Page 96 of Ares' Shield
The bronze automaton glints in the sunlight and casts an ominous shadow over the sand around it for about twenty feet.
Raven loops her arm through mine for a second. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking we need to figure out how to kill that thing before people get hurt,” I grumble.
“Do you remember anything about Talos?” she asks me.
“I think he was a creation of Hephaestus, maybe?” I chew my lip.
“Aren’t all automatons related to Hephaestus in some way?” Raven shakes her head.
Jayden rounds the SUV. “Are you guys just going to stand there or are we going to try to kill this thing?”
“We aren’t just standing here. We’re trying to come up with a plan.” I glare at him.
Jayden pulls me away from Raven and into his arms.
“Just because you guys are like a thing now, doesn’t mean you get all her attention. Ass.” Raven plants her hands on her hips.
“You’ve had more time with her. I’m making up for that.” Jayden pulls me in closer.
“Are you two serious right now? We need to figure out what we’re going to do about the guy throwing rocks at us.” I throw my hands up, frustration bleeding from my tone.
I storm off the highway into the desert sand, wiping away the bead of sweat on my forehead.
“Beth, you can’t go out there by yourself,” Jayden shouts.
I glance over my shoulder just as he jogs up to my side with Raven right behind him.
“You two were being ridiculous. We need to keep moving and as long as Talos is there throwing rocks at us, we can’t go any farther.” My hand tightens on the hilt of my sword.
How the fuck are we supposed to kill this thing when we don’t know how?
“Was he killed in ancient times?” I ask Raven and Jayden.
“I can’t remember. How do you kill something made of bronze? Is it even alive?” Raven flips her hair over her shoulder.
“I don’t know.”
The giant stomps on the ground, and it shakes beneath our feet. I stumble and Jayden catches me before I face-plant.
“Thanks,” I say and dust myself off.
“I’m having flashbacks from the golem in the underworld.” Jayden’s hand flexes on the hilt of his sword.
“It will be okay if we can just remember the myth of Talos,” I grumble. “Are our swords even going to work on this thing?”
Adrian jogs up behind us. “I think he has a vein or something in his ankle that will kill him. Like Achilles.”
“So we just have to get close enough for him to stomp on us. That’s a great plan.” I run a hand down my face.
“Not necessarily.” Adrian grins and adjusts the bow and quiver on his shoulder. “Cover me.”
“I always end up as bait,” I grumble.
“No,” Jayden says, squeezing my hand. “We are providing cover, not bait.”
“Po-tay-to poh-tah-to.” I roll my eyes at him.
