Page 123 of Hero of Havoc

“I need you to listen to me, Hugo. Our mother paid me another lovely visit, only this time… she killed me.”

“What the fuck?” he grunts, and I wave him off with my hand as if he can see me.

“It doesn't matter, but after another trip to see Rapture and a conversation on the matter, I⁠—”

“Another trip to the dragons? What are you talking about, Ivy?”

Frustration boils inside of me, my mind muddled with all the information. “Please, just call a meeting. The arena again,” I state, ending the call and handing the device back to Baron, and the second it's in his palm, it vibrates, making his eyes widen in surprise.

“Apparently, we've got ten minutes to get there, Firefly,” he breathes, and I nod, spinning on the spot to head directly toward the arena.

It's not lost on me that I'm still dressed in Teddy's clothes, the joggers and t-shirt, completely oversized, but I try to adjust the waistband once again to hold it in place as I trudge across campus.

Baron, thankfully, remains quiet at my side, giving me space to think, and to my surprise, when we arrive at the arena, we're one of the last ones there.

Teddy, Archer, and Sax are waiting for us outside, and when they catch a glimpse of me, my Fire Protector charges toward me like a man possessed, pinning me to his chest as he curses in my ear.

“I left you alone for two fucking minutes, Ivy. Are you okay?”

“I’m weirdly okay,” I admit as he leans back to rake his eyes over me, but the second he’s done with his assessment, Sax steps up to do his.

“Sunshine,” he breathes, and I smile.

“It’s like you were destined to have a hard couple of days,” he grumbles, and I hum in agreement.

“I’m more baffled by the fact that I died and I’m still here without having to recuperate,” I mumble, and he nods, squeezing my shoulder.

“So there are no repercussions at all?” he clarifies, and I twist my lips nervously.

“My magic is a little weaker because of it, but I’m okay otherwise,” I explain as Teddy appears at my side, pressing a kiss at my temple before we fall into step, heading for our usual spots around the table.

Unlike last time when I called a meeting, Professor Viola is already waiting, seated in her spot, likely to ensure I don't try to take charge as I did then. But my emotions are different this time. For now.

“Miss Hayworth. You're making this a habit,” she states, steepling her fingers together, and I hum.

“I wish I wasn’t,” I offer, accounting for every filled chair before I continue. “But the fact of the matter is, we've got to adapt to the changes.”

“How so?” she asks as my gaze lands on my brother.

I take a deep breath and explain the past hour of my life. From my mother killing me to my conversation with the dragons. I lay it all out for everybody in the room, unfazed whether they're an enemy or an ally, because the fact of the matter is, it might affect only me right now, but it's going to affect everyone eventually. And even I wouldn't wish this pain on my worst enemy, my gaze lingering on Odesa as I think it.

“And the dragons tell me my only option is to know what that relic has to offer. Which means I can take one of two routes: seal myself in an invisible, binding contract with someone I don't care to offer that control to, or I turn to The Fates.”

“You can't turn to The Fates,” Professor Viola states, her eyebrows pinching as she stares at me, and I sigh.

“The alternative is going to be me as the Kingdom Champion of the Second Kingdom. Is that what The Fates want?” I press, and Viola shakes her head.

“Of course not.”

I plant my hands on my hips, more to hold my pants up than anything. “So you are understanding of the matter then? Because I can’t continue to sit around while my mother acts, never mind Leonardo, who continues to push past boundaries like they don’t exist. This is more than me just wanting to chat with The Fates,” I ramble, on the brink of reeling off all of my issues again, but I refrain.

“You can't just simply go to The Fates,” she reiterates and sighs.

“I either go to The Fates, or I go to the enemy, and it seems there are plots against us bigger than we're prepared for.”

“You can't be sure of that, Ivy,” she says with a heavy exhale.

“And you can't be sure of what The Fates want without asking them,” I retort, frustration brimming in my words.