Page 36 of Poseidon's Trident
“We have a system by now with the seating arrangements.” Jayden turns to Thad. “I drive and Greyson navigates from the middle seat.”
“I have no problem sitting in the back or wherever.” Thad holds his hands up.
“Really? That was easy.” Jayden scratches his head like he doesn’t understand.
“Look, I heard about that idiot Draven and the shit he pulled last time. I’m not an asshole. I know the stakes and I’m genuinely here to help.” Thad nods and opens the back door.
“Not everyone is like Draven.” I bump my shoulder into Jayden’s.
“I know that. I was expecting an argument.” Jayden’s shock is evident.
Jayden opens the passenger door for me, and I stow my bag on the floorboard of the front passenger seat and turn to find Rebecca standing there with her arms crossed. Familiar black cards are clutched in her hands.
“Hi, Rebecca,” I say loudly to get Greyson and Raven’s attention.
They pull apart and Greyson sets Raven on her feet. He takes a step away from her, but she grips his hand in hers.
“You are all ready to leave?” Rebecca asks, scanning our group.
“Yes, we were just packing up the SUV.” I nod to the vehicle behind me.
“You can’t go without these.” She hands everyone a card.
“What is this?” Thad asks, his eyes wide.
“You each get a card in case you get separated and need human money. Did no one tell you how all this works?” Rebecca glares at us.
“It’s not like we’ve had a lot of time to run down the way missions work. We’re on a time crunch. We can fill him in on the way,” I say.
“Yes, well, like I said, start in Santa Barbara and make your way up the coast.”
“Santa Barbara?” Thad asks and grins.
“Why are you so excited about going to Santa Barbara?” I ask with a raised brow.
“I have friends that hang out around there. The water is cooler there than most places.” Thad hops in the SUV.
“Anything else?” I ask the headmistress.
“Be careful. You have medical supplies, yes?” she asks.
“I never leave for a mission without going to see the healers first. They stock me up every time.” I hop into the passenger seat of the SUV.
“Okay, good. Be safe and I’ll do what I can to keep the academy standing while you all are gone.” Rebecca turns on her heel.
Everyone piles into the SUV and Jayden turns to me with a grin. It’s quiet and peaceful as we head out of the wards. I shiver as they roll over me. They keep us in just as much as they keep the monsters out. I found that out the hard way when the students were being mind-controlled and leaving a few weeks ago.
“I hate the way that feels.” I grimace. “It’s like ants crawling over my entire body.”
“It’s the worst.” Thad agrees.
It’s crazy how pleasant the drive is when Draven isn’t with us. There’s no one scoffing or grumbling in the back of the SUV.
“This is nice,” Raven says. “I don’t feel like punching anyone or kneeing them in the gut to get in the back of the SUV.”
“Do you often resort to violence?” Thad asks, leaning forward in his seat.
Raven might be rethinking the urge to punch someone right about now. I glance over my shoulder at Thad in the back grinning at her.
