Novels by kennedy

Layla quickly left class and crashed through the double doors. She took off down the sidewalk grasping her hair in her hands. Her fingers and body still tingled. It was as if she had been dipped in a polar plunge. Professor Vale had told her to go to the Headmistress's office. She didn't know what to expect when she got there. She heard footsteps falling behind her as if chasing her. She looked back and noticed that it was Theo. He stopped when he reached her breathing heavily and shaking his head. “You walk fast. You could've slowed down,” he panted. Layla couldn't help but notice the fact that his chest was rising and falling, showing off his build even more in a way. She gulped as she watched a bead of sweat slip down his forehead. “He told me to go to Dr. Thalia. That's where I'm going,” she said turning on her heels. A figure appeared out of a portal of shadows, taking the shape of Damon. “Do you even know where her office is?” he mused. She had to admit, she didn'

Layla woke up the next day feeling refreshed. She hadn't slept like that in quite some time. Her dreams hadn't been as calm as they had been either until last night. She no longer dreamed of the home that she had grown up in burning to cinders anymore. Instead, she dreamed of the rusty wolf and its golden lava eyes. She now seemed to wonder to herself if they truly were golden. She couldn't tell because they burned so intensely. She began to wake herself up and threw on her clothes for today's classes. She knew that she would be learning about mythology here. Quite a lot actually. The entire school was based on Greek studies. She looked forward to learning more about the gods and the other initiates. She knew that once she knew more about the gods that things would begin to click better for her. She grabbed her bag that she had packed the night before after her shower and dinner. She had to wash off again after the electrifying and tingling sensation in her body wouldn't ca

When Layla and her new crew had all finished their dinner, they sat at the table chatting for what felt like forever. She learned that Javier was the son of Ares and Kinley was a daughter of Aphrodite. It suddenly made sense why Javier looked the way he did and why Kinley was so alluring. Layla noticed that multiple people were staring at her. They take quick glances and whisper to their friends and people next to them. Layla leaned towards the middle of the table. “What's up with everyone looking at me like that?” she whispered to her friends. Perse examined her with pursed lips. “Maybe because the candles were you. Maybe because you're new. Who knows. Just ignore it. They'll forget about you in a couple of weeks,” she said. Javier and Kinley nodded in agreement. “People just like new shiny things,” Javi poked. Layla laughed and smiled at him shaking her head once again. She soon found herself yawning though and thought she'd go out and get some fresh air before head

The doors groaned before Layla could even place her hand against the wood to open it. Warm light spilled into the corridor, brushing against her skin like static. For a heartbeat, she wondered if she’d imagined it, but Perse was already tugging her forward, grinning as if she owned the place. Inside, the dining hall was alive. Long tables of dark oak stretched under floating candelabras that burned with blue-white flame. Banners hung from the rafters—each one marked with a different crest: a thunderbolt, a trident, a laurel crown, a flame, a serpent. So many symbols and banners hung high above tables full of chattering initiates. The colors shimmered as if the fabric itself breathed. “Welcome to the Feast of the Houses,” Perse announced, spreading her arms. “Try not to stare too hard. They can smell nerves,” she joked. She nodded swiftly as Peres pulled her alongside her, weaving through all of the students in the hall. Layla tried not to, but it was impossible. Students glowe

August (Five months later) Layla stared at the grand set of stairs that faced her with her bag strapped around the middle of her body and a hand in her pockets. Her cousin had gone with her to the mall to buy some new clothes before coming here to Elysium. Elysium Academy. She'd been offered a full-ride scholarship to be here because she had gotten her grades up. She was at the top of her graduating high school class and she hoped that she would be able to do so here. After her grandmother passed she threw herself into her coursework. Hopefully, she would be able to keep that same momentum up. Especially to be able to have her own home again. Being with her cousin Perse was fine and all but it was obvious that she was invading the house, even when Perse reassured her that she wasn't. She felt bothersome. Like a burden and she didn't like to feel like anyone's burden. She began her trek up the stairs into the ice castle of a school. It looked like something you'd find

March (5 months before) Heat wafted from the tall, gleaming mansion. Ember arms licked the door and cracked as the flames engulfed what Layla thought would be her home forever. The bright flames took over the house in a matter of minutes. Layla brought her blanket arm to her face and breathed a deep cough. This was unfair, she thought to herself just when things seemed to be looking up. She didn't know what to do at all in that moment. She had just been offered to go to one of the top Academies to further her studies the night before, and then this happens. This was something that she could not afford to fix like as she had her grades. This was her home. The only home that she had. The only thing left to her by her parents that she'd never met besides the pictures and furniture. All of it was gone now. Ashes and small pieces of fire were riding on the wind now. Her grandmother took care of her until she was a junior in high school. But she had passed then and now Layla