Chapter 29 #2
I place my hand in his and a black band curls around the gold one. “Thank you.”
“Now you can come visit your favorite hellhound whenever you want. He’s been sulking for weeks since you sent him back to me.” Hades chuckles.
“I miss Spot too,” I say, grinning.
“I never did understand why you named a ferocious three-headed hellhound Spot. There’s not a spot on him,” Father says, shaking his head.
“You wouldn’t understand; that’s exactly what makes it funny.” Hades claps him on the shoulder.
Thad rushes in the door, out of breath and panting. “We have a problem.”
“Where’s Adrian?” I ask.
“He is having a vision. I can’t wake him up. I was afraid to move him. Come on.” Thad grips his hair in frustration.
I rush forward. “Show me the way.”
Thad passes me down the long wide hall and back to the entry room we passed when we first got here, then down a slightly smaller hall to the right.
This hall has evenly spaced doors lining the way.
Halfway down, a door on the left is open.
A groan splits the silence as we reach the door.
Adrian is blinking rapidly, sitting up on the floor.
“What did you see?” I ask. “The fight’s over. I would have thought the visions would at least slow down.”
“Nope, the fates aren’t done with me yet, it seems.” Adrian lurches off the ground.
“Shit. What are we in for now? I thought that was it.” I run my hand through my hair.
“This is entirely over. Your story is finished, and you can rest unless called upon. The rest of us, though? We have a task.”
“What do you mean, the rest of us?” Thad asks.
“Me, you, Kira, Dax, and Draven. We are called upon to help the shifters but first we need to find Olly and make sure Annie is safe.” Adrian pats Thad on the shoulder.
“Wait, why do we have to go? We don’t have a connection to the shifters.” Thad crosses his arms.
“I can’t tell you that, but I can promise it will be worth it.” Adrian grins.
“He has that I’ve seen too much smirk on his face,” Raven stage whispers.
“Yeah, I don’t even want to know what it is that he’s seen this time.” I shiver.
“We’re going after Olly?” Kira perks up.
“Wait,” Raven says. “What about me and Greyson? He’s a shifter. He’s a former alpha.”
“I knew you were going to ask that, but your story is complete too. You can rest now.” Adrian eyes Raven like she’s about to hit him or stab him.
It’s a valid concern.
“Ares’ children don’t sit on the sidelines,” Raven growls.
“It’s my turn to prove myself,” Dax says. “Let me have this. We’ll call you if we need you.”
“Fine, you can have it. I guess we are relaxing together, bestie.” Raven loops her arm through mine.
“Sounds good to me.”
Father finds us minutes later. “Would you all like to go back to the academy now?”
“Don’t we have to travel back through the maze?” I ask. “Ariadne said that was the only way to leave.”
“Without me, you would have to go back through the maze, but if you want to get home faster, then I can help.” Zeus holds a hand out to me.
“Thank you.” I put my hand in his and we all spin through space and time for long minutes before stopping in the academy courtyard.
Cheers rise around us as Sara and Jackson rush forward. “You did it.”
“The war is over,” I yell over the noise. “We don’t have to worry about the queen and her minions ever again.”
“Does that mean the monsters are all gone?” Sara asks. “Are we safe to leave the academy if we want?”
I turn to my father. “Do you know the answer to that?”
“There will always be monsters, but the ones you have slayed multiple ones are gone for good.” He nods. “I believe you will be as safe as you can be outside the academy wards.”
“I mean, you’re not without your own skills.” I grin at the news.
We’re free from Hera’s monsters, finally. We can actually go places that aren’t infested with monsters or have the ticking clock hanging over our heads.
“Did the mind-controlled students wake up?” I ask Sara. “Where are the shifters?”
“Yeah,” Jackson says. “A lot of them were disoriented and unsure how they got back to the academy.”
“The shifters are still camped outside of the wards, keeping watch,” Sara adds.
“Greyson, go round up the shifters. It’s time to celebrate,” I shout to the crowd. “We’re finally free.”
“Hell yeah.” Raven pumps her fist in the air. “It’s time to party.”
Father raises a hand and produces tables laden with food and drinks. A radio set up in the corner starts playing pop music. I turn to my father with a smile.
“Thank you,” I say.
“You’ve all earned it.” He pats my shoulder. “I’ll leave you to it, but I would love if you visited Olympus soon.”
“I just might do that. Bye, Dad.”
“Bye, Beth.” He disappears.
Jayden’s arms wrap around me from behind and I press my back against his chest.
“I’m so glad it’s over.” Jayden tightens his grip on my waist.
“It still doesn’t feel real. Is it really over or is this another trick?” I lean my head back.
“It’s really over. We trapped her and watched as Zeus sentenced her. She can’t hurt us anymore.” Jayden kisses my cheek.
I melt into him. Can it really be all over with? It seems impossible that we can rest after fighting so long.
Dax steps forward with two plates in his hands. “You guys used a ton of magic today. I thought I would get you some fuel.”
“Thank you.” I take the plates from him and hand one to Jayden.
“Let’s all go grab a table. We don’t know when we’ll all be together again,” Jayden says.
“Raven and Greyson aren’t back with the wolves yet,” I say with a frown.
“The wolves might not come, love. They don’t like the feeling of the wards, remember?” Jayden says.
“That’s true.” I nod and take a seat.
Kira comes over and sits across from me with Draven and Dax.
Adrian and Thad whisper to each other as they follow.
It’s an ending to what we’ve all been going through with the queen and her minions but also a new beginning.
They are going to be taking off on their own adventures soon and leaving us behind. It’s bittersweet.
Hermes pops in next to me, leaning his elbows on the table. “You did good, little sister.”
“Not really but thank you.” I shake my head, still guilty for not making the right choice.
“I want to argue with you, but I have a feeling it won’t do any good and I’m not really here for you anyway.” Hermes grins.
All conversation at the table dies as everyone notices our new arrival sitting next to me.
“Who are you here for?” I ask.
“Them. I have a message from Olly. He’s in Virginia near your old pack. Now that the queen is gone, it’s time for you all to find him and be reunited.” He raises a brow at Kira.
Kira gulps. “My family’s pack? Why would he be there?”
“Maybe it’s time for you to reunite with them as well?” Hermes says and disappears.
“No rest for the wicked, right?” Kira rubs her forehead. “I guess the shifter war is escalating faster than we thought.”
“You’re right.” Raven jogs up to the table. “The wolves just left. Randall is dead and Derek took over his pack. The war is coming faster than anyone realized.”