Page 83 of Artemis' Bow
I turn to grin at Raven who holds up her hand for a high five. “We’re the only girls; I’ve always got your back.”
“Thanks, bestie.” I turn back in my chair. “Okay, okay, message received. Be cautious. Got it.”
That’s the only message I’m understanding from a lightning storm; however, it really doesn’t curb my anxiety knowing my father is watching out for us.
“I think we’re getting close.” Greyson points out the windshield.
Between the sheets of hail and sleeting rain, lights glimmer in the distance. Too many to be a small town.
“Thank the gods. I am so tired of being in this damn SUV. Twelve hours is too long to do in one shot. Artemis better let us hitch a ride with her when we rescue her. I don’t want to sit in a car for a long while after this.” Raven leans back in her seat.
“We made excellent time,” Adrian says. “We should be able to get a few hours’ sleep before we have to go into the forest.”
“Good, I’m exhausted. I don’t think I could fight a pillow right now and win that fight. Let alone whatever fresh Hades we’re in for.” I roll my neck.
“Turn here,” Greyson says, excited. “I saw a sign for a hotel a few miles back.”
“What kind of hotel? We don’t really have a great track record with picking the best spots. They usually end up with goddesses or monsters trying to kill us.”
“Hesperia wasn’t so bad until we left, and I have great memories of the hotel in New Mexico.” Jayden winks.
I flinch. I can’t help it. Anytime I remember Hecate’s hotel, I think of the island of the lotus eaters and no good comes from remembering that.
“Sorry,” Jayden whispers. “I didn’t think that through.”
“It’s fine. The connection between those two incidents is just too much.” I glance out the window.
The skyline of San Antonio grows bigger as we turn down one street after another. Finally, we pull up to a nice hotel that looks blessedly normal and I breathe a sigh of relief. Please don’t let looks be deceiving. I don’t think I can handle one more thing without sleep.
“We will go see if they have rooms available.” I grab Jayden and pull him along with me to the reception desk.
“You okay?” he asks.
“No, but let’s just get some rooms and rest. Hopefully it will be better after a few hours of sleep,” I say.
“How’s your shoulder?” he asks.
“I barely notice there was a hole in it twelve hours ago.” I shrug.
A tired-looking receptionist walks over, blinking rapidly. “Can I help you?”
“We need three rooms at least, one of them with two beds,” I say.
I attempt a smile, but it’s forced and the woman grimaces. “Sorry. Since the moon fell, I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“Is that what people are saying?” Jayden asks curiously.
“That’s what they’re saying around here. You kids aren’t from around here,” she says.
“No, we are just passing through.” I shrug.
“It’s dangerous out there,” she says. “The looting and riots have only gotten worse.”
“That’s happening here?” I ask. “Is that normal?”
“No, not normal at all. Not even during the freak winter storms we had a couple years ago. But with the moon gone, many are screaming Armageddon. They think it’s the end of the world and they are hoarding food and toilet paper for fallout shelters. It’s complete insanity.” She types something into the computer.
I hand over my ID and the black corporate credit card they give us for essentials on these missions. She takes them and glances at the ID before going back to typing.
