Chapter Three

3
Eris

I was really hoping I wouldn't find anything at that school. Seriously. Everything was so clean I was afraid to touch anything. How could a descendant of King Adarius Cohen (say "co-an") be there? A teenager of an Underworld Bloodline in a place cleaner than a hospital. Please. That's like saying Winnie the Pooh loves pants.

But the real reason I was reluctant? It's rather simple, actually. And, of course, downright embarrassing. It was the first time my aunt, Katrina (we call her Kat), ever sent me to look for the "Left Hand of Hades" of the Underworld. I was afraid. What if something went wrong and I completely mess up and entire world dies because of me? Melodramatic? You should meet one of my best mates, Jennie.

I'm the Guardian. My duty is to protect The Book. Ooh, scary. Yeah, well, I didn't have a choice. My mum was the former guardian. It's my turn. No pressure. Right.

My aunt and I always talked about how thrilling it would be for me. Huh. Kat (sounds like I'm referring to a friend, doesn't it) probably wanted to motivate me in my training. It worked, darling aunt. I was shaking in my boots and tried not to show it.

Everything was so blue. Don't get me wrong, blue's my favourite colour. But in excess, it's just annoying.
Anyway, as I mentioned before, I was sent there to track a certain "Hades's Left Hand". Of course, I had a cover. I was sent there by the BriarRose Academy headmistress to discuss a partnership with Lauren Greene Junior High on green movement in our schools. Typical.

"This way, Miss," a teacher in his early twenties opened the door to the waiting room outside the principal's office for me.

For a teacher, he looked real cute. I smiled up at him as I passed, to be polite. He blinked. His cheeks turned scarlet. Gee. Why does every male creature do that? Don't they ever get smiled at? Sighing, I waited in front of the secretary's desk. I noted the window big enough for me to jump through if need be, the light chairs strong enough to kill a mortal, the magazine thick enough to bash a grown up's skull . . .

The door closed quietly and I heard the teacher's unsteady footsteps disappearing down the hall.

A girl was already there, sulking in a chair. Her rich blue eyes would have been stunning but her brows were furrowed in irritation. Messily-cut short black hair framed her face surprisingly well, covering her right eye. It was highlighted with bloodred streaks. She looked a bit tan and had a fair amount of cuts and bruises. I'd say she was slightly shorter than me, and younger. She looked thirteen. Either she's tall or I'm short. No way I was two years older and only that much taller. Her school jacket was tied around her waist and I could see her skirt folded, even when her shirt was untucked.

By then, she was looking at me too. Everything about her screamed troubled childhood. I tilted my head slightly, wondering.

She had marks on her skin. Most of which were hidden under her clothes, but they were there. Light blue, almost transparent . . . It was as if I'd been electrocuted. She's the descendant! At the exact same time, the girl's face began to drain of blood.

Oh my gosh! She's starting! Hear voices, heck. Any person would go bonkers. Pray she won't get her powers now! It would be way easier to handle her when she's not throwing fireballs at me!

I could feel The Book in my sling bag getting warmer. It does that when an enemy is around. That girl was the only one around! She lifted her hand to her temple. The voices must have been starting. If she wasn't able to take that, her head would have exploded, literally.

Panic was rising up my throat. If I didn't do something, that girl would cause trouble, not die, but cause some serious trouble. I calmed myself down (you have no idea how hard it is to do that with the thought of a human time bomb) and began channeling my mind.

Her head was a mess, that was my first thought. But then I slammed into a solid mental wall (I don't know if that makes sense, but you get the point...do you?). Ever tried that? I suggest not.

I broke down that wall the voice made and began to handicap it. Handicapping is mentally disabling someone or something (along with its five senses), just FYI. The voice was a demon. A very trusted demon of the Underworld, apparently. Its mission? To get the descendant of the Underworld Royal Bloodline to kill the Guardian. Very comforting.

Anyway, I handicapped it, feeling its senses become nothing, its thoughts emptying. I grabbed a hold of that and tied several knots, which would take centuries to untie. (Experts can make it last milleniums.) Think of the thoughts and senses as a really long piece of glowing thread. A normal person with normal thoughts and five senses has a straight thread, no knots. Now, when you tie knots in it, you get something like an autistic person who has Alzheimer's. Except with no thoughts whatsoever.

The girl relaxed a little but her face was still very pale. I pulled myself out of her head just in time to see the door opening to Principal Farrer and a teacher who made dorks look cool.

"That delinquent girl was so rude to me, Principal Farrer! She threatened to kill me and torture me! And just look at her attire! I suggest public canning, followed by suspension! If she puts even a single hair out of ..." his annoying voice kept squeaking.

What a snob. I bet his poor mother still has to live with him and doesn't have the heart to kick him out. And the way he talks about the troubled child! The nerve! I'd like to see him say that when I make the gravity disappear from under his feet.

Shoot! Got to make them forget why the girl is here! She'll probably tell them about me. Gee. I thought I could have a little fun messing with that doorknob.

Like all the Guardians in the world, I have the power to alter people's memories. And I did just that with Principal Farrer and geekface. Let's just say they were looking pretty confused. I would give just about anything just to replay the unglam looks on their faces.

The girl was still slumped in her chair, looking like she might pass out. Shame, if she weren't my natural born enemy, I might actually like her.

Now's my chance.

I jumped through the window and sprinted until I couldn't see the blue and white school anymore. Time to report to Kat.