Page 42 of Ares' Shield
“I’ll be down in a bit,” I call to Jayden and Raven.
“Meet us on the Ares floor. I think that will help us, and make sure to grab the maps,” Raven yells up from the fifth floor.
When I finally reach the top floor, I touch the door handle and let myself into my room with a sigh. I didn’t even make it to Cross’ class today without drama.
This is bullshit. I strip down in the bathroom, angry at myself for letting Mia attack me and not getting out of the way in time.
How the hell did she pull that off? She is like one of the worst at combat because her mother is the goddess of love and beauty.
I strip down to nothing and turn on the tap, making sure to let it heat so I don’t freeze my ass off. The water reflects off the mirror, causing a rainbow to form, and I’m quick to shut the shower door before a different goddess can use that as a way to contact me.
We refuse to let Iris into our plans or our world. I don’t give a fuck. She’s the stepmonster’s messenger and not welcome anywhere near me.
I hurry through my shower, hoping that Iris isn’t able to look in without a rainbow, and being slightly paranoid as I jump at every shadow.
I wrap a towel around me and rush to my closet to grab a pair of leggings and a soft sweater since we have no intention of going to class today. I don’t need to be dressed in a damn uniform.
I race down the stairs to the fifth floor and turn to walk into the common room where Jayden and Raven are waiting for me.
“You’re here,” Raven says and jumps from her seat. “What do you think we should do about my father?”
Her expression is pained. She hates that her dad is weak and I can’t say that I like it either. Ares has been nice to us in the past, even going as far as to give us gifts from the gods that no one else has.
I glide to the seat next to Jayden and sit beside him. His arm snakes around my waist and he pulls me to his side.
“We definitely need to help him with his shield. We’re the ones who told him that it may be lost in the first place.” I grimace.
“Yeah, we definitely need to do something, but what will it do to the search for the students who are mind-controlled?” Raven asks.
“If past experience is anything to go by, then the two are connected, and either way we will do both.” I run a hand down my face.
Why do we have to keep saving everyone? Why is no other demigod equipped to help with any of this? I have known what I am for way less time than the others and most of them couldn’t fight their way out of a paper bag if they were thrown into the fire.
“That’s true.” Raven nods and sits down on my other side.
I lean forward to the coffee table in front of the couch and carefully remove the weapons sitting on it, gently placing them on the floor.
“Do you know where Ares’ temple was in ancient Greece?” I ask, turning to Raven.
“I’m his kid but he’s never told me anything except that he’s proud of me.” Raven shrugs.
Jayden squeezes my hand and sits forward. “I think his temple was probably at Athens or Sparta.”
“Okay, that may narrow it down a bit.” I nod.
I glance down at the map with a frown. We made a guess that Athens is probably near Michigan, but where would that put Sparta?
A crash sounds down one of the halls leading to the Ares dorm rooms. I jolt in my seat and spin around but there’s nothing there.
“What was that?” I ask, jumping from the couch.
“I don’t know,” Raven says, taking a step toward the hallway as Dax steps out of the hall with blank eyes.
Dread pools in my gut and my heart rate picks up. He looks just like the other students did. What is happening to him?
“Dax?” I call to him as he continues to the front door. “Dax!”
He doesn’t even acknowledge my voice.
