Page 2 of Dark Gods
"Sorry about that," he said in a tone so rueful it made me doubt it was on purpose, whatever the hellitwas.
"Is that your gift?"
"I'm afraid it's not entirely within my control," he said with a sigh of casual despair.
"It's fine, but whatisit?"
He hesitated, worrying at his bottom lip. The look of trepidation on his face was kind of adorable. He reminded me of a curious little rabbit, ready to spring away if someone got too close. "Well, it's called Ecstasy..."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Not my idea," he assured me. "It's kind of a feeling of euphoria. It happens when I touch someone, and I can usually contain it enough to keep them from noticing, but you must be particularly sensitive."
"Euphoria, huh?" My interest was piqued and I couldn't help but show it. "Like an endorphin rush?"
He blinked. "Yes, actually. Do you have it, too?"
"No, uh, just interesting, that's all," I answered. Ever since Mom had found out about my Panacea slinging operation, her plan to send me away had been cemented. Not really sure why she thought that would stop me, considering the young gods who populated the Academy were a lot like my clients back home. Bored immortals looking for any way to pass the time and dull the sting of the endless abyss looming before them.
Ennui was a hell of an affliction, and a girl could score herself a whole lot of dough offering the remedy.
"What do you call yours?" he asked, tilting his head. "That plant thing you did."
I couldn't help but laugh, rubbing my wrist. It didn't hurt, but it always itched a little afterward.
That's what you get for turning a beautiful gift into a common arena trick.
"Doesn't really have a name," I admitted. "I can just control plants."
"That's wonderful," he said in a surprisingly sincere tone. "The flowers outside...was that you as well?"
"Figured the place could use a little sprucing up," I said, glancing around. "It's fifty shades of gray up in this bitch."
His pale cheeks grew pink. Something told me Dionysus was a bit sheltered. "You're an interesting person, Kory. I'd say you'll like it here, but I'm not entirely sure that's true."
"Probably not," I agreed. "What about you?"
He glanced away, a troubled look coming into his eyes. "I did last semester."
There was a lot left unsaid after those words, and the air felt a little heavier with the weight of them floating around.
Before I could ask what had changed between now and then, he posed a question of his own. "Can I ask why you transferred in the middle of the year?"
"Yeah, that's kind of a long story," I answered. One that involved getting busted for running a magical drug dealing operation, which would probably make Blue Eyes turn and run for dear life. "Let's just say I've been putting it off."
"Oh," he murmured. "Any reason in particular?"
"Yep. His name is Hades."
His eyes widened and he looked like he was about to melt into the floor. "Hades? Oh. Then you must be..."
"Yeah, that's me," I sighed. His reaction to my fiance's name was more proof I didn't need to avoid him. "I take it you know him."
"Everyone does," he answered in a reverent if fearful tone. "He's part of the Triad."
I frowned. "The Triad?"
"That's what they call themselves. They run the school," he mumbled. "There's Hades, Fenrir and Loki. You've already 'met' his father.” He glanced up at Odin's portrait.
