Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I stare at the bright-blue sky as we speed down the Florida coast. There are no black dots in the sky to indicate there are demon pigeons anywhere. The closer we get to Arcadia, the greater the chance of them attacking us out of nowhere.
“Does Hermes have any powers that affect the natural world?” Greyson leans between the seats.
“Not that I’m aware of, why?” I turn my attention from the sky to Greyson.
“Look, it’s a sandstorm or something.” He points out the windshield.
Sand swirls around like a giant cloud.
“I don’t think that’s a sandstorm,” Jayden says. “You see the horse?”
“Oh my gods. It’s dragging a body. What in Hades?” I lean closer.
“Is it a demented monster horse?” Greyson asks.
“It’s a war horse from Ancient Greece,” Adrian says.
“Who has ties to Hermes and would have done this to another person?” I ask no one in particular.
“Many warlords in those times would have disrespected their enemies by desecrating their bodies in such a way,” Draven says. “But I can only think of one who was tied to Hermes.”
“Why do you look like you’re about to throw up?” I ask.
Dread sinks icy fingers in my gut. Who could that be? I rack my brain for the information but it doesn’t come. Hermes was connected to many heroes and kings in Ancient Greece so who could this be?
“Because I know who is riding that horse and who the body is that he’s dragging across the beach,” Draven says. “It’s not fucking good. At all.”
Jayden tightens his grip on the wheel. “Stop being cryptic like Adrian and tell us what we’re up against here.”
“The man being dragged by the horse is none other than Hector, the prince of Troy.” He widens his eyes.
“No fucking way, that means…” I say.
“The man dragging him is Achilles.” Draven slumps in his seat.
“What in the actual fuck?” Jayden spins around to stare at me. “What does Achilles have to do with Hermes?”
“Hermes was actually on the side of the Greeks in the war. The gods were divided. They warred among themselves over who should win the war. But Hermes was tasked with negotiating for the return of Hector’s body to the people so they could mourn their crown prince,” I say.
Raven bumps her forehead into the back of my headrest. “This is so much worse than indestructible bacon.”
“Agreed,” I huff.
“I’m a little rusty on the Trojan war,” Greyson says. “Who was Achilles?”
“Achilles’ mother was a goddess but when the oracle told her that her son would be a great warrior but would die in battle, she hid him.
She took him to the River Styx and submerged him completely as an infant to make him basically indestructible.
The only spot on his body that wasn’t was the spot on his ankle that she was holding. That was his downfall.”
“He was literally killed by a stray arrow from the worst archer in the Trojan army on accident. That’s why the tendon in the back of your ankle is called the Achilles tendon and your greatest weakness is often described as your Achilles’ heel.” Raven rubs a hand over her face. “We are so screwed.”
“Fuck,” Greyson says with a grunt.
“They called him the stormer of cities and he never lost a battle until he angered the gods by taking Hector’s body and showing such disrespect.” I squirm uncomfortably in my seat.
The monsters are definitely bad, but most of them are stupid and clumsy. They’re easy to defeat. One of the greatest heroes to ever live is blocking our way to Arcadia. He’s not stupid. He was known as a master strategist and warlord. How the fuck do we defeat that?
“This may be our biggest challenge yet.” Jayden sighs.
“Out of all the missions we’ve been on, we have never had to go against another human. How do we do this?” I ask.
We’ve defeated gods, titans, and monsters but never other demigods or anyone slightly human. Can we do this? Not to mention the fact that he’s indestructible.
“I don’t think it will work to fight him outright. He’s not technically human right now because he’s dead and brought back by whatever magic the queen used to bring back those she finds useful,” Raven says.
“She did side with the Greeks, probably out of petty jealousy but still.” I shrug.
“Petty jealousy over what?” Dax asks.
“There was a prize for the goddess that was the fairest of them all. A golden apple. The queen, Aphrodite, and Artemis were all in the running. They went to Paris, the prince of Troy, to give them an answer on who is the fairest. He chose Aphrodite who in turn granted him Helen’s love.
She was betrothed to Agamemnon and that’s what started the Trojan war. ”
“So she sided with the Greeks because Paris snubbed her? Yeah, that tracks with her.” Dax shakes his head.
“That makes the most sense but we can’t know the inner workings of her twisted mind,” I say.
“But why would Achilles try to stop us from getting to Arcadia if he sided with the Greeks as well?” Kira asks.
“Because Hermes didn’t completely side with them. He facilitated the deal for Hector’s return and I’m guessing here, but I’m thinking Achilles never forgave the messenger god for his perceived betrayal to his cause.” I hang my head. “He’s here to stop us at all costs.”
“Monsters are one thing, but an indestructible demigod is definitely something else entirely.” Jayden runs a hand down his face.
“Especially a highly trained and battle-hardened indestructible demigod.” Raven glances around.
If the daughter of Ares is worried, what chance do we have of winning this fight?
“Do you think we could possibly reason with him?” Adrian asks.
“Do you see what he’s doing right now? He’s dragging a dead man behind his horse in a sign of disrespect. I don’t think he will see reason.” Dax shakes his head.
“We have to try. Even if he’s already dead, I don’t like the idea of killing a demigod who was a hero in his time.” I shake my head.
“He was a warlord in his own time. Look at him. He’s on a downward spiral. No wonder he was killed by a stray arrow after this.” Raven pats my shoulder.
“Yeah, but when someone has nothing to lose, that’s when they become the most dangerous,” Jayden points out.
“We can’t just attack him without knowing. I don’t feel right about that.” I push the door open and hop out of the SUV.
“Beth, fuck,” Jayden hisses.
His door flies open and his shadows wrap around me as I make my way to Achilles in the middle of the beach. The others follow suit, shutting their doors behind them, then following us.
“Excuse me,” I shout in an attempt to get his attention.
The horse continues kicking up dust in every direction as if I never spoke.
“Achilles,” I yell.
The horse skids to a halt and the rider spins, unsheathing his sword instantly. “They told me you would come, but I didn’t believe it. I thought the monsters would get you before you got this far.”
I press the charm for my own sword and sigh. “You’re working for the queen? I suspected it but I’m disappointed.”
“Why would you be disappointed?” he asks, brows scrunched down.
“You were once a great warrior unlike the world had ever seen and now you’re doing the queen’s bidding like a loyal lapdog.” I ready my stance.
“Lapdog? I gave allegiance to Hera freely. For revenge on Hermes, I would do anything including stop you from getting to his caduceus.” He jumps down from the horse and it disappears along with the body of Hector.
Achilles twirls his sword in a complicated pattern unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.
“Raven, Dax, any ideas?” I whisper.
“Adrian, hang back,” Raven says. “Keep your bow at the ready for an opening.”
“Got it.” Adrian backs away, hiding behind the SUV for now.
I roll my shoulders back as I raise my sword. I don’t like it and we’re probably about to get all our asses kicked by the indestructible Achilles, but the warrior isn’t giving us a choice.
Dax and Raven circle him as Jayden pulls his obsidian sword from the shadows and plants his feet beside me.
“You’re children. Do you really think that even with your numbers you stand a chance against me?” Achilles laughs.
“We’ve faced bigger monsters than you and came out on top,” I say with more bravado than I feel.
“Monsters lack the ability to reason. I do not,” Achilles says.
He pulls a second blade from its sheath and lunges for Dax. Dax spins but not fast enough and a line of blood drips down his shoulder. He grunts in pain but continues the battle.
“We need to help him. Achilles drew first blood in one move,” Jayden whispers.
“I’m pretty fast at jumping now. Between the two of us, I think we can distract him enough so someone can get a shot at his ankles, maybe?” I chew my lip.
“That could work. I’ll zag left and block Dax while you zag right and have Raven’s back.” Jayden pulls his shadows around him.
“Perfect.” I jump by Raven and flick my whip out. Electricity crackles in the air.
Achilles’ sword bats the whip away from him easily but it’s enough of a distraction for Draven and Kira to get Dax out of the way.
“Beth, watch out,” Raven yells.
With barely a thought, I jump to her side, narrowly missing the swipe of Achilles’ sword.
“Thanks.” I roll my shoulders back and jump again, behind Achilles this time.
I take a swipe at Achilles’ heel, but he jumps over the swing and flips backward until he’s on his feet behind me. I roll to the side and lift my sword to block his next strike.
“You’re a skilled warrior, demigod, but you’re no match for me.” He swings at me again.
Shadows engulf me a second before the strike would have hit me and transport me next to Raven with Jayden standing in my place, his obsidian sword clanging against Achilles’.
“Mine,” Jayden snarls, all the blue bleeding to black in his eyes.
“Shit, Jayden’s losing control.”
“What’s the plan?” Raven holds her swords out in a fighting stance.
Jayden wraps the shadows around him and every time Achilles swings, he shadow walks out of the way before a blow can land, but he’s flagging with the excessive use of magic.
“Adrian, do you have a clear shot?” I call out.