31. Raven

RAVEN

“Can we please go to the party tonight? Pretty please?” Leila asks as soon as I step out of the house on Friday morning. No good morning or other such pleasantries, just straight to tonight's plans.

Shaking my head, I focus on her question as she links her arm through mine and the guys trail behind us. “There’s a party tonight?” I’m clearly out of the loop when it comes to anything fun.

“Yeah, and considering the week we’ve had, I’d say it’s a done deal.” She quirks an eyebrow at me, silently pleading for me to go, and I purse my lips.

Apart from Monday’s mess with my parents and the turn of events between Brax and me on Tuesday, the rest of the week has been mellow. But Monday was fucked up enough for me to nod in agreement.

“Count me in,” I say. She claps excitedly as I mentally start trying to piece an outfit together. Although a trip to the shopping district is more than likely in the cards.

“Count you in for what?” Eldon asks, tugging gently at my ponytail, but Leila answers him before I can.

“The party.”

He nods once, releasing my hair and falling into step with the others again. “Boys, we're going to the party tonight.” Groans echo from the other three, making me grin. It’s on the tip of my tongue to state that they don’t actually have to come with us if they don’t want to, but Eldon continues before I have a chance. “She’s going to look hot, quit your moaning.”

“So true,” Zane adds, and I feel my cheeks heat.

Assholes.

“They’re so into you it’s beyond amusing and all dreamy instead,” she says with a wistful sigh

I roll my eyes at her.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I deflect as we step into the academy building.

“Please. Don’t think I’m not completely aware of the real reason you and Brax disappeared from class the other day and faked an illness for the rest of your classes, only to be miraculously better the next day.” She wags her eyebrows and I hip check her. “You know it, I know it, we all know it.”

“Shut up, Leila.”

She laughs louder as we step into the classroom, only to come to an abrupt halt when we see Professor Burton waiting to address everyone.

What the fuck?

“Good morning. Filter in, everyone, we have much to do.”

I glance back at the guys, who look as confused and intrigued as I feel. We shuffle into the room but don’t take our seats like the rest of the class. A few minutes pass, no one breathing a word as we assess him talking with the professor, before he finally turns to address us again.

“It’s been brought to my attention by some of the parents that last week’s trip into the Gauntlet was, indeed, not how we usually operate. We’re aware it’s not common practice for the first years to experience the Gauntlet and they did so without having a chance to practice before some unfortunately lost their lives.” His gaze sweeps to Zane’s, making it clear who has had an issue with the process. Zane doesn’t falter under his stare and Barton quickly proceeds. “With that in mind, we’re now going to incorporate Gauntlet training into the first year’s schedule.”

A gasp of worry flickers through the group and Professor Meade, the potions teacher, quickly waves her hand. “It will be in simulator mode so we won’t lose any lives while practicing,” she says in an attempt to reassure us.

Why the fuck couldn’t they have done that last week?

“So your schedule has been adjusted to accommodate these changes, with Friday mornings now being allocated to Gauntlet training,” Professor Barton states, a pleased smile on his face. “Professor Meade has offered to aid Professor Figgins while you’re in there, so you will be in safe hands.” He nods, more to himself than anyone here, before edging toward the door. “Follow the sun, destroy the shadows, and survive another dawn.”

He’s gone in the next breath, not even waiting to hear the chorus of students say it back.

“I’m sure by now you all know where the locker rooms are,” Meade says with a knowing smile. “I’ll meet you all at the Gauntlet in a few minutes.”

The second we’re back in the hallway, I spin to the guys. “Why is this even happening?”

“I don’t know…” Eldon ponders, rubbing at his chin.

“They’re trying to prepare us for something. They’ve never done this shit before, but fuck knows what, exactly, it is that’s causing such a stir,” Brax adds, his words making a lot of sense. He’s right, we don’t know the whole picture.

“Has your father said anything about it, Leila?” Creed asks, and my friend shakes her head nervously as she nibbles at her lip.

“No, and I’m going to assume he wasn’t aware of this last minute schedule change because he definitely wouldn’t have kept it to himself.” My chest tightens with worry.

“What’s this about simulator mode? Why couldn’t that have been used last week?” I ask, my earlier thoughts playing on repeat in my mind.

“Fuck knows, but that’s twisted,” Zane states, his hand mindlessly lifting to stroke over his now-healed shoulder.

We part ways at the locker room like we’ve done far too many times in the past two weeks. Leila is silent as we change, as are most of the girls in here—Genie included—then we’re back out and quickly heading toward the arena.

The Bishops are waiting for us and we move to the entrance as a unit. It feels weird with no other years in here, like it’s bigger than it was before.

Following the crowd down to the bottom of the steps where Figgins waits, she wastes no time getting straight to it. “Today, I’ve split the Gauntlet into eight sections. This is how you’re supposed to train in it, not what happened last week,” she comments, and I’m surprised she’s so openly irritated by it. Leila’s eyes widen in shock too. “Today it will run as a simulator, which means if you happen to die at the hands of the monsters inside, you’ll find yourself waking up in the medical center. But, let’s hope it doesn't come to that, okay? You’ll also be entering in groups of six and not alone, so choose your team and we’ll get the ball rolling.”

All I’m hearing is last week was a complete clusterfuck and they’re just not telling us why, even among the professors. Fun.

Turning back to the guys, I stumble on my feet when someone shoulder checks me from the left. Leila manages to stop me from falling and I whirl around with anger to find Genie stepping up to Eldon with her eyelashes fluttering.

Bitch.

“Hey, Eldon baby, do you want—”

“Fuck off, Genie,” Brax grunts, interrupting her.

She turns a snarl his way, “I wasn’t talking to you.”

I’m almost sure she’s going to stomp her foot. Her hands are clenched so tightly at her sides I’m shocked her palms aren’t bleeding but, to my surprise, she turns her attention back to Eldon like nothing was said.

“There’s five of us already, and I was hoping you’d take the sixth spot.”

Eldon snorts, shaking his head at her and firing back before I get a chance to put an end to her. “Genie, my dick only gets hard for one girl and it’s not you. When are you going to learn that you’re not wanted around here?”

I gape at him, almost impressed, but annoyed that I can’t just beat the shit out of her like I want to. Her mouth opens and closes a few times but she still doesn’t move.

“Get the message and fuck off. We’ve got some big, bad monsters to fight,” Brax snarks, waving his hand dismissively, and Leila snorts while I try to hold it together.

Genie snaps her gaze to his again, her lip quirked with a sneer. “Maybe the monster in there will be a fucking gargoyle. Maybe you might know them.”

Oh this bitch. Fuck that.

“I’ll show you a fucking monster,” I bite, lunging for her, but I’m caught mid-air. Even with me restrained, she darts down the remaining steps with a yelp as I thrash in Creed’s hold. “Put me down. That bitch needs to be taught a lesson.”

“Save your rage for the pit, Shadow. She’s not worth it,” Brax mutters, and I relax in Creed’s hold. Turning to look at Brax, Creed slowly lowers me to my feet. He’s acting completely unfazed but there’s a slight darkening to his green eye, a shade I haven’t seen on him before, and I know that she affected him more than he cares to admit.

Cutting the distance between us, I look up at him from the step below. “You’re not a monster.”

“I am.” His eyes dip down, avoiding my gaze, and it pisses me off that she managed to hit such a sore spot with him.

“No, you’re not,” I insist, reaching for his hand. “If I thought you were a monster, I wouldn’t have wanted…” My words trail off, the memory hanging between us as he squeezes my hand back before wrapping his arms around me and pinning me to his chest.

I hug him back, basking in his heat as he holds me tighter. “You’re going to be the death of me,” he whispers against my ear, and I lean back with a grin.

“You’re welcome.”

He lowers me to the floor, and I quickly remember we’re not in our own little bubble. The guys grin at us and Leila wags her eyebrows like a fool while Genie and her friends all glare in our direction.

“Do you see why she didn’t get any kind of handbook, Dove?” Zane asks, a wry smile on his face and I smirk back.

“It makes total sense.”

The six of us wordlessly form a group and follow Professor Meade’s direction into our section of the pit.

“The Gauntlet will run simultaneously for everyone, and we will be here to oversee it all. Remember, deaths are not final in here today, but we highly recommend you learn about your group, understand their strengths and weaknesses as a whole, and piece together a plan for victory,” Professor Figgins announces to everyone before a horn sounds and everyone makes their way into the Gauntlet.

The unsettling feeling of stepping through the barrier washes over me and I note that the surroundings are completely different than last time. There’s no small pool of water or stacked boulders filling the space. In its place is a cave at the far end with a field surrounding it.

“Everybody keep your wits about you. It’s going to be impossible to devise a plan until we actually know what we’re up against. Since your magic works opposite to one another, Leila should hold to the right and Eldon to the left,” Creed orders and they nod in agreement. “Brax, you need to hold front and center since you’re the more durable one, and your invisibility might come in handy, Zane.” They all nod in sync, which leaves me and Creed. “Since we’re not as hands on, we’re better hanging back, otherwise we could be a major weakness to the overall group.”

I hate how my gut clenches knowing he’s covering for the fact that I have nothing to add to the team, but I appreciate his efforts to not out me. I squeeze his arm as I step closer and the others fan out a step or two, readying in their positions but still holding together until we see what we’re up against.

A scream echoes from another section of the pit and my heart gallops at the sound. Gulping hard, I try to relax my body, but it’s harder than just willing it to happen. A screech reverberates from another section of the pit a moment later, only this time, it definitely doesn’t belong to a human.

“What the hell is that?” Leila yelps, eyes wide as she looks to each of us for an answer, but I have no fucking clue.

The sound rings out again and Creed frowns. “I think it’s a—” his sentence is cut off as his gaze is drawn to the cave, and I follow his line of sight to see what has his attention.

I stifle a gasp, eyes locked on the monster we’re up against. Half lion, half bird. I thought they were a myth, a thing of legends, but the one standing before us, with its talons scratching at the ground, is very fucking real.

“It’s a griffin,” I breathe, standing in awe of the majestic aura in the air around it.

“Everybody take their positions. I’ll use my mind if necessary, but I’m unsure how to penetrate it, so it’s going to take a second,” Creed orders and the others spread out, powers flicking over their skin with every step they take.

“You can’t hurt it,” I shout, drawing a frown from Creed.

“That’s the whole point of the assignment, Raven.”

Turning my attention back to the creature, it tilts its beak up and locks eyes with me, captivating me. Its golden feathers and tan fur shine despite the lack of direct sunlight, the white stripe down its chest ruffling with a nonexistent breeze.

The griffin’s head tilts to the side, its stare penetrating my own, and I swear I can hear its heart beating from here. Ever so slowly, it tips its head down, and before I can even process what’s happening, I take a step toward it. Then another and another, until Zane calls out my name.

“Raven, what the fuck are you doing? Stay back.”

“You can’t hurt him,” I repeat, creeping toward him one small step at a time. I don’t know how I know it’s a male, I just do.

“Raven, get back,” Creed shouts, but I ignore him too.

It’s out of my hands. I couldn’t stop myself even if I wanted to. The closer I get, the bigger he looms, but my feet keep on moving until I’m standing directly beneath him. The sound of his heart still echoes in my ears.

He’s at least three times my size and when he crouches down, the ground vibrates beneath us. I can hear my name being called but the heart beating in my ears blocks it all out as the griffin lowers its beak.

I don’t know what I’m fucking doing, but I lift my hand to his beak before stroking through the feathers down his neck. He croons at my touch, making me smile despite having no clue how this is happening.

“What the fuck is going on?” Eldon yells, breaking through the fog as the griffin nuzzles its face into my stomach. I gently stroke my fingers over its head, bewildered and in awe as a whistle sounds from somewhere in the distance.

“Professor Figgins, someone needs to help us.”

“You don’t need help with anything,” she says calmly, and I manage to tilt my head to see her staring at me, delight dancing in her eyes as she waves Professor Meade closer. “It looks like Miss Hendrix may have found herself a familiar.”