The Spirits of the Universe (PJO)

Chapter 28--Houses for Sale

The structures were all around us—mostly in the front, but several to our sides, as well as a few sprinkled behind us. To be honest, I don't know how we'd sneaked through them without noticing.

The forest grew around them, End grumbled, sounding a bit embarrassed, as though she hadn't seen the houses either. The houses look like Order at a party.

I don't go to parties, Order pointed out.

Exactly, was her only response.

As we sidled up to the closest building, however, I realized that End was right; the nearby greenery had wrapped the house in its spindly arms, kind of like how I imagined dryads would swarm Demeter when she visited the wild.

"What are you doing?!" Liam exclaimed as Aridne lit her lamp, bathing the surrounding three feet in a warm glow. 

"Using my eyes," Aridne said plainly.

"But what about the spirits? They'll attack us!"

"Don't be ridiculous," she scoffed. "There's no spirits here. And even if there were, no spirit worth their salt would run towards light."

Despite Liam's protests, she brought the lamp towards the wall, brushing shiny leaves out of the way to reveal sleek, polished wood. It only took one stab from her sword to deduce what it was: "Steelwood."

"So the mayor really wasn't lying," Liam breathed out.

I gave him a curious glance. "You thought he was leading us into a trap or something?"

"You can't blame me! The guy's hoarding food while his residents are starving. It wouldn't be impossible for his guards to ambush us when we least expect it. In fact, I'm still feeling anxious."

A cool wind passed through the foliage. We had dressed appropriately for the freezing temperature, but the night breeze still made me shiver. Liam took it as a sign, though. "We need luck," he said, then quickly entered the house.

"Don't tell me you believe him," Aridne said.

She looked at me expectedly, and I shifted uneasily. I didn't want to follow Liam, but, at the same time, staying outside in the dark didn't seem like the brightest thing to do. "I'll . . . uh . . . look for Vespera's necklace," I tried, then followed Liam. 

Behind me, I heard Aridne sigh, then copy my steps. 

Inside, the house had torches bolted to the walls, which Aridne promptly ignited with her lamp. The light bathed the living room, which was sparse—a rough woolen couch pushed to the wall without windows, a dining table in the center, and a deer pelt for outsiders to wipe their feet on. That was it.

"Guys, look!" Liam peeked his head out of the bedroom, holding a picture frame of a couple. "Someone left this in a hurry—and of course it had to be someone blessed by Eros."

"Put it back down!" Aridne snapped. "This is someone's house! What if they come back?"

"They can chase me out when the time comes," Liam replied. "It's obvious—they're not returning anytime soon." Then he ducked back into the room.

The floor was covered with a thick layer of dust, which tore free into the air as we walked further into the house. The door closed behind us with a loud thump, making me jump. 

Oh, don't be like that! Order chided End as she snickered at my expense. 

I'm not doing anything, End said innocently. I'm just allergic to cowards. I can't believe the prophecy assigned us to someone as pathetic as Jackson.