Page 81 of Blood of Hercules
The Crucible
Alexis
Wiping away spit, I accidentally made eye contact with another initiate as I followed (fell in a forward direction while somehow staying upright) the group down the mountain.
The boy shuffled toward me, curly gold hair plastered with sweat to his pale skin.
“We got this,” he said as he raised his hand toward me. It was bloody from where he’d fallen and cut himself.
I tripped and stumbled away to avoid being hit.
My palms scraped across sharp rocks as I barely caught myself, then staggered back to my aching feet.
There was an uncomfortable pause because he wasstillholding out his hand for a handshake.
I didn’t take it.
He gave me a strange look.
Embarrassed, I jogged faster (increased from an injured snail’s pace to a somewhat healthier snail’s pace).
Unfortunately, he fell into step beside me on my left side, hovering in my blind spot.
Unease skittered down my spine.
Panic pulsed in my chest.
“I’m Christos Zeus,” he said. “Nice to meet you.”
I grunted and kept my eyes facing away from him so he’d get the memo.
“Alexis, right? I’ve heard about you—I’m also a mutt.” He pointed to his corkscrew curls as we descended the mountain and said, “Since they think you’re also from the House of Zeus, that would make us stepsiblings.”
He grinned like something was funny.
Nothing was humorous these days. People needed to learn to accept the energy of the dark times.
Charlie was also halfway around the world, probably worried sick.
“I already have a brother,” I whispered.
“Well, either way, I’m sure we’ll be great friends.” Christos patted my back, and I jumped, falling over rocks as I staggered, trying to get away.
He laughed.
I didn’t.
“Cheerful idiot,” Nyx hissed.
I would have said something in agreement, but I was too busy trying not todie.
Time stretched as the sun marched slowly across the sky, a frantic melody played in my head, and I learned something very important: running downhill wasnoteasier than running uphill.
There was no justice in this cruel world.
Calves cramping, chest heaving, hours later, I collapsed on all fours at the bottom of the mountain where the group was resting.
Christos fell to his knees beside me. “Whoa, that sucked.” He coughed.
