Descendants Academy: Young Adult Urban Fantasy by Belle Malory (most important books of all time txt) 📗

been petitioning for their own house for years, but I doubt it will ever get approved.” He grinned. “Poseidon is water and storm magic, and Athena uses mind magic.”

Grandpa’s old colleague, Willa, was an Athena descendant with a psychic connection to truth and deceit. She could tell when anyone lied, which made her invaluable to MEM.

“Hades is…” Zack shivered. “The kind of magic that borders on darker stuff.”

“Darker stuff?”

“Death magic, for one. Demonic, for another. They can create demons and monsters.”

Monsters? I hadn’t considered that those might exist along with the other supernatural beings in Mythos, and I wished Zack hadn’t told me. Creepy crawlies already sent me over the edge, especially spiders. If there were giant-sized creepy crawlies out there, I didn’t want anything to do with them.

“Mental note to self: stay away from Hades.”

Zack chuckled. “They have to abide by Mythonian laws when they practice, but when someone gets into trouble, it’s usually always a descendant of Hades.”

“Good to know. And Creatura?”

“Halflings and creatures. Some of them have magic, some don’t.”

I nodded, figuring that was where Hazel would be placed.

“Sounds like an interesting school, that’s for sure. By the way, what age do they start kids here?”

“First years are seventeen, since that’s when your magic typically roots inside of you.”

That wasn’t so bad. Since I just turned seventeen, I was right on track.

“Cupids are special cases.” He puffed out his chest proudly. “We have a private wing in House Aphrodite and our own set of teachers.”

“What makes you so special, huh?” I teased, nudging him with my elbow. “And how many years do we spend studying?”

“Six. The first four are pretty standard. The last two are considered your mastery years—and I think it’s pretty obvious why I’m special. I’m Viagra in human form.”

Oh Jesus. This kid was on another level. “So how did you get stuck with me? I doubt I’m anyone’s first choice in Aphrodite.”

He led me out into a courtyard of lush green gardens decorated with stone sculptures. “Most of the classrooms are through there,” he said, pointing to another towering white building adorned with Grecian columns. This one had intricate carvings of animals on the arches, some I recognized and others I didn’t, and the word, Academia, sculpted above the entrance. “You’re going to be my special project. I’m about to age out. I’m in my last year, at the top of my class. Since you’re new to magic, there is no one better to train with.”

“I see.” As we drew closer, I noticed the building expanded for miles. Whoa. “How many guardians attend this school?”

Zack shrugged. “Probably close to five thousand. House Aphrodite is northeast. Let’s get you settled.” He headed that way, his pack of arrows clinking as he walked.

“How’s the Wi-Fi?” I said, figuring I already knew the answer to that question.

Zack snorted. “Sorry to break the news, but most technology doesn’t work in Mythos. EMF and radiation interfere with our magic.”

Wonderful. Dad literally cut me off from the outside world.

“Don’t worry though,” he said. “Magic helps us get along just fine.”

“Any other fun facts I should know?”

As we walked, Zack filled me on campus life. He told me about the rivalries between the houses. He went over which professors were easy and which ones were strict. He also couldn’t stop talking about the Magic Olympics that took place at the end of the year. “Aphrodite never wins,” he said with a sigh. “The other houses are naturally adept at sports. As the saying goes, we’re lovers, not fighters. But hey, now that we have some Ares blood, our odds might be better.”

I smiled awkwardly. I didn’t want to burst his bubble and tell him I wasn’t great at sports either. The only athletic thing I’d ever been interested in was horseback riding. Occasionally, I liked to jog in the mornings before school, too, but Riley had always been the athlete. The shelves in her room were full of trophies for soccer, softball, and gymnastics. Things she used to enjoy before her radar tuned to boys and parties.

We stopped in front of the northeast building. Aphrodite was carved in stone above the entryway.

“You’re on the second level. Dorm room 10. It looks like a little triangle.”

Ah, acrophonic numerals. Dad taught the basics in his class at the community college.

Two guys in white togas strolled past, eyeing Zack and me. They even went so far as to turn around and look over their shoulders.

“Get used to that,” Zack said, straightening. “Aphrodite students don’t know the meaning of subtle. We’re also the gossip mill of the houses, and you’re fresh meat.”

“Lovely.” I gripped my suitcase, pulling it close to my side.

“We like to know everything about everyone,” Zack said. “To be honest, it helps with our studies.”

“You sure it’s not a good excuse to be nosy?”

He laughed. “You can’t put love in the air without getting to know people.”

“Hey, that reminds me.” I took out the list the headmaster provided. “Where do I get my books?”

“The library, but it’s closed on Sundays. Most students arrived last week. Here, give that to me, and I’ll have them delivered to your room.”

I handed him the list, and he gave me a thumbs-up. “See you tomorrow, Thorne.”

“Thanks, Zack.”

As I walked up the steps, he hedged there on the sidewalk. “Was there anything else?” I said, pausing at the door. I got the feeling he left something unsaid.

“Yeah.” He ran a hand through his mop of curls. “It’s just…you’re roommates with Ione. She’s brilliant, but she takes some getting used to.”

“Isn’t this house supposed to teach love?”

Zack snorted. “Exactly, but…well. Good luck.”

With that said, he readjusted his pack of arrows and headed back down the sidewalk, no further explanation. Guess I would have to find out for myself just what kind of roommate situation was waiting for me.

The first floor was a shared community space, full of sofas and chaises. I looked around, noticing how pretty everything was. Oil paintings and tapestries covered the walls. Plush carpets lined