Authors: Jennifer Estep
Tags: #Juvenile Fiction, #Fantasy & Magic, #Action & Adventure, #Survival Stories, #Paranormal, #General
Dark Frost (28 page)
A small, satisfied smile curved her lips, and I knew what she was really talking about—another loophole. Just like picking a Champion was a god’s way of seeing that his or her instructions were carried out here in the mortal realm. Sometimes I wondered why the gods had bothered with rules in the first place since they were always looking for ways around them.
“But she died,” I whispered. “Why would she want to die?”
“Nott was sick, Gwendolyn,” Nike said. “Very few members of the Pantheon know this, but the Reapers use a potent drug, a poison really, to train the Fenrir wolves and other creatures. It’s what turns their fur and eyes that eerie red color. The Reapers start feeding it to them the day they’re born so they can control them. That’s why so many of the wolves and other creatures obey the Reapers and don’t try to fight against them—because the creatures need that daily dose of the drug to keep on living. Without it, the creatures slowly, painfully die.”
I’d thought there was something wrong with Nott, given how tired she had seemed. I’d thought maybe it was because she was about to have a pup, but really, it had been the poisonous drug working on her the whole time, slowly eating away at her body.
“But surely there’s an antidote,” I said. “Some way to reverse the poison.”
Nike shook her head. “Not in Nott’s case. She’d been fed the poison for too long.”
Another horrible thought filled my mind. “But what about Nyx? Will she be all right?”
“The wolf pup will be just fine,” Nike said.
Relief filled me, and I stroked Nott’s ears some more.
“But now, I’m afraid it’s time for us to go,” Nike said in a gentle voice. “Even now, Loki is starting to move against the other members of the Pantheon. I have preparations to make, old friends and allies to call upon.”
I nodded and swiped the tears from my cheeks. “I’m going to miss you so much,” I whispered to the wolf. “So much. But I’m going to take good care of Nyx for you. I promise.”
Nott licked my hand, then moved away.
I got to my feet, and Nike approached me once more. The goddess leaned down and kissed me on the cheek. As soon as she touched me, I felt her power wash over me like waves of ice rippling against my skin. But it wasn’t a bad feeling. If anything, I almost felt like I was sharing in her strength, if only for a moment. That sensation, the immense feel of her power, gave me the courage I needed to carry on, knowing what she expected of me, knowing what I had to do to save us all—find a way to kill Loki.
“Take care, Gwendolyn Frost,” Nike said. “Be well and stay strong until we meet again, for you will be tested—sooner than you think.”
Then, the two of them stepped back, melting into the moonlight, until there were only shadows and frost gathered around me once more.
Chapter 29
I didn’t think that they would, I didn’t think that they
could,
but slowly, things went back to normal. I went to class, took care of Nyx, and snuck off campus to go see my Grandma Frost. I even kept working my regular shifts at the Library of Antiquities. I wouldn’t say that Nickamedes and I were besties now, but we didn’t snap at each other every chance we got, either. That was an improvement, I supposed.
could,
but slowly, things went back to normal. I went to class, took care of Nyx, and snuck off campus to go see my Grandma Frost. I even kept working my regular shifts at the Library of Antiquities. I wouldn’t say that Nickamedes and I were besties now, but we didn’t snap at each other every chance we got, either. That was an improvement, I supposed.
But the mood at Mythos Academy was tense. The Powers That Were had called a school-wide assembly and held a memorial service for the kids and other folks who’d died at the Crius Coliseum. After the service was over, the Powers That Were had told everyone that the Reapers had finally succeeded in freeing Loki, although they didn’t mention exactly how it had happened or the part I’d played in things. The kids’ reactions ranged from shell-shocked to scared to immediately wanting to go to war with the Reapers. I knew the feelings—each and every one of them—because they were the same ones I struggled with every day.
Only I was actually supposed to
kill
Loki, and I had no idea how to go about doing that—if it was even possible in the first place. I told Metis and Grandma Frost what Nike had said to me, what she’d told me I had to do, but I didn’t share my mission with my friends. There wasn’t any point in worrying them.
kill
Loki, and I had no idea how to go about doing that—if it was even possible in the first place. I told Metis and Grandma Frost what Nike had said to me, what she’d told me I had to do, but I didn’t share my mission with my friends. There wasn’t any point in worrying them.
I was worried enough for us all.
A few days later, Daphne, Carson, and I sat in the dining hall. Daphne and Carson were kissing, and I was picking at the froufrou mystery meat the chefs had decided to whip up for lunch. Just another day at Mythos Academy, despite the fact that an evil god was on the loose.
Daphne let out another giggle, and a shower of pink sparks filled the air. I rolled my eyes and put down my fork.
“Okay, seriously? You guys are going to make out during lunch, too? Do you know how disgusting that is? Some of us are trying to eat,” I muttered.
“Not anymore,” Daphne said. “You put down your fork.”
“Whatever,” I said. “And Carson? You should know that you’re wearing Daphne’s lip gloss again.”
Carson blushed, picked up a napkin, and started scrubbing his face with it. Daphne just giggled, leaned forward, and planted another kiss on the band geek’s face. I rolled my eyes again, but I wasn’t the only one eyeing the happy couple—so was Savannah.
The pretty Amazon sat at a table a few feet away from us, along with Talia and Morgan, who seemed to have become friends with them. I hadn’t spoken to Savannah, but everyone at Mythos knew that Vivian was really a Reaper and Loki’s Champion. The Powers That Were had told everyone about Vivian during the assembly. Savannah and Talia were both picking at their food, and Savannah had a particularly miserable expression on her face.
“I’ll see you guys later, okay? There’s something I have to do.”
Daphne and Carson waved good-bye to me, then started kissing again. I grabbed my bag and walked over to Savannah’s table. I stood there almost a minute before the Amazon decided to stop pretending that she couldn’t see me.
“What do you want?” she finally muttered.
I drew in a breath. “I just wanted to say that I’m sorry about Logan’s breaking up with you. I know how much you cared about him, and I know how much we both hurt you. I’m sorry for it, all of it.”
Savannah blinked like she couldn’t believe I’d just apologized to her. Talia looked just as shocked, although Morgan smiled at me. I wondered if the Valkyrie had ever wanted to tell Jasmine that she was sorry for messing around with Samson, but of course, it was too late now.
Apologizing to Savannah was something I’d been thinking about for a while. I didn’t know if it would make a difference to the other girl, and I certainly didn’t expect her to like or even forgive me, but it was something I needed to do for myself. Even though I hadn’t meant to, I’d hurt Savannah, and I wanted to try to make it right.
Savannah stared up at me, her eyes narrowed, like she wasn’t sure I was serious. Then, her gaze drifted over to the table where Logan sat with Oliver and Kenzie. Sadness filled her pretty face.
“I knew,” she said. “I knew Logan liked you the first time I saw you together at the homecoming dance. I just wanted it to be me instead. You know?”
“Yeah,” I said in a quiet voice. “I know.”
“He’s staring at you right now.”
I didn’t turn and look at the Spartan. I wasn’t quite ready to face him. Not yet. Nobody spoke for a moment. All around us, the clink and clatter of dishes sounded, mixing with the talk of the other students.
“So are you guys together now or what?” Morgan asked.
I looked at the Valkyrie, and Talia jabbed her in the side with her elbow.
“What?” Morgan asked, wincing. “You guys know I can’t resist a good piece of gossip.”
“I don’t know what we are,” I said, answering Morgan. “But I care about him. I never thought I’d be the kind of girl to steal someone else’s boyfriend, but I guess I turned out to be that person, after all. Just like you said I was at the coliseum.”
Morgan looked at me, then smiled again, green sparks of magic flickering around her. “Nah, Gypsy. You’ve got a long way to go to catch up to me.”
I smiled back at her.
“Besides,” Morgan said. “I told Savannah and Talia about how you saved me from Jasmine that night in the Library of Antiquities. So they know you’re not all bad, even if Talia won’t admit it.”
Talia glared at the other girl, and Morgan quickly scooted her chair back so she was out of range of the Amazon’s quick, sharp elbow.
“You remember?” I asked. “What happened that night?”
A haunted look filled Morgan’s hazel eyes. “I could see and hear and feel everything that was going on as it happened. I just couldn’t do anything about it.”
The other girls looked at her with sympathy, but Morgan pretended that she didn’t notice their stares. We were all getting good at ignoring things we didn’t want to see.
“Anyway,” I said. “I just wanted you to know I’m sorry. I’ll see you around.”
“Gwen?” Savannah called out as I started to walk away.
I turned to look at her.
“Be good to Logan, okay?” she said. “He deserves it.”
I thought about telling her that I didn’t know if Logan and I would ever be together, that I didn’t know if the Spartan even wanted to be with me anymore. Instead, I just nodded.
“Don’t think this means I won’t still be kicking your butt in gym class every chance I get,” Talia growled.
I grinned at her. “I’d expect nothing less.”
The next morning, I went to the gym for the first time since Vivian had forced me to free Loki. Oh, I’d come to the gym for my usual class, but I hadn’t shown up for early morning weapons training with Logan, Kenzie, and Oliver—until now.
I also had on the snowflake necklace for the first time since Loki had escaped. Grandma Frost had gotten it cleaned for me, and not a speck of blood remained on the silver strands. Still, whenever I touched the necklace, all the horrors of that night came rushing back to me, since all my feelings and emotions had soaked into the smooth metal. But the delicate necklace had made it through that long night when it shouldn’t have, just like I had. It was a sign of my survival—and the hope I had that Logan and I could overcome our troubles as well.
I was the first one in the gym, and I pulled my hair back into a ponytail. I paced back and forth in front of the bleachers where Vic was propped up and rehearsed what I was going to say to the Spartan.
“Oh, just tell the boy you bloody love him and be done with it,” Vic growled. “This lovey-dovey stuff gives me heartburn. Don’t you agree, fuzzball?”
Nyx barked, but I didn’t know whether she was agreeing with Vic or angry at the nickname the sword had given her. The pup’s twilight eyes were finally open, so I’d put her in my messenger bag this morning and had given her a tour of campus. I’d hoped that Nyx would stay in my bag during weapons training, but the pup had already climbed out. Now, she was trying to jump up onto one of the bleachers. Smiling, I bent down, picked her up, and put her where she wanted to go. Nyx licked my hand and started running up and down, like a pirate sprinting along a wooden plank.
“She’s cute,” a low voice called out behind me. “Just like Oliver said she was.”
I whirled around. Logan stood behind me, wearing jeans and a long-sleeved blue T-shirt that brought out his icy eyes.
“Hi,” I said in a soft voice.
“Hi,” Logan said in a guarded tone.
We stood there. Logan didn’t approach me; he didn’t tease me; he didn’t do anything that would tell me what he was thinking. Finally, I cleared my throat.
“So where’s your entourage?” I asked.
Logan shrugged. “They quit coming a few days ago. Everyone has more important things to think about now that Loki’s free.”
I nodded.
“What are you doing here, Gypsy girl?” Logan asked, his gaze on my face. “I’ve called and texted you a dozen times, and you never once responded.”
“I know,” I said. “And I’m sorry about that. I came over here this morning to apologize for, well, everything. But especially for how I acted outside my Grandma Frost’s house. You came to rescue me, you risked your life to save me, and I didn’t want to have anything to do with you. I’m sorry for that. Sorrier than you’ll ever know.”
I didn’t make excuses, and I didn’t bring up what I’d gone through in the stone circle, everything I’d lost and how much it had hurt me. Carson had told me more than once that all the kids had lost someone to the Reapers. Now, I had, too. First, my mom and now Nott. Not to mention the bits and pieces of myself I’d sacrificed along the way just to stay alive. And there was more loss, suffering, and pain on the way—for all of us. I could feel it deep down in my bones.
Logan sighed. “I’m sorry, too, Gypsy girl. For that night in the library when I accused you of digging through my brain. I know you can’t help it, that your magic makes you see things whether you want to or not. The truth was that I was afraid—afraid you’d see me for the coward I really was. But then when I found out you’d been taken by the Reapers, all that mattered was getting you back—and not being that coward again.”
“You’re not a coward,” I said. “I never for one minute thought you were a coward. I’m the coward.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because I want you, but I’m afraid to be with you.”
Logan started toward me, but I held up my hand, stopping him.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” I whispered. “With my—with my magic. You don’t know what it felt like, to pull Preston’s life out of him. What if I slip up and do it again? What if I touch you and do that to you? I’d
never
forgive myself. I don’t know that I can forgive myself for doing it to Preston, even if it was the only way to save myself. The thought of ever hurting you, it just—it just makes me
sick
.”
never
forgive myself. I don’t know that I can forgive myself for doing it to Preston, even if it was the only way to save myself. The thought of ever hurting you, it just—it just makes me
sick
.”
I wrapped my arms around myself and looked away. Logan reached out and cupped my hand with his cheek, raising my face to his. My eyes widened at his soft touch and all the emotions I felt pouring into me. His care, his concern, his understanding. The hot, pulsing warmth of his feelings took my breath away because it was exactly the same way I felt about him. The same way I’d always felt about him.
Logan gave me a crooked grin. “You won’t hurt me. I know you won’t.”
“How can you be so sure?” I whispered.
His grin widened. “Because you’re that Gypsy girl, and I’m the bad-boy Spartan. And I think it’s time we were finally together, don’t you?”
I stared at him, all of these emotions pouring through me, burning and burning, brighter and brighter, hotter and hotter, until they couldn’t be contained and there was only one thing I could do. I stood on my tiptoes, wrapped my arms around his neck, and pressed my lips to his.
For a moment, the world just—stopped—and all I knew was the feel of Logan’s lips on mine, the firm grip of his arms around me, the hard strength of his body pressing into mine. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world, and the kiss was everything I’d known it would be, everything I’d ever dreamed it would be—hot, sweet, sexy, intense.
Other books
Tokyo by Hayder, Mo
Natural Lust by Madison Sevier
Six of One by Joann Spears
History Lessons by Fiona Wilde
Sarah's Ground (9781439115855) by Rinaldi, Ann
It's. Nice. Outside. by Jim Kokoris
The Deep Blue Alibi by Paul Levine
Prelude to Love by Joan Smith
To The Lions - 02 by Chuck Driskell