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I frown at his words, but before I can question him, he’s gone. Focusing on one step in front of the other, I force myself not to worry my bottom lip, attempting to put on a strong front.
“Everybody say goodbye to the Hendrix family’s black sheep.” My spine stiffens at the sound of Sebastian’s voice and the round of laughter that echoes around me, pissing me off even more.
It takes everything in me not to react to his attempt at showing dominance at my expense as I stop in front of the professor. “Good luck, Miss Hendrix,” she breathes, barely looking up from her scroll, and I take that as my cue to move.
Approaching the iridescent barrier, I reach my hand out first before I step through fully. I can’t describe the sensation and I have no time to delve further into the thought as the atmosphere around me changes.
Beinginthe pit is nothing like seeing it. I feel like an ant under a microscope for everyone to look at and assess. The boulders are twice as tall as I assumed and the smell reminds me of the fish market at Shadowmoor, but scarier. A thing I didn’t think was possible.
My gaze darts straight to the water and every single thought and consideration I’ve had about how I’m going to handle this thing evaporates from my mind. I don’t have long before the siren’s song is going to start. I need to move quickly.
Dashing to my left, away from the source of the water, I stumble a little when I step off the sand and onto the lower boulders. The surface is slicker than I expected and my arms fly out at my sides to keep my balance. With my eyes wide, I freeze in position, attempting to catch my breath as I look down at where I nearly face-planted and spot a flash of green.
Moss.
What did Brax say?
Moss in your ears.Was he trying to help me?
I reach for the small splattering of moss, plucking it from the ground and feeling the spongy texture in my palm. A melody begins, enveloping me, and my eyes clench closed at the assault on my senses. Holy fuck, it’s ten times louder in here.
Prying my eyes open, I glance toward the pool, noting the slow rise, and I don’t have time to think, only act. Tearing the moss in half, I plunge it into both of my ears, and the world becomes muted. I can still hear the tune coming from the siren, but it’s not overpowering, more like a hum in the background.
Thank you, Brax.
Water ripples around my sneakers, and I remember there’s a time limit on my life right now. Rushing further into the center of the pit, I pass the first boulder and the water is at my knees by the time I’m halfway toward the second set.
I think I’m going to be sick.
My pace lags with the water restricting my movements and a flash of blond draws my attention, swimming effortlessly through the shallow water on the opposite end of the pit.
Fuck.
Time’s up.
Splashing my way to the second set of boulders, I press my back against the jagged, damp surface, my heart pounding. I try to take a deep breath and imagine that I’m facing some asshole from Shadowmoor, but my gaze snags on the spectators and it becomes a lot more difficult.
I spy Sebastian with a smug look on his face and my teeth clench. Refusing to waste my last seconds on him, I whip my head to the right and find the Bishops. The fear on Zane’s face is as real as the tightness in my chest. Creed’s brows pull together and Eldon clenches his hands, leaning so far forward in his seat that I’m sure he’s going to tumble over the seat in front of him.
I should have said goodbye. I shouldn’t have been a coward. But it’s too late for all of that now.
Spying Brax, I’m at a loss for how to feel. The annoyance on his face is clear, the tightness of his jaw close to cutting glass as he nods sharply at me. I don’t know what he’s trying to convey to me until he shakes his head in irritation and mouths one word at me.
Push.
Scowling, I turn away from him and lean further into the boulder. My foot gives out under me again, but this time it’s not because of the damp surface. It’s a cluster of small rocks. I look down at my feet with the same confused expression. There’s debris floating under the water.
I turn to look at the boulder and my eyes widen with shock. There’s a gaping dent in it. It’s only noticeable since I’m close-up. From a distance, it would just look like another jagged edge. The gray marks scratched across the charcoal boulders stand out too. I don’t see them anywhere but here.
‘Moss in your ears. Left boulder stack.’
My gaze flicks back to Brax. Did he do this…for me? The look on his face tells me no. His anger is bubbling at the surface, but something tells me it’s aimedatme, notbecauseof me.
Holy fuck.
Adrenaline zaps faster through my veins as the water hits my waist and I search for the blond hair floating in the water. Testing my weight against the boulder, I push and it budges a little. If I can get the siren in the right spot…I could survive this.
Rubbing my lips together, I take a deep breath and drag myself to the other side of the formation. I feel like I can’t breathe as the siren spots me and quickly starts swimming in my direction.
