdis zip through the water toward Melany and Ren.
“She can take care of herself,” Poseidon said at my distress.
Everyone watched the pool, waiting to see what would happen. Some were scared, like Melany’s friends, Georgina and Jasmine, others, like Revana, looked on in glee, hoping for a lethal outcome.
I watched, my heart in my throat, at the erratic movement in the water, and then the Charybdis came shooting out like a cannon and landed at Poseidon’s feet. The little creature looked unharmed, but definitely indignant at being tossed out of the pool.
Laughing, Poseidon picked up the sea slug and patted its head. A few moments later, Melany and Ren popped up out of the water to a round of cheers and clapping.
“Well done, you two are the winners of the competition.”
I reached down and helped Ren out of the pool and then Melany. She was shivering, and I draped a big towel around her shoulders. There was still a trickle of blood coming from her nose.
“You still got a bit of blood.” I gestured to her nose.
She pressed the edge of her towel to her face. “Thanks.”
“Does it hurt?”
“Nah. She punches like a girl.”
I laughed, which earned me a lethal glare from Revana, who was chatting with Isobel nearby.
“You should have seen her.” Ren was talking to Poseidon and the others who gathered around. “She just reached out and grabbed that thing by the neck before it could bite her and just tossed it through the water like a missile. I’ve never seen anything like it.” He chuckled.