Wrath of Hades (18 page)

Dian nodded. “Something like that, at least that’s what I’m thinking now. What if they survived the wreck? Would you want your owners to know your alive, or would you prefer to hide in an unknown environment?”

“So they not only survived, but flourished in the oceans of Earth, but kept themselves hidden. Is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” said Diane. She raised an eyebrow at Raven.

“So I’ve basically made contact with an unknown species living in our waters even though they’re not native to this planet?”

“Yes, I would say that about sums it up.” Diane got up. “Be careful around them. We don’t know what they are capable of.”

Raven snorted. “I’m not exactly planning a reunion trip.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Diane?”

“Yes?”

“I don’t think it’s possible the
Byssolar hybrids have been living in the ocean all this time without being seen.”

“What do you mean?” asked Diane.

“What if they can shift their form like the Hell Hounds?”

“It’s possible.” She raised an eyebrow. “What are you getting at?”

Raven rubbed the silver disc that was her constant companion. “What if they’ve been seen over the years, but the sailors called them mermaids?”

“I never put much thought into the so-called mermaid sightings. But you’re right. It’s very possible they are the same. There’s only one way to be sure.”

Raven looked at Diane. “And what’s that?”

“Ask Pandora.”

“Pandora?” Raven frowned. She started combing her hair again. “You mean the same Pandora who healed me?”

“That’s the one.” Diane smiled. She closed the door softly behind her when she left.

“And how am I supposed to ask Pandora when I have absolutely no clue how to get in touch with her?” she asked the closed door. Raven returned to absent-mindedly combed her hair as she thought about the Byssolar and what Diane had said. She shook her head. “As much as I don’t want to, I’m probably going to have to go back and have a chat with them.” She snorted. “Just not anytime soon. I’ve got too much going on right now.”

A slight movement in the mirror caught her attention. Raven stared at the mirror then she turned and looked at the actual wall across the room. She frowned. “I know I saw something.” She went back to combing out the tangles in her hair, but kept one eye on the wall.

After a few minutes, she grew tired of watching the wall do nothing and relaxed, thinking maybe she had imagined the movement. Raven shook her head and focused her attention on her hair and the tangles she still had to get out.

Why was she even worrying?

She was safe in her own bedroom. No one would dare attack her there, not when there was a whole bunch of Hell Hounds there.

“Raven Weir.”

Raven dropped the comb and made a strange screech as she spun around, not knowing if she would have to defend herself or not.

Persephone stepped out of the shadows. She turned and waved her hand in an arch, closing the doorway she had just stepped through.

“What are you doing here?” asked Raven once she recomposed herself after being frightened nearly to death. “I thought you said you couldn’t come back.”

A grim look covered the woman’s entire face. “I just found out something very important about the attacks and it couldn’t wait. I had to tell you.” She looked around the room.

“I know Hades is somehow behind the attacks,” said Raven.

Persephone nodded. “It’s more than just that.”

“What more can there be than that?” asked Raven.

“Hades has Claire Westing and he plans to use her to capture you even if it means killing her in order to do it.” Persephone pushed several strands of hair away from her face.

“I figured he had something to do with her disappearance and the zombie attacks too.” Raven picked up the comb she had dropped and put it on the dresser.

“The zombies,” Persephone shuddered. “Those wretched things—those horrible things are his special project.

Raven frowned. “What do you mean by special project?”

Persephone walked over to the small sitting area by the window. “Hades has been conducting experiments for centuries.” She looked at Raven. “And then he came up with the idea of creating a mindless army made up of the worst killers imaginable.” Persephone closed her eyes and shook her head.

“But the first zombie that attacked me was a local person, not one of the state’s worst killers.”

“Hades has a special collection of souls.”

“A special collection of souls?”

Persephone nodded. “Hades learned a long time ago how to put someone’s soul into someone else’s body. Fortunately the body rejects it fairly quickly. But Hades has been working to find a way to keep the souls in the bodies longer and unfortunately he’s starting to succeed.”

“An unstoppable army of the worse possible killers is not what I want to deal with.” Raven thought about the three zombies that attacked her. “You’re joking, right?”

“I wish I were. But he’s got tens of thousands of souls in his special collection.”

“And what does he want with me?” asked Raven.

“He wants your soul back.” Her voice trem
bled slightly. “Let’s just say, he wasn’t very happy. Hades thinks your soul actually belongs to him.”

“Sorry, but he can’t have it.”

“He plans on taking it, even if he has to destroy you and everyone around you in the process,” said Persephone.

“What’s the deal? He’s crazy! Am I just related to crazy people?” Raven threw her hands up. “If they’re not dysfunctional, then they’re crazy! And I’m not sure which category I fall into. With my luck, there’s a whole other branch of the family I haven’t even met yet with a whole new set of problems, and that’ll be the group I fall in with.”

“We all have family problems,” said Persephone in a soft voice.

“Not like mine. I’m related to the very ones who want to kill me. That’s not exactly a small family problem, you know.” Raven took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“You’ve got me there.”

“You think?” Raven sat down on the corner of her bed. “So where is crazy uncle number two planning to do all of this soul snatching stuff?”

Persephone walked closer to Raven. “I overheard him talking to a couple of the shades who are completely loyal to him. He told him to have everything ready at the mausoleum tonight. So I’m assuming it’s going to happen there.” Persephone glanced at the shadows. “I have to get back. If he finds me missing, there really will be Hell to pay.”

“The cemetery tonight.”

Persephone nodded. “Good luck, Guardian.” She stepped to the shadows and waved her right hand in an arch. “Be careful not to get yourself killed.” She stepped through the shadow door and vanished.

Raven chewed on her bottom lip as she digested everything Persephone had told her. “I’m not going to get a better chance than this,” she told herself. Getting up off the bed, Raven went to the dresser and grabbed a hairband and pulled her still damp hair into a ponytail, securing it high up on her head. She went to the closet and grabbed a pair of hiking boots.

Three minutes later, she was heading downstairs to tell the others where she was planning to go.

CHAPTER
17

I really hate cemeteries.

They’ve never been my favorite place, but now the residents don’t want to stay in their coffins, well—you get the picture.

Oh, did I tell you, I really, really, really hate cemeteries!

                            --Raven Weir’s journal

“But I can’t live without her.”

Raven stopped just outside the kitchen door when she heard Ethan’s voice. Her heart did a little flip flop. Maybe, just maybe, she thought. She shook her head. What was she thinking? She knew it was over between her and Ethan, so why the love-struck fool act especially after she told herself it was over?

“I don’t know why you keep telling me Raven is my mate. It’s Claire. Claire’s my mate. I can’t live without her. I have to find her.”

Raven closed her eyes and leaned her head against the wall.  Ethan sounded even more pathetic than she was acting. Hopefully, Eros would have some sort of answer, anything to make Ethan more like himself. If Leslie could
just get him and her cousin to return her phone calls, but Raven didn’t have much hope left. Ethan’s feelings for Claire, even though he had never seen her in person, had grown stronger than anything he had ever felt for her. Raven was sure of it.

She sighed. She just wanted Ethan happy and if Claire made him happy—so be it.

Raven stood up and opened her eyes. She had a job to do. She had to put a stop to what Hades was doing and get Claire back.

Raven wiped away the few tears clinging to her eyes and stood up a little straighter. “You are the Guardian. Don’t forget it. You have a job to do
. Besides, you told yourself you weren’t going to cry for him anymore. Don’t break that promise,” she told herself and walked into the kitchen.

“Raven, what are you doing down here?” asked Diane.

“Maybe I should ask why he is here and what are you doing?” Raven raised an eyebrow. She looked around the kitchen. Professor Snyder and Diane were sitting at the table with Ethan. Chad and Billy were on the other side of the kitchen. Chad’s arms were crossed over his chest. He was glaring at Ethan.

“Ethan came by to see if there was any news about Claire,” said Diane. “He’s very concerned about her.”

“He is?”

“Yes, he is.”

“Wow, a civil visit.” Raven crossed her arms. “Are you sure he’s not here for something else?”

“What do you mean?” asked Diane.

“Maybe he’s here to accuse me of not doing my job.  Or maybe it’s to blame me for all of his problems. Or is it just to make my life miserable?” She looked at Ethan. “Which is it?” She knew she sounded hateful, but she couldn’t stop herself.

Ethan growled. He hands balled up into fists.

Raven rolled her eyes. “I think I have my answer in typical Hell Hound fashion.” She turned and looked at Diane and Professor Snyder. “I going out for a little bit, but I’ll be back.”

“You can’t go out alone,” said Professor Snyder. “It’s not safe for you.”

“It’s not safe for me in this kitchen either.”

“Someone needs to go with you,” said Diane.

“I don’t need anyone to go with me. They’ll just be in the way as well as being in danger.”

Diane looked over at Ethan. “He can go with you.”

Raven snorted. “Have you lost your mind? Ethan? Go with me?” She shook her head. “There’s no way that’s going to happen. I’ve got enough people trying to kill me. I don’t need the added headache of worrying about when he’s going to attack me again.”

“Why would I want to go with her?” Ethan jumped up out of the chair, knocking it over backwards. “She’s the Guardian. She’s supposed to find Claire and bring her to me.”

“He isn’t going anywhere with Raven. I don’t even want him in the same room with her.” Chad moved to stand between Raven and Ethan. The tension in the kitchen grew chokingly thick.

“Enough!” The power filling Raven’s voice caused the dishes in the cabinets to rattle.

Everyone stopped and stared at her.

The back door opened and in walked Leslie, Bree and Ari.

“It looks like we’re missing all the fun. Again.” Leslie slipped off her coat.

“Maybe we need to move in so we don’t miss anything.” Bree went over to Raven and hugged her. “Good voice you’ve got there. We felt it rattle the deck.”

“Not bad at all. Looks like you’ve got everyone’s attention.” Ari smiled. Her eyes twinkled as she winked at Raven.

Leslie pushed past Ethan and sat down at the table next to Professor Snyder. “I got word that my cousin and her husband will be back in town in a couple of days. He’s eager to talk to you.”

Diane looked at Leslie then at Raven. “Is there something I should know?”

Raven shook her head and shrugged her shoulders as if she didn’t know what Leslie was talking about.

“No, nothing that I can think of. They’re just excited about meeting the Guardian.” Leslie plastered a smile on her face.

“Give me their names and I’ll set up a time they can stop by and visit,” said Diane. Her voice was a little too sweet.

It was all Raven could do to keep from laughing. “This is all ridiculous. I’ve got better things to do than stand around here and watch you play these games.

“Games?
What games?” asked Diane.

Raven took a step toward her. “I may be just a sixteen year old kid to you, but I’m not
stupid. You’re hiding something from me. I don’t know what it is, but when I get back, you’re going to tell me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do.”

Professor Snyder put his hand on Diane’s shoulder, but didn’t say anything. Diane put her hand on his and nodded her head.

Raven turned toward Ethan. “I need you to go home. I’ve got work to do and you’ll only be in my way.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” growled Ethan. “Not until I have Claire with me.”

Raven shook her head. “This obsession of yours is ridiculously over the top. But don’t worry. You’ll have Claire soon enough, but right now, I need you to get out of my way.”

“You know where Claire is?” Ethan’s eyes lit up with a reddish glow.

Raven swallowed the lump in her throat. “Billy, go let Sam Westing know Claire will be home very soon. Take Ethan with you. I can’t have him interfering.” She walked to the back door. “Leslie, Bree, Ari, I want you to stay here.”

“We’re going with you.” said Bree.

“I need you here, where I don’t have to worry about you getting hurt,” she said. She knew the girls were upset, but they would just have to get over it. Raven went outside before anyone else could stop her. The evening air was colder than she expected.

“You’ll need this,” Chad held up a jacket for Raven to slip on.

“Thanks,” said Raven as she slipped into the jacket.  She blushed slightly, not used to having a guy help her put on a jacket.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to get Claire and put a stop to some very nasty plans Hades has made.”

“You can’t go along,” said Chad.

“I’m the Guardian. I have to do this.” Raven smiled. “I’ll be fine.”

“How do you know where to go?”

“I had an inside tip.”

“What if it’s a set up? You know there’s a possibility.” Chad stepped closer to Raven. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Getting hurt isn’t something I plan on. It just seems to happen that way.”

“A little t
oo often.” Chad rubbed Raven’s cheek with the back of his hand. “That’s why I and the other Hell Hounds are going with you.”

“This isn’t your fight. It’s mine.”

“If we don’t go with you, you don’t go.”

“And you’re going to stop me? I don’t think so. The only thing that’ll happen is that you’ll get hurt.”

“I’ll take my chances,” said Chad. “Besides, it’ll be worth it.”

Raven shook her head. “I don’t have any more time. I’ve got to get going.”

Chad grabbed her arm to keep her from leaving. “Where are you going?”

Raven looked down at Chad’s hand, then up at his face. “I really wouldn’t do that if I were you. I’m sick and tired of males thinking they can use brute force against me.”

Chad let go of Raven’s arm and stepped back. “Where are you going?”

Raven sighed. “I’m going to the mausoleums in the cemetery. I was told Hades has Claire there. I’ve got to stop him and rescue her.”

“Claire’s being held in the mausoleums at the cemetery? I knew you were jealous. That’s why you didn’t tell me. You’ll pay for that, after I go get Claire.” Ethan shoved past Raven and Chad and took off toward his jeep.

Raven groaned.  “This is not what I needed. He’s going to get himself killed and probably Claire too.”  She looked at Billy who was standing in the doorway. “Go get the others. And tell Leslie to call Cerberus. Tell her to tell him Ethan has gone off the deep end and going to get himself killed.”

Billy nodded and went back inside.

Raven looked at Chad. “We’ve got to stop Ethan before he does something even more stupid than he’s already doing.”

“It seems like he’s doing a lot of stupid things lately.”

“Yeah, but some of them aren’t his fault.”

“I don’t see how you can defend him after what he’s done to you,” said Chad.

“Because as the Guardian, it’s my job to defend all of you.
I can’t let my personal feelings cloud that, no matter how much it hurts.” Raven gave him a weak smile. “If you’re coming, we’ve got to go now because I’ve got a date to kick my uncle’s butt.”

“I’m glad I’m not Hades,” said Chad as he led the way down to his truck.