Page 13 of Hades' Shadow
“Jayden. They are attacking. They think he stole their magic,” he yells.
“Fucking Draven,” I say as I run faster to the crowd of angry students.
I push through, not caring about the angry glares or cursing, and touch the lightning bolt on my neck and unfurl my whip at my side.
Students back away at the sight of the crackling whip and we make our way to the center of the crowd where Draven stands, facing off with Jayden.
“I think this is more of a fair fight than Jayden and Dax,” Raven says next to me.
I shake my head and flick my whip out at the idiots. It hits Draven and he flinches back in shock.
“We told you it’s not possible,” I growl, standing in front of Jayden.
“This little bullshit rumor of yours has people looking at us like we are stealing magic.” Raven widens her stance and crosses her arms over her chest.
“What? I never said anything about you guys. Just him.” Draven points at Jayden.
I sigh… heavily.
“It doesn’t matter when they notice we aren’t struggling either. They are scared and want someone to lash out at,” I grumble.
Jayden steps forward, glaring at me instead of Draven now. “I don’t need or want your help, Beth.”
“Oh, yeah? You gonna use your hellfire and get kicked out of the only safe place for you other than the underworld?” I turn, scowling at him.
“It’s not like that.” He crosses his arms over his chest. His shadows slither along them angrily.
“Oh, really? Because if I remember correctly, the headmistress has forbidden the use of hellfire on students.” I turn on him. He needs to shut the fuck up and let us handle it.
“Beth…” he trails off.
“Listen up and listen fucking good—” I turn, addressing the entire crowd. “We saved Zeus’s lightning bolt from the same people who took the Hermes students. As far as I can tell, our heightened powers are a gift from my father and have nothing to do with you all weakening. I don’t know why people are weakening, but we will find out.”
Grumbling and yelling start around the crowd as everyone talks between themselves. I nod to Draven and tilt my head to the side to get Raven and Jayden to follow me to the training yard.
“You really think the king of the gods gifted me with more power?” Jayden scoffs.
He seems to have the same chip on his shoulder about my father that his father does.
“It’s the only thing I can think of. Why is everyone weakening? Is it the gods? Are we running out of time?” I rub a hand over my neck.
“But why would he give me, a son of his enemy, more power?” He grabs my arm and I pull away.
“You don’t like me, remember?” I raise an eyebrow at him, and he scowls as he must realize he’s talking to enemy number one. He stomps away.
“Ass,” Raven shouts at his back and he doesn’t respond. “What the hell? Has everyone gone insane?”
Adrian walks up, but his head is turned to a retreating Jayden. “What’s wrong with him?”
“He forgot he hates me and was talking to me.” I shrug.
It doesn’t hurt as much anymore. I’m more resigned than anything else. We are obviously toxic to each other.
“Okay,” he mumbles. “What the hell is going on?”
“Oh, the latest is that Jayden is stealing people’s abilities to get stronger.” I keep walking through the forest of evergreens, not waiting to see if Adrian keeps up with us.
“That’s bullshit. You know why they believe it, don’t you?” Adrian runs a hand through his hair.
