Persephone's Point of View
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The atmosphere in the room was charged with anticipation, an almost tangible energy that vibrated through the walls as Headmaster Diana stood confidently at the front, preparing to announce the captains of the five houses. Her voice echoed across the hall, reverberating off the stone walls as she began her list of names. "Brotherhood of Asgard, having Heimdall Ejnar Cappelen as the Captain," she declared with clear authority. A ripple of murmurs passed through the students as they took in the name.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes, a smirk tugging at the corners of my lips. Heimdall, the brooding wolf shifter, a man of few words and even fewer expressions, who always seemed to have a rather embarrassing and obvious crush on Apollo. It was almost painfully obvious to anyone who cared to look at him. Heimdall, the stoic, powerful captain of Asgard, who would, without fail, watch Apollo with an intensity that bordered on the ridiculous whenever Apollo was near.
It was almost laughable. But at the same time, there was something endearing about his awkwardness. And it wasn't like I didn't understand the allure of Apollo—it was just funny seeing someone like Heimdall lose control around him.
But that was not the focus of today. No, the day had more pressing matters at hand.
"And next," Headmaster Diana's voice cut through my wandering thoughts, "Sisterhood of Themyscira, having Primrose Brahms as the Captain." The name sent a ripple through the room again, this time with a different energy. Primrose, the elven girl who had more obsession for Atlas than any sane person should. It was almost sad how evident it was.
She practically worshipped the ground he walked on, hanging on his every word, her admiration for him bordering on obsession. But there was more to her than that, I had to admit. She had a sharp mind and a burning determination. Though her infatuation with Atlas was utterly transparent, she was talented, and I couldn't fault her for that. Her passion was intense, and she was unrelenting in the pursuit of her goals, even if it was clear that those goals were largely shaped by her fixation on him.
The sound of the next name pulled me from my thoughts. "And lastly, Sisterhood of Atlantis, having Sirena Gwendolyn Breccan," Headmaster Diana continued. "As the Captain." The moment Sirena's name was spoken, I could feel the energy shift again. There was an audible stirring among the students, a mix of curiosity and disdain, as Sirena was well-known for being one of the most fanatical followers of Pride-Niklaus, the captain of House Atlantis.
She had this obsessive devotion to him that was hard to ignore, almost as if she saw him as some sort of unreachable god. Her gaze always lingered on him, that longing in her eyes that practically screamed of her unrequited love for him. It was disgusting. And yet, there was something undeniably powerful about her. Sirena was no fool. Her love for Pride-Niklaus might have been misguided, but her ability to lead was unquestionable.
And, despite my personal distaste for her, I couldn't help but recognize her potential. She would be a force to reckon with in her own right.
The room fell silent after her name was announced, each of us processing what had just been said. Then, Headmaster Diana's voice rang out again, a new excitement in her tone. "You can now form a thread in front of the Captain you want to follow," she said, her eyes scanning the room of eager students. "And if the Captain chooses you, you will be part of their house for the remaining years of your academic journey." The words were simple, but the weight of them hung heavily in the air, thick with the implications of what was about to happen.
The grand hall was practically vibrating with anticipation. Every student here knew what this meant—this was the moment that would define your path at the academy. The Captain you chose would shape your fate, your future, for the rest of your time here.
I looked around the room, and as I did, I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. A group of about thirty girls began to form a line in front of me, their eyes wide with hope, excitement, and something I couldn't quite name. I couldn't help but feel a rush of disdain rise within me. How predictable. How utterly predictable.
These girls didn't want to be part of House Tartarus because they admired me, or even because they wanted to understand what I stood for. No, they wanted in because House Tartarus was the strongest sisterhood out of the five. Everyone knew that. The power, the legacy, the fear that surrounded Tartarus—it was all irresistible to them. But what they didn't know was that they didn't stand a chance. None of them would make it in.
Not a single one.
I summoned one of my daggers with a flick of my wrist, the cold steel glinting in the light as I twirled it absentmindedly in my fingers. As I watched them all, I could almost hear their thoughts. Please choose me, Persephone. I'll be great for your house. They didn't care about me, they cared about what House Tartarus could do for them. And that made me sick. They were so transparent.
They had good taste, though, I had to admit. There was something smart about wanting to join House Tartarus. It wasn't a bad choice. But I wasn't about to make things easy for them. House Tartarus would remain exactly as it was until my senior year, and I didn't need anyone else. My group of ten was perfect, with ten of the top girls from the top 50 of the academy. It was balanced, powerful, and completely under my control. I didn't need anyone else to complicate things.
I didn't mind the discomfort of their stares. It almost amused me, seeing how badly they all wanted to be a part of something they could never truly understand. But that wasn't my problem. I had a plan for how things would go. I would only accept eleven girls into my senior year, and after I left, the new blood would have to take over. Those eleven would lead Tartarus in my place.
It would be a beautiful chaos, I could already feel the tension building up in my chest at the thought of it. Eleven seniors, paired with eleven freshmen. It would be a nightmare, but it would be an entertaining one. There were even eleven extra suits in the first underground floor to house them, so space wouldn't be an issue.
The only problem was that none of them knew about the three underground levels. Only I had access to them, and that secret was mine alone to keep. The girls standing in front of me, so hopeful and eager, would never know the depths of Tartarus. They would never know the power I held beneath the surface, and that was exactly how I liked it.
"Let's start our choosing process," Headmaster Diana said, her voice cutting through my thoughts. There was a hint of excitement in her tone as she looked directly at me. "You go first, Persephone, dear." She gestured to me, the spotlight now firmly on my shoulders.
Cool by Gracie Abrams began to play in the lone earbud nestled in my left ear, the soft, melodic hum filling my ears as I crossed my arms over my chest. I tilted my head, taking a moment to scan the room, my gaze shifting slowly over the sea of hopeful faces. Their eager expressions didn't faze me. I was calm, unmoving, as I prepared to make my announcement.
"I am not choosing anyone," I said, my voice cutting through the tense silence. The words were clear and final. "House Tartarus will stay the same until my senior year." My tone was unwavering, strong, and filled with finality. "My group is perfect with ten top girls from the top 50 of the academy, and I enjoy it the way it is. No addition needed." I could feel the weight of my words sink into the room as I spoke. There were murmurs of disappointment, of surprise, but I was unmoved. This was my decision, and nothing would change that.
"Resilient as always," Headmaster Samuel purred, his voice full of amusement. His grin was wide, almost predatory. "It's an interesting strategy, sweetheart," he whispered under his breath, but I could still hear him clearly. His words were meant to be teasing, but I saw the respect in his eyes. He knew how much weight my decision carried.
I couldn't resist a playful wink in his direction. "Of course, it is," I replied, my voice dripping with the confidence that came from years of ruling my own house, my own fate.
As the process continued, I watched as the other captains made their choices. Loki, predictably, refused to accept anyone else into Jotunheim, content with his ten boys. Apollo and Atlas each added ten boys to their houses, their choices quick and decisive. Pride-Niklaus and Vain-Dove chose nine, while Heimdall and Freya added fifteen boys and girls to their houses. Primrose and Sirena, true to their nature, added ten girls each to their ranks.
The numbers were tallied up quickly: 530 students in total. Of those, 265 were girls, and 265 were boys, with 150 of them being sophomores. The choices had been made, and the students were set on their paths.
But as for me? I was staying exactly where I was.