Page 74 of Zeus' Spark
I do my best not to shiver in response, but it’s getting more difficult by the day to resist the stupid son of Hades.
“The best I can tell is that once the spell was broken on the people who were affected by the fountain, its job was done,” Adrian says cryptically, “and it turned to dust just like the monsters when they die. Just don’t get caught up in it because the magic will take you with it.”
I shake my head, trying desperately to not react to Jayden’s hands on my hips. “Okay, let Rebecca know that we think whoever is bringing the monsters back may have hidden the gods’ temples throughout America. Their symbols of power may be in danger of being found by someone who shouldn’t have them. We ran into the Hesperides and Ladon by accident too.”
I take a step away, and Jayden groans. I’m not sure whether he’s mad that I broke the contact or affected by it.
I can’t think clearly with his hands on me.
“I will let her know,” Adrian says. “Things are getting dark for the future, Beth. Something is coming, and I can’t even see what or who it is. Be careful, guys. The struggles are just beginning.”
16
We are outside of Albuquerque when Jayden’s eyes start getting heavy.
“Jayden. Wake up.”
He yawns. “Shit. We need to stop for the night. I’m tired.”
“Where are we going to stop?” I ask scanning the darkness. “There’s nothing but desert out here.”
Raven pops her head between the seats. “Wait, what is that?” she asks, pointing in the distance to the lights up ahead.
“It could just be oncoming traffic.” I peer out the windshield, not really believing my own thought.
Something about those lights feels ominous though. A sinking feeling in my gut says not to trust them, but Jayden is about to pass out.
“I know you don’t believe that,” Jayden says softly.
I wonder if they will even believe me if I tell them about the feeling I’m getting from just some lights.
Probably not since they didn’t trust my instincts about the creepy statue.
I’m not bitter about that at all. Nope.
In the end, I decide not to tell them about the creepy feeling I’m getting. I’m still a little pissed they didn’t believe me about the statue.
We finally get close enough to see that the lights are a huge hotel.
What the hell is it doing out in the middle of the desert?
“Does this feel weird to anyone else?” I ask, but my eyes are getting heavy too.
I’m so tired. The day has been so long.
Maybe we should stop for the night and pick back up in the morning.
Raven yawns. “What’s wrong with it? It’s just a hotel, and I’m so tired.”
I look at the name of the hotel. “The Alluring Torch?”
Something just doesn’t feel right, but I don’t comment again as everyone else is in agreement that we need to sleep.
We pull up to the front of the hotel, and a valet is there to take the car.
A man opens my door with a smile and holds out his hand. I take it and let him help me out of the car.
His skin is a deep olive, kissed by the sun, and his brown eyes twinkle when he smiles.
