All That Lives Must Die - Eric Nylund [133]
She was, as ever, lovely and poised as a porcelain doll with perfect platinum curls . . . but broken, too. One arm hung in a sling, and tiny drops of black blood seeped through. There was a bruise on Jezebel’s check (although somehow its placement actually enhanced her strange attraction).
For the first time, Fiona felt something close to sympathy for the Infernal.
To have to go through midterms injured like that . . .
Fiona wondered what on earth could have done that to her. She wanted to go over there and offer her help.
There was no way, though, that proud Jezebel, Infernal Duchess of the Grand Whatsits was going to accept help from anyone, least of all her.
Eliot took a tentative step toward her, his face lined with concern.
But he halted when he saw her expression—just a quick glance at him, full of steel and venom and hurt—like if he took one step closer, she would either punch him in the face . . . or cry.
Jezebel then looked purposely away.
Eliot sighed and stepped back.
Fiona wanted to say something to her brother, but what? How did you help someone who didn’t want help?
The answer to everything came to Fiona: not only how to help Jezebel—but everyone on the team—and Eliot—and herself.
“Hey,” she whispered, and motioned Team Scarab closer.
Jeremy sniffed, and the rest of them looked about unsure. None of them moved an inch.
“Come on,” she chided, and then in a low whisper so only they could hear: “I’ve got a way to boost everyone’s grade on this thing.”
“Oh, very well,” Jeremy said, moving closer, acting like he was doing her the biggest favor in the world.
The rest of them followed, except Jezebel, who remained on the outside of their huddle. Fiona had no doubt, though, that with her Infernal ears, she’d be eavesdropping.
“I think we should work together on this,” Fiona started.
“Just as I said,” Jeremy whispered to Sarah, scowling. Then to the rest of the team, he muttered, “Don’t you understand that be the one thing we cannot do? Help one person, as well meaning as that might seem, you hurt yourself. That’s the way this grade curve works, lassie.”
Mitch looked sheepish and chimed in, “I hate to admit it, but he’s right. It’s a mathematics thing. Not personal.”
“It might be ‘right’ by the numbers,” Fiona shot back, “but you’re missing the bigger picture.”
Jezebel inched closer.
“And what is that?” Sarah said, managing to sound sweet and condescending at the same time.
“We’ve all studied the same stuff in Miss Westin’s class.” Fiona leaned in closer. “But each of us has an edge in a different area. Me, Eliot, and Robert know a lot about the Immortals and the League.”
She had spent most of her time learning about her relations so far this year. A little obsessed, really. Robert had a bunch of firsthand experience. And Eliot? Fiona just assumed that’s what he’d been studying, too.
“The Covingtons and Mitch know tons about the mortal magical families,” she added. “Jeremy especially has firsthand experience with the Middle Realms. . . .”
She added that bit to pander to his ego. She didn’t really count getting lost in the Valley of the New Year chasing some leprechaun as “experience.”
“Amanda has studied harder than anyone in the entire class,” Fiona continued. “She knows something about everything.”
Amanda looked down, blushing.
Fiona paused to glance over at Jezebel, who had her head turned away (but was obviously paying attention).
“So you’re saying we’re smarter together,” Robert said.
“Exactly,” Fiona replied. “We can help one another and, yeah, we’ll shift the grade curve . . . but because we’re all going to get higher grades.”
Sarah tapped her lips thoughtfully. “As long as the others don’t chance upon this bit of trickery,” she whispered, “it might work.”
“Isn’t it cheating, though?” Amanda squeaked.
Jezebel finally joined them. “It is not,” she answered. “Miss Westin said we would be graded individually, but there was no specific prohibition against working together.”
“Geez,” Robert noticed Jezebel’s injuries. “What happened to you?
Jezebel shot him a withering glare.