The departing descendants stand on the right and those who’ll move on stand on the left. I hurry to join the latter just as Nereus and Hades enter through the arched double doors behind the dais.
Professor Monstrat and a few other house members I don’t know well enough to know their names stand off to the side.
Monstrat looks like he wants to cry or scream.
Ely didn’t make it.
And there’s still dried blood crusted along the side of his face.
Along with Ely stand Theo, Orrin, and another descendant I never bothered to learn the name of.
They all wear grim expressions.
They’re about to lose everything.
And we’re about to lose the memory of them.
It isn’t until this moment that I realize just how horrible this whole thing is. I know virtually nothing about the mortal world, other than what I’ve learned through studies and books. It’s the gods who pay visit to the mortals. Not usually descendants. Or at least not many of us. It isn’t forbidden, but Mt. Olympus is far superior to the mortal realm. We’ve always had everything we’ve ever needed here.
What’ll Ely do over there? And Theo? Why did he voluntarily give up his bracelet?
Why would anyone choose to lose?
Nereus stands at the head of our line, those of us who are to advance. Hades walks in front of those who’ve lost and regards them with a look that’s disparaging.
“You’ve failed me and this house.”
They all keep their eyes trained straight ahead as the God of the Underworld faces them.
“You were chosen for greatness and you were unable to rise to it.” He stops when he reaches Theo. “And some of you sacrificed yourselves for reasons we will never understand.”
Down the line, I sense Haven fidgeting and when I chance a look at him, I see his head is bowed and his eyes are squeezed shut.
Does he feel bad?
No. That can’t be possible. I doubt Haven feels bad about anything he’s said or done. Including this—stealing Theo’s spot so he could live another day.
Except...there’s this weird knotting in my chest like I want to console Haven. Like I want to take his hand in mine and squeeze to let him know that it’ll be alright.
I must be delirious.
Because no way in hell do I feel bad for him. He stole from Theo. Bullied him into giving up. Plain and simple.
“Whatever your Fated journey is from here on out,” Hades says, “it won’t be walked beneath my roof or on the soil of Olympus. You’ll depart from my house and enter through the gate to the mortal realm and never return. Say your goodbyes. They’ll be your last.”
He turns away and disappears through the arched doors.
Pearce and Kal walk over to the others. They do that guy hug—half hug, half handshake.
Kal is saying goodbye to his twin, but his face is as emotionless as if he’s saying goodbye to the milkman.
Haven doesn’t move.
I step closer to him. The urge to console him is still firmly rooted in my heart, but I shove it away and instead say, “I hope Theo survives in the mortal realm.”
Haven grits his teeth. “I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
“Of course, we’ll never know because we won’t even remember he existed.”
A low grumble sounds in the base of Haven’s throat.
Theo comes over to us. “Farewell, brother,” he says.
For a split second, I think Haven will ignore him, but then he breaks and wraps Theo in a hug.
“Be well,” Haven says.
“I will.” Theo pulls away and pats Haven on the shoulder. “Win this for me.”
I snort. “You could have won, Theo, if you didn’t sacrifice yourself.”
Theo frowns and starts to answer when Haven jumps in. “He never would have won. I gave him the easy way out.”
“You forced him into exile. He has no idea what he’s gotten himself into! The mortal realm is no place for a divine—”
“Ana,” Theo says, “it’s alright. I—”
“He made a choice!” Haven’s voice rises as he turns to face me. “I didn’t force him into anything!”
“You’re just a bully. You’ve always been a bully. You and every Knightfall before you. You think you’re so much better than the rest of us that we shouldn’t even try? Bullshit.”
I realize I’m losing control of myself. That just a few hours ago, I’d promised myself I’d play the game and appear weak. Instead I’m making a stand when I should be keeping my mouth shut.
Haven laughs. “I don’t need the might of the Knightfall name.” I feel a skittering up my leg. Then another on my hand. When I look down there’s a black spider climbing up my arm. I yelp and shake it away.
I try to talk myself out of the illusion, try to gain control of it like Max said I could, but I’m caught off guard by it and the more spiders I bat away, the more that appear.
“Enough!” Nereus’s voice booms through the room.
The spiders disappear.
Everyone goes still.
Fury burns in Nereus’s expression. “Your bickering is childish and tiresome. Grow up, the both of you.”
Haven shoots me an accusatory look. One that says, See what you’ve done now?
“It’s time for the remaining to attend the celebration, and the rest to depart.”
With one last look at Theo, Haven nods his head and then leaves for the waiting carriage.
I go to follow him when Theo grabs me by the wrist. “Ana, wait.”
I stop.
“Haven didn’t force me to give up my bracelet.”
For a moment, I’m unsure if I heard him right. “What do you mean?”
“I asked him to let me lose in the first round.”
“Why would you do that?”
His expression turns sheepish and I swear a blush blooms on his cheeks. “For love, I suppose, as cliché as it sounds.”
“Love of Haven?” Gods, is no one immune?
“No.” Theo laughs and shakes his head. His dark curls shift in the light. “The love of a mortal girl. I can be with her now, Ana. Haven gave me that because we’re friends and I’ll forever be in his debt because of it.”
“W-what?” I don’t understand. Even though I hear what he’s saying, I can’t quite make sense of it. Theo wanted to lose? And Haven helped him do it?
“You best go,” Theo says. “The celebration will be one to remember, I’m sure.” But we won’t remember you, is what I want to say. It’s cruel to think about.
“I just wanted you to know,” Theo says. “I did have a choice and Haven let me make it.”
I nod and then wrap him in a hug. “Farewell, Theo. I hope this girl was worth it.”
When I pull back, he smiles wide. “She’s more than worth it.”
As I head outside to the waiting carriage, my stomach twists into knots. I really am out of my depth here. Because the one thing I was certain of, that I thought I could count on, was the wicked cruelty of Haven Knightfall.
And now I know—there’s more to Haven than I first realized. And I don’t want there to be more depth to him. I want there to be less.
Because the more I get to know Haven Knightfall, the less predictable he becomes.