Unchosen by Michele Vail Read Free Book Online Page B

granted favor by Anubis,” continued Mr. Jacobs. He glanced at his daughter, pride evident in his expression, but Clarissa wouldn’t meet his gaze.
    What was going on between the two of them?
    “We’ll make the formal announcement at a later time,” said Miss Chiles to the kids who’d crowded closer. “Molly, you need some rest.”
    My thoughts spun. Even though Mr. Jacobs couldn’t know I was the daughter of Anubis, he still perceived me as a threat. Or maybe that‘s how he perceived everyone.
    I was the champion. Too bad the rest of the society didn’t know it. If my g od-dad would just appear to everyone and say, “Hey, she’s the one,” we could avoid anything grueling, painful, and dangerous. Still, a tiny part of me wondered: What if I didn’t win? Would I be off the hook?
    Somehow, I didn’t think so.
    The throbbing in my head worsened. I felt seven kinds of awful. Still, I wasn’t letting them have a meeting about the Kebechet without me. If Mr. Jacobs had anything to do with it, he’d start the competition the minute I left.
    “I’ll stay, ” I said.
    “Don’t be ridiculous.” The headmistress helped me off the dais. She looked over her shoulder at Mr. Jacobs. “Send everyone back to the school. We’ll make a formal announcement about the competition tomorrow afternoon.”
    Mr. Jacobs looked less than thrilled with Miss Chiles’ commands. His lips thinned, and he scowled, but the headmistress stared at him until he nodded.
    “ Yes, fine. I’ll see to it.”
    Miss Chiles helped me scoot off the dais, and then kept her arms around my shoulders as we crossed the room. The more we walked, the steadier I felt. When we got to the staircase, she looked at me. “Can you make it up the stairs, Molly?”
    “Yeah.” I put my hand on the wall and my foot on the first step. Then I paused. “I did see Mr. Jacobs. He was there. Right before I passed out.” I hesitated. “There was someone else. A lady. She wasn’t nice. And … well, I think she was helping him.”
    Miss Chiles studied my face. “Did you recognize the woman?”
    I shook my head. “I couldn’t see her face. She was wearing a hood.”
    “A student?”
    “No. She seemed older.”
    “How would you know if you didn’t see her face?” Miss Chiles patted my shoulder. “You passed out, Molly. It might be that what you saw was … mixed up.”
    “I’m not mixed up about Mr. Jacobs. He doesn’t like me.”
    “Not liking you is not the same thing as hurting you. In fact, he helped you.”
    Helped me almost die , I wanted to blurt. Instead, I swallowed the bilious comment. Obviously, Miss Chiles was taking the diplomatic route. Fine. She’d as much as admitted that Mac Jacobs didn’t like me—and he hadn’t since the day I arrived at Nekyia and challenged his precious daughter’s right as the champion of Anubis. Miss Chiles knew it, too. Why was she protecting him?
    “C’mon, Molly.”
    I went first up the staircase with Miss Chiles following. When we got to the top, I pushed through the door. It was a nice day, not too chilly, with the sunlight peeking through the trees. Just being out of the temple and away from the drama had a calming effect. My head was still pounding, though. The pain pulsed in my head as sharp as nails being hammered into my skull. My neck felt knotted. Aches pulsed in my arms and legs, and knew I’d find a few new bruises.
    I turned to Miss Chiles. “I’ll call Henry. He can help me back to the dorms.”
    “That’s a good idea.” She hesitated. “Perhaps you should go to the nurse—just in case you have a concussion.”
    “I’ve gotten worse in training,” I said. “I’m fine. Really.”
    “Very well. Get some rest. I’ll make sure that you’re excused from your afternoon clas ses. If you start feeling strange again, then go to the nurse.”
    I gave her the thumbs up, and after giving me one last concerned look, she turned and re-entered the temple. I waited until Miss Chiles had