DIVINE » l. valdez

viii

❝so if you haven't guessed

i'm coming on your killer quest ❞

"Wolves," Piper said. "They sound close."

Jason rose summoning his sword. Hedge, Hina, and Leo stood as well, ready to defend themselves. Piper stumbled to her feet, her eyes glassy and far away.

"Stay there," Jason told her. "We'll protect you."

Just out of the glowing red fire, a pair of red eyes were glowing in the dark at the entrance of the cave.

Hina's hair stood on end.

More wolves entered the cave, glowing in the firelight. Dark black fur coats, covered the animals, that were bigger than Great Danes, ice and snow lining their fur. They barred their fangs as their red eyes gleamed with too much intelligence. The wolf in front was almost as tall as a horse, his mouth stained as if he'd just made a fresh kill.

Hina pulled her bow from her shoulder.

Then Jason stepped forward and said something in Latin.

The wolf curled its lip menacingly. The fur stood up along his spine. One of his lieutenants tried to advance, but the alpha wolf snapped at his ear. Then all of the wolves backed into the dark.

For a dead language, Latin was pretty useful at saving their lives, Hina decided.

"Dude, I gotta study Latin." Leo's hammer shook in his hand. "What'd you say, Jason?"

Hedge cursed. "Whatever it was, it wasn't enough. Look."

The wolves returned, this time without their alpha. Instead of attacking, they waited, standing still, in a semicircle at the cave entrance.

The coach hefted his club. "Here's the plan. I'll kill them all, and you guys escape."

"Coach, they'll rip you apart," Piper said.

"Nah, I'm good."

"That wasn't a suggestion," Hina snapped at Coach Hedge.

Then a thin silhouette made its way through the wolves.

"Stick together," Jason said. "They respect a pack. And Hedge, no crazy stuff. We're not leaving you or anyone else behind."

Hina tried to remain stone faced, but nerves climbed up her stomach. Their "pack" wasn't too intimidating in comparison to the wolves.

The wolves parted and a man stepped into the firelight. His hair was greasy and ragged, coloured like that of soot. On top of his choppy hair sat a withered crown made of cracked bones, like human fingers. Tattered robes made of all types of fur, were draped over the man's shoulders. Judging by the smells, the animal furs were not fresh or properly preserved. He was thin and gaunt. His face was the worst thing. 

His thin pale skin was pulled tight over his skull. His teeth were sharpened like fangs. His eyes glowed bright red like his wolves'—and they fixed on Jason with absolute hatred.

"Ecce," he said, "filli Romani."

"Speak English, wolf man!" Hedge bellowed.

The wolf man snarled. "Tell your faun to mind his tongue, son of Rome. Or he'll be my first snack."

The wolf man studied their little group. His nostrils twitched. "So it's true," he mused. "A child of Aphrodite. A son of Hephaestus.  A cursed child of Apollo. A faun. And a child of Rome, of Lord Jupiter, no less. All together, without killing each other. How interesting."

Hina hated the way the man scanned over each of her friends like they were his next meal.

"You were told about us?" Jason asked. "By whom?"

The man snarled—perhaps a laugh, perhaps a challenge. "Oh, we've been patrolling for you all across the west, demigod, hoping we'd be the first to find you. The giant king will reward me well when he rises. I am Lycaon, king of the wolves. And my pack is hungry."

The wolves snarled in the darkness.