Wrath of Hades (9 page)

“H
ow do you know about shadow doors?” asked Bree. She eyed Raven cautiously.

“I know about them b
ecause I’ve used the Shadow Express. It’s an ability I brought back with me from Hades. It’s how I was able to get Ethan and the others out of Cerberus’s lair last night.”

“The Shadow Express?” asked Leslie.

“It’s kind of what I called it last night when Persephone popped into my bedroom.”

“I like the ring of it,” Bree said, nodding her head. “So you can use the shadow doors, I mean the Shadow Express?”

“It’s no big deal.” Raven shrugged her shoulders.

“Yeah, that’s a big deal. Does Hades know you can do that?” asked Bree.

“No, not that I know of, but it doesn’t matter right now. We’ve got a possible idea of what’s wrong with Ethan. We’ve just got to get some proof and a cure for it.” Raven’s voice filled with hope. “We need to go talk to Eros.”

“We can’t, a
t least not right now,” said Leslie.

“Why not?” asked Raven.

“He and Angela are still on vacation. All I can do is send Angela a text message and hope she answers it.”

“Great!” Raven felt like banging her head against the car.

“As soon as I can, I’ll send the text, but we had better get to class or we’re going to be late.” Leslie jerked her head toward the building.

Raven nodded. For now there wasn’t much she could do until she actually talked to Eros, but she felt better, like a small bit of the weight had been lifted off of her shoulders and her heart.

She had a clue.

She had hope.

And for now it was better than the nothing she had earlier. But she knew she still had to protect herself—her heart. That had to be her first priority.

The girls hiked across the parking lot and joined the crowds of students moving into the building. It took several minutes but finally they made it into the main hallway without too many bruises.

“I’ll see you later. I have to sit in the principal’s office until I’m released to go back to class.” Raven grimaced. She hated the very thought of sitting in the principal’s office, but she had no choice at least not until the new principal cleared her to go back to class.

“Hopefully we’ll see you in English,” said Bree.

“Hopefully.” Raven waved at the girls as they took off toward their first period classes.  Raven took a deep breath and let it out slowly. At least Meritus Myers and Marley were nowhere near the campus. In fact, no one had seen Meritus since she and Jay fought in Raven’s backyard. Marley had been missing for just a little longer.

Raven glanced around and started making her way across the crowd moving through the hallway. For the most part, the students parted and let her through, at least the ones who knew who she really was. The
y were the only ones who didn’t bumped and pushed her as they rushed to get to their classes.

Raven stopped in front of the office door and stared at it. Slowly she turned and looked out at the sea of moving students. The school didn’t look any different than it had the first day she walked in, but it felt different.

“She’s not here.”

“Who?”
Raven asked as she turned to look at the person speaking to her. The man was tall, but broad shouldered. His long dark hair was pulled back and tied with a leather cord at the nape of his neck. Raven frowned. He looked familiar.

“Meritus Myers. She’s not here. I’ve checked the building and so have several others.” He flashed a smile at her.

Raven paled. She took a couple of steps away from the man.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

He sounded genuinely concerned but Raven knew better. She knew it was his way of luring people into his trap. She wouldn’t fall for it, not like she almost did last time. “I’m onto your tricks. You may have the rest of them fooled, but not me. I know better. I know exactly who you are.”

The man frowned slightly. “I think you have me mixed up with someone else.”

Raven shook her head. “You’re not fooling me, Zeus. Or should I saw Uncle Zeus.” Raven tried to put some distance between them, but he matched every step she took.

“I’m not Zeus.”

“Right! What game are you trying to pull now?”

“I’m not Zeus.” The man said again.

“What’s your game now? Pretending to be the new principal? You won’t get away with it.” Raven glanced around. She could protect herself, but how was she going to protect everyone else.

“Raven, my dear, there you are. I was wondering when you would get here. Did Ethan snap out of it and bring you?” Professor Snyder stopped in front of Raven. “Where’s Ethan?” he asked looking around.

“I don’t know, but we’ve got bigger problems,” said Raven.

“She thinks I’m Zeus,” said the handsome looking man.

“Well, you do look like him,” said Professor Snyder. “And you act like him sometimes.”

The man glared at the professor. “I’m nothing like him.”

“I didn’t say you were. I said you looked like him and sometimes acted like him. It’s the truth. Nothing can be done about that.” Professor Snyder raised his coffee mug up. “I need coffee,” he said when he saw the mug.

“Professor, what about him?” asked Raven. She looked from the professor to the Zeus look-a-like and back to the professor.

“What about him?” The professor looked around. “No Ethan?”

“No Ethan. He’s still acting like a pod person. What about him?”
Raven gestured at the man who looked like Zeus.

“I’m Lee Ryder, your new Principal.” He held out his hand to Raven. “And I’m your new defense teacher.”

Raven just looked at him. “You look exactly like Zeus.”

“Unfortunately, I get that a lot. I didn’t mean to scare you.” The smile he gave her looked just like the one Zeus had used before he realized she wasn’t giving him the key codes to Atlantis.

Raven reluctantly shook his hand. “How is it you look like him?”

“Why don’t we go into the office?” Professor Snyder took Raven’s arm and led her through the office doors. Lee Ryder followed closely behind the pair.

The secretary behind the desk looked up from the computer screen and narrowed her eyes when she saw Raven. “Is everything okay, Mr. Ryder?”

Lee Ryder gave the old woman a dazzling smile. “Everything’s just fine, Mrs. Robertson, just some loose ends to take care of. We’ll be in my office, please do not disturb us.”

“She was in trouble the last time she came to school. Why don’t you just expel her and then we won’t have to deal with her and the problems she causes. I’ve also heard she’s leading some sort of gang. They’re up to no good I tell you. Mark my words. This one’s a bad apple. Causing problems just like her mother did,” said Mrs. Robertson as Raven and the others walked by her.

Raven glanced at the old woman and for a brief second, she swore the woman’s eyes changed from the old woman eyes to a set of younger looking eyes.

“Don’t worry. There’s no problem, just a schedule change I need to discuss with Miss Weir and the professor,” said Lee Ryder.

“Are you sure about that? Maybe I should call the police and have her taken away just to be on the safe side. Ther
e was an agent here a few weeks ago looking for her. I think I still have a card in my desk. I can find it and give the agent a call.”

“We don’t need the police or the agent.” Lee smiled at the woman. “Just make sure we’re not disturbed.”

“Yes sir, if you’re sure that’s what you want.”

“It is,” said Lee. He led Raven and Professor Snyder into his office and shut the door.

As soon as it clicked, Raven whirled around to face both men and dropped her book bag to the floor. “What is going on?”

“You shouldn’t drop your book bag like that. It’s a useful weapon if needed,” said Lee.

“Tell me something I don’t know.” Raven raised an eyebrow. “It’s useful in breaking arms. I wonder if it works as well on knees?”

“Why don’t we all sit down and have a nice talk.” Professor Snyder sat down and motioned to the empty chairs.

Raven folded her arms over her chest. “What gives with the Zeus look-a-like?”

Lee shook his head. “Is she always like this?”

“She is in the room. And she wants some answers.” It really irritated Raven when people talked about her like she wasn’t even there.

Professor Snyder sighed. “You two are definitely related. I really should have gotten a cup of coffee before we started this.”

“He and I aren’t family.” Raven raised an eyebrow.

“Afraid so,” said Lee. He leaned against the door. “Your Uncle Zeus is my father.”

“Great! Absolutely! Flipping! Great!” Raven rolled her eyes. “It’s bad enough I’ve had Meritus trying to kill me, but now I’ve got you?” She looked over at the professor. “And you knew about this? I thought you were on my side.”

“I am on your side. That’s why I had Lee come here so that he could teach you self-defense. Who better to teach you than Hercules himself,” said Professor Snyder.

Raven stared at Lee for a few seconds. “You’re Hercules?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said.

“Is this some sort of game, where you win our trust and then try to kill me to get Atlantis so that you become daddy’s favorite child?”

“Good, at least you don’t immediately trust people. That lesson has already been learned.”  He stood up and took a couple of steps toward Raven. “I’m not playing any sort of game. Yes, I’m Hercules, the son of Zeus. But there is no love between us. I’m here to teach you self-
defense so you can stay alive. I’m not here to try to get Atlantis. I don’t want it because even with all the power hidden there, it can’t bring back my wife and child.”

“Raven, what he says is the truth. I wouldn’t bring someone in to hurt you. I originally thought Lee and Ethan could work together to train you. I just didn’t expect anything would happen to change that.” The professor sounded tired.

“Don’t worry about the pod Ethan thing, I’m working on it.” Raven turned her attention to Lee. “I’m the first to admit, I need defense lessons. But if you are lying and you’re really working for Zeus, I will do everything in my power to turn you into a garden ornament. Understood?”

“I expect no less from the Guardian of Atlantis.” Lee nodded his head to her.

Raven sighed. “So, when do we start?”

“Saturday afternoon. I’ll meet you at your house.” He walked over to his desk and picked up a piece of paper. “And you’ve got a schedule change,” he said as he handed the paper to her.

Raven took it without a glance. “Is there anything else?”

“No, you can go.”

Raven turned and walked out of the office. Mrs. Robinson hissed at her. Raven shook her head and started to leave.

“Meritus was a good teacher until you came along.”

Raven turned and walked back to Mrs. Robertson’s desk. She put her hands on the edge and leaned forward. “I don’t know who you think you are, but Meritus Myers was no teacher. I suggest you leave me alone before you regret it.”

“How dare you threaten
me!”

Raven smiled. “Why would I bother threatening you? Besides, the rumors you’ve heard about me?” Raven leaned a little closer. “They’re not telling you the half of what I’ve done or what I’m capable of doing, but if you want a first-hand demonstration, keep it up.”

Mrs. Robertson paled slightly.

“Oh, and by the way, your disguise keeps slipping. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s noticed.” Raven winked at her. “I’ll be keeping my eye on you,” she said as she walked out of the office and headed
to her first class of the day.

CHAPTER
7

Don’t you just hate it when you know someone’s guilty but you don’t have any kind of proof? All you have to go on is just a gut feeling, and no one will believe you.

It absolutely stinks!!!

And guess what you’ve got to do?

That’s right.

You have to go and dig up proof to prove what you already know, even if you have no idea how to do it, or where to start.

                            --Raven Weir’s journal

“And exactly why are we out here,” asked Ari. She looked up and down the deserted stretch of highway just outside of the Pinewood city limits.

“I told you, we’re looking for clues to help me find Claire
Westing. This is where she was last seen, so it’s the logical place to start looking.” Raven walked toward the skid marks going off the road and into the grass. She had convinced the girls to drive out to where Sam Westing had the wreck and the site from which Claire was kidnapped. Raven would have rather gone earlier in the day instead of after school, but she didn’t have much choice in the matter. Every time she went into the hallways, Lee Ryder aka Hercules was there, watching her. There was no way she could ditch school. And Ethan was absolutely no help. He ignored her all day and took off two seconds after the last bell rang, but what did she expect, after all, she was basically invisible to him.

“And how do we know if it’s a clue?” Ari followed behind Raven.

“It’ll have the word clue stamped on it,” said Bree.

“Ha. Ha. Ha. You’re so funny. You have no idea what we’re looking for either.”

“No, I don’t. But at least I’m not asking stupid questions. I think the fumes from all the nail polish have gone straight to your brain and killed some of your smart cells.” Bree smiled at Ari but quickly skipped out of her reach, just in case Ari decided to retaliate.

“Hey,
that’s not funny. I’m trying to find just the right shade for the winter dance. It’s only a couple of weeks away, and I can’t leave the little details to the last minute. If I do, I’ll end up ruining my evening because I have on the wrong color of nail polish.” Ari blew on her fingernails as if they were wet, then waved them in the air.

“Give me a break. You’ve turned into such a fashion diva. Just wear clear polish and don’t worry about it.”

“And maybe I should wear combat boots with my dress.” Ari wrinkled her nose. “Isn’t that what you’re planning on wearing?”

“Don’t knock my boots,” Bree put her hands on her hips.

“Whatever,” said Ari. She stopped at the edge of the road and watched Raven walk further into the grass toward the fence. “Is this where they went off the road?”

Raven glanced over her shoulder. “The police report
that Diane emailed me said there were skid marks and these are the only ones, and the fence is torn up.” She turned her attention back to the wooded area in front of her, scanning it for any signs of movement.

Leslie walked up to Raven. “What is it?”

“I don’t know, but listen.” A frown covered Raven’s face.

Ari and Bree stopped bickering and listened too.

Leslie frowned. “Odd.”

“You hear it too?” asked Raven.

“Yeah,” said Leslie. “Something’s not right.”

“It’s too quiet. I don’t even hear any birds.” Raven sucked in a deep breath of cold air and let it out slowly. A foul taste was left in her mouth. She sniffed the air. Just a hint of sulfur and something else—somet
hing rotten—drifted back to her causing her to widen her eyes.

“Guys, we need to get out of here,” said Bree.
“Now!” She was pale and shaking.

“Bree, are you okay?” asked Raven. She hurried over to her friend’s side.

“We have to get out of here now.” Bree’s voice quivered. She looked Raven directly in the eyes. “You smell it, don’t you?”

Raven nodded. The hair on the back of her neck stood up. She glanced over her shoulder and did a double take. Something moved in the woods
on the other side of the broken fence. She was sure of it. “Leslie! Ari! Get back in the car!”

“Come on, Raven.” Bree tugged at Raven’s arm. “We can’t stay.”

Raven followed Bree back to the car. She kept glancing over her shoulder, positive she had seen something move.

A gust of wind blew across the car from the woods. Raven wrinkled her nose against the foul stench riding the breeze. Out of the corner of her eye something moved.

Something much closer than the woods.

Something with a jerky movement she had seen before.

Raven jumped into the car, slamming the door shut. “Go! Now!”

“We just got here. What’s the big hurry?” asked Leslie. She turned to look at Raven. “Oh, crap!” She stepped on the accelerator sending the car lurching forward before she even turned back around in the seat.

Bree squeezed her eyes shut and put her hands over her ears. She went a shade or two paler.

Raven’s heart pounded in her chest. “Go! And don’t stop for anything!” she yelled at Leslie.

“Don’t worry. I’m so out of here,” said Leslie. She pressed the accelerator down as far as it would go causing the rear tires to spin, sending clouds of smoke into the air. The car leaped forward again at the same time Leslie jerked the steering wheel, causing the car to fishtail.

Screams filled the small space.

The car swerved back and forth several times before Leslie got it under control.

“Are you trying to get us killed?” Ari yelled at Leslie. “Raven didn’t even have her seatbelt on. Are you crazy?” She looked down at her hands. “Great! Just great! You caused me to break a fingernail.”

“Would you have rather stayed back there?” asked Leslie. She kept glancing in the rearview mirror.

“I would have preferred you driving safely,” said Ari.

“Fine. I’ll take you back if you want me to.”

“No!” cried Bree.

“No!” Raven echoed her.

“What is your problem? She almost killed us with her driving.” Ari turned and looked at Bree and Raven. “You are acting—” She stopped talking mid-sentence. Her bottom jaw dropped and her eyes grew wider. She turned around and stared out the front windshield. “Drive anyway you want to, just get us out of here.”

Raven and Bree just looked at each other while Raven buckled herself into the seat.

Ari tightened her seatbelt. “I think you need to go a little faster.”

Leslie rolled her eyes. “Excuse me, but weren’t you just complaining a minute ago that we were going too fast?”

Ari shook her head.
“Nope! You’ve got me confused with Bree. I wasn’t complaining about your speed. Not one bit. In fact, I thought you weren’t going fast enough.”

“Don’t you dare blame
me! I wasn’t the one complaining about the speed,” said Bree. A little color crept back into her face.

“Could you go a little faster?” Ari slumped down in her seat.

“Would you make up your mind? Go slower. Go faster.” Leslie’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel. “Are you sure you don’t want to go back?”

“I’m good.”

“Positive?”

“I. Don’t. Want.
To. Go. Back.”

Raven looked out the rear window. “I think you can slow down now, so we don’t get a speeding ticket.”

“No she can’t. Those things might still be following us.” Fear filled Ari’s voice. “We don’t know how fast they can move. Can they drive? Because if they can, we’re in serious trouble.”

“It’s okay,” said Raven. She reached around the seat and patted Ari’s shoulder.

A scream filled the enclosed space of the car, making everyone jump.

“Ari, it’s just me.” Raven tried telling the hysterical girl.

Bree reached over and put her hand on Ari’s arm. Almost instantly Ari quit screaming, but she curled up into a ball on the front seat. “Were those things what I think they were?” She glanced at Raven. Her words were barely more than a whisper.

“Yeah, they were zombies,” said Raven.

“How many do you think there were?” Leslie glanced at Raven.

“At least a dozen.”
Raven looked out the back window of the car. The road behind them was now a zombie free zone.

“There were fifteen. Three of them had fallen far behind the others. They just couldn’t keep up because their bodies were too far decayed and rejecting the souls.” The color was almost back
in Bree’s face.

“How do you know that?” asked Raven.

“There’s something about their very existence that’s totally unnatural.”

“No joke. Dead bodies shouldn’t be up and walking around.” Raven shook her head. “But how did you know about them?”

“The trees told me. They don’t like zombie creatures. They warned me they were coming after us.”

Raven raised an eyebrow.

“Remember how I got the forest to grow in the school?” asked Bree. She scooted into a more comfortable position in the seat.

Raven nodded.

“All nymphs are connected to something in nature, some of us more so than others.”

“But Ari was helping you.”

“She and I share a genetic connection that allows us to help each other with our energy when we need to. In that case, she was helping grow the forest at an accelerated rate. And now I sent a dose of calming energy to her to sooth her hysteria.” Bree smiled and looked over at Ari. “In a few minutes she’ll be start going back to her old self.”

Raven chewed on her bottom lip as she thought. “So are all nymphs connected?” she finally asked after a few seconds of dead silence in the car.

“Not all of nymphs are lucky enough to find the other nymph who has a genetic connection with them,” said Bree.

“It’s also why nymphs tend to congregate in groups. We need the connection to others just as we need the connection to nature. If we don’t find our other, then the group helps even though it’s not the same,” said Leslie.

“Have you found your other?” Raven asked Leslie.

“No, and I may not because I’m only half nymph.”

Raven frowned. It seemed like she’d heard Bree or Ari teasing Leslie about something to that effect, but she couldn’t quit remember. “You’re only half nymph. What’s your other half?”

“Giant!”
Bree giggled.

Leslie stuck out her tongue. “You’re just jealous.”

“Keep thinking that.” Bree leaned back in the seat.

“My dad is a Titan. You know—a giant.” She smiled proudly. “So I may not have another nymph to connect with, but I’ve got these two.”

“But why the connection?” asked Raven. She twisted the silver chain holding the pendant around her finger.

“The stories I’ve heard all say the nymphs were created so they could be put into desert regions and
make forests grow over night. Some of our ancestors were shipped to barren planets and forced to accelerate the plant growth to produce oxygen and food for the new inhabitants. You know, bring life to the lifeless. Then when the military took control, they wanted to use us to destroy the enemy with our abilities. You know, do the reverse. Bring devastation to their enemies.” Bree tucked her hands into her lap.

“Nymphs aren’t as air headed as we let people think we are,” said Leslie. She turned down the road leading to Raven’s house. “Our mothers just let the military think that so they could keep their daughters safely hidden.” Leslie pulled into the driveway leading up to Raven’s house. She parked the car behind Ethan’s jeep.

“Maybe you should steal Ethan’s jeep again,” said Bree, changing the subject. “And go down to the coffee shop for a drink. That will force him to talk to you.”

Raven shook her head. “I didn’t steal his jeep. He left the keys in it. Besides, I don’t think it would be a good idea if I took it. Not with him acting the way he is.”

“It was just an idea.” Bree shrugged her shoulders. She reached over to Ari and shook her arm. “How are you feeling?”

Ari stretched. “Better.” She sat up and turned to look at Raven. “You fought one of those things?”

Raven nodded her head.

“I couldn’t have done it. I’m sorry about the way I freaked out.”

Raven smiled. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. I wish I didn’t have to fight those things, but it looks like I don’t have much choice.” She looked at the others. “What’s the plan?”

“We’re going to take Ari home. After a good night’s sleep, she’ll be totally back to herself.” Bree reached over and hugged Raven. “Stay strong. What you need is inside
you.”

Raven nodded and got out of the car. She watched the girls leave. After they were gone, she looked up at the growing night sky and stared at the stars slowly making their appearance.  From somewhere in the back yard, she heard Ethan giving orders. A part of her wanted desperately to run around the house just so she could see him, but her other half knew it was useless. Ethan was out of her life, at least for now, and there wasn’t much she could do about it. With a huge sigh, Raven went into the house
.