The Key of Apollo (The Gates of Artemis Book 1) Read online

  “Uh, no, sir. Two are all-state in football, and the other is center on the varsity basketball team.”

  The court was silent. I finally looked up to see the judge gaping at me. He shook himself from his stupor, adjusting his glasses. “Right, well, huh, are there any extenuating circumstances for this attack?”

  “No, Your Honor,” the prosecutor said.

  I looked at my lawyer, but she was busily scribbling down some notes. I think it was her lunch order.

  I pictured the boys, their cruel laughs as they kicked the poor puppy. I knew I was supposed to stay quiet. Quiet was better, and honestly, after all these years in the system, I was well aware that my words meant nothing. But this wasn’t just about me. Those boys had enjoyed what they were doing, and I knew that if they were willing to do it once, they would do it again.

  “They were hurting a dog,” I said.

  The judge peered at me. “What was that? Did you say something, Miss Cole?”

  My lawyer shushed me, putting a hand on my arm, but I shook her off when I saw she had in fact been writing down her lunch order. I met the judge’s gaze. “They were hurting a dog. They tied him up and were hitting and kicking him. They said they were going to throw him in the river.”

  The judge’s voice took on a hard edge as he glared at the prosecutor over the top of his glasses. “Mr. Smith, that sounds like extenuating circumstances to me.”

  I couldn’t believe it. The judge was actually listening to me. I let myself have one self-satisfied smirk.

  “Sir, the three teenagers deny they had anything to do with the dog’s injuries. In fact, they suggest Miss Cole may have inflicted them herself.”

  Smirk begone. “That’s a lie! They did it. They were going to kill him.”

  Now it was my turn to be on the receiving end of the judge’s glare. “Miss Cole, this is a court of law. If you cannot behave yourself, you will be removed.”

  I lowered my eyes to the table, biting my tongue.

  The judge huffed. “Good. Well, it appears we have a bit of a dilemma. One young woman with a history of juvenile offenses.”

  “All in the protection of animals and others,” my lawyer piped up. Finally, she speaks. I tried not to roll my eyes, but it was hard.

  The judge peered down at my file. “Yes, there does seem to be a track record. But I believe one of the ‘victims’ in this case was suspected in another animal-cruelty case.”

  “Suspected but never charged,” the prosecutor said quickly.

  “Hm,” the judge muttered, not lifting his eyes. I was pretty sure that was his thinking noise.

  Or he was deflating.

  “Even if the victims were doing as she said, the damage done to them was quite extensive.” The judge peered down at the file again. “A broken jaw, nose, ribs—those injuries are not minor.”

  And I would do it all again. Those entitled jerks got what was coming to them. Of course, most of those injuries were because they’d tripped over their own feet trying to get away from me.

  The judge pushed the papers aside. “I don’t see anything here that makes it more likely that Miss Cole was involved in animal cruelty. And being she has not been charged with that, I don’t think you do, either.”

  “Your Honor—”

  He put up his hand. “I also find it unlikely that Miss Cole randomly decided to attack three grown boys who outweigh her by nearly two hundred pounds combined. I am dismissing the case against her.”

  I couldn’t believe it. The system was actually working for me for once.

  Petty burst up from her seat. “She can’t live with me.”

  Thank you, Petty, for making sure my faith in the system is never fully justified.

  “Who is this?” the judge demanded.

  “Uh, Your Honor, this is Petunia Lansdowne, Miss Cole’s legal guardian for the last three years?” And yes, my lawyer said it in the form of a question.

  The judge peered down at Petty, not looking impressed. “You have something to add?”

  “Yes, Your Honor.” Petty started to push through the gate.

  The judge held up his hand. “From there is fine.”

  Petty stopped mid-step, letting the gate swing back and hit her in the thighs with an audible thwack. “Your Honor, Lucy has lived in my home for the last three years. During that time, I have tried to keep her on the right path, but she is incorrigible. She has stolen from me, she has disobeyed rules, destroyed property.” Petty wiped at the corner of her eye, even though there were no tears. I guess she hoped with the judge’s thick glasses he wouldn’t notice. “I simply cannot handle her any longer.”

  The judge frowned. “That is distressing. I see here she has been through twelve homes since the age of four.”

  “Yes, Your Honor. She has been with me the longest, but I don’t think it’s fair she should be foisted upon another poor family. She really belongs in a state home.”

  Riya, Nani, and Gideon gasped behind me. I couldn’t manage a sound as my mouth fell open. I knew Petty didn’t like me, but the New York State Home for Incorrigible Girls, the official title for the state home for girls, was a nightmare. Girls with serious mental issues and violent behaviors were sent there. Attacks, twenty-three-hour lockdowns, forced medication were all part of the package. It was basically a mental hospital horror story. No one got out of there unless they were being transferred to an adult mental institution. It was a life sentence. After three years, as much as we didn’t like each other, I couldn’t believe Petty actually thought that was what I deserved.

  The judge’s voice was grave. “I don’t take that type of recommendation lightly. Although I must admit there are some red flags in this file.”

  “Judge, if I may address the court?”

  A tall woman with long, wavy red hair and deep green eyes stood up from the back of the courtroom. Her eyes were actually the same shade of green as mine which was … odd.

  The judge straightened in his seat. “Ms. Smith, I didn’t see you there.”

  Smith? Elodie Smith? I looked back at Nani, who nodded at me with a smile. Elodie Smith was Nani’s boss. Nani ran her home. I’d never met her. She traveled a lot, and Petty rarely let me go visit.

  The judge stared at Elodie, a giant smile on the man’s face. “How … how are you?”

  Elodie moved toward the gate, her steps graceful. She stopped next to Petty, who glared at her. “Well, Judge, thank you.”

  The judge seemed content to just stare at the woman, and let me tell you, it got awkward pretty quick.

  The bailiff finally cleared his throat. “Judge.”

  “What?” He glanced at the bailiff before straightening, his cheeks reddening. “Oh, right. Um, you have some information relevant to the current case, Ms. Smith?”

  “Not about the attack, but I do believe I may have a more amenable solution for relocating Miss Cole.”

  “Well, it’s a little unusual, but I’m sure we would all like to hear what you have to say. No need to stay out there. Please step forward.”

  “Excuse me,” Elodie said to Petty, who pinched her lips so tight I thought she might actually implode.

  The judge frowned at her. “Sit down, Miss Lansdowne.”

  With a huff, Petty thumped into the bench next to her, her arms crossed over her chest. Elodie stepped through the gate.

  The judge leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “Now, what is this solution you have come up with, hm?”

  Geez, dude, rein it in.

  But Elodie acted like she didn’t notice the man drooling all over his bench. “I have recently been approved as a foster parent for the state. And as you know, I run an animal rescue ranch. Working with animals has proven to be a highly effective method for dealing with individuals with violent tendencies.”

  Petty burst from her seat. “What? No. She needs to go to the home. She is not safe to be out in society. She’s had her chance.”

  The judge rapped his gavel. “Ms. Lansdowne, if you
cannot compose yourself, you will be removed from the court. Is that clear?”

  “But, Judge, this girl is horrible. She doesn’t deserve—”

  “Bailiff, remove her.”

  “What?” Petty squeaked as the bailiff strode over to her. “I am only trying to warn you about what a horrible, ungrateful—”

  The bailiff grabbed Petty’s arm and dragged her down the aisle. “Let go of me. Let go of me,” she insisted, until the bailiff pushed her out the door. As the door closed, Petty’s cries could still be heard.

  The judge grunted. “Right, well, where were we?”

  “My offer, Judge,” Elodie reminded him.

  “Right, right. Well, I will need to verify that you are in fact a certified foster parent. Not that I think you’re lying,” he added quickly.

  “Of course, Judge. I understand.”

  “Are you sure, however, that you wish to foster a child with such a track record for your first placement? I’m sure there are plenty of other children who could benefit from your guidance.”

  Elodie met my eyes. For a moment, I swear they glowed green. I blinked, and the light was gone.

  That was weird.

  But Elodie just smiled at the judge. “Yes, Your Honor. I believe we will be a very good match. I have my paperwork with me.” She pulled papers out of her bag and handed them to the court clerk.

  The clerk walked them over to the judge, who rifled through them for a minute. “As expected, it looks like everything is in order. Ms. Smith, you will become the legal guardian for Lucy Cole.”

  “Thank you, Your Honor.”

  He banged the gavel. “Case dismissed. Miss Cole, you are now officially placed in the custody of Ms. Smith.”

  Everyone stood, including me, but I didn’t really remember standing up. What had just happened? I was going to live with Nani’s boss? As the judge left the courtroom, I flopped back down in my seat, barely registering my lawyer leaving and Elodie sitting down next to me.

  “Lucy, I’m Elodie Smith.” She extended her hand.

  I stared up at her before giving myself a mental shake and shaking her hand. “Um, hi.”

  Elodie smiled. “I think you and I are in for quite an adventure.”

  “Um, I guess.”

  Elodie leaned forward, a smile on her face. “Oh, I know.”

  And I knew it was probably another trick of the light, but I could have sworn her eyes glowed again. Just a little.

  What Is Wrong With My Subconscious?

  Today

  Akia stepped from the forest into the small, dark village. Despite his immense size, the gray and white wolf made no sound, his footfalls masked by the grass underneath his paws. The other seven members of his pack appeared just as silently from the shadows behind him. They moved forward as one, walking down the dirt lane between the houses.

  Ahead, a rabbit moved quickly in the same direction. Normally it would be easy prey, but Akia didn’t even twitch at its sight and neither did any member of his pack. There was something else more important for all of them to do tonight.

  All the houses the wolves padded past were dark, the moonlight their only guide. But then as he turned at the end of the path, light beckoned in the distance.

  He wound his way down the narrow path that led to a house at the outskirts of the town. As he stepped into the clearing around the house, dozens of pairs of eyes turned to him. Bears, foxes, rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels—all the animals that had heard the call stood encircling the house.

  As the wolf pack approached, a sight that would normally terrify the smaller animals, they simply stepped to the side, making room. The wolves took up their spot in the circle, staring out into the dark night, guarding the home and waiting.

  Together, the animals stood through the long night. None took their gaze from the woods, their ears tuned for any movement, any sense of danger. And then when the night was at its darkest, a sound burst through the night.

  A human baby’s cry.

  The animals all went still, and then as one, they let out cries of their own. Their calls rang out through the night, waking the villagers from their sleep and causing more than one to stumble for their weapons in fear. But the animals meant them no harm. For those cries were not of distress or anger. No, their cries were cries of celebration. In their own language, each of the animals cried out the same message:

  She is born.

  My head jerked from the pillow. I rolled to the side, nearly sending myself face first into the floor. Flinging myself back from the edge in time, I lay back, breathing hard, the jolt of nearly breaking my nose making me shake.

  Or at least that’s what I told myself. But deep down I knew that wasn’t the real reason. It was the dream. I wiped my eyes. It’s normal to have a recurring dream. Everybody has recurring dreams.

  But even I could hear the doubts in my thoughts. It wasn’t just because I was having the dream over and over again. It was because it was always the exact same dream. Each event played out exactly the same way. The only thing that changed was the vantage point.

  And that was because each time I was a different animal.

  I’d been an eagle, a squirrel, a rabbit, a bear, a fox, and now a wolf. But the rest of the dream remained the same. The animals encircled the cottage, protecting it. And when the baby cried out, they all let loose with cries of joy.

  Sitting up, I pushed my dark hair from my face. Why do I keep dreaming the same thing?

  “Lucy? You up?” Nani yelled from the bottom of the stairs.

  “I’m up,” I yelled, not moving. I lay there a few more moments, but Nani’s yell had chased the remnants of the dream away. I sat up, pushing my mass of curls out of my face.

  I shoved my hair back again as I stumbled over to my robe, which was hanging on the edge of my mirror. A quick glance showed that a night of sleep had not improved my hair. My dark brown curls sprung out from my face like a halo gone berserk.

  Hiding underneath all that hair, my abnormally green almond-shaped eyes peeked out from my brown skin. I stepped forward, peering into my eyes. I loved my eyes, but they also made no sense. They were the one physical attribute that I shared with my foster mom. And I didn’t mean they looked similar. The color was identical.

  Elodie had yet to explain that little impossibility. She’d once promised to explain everything one day, but that “one day” had apparently not arrived in the last two years.

  Besides that, though, I had no complaints about the last two years. Compared to Petty, Elodie was the greatest person who ever existed. Of course, compared to Petty, everyone was the greatest person who ever existed.

  “Lucy! I don’t hear you moving!” Nani yelled.

  I stomped on the ground. “That better?” I yelled back.

  “Much!” she replied.

  I smiled. Nani ran Elodie’s household, and she and Riya had moved in shortly after I did. Even Gideon, my other best friend, was living here now while his family, the Amazing Grimaldis, traveled Europe.

  “I don’t hear you heading for the shower,” Nani called again.

  “I am, I am,” I yelled back, grabbing clothes from my dresser and heading down the hall.

  “And don’t forget your costume for the assembly.”

  I stopped dead, wondering if it was too late to pretend to be sick. I looked longingly back at my room. Nani would never believe me. I sighed, dragging my feet toward the shower. If I was lucky, I’d slip and break my ankle.

  If not, I’d be subjected to the day I dreaded the most at school every single year: All Gods Day.

  Trust me, a hospital visit was a much better time.

  It All Starts Getting Weird

  Ten minutes later, I was down the stairs and stepping into the kitchen with my hair still wet. I never had time to dry it in the morning.

  Nani looked up from the kitchen island with a grin. “Finally.”

  “Morning, Nani.” I walked over and kissed her cheek. “Where’s my gang?”

 
As if they heard me, my three pups bolted through the dog door, their nails scrambling on the tile floor. Gray and white with bright blue eyes, the six-month-old pit bull mixes made a beeline for me. I braced myself as Max launched himself at me, his front paws hitting my stomach. Jax and Pax slid, trying to stop, knocking out Max’s back legs. They all ended up in a squirming heap.

  Laughing, I knelt down and rubbed each of them. “You guys are clowns.”

  Max licked my cheek while Jax tried to crawl into my lap. Pax put both paws on my knees and gave me one giant lick.

  “Ugh, Pax. I just washed my face.”

  Nani smiled. “He’s worried you might have missed a spot.”

  I looked around the kitchen, taking comfort in the room. We lived in an old farmhouse. The wood floor was uneven, the cabinets had very little paint left on them, and the counters were old-fashioned Formica, but I loved every speck of it. It screamed a family lived here. I had an actual home. A place where I belonged.

  My gaze shifted to the calendar on the front of the fridge. Notes were scribbled all over it, but only one was circled in bright red marker: ADOPTION DAY. Elodie wanted to make it official. In two short weeks, I would no longer be a foster kid.

  I’d be an adopted one.

  “Where is everybody?” I asked.

  “Riya’s already set up her plate, but she was waiting for you two.” She nodded toward the den, where I could see Riya curled up with a book. I swear, if I ever saw her without a book in her hands in the morning I would probably die of shock.

  She looked up and smiled, heading for the kitchen. “Hey, you’re going to be late.”

  “I know, I know.”

  I grabbed the plate with eggs Nani handed me. “Thanks. Where’s Gideon?”

  “Right here.” Gideon slid into the kitchen on stockinged feet. He grinned, shoving hair from his forehead and away from his big round glasses.

  “What do you want for breakfast?” Nani asked.

  “Just cereal.” He headed over to the counter. “I’ll get it.”

  Nani shook her head, trying to beat him there. “No, I’ll—”