Chapter 24
Jayden steps up to the end of the track and holds his hands up. “I’m starting this race because Raven is competing. On your marks.”
I grip the wooden sword. Raven has us positioned so she’s closer to Dax on our other side. There are no chariots on my side of the line so Raven will be the first line of defense against the other chariots.
“You’re going down, sis.” Dax grins.
“Not a chance.” Raven straightens her spine. “Beth and I are the best at this. You saw us drop all those demigods last time.”
“You watched them defeat demigods?” Jackson asks. “And we really want to go head-to-head with them now?”
“I watched so I know their tricks now. Plus, last time it was a real chariot race. They can’t maim or kill this time.” Dax smirks.
“Those demigods were already dead. It doesn’t count as killing them.” I point the blade at Dax.
“I didn’t mean it like that.” He holds his hands up. “You only kill when it’s necessary.”
“That was a low blow, Dax. I’m going to make you pay for that,” Raven snaps.
“I’m sorry. I said I didn’t mean it.” He takes a step back from the side of the chariot.
“No maiming, Raven.” I shake my head.
“Chariots at the ready,” Jayden shouts, cutting off their argument.
Raven shoots Dax a feral smile and moves into position, a wooden javelin in one hand and a sword in the other. “Let’s do this, bestie.”
“We’ve got this. Draven, you know what to do. Keep your eyes on the finish line. We’ll protect you.”
“For sure. We’re a team.” He nods to Jayden.
“Go,” Jayden shouts.
Raven sweeps her javelin around in a wide arc and smacks Dax off his feet with a thud. Jackson has his hands full with Brody on his other side. The sounds of wood clashing against wood fill the clearing as students fight each other to keep to the front of the pack of chariots.
“Faster, Draven,” I shout.
“I’m trying,” he grumbles.
“Beth, your side,” Raven screams as she spins, cracking Dax in the head with her javelin.
Dax tumbles from the chariot and Raven bellows a battle cry. I spin, lifting my sword to block Brody who somehow untangled himself from Jackson and snuck up behind me to box us in. My arms shake with the force of the block against a much physically stronger opponent.
“You’re not strong enough without magic.” Brody grins.
“Who said I can’t use magic? I just have to keep it to a minimum so I don’t accidentally fry your brain.” I shove his sword away and drop low in a sweeping kick that Brody sees coming and jumps over.
While he’s airborne, I jump to my feet and pour a little magic into the hilt of my blade and swing out, hitting him in the gut. Brody flies off the back of the chariot.
The crowd around the clearing cheers louder as Brody is disqualified from the race along with Dax. Both were ejected from the chariots and unable to get back on, leaving their drivers unprotected.
“Draven, we all good?” I ask.
“Yup, we’re almost at the finish.” He stares straight ahead.
“Good.” I pick up the spare javelin and sweep it out at the driver of Brody’s chariot, smacking him in the arm.
With a yelp he drops the reins, and his horses turn the chariot closer to me. We’re going to crash if he doesn’t get hold of them again. I hold up a hand to show the horses the sparkling lightning on my fingers, and they buck on their hind legs before turning and fleeing in the opposite direction.
The driver and the remaining shield grapple with the reins to get the horses under control again but it’s too late. We cross the finish line to thunderous applause from the crowd watching.
“That was badass, B. You showed my idiot brothers who the real champion is.” Raven wraps an arm around my shoulders.
“Those chariot races are absolute chaos. That’s why you like them, isn’t it?” I laugh.
“Of course that’s why and also brute strength and war strategy.” Raven jumps from the chariot.
“You did amazing, love.” Jayden walks up and pulls me into his arms. “There’s still one last part of the funeral ritual.”
“The funeral feast?” I ask and my stomach growls.
“Yes, and after that, we can go rest because I have a feeling we won’t get much of that in the days to come.” Jayden steers me back to the courtyard where the pyres are still glowing with Jayden’s black flames. “Libations.”
I grab the cup that Jayden offers and walk over to the pyres to pour it out over the ground by the bodies burning to ash for the urns.
I silently pray to Hades that they will be given the best of the best in the underworld and sent to the isle of the blessed instead of Elysium.
That place is stagnant and wrong. I never want to go there again.
“You all did a fine job of honoring the dead.” Chiron trots over to us.
“Thank you. It was mostly Jayden’s knowledge of ancient funeral rites that got us through this.” I nod to the centaur.
“They will go to the underworld with a chance at the isles, I’m sure. You gave them their best chance after they died in battle.” Chiron squeezes my shoulder.
“Have any of the mind-controlled demigods woken up yet?” I ask.
“Not yet. It is worrying that they have been out more than a day, but I’m sure they’ll be fine. You should go enjoy the feast. It may be the last chance we get for celebration in the coming days.” Chiron turns and trots away.
“He’s right. Let’s go.” Jayden wraps an arm around my waist and leads me to the cafeteria.
“It feels wrong to be celebrating in the midst of all of this. What if the queen attacks us during the feast?”
“Even the gods respect burial traditions. That was why Hermes went to Achilles to get him to release Hector’s body to his family and people instead of desecrating it by dragging the body behind his horse through their camp on the shores of Troy. I doubt she’ll attack during the feast.”
“Maybe that’s what she wants us to think. She’s crazy and will take any advantage she can get to win this war. She doesn’t care about our customs, just searching for the perfect time to move against us.” I grip the cup in my hand too tight and it creaks.
“Then we will deal with it. We have the shifters along the perimeter and Hephaestus’ army is their backup as the first line of defense. We have this under control, baby. We’ll get through this.” Jayden kisses my temple.
“I know you’re right, but I just can’t relax,” I say and the ground shakes ominously. “See? It’s getting more and more chaotic up there. What is happening?”
“We’ll find out soon one way or the other, love. I’m sure if she doesn’t attack us, either Hermes or Apollo will come to inform us what’s going on up there.” Jayden opens the door to the cafeteria and ushers me inside.
The sight before me makes me grin. The tables are no longer segregated between the houses of the godly parents. Students all fill each table, everyone sitting with friends rather than just their siblings. I wave at Sara who is sitting between Jackson and Brody who both are a little worse for wear.
“I hope I didn’t hurt you too bad when I knocked you off that chariot.” I grin at Brody.
“Nah, I think my pride stings more than anything you did,” Brody says.
“You should have known better than to try to take her on, idiot.” Sara kisses his cheek. “She and Raven are as bloodthirsty as they come and the best of all of us.”
“Damn straight,” Raven cheers from another table. “I can’t believe the meatheads actually thought they could beat us.”
Everyone laughs except for the meatheads in question. “You’re not being an idiot and prideful, right? You would go to the healers if you need to? Can you still fight?”
“I promise, I can still fight. I got a few bumps and bruises, but nothing will take me out of this battle for our lives but death.” Brody clenches his hand into a fist.
“Don’t say that. We don’t need anyone else dying over this if we can help it.” I shake my head.
Jayden’s hand is warm on the small of my back as he leads me around the table to the buffet line where the scent of barbequed meats fills my senses. “Let’s get the hangry raptor fed before you start gnawing on furniture or something.”
My stomach takes the hint and growls loudly, only making Jayden chuckle.
“Your stomach is just as hangry as mine is now so stuff it.” I poke him in the ribs.
“You’re not wrong but I carry snacks with me all the time now to keep the beast contained.” Jayden winks.
“Not you too,” I huff out a laugh. “Greyson got a cold container for his hiking pack when we saw Pan in the woods and put a bunch of those prepackaged sandwiches in it for when we needed them when I got depleted.”
“Seriously?” Jayden raises a brow.
“He takes his snack mom duties very seriously.” I nod.
“I’ll have to ask him about it. That could be useful.” Jayden hands me a plate.
“The guys around here are absolutely ridiculous,” I mutter under my breath.
“I think what you meant to say was thoughtful. We know how important you are and somehow Raven became the same. We just want you guys to be safe and at full power to face our enemies.” Jayden plops some creamy mashed potatoes on my plate as I grab a few pieces of smoked brisket.
“It is thoughtful but that doesn’t mean I won’t tease him relentlessly over it.”
“I would expect nothing less. I’m sure Raven does the same. I mean, he kind of just became the snack mom out of necessity. We all know that you and Raven don’t think about food in the heat of the moment, so someone has to save you from your own hyperfixation on killing monsters.”
“Thank you so much for that lovely vote of confidence, babe.” I shake my head.
When my plate is piled higher than normal, I turn to our table and curse. “What is he doing here?”
“Maybe there is news about the battle on Olympus?” Jayden is already moving toward our table where the sun god sits waiting patiently for our arrival.
“Finally.” Raven throws her hands up. “He wouldn’t tell us anything until you got here.”
“Do you have news?” I ask, setting my plate down on the table.
Jayden pulls out my chair for me and I smile but it’s forced and we all know it.
“It’s more of a request than actual news.” Apollo rubs his temples.