Page 29 of Artemis' Bow
“My shadow chains have held down indestructible monsters. Do you really think you can get out of them?” Jayden scoffs. “Not likely. Now you’re going to calm down in time-out like the child you’re behaving like.”
“Is it permanent?” I ask Olly. “We really need all the weapons we can get.”
“No. When my siblings and the others brought the idea to me, I made two stipulations. No permanent damage and don’t mess with Raven.”
Dax sighs. “You could have left me out of it, man. I’m not like my brothers. I have been trying to help.”
“Apologies. That was an oversight on my part. It should only last a couple days or if you have to leave the academy for some reason.” Olly inclines his head.
“I appreciate that and if they decide to do anything like this in the future, I would like to be added to the nice Ares list. I can’t let my girl see me walking around with a limp sword.” Dax chuckles.
“What? Dax. Seriously? You’re siding with them?” Jake continues to struggle in Jayden’s grip.
“I’m on Beth’s side, bro. She’s the one who constantly puts her life on the line for all of us and she’s the one who will lead us into battle. You think our father would appreciate direct disobedience to his general? Fuck no. Get over yourself.”
“Look, can this just be done and us all work together? I have more important things to do than babysit you idiots all the time. Like, I don’t know, find Artemis before the world fucking ends because there’s no moon in the fucking sky.” I point to the once again sunny, cloudless sky.
Apollo is mocking us with the way the sun shines over us constantly. It’s fucking ridiculous. It’s been days since any of us have seen the moon or the stars and it’s driving me to distraction. That’s what I should be focusing on, not temper tantrums from grown-ass adults.
“Uh, fuck, Beth,” Thad says, sounding strained. “What’s going on?”
Adrian is slumped into Thad, his eyes turned white, and Thad’s arms are under his armpits, barely holding him up. Shit. This could be a good thing or a terrible thing all at the same time.
“Lay him in the grass. He’s having a vision. It’s best to keep him comfortable until he comes out of it.” I rush to Thad’s side to help.
“Okay,” Raven shouts. “All of the idiots who aren’t in time-out, get out of here. We have more important shit to deal with than hurt feelings and bruised egos. Take your limp swords with you.”
“Did you really have to throw in that parting shot?” Dax glares at his sister.
“If they want to be assholes, I can be an even bigger, meaner one. Get over it.” Raven shrugs.
Dax turns to Jayden. “I’ll take the asshole back to the Ares dorm and make sure he doesn’t do anything reckless.”
“If I have to chain him up like this again, I’m taking him directly to Chiron,” Jayden warns. “Beth is right. We have enough on our plates already. We don’t need this bullshit too.”
“I know, man. I’ll handle him. You guys do what you do.” He claps Jayden on the back and shoves his brother to get him moving.
“Hades, this shit is getting old,” I grumble as I flop on the ground next to Adrian.
“I know, baby. Hopefully it will stop once the sun isn’t wreaking havoc on everyone.” He tugs at his collar.
“It started before that, but yeah, I think the heat is escalating things.” I rub my forehead to relieve the tension.
“We won’t have to deal with it soon if that vision gives us any kind of clues.” Jayden sits down next to me and pulls me close to his side.
“One can only hope that’s what’s happening and not visions of failure and doom,” I grumble against his chest.
“Oh, I’m sure there will be some dire warnings and doom and gloom in there at some point but hopefully we will get more than that.” Jayden presses his lips to my temple.
“Oh gods,” Adrian groans as his eyelids flutter. “I’m starting to hate this gift.”
“How bad is it?” I ask.
I reach for his hand and help pull him to sitting. Adrian shakes his head to clear it and glances around our group.
“I think I know where we need to go, and we were right. It’s on the gulf coast. Also where Ephesus was located.”
“But?” I ask, because there’s definitely a ‘but’ coming.
