Page 112 of Trivium

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Zeina didn’t know how much time had passed as she lay in the shallow part of the lake on her back, her breasts bobbing in and out of the water, her hair floating around her head.

It’s time to go back.

She sat up and looked over to where the Hydra had collected on the shoreline. Dahlia looked over at her, eyes locked on hers.

No, she responded in her mind.

Your sisters need you, Zeina.

Zeina ran her hands back and forth on top of the water, feeling its soft surface caress her palm. She didn’t want to go back. She wanted to stay here with the Hydra. She knew now—she was wild. Her place wasn’t back at the Academy; it was here, with them.

Your sisters, Dahlia repeated.

They could visit her, she reasoned. Or she could visit them, in time. For now, she was quite happy here, where she was free. Why would she return to a place she had to hide?

Your journey is just beginning. You can try to fight it, but it’s useless; you must walk it, Dahlia said, as if reading her thoughts. This freedom is temporary. There are greater things waiting for you. Greater freedoms you have yet to know.

Zeina could have stayed. She wanted to stay. But something deep inside of her told her to go. To listen to Dahlia.

Without a word, she pulled herself out of the lake, shivering slightly. It was a hot day, but the breeze gave her wet body a chill. She slid her Academy uniform back on, pulling the damp fabric free when it stuck to her skin.

She looked at the Hydra, sighing.

“Where will you be? So I can visit?” Suddenly, she realized that the Hydra could simply leave. While she wouldn’t stop them, her heart squeezed at the thought of never seeing them again.

We will be around, Dahlia said, while Junie came up and nudged Zeina with one of her heads. Send Aria if you need us.

Zeina had to stand on her toes to reach Junie’s neck, and the creature purred, her eyes closing at the touch.

“That’s the spot, hey?” She giggled, and Junie chirped.

Zeina. Dahlia’s voice was in her mind again, stern and commanding.

“Fine. I’m going,” she said out loud, squeezing out her hair.

75

LOVELEENA

With the Hydra missing, Headmaster Adeyemi ordered everyone to the Great Hall until the faculty decided what to do about the final assessment.

“Maybe with the Hydra gone, they’ll cancel the last assessment,” Emerson said, leaning into her.

She snorted. “And miss a chance to torture us? No way.”

“As you all know…” Adeyemi’s head was held high. “The final assessment did not go as planned, and the Hydra have yet to be located.”

Loveleena searched the visible upper halls for any trace of Zeina, and spotted her hiding behind a pillar, honey gold eyes peering out. Something about Zeina looked different. Her hair was wet and tangled, no longer a smooth Ahmina copy-cat, and her clothes were rumpled and damp. They locked eyes and Zeina shot her a large, genuine grin.

“Look up to the left,” she whispered to Ahmina.

“Why does she look like she just climbed out of a swamp?”

“Are you really surprised?”

Ahmina chuckled.