Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
The plinth rests in the very back of the SUV, hidden but taunting me. “Taking this thing with us is a supremely bad idea.”
“What choice did we have? We couldn’t let Prometheus walk away with it, especially since Pandora is with him,” Jayden says.
“I know but we are walking that thing right into the enemy’s hands. It feels like doom surrounds it.” I shudder.
I can’t shake this terrible feeling with it there. My stomach chimes in at that moment with a rumble and I roll my eyes. Seriously? Why can’t I just be a normal demigod and not a complete freak?
“Okay, we need to stop somewhere and eat. You used too much magic again, didn’t you?” Jayden glares at me.
“It could be the almost dying part that has my stomach gnawing at itself.” I shrug.
“Can you not joke about nearly dying? That makes me all rage-y,” Jayden whispers.
“Sorry, baby. I healed those damn broken ribs pretty fast too so I think maybe I used too much. What about you guys? Are you running on empty?” I glance in the back at Raven and Draven.
“I think I fucked up too and my stomach is about to go on strike,” Raven says.
“I could definitely eat. I’m not completely wiped but really all I did was drive these two psychos.” Draven waves a hand in our direction.
“He called us psychos,” I say. “I think that’s the nicest thing he’s ever said to me.”
“It is not,” Draven huffs, but Kira giggles.
“It’s definitely the nicest thing he’s ever said to me,” Raven says.
“That’s not a nice thing to call someone,” Thad groans. “Only the two of you would take it as a compliment.”
“You have seen them in action before, right?” Dax asks Thad.
“More times than you have, buddy. I’m well aware they are absolute machines and come off as psychotic. The fact that they take it as a compliment is what’s baffling me at the moment.” Thad leans back in his seat.
“They are sitting right here, and if you don’t want to get the pointy end of my dagger shoved in an uncomfortable place, I suggest you remember that,” Raven says.
“And there it is,” Draven says with a smirk.
“Jayden, we need to stop somewhere and eat. I think Raven is getting hangry,” I say.
Greyson leans forward between the seats. “We’re almost to the border. There should be a town not ten miles down the road.”
My stomach takes this opportunity to complain loudly and Jayden steps harder on the gas. I don’t know why they are so worried about a few animalistic noises coming from my stomach but if it gets food in my system, I’ll gladly take it.
“Oh, look. A cute little diner,” I say, pointing out the windshield.
The white building looks like an old renovated boxcar from times past and has a retro sign with neon lights with the name Sandy’s Diner lit up in the afternoon sun.
“Are we sure we don’t want to go somewhere like a chain restaurant?” Raven asks warily.
I grimace. “Maybe you’re right. We haven’t had the best luck with obscure places being normal human establishments.”
“I don’t see any other places around. It’s a small town so maybe they only have this one place here,” Jayden says, scanning the area.
“Let’s just go eat there,” Dax says. “But keep an eye out for anything weird.”
Everyone agrees but now my appetite has soured with the idea that this could possibly be a monster hotbed of activity and we will have to fight our way out.
I clench and unclench my fists at my sides, itching to pull a weapon, but I don’t sense any magic or monsters around. Everything seems normal.
“I heard her husband encountered the bear men and now they’re both missing,” a woman whispers from a nearby table.
“He seriously spoke to them. Why? What purpose would bothering those brutes serve,” her friend asks equally quiet.
“Maybe he was trying to travel into Florida. You know he works there a lot.” The first woman shrugs.
We pass by the women gossiping, but they aren’t the only ones speaking in hushed tones around the place. The words bear men and missing float around the diner like a bad omen.
“What the fuck is going on?” I whisper to Jayden.
“I don’t know but I have a feeling we’re going to find out before we leave this sleepy little town.” He shakes his head.
Jayden pulls a chair out for me and I take my seat.
What are the odds that we’ll have another obstacle so soon after the chariot race and Pandora’s bullshit?
Actually, who am I kidding? Of course it’s been too easy so far, so it would only make sense to pack all the assholes in close proximity to tire us before we get to the temple.
A waitress in an old-school diner uniform comes over and hands us each a menu before scurrying away to another table that must be regulars because she’s chatting with them in hushed whispers.
“Sorry, dears. Rosie hasn’t shown up in the last two days and I don’t know where to find her,” the waitress whispers.
“Do you think she crossed paths with the bear men?” someone asks.
“No, she was headed north to visit her mom and never made it there. It’s been happening a lot in the last week or two. I don’t think it’s safe to travel anywhere right now.”
“She’s like the lost ones?” the woman whispers.
“It’s the only thing I can think of. She wouldn’t just disappear on me like that.” The waitress straightens when a bell rings behind the counter. “Gotta go.”
“Do you think there’s any truth to the rumors flying around this place about bear men and people disappearing?” I ask.
“I think it would be dumb if we didn’t take stock in it.” Raven shrugs.
“Agreed. I wonder who they are.” I grimace.
There’s only one mention of men who look like bears in ancient history and I hope it’s not them because… gross.
The waitress comes back over and we order our food. The waitress’ eyes widen with how much food Raven and I order but I don’t care. If I’m going up against bear men who keep making people disappear after this, I am going to need fuel and plenty of it.
“We’re just going to have to refuel again after the inevitable fight,” I say.
“Not you,” Jayden says. “I need you to let us handle this one.”
“Jayden, you know I can’t do that,” I say.
“You can and you will. If I have to chain you to the car seat, I will,” he mumbles.
“I think I agree with him, B. You need to trust the rest of us to take care of things sometimes too. How are you going to trust us in battle if you’re always saving our asses?”
“Do you guys all agree to this?” I ask.
Greyson lifts a hand. “I agree with one stipulation.”
Raven shoots him a glare that clearly says for him to shut the hell up, but he doesn’t take the hint.
“Raven sits this one out too. You guys can’t be at the top of your game after how hard you fought in the arena.”
“I was going to suggest the same.” Dax ducks to catch the French fry that Raven just threw at him in his mouth. “Thanks, sis.”
“I’ll show you top condition when I beat you both bloody at the same time,” Raven says with a snarl.
“You were all for benching me and now you’re backpedaling when they bench you too?” I ask with a raised brow.
“You almost died. I just had a few scratches.” She shrugs.
“That may be, so you have to be tired,” Kira says softly. “Food refuels your magic, but you need sleep to combat fatigue.”
“Et tu, Kira,” Raven says, as dramatic as ever.
“Don’t act like you’re all betrayed when you’re doing the same to me.” I pick up my burger and take a huge bite.
“Enough. It’s settled,” Jayden says. “You two will sit this one out while we take care of the threat. If there is a threat.”
“Fine,” I grumble.
We finish our food in silence after that, Raven and I both stewing over the others ganging up on us, but I can’t be too pissed about it because they’re not wrong. I’m exhausted from the arena. I’ll never let them know they’re right, though.
We pay the bill and walk back to the SUV in silence. Jayden opens my door for me and cages me against the seat when I get in.
“I know you’re mad,” he whispers against my lips. “But I can see the weight of exhaustion on your shoulders, baby.”
“Whatever,” I say. “You guys outvoted me, so what?”
“We’ve got this, I promise. You have to show the rest of them that you trust them to handle themselves and not just save everyone all the time. It’s the only way we all survive what’s to come.”
He kisses my forehead and then shadow walks into his seat of the car.
“Don’t waste energy like that before a battle,” I say.
What is wrong with him? If the bear men are who I think, then this isn’t a fight to be taken lightly.
“Sorry, it’s habit.” He shrugs.
“I think I know who you’re facing. I hope I’m wrong because I really don’t want to see a bunch of human bones or them taking a bite out of my friends.” I frown as bile rises in my throat.
“Okay, you can’t just say shit like that and not explain,” Greyson says.
“Agrios and Orios, twin brothers who are half giant and half bear. They used to host parties and then cannibalize their guests. As the god of hospitality, among other things, obviously this infuriated Hermes and with Zeus’ permission, he took them out. He turned them into birds.”
“Now they’re terrorizing this poor town so they can stop us from getting to Arcadia by eating us?” Raven asks, disgusted. “This is just fan-fucking-tastic and this is the one you want to bench your best warriors for.”
“Right?” I throw my hands up. “I vote we rethink the bench.”
“Not happening, baby. I already told you I will chain you to the seat. You too, Raven.” Jayden glares at her through the rearview mirror.
“I vote we chain them to the seats,” Dax says and ducks. “Did you just throw a dagger at me, Raven?”
“Too bad it was close range and you got away so easily. Next time I won’t miss, idiot.” Raven crosses her arms.
“You could have hit me or Kira,” Draven says.
“Nah, she has great aim. The only reason I ducked instead of smacking it away was to avoid hurting anyone else because my sister is throwing a tantrum.” Dax leans back in his seat.
“I have another dagger,” Raven sings and pulls a dagger from the ether. “Kira won’t mind if I maim you just a little.”