Page 155 of Ares' Shield
“Shit, we forgot to put on the armor.” I flip around in my seat.
“I’m sure there is still somewhere along the way.” Jayden pats my knee.
“I got the food,” Draven says from the back and passes the bags forward.
The SUV is silent while we all eat our food. We’re almost to the end of this journey and dread pools in my gut. It’s all been almost too easy.
Whatever is to come has got to be way worse. I shuffle in my seat, itching to just get to the grove of Ares already.
“Sparta is a small town outside Grand Rapids. We may be able to stop there and get the armor on,” Greyson says, staring down at the map.
“No more cities. People recognized us at a fast-food place. If we stop in Grand Rapids, it could be much worse.” I shake my head.
Raven taps my shoulder. “We are going to want to watch the place first so maybe we can just find somewhere in the grove to change.”
“Yeah, we are not just jumping in without looking around first. That would be stupid,” I agree.
“I wonder if the golden fleece is still there,” Raven murmurs.
“Didn’t Jason steal that?” I ask.
“Oh yeah, you’re right. He stole it from the grove. I thought it came back though. Maybe I’m wrong?” Raven tilts her head to the side.
Jayden glances at me. “You don’t think they could have brought that back with the grove even if it had been stolen?”
“I don’t ever know what to expect anymore. It could be there. Do we want to find out? Probably not. I don’t like the idea of whoever is behind this having it either.”
“You have a point. That could be disastrous. Let’s hope it’s not there.” Jayden sighs.
“Are we ever that lucky?” I fiddle with my seat belt.
Raven chuckles. “No, but we somehow survive.”
“Turn here,” Greyson says and we pull onto what seems to be the main road in town. “The grove is just north of the town. I doubt humans even know it’s there.”
There are no cars around when we reach the fork in the road that takes us deep into an outcropping of trees. As we turn off, magic tingles over my skin and the grove of Ares is laid out in all its beauty in front of us.
“Did you feel that? It was hidden.” I turn to Greyson.
“Yeah, but what or who’s magic was that?” Raven shivers.
“Just keep your eyes open for threats. I don’t like going in blind knowing there’s probably an army of monsters near.” I stare out the window, my chest tight with dread.
The other students could be anywhere. The dirt path ends and we have no choice but to continue on foot.
Draven opens his mouth, probably to whine, but I cut him off. “Be quiet. We don’t want them to know we’re here yet.”
His eyes widen and he closes his mouth with a snap. Good. Finally, the guy is listening. I signal for everyone to follow me as we trudge through the trees in search of Ares’ fortress. If his grove is here, so is the fortress and his shield.
We wander through the forest, picking our way through. It’s said that the temple of Ares is at the end of his grove and was protected by the fiercest warriors in Sparta.
There’s very little known about it, because most civilizations in ancient Greece despised Ares for what he represented and only the warrior caste ever prayed to him or brought him offerings.
I've only met the god once, but he seems pretty cool to me. He’s my bestie’s dad and gave us some awesome weapons. I’m easy to please.
“I don’t see anything resembling the golden fleece,” Raven whispers in my ear. “Or the temple we’re supposed to find.”
“Good. I don’t want them anywhere near the fleece. That has bad idea written all over it.” I shake my head.
