Page 122 of Zeus' Spark
“Wait a second.” My eyes widen as an idea forms. “I can’t believe I haven’t thought of this before.”
“What?” Jayden asks, sitting next to me and resting his hand on my thigh.
After pulling the shell out of my bag, I hold it up triumphantly. Jayden smacks his forehead.
“It may not work though, Beth. You have to be prepared for the magic hiding them to also hide them from the shell.”
“I am, but it goes through the wards at the academy, so it should work with this, right?” I peer up at Raven and Greyson hopefully.
Raven shrugs. “He may not know where he even is. If I were an evil mastermind kidnapping students, I would make sure they didn’t see where they were being held.”
I sigh in frustration. “I have to at least try, right? We’re running out of time.”
Jayden squeezes my thigh. “The only thing that worries me is if whoever has them finds out we’re here.”
“Fuck, I hadn’t thought of that. Maybe I should call Adrian first and see what he thinks. I need to check on the academy anyway, right?”
Raven nods, running a hand through her hair. “I think that’s a good plan. Maybe he’s seen something that will help us.”
I fucking hate this.
“Adrian, son of Apollo.” I hold up the shell and wait for Adrian to answer.
“Beth, I’m a little busy right now.” Adrian sounds panicked.
“What’s going on?” I ask, standing up quickly like I’ll be able to help from across the country.
“The attacks have been more frequent over the last day, but we are handling it.” He nocks an arrow in his bow and fires at something in the distance.
“If I call Draven, do you see it hurting anything?” I ask in a rush, trying to hurry so I don’t distract him.
“I don’t know. I can’t actually see anything where you are,” he says, distracted.
“Well, shit. Okay, be careful. I’m about to take a chance that might end up helping you guys and endangering us,” I grumble.
“Be careful and hurry as much as you can,” he says, and the line goes dead.
“They’re getting attacked more than usual. I have to call Draven. I have to at least try to find a way to them.” I rest my elbows on my knees and put my head in my hands with a sigh of frustration.
“Call him. We will deal with whatever comes our way as a result.” Jayden wraps an arm around me, and I lean my head on his shoulder.
Taking a deep breath, I hold up the shell and speak clearly. “Draven, son of Hermes.” I wait for the mist to show him. Long seconds pass before the mist appears. As the mist clears a flickering picture of Draven appears. “Draven, you idiot. Why did you get caught?”
“You know why. How are we talking right now?” He shakes his head, scanning his surroundings.
“It’s a long story that we don’t have time for. Where in the mountains are you? Did you see any landmarks or anything when they brought you in?” I ask hurriedly.
I don’t want him to get caught. It could ruin everything.
“No, they were smarter than that. I haven’t even seen anyone. We’re being guarded by monsters,” he grumbles.
“How many?” Raven asks in alarm.
“Two are outside the cave mouth at all times, and we are bound in some kind of magical rope.” His frustration rings out clearly in his tone.
So they are all without magic and guarded by the things that want nothing more than to eat them.
Fan-fucking-tastic.
