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  “The truth was, I didn’t know why I’d been having the nightmares. Hades Academy was the only place that could fix me. And I was going to get myself back together if it killed me...”

  Learn just what happened to Raines before he arrived at Hades...

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  HADES ACADEMY: FOURTH SEMESTER

  First edition. November 25, 2019.

  Copyright © 2019 Abbie Lyons.

  Written by Abbie Lyons.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Epilogue

  Free prequel

  Afterword

  Chapter One

  All it takes to momentarily forget that your long-lost mother is part of an evil cult determined to resurrect the devil are a few good friends—sort of. That kind of thing is tough to just completely get out of your head, but Morgan and Teddy were pros at making me happy. The first half of the year hadn’t exactly been the best, friendship-wise, what with Morgan being smitten with her terrible new roommate and Teddy constantly sneaking off with his girlfriend, but we were determined to make up for it during the second half of the year.

  “I’m pleased to report that the state of our squad is as strong as ever,” Morgan declared when we gathered together upon her return to Hades Academy. She and Teddy had both gone home for the solstice, and although I was more than welcome to stay with Morgan’s family, venturing off the grounds of the school after my mom had just tried to kidnap me wasn’t particularly enticing. My butt was stayed planted at Hades.

  “Well at least it’s going to be as strong as ever. Especially with our newest member.”

  She nodded at Karolina, my new roommate from last semester who I’d initially thought was beyond weird. And...okay, she still was. But she was also surprisingly awesome.

  “We’re going all out this semester, my darlings,” Morgan went on. “Fun gatherings, outings, and anything else our hearts desire.”

  We were hanging out in Morgan’s room, which she now had entirely to herself. After finding out that her roommate was just another crony of Queen Bitch Camilla, Morgan told the Hades Academy Housing Office that she was not going to continue living with Vivian under any circumstances. I could’ve moved in with her, but I wasn’t about to leave Karolina high and dry now that I was warming up to her. And thus, Morgan was now lucky enough to have a room meant for two all to herself. Morgan being Morgan, she was going to take full advantage of the extra space.

  “And obviously we’ll be hosting parties,” she continued. “Well, I’ll be hosting them here, but you’ll be my co-planners. They’re going to be the cream of the crop. By the end of the year, people are going to be saying ‘Camilla who?’ Our squad is going to be the best around. What do you say?”

  Of course, she was overcompensating a bit. Morgan definitely felt a little guilty about being wrapped around the finger of a girl who turned out to be fishing for gossip to feed back to Camilla. Not that I minded the overcompensation—Morgan’s extra-ness was one of the things I liked most about her.

  “Do we have a name?” I asked. “Don’t most squads have names? You know, like the Infernal Three, although we’ll never come up with something that awesome.” I rolled my eyes.

  “Fantastic point, Noves!” Morgan exclaimed, seeming to miss my sarcasm. “I’m open for any and all suggestions.”

  Teddy raised his hand tentatively. Even with all that newfound confidence, he still somehow felt like he needed to be called upon to speak. Morgan has that effect on people.

  “How about the Core Four? It’s got a ring to it.”

  Morgan rolled her eyes. “I love you, Teddy, but I’d sooner drop dead than refer to ourselves that way.”

  “The Friends,” Karolina suggested.

  I laughed. “You’re totally the Phoebe of the group.”

  She gave me a blank stare. Demons didn’t always get human pop culture references.

  “No, no, no,” Morgan said. “A good name is simple, really. All you have to do is think of an adjective that describes your group.”

  “Petty,” I joked, once again expecting Morgan to miss the humor—to her, this stuff was serious business.

  “Hmm,” Morgan considered. “The Petty Bunch? The Petty Squad? No, there’s just not a ring to it.” She paused. “Noves, do you really think I’m being petty?”

  “Planning fun activities to one-up Camilla is practically the definition of petty,” Teddy said, before immediately turning red and putting his hand over his mouth. He knew that was a fuck-up.

  “You don’t get a say!” Morgan teased. “Anybody who’s hooking up with one of Camilla’s besties doesn’t get to call me petty. Isn’t that right, Nova?”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at the exchange. “No comment,” I said dryly.

  It was objectively funny that Teddy was getting all hot and heavy with Zelda, Camilla’s green-haired sidekick. On the one hand, good for ol’ Teddy finally getting some action. But on the other hand, there was nobody in this damned school Morgan and I disliked more than her little trio. Throw in the fact that Camilla’s bullying of Teddy was what originally bonded the three of us, and you’ve got yourself a nice drama stew going.

  “Okay, maybe I am being a little dramatic,” Morgan admitted. “But I genuinely do want to spend much more time with the two of you. Will I sometimes make a big to-do about it? Obviously, yes. But most of all I just want to be around my friends.”

  “Aww,” both Teddy and I exclaimed in unison, almost instinctively. Karolina managed a small, elfin smile. We jumped up and enveloped Morgan in a hug. It couldn’t be helped—even for Karolina—because honestly, we were all incredibly happy that we’d be seeing more of each other this year.

  “What’s that look on your face, Teddy?” Morgan asked as soon as we pulled apart. “You look scared. Like you’re about to say something that’ll make me yell at you.”

  He gulped. “Well, I’m really excited to be spending time together this semester, I swear, but I’ve already got plans for tonight. I’m supposed to meet Zelda in a few minutes.”

  Morgan frowned. “Wow, looks like we’re not going to be a proper squad after all, what with you running off to see you girlfriend all the time.” She paused and looked him dead in the eye before breaking into laughter. “You should’ve seen the look on your face. I’m just messing with you, Tedster. Enjoy your night of snogging!”

  After another group hug, Karolina politely excused herself to practice her zanziphone, and Teddy strolled off for his late-night rendezvous. We were finally starting to learn that the rules about being in the opposite gender’s dorm rooms were a bit lax—the trick was just not to be too obvious about it. After all, demons weren’t exactly the prudish type, as evidenced by the fact that I was literally enrolled in a class about seduction last semester.
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br />   “BFF time!” Morgan squealed as soon as the door shut. “I have an admission to make: I actually kind of like the whole Teddy and Zelda thing. I’ll tease him about it endlessly, sure, but if he sees something in her then there must be something to it.”

  “Wow,” I mustered, nearly at a loss for words. “That’s...extremely mature of you.”

  “I only said I kind of like it. The jury’s still out. And Camilla remains the worst person in the world, to be sure.” She plopped on to her bed—the only one in the room now that she didn’t have anybody she needed to share her space with. “Come sit with me. Let’s chat.”

  She said it in the most gentle tone she could manage—the one she always used when she wanted to have A Talk. I climbed on to the bed and sat cross-legged across from her.

  “How are you doing?” Morgan asked. “You know, after the stuff with your mother.”

  “I’m doing my best,” I told her. “But there’s just no easy way to wrap my mind around it. It’s not like I can just open some book called So It Turns Out Your Mother is in a Devil-Worshipping Cult and suddenly learn how to cope. I just...I never expected something like this.” I almost had to laugh. That could’ve won the award for understatement of the year.

  Morgan gave my hand a squeeze. “Your best is all you can do.”

  “And it’s not just knowing my mom is involved with something so horrible,” I admitted. “It’s like...I’d always imagined my mother as this kick-ass, resourceful lady. And she was, but also wasn’t. Not the way I thought. I always figured I got my street-smarts directly from her. But maybe I also got something...”

  I couldn’t even finish the sentence.

  “Nova Donovan,” Morgan said firmly. “Listen to me. You’re a strong, intelligent, wonderful person all on your own. You’re the one who found a way to fight your way through the foster care system and take care of yourself on the streets. That wasn’t her. So there’s no need to project the incredible woman you are on to her. As far as I’m concerned, it seems like all you got from her was that amazingly big hair of yours. End of story.”

  I hoped she was right. But I couldn’t convince myself she was.

  “And don’t forget that you can always talk to me about this stuff,” she added. “When you’re feeling low, I want to be there for you, dear. Just know that.”

  Now that I was sure of. “Thank you, Morgan,” I said, reaching over for another hug. “You’re the best friend a girl could ever ask for.”

  “Aww, Noves, you’re being so much mushier tonight than normal. I love it.”

  I laughed. “Just trying to be better about being in touch with my sensitive side.”

  She flashed a mischievous little grin. “Your sensitive side, huh? Does this have anything to do with a certain broody boy you’ve been kissing?”

  Raines. Yeah, things had been progressing on that front. Physically.

  But that was it.

  Because talking about feelings? Not so much. But he and I were agreed on that front. It wasn’t exactly no-strings-attached, because God knows we’d had some strings attaching us, including being literally soul bound for a while there. But labels and stuff? None. Neither of us had raised the issue and I sure as hell wasn’t going to break that seal. After all the drama surrounding my briefly having a (fake) boyfriend last year, I wasn’t super keen to open another relationship can of worms.

  Fortunately, neither was Raines. And that suited both of us just fine.

  “Again, no comment,” I joked. “You know I’d never admit to a boy making me soft.”

  “Oh, I know,” she said devilishly. “But still. Honestly, I’m just proud of your powers of seduction.”

  Her words sent a painful, prickling jolt through me. Morgan’s face clouded.

  “Sorry, luv. Did I say something wrong?”

  “No, it’s just...”

  I blew out a breath. This was the place where that guidebook would really come in handy. Because yeah, I was a seduction demon—a succubus—like my mom. But I hadn’t seduced Raines. Not in any magical way. I knew I hadn’t.

  And yet, at the same time, I couldn’t be sure.

  As much as I pushed back, nothing would change the fact that I was half her. Half my mother. A successful seduction demon who lured men in and terrorized them for everything they were worth. Chewed them up, spit them out.

  Including my own father.

  The thing with Raines didn’t feel that way. But I’d never felt this way, period. I’d never had any kind of real relationship, not one that burned me to the core like this one.

  Maybe it was real. Or maybe this was how it always started. Maybe this was just the beginning of the terrible cycle all over again.

  I shook my head, and resolved to do what I did best when confronted with confusing emotional shit: ignore it.

  And, apparently, go make out with Raines.

  “HEY.”

  “Hey.”

  “You’re awake?”

  “I’m talking to you, aren’t I?”

  “I wouldn’t be surprised if you were the sleep-talking type.”

  “Quit smirking. Are you going to let me in or wait until I get thrown out of the guys’ dorm?”

  “Tempting, but—”

  “Raines!”

  “Goddammit, just come in, Nova.”

  Chapter Two

  I woke up the next morning more than a little sleep-deprived. What can I say? Kissing is tiring. But there was still something nice about rolling around in bed, half-awake and half-dreaming about Raines’s hands on me. I almost fell asleep in his room, but that was one of our unspoken rules, adopted without having to ask either one: no sleeping over. That one night was one thing, but after that...it was too much. Too intense. Something neither of us wanted, or frankly, could handle.

  Besides, I was enjoying this afterglow in the comfort of my own bed. The sun streaming in, the soft covers, the cauldron of coffee that I would soon be sucking down in the refectory, the clock striking nine a.m.—

  Oh, shit.

  I sat bolt upright. I’d nearly forgotten that Dean Lattimore had scheduled a meeting with me at nine in the morning. I wasn’t 100% sure what the purpose was, but I had a strong suspicion he’d be asking how I was doing in light of the near-kidnapping. Or at least reassuring me that I’d continue to be safe here within the walls of Hades Academy.

  I leapt up in a panic—Karolina was, of course, already awake and departed, her bed sharply made—and brushed my teeth and hair in record time. I shoved my arms into my blazer sleeves and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes before dashing out the door. I hated being late, yeah, but the truth is I was actually excited to get some time with Dean Lattimore. He really had a way of making me feel more at ease, and I’m not just saying that because he immediately handed me a meatball sub the first time we met. Especially given all the crazy shit going on with my mom, I was honestly in desperate need of a parental figure, and Lattimore was it.

  The first thing I noticed upon him welcoming me into his office is that he was really making the place his own. Last semester, it looked just as Dean Harlowe—and Wilder—had left it: a little goth-y, kind of like some sort of dominatrix’s lair. But the place had a cheerier vibe now, filled with lots of little knick-knacks and artwork that seemed right up Lattimore’s alley: some tapestries with medieval hunting scenes, a few gleaming blue vases that looked too expensive to even breathe on, and even a little statuette in the shape of a cartoon devil: Teacher of the Year, 1997.

  Aw. Never change, my guy.

  “Do you like what I’ve done with the place?” he joked as I walked inside.

  “Not too shabby!” I cheered. “Guess you had a lot of free time over the break?”

  I took a seat at a deluxe-looking antique armchair in front of his desk. Gone were the spooky chairs that materialized out of the ground—Lattimore was classier than that. On top of his blotting paper was one of those little page-a-day calendars: Garfield, of all things.

  “More fre
e time than I’ve had in months!” he confirmed. “And my wife was more than happy to help with the decorating.”

  “You have a wife?” I asked, sounding way ruder than I meant to be.

  Lattimore raised an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t I?”

  Good point.

  “I don’t know, you’ve never brought her up. What’s her name? What’s her whole deal?”

  He laughed. “As a rule, the faculty of Hades Academy keep their professional lives separate from their personal lives.”

  For as much as I thought of myself as a savvy person, I felt like a real idiot for never considering the fact that of course the professors had spouses. We’d already learned plenty about soul binding (some of us more hands on than others). And it’s not like teaching at Hades Academy would need to require some sort of vow of celibacy or something like that. Wilder was living proof of that, I thought with a shudder. Still, since I’d never actually seen any of their significant others, they were as good as nonexistent to me.

  Good going, Nova. Nearly halfway through demon school and you’re just now realizing the faculty members have lives of their own.

  “So what am I here for?” I asked. “Let me guess. You’re going to ask if I’m doing okay. Am I right?”

  “Among other things,” he replied brightly. This was the most upbeat I’d seen Lattimore since before he became dean. The break must’ve been extra good for his mental health, along with the fact that he’d only be responsible for one class this semester. Or maybe he’d just finally reckoned with the fact that his role as dean wasn’t going to be as temporary as he’d originally been promised. “So: are you doing well?”

  This wasn’t a conversation I wanted to be having again. Raines asked how I was doing every night over the break. Morgan had asked the night before. And now here was Dean Lattimore asking. There were only so many ways to say, “yeah, I guess, I’m doing fine, but I think I’m going to have very complicated feelings about my mother for the rest of my life.”