Page 43 of Ares' Shield
Raven jumps in his path, but Dax just sidesteps her with no recognition.
Fuck. How did they get Dax? He’s got the same symptoms as the others. Is he being controlled?
“Follow him,” I yell.
Raven sprints down the hall to the staircase and I follow quickly behind her. Other students move out of our way so that we don’t trample them.
Shit. How did they get Dax? He’s strong, though not as strong as Raven. Who the hell is doing this?
Jayden brings up the rear as we storm down the stairs after him.
“What the hell is happening?” Raven asks.
“This is what happens when they are completely mind-controlled,” I say. “We need to stop him from leaving the wards.”
Raven turns sharply to me with a frown. “This is what the last couple looked like? You’re telling me that we may have to rescue Dax?”
“I hope not. I hope we can stop him from leaving. There has to be a way. Maybe Draven is the only one who can stop it.” I rub a hand over my forehead, hating that Draven is the only one who could possibly remove this control.
“What if we can’t stop him?” Raven asks.
“We will figure out a way to keep him here, Raven. I will do whatever I can,” I promise.
Jayden pulls the door open before I can rush through it. “Thank you.”
“He’s headed to the forest.” Jayden points in Dax’s direction.
The huge descendant of Ares stomps toward the same wards that the other guy left through.
What the hell is going on with the wards? Why are people fleeing the academy and why are they just disappearing?
We rush after Dax, hoping that he doesn’t get to the wards before we can stop him. The branches slap at my skin as we race between the trees. Th dryads aren’t doing it this time though.
“Where are the dryads? Can we get them to slow him down?” I ask.
“I don’t even think the dryads can stop him.” Jayden jogs up next to me.
We reach the clearing by the lake, and I turn to Jayden. “When the time comes, you may have to use your shadow chains on him.”
“Whatever it takes,” Jayden agrees.
“Is he going to the ward?” Raven asks with a frown and quickens her steps.
“He’s been mind-controlled,” I say to Raven and grasp her arm.
I’m hoping that she understands. We can’t let him get out of the wards.
Who’s sitting here and controlling my friends? It pisses me off more than anything. If Raven or Jayden end up controlled, I may end up losing all control, for real.
“How do we stop whoever this is from taking us over?” I ask.
“I don’t know.” Jayden clenches his fists at his sides.
“Beth,” Adrian calls out behind me.
I don’t stop. I can’t. We need to get Dax back. He may be a pain in the ass sometimes, but he’s still my friend and I refuse to lose anyone else.
The buzz of the wards crackles against my skin. Fuck. We are out of time.
