The NemeSis (Clear View Country Club #3)

Chapter One

KYRA

“I magine the air so thick, it feels as if the earth itself is holding her breath. Suffocating in a cloud of ash before the universe is plunged into darkness.” Professor O’Clery clears his throat, then moves to the next slide.

Another image of Pompeii appears on the screen. Frozen in time because of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Someone behind me chuckles about it being a ghost town, but it’s worse than that. A ghost town would make someone question if people were ever even present. The proof of life in Pompeii and Herculaneum existed.

I grip my pencil tighter as the next slide comes across the screen. It’s hard to believe within twenty-four hours, everything changed for all of those people. I can only imagine the Gods they were praying to when it was happening.

The rise and fall of civilizations and the inner workings of politics and religion in ancient empires is fascinating. Ever since I was a little girl, I’d been obsessed with history and mythologies. It’s likely why I found the history and art courses exploring ancient times easy grades. It’s not that the classes were easy, it’s because I wanted to learn more.

I write Herculaneum with a question mark next to it in my notes. A major part of our grade for this semester is writing an essay that is due near the end of the semester. I still haven’t chosen my subject. There are too many to choose from. The Library of Alexandria is my current top choice. I’d also considered exploring the life of Hypatia, a role model who deserves more recognition today. I don't know enough about her to decide yet. Honestly, I feel as if I’m still brushing the surface of all the topics I can cover. How am I supposed to choose one?

Several of my classmates chose topics from Cleopatra to Alexander the Great, or gladiators. We’d been studying Ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt for the better part of the year. It was fascinating, even though I knew we were barely covering the surface.

There were only five seats available for the study abroad course for over the summer. Eight weeks of discovering places only seen in pictures and books. I could go there as a tourist, but it would never be the same. This was a behind the scenes look, deeper than I could fathom. It would be hands-on with experts. I needed this.

A collection of groans sounds around me as the overhead lights come on. I squint, then quickly relax my face. Professor O’Clery walks to the center of the floor and grips the edge of the podium.

“As a reminder, you must submit your essay topics for approval by Monday when we resume after spring break. If you’re not here, I expect an email with a timestamp before the end of class. No excuses. You’ve all had since the start of the semester to choose.” His eyes slowly scan the lecture hall. “And yet, some of you still haven’t chosen. See Ryan after class if you want to submit before your break.” He gestures to his teaching assistant before nodding and leaving the classroom.

It wasn’t anything new, leaving a minute or two before his class ended. His classes were full, not only because of the coursework, but because of the man himself. He was one of the youngest professors on campus, mid-forties, and his attraction appealed to most of the student body.

Professor O’Clery wasn’t just easy on the eyes, it was the way he could hold anyone’s attention. I’d had a crush on him as well my freshman year when I took his intro to ancient civilizations class. Students tried to take that class with him because his other classes were only open to history majors.

I’d been fortunate to have a class with him every year, so far, and each one had been more mind altering than I could have dreamed. It was how I met Ryan.

Ryan, Professor O’Clery’s TA, moves to the podium with his iPad in hand. A few students immediately line up to see him and turn in their topics. His blue eyes glance up as each student approaches him. He nods as they all take turns speaking to him. Submitting topics so they could have one less thing to worry about over spring break.

I wait until the hall clears before walking down the steps and across the floor to where he stands.

“Have you finally decided?” He smiles without looking up from his iPad.

“How am I supposed to choose?” I sigh.

Ryan’s eyes snap up, his golden brown eyes softening. “Do you want help?”

I shake my head. “It’s already bad enough we’re dating. I don’t want any chance to be shown favoritism.”

He chuckles. “James wouldn’t do that.”

“I’m sure he’d prefer you call him Professor O’Clery around students.” I laugh.

Ryan steps around the podium and glances around the room. Sometimes it’s like this, a quick stolen moment after class before we’re both busy with our responsibilities around campus. “Are you sure we can’t grab an early dinner tonight?” He steps closer. His smile reaches his eyes before leaning in close and placing a kiss on my lips. Soft and short, leaving me wanting more.

I step back. “My flight leaves in a couple of hours. I have a quick meeting with Beth to finalize the sorority’s social calendar for the rest of the year. You can take me to the airport, though.” I grin.

His eyes narrow on me. “Deal. No chance I can convince you to change your flight and go on a trip with me instead?”

“No.” I laugh. “It’s bad enough I haven’t been back home since the holidays.”

“You’re the one who decided to maximize her class schedule this year. You didn’t have to take that many classes.”

“Oh, Mr. Pembroke.” I step up on my toes and place a quick kiss on his cheek. “Pick me up at four.”

He groans in protest and I laugh as I turn and leave the classroom and head into the hall. My phone buzzes in my bag and I pull it out as I continue making my way to the outer doors.

Beth: Want to meet early and grab coffee?

Me: Yes, I just stepped out of class. Meet you at The Drip?

Beth: Yes! Grab me a white mocha and put our drinks on the sorority account. Official business.

Me: Say less.

I wrap my coat tighter around my body as I make my way across campus to the coffee shop. This cold and gloomy weather is not what I want for spring break. Thankfully, in a matter of hours, I will be at the coast and welcoming the ocean air on my face.

Although the weather is gloomy, the air feels electrified. There’s chatter of excitement all around as students make their way to their final stops before the campus becomes rather empty.

I walk up to the counter. “Two white mochas and two chocolate chip muffins on the Omegas account, please.”

“We’ll bring it to the table, Kyra.” The barista smiles.

“Thank you.” I slip a few folded bills into the tip jar and make my way across the room to my favorite booth.

I slide across the soft leather bench seat and open up my book bag to pull out the iPad and open up the app our sorority uses to communicate. As the social chair for the Omegas, it is my responsibility to communicate with the rest of Greek life on campus. Some groups are more exclusive than others. The Omegas have slowly climbed to be one of the top houses on campus, which is why I take my role seriously.

“I’m here,” Beth calls out, her dark curls flowing behind her as she moves across the room. She drops her bag to the floor before sliding into the seat across from me. “Please tell me something good.”

I nod to the barista, who approaches the table immediately after. “Perfect timing.” I smile at him and we both say thank you as our drinks and muffins are left for us. “I’ve been doing some digging and there’s a test for the exclusive, hidden deeper than we thought.”

“Tell me more.” She breaks off a piece of her muffin and starts eating.

I take a sip of my drink, letting the warmth fill me up. “You have to get an invite to the test and be approved before you get the real invite.”

“Of course.” She leans in closer to whisper. “That’s why they’re so secret.”

I pull my phone out and reveal the text message.

Unknown:

You’ve been cordially invited to a black tie event.

Bring a plus one, choose wisely.

Two weeks notice.

Time and Location to follow.

I’m not worried about showing her the message. I wouldn’t show anyone else. “I have a feeling my boyfriend is not meant to be brought as a date.” I grimace. The invitation clearly told me to choose my plus one wisely. They know who I am and the company I keep.

“I think you’re right; Ryan wouldn’t be a good fit.” Beth leans back in her seat. “Can your respond to the message?”

“It’s encrypted.” I fidget with the napkin below my muffin. “I have two weeks to find the perfect person to bring with me. I have a feeling who you bring is part of the test. Any suggestions?”

“I can ask my sister if she heard anything when she was here a few years ago. This isn’t one of those times we have legacies with information. I dived into the school newspaper, archives and everything. There’s nothing. No sign or trace.”

“There has to be something.” I groan before breaking off a piece of my muffin and eating.

“Your mom and stepmom were both Omegas. Maybe ask your stepmom over the break.”

I swallow the bite of muffin and nod. “I considered that. I could ask Apollo too, but he didn’t care to get involved in Greek life or any other societies when he was here.” My older stepbrothers went to this university, just as all of our parents had.

“What about Ares?”

My eyes roll in reflex, and she laughs. “I haven’t seen him in years.” Ares prefers to stay away from the family and keep private. I don’t even know when the last time he talked to his mom was. It’s a shame, honestly, because Apollo started a family. We have nieces who he is probably never around.

The truth is—Ares would most likely be the exact person to ask—but he would never tell. I don’t think he was part of any secret societies while he was here, but I remember him being the one to make quick connections for Apollo during his university years. I’d been a freshman in high school, but I vividly remember the conversations the two of them were having when Apollo was taking over the family business.

“It couldn’t hurt to ask.” Beth flashes me a smile.

“If I see him.” Although, I doubt I will. It’s been so long. “Are you coming to the birthday bash they’re throwing at the club?” I quickly change the subject.

“Yes! I’ll be in Saint Bipal all week if you want to hang, but my flight doesn’t leave until Monday morning. I have some stuff to catch up on here.”

“Some stuff or some one ?” I tease.

“Moving on to official sorority business. Did the Gammas accept our invite?”

I bite back my laugh. “Of course.” I pull up the calendar on my iPad and place it on the table between us. “Everyone is excited for the events leading up to the games.”

“I can’t believe you pulled this off. Are you sure you don’t want to keep it up next year?”

I shake my head. “My course load is going to be even more full next year. I will gladly be an in-between person when I’m able, but I will not be able to handle the responsibilities needed for a social chair again. No worries, I’ve been working on a file that will help the next person to step up to easily stay on track.”

If everything goes according to plan, my summer will be abroad and then next year, I will be the newest TA in the history department. Which means I will not have time to be social chair again, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to leave behind my own legacy in filling the role.

The Greek Games haven’t been a thing for years. There’s been too much discourse between the houses over the last hundred years. I made it my personal mission to mend the fences left behind. It was too easy to convince the others when they realized it would be their legacies as well.

“Then here is to creating something nobody else could imagine would’ve returned.” She raises her mug. “You truly amaze me, Kyra. To leaving a legacy.”

“To leaving a legacy,” I cheer with her and take a sip.