Awesome tomorrow is the last day of school! Finally! (And my characters are just starting school… Sucks to be them!)
Sorry about that I'm just really excited. I hated my class this year, except for a few people who are obviously my friends.
Disclaimer: I don't own HOA.
The first day dragged on. It was pretty much review from what we already knew. I walk back to the house with Hannah, James, and Rich. A breeze wafts around us, a cool burst of air amidst the late-summer sun.
"Allie, may I talk to you alone?" James asks, glancing at our friends.
I nod and gave them a warning glare. Hannah and Rich keep walking toward the house. I turn to James. "What's up?"
"I called Ashley last night after I talked to you. She told me more about your necklace, and she said something else that I can't remember…" He trails off as a look of puzzlement crosses his face.
"Did she repeat that 'a new generation will rise above' thing?" I ask, already annoyed by it.
James shakes his head. "Of course not," he answers. "Why would she?" I turn away, slightly gritting my teeth. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I lie. Everything is wrong, now that I remember. I also recall that Dad offered his help whenever I become confused… and I take that offer. "Dad?" I greet after he picks up.
"Allie, I didn't think you'd be confused so quickly," he remarks. "What happened this time?" I think I hear a note of exasperation in his voice, but I am not sure.
"James and I heard Artemis saying 'A new generation will rise above,' and then Mum asking what it meant. Then my necklace was visible from where I hide it under my collar, James recognized it from the stories Ashley told him, and…"
I am cut off by my father. "Ashley who?" he inquires.
"Ashley Lord," I respond slowly.
"She would mention it," he comments. It sounds as though he is shaking his head. "Ashley used to be the reincarnation of Artemis before Artemis and her brother Apollo left. Ashley and Damian, who was also Apollo, were left behind because they were real people, just 'occupied' by the gods, let's say."
"And that will help us how?"
"I'll call you tomorrow, okay? All I need is a day to figure things out." I am silent at his words. "Everything will be alright. I promise I won't let anything happen to you, and if Nina is watching over you like the others, she won't either."
"Hurry, Dad. I don't like the way things are working out." Despite what I say, there is no urgency in my voice. The words just seem empty.
When we hang up, I face James again and relay everything Dad said. James closes his eyes to think. When he reopens them, I see a sorrow that I cannot bear. "My parents… I do remember what happened to them. I don't like to talk about it because it was so awful…"
I walk over to his side, resting my hand on his shoulder. "You can tell me if you want," I comfort. The breeze picks up and tugs at my necklace chain.
"I witnessed my own parents' murder." His voice is barely a whisper, so soft it almost gets swept away by the wind. "They were killed… right in front of me and my sister… and then they killed her, too."
"Who killed them?" I query, keeping my own voice low.
"I don't know. That's all I can remember. Anything else is just a blur." He sighs and looks at me helplessly. "Ashley, being the kind woman that she is, took me in and protected me in case they came back. It's as if she knew what happened without being told. But how can that be?"
"Maybe she did," I murmur. Thoughts of everything my father told me, every word Amber agreed with, and even memories of my mother flood my mind. "We have to finish what they started years ago," I realize. "That's what the clue means when it says 'new generation.' Dad promised to think about what Ashley could've told you, but he left the clue for me to figure out. And now I know why." I smile with pride. "We're the new generation that will, apparently, 'rise above'!"
"No surprise you guessed it," James agrees. "Your mother received the clue, and of course the second generation will solve it. Now we need another clue."
"We'll get one soon, I hope," I reply. I recall the thing I told Dad. I don't like the way things are working out. What did I mean when I said that?
James notices, too. "What don't you like?" he questions.
I stare at him thoughtfully. Hannah, my best friend, is my roommate; Kelly and Steven, who was dead silent during introductions, have not pranked me yet; Hope is leaving me alone for the most part; Rich sometimes helps me with soccer or football or whatever you want to call it; Serena is a good friend of mine already; and James trusts me enough to tell me all these things about his life. And I trust him back. What on Earth is wrong?
"I suppose you'll need some time to think about that," he answers himself when I do not give a response.
"Greatest times of danger," I echo quietly. "Artemis warned me to never let my guard down in the greatest times of danger. Now that we've figured out our first clue, that has to mean something."
"James!" someone calls from the house a few meters away. Hope.
"Go," I tell him. "You don't want to keep her waiting." Once the words are out of my mouth, all I want to do is take them back.
He looks at me as though he wants to stay, but with another shout from Hope, he heads toward her. I follow behind at a distance. No need in stirring up trouble, I think. Even though that's exactly what Hope is looking for if she wants to mess with me. I breathe out a sigh.
Hope is waiting for me at the door. James is inside, out of sight. "Listen, Allie, because I'm only going to say this once. Emma and I are best friends and a lot alike. We are meant for James, and we don't care who gets him as long as she is either of us. So back off." She is close enough to me that I feel her breath. Then she saunters into the common room as though she never spoke.
Astonishment courses through me. Suddenly, I realize who her mother is. Arch enemy bent on destroying my mother, in love with my father. And now the cycle was repeating, again with a new generation.
Her mother is Joy.
Wait, I thought Joy turned good? *evil smirk* No, she didn't, actually. Okay, she might've changed. Am I confusing you? Good. I don't want to spoil any of my plans, and I'm sorry if I really did confuse you. Just like I said, no spoilers.