t it was nice and intimate. After, he took me to a movie, ending the evening with a stole along the campus beach and giving me the sweetest kiss I could ever have imagined. A kiss I'd f

Along with irritated glances from Evander whenever he'd see Alex with me. Especially when Alex held my hand as we walke

I hit bullseye the majority of the time, sometimes I miss entirely, but that was why Coach Mars decided I would spend

ension of my arm. Though I was told it was a small division. Not many deities found a whip as their weapon as it turned out. As far as my sword skills, we don't talk about my swordsmanship. I often fo

tural. I currently sat under my tree in the garden attempting to coax the fruit to form from its buds. I still didn't k

ose comments bothered me the most. I felt my power inside me, felt the amount there, I was barely touching it, feeling more human than goddess. As if I was merely watering and pruning

s books that our power could fester in us if it wasn't released enough at a time. The balance of use was like a tight rope walk. Use too much and risk sickness or death, use too little and f

nd appealing. So, instead I just trickled a little more of my power out, not just to my tree, but to the rest of the garden that the others were tending to. Not as much as I

tree. "Oh, look at that, the blooms are forming. Looks kind of like apples to me

place. Then, next weekend would be another first for me. My first fundrai

y answering gesture. I followed her gaze, looking up at my fruit that was in its infan

ng her smile back to me. "So, the Weaponry Meet. Are you ready? I heard from Evander and Alaric th

at class or did they expect me to wield my dagger, or worse my sword. I looked

nd to hand portion?" She asked, concer

use my daggers...or is it just hand to hand, no weapons? No that doesn't make sense

rt of the meet, you can use anything, brute strength for one." I gave her an incredulous look , I definitely didn't have

th m

t there is a no killing

ee again, laying down on the soft grass below it. The sunlight pe

fruit before." Tamera huffed, obviously annoyed that she couldn't tell what it was.

and stomps came from the students and faculty of both school, the arena at capacity. I could feel my nerves building, worried about messing up, embarrassing

of going from foster home to foster home. I had never been on a team. Never participated in an activity. Never did

a first year like me. Her family had come all the way from the East Coast to watch her today. She didn't want to disappoint them and waste their trip by not doing well. We finished dressing and Coach opening the door and calling in the guys who quickly filled the room

ces set in uncharacteristically serious expressions. Especially Alaric, who usually would have been leading the immatur

d work as expected of us. She promised that no matter the outcome of today, she knew we would make her

e, leading us all out of the locker room and straight into the arena. "Get ready Little Warrior." He whispered just before we stepped into full view of the large crowd, raising his ha

till had that serious expression on his face as he looked up towards a VIP box where several gods and goddesses sat together, drinking wine, smiling and chatting with one another, all in rather formal wear for being at a meet. A god looking directly in our direction looked very similar

each other before returning to their respective sides. A man stepping forth and

er held out his hands towards us and the other schools team with a smile as the crowd erupted into cheers, stomping and clapping. "Our first event of the day will be round one of ar

joining their coach for a huddle. Mars noticed their numbers as well, telling us that we had to make sure that we all progressed to the next round for a chanc

in my ear, walking past me to stand with the ot

ng Athena and the others to the line. I watched her summon her

e of encouragement, as if to tell me that we got this. As we both turned and faced the targets set fifty feet ahead of us waiting for the count down to fire. At the order of the announcer, we notched our first arrows, aiming as

he exact placement on the target, quickly notching my next arrow and sending it flying on its own way to my target, the timer ticking down. The more shots I fired in the time span, the better my chances of get

e firing before they stood and walked down to the targets. I didn't let myself look, I knew I've done well in classes. Most of my marks made, but I still

announcer called out. We all moved together, standing dir

efore them, their eyes falling upon us. The god at the very center stood,

waved to them with a grin. "Fifth place, Julius Salem of Deitus." I joined in with the applause as my classmate stepped forward, a smile on his own fa

myself, standing with the four other Celestial Academy members to my left. I held my breath as I waited for one of them to be called out fi

rom the look on his face it was for dramatic effect as he smirked at the silent crowd surrounding us. His display hinting that he was also a

d back and pulled me forward with her that I realized I had not misheard anything. I won. First place. The judges all looked over my

n your quiver?" She asked with

still in shock of my win, my eyes

is hard not to notice." The goddess gave a dark smile as she nodded to my weapon. "Interesting." I met her eyes as she sat back down, smiling as she played with her nec

ay close if we had no other events to participate in. Then the announcer called out the Gun wieldin

eld with the archery line." Evander cheered, pulling me in

them focused on the gunmen as they readied for their even, but the death goddess still watched me, as if I was the most interesting thing here. She didn't look embarrassed

o proud of you Hadie! We took first, second and third fo

rs in Celestial, so it's all you, be ready. Athena, bow staff will be just after that. And gentleman." She turned to Evander and Alaric. "You ready for your sword event? I'm counting on you bot

king their whip training seriously. They were both melee users and their whip was obviously a secondary

dance routine. Athena explained that the first round for all events typically was hands off. Come the hand to hand combat we could show what o

heir hips as the announcer gave instructions for round one of their event. Each taking turns to show their ability as their name was called. As biased as I might be for my friends, I was sure I wasn't the only one who saw that Alaric and Evander were the best

aric's father was. Claiming the judges were trying to earn brownie points, despite the fact that his father wasn't here. I still didn't know exactly who his father was. Just that he

the second round for Archery at one. Deitus Academy will provide a free meal to all guests in the cafeteria. Should you prefer dining out, please be sure

hind me, surprising me for a moment

e on my swordsmanship like you and Alaric." I ans

arm over my shoulders, pulling me tightly to his side and rubbing my upper arm with his thumb as we reached

eria with Alaric and Athena. We all discussed what to expect with round two and the

midnight." Evander said to Alaric, the two ex

ok too weak. You could be right Vand."

n from the VIP box stepped in front of us. "Evander, you did good son. L

"Yeah! Sure Dad, can I bring a friend along?" He as

s, his mother is inside seated already

my shoulders again, hugging me to his side. "Dad, this i

, he was surprised but quickly trained his expression. "Aw, yes, I do believe I've heard about you. No one seems to know where you came from." He looked me up and down, ignoring my offered han

you guys after lunch then." He didn't look at any

a, my mom would love to meet you and have you eat with us." He stated, replacing

hem." I said, ignoring the annoyance I felt at Ev

to our right before steering us in the direction. "And Aife Chanda is not a what, but a who. Don't worry about her though, it's nothing Evander can

nder's father had been talking to in the VIP box. All talking animatedly about the competi

and into a tight embrace. "I'm Reina, Alaric's mom. I've heard so much about you. From so many too. You seem to have made a real impression

ating enough and praising him on his performance so far today. "Where is

oss the back of his mother's chair. "Can you believe he turned down the company of Hadie here?

you until your bloodline as been found. And even then it will depend on what bloodline you come from whether he will tolerate your company or not. He's a purist. He doesn't even ack

We do have many of those i

. "How do you know how pure of a bloodline you are?" I

only settle down with and marry a deity of the gifts as them. Evander's family, for example, is pure war deities, nothing else. No duel gifts, no exceptions. Their belief is that with each generation, they're gifts and abi

else. "So, since I have gifts in all the houses. He views me as infi

types of deities doesn't mean you come from a lesser house. Besides, we have investigated all the lesser houses in the US,

her tells me what he hears fr

ed personal guardian for you. Someone you can call to keep you informed on what we

ances set up for me aside from the school allow

tly, though since you are a love and beauty goddess you also get paid for your photoshoots. The bank account was set up upon your enrollment and you should have gotten that information along

e Headmistress to settle the matter immediately. Sighing

l under eighteen so someone should have been in contact with you

unch was over, Alaric and I said our goodbyes, heading back to the arena to meet the team back in the locker rooms. Reina wished us bot

id, as we headed down th

. Sorry if it embarrassed you or made you uncomforta

s someone who grew up without a mom. I enjoy

my shoulder again, squeezing me int

at really going to

e growing a

N

We both dissolved into a full fit of laughter before we disappeared