Wrath of Hades (8 page)

“Raven Weir, Guardian of Atlantis.”

Raven’s head jerked up, her full attention on the older man.

“I’m making a formal request of you. Find my granddaughter, Claire Willis Westing, and return her to me safe and unharmed.”

Ethan turned his full attention to Sam Westing.

Diane gasped. Her hand went to her mouth.

Professor Snyder raised his eyebrows. A shocked look filled his face.

Raven chewed on her bottom lip. She reached for the pendant but put her hand down when she realized it was under her jacket which she hadn’t take off. She felt an odd stirring around her.
A formal request. Something in her gut told her she couldn’t refuse this even if she wanted to, especially from the reactions she saw.

“The car wreck I was in was no accident. They forced us off the road and then they took Claire,” said Sam.

“The police didn’t say anything about Claire or anyone else being with you,” Diane said softly. “Or people would already be out looking.”

“The things that took her, took all the stuff Claire brought with her, which wasn’t much. I don’t understand why this happened. I didn’t have any sort of premonition about this either, or I would have taken measures to have prevented it.”

“And you want me to find her?” asked Raven when she finally found her voice. Why would anyone want her responsible for finding someone, when it was a proven fact she couldn’t even find her mom, Suzanne Weir. She didn’t have a clue how to go about conducting a search like this.

“Yes, I do. Claire was coming here because of you, not because I wanted her to come. It’s too dangerous having two Oracles in the same place.”

Diane gasped loudly.

Sam
looked at her. “Yes, she’s the next Oracle, otherwise I would have raised her here instead of sending her away to that boarding school.”

“You never mentioned anything,” said Diane.

“Because we were worried about this very thing happening,” said Sam.

“Why was she coming to see me?” Raven moved closer to the bed. She noticed the cuts and bruises covering his face. She wondered if they were from the accident itself or from the attackers, but she didn’t dare ask.

Sam stared at Raven. No emotion of any kind showed in this face. Not even one muscle twitched. He didn’t even blink, just stared straight through her. “You have many difficult choices in front of you and each choice you make will determine if you are on the right path. If you fail or make the wrong choice, everything is lost.”

A shiver went down Raven’s spine. He wasn’t answering her question. Instead, she was being given an Oracle’s prophecy, and it frightened her. Hadn’t a prophecy predicted her birth
and set into motion what was happening to her?

Sam blinked. “Claire only told me she had to come because you needed her. I told her I would pass to you whatever it was she had to tell you, but she refused just as she refused to listen to me when I told her to stay at the boarding school.”

“She ran away from school and was heading this way,” said Raven.

Sam frowned. “How did you know?”

Raven shrugged her shoulders. “I sometimes have a problem with doing what I’m told to do when I know it’s not the right thing.” She glanced at Diane.

“So you’re saying Claire’s not the only one who’s stubborn when it comes to doing what she’s told to do.”

“Something like that.” Raven shrugged her shoulders.

“You are right. She left school and used what money she had to get all the way to Hope, Arkansas. She called me from a diner to let me know where she was and t
o ask for money so she could buy another a bus ticket. “

“What was she thinking?” muttered Diane. She looked at Raven and raised an eyebrow.

“I asked her that too. She would only tell me she was doing what she had to do,” said Sam. “I wired her some money and told her to get a hotel room because I was coming to get her and taking her back to the boarding school. She told me to forget it, because she wasn’t going back. She was coming here one way or the other.”

“Sounds very familiar,” said Diane.

“I figured I could get her here, so she could talk to you, and then take her back to the boarding school, but we were attacked just outside of Pinewood. Somehow they knew we were coming. The road was filled with bodies. Some were even walking around. I swerved to miss them and lost control of the car. We crashed into a fence.”

“The zombies took her, didn’t they?” asked Raven.

“How did you know they were zombies?” asked Sam.

“Let’s see, dead bodies walking around.
Zombies. Besides I was attacked by one earlier today.” Raven folded her arms across her chest for the lack of knowing what to do with them.

“So do you have an idea who’s behind them?” asked Sam.

“Maybe, but no proof. But I don’t have any idea where to start looking though.”

“You will find where to start,” he said.

“But what if—”

“Ryan,” Sam interrupted Raven, “do you have that picture I sent you after?”

Professor Snyder nodded and got up out of the chair. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a brown envelope. “Here it is,” he said.

“Give it to Raven.” Sam closed his eyes.

Professor Snyder handed the envelope to Raven and sat back down without another word.

Raven just stared at it.

“Open it,” said Sam. His voice suddenly sounded tired.

Raven carefully opened the envelope and pulled out a picture of a girl not much older than her. The girl in the picture had a small elfish face and short blonde hair and large black eyes. She instantly made Raven feel ugly in comparison.

“That’s my Claire. Find her, Guardian,” said Sam. “Find her and bring her back to me.” He closed his eyes.

Suddenly, Ethan was standing next to her. He grabbed the picture out of her hands and stared at it. “She’s beautiful,” he whispered. His eyes glazed over. “I have to find her.”

Raven couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She wanted to slap Ethan, and make him snap out of whatever it was that was wrong with him. A surge of hatred toward Claire rippled through her.

“I think we need to be going.” Diane took the picture away from Ethan and handed it back to Raven. “On top of everything else, you’ve got school tomorrow.
Both of you,” She added before either could protest and ushered everyone out of the room and out of the hospital.

CHAPTER
6

Today’s my first day back at school.

My first day of school.

AGAIN!

I really, really hate first days. They suck! It doesn’t matter what part of the school year they happen. First days SUCK!!!

But you want to know what’s really funny? I set a record on my last first day. I only managed to go for one whole day and about an hour the next day, and then I was out of school for about almost five weeks.

I wonder how many days I’ll make it this time.

Any bets on the odds?

                            --Raven Weir’s journal

“Hey Raven, we came over to see if you needed a ride to school, but it looks like you’ve got your choice of rides,” said Bree as she, Leslie, and Ari came into the kitchen.

“Looks like the rumors are true,” said Leslie as she sat down in
the chair one of the teen Hell Hounds got up from when they came in. “Not bad looking either.” She watched the guy go outside.

“What rumors?” asked Raven. She shoved the food around her plate, having given up trying to eat anything several minutes before the girls arrived.

“The one about you taking on Cerberus and winning and then moving the teen pack into your house.” Leslie grabbed a piece of toast off one of the serving platters in the center of the table.

“No big deal. I just did what had to be done.” Raven kept her eyes on her plate.

“No big deal? You took on Cerberus. The Cerberus. The first Hell Hound. And you lived to tell about it.” Leslie folded the toast in half and took a huge bite out of it.

“I o
nly did it because Ethan and the others were going to be sentenced to death for what I did. I couldn’t let that happen. No one is going to pay for my actions if I can help it.” Raven put down the fork and pushed the plate away from her.

“Raven you really need to eat something,” said Diane as she walked into the kitchen. “Good morning girls.”

A chorus of good mornings from Leslie, Bree, and Ari echoed though the kitchen.

“Raven, e
at,” Diane said again.

“I’m not hungry.”

Ethan, followed by several teens, walked into the kitchen. The teens greeted Raven, but Ethan grabbed several slices of toast off the table and left without saying anything to her or even looking at her.

Raven silently watched him, hoping everything that had happened at the hospital was
nothing more than a really bad dream. But when Ethan walked out of the house without acknowledging her, she knew she had to face reality. Something had caused Ethan to forget she even existed.

“What was that about?” asked Leslie. She glanced at Bree and Ari, who were on the other side of the kitchen staring opened mouth. “What’s going on?”

Raven wiped her eyes to get rid of the tears threatening to fall. “Nothing,” she mumbled.

Bree walked over, sat down in the chair next to Raven and put her arm around Raven’s shoulders. “It’s not
nothing. Something’s wrong. What happened?”

Raven just shook her head. She wasn’t sure she could get the words out past the lump in her throat. The same lump the food couldn’t get past.

“We’ll figure out what’s wrong and fix it,” said Diane.

“What’s going on?” Leslie asked again.

“Last night we went back to the hospital and—”

“And something happened while we were in the parking lot,” said Raven interrupting Diane.

“What?” asked Bree. She looked from Raven to Diane and back at Raven.

“That’s the weird part. I don’t know. One minute we’re fine and then Ethan yelps and complains about feeling like someone stabbed him in his side. There wasn’t any blood, or even a hole in his clothes, but the next thing I know, I don’t exist anymore.” Raven took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m nothing but a stranger.”

“We’ll help you,” said Ari.

“How
? I don’t even know what to do. I think it’s someone’s way of getting at me, but I don’t know who, and on top of trying to figure that out, I’ve got to find Sam Westing’s granddaughter, Claire.”

“Claire? Why is she so important?” asked Leslie. She put down the piece of toast she was munching on and wiped her hand on her jeans. “And why do you have to find her?”

“She’s Sam Westing’s granddaughter, and she was kidnapped last night,” said Raven. She pushed the plate even further away from her. The sight of cold scrambled eggs was just plain gross.

“If she was kidnapped, shouldn’t the police be involved? Or maybe the FBI?” asked Ari.

Leslie and Bree gave Ari questioning looks.

“What? I watch the news,” said Ari. “The news lady on channel twelve really needs a fashion make-over. You wouldn’t believe some of the things she wears.”

Leslie shook her head before she turned her attention back to Raven. “Why aren’t the police involved?”

Raven gave her a half smile. “Kind of ha
rd to explain to the police it was zombies who took her, so that leaves me. I just don’t have a clue what to do. Where do I start? How do I start? I can’t even find my mom, and now I’m supposed to find a missing girl.” Raven sighed. “And on top of everything else, I’ve got the pod Ethan to deal with.”

“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine,” said Bree.

“No, it won’t. Maybe I should just go back to bed. I really don’t feel like going to school.” Raven leaned back in the chair and crossed her arms.

“You have to go to school. You’ve already missed almost five weeks,” said Diane. “It’ll do you good to get back into a normal routine.”

“I’ve already missed so much time, what’s one more day going to hurt?” Raven didn’t want to face the stares and whispers she was sure would fill the day, especially if rumors were going around. Rumors always turned ugly because it made for better gossip.

“Because the sooner you go back, the better off you’ll be. Everything else will fall into place, besides the new principal is expecting you today.” Diane walked over to Raven and put her hand on her shoulder. “We will figure out what’s going on with Ethan.” She patted Raven’s shoulder. “And you’ll find Claire.”

Raven gave her a half nod. The new principal was expecting her. Didn’t she start her first day at this school in the principal’s office? It seemed like so long ago, but in reality, it was just a little over five weeks ago. In fact, it was her birthday, five weeks ago. Raven reached for the pendant hanging around her neck. How was she going to deal with everything going on?

“Come on. You can ride with us,” Bree got up and moved away from the table.

With a sigh, Raven got up and put her plate in the sink. “I guess I’m ready.”

“Book bag?” asked Diane.

Raven rolled her eyes. “In the corner behind my chair.”

“Don’t forget your jacket. It’s getting colder,” said Ari. “We can’t have you freezing to death.”

“That wouldn’t be good,” added Bree.

“
BEST FRIENDS ALLOW GUARDIAN OF ATLANTIS TO FREEZE TO DEATH.
Not the headlines any of us want to see,” said Ari. “We would never hear the end of it.”

“No, that wouldn’t be good,” agreed Raven. She put on her jacket, and picked up her book bag. “I’m ready. Let’s get this over with.”

During the ride to school, Raven sat quietly in the backseat next to Bree, who kept up a steady conversation with Ari, who was sitting in the front seat. Raven stared out the window at the passing scenery, ignoring their whole conversation.

Fall had definitely left its mark, but it was now giving way to the cold grays of winter. Even the sky reflected the grayness of the land. Raven sighed. The grayness fit her mood perfectly. All she needed now was for it to start raining again. She let her head rest against the window, feeling the cold seep into her skin. This wasn’t her. She didn’t want to be the person moping around because a guy suddenly changed his mind about liking her. She closed her eyes.

“Raven, are you getting out?”

Raven blinked several times before turning her attention to Leslie. “What?”

Leslie turned to face Raven. “We’re here. Are you planning on staying in the car?”

“Sounds like a good plan to me.” Raven looked around. They were at school and Ari and Bree were already out of the car. How had she missed it all? Was she that out of it? She watched Leslie gather her stuff and get out.

“You’ve got to snap out of this depression you’re in,” said Leslie when Raven finally got out of the car.

“I’m trying. It’s just—”

“You can’t try anymore. You just have to snap out of it. If you don’t
they’re going to eat you alive.” Leslie gestured toward the school building. “They will be like a pack of piranha having a feast, especially Elizabeth, the terror of the school. She’ll have a field day with this and you know she will. You’ve got to be ready for her and everyone else, because they’re going to throw everything they can at you.”

“Leslie’s right,” said Bree.

“I think you need to get angry, and then use that anger. You know, channel it into something constructive,” said Ari.

“Yeah, like hunting down whoever it was who did this to you and Ethan and kicking his scrawny tail into next year.”

“Good one, Bree.” Ari and Bree slapped their hands together.

“We’re only telling you this because we care about you, but you are the Guardian and you have to appear to have everything under control even when you don’t. The rumors from last night are about a Guardian who stood up to Cerberus and won. We know it was you, but you’re not acting like that person. You know, the kick butt person we really know,” said Leslie. “And honestly, this you
doesn’t work. I like the kick butt, smart mouth you much better.”

Raven took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I hear what you’re saying, and I’ve told myself the same thing, but it feels like someone ripped my heart out and stomped on it. I wish I hadn’t of let myself care so much. If I hadn’t, it wouldn’t hurt so much right now.”

Bree walked over and put her arm around Raven. “If he can’t remember you because of some stupid trick, he’s not worth it. I’m going to kick that Hell Hound’s tail myself for what he’s putting you through.”

Ethan was three times
Bree’s size. The mental picture of her kicking Ethan’s tail end made Raven giggle. “What are you going to do? Wrap him up in daisies?”

“Not a bad idea. But what do you think about a little poison ivy? It’ll leave a much better, more lasting impression.” Bree winked at Raven. “And it’ll give him a nice lingering, red rash. He’ll be scratching for days, and then you can threaten to have him flea dipped, because how do you know he didn’t pick up fleas from someplace he should have been?”

“That sounds a little itchy to me.” Raven laughed again, and it felt good. “Remind me not to make you mad at me.”

“We know you’re dealing with a lot of major stuff. Unfortunately, you always will be.” Leslie walked around the car to where the others were standing behind the car. “But we’re here for you.”

Raven swallowed. The lump in her throat was still there. “Is it possible for someone to have stabbed Ethan without leaving a mark? But what kind of poison would make him forget about someone he supposedly cares about?”

“Yeah, it is.” Leslie looked at Ari and Bree. “It kind of sounds like Ethan was hit by one of
Eros’s arrows, but from what I’ve heard he locked away his arrows a long time ago right before his chocolate company went public because he didn’t want to take the chance of anyone being influenced by them and because it was the only way Angela would even talk to him.”

“Eros?
As in Cupid?” asked Raven.

“He really hates the name Cupid. Dad’s about the only one who can get away with calling him that anymore to his face, but that’s because Dad’s so huge. He makes everyone look small.”

“You sound like you know Eros.” Raven watched Leslie nervously rubbed down her hair.

“I kind of do, a
t least I’ve talked to him when he and Angela come to the family gatherings. He’s married to Angela, my cousin on my mom’s side.”

“Do you think he did it?” asked Raven.

“I don’t think he did it. Since he started the chocolate company and married Angela, he’s put aside the shooting people with arrows. Angela refused to have anything to do with him as long as he kept messing with people’s romantic lives. And he’s head-over-heels in love with her. So he did what he had to do to make her happy.”

“What if someone stole an arrow from him? That’s possible.” Raven started pacing back and forth.

“They’re locked in a vault that’s protected by both nymph and giant magic. No one can get past the magic guards that were put into place.”

Raven stopped pacing and thought for a minute. “Shadows,” she said. “There are shadows in the vault.”

“So.”

“If there are shadows, t
hen anyone from Hades can open a doorway into the vault and steal an arrow or two. It’s the only explanation that makes any sense,” said Raven. “It’s like that movie we watched. If you rule out all of the possibilities then whatever you have left, even if it’s crazy, has to be the answer.”