Chapter 12

House of Love

"Attention students!" Felix's voice rang out through the intercoms. "We have hijacked the school for a day and will be celebrating national love day!"

"You do realize there is no such thing," Greg muttered in the background. Ah. So that's who the we was. In my time here their mischief has generally just been making fun of me, but it seemed they'd escalated to hijacking the school. Did they honestly think they weren't going to get in trouble.

"And for those of you thinking we're going to get in trouble we actually got permission in high places to do this!" Felix continued and I imagined those high-places were Nina. Mr. Rutter would never go against his wife and punish them... he probably enjoyed the good fun too. Hopefully it would end up just being good fun. After some of the questionable fish-tales I've heard about Felix and Greg's antics I could imagine them going a bit to far.

"Everyone is to report to their first class where they will be given more instructions," Greg finished before the speaker went off. In my first class I found Lily standing forms in hand.

"All right everybody. For national love day we're going to pair you up with the perfect partner! This quiz, designed by me so you know it's good, will help us find the love of your life from right here in this school. Answer honestly, because who doesn't want to find true love!"

My suspicions that maybe the COE had another reason for this day were confirmed the second I saw the quiz. To most it would look normal, but I knew what they were really doing. They thought that maybe the other chosen weren't in Anubis house and were using this quiz to try and root them out. Good luck with that.

1.) Name: Lucetta (Luce) Ra

2.) Age: 15, almost 16 (birthday December 22)

3.) How would you describe yourself physically? Lean, brunette, green eyes, short

4.) What physical attributes do you look for in a date? I find myself very attracted to snake eyes

5.) Describe your personality in three words. evil, evil,and oh yeah evil

6.) Any interests? Destroying the world by eating the sun.

7.) Do you believe in psychic predictions? You mean like seeing visions of me eating you? Sure.

8.) Do you believe in love at first sight? No, I don't believe in love, just evil

9.) Describe your perfect date. Sitting on a beach watching as the world ends around us.

10.) Any other fun facts about you. My best friend is an evil serpent named Apophis and he speaks to me in my dreams.

On the bottom, for special effect, I drew a picture of me as a snake eating the sun (that's how the world ends. Apophis eats Ra a.k.a the sun) before turning it in.

As soon as Lily got to my form it was obvious as she scowled at me. "Careful," I told her with a laugh, "Or your face will get stuck like that."

She believed me. I didn't believe in dumb blondes but looking at Lily... why on earth did the COE even think she could be helpful?

"Now,"Lily said a while after all the forms were in. "I'll pass back your match. There are more guys than girls so some of you will get two cards, spend the day with both guys, and then be lucky enough to chose!"

Lily slammed two forms down on my desk- apparently I was one of the lucky few. Flipping them over I felt a smile grow on my face.

1.) Name: Anubis (A) Rutter

2.) Age: 15, almost 16 (birthday December 21)

3.) How would you describe yourself physically? Hot blonde skater dude

4.) What physical attributes do you look for in a date? I find myself very attracted to women who are evil.

5.) Describe your personality in three words. Cunning, sadistic, schemer

6.) Any interests? Ancient Egyptian cults. you've got to love a good cult.

7.) Do you believe in psychic predictions? Sure! My crush has dreams of eating puppies every night and then does it during the day.

8.) Do you believe in love at first sight? Oh yeah. There is this one girl, evil you know, it was definitely love at first sight.

9.) Describe your perfect date. Watching my girl sacrifice annoying housemates and kill everyone.

10.) Any other fun facts about you? Killing makes a girl look sexy.

The other one, while different, brought a smile to my face just as well.

1.) Name: Nick Mort

2.) Age: 15, almost 16 (birthday December 21)

3.) How would you describe yourself physically? Dark skinned, dark colored, normal, skinny

4.) What physical attributes do you look for in a date? Not being a manipulating witch

5.) Describe your personality in three words. smart, chosen, gone

6.) Any interests? Working with people who aren't trying to use me for their own selfish gains... and may or may not be the evil we';re trying to fight

7.) Do you believe in psychic predictions? Of course, I'm the chosen one, I have all kinds of visions like those of people being killed

8.) Do you believe in love at first sight? No, but I believe Alice is working for Apophis

9.) Describe your perfect date. Watching the COE crash and burn when Alice turns on you.

10.) Any other fun facts about you I'm the chosen one as your leader's mom knew and told my new leader and not her daughter. Coincidence? I think not.

"We're all horrible people," I told the other Sibuna members bending over in laughter.

"Well I knew you were," A told me with a smile, "Considering the fact your card here says you're evil."

"You know they will only hate you more because of this," Nick noted. "I mean it's hilarious, and I gave them the middle finger too, but this will only put more venom in their bite.

"Let them bite," I told the boys with a shrug. Then I asked quieter of Nick, "Do you really think Alice is working for Apophis?"

"No," Nick admitted, "But I think she's cruel enough to be. Personally I only get the true evil and chaos vibe from Andy. You... you're weird, I get that weird vibe from you, but no I don't think you want to destroy the world. I only said all that for Lily."

"What do you mean? Why does Lily need to not trust Alice?" Anubis asked.

"Remember what I told you on the way to school?" Nick asked and I nodded. How could I forget. Nick had explained that if you jumped on spots in the Senet board in the right order it opened up to another tunnel system, this one shaped in a circle. At the end of each bend there was a wall and a task that needed to be completed... so far the COE had yet to complete one. "I had this dream two nights ago and when I told them the others said it was just a dream and to forget about it. I know it wasn't just a dream though! To get past the first task you need a sacrifice and in my dream..."

"In your dream Alice sacrificed Lily? I mean Alice is mean but..." I couldn't even finish it.

Anubis however could. "No. Alice isn't a murderer. I can't see her sacrificing Lily."

"You have to believe me," Nick pleaded. "I saw Alice push Lily down saying it was for the good of the world and that Lily, being the dumbest, was not one of the Chosen and therefore the best sacrifice!"

"Could she do it?" I asked Anubis. They'd dated once and he had to know her best.

"I... I don't know," Anubis answered looking guilty. "She does have a weird complex about the greater good... if it meant Lily or the world. I honestly don't know how far Alice would go."

"But Lily is in danger," I didn't necessarily like the bubbly blonde, but she didn't deserve to die. "Grave, grave danger."

All Nick could do was nod.