Page 23 of Dark Gods
That was going to take time and careful planning, so I focused on learning as much as I could from Dionysus and taking advantage of my recovery time to lay low and regroup.
Since the one trait I'd inherited from my mother was anal-retentive recordkeeping, I took notes in a bound book I'd had warded to appear like nothing more than a chemistry notebook. Anyone who flipped through the pages would see nothing more than formulae and absentminded notes. Jazzy had made it for me after I'd caught Mom reading my mundane diary once.
Sunday night, I sat flipping through my notes since Dionysus had some club to attend. It was only his second semester at the Academy, and while he had grown up around Loki, his knowledge of Hades was somewhat limited and his knowledge of Fenrir even moreso.
I stared down at the name I hated most and the notes that followed.
Hades
God of the Underworld, son of Cronus and Rhea (deceased)
Attended Olympus Prep prior to his transfer into the Academy two years ago. Quickly rose to the top of the social ranks thanks to Daddy's influence. Has multiple siblings, not close to any of them as far as anyone knows. Leadership track (of course), winner of the Games in his first year as part of a three-man team (no mystery there). The Triad were the second first-year group to win the Games in the history of the Academy, after Thor's group sixty years ago. Leader of the Wild Hunt.
Last victim: Marcellus
Reason of choice: Unknown
Status: Transferred
Then there was Loki,whose section was far more fleshed out. It had been a struggle to keep up with Dionysus, since his account of the trickster god was far from limited. It further cemented that whatever had happened between them, it wasn't pretty. I was also beginning to suspect there were romantic undertones, at least on Dionysus' end, and I could understand the appeal. Loki was nothing if not enigmatic. Too bad for my friend that he was every bit as rotten underneath as the rest of the Triad.
Then there was Fenrir.
Lupine demigod. His father was the Fenris wolf, slain by Odin. Has an alternate form no one's seen, and skips class often.
Why he was such good buddies with Loki when the Headmaster had slain his father was beyond my imagination, but gods and cognitive dissonance went together like bread and butter.
I'd just have to do my own recon to gather the intel I needed to take down the Big, Bad Wolf and his posse. Shouldn't be all that hard, since they were everywhere. Sooner or later, someone was bound to slip up and divulge something the Triad didn't want out, and I'd be there to tuck it away for safekeeping.
Revenge was a dish best served cold, after all. I'd already come up with a strategy and kept Dionysus on a need to know basis, both in case anyone came to harass him and because the thought of me actually fighting back against the Triad seemed to give him an ulcer.
I'd already told him that if he had to prove his loyalty to the Hunt in public, he was free to throw me under the bus, and he'd mumbled some grudging half-acknowledgment. The truth was, this was my mess and I didn't want anyone else getting wrapped up in it, but that didn't mean I was going to let Hades and his friends off easily. Or at all.
Satisfied with my long-range plans for domination, I found the most comfortable position the sling would allow and settled in to get some rest. For the first time since I'd come to the Academy, I slept like a baby.
11
Monday morning, I woke up bright and early and prepared to head to the cafeteria. I was done eating alone in my room, and the Hunt was going to continue one way or another. Might as well face it head on.
Before I made it past the lounge, I heard a familiar voice call my name and turned around to find Daphne watching me. She was still in her pajamas.
"Guess you upgraded from the towel."
She sighed, walking over to me. "I've been trying to talk to you. I knocked on your door last night."
"I know," I said, folding my arms. "I ignored you."
"Look, I know you probably hate me, but at least let me explain," she pleaded.
"Why bother explaining yourself to the Rabbit?" I challenged.
She rolled her eyes. "I hate that stupid contest. I came here to train to be a leader, not to play some bratty game."
"Well, you may not be playing, but you certainly didn't stop the twins," I shot back, not about to let her get off that easily. "They could have killed me."
"I didn't know they were going to do that, I swear!"
I hesitated. Her tone sounded genuine enough, but this place was making me doubt my own instincts for the first time in my life. After all, I'd thought Loki was cute once. "And why should I believe you?"
