Page 111 of Dead End

I climbed behind the wheel and waited for everyone to finalize their rides before I drove away. Gun sat in the passenger seat, chattering throughout the short drive to the woods. My stomach sank as I watched Kane’s convoy deviate from the course and continue southeast toward the Falls. Gun was still yammering when I parked the truck on the side of a dirt road.

“You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?” he asked.

“I heard every word. I just didn’t process any of them.”

His face radiated sympathy. “Not to worry. I’ll repeat it all on the ride home so you won’t have missed anything.”

I laughed. “I appreciate your optimism.”

The ground seemed to roll beneath the truck’s tires as another tremor hit the forest. I took a final look at my team that included Gun, Claude, Alessandro, West, Sage, Anna, Max, Matilda, Kami, and Brody.

“Remember the plan,” I said. “I know it will be challenging once the fighting starts, but we have one chance to end this…”

The trees shook at their very roots, dumping leaves onto the path.

“This feels like a march of doom,” Alessandro complained.

“If anyone should feel that way, it’s our other team,” Sage said. “We have two goddesses.”

“Kane has a goddess, too,” I said. “Hel went with him.”

“Seems apt,” Gun remarked.

Bert shook his head. “It won’t be enough.”

Anna rewarded his statement with a swift kick in the calf. Bert fell to his knees with a cry of pain.

“We’re keeping things positive today,” Anna said through clenched teeth. “If you don’t have anything upbeat to say, keep your mouth shut.”

Bert scowled as he returned to his feet. “I’d rather not start the fight of my life with an injury, thanks.”

West shushed us. “I hear something.”

We fell silent and listened. Hoofbeats.

“They came on horseback?” Alessandro glanced at Matilda. “Or more of yours?”

“Mine are all accounted for,” the Night Mallt replied.

“They have a horse goddess,” I said, acknowledging Epona with a crisp nod. The goddess trotted toward us in her equine form.

“Melinoe,” she said. “We meet again.” There was no warmth in her voice.

Alessandro tilted his head as he scrutinized the goddess. “I have questions.”

Gun slapped the incubus in the chest. “Not now.”

“Are you the scout?” I asked.

“The herald.”

I folded my arms. “Okay, let’s hear the message.”

“Straight from the horse’s mouth,” Gun added.

“Relinquish your claim to the crossroads and your people will remain unharmed.”

“And if I refuse? Because spoiler alert: I’m gonna.”

---