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Cameron started his clichéd opening speech with, “This is the class of basic combat training, your introduction into a great career as a Dominion soldier.”
I almost raised a hand and asked him what if I didn’t plan to be a career Dominion soldier. I knew it wasn’t up to me, though. Half-Blood Academy had said clearly that I couldn’t turn down its summons, but I still couldn’t help rebelling against how they’d robbed me—all of us—of our freewill. Then again, maybe the whole idea of freewill was a delusion.
“Here, you’ll learn the traditions, strategies, and techniques to become a Dominion soldier,” Cameron continued. “You’ll learn discipline as we instill in you the codes and creeds of the Academy. You’ll accomplish tasks. After you graduate from this class, you’ll move to advanced combat training, where you—”
“We’re going to make a few adjustments,” Paxton cut in impolitely, his voice booming. And every student, except me, wheeled toward him as if he were a god.
I almost shouted at them that Pigston was only a demigod. And I wondered why Cameron didn’t even protest as he was basically shoved away. The lieutenant was the rightful instructor, but he just stepped aside silently.
“We’ll skip the out-of-date procedures,” Paxton said. “Basic training is no longer practical in today’s world. We’ve lost a lot of strong, disciplined soldiers fighting the good war against the demons. We need many more capable soldiers. We need you to step up and be battle-ready. As a result of my discussions with my demigod peers and the generals yesterday, we have decided that from now on, Half-Blood Academy will be a two-and-a-half year program instead of dragging on for four years. All of you will follow a new curriculum.”
The fucker changed the rules just like that.
Cameron and Marie traded a subtle look. They weren’t in the loop either.
“Let’s start with learning your strengths and weaknesses,” Paxton continued, his hard gaze falling on me.
What had I done now? He just couldn’t take his gaze off me, could he? But I restrained myself from pulling my lips back to a half-sneer. So I half-turned to him and half-listened. Marie had warned me not to be a fool hitting a rock with an egg, but I could be a hard-boiled egg.
“I’m going to pair you up and get you started,” Paxton continued. “Let’s see what kind of material you’re made of.”
A human material?I mouthed.
So the Demigod of Sea wanted to get us fighting right away. He was even more bloodthirsty than his Demigod of War cousin.
That was fine with me so long as he didn’t pair me up with either Yelena or Nat. I didn’t want to hurt them.
So when Paxton sent Nat to fight George, the other outsider, I beamed. But when he called Yelena and Demetra, I stepped forward.
“I volunteer to have a bout with One-eighth in Yelena’s place,” I said.
“One-eighth?” Paxton asked, narrowing his eyes, and Demetra shot daggers at me, face reddening in anger.
“Oh, sorry,” I said. “I meant Demetra.”
Cameron kept a straight face. Marie coughed over a chuckle, then covered her mouth and shot me a warning glance. The other students stared at me in shock, but one of them chortled shortly.
“Did you know we have a rule of no name-calling in Half-Blood Academy, Marigold?” Paxton asked.
“Which clause?” I snickered since I bet he’d made that up just now.
“Quote it, Cameron,” Paxton said.
“Half-Blood Academy Dominion Soldiers’ Code of Conduct number 1175 says—” Cameron started, but Paxton waved him off.
Damn! There were over a thousand codes of conduct? I blinked in shock and dismay. How was I going to navigate them all?
“For your violation of Half-Blood Academy Dominion Soldiers’ Code of Conduct number 1175, you’ll receive another punishment,” Paxton said. “You can run twenty laps during lunch since you won’t be eating today.”
So he not only wanted to starve me but also planned for me to pass out running twenty laps on an empty stomach.
“Give me a break,” I said, planting my feet apart. “You called me a name, too.”
The class gasped at my audacity. Yelena and Nat looked really worried now. Marie shook her head at me.
“What did I call you, Marigold?” Paxton asked in mocking curiosity.
I wouldn’t take the bait. He knew I hated it when he called mePrincesa. I wasn’t going to say it aloud and have the whole school calling me that.
