The Broken Curse (12 page)

"Do I look normal now?" I ask her, a strangled laugh bubbling out of me.

"Not normal, but better. We'll get you fixed up in no time."

"Thank you, Lisa. For everything."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

the build up

Lisa and I walk back to the student center together. Our table is considerably fuller. It immediately reminds me of last year when I first came to DGA. The table was crowded and loud. Kara squeals and jumps up when she sees Lisa and darts towards us. Her arms wrap around Lisa's tall body.

"Oh my God, oh my God; I missed you!" Kara yells as they jump together, moving around in a circle. I smile and stand back, watching them with pure elation.
 

I let my eyes roam over the new faces, but they suddenly meet Ari's. He holds me there, refusing to let me see anyone but him. He stares at me with concern clouding his vision. He looks like he's about to stand and come over to fix me. I nod my head, letting him know that I'm okay, and he visibly relaxes.
 

"Come sit, Ryder," Mikey says, and I saunter over to him. I take my seat next to him, letting him place his arm over my shoulders, and take a bite of a cereal bar. I say hello to Carter quickly, noticing him sitting next to Junior across from me.
 

"So, fill me in on the summertime sadness," Lisa says as she sits beside Kara. Junior is on the other side of her, and the second that Kara sits, Junior kisses her temple and wraps his arm around her. "Clearly, that's still going on." She looks at me and rolls her eyes, sticking her finger in her mouth and pretend gagging.
 

"Nothing really happened," I say, shaking my head at her.

"Other than Ryder's sick birthday bash. You missed out." Mikey tightens his hold on my shoulders, tugging me towards him as he speaks.

"What's the plan for today?" Junior asks.

"Professor Onassis said we all should be in the training center around noon. She's going to discuss the game plan," I tell everyone.
 

Lisa and Kara talk about their summers. Apparently, Lisa already moved her things into the dorm room next to ours. She will hopefully get a new roommate since Megan is gone, and it hurts me to think of Lisa having to be alone. I almost volunteer to let Kara and her room together, but the selfish part of me holds back. I just can't do it. I don't want to be the one alone.

"Martin!" I yell as I see him enter the student center. I jump up from my seat and give him a hug, squeezing his skinny body. He chuckles, his voice low. I can feel it where I touch him. I let him go and step back.
 

"It's good to see you, too," he chuckles as he returns the action.

"I'm so glad you came."
 

"Me too." He smiles, and I notice when I pull back and look at him that he's not wearing glasses anymore. He must notice my curious look, because he nods before answering. "Got some contacts, so I can see better."

"You look great," I tell him honestly.

"Come sit, Martin!" Mikey calls, patting the spot beside him.
 

We walk over together and sit back down. I swear, I've been up and down, up and down a hundred times so far today. But I'd do it again to see Shane walk through those doors.
 

Kara, Lisa, and I walk to the student center together at five before noon. The guys are about ten steps behind us, shoving each other around. I glance back and see Martin laughing with Mikey and Carter. I'm glad that they've accepted him into the group.
 

"Stop freaking out," Kara says as she takes my hand in hers. I turn back around and walk with her. She squeezes my fingers, but her touch provides little comfort. My nerves are skyrocketing through my body, my stomach full of bubbles.
 

"We've got your back," Lisa agrees, taking my other hand.
 

I look at these two girls beside me and want to burst into a fit of tears. The support from them means the world to me, and the fact that they're both here by my side tears me apart. I never thought that I even deserved forgiveness, but the fact that they support me means so much I can't even put it into words.
 

We enter the student center. Unfamiliar faces stare back at me. Ari stands beside Cristos, speaking to a group of men that I don't recognize. They're huddled beneath a basketball hoop, Ari leaning against the brick wall. I look between the two new faces he stands with, both dark and shadowed, but friendly nonetheless.
 

My eyes travel to Ollie. Dimitri stands behind him in the back of the room near the far bleachers. It's almost like he's afraid to bring Dimitri anywhere near me, with the way they huddle in the back. I shake my head at Dimitri, even though he's not looking, wanting to get a rise out of him.
 

Professor Onassis sits on the bleachers, in what seems like the front of the room. A few women speak with her in hushed tones, laughing. Their demeanor throws me off. They seem like they're at a high school reunion, whispering and giggling. Not a war recruitment meeting.
 

I look behind us as we stand in the doorway and notice that the guys aren't here yet. The three of us walk towards the middle of the room. I look around, trying to understand why these people came to help when my eyes catch Professor Onassis. She waves, her trial hand in the air. I excuse myself from the girls and walk over to the bleachers.

"Darling, I'd like for you to meet my sisters, Mimi and Lee. Girls, this is Eurydice, the wonderful young girl I've been telling you about." I look between the three women. It's painfully obvious that Cece is the oldest.
 

The two other women don't look a day over twenty. It's clear that they haven't begun to age yet. They share the same violet eyes, filled with worry and passion. They also share a small stature. I can tell by their warm eyes that they're friendly. It's the same type of feeling I got when I first met Cece, not too long ago.

"It's great to meet you both." I hold out my hand and shake both of theirs. They smile at me, quiet, but reassuring.
 

"We're honored to meet you, Eurydice. You have our support."

"Thank you," I say, cutting my eyes to Cece. She nods, a proud smile on her face.
 

"I have a little surprise for you," Cece says, smiling like she'd holding onto a big secret. "Go into the hall. Be back in ten minutes, because I'll introduce everyone."

"A surprise. What?" I mentally try to figure out what it could be.
 

"Just go, dear."

I nod, lean forward to hug her, and run into the hallway. I push through the metal double doors and look both left and right. I see him standing against the wall of windows, just a few feet down the building wall. I jump into his arms, and he easily catches me, grunting with my weight.
 

"I missed you so much, baby girl."

"I missed you too, Dad. What are you doing here?"

"Your lovely professor may have called me and told me what was going on since
someone
hasn't called in over a week. So, I thought I'd come for a visit and we could talk."

"Thank you. I needed this," I tell him as he leads us over to a bench. We sit side by side; for a moment, we're silent. I bask in his presence, his comfort, his familiarity. I don't want to have to go back inside.

"What's going on in that head, Ryder?"

"I don't know. I'm so confused. I know that this is the right thing, but it doesn't feel right."

"What feels wrong?"

"I'm leading these people to their death."

"You don't know that."

"Don't I?"

"Listen," he says, grabbing onto my shoulders and turning me so I face him. His wrinkled eyes are full of love. They always are. "These people love you and support you. They're making the choice to go into the Underworld with you. That's on them. If I could, I would go with you."

"I wouldn't want you to."

"But I still would," he says, a knowing look on his face.

"I've killed demons."

"Were they attacking you?" I look at him and nod. "Then you're fine. It's self-defense. Don't lose yourself to the anger you feel inside. Remain Eurydice Mason and nothing you do can change that."

"It's just hard sometimes."

"This is all going to be hard. And guess what?" He pauses. "It's only going to get harder. The next few weeks are going to be the hardest of your life. But don't you think the payoff will be worth it?"

"If everything goes well, then yes."

"But even if you fail,
you
tried." I frown, thinking about what might happen if we don't contain Hades—if we don't find my mother. If we don't break the curse. "For the record, I know you'll succeed."

"Thanks, Dad. I love you."

"I love you, too. Now, let's get back in there and start this thing." I nod and take his hand in mine. We walk into the training center together. I notice the boys standing together beside Kara and Lisa.

Shane.
 

My eyes land on him and widen involuntarily. He came. He came for me. He looks up, as if sensing my arrival, but he doesn't meet my gaze. Instead, he steps backwards behind Mikey and looks away. My heart sinks.
 

Professor Onassis spots me and waves me over again. I sneak a final glance at Shane. He's not looking at me. He's now talking to Carter and Mikey behind the girls. I turn and move back over towards Cece.
 

"I'm scared to go up and talk. What if they don't want to help? What if people leave?"

"I'm sure some will, but the ones who matter will stay."

"Eurydice Mason, please don't tell me you ditched again!" Kara yells, calling attention to us both, as she walks towards me.
 

"Trust me, you don't want to piss her off," Dad says, smiling between us.

"I know," I say and let go of him finally. I sprint, and I'm across the room beside Kara in a blink. She flinches back, startled, and I giggle. You'd think by now she'd be used to this. I flaunt my speed like it's a brand new designer purse.

"You ready?" she asks me, becoming serious.

"As ever," I tell her, nodding.
 

"Go ahead," she says and pushes at the small of my back. Professor Onassis nods to me and folds her hands on her lap. I stumble forward a little, but right myself easily. I clear my throat and then speak from my heart.

"I have to ask for your help. I'm sure Professor Onassis or Ari or Kara have called you here and told you why." I stop to take a much-needed breath. My mouth feels like a cotton ball was stuffed inside. "In order to prevent Hades from gaining access to Earth, I have to create an army to take into the Underworld. And I'm asking you all to be a part of it."

After my last word, two things happen. Hysteria breaks loose and everyone starts talking all at once. White noise vibrating in the high training center ceilings. And then some people leave. They're out of the gym in a flash, and I'm left feeling empty—hollow. I never even got to meet them.
 

My heart races in my chest like it's running a marathon. I knew that this would happen. My dad warned me it might happen. But I guess I thought because people traveled all this way, that they knew what they were in for. I didn't honestly think people would go.
 

"It's okay," Kara tells me as she places her hand on my shoulder. She stands right behind me, offering her support, but it doesn't help. I stand and watch as people make their decisions and debate whether to stay and possibly die or leave. I can't say I blame those who leave, but it doesn't hurt any less. We needed them to help us.

Before all this, I would have gone too. I wouldn't have risked myself for another. I would have run as fast as my scrawny legs could take me. All of a sudden, the room quiets, and a circle is formed around Professor Onassis, who stands in the center of the training center.
 

"Quiet please," she asks everyone, looking around the room at each person. She doesn't yell, but it seems like every person hears her and immediately obeys. "I know this may seem like a lot to ask, but let me explain something. By not fighting alongside Eurydice, you're basically signing your death certificate anyway. Hades will be free to roam Earth. Do you think for one second he will let those with gods' blood live? Do you think he'll have mercy on teenagers and young gods like yourselves?

"I understand that this seems like a large task. But we do not even know if this will escalate into a war. If he sees a group like this, it will intimidate him. He'll be scared. And that's exactly why Eurydice has chosen you all.

"She trusts you—this group of young Nephilim and gods—beside her at probably the most difficult time in her life. She trusts you to stand by her and support her.
 

"But not only will you end her curse, you'll keep Hades's curse intact. You'll save Earth and countless humans from his followers running rampant. You'll save the Nephilim who are just children from being brought up in a time of war and constant fear.

"I know it may seem like a lot to ask, but we're not asking for an answer now. We're just asking for you think about it. We're just asking for a chance at saving humanity. So, don't say anything. Don't commit. We have about a month of time. Demons are already roaming the Earth, attacking innocents. On Friday of this week, we'll meet here again and those who show up, we thank you. Those who don't, we thank you for considering. No questions asked. No grudges.