Life has just gotten more complicated for the minor goddesses of Copper Hill. As if managing monster hunting duties, relationships, failing grades and trying not to step on the council's toes wasn't enough. Nina is trying to put on a brave face and be the leader she thinks her band of misfits needs but her campaign for leadership is the last thing on her mind when long held rules begin changing and a monster attacks in the most unlikely of places...detention.
Excerpt:
Copper Hill High’s archery team returning from another victorious tournament was the biggest thing to happen in school all week. The pep squad ran to the steps with pom poms and faces with glittered letters CH on them. The student body could not be contained and rushed to see the boys getting off the bus between classes. Those who were in classes had all but squished their faces to the windows to get a glimpse of the red, white and green tracksuits. Damon Fellowes was the first off the bus. Captain was printed in bold red letters across his back as he took his victory stride up the stairs. His towering height and lean- muscular body garnered him a lot of fans and they all cheered for him as he walked by. The pep squad cheered his name in synchrony with their green and red pom poms. He held up horned fingers with one hand and his bow in the other. “First place baby.”
The students on the steps roared in response and the entire school seemed to cheer in unison. Nina silently grinded her teeth behind tight lips as she watched the display from the bus. As annoyed as she was, she couldn’t blame them for fawning over the archers. In a town with two churches, no mall and no movie theatre, teenage national archers appeared larger than life to the small-town folk.
Luke, Noel, Roman and Ethan followed off the bus. All were in identical tracksuits but with less arrogance than Damon. They held their gear at their sides and shied away from all the attention with their eyes casted downward.
“Let’s go boys, stash your gear away and get back to class.” Alan said. The boys nodded and did as the team sponsor said. They hurried up the stairs and the crowd of fans disappeared after them. Even the faces in the windows disappeared with the boy’s team gone there was nothing else worth seeing. With a final glance around the now deserted school yard, Alan stuck his head back onto the bus. “Alright girls, hustle.”
Nina and the other four girls hurried across the school yard and into the staff’s washroom where Miss Gaines waited on them. Miss Gaines nodded and waved to Alan from where he stood and only then did he take his leave. She had a stack of white fluffy towels in her hand where she stood at the door. Each girl took one as they made their way into the communal showers with their gym bags flapping at their sides. Clover was the first one in, she had green slime dripping from her hair. If she didn’t get that gunk out of her hair soon Nina feared she would burn down the entire school. Eirene and Lindsey filed in after her both with smudged dirt and more green slime on their faces and tracksuits. Finally, Jessie and Nina who looked the worst of the bunch trailed in after them. Scrapes and cuts marred Nina’s neck while Jessie was nursing a small bump on her head and a nasty scrape on her neck. Nina smiled and thanked Miss Gaines with a small bow.
“Did you get it?” the history teacher said.
Nina nodded. “We got it.” She looked around at the empty bathroom, the girls were in front of the mirror stripping down.
“What did you say that we needed the bathroom for?” Nina said.
Miss Gaines peered over her shoulder and said, “Colossal period emergency. You have about fifteen minutes. Make it count. I’ll stand watch.”
Nina looked back at her friends, Clover was muttering under her breath as she scooped gunk out of her golden curls. “Thank you,” Nina said. She tried to shut the door but Miss Gaines’ foot was in the way. “No Nina, thank you.” The woman smiled before closing door. Nina locked the door then looked back at the girls and said, “We have fifteen minutes. Let’s get cleaned up.”
She glanced around at the bathroom, she had never been inside the staff’s bathroom before. It was essentially the same as the student’s, only this bathroom wasn’t covered in graffiti and was much cleaner. To her right was a long counter with four sinks and awful light blue tiles. But unlike the bathroom she was accustomed to, the grout was still white. To her left was a large communal shower separated from the sinks by a tiled, privacy wall. Tucked into the corner was a door that she assumed led to toilet stalls. It could have easily been the general bathroom but they needed the privacy. They couldn’t have their peers stumbling into the bathroom questioning them about the actual monster guts splattered all over them. Clover had gotten the brunt of it. If she counted right, she had two seconds before a Clover meltdown.