Page 12 of Villainous Greed

“Here,” August said, and I turned around to face him when the kids gasped. August held several white bags I’d never seen before. I didn’t recognize the language either and wondered if it was a human one. I’d been told that the one I spoke was a human language.

August thrusted the bags out to me. “You guys are hungry, right?”

“What’s in it?” Sofia asked him.

“Cheeseburgers?”

I frowned. “Cheeseburgers?”

August flashed his teeth. “Earth food. Take it with you and eat it.”

I didn’t refuse the food that time. We survived the first meal from him. Once the bags were in my hands, I gave them each one.

“As payment…” August began.

I scowled. “We have nothing.”

When he lifted his hand, my hair cascaded down my shoulders. I grabbed my thick curls as my dirty brown band appeared on his wrist. “I’ll take this as payment.”

“That?” I crinkled my nose.

“It was worth seeing your frizzy curls,” was all he said, but it made me feel weird. I couldn’t handle the intensity of his focus momentarily for the staticky tingle beneath my skin. “Tomorrow then.”

Before I could protest, August was gone, and Odin moaned behind me. “It’s so good!” He had the food in his mouth.

“Let’s hurry,” I told them.

As we walked, I peeked around the forest. When I couldn’t feel August’s wild power, I relaxed. Sucking on my bottom lip, I finally glanced at the kids and asked, “What’s a prank?”

Odin’s face reddened as he exclaimed. “Come on, Nova. You know, because it’s something we do to you all the time!”

Sofia also added, “Like how we switch spots on our pallets and hide. You talk to one of us, not knowing we switched until we pull down the cover, then we all laugh.”

“Or what I did when I pretended to be choking,” Odin added.

My mouth parted. So, I knew after all. I smiled.

“August is different though, and maybe he took it too far,” Cloud piped in.

August was different. But could we trust someone so unusual?

Chapter Five

August

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I stopped and turned, flashing a smile at Mom. She stood at the top of the stairs with her arms crossed. “To visit Payne,” I lied. Payne was the first thing that came to mind since I saw his ugly mug hours ago.

Mom’s eyes crinkled at the edges. “The last three days as well?”

I groaned. “Mom.”

“Why are you going to the Underworld?” she asked.

I scratched the back of my head. “I’m not.”

“August.” Mom narrowed her gaze. “Your father sees your potential. He will show you how to conjure your scythe and guide the dead in time. You don’t have to be in such a rush for a job that lasts an eternity.”

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