Page 126 of Zeus' Spark
“I’m not making him suffer. He doesn’t trust me to be able to handle myself.” I storm past another damn tree, but a branch hits me in the face.
It wasn’t even in my way. What the hell.
A giggle sounds, and I groan.
“Why are you torturing me, dryad?” I call out.
“Torturing you?” a tinkling voice singsongs. “Why would I torture a demigod?”
“You keep hitting me in the face, and I have scratches all over me from trees reaching out to snag me.” I glare, crossing my arms over my chest.
The dryad steps out from her tree, her green hair a little brighter than the one we met back at the academy.
She rolls her moss-colored eyes. “You’re going the wrong way. To leave the wilds, you need to go south.”
“We aren’t trying to leave the wilds,” I say with a shake of my head.
Why would she assume we’re leaving? Does she think she’s helping lost demigods, or is she being malicious because she doesn’t want us here?
“You don’t belong here,” she shouts, her face turning red in anger.
Whoa, what the fuck is wrong with this dryad? Seriously. I didn’t do anything to make her angry. What the hell?
“There are other heroes being held against their will in the wilds, and we need to get them back before the academy falls,” I try to explain, but she’s not listening.
The trees around us sway even without a breeze of any kind. I take a step back in alarm. Jayden’s hands land on my arms before I can shake him off.
“You don’t belong here. Pan won’t like it,” she yells, and I raise my hands in surrender.
Raven clears her throat and takes a step forward. She clenches her fists at her sides. She cocks her head to the side as she seems to consider the dryad’s words.
“Pan? He’s the satyr at the camping shop, right? He helped us. He explained the wilds. We just need to find our friends, and then we will be on our way,” Raven says, trying to placate her.
“Pan is the god of the wilds, not a stupid satyr. That satyr is one of his minions. He runs the shop only for worthy heroes, so if you saw it, then I guess you are okay.” She doesn’t seem convinced, but the trees stop swaying.
I no longer have branches reaching out to scratch at me anymore.
“Thank you. Can you tell me, have you felt any odd magic lately?” I ask, taking a step closer to her.
“Yes, it kind of feels like yours. That’s why I was trying to make you leave.” Her cheeks pinken.
I balk. “Like mine?”
How can the magic feel like mine?
“I wonder if it’s the spark?” Raven asks. “Was it stronger than her magic?”
“Yes, it feels like a god’s magic. Like Zeus’s magic.” Her eyes widen. “Oh no. You’re the daughter of Zeus.”
Why is she so scared? Does the god of the sky terrify her? That’s good to know. Maybe she should have thought of that before putting all these scratches on me and pissing me off.
“Yes, I am the daughter of Zeus.” I smirk, crossing my stinging arms over my chest.
My shirt is ripped in places.
“I’m so sorry. I was just protecting the wilds.” She takes a step back, her eyes wide.
“It’s fine. I understand protecting your home. Can you tell us which direction you felt the magic like mine?” I ask.
