Broken Knights (Gifted Academy #4) - Michelle Hercules Page 0,27
There are cries of pain, but they’re muffled thanks to the pounding of my pulse in my ears. The blast fades, and so does my strength. My legs give out from under me, and when the room comes into focus again, black dots speckle my sight. At least my adversaries are flat on their backs, motionless.
I don’t move from my spot for several beats. A minute later, I catch someone approaching from the corner of my eye. I’m so tapped out that I can’t even scan the newcomer’s signature. My eyes widen in surprise when I see Renata Pomme, another one of Drusilla’s minions, moving toward me. My spine becomes rigid and my hands curl into fists. Unfortunately, I don’t have any more juice in me. If she’s coming to attack, I can only use my bare hands to defend myself.
“Are you okay?” she asks, surprising the hell out of me. Her eyes are round and devoid of falsehood though.
“I’ve been poisoned. I need to see Nurse Ellen.”
She reaches for my arm and helps me off the floor as if I weigh nothing. She’s a level ten Idol, and her main ability is super strength. Toby felt firsthand the power of her gift when she broke his arm while he tried to defend Daisy.
“I thought you were in a psych ward,” I say.
“I was for a while. What happened to Drusilla messed me up.”
I try not to wince. The island god drove Drusilla insane. She turned against Renata and forced the girl to mutilate herself. And as a final act of lunacy, she compelled Rufio to kill her so she could frame him for her murder. The plan almost worked.
“Why are you helping me?”
She furrows her eyebrows, then glances left and right in a cagey manner. “You guys helped me when Drusilla went crazy. I’m returning the favor.”
“Well, thanks. Do you know where everyone is?”
“I can’t believe you don’t know. There’s been a change in the school’s administration. Your mother got sacked.”
“What?” I freeze midstep.
“It happened earlier this morning. The new principal didn’t even let her collect her personal belongings from her office. She was escorted out of the building and off the school grounds.”
Shit. Maybe I should have listened to her voice messages or called her back.
“Who is the new principal now?” I ask.
“Mr. Harris. He’s an albino freak with pink irises and a mean look about him. The first thing he did was gather all Fringe students and lock them in the auditorium.”
Son of a bitch. One of the Neo Gods I met when my father took us to meet his master was an albino man. And now Idol students are armed with lightning-glass weapons. This can’t be a coincidence.
“How come Cherise isn’t locked down with the other Fringes?”
Renata looks into my eyes, and I read fear in her gaze. “I think Cherise has been recruited by the Neo Gods.”
My blood runs cold. “What makes you say that?”
“I overheard her talking with some high-level Fringes earlier. She was threatening them. Either they joined the cause, or they’d perish with the scum.”
Damn it. They’re really not fucking around. I’m not even surprised by those developments. We faced Fringes in Hawk City armed with lightning-glass.
My thoughts become consumed with worry. Toby didn’t reply to my message. He must be locked down with the rest. I have to get to him.
I steer us toward the auditorium.
“Where do you think you’re going?” she asks.
“I have to help those Fringes. They aren’t safe.”
“You can’t help anyone in your current state. You’re bleeding and can’t even walk on your own.”
Fuck. She’s right. I need reinforcements. I hope Nurse Ellen is still around. She helped Daisy before, and Phoenix told me her girlfriend was a Norm. But if the Neo Gods took control of Gifted Academy, they must have cleaned house and gotten rid of all Norm sympathizers.
We’re halfway to the infirmary when three goons block our path. They’re older and not wearing school uniforms. But they’re Idols and, my guess, Neo Gods.
“Where do you think you’re going?” the one in the middle asks.
“I’m taking him to the see the nurse,” Renata replies. “He’s hurt.”
“Hurt?” The guy to the left snorts. “If he’s hurt, then it means he’s a Fringe and shouldn’t be roaming in the hallways.
Damn. Am I so weak that they’re mistaking me for a Fringe?
“I’m not a Fringe,” I grit out.
“Then you must be one of those traitors who likes to mingle with the dirt. Leave him to us, girlie.”