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By the time the next exam came up, the wheels were set in motion.
Lukas “accidentally” left a practice exam on Dr. Ansi’s desk after her office hours.
The oracle released a column saying her favorite freshmen were about to have the luck of their life. (At least, it looked like the oracle’s column, preprinted on the same desk.)
Hearsay promoted that the terrible three, laundry-tampering fiend included, landed an authentic copy of our next written examination.
$100 if you wanted a copy from them. $200 if you wanted the detailed, written explanations on the back.
And from the shock on my classmates’ faces when Dr. Ansi handed out our next test, I knew my scheming had worked.
Half the class failed.
Spirit saboteurs, indeed.
ChapterEleven
THE ORACLE MUSINGS
House recruitment has begun! Who will rise above this year and recruit the best class? Will it be the charming Siren House or the elusive Fae House? Will Angel House give out enough fake halos to convince the potential new members they deserve wings? Will Wolf House find enough lone wolves to make a functioning pack? Can this year’s Vampire coven put the blood in bloodthirsty? Only one thing is certain—the recruits of Rose House are just as prickly as they are pretty.
I spent all night studying,eager to find my place in this University and be best prepared for round one. Fae House, like my mother, was known for trickery within honesty. Wolf House, like Adam and Xavier, was recklessly brave and loyal. Siren House was beautiful and secretive, always persuading others to give them what they wanted.
I rummaged through my drawers, throwing clothes left and right. My room was slowly becoming as unorganized as my middle brother Jason’s. Which was kind of embarrassing, considering he was a teenage boy and I was a sophisticated young woman.
Fated stars, where was it? The drawer slammed; I yanked another open. I just bought new nail polish for recruitment, and it needed time to dry, and I was already running so late—
“Missing something?”The sleeve of a jacket wrapped around my wrist, halting my frantic search.
“Obviously!” I shook Gaksi off.
The sleeve rewound in a flash. “Your phone is ringing, Miss Disorganized.”
Underneath the pile of haphazardly strewn clothes, my phone vibrated. Pushing the laundry aside, I answered.
“Want to walk over together?” Aubrey asked.
“Sure, Aubrey. Meetup between our dorms at Curie hall?” I asked, tossing junk aside.
“Perf!”
Cordelia met up with us when we got there. “There are so many people here!” she said, awed.
The entire Colossal ballroom was filled with seats. The sickly sweet smell of hairspray permeated the air. Compacts snapped open for last-minute touch-ups, and lip gloss popped back into containers.
“Even the boys dressed up,” Cordelia mentioned. They wore grey and black suits with bow ties. Like prom.
“That’s because it’s not just four years of school,” Aubrey said. “It’s for life. You can never change House once you’re initiated. And they can never remove your magic, either.”
It was a permanent bond and show of faith. Once you earned magic, it lasted until death, where it burned through you before returning to the University.
“Come on, let’s sit for the speeches,” Aubrey said, dragging us to our seats.
Each House had a brief introduction, and then we divided into small groups to physically visit each one. A housed student acted as a guide to each small group but hid her identity so there wouldn’t be any bias in advising. Ours found me and Aubrey within minutes of arriving. Cordelia was swept away into a different group.
“Ladies.” She hugged us both. “I’m Melody. Can’t wait to advise you two.” I shifted uncomfortably. I was never good at physical contact. When she released us, her pastel pink ringlets bounced. “I’m not a regular mom. I’m a cool mom. Contact me for anything.”
“Come on, let’s walk over,” Melody said to our small group. “If you can’t find me, ask Hyacinth.”
