Page 112 of Dead End

She whinnied her amusement. “This is a fool’s errand, child. And here I thought you were smarter than this.”

“We will not let your reign of terror continue unchallenged.”

“Terror?” she scoffed. “And still, you fail to understand our purpose. Our goal has always been to keep others with power in check.”

“Then why develop a new avatar program that gives supernaturals the strength of the gods? Seems like you’re only creating more work for yourselves.”

“These avatars will serve us and remain under our command, and the new elixir is far superior to the one your parents received. It only infuses the supernatural with the powers and not the consciousness.”

“I’ll be sure to pass that update along to my parents. They’ll be pleased to learn of the improvements.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Oh, did I forget to mention I found them?” I smiled. “My parents are alive and well.”

“Impossible!”

“Seems they outwitted you.” I clucked my tongue. “And here I thought you were smarter than this.”

Epona nickered. “Very well then. I shall deliver your answer.” Her eyes raked over us. “Though you seem ill-equipped for this battle. Shall we give you time to assemble alarger army, and perhaps a few more weapons to give the illusion of a fair fight?”

West’s nostrils flared. “We have everything we need.”

She looked down her muzzle at him. “Wolves, I take it?”

“Horses are skittish of us,” West said. “You might want to bear that in mind.”

“Not this horse, I’m afraid.” Her gaze slid back to me. “May the best gods win.” She turned and trotted away, melting into the shadows.

Anna cracked her knuckles. “Shift now?”

“Not yet,” West said. “On my signal.”

I needed my sharpest sword to cut through the tension in the air. Silhouettes sliced through the trees, taking shape as they hardened into familiar figures. The bright red plume on the helmet of Mars. Dis, the Celtic god. Fafnir, the dragon god. Feng Po. Fuchi. Inanna. Skanda. Their A-team, indeed. Fear sparked in my chest, squeezing the muscles. I fought the instinct to take a step back.

They had wind and earth and fire on their side. Shadows and starlight.

“Ooh, they have a tiger,” Sage said in an awe-filled voice. “This sucks. I love tigers.”

I craned my neck to see Feng Po astride one. Shadows and starlightanda cool tiger? Life was so unfair.

Alessandro gaped at the red plumed helmet. “Hold the phone, my dudes. Is that Ares?”

Gun snorted with laughter. “I beg you to call him that to his face and see what happens.”

“It’s Mars,” I said.

Alessandro blinked in confusion. “Mars is a planet.”

“And where do you think the planet got its name?” Mars roared. Apparently, a keen sense of hearing was one of the god’s superpowers.

The incubus winced. “Sorry. I didn’t realize.”

“See?” Mars waved around his spear, prompting his companions to jump out of range. “This is what I’m talking about. The level of ignorance in modern times is staggering. Forget the parley. I say we kill them all.”

Alessandro’s olive skin turned a lighter shade of basil. “I’m a lover, not a fighter. I’m only here for the vibes.”

Dis broke through the throng of deities to address me, clutching a giant hammer that rivaled Mjölnir.

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