Page 24 of Zeus' Spark
Adrian begins pacing. “The vision felt dire, Bethany, like everything would end if you don’t do this.”
I have been at the academy for months, and he has never once contacted me. Why should I help him? There have been so many times that I needed help and never got it.
“And what is it that the almighty Zeus needs from his bastard daughter that he never gave two fucks about before he needed her help, hmm?” The sarcasm in my tone is so thick the boy flinches, and I almost feel bad.
It’s not Adrian’s fault that he got the vision sent to him. It’s not his fault my godly parent has never given a fuck about me until I’m useful to him.
“Something important was stolen from him, and he needs you to find it for him.” Adrian cowers a bit as he speaks.
“Sorry, I just don’t know how to feel about him asking me for help like this.” I move swiftly away from Adrian.
He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off.
“He wants favors now when the academy is in trouble. He wants me to leave my friends to deal with it themselves when they have been here for me more than he ever has. I just don’t know if that’s the ego of a god or what.”
Thunder booms in the sky, and clouds start to cover the sun. I want to flip the sky off. He doesn’t get to throw a fit to try to scare me.
Adrian runs his hand down his face. “The thing is, from the vision, it feels like the two are mutually exclusive. If you search for the spark, you will also find the missing students.”
“Spark?” I put my hands on my hips.
I don’t have time to stop and chat.
“Zeus’s spark is his item of power, and it’s gone missing. I think whoever has it is using it to break down the wards and could possibly be using it to bring the monsters back.”
“Okay, look. I’ll think about it. That’s all I can give you. I don’t know what will happen except that the Oracle said we are the only chance for the school,” I tell him, looping my arm through Raven’s and walking past Adrian.
“Okay, I get it. Think about it though. That spark in the wrong hands can mean more than the academy being destroyed. It could destroy the gods and bring something much worse to Earth.”
“I get what you’re saying, but one crisis at a time,” I call over my shoulder.
I can’t think about this right now. I can’t think about the fact that my father never gave a shit about me before.
But now that he needs my help, he sees me. Where was he when I was constantly moving around? Where was he when we were attacked and my mother was killed by a monster?
“Talk to me.” Raven bumps my shoulder.
“Nothing to talk about.” I shrug, but I know she can tell I’m deflecting.
I don’t really know how to feel about this.
She glares at the side of my head. “That’s complete bullshit, and you know it.”
“Okay, fine. I don’t know how to feel about Zeus recognizing me just when he needs help. There were so many times I needed help, and nothing.” I sigh, shaking my head.
Am I being a whiny little bitch? Probably, but it doesn’t hurt any less.
“That’s just the way the gods are, B,” Raven says, squeezing my arm and stopping me before we go into the admin building. “They don’t really acknowledge their kids. My dad doesn’t, but if he called on me to help him with something, it would be my honor to be his champion.”
“It’s different for you, though. There are other Ares kids who he could pick from. Zeus only has me and doesn’t give a fuck about me until he needs me.”
Raven shrugs. “It’s like the natural order of things. Even the gods have limitations on what they can do. If they interfere too much in our lives, they run the risk of angering the fates. Even the gods aren’t dumb enough to do that.”
I didn’t even think about it like that. “Yeah, okay, but it still doesn’t feel good to be just a pawn.”
Raven wraps her arms around me in a bear-hug. “I have had longer to deal with all this than you have. It may just take some time for you to realize that the reason they stay away is because they care as much as they can. They’re gods. They’re timeless.”
“Okay.” I pull away from the hug and reach over to open the door to the admin building. “Let’s table this until after we talk to Rebecca.”
