Descendants Academy: Young Adult Urban Fantasy, Belle Malory [motivational novels for students .txt] 📗

eyebrows, once again surprised to hear something similar to what Jett had said. “That’s kind of shocking. He’s basically a nerd at home.”

I wasn’t exaggerating. Dad’s life was books, teaching, and caramel macchiatos. It was hard to believe he came from this world, and that he was once an Ares gladiator.

“It’s true.” Xander stopped to pick up a pebble. He tossed it into the air, and it lingered above his palm for several seconds before falling again. “The guy holds all the records in Ares. Everyone expected him to go on and do great things.”

“What happened?”

“He got mixed up with the wrong girl.”

Gah, relationships. I should’ve known.

“Love ruins everything.”

Xander chuckled, the sound tugging at my insides. “Sounds like you’re in the wrong house, damsel.”

I arched a brow, despising that nickname but ignoring it for the time being. He did come to my rescue, after all. “You’re telling me.”

“I take it you know from personal experience?”

No way was I going there with him. I never wanted to breathe Connor’s or Riley’s names at this school, to him or anyone. Grandpa asked me to leave my past in Davidson, and this was the best way I knew how—by never speaking about either of them here.

“Let’s get back to my dad,” I said. “What’s the deal with the girl? Who was she?”

“Petra Drakos.” He said the name with contempt, like it was the definition of evil. “Another all-star in Ares, talented just like your dad. No one had seen two such powerful students in over a decade, so it kind of made sense for them to end up together. They were like the Beyoncé and Jay-Z of Arcadia.”

“Were they in love?”

“Not exactly. Petra was…what’s the right word? Obsessed, I think. Yeah, she was obsessed with Daniel. They dated through their mastery years. Everyone assumed they’d marry after they graduated, but then something huge put a dent in that plan. Your mother, Selena Vane.”

My…mother. “Oh boy.”

“Yeah.” He coughed uncomfortably. “He fell in love, and Petra wasn’t exactly happy about being left for another woman. It made things even worse that your mother was from Athena.”

Our path came to a stop in front of a small lake. My mind went blank for a few moments as I took in the beauty of the surroundings. Ducks floated over the glassy water through heart-shaped lily pads. White flowering dogwoods and blushing pink magnolia trees were in full bloom. The grass was lush and covered in fallen petals. This was spring at its full height.

Xander walked right up to the edge of the lake and tossed the pebble. It skipped across the glassy surface, rippling the water and disappearing into the distance.

“So what’s the big scandal?” I said, ready to get down to the meat of his story. “The scorned lover thing isn’t enough to make people pay this much attention to me. There has to be more.”

“There is.”

He frowned and met my probing stare. It was obvious he didn’t want to tell me whatever part came next.

“Growing up as an Aphrodite descendant, I’ve learned the hard way that timing is crucial to relationships.” He focused on the lake ahead. “Unfortunately for your dad, his was awful. Both women, Petra and your mother, became pregnant at the same time. At first—”

“Whoa, hold up. Did you just say pregnant?”

He nodded.

My heart started thumping uncontrollably in my chest. I needed a second to digest this. I began pacing back and forth.

Both women.

Meaning two babies.

Meaning my sister and I…

No.

No way.

Dad would have told us.

He would have told us, dammit.

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it made sense. That last day in Davidson, I asked him how he knew I was the one who started the fire. I just know, he said.

God, this was too much.

“Are you okay?” Xander asked, watching me pace. “Because that’s not everything, and if you’re already having trouble with this—”

“It gets worse?” I stopped to stare at him. “Worse than my dad knocking up two women at the same time? Worse than my sister and I not sharing the same mother?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Your sister…I didn’t put that together. I’m sorry, Sheridan,” he said, sounding genuine. “Where is she? Back in the human world?”

I nodded, swallowing down the sting in my throat. “Go ahead.” I took a deep breath. “I’m ready to hear the rest.”

He looked unsure, but continued anyway. “Well, your dad had a choice to make, and he chose your mother. Petra was livid. She went mad with wanting revenge—part of that renowned Ares temper—and she swore to curse both children. She wanted to make your dad as miserable as she was, and I’d say she did a good job of it. Before she gave birth, she disappeared. Not long after, your mom was kidnapped.”

I didn’t like where this story was headed. “Where was she taken?”

“No one knows for sure.” His gaze lingered on me, his voice lowering. “Everyone believes Petra made a deal with …” He swallowed, having a hard time finishing his sentence.

I guessed what it was. “A deal with Hollows?”

That word grabbed his attention. “Do you know what they are?”

I slowly nodded, unable to forget that conversation with Hazel. Unable to forget that they were the definition of evil. Unable to forget that he could be one.

“Rumor has it, Petra traded her soul for a curse. Several months later, both babies were delivered to your dad, with a stone tablet.”

It felt like my legs were giving out from under me. “What did it say, Xander?” I said, my voice barely a whisper.

“Once the sisters become of age, they will not rest until one of them destroys the other.”

Oh God.

I squeezed my eyes shut. This all started with my seventeenth birthday. Connor, Riley, everything. I’d already tried to kill her. The curse was already manifesting.

I couldn’t breathe. The air, it wouldn’t stay in my lungs. I started gasping—

Xander pounded on my back. “Breathe, Sheridan.” Instantly, my lungs filled.

I looked at him, wondering how he