I jumped to my feet, went into my closet, and grabbed an old ratty duffle bag that I’d had since being in the orphanage. I opened dresser drawers and grabbed whatever I could—underwear, bras, socks, jeans, a couple of T-shirts—and stuffed them inside the bag. On top of that, I settled in the Shadowbox. I imagined I would need it as some sort of proof that I belonged.
After zipping up the bag, I put on my old weathered leather jacket, my combat boots, slid my phone in a pocket, and then peered out. Sophia wasn’t in the living room and her bedroom was closed, so she’d obviously gone to bed. After stepping out from my bedroom, I stopped in front of Sophia’s closed door. I wanted to leave her a note to let her know where I’d gone, but I knew that would confess what I’d done. No one could know that I’d stolen the invitation. Instead, I quietly opened her door and crept in.
My heart filled when I looked down at her, sleeping so soundly, her face relaxed and devoid of all the worry lines I knew I’d carved on her skin over the years. Leaning down, I pressed a kiss to her forehead and whispered, “I love you.”
Fighting back tears, I left the cottage and crept silently across the garden, keeping to the dark shadows, until I reached the driveway. As far as I knew, there weren’t any buses that came to this neighborhood, nor would any be running this late, anyway, so I needed a way to get to Cala, which was at least ninety miles away from Pecunia. I had only three and a half hours to get there on time. On foot, I’d never make it.
I heard voices nearby. It had to be been party guests leaving. For a brief second, I considered hitching a ride with one of them, but they would definitely inform Callie. I couldn’t have that. I needed to leave here undetected, at least until sunrise. In the morning, they could all think what they wanted. Most likely that I’d run away. According to them, I was that type of girl. Sophia wouldn’t think it though, she’d worry that something nefarious had happened to me, or that I had a good reason to leave. It broke my heart to put her through the anguish of not knowing, but I had to do it.
Headlights swept over the spot of pavement I stood in, and I jumped back, breath hitching, into the shadows, so I wouldn’t be seen. When I turned, I spotted a street motorcycle parked in the corner away from all the other vehicles. That had not been valet parked.
A smile crept over my face, and I sent up a small thanks to the Gods, although I knew they couldn’t give a shit and weren’t likely paying any attention to what I was doing. I was insignificant.
Ten minutes later, I raced down the driveway of the Demos Estate, thankful of the illegal skills I’d learned during my time in and out of foster homes. I turned left onto the main road and roared out of Pecunia. Although I was excited to have my past in the review mirror, I felt guilty for leaving Sophia. I hoped over time she’d understand why I left.
My heart raced as fast as the bike as I drove toward the coast. I couldn’t believe what I was doing. I prayed it would work. I needed it to work. If it didn’t and I was booted out before I could even begin, I wasn’t sure I’d return to Pecunia. Maybe it would be a sign to just keep on going until the road ended, and I could have a new start.
I thought about that all the way to Cala.
It didn’t take me long to find the dock, as the touristy town was fairly small, and all I needed to do was follow the sounds of the ocean. I parked the bike at the main boathouse and then climbed over the chain link fence.
As I made my way to pier six, the silence surprised me. Where were all the other recruits? Surely, I wasn’t the only one who figured out the riddle and was able to get here. The rumors were that every four years the Gods recruited thirty-six teenagers to train in the army. I’m not sure why that particular number, but knowing the Gods, it likely had some significance. So, where was everybody?
I found pier six easily enough, despite the lack of overhead lights. As I walked out to the edge, the darkness smothering me with each step, an eerie quiet settled over everything. All I could hear was the soft lapping of the water at the metal posts holding the pier up and my heart thundering in my chest.
I gazed out over the rolling ocean and thought, now what? Did I need to wait for a boat or something? But that seemed almost too easy for the Gods. Knowing them, the way into the academy would be complicated and dangerous. It wasn’t like Jason was just given the Golden Fleece; he had to complete three very complicated trials wrought with danger at every turn.
I wondered if I would get a chance to meet Jason at the academy and ask him how he escaped smashing onto the rocks when a school of sirens attacked the ship he’d been on. All my thoughts about ships and sirens made me speculate the entrance to the academy was going to be underwater.
Squinting, I looked out over the water and spotted a buoy floating about a hundred meters away. Every few seconds, it lit up. That was where I needed to go. Strapping my duffel to my back, I took in some deep breaths, wondering if I was really going to do this.
“One, two, three.” I dove into the water.
I swam down into the darkness, expecting something to happen. A portal. A door. I’d even take a submarine at this point. But there was nothing but seaweed and the soul-sucking black of deep water. Lungs bursting, I started upwards, my arms aching with fatigue by the time I broke the surface. I sputtered out water and circled around toward the pier.
And that’s when I heard the very male sounds of laughter and spotted the outline of someone on the end of the pier watching me. I didn’t have to see him to know he was getting a right kick out of seeing me floundering around like a guppy.
“Little late for a midnight swim, don’t you think?”
I swam to the pier. The closer I got, the more I could make out the person’s features. He was definitely male, and young, my age I thought, square jaw, sharp cheekbones, golden waves swept back to frame striking blue eyes, and to my misfortune, he was exactly the type of guy I’d swoon over.
I reached up and grabbed the edge of the wooden dock so I could heft myself out of the water. He took a step forward, and I thought for sure he was going to crush my fingers under the thick tread of his combat boots, especially when he grinned down at me.
Chapter Three
MELANY
I was about to drop back into the water to avoid having my fingers crushed when he crouched and grabbed hold of my arms, lugging me up onto the pier. I rolled onto my back, dragging hair out my face, and blinked up at him, unsure if he was friend or foe.
“You’re on the wrong pier.” He nodded toward the other piers, and I spotted several other teenagers my age making their way down the main dock, backpacks slung over their shoulders, or firmly affixed to their backs.
I sat up, trying to keep some of my dignity intact, although I suspected it was much too late for that considering I was sitting here sopping wet, my hair looking like blue seaweed, and I could just imagine my dark makeup had run down my cheeks. The gorgeous stranger probably thought I looked like some deranged raccoon.
“Maybe I just wanted to go swimming.” I wiped at my face with the sleeve of my jacket, which didn’t do much of anything since it was wet, too.
“Right.” He offered his hand to help me to my feet, but I ignored it and stood my own. He lowered his hand, shaking his head a little. “It’s pier nine, in case you’re wondering. You must’ve misread the smoke.” Picking up his pack, he walked away, joining the swarm of other people.
Before following him, I waited for a few minutes. I didn’t want to seem eager or that he’d just saved me from a huge mistake, although, he totally did. I got in line with the others moving down the ramp to pier nine. There had to have been at least thirty people, maybe more, gathered on the dock.