Chapter 1 #2
“What does she want with Annie? It doesn’t make any sense.” Adrian rubs the back of his head with a wince.
“Annie is already a powerful seer and with you on Zeus’ side, she probably wants to use her for her abilities once the war is over.” Apollo paces on the other side of Adrian.
“She probably framed it as keeping Annie safe from the monsters considering she’s the one commanding them. With the queen would be the safest place.” I press my hands to my knees and leverage myself up off the floor.
“And since at the time everyone thought I was on her side, no one thought anything of it. She’s up to something and Annie may pay the price for my disloyalty.” Apollo clenches a hand into a fist.
“I’m sorry.” I sigh. “I’m sure Olly will find her and bring her back. Right now, though, we’re kinda dealing with the possible end of the world.”
“What warnings or threats did the fates have in store for us this time?” Jayden asks.
“Aggie hit me on the head with her walking stick and said to remember what she said when the time comes.” Adrian rubs his head. “You’re right. That stick sucks.”
“You’re not hitting me with a stick, Adrian.” Jayden takes a step back.
“I will.” Raven raises her hand as if she’s in class.
“No, you won’t,” Jayden growls.
“C’mon, Adrian. I know you can’t tell us everything, but you can tell us something. They visited you for a reason.” I offer him a hand to help him up.
“They showed me the academy falling. They showed me what happens if we delay any further. This is happening not later but in the next few days. We’re out of time.” Adrian grasps my hand and I help him stand.
“The academy is going to burn?” I ask. “Is this set in stone? How the fuck do we change that?”
“We have to move up the timeline. If you don’t leave tomorrow, then we are all doomed.” Adrian’s shoulders slump.
“Wait,” Jayden says. “Why did you say it like you’re not coming with us?”
“You caught that, huh?” Adrian shrugs. “I’m not a part of this mission. I have to stay behind.”
“What the hell does that mean? You are on every mission in some capacity.” I throw my hands up.
“Can you imagine this happening mid-battle? One second I’m fighting and the next I’m out cold on the ground, a snack for whatever monster I’m up against.”
“We’ve protected you mid-vision before. We protect each other in battle all the time,” I argue.
“I’m fine with staying back, Beth. I’m meant to be here for this,” Adrian says.
“What aren’t you telling us, Adrian? Why are you fine with this?”
“Because I saw what happens if you guys try to protect me while I’m in a vision. I won’t be the reason the world falls to the queen’s whims.” Adrian crosses his arms.
“I get that. I don’t like leaving you behind, but I understand. If it meant saving the world, I would do the same.” I nod.
“You really don’t know anything about Olly?” Kira asks. “Or is this one of those things where you can’t tell us, but you know?”
“I thought he and Annie were safe. They have never been a part of any of my visions. Even when they showed me every possible outcome of this war, Olly wasn’t there.” Adrian flops in his chair still shaky.
“Okay, I just don’t like him being out there alone like this,” Kira says.
“I get it. I’m sure he’ll be fine and next time the fates contact me, I’ll find out what I can.” Adrian rests his head on his arms.
“Thank you,” Kira says. “It will ease my mind a lot during the battles ahead.”
“Let’s get out to the training grounds to see what’s happening,” I say, patting Kira on the shoulder.
We file out of the war room and through the forest. It’s quiet except for the occasional giggle.
“Will they just stop? We’re trying to save everyone from burning,” Raven grumbles. “Oof.”
A thick branch smacks her in the stomach and she doubles over wheezing.
“Can you stop, please?” I shout into the forest. “We need to work together to defeat our enemy and keep the academy from burning to the ground.”
“That includes the forest,” Raven wheezes.
The forest is silent and there aren’t any other incidents between Raven and the dryads thankfully. The clang of metal sounds the closer we get to the training grounds.
“Stop,” Sara screams, pulling a weapon.
“What in Hades is happening?” I groan, racing for her.
Jackson and Zeke, both sons of Ares and two I wouldn’t put against each other, are circling with swords raised. Sara’s expression is thunderous as she steps between them.
“You idiots, knock it off,” Sara shouts. “If you want to hit each other, step into the ring but don’t kill each other over something stupid.”
“Sara, what happened?” I ask.
“Zeke was correcting my stance, and I guess Jackson thought he got too close and started all this.” She sighs. “The problem is, I’m drawn to them both.”
“Fuck,” Raven spits.
She pulls her twin blades from the ether and steps between the idiots.
“Raven, what are you doing?” I reach for her, but she shrugs me off.
“Hey, dumbasses. If you want to fight someone, I’ll take you both on right here.” Raven points a sword at each of her brothers.
Jackson and Zeke’s expressions morph into horror as they step back, shaking their heads.
“You’re a psycho,” Zeke says. “I would be stupid to fight you. Even fighting with Jackson, we’re both more likely to get our asses beat than anything else.”
“Agreed.” Jackson lowers his weapon.
“Why the fuck are we fighting each other when we should be training in the first place?” I throw my hands up.
Jackson sighs. “I was a jealous dick. I had no right to be either.”
“What?” Zeke asks. “You two are together, right? I was honestly just trying to help her put more power behind her stance. That’s all.”
“You’re all a bunch of morons.” Raven’s weapons disappear from her hands. “But at least you understand I will destroy you if you do something so stupid again.”
“Yeah, but until Raven and Dax got here, you were big man. The best of us and I thought you were taking the one thing I had that you didn’t.” Jackson steps back and hangs his head.
“Seriously?” Sara bellows. “First off, no one can take me away from anyone because I don’t belong to anyone. Second, I will decide who I want to spend time with and not some idiotic death match between brothers. You can both go to Hades.”
“I need some popcorn for this,” Raven whispers to me, grinning.
“No, we need to get everyone back on track. If this is happening among the leadership we put in place while we’re away, then the academy is in worse danger than I previously thought.”