Crimson Frost (28 page)
“I think you should keep the swords,” I said.
Alexei shook his head. “No, I couldn’t do that. They are important artifacts, pieces of history. They should be put back on display here for everyone to see.”
I arched an eyebrow at him. “In case you haven’t noticed, the whole library is full of artifacts. I don’t think anyone will mind if you use the swords for your own. I’ll talk to Nickamedes. He’ll understand. Besides, that will be one less case for me to dust.”
Alexei hesitated and looked at the weapons again. “If you really think Nickamedes would let me use the weapons . . .”
“Don’t worry. He will.”
At least he would after I talked to him. I hadn’t told the librarian about the new mission I’d gotten from Nike, but I would. He’d understand that the swords belonged with Alexei, and so would Metis and the others.
Alexei admired the weapons a moment longer before he tucked them and the scabbard back into his gym bag. He straightened up, and I smiled at him.
“I’m glad you’re staying,” I said. “For my sake—and Oliver’s too.”
A blush flooded Alexei’s cheeks, but he just leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. And he stayed there, right by my side, until closing time.
Late that night in my dorm room, I read Logan’s letter again, smoothing it out on top of my bed. Some of the words were smeared, thanks to my tears, and the page was wrinkled where I’d read it so much.
“How many times are you going to go over that bloody thing?” Vic said. “The words aren’t going to change just because you read them a dozen times. And can you please get the fuzzball off of me? Her slobber keeps dripping on me.”
Since I’d been cleared of all charges, Nyx had come back to the academy with me this morning, with the Protectorate’s blessing. Since Linus had given me a full pardon, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to get Nyx included in the deal as well. Linus had muttered quite a few words about
rules
and
procedures
and
This girl will be the death of me
, but in the end, he’d agreed to let Nyx stay with me.
rules
and
procedures
and
This girl will be the death of me
, but in the end, he’d agreed to let Nyx stay with me.
I’d propped Vic up on my bed, and Nyx had decided that the sword made an excellent chew toy. The wolf pup had been gnawing on Vic’s hilt, well, his head actually, for the last ten minutes. Still, despite the sword’s cross words, I knew he enjoyed the drool-filled attention, especially when Nyx curled her tail around him and decided to go to sleep on my bed a minute later.
“I don’t know,” I said, finally answering his question.
“I guess I keep reading it hoping that it will make sense. That I’ll understand why Logan felt he had to leave. I mean, I know
why
—because of what Loki did to him and what Logan did to me. But that doesn’t make it any easier.”
why
—because of what Loki did to him and what Logan did to me. But that doesn’t make it any easier.”
“He didn’t want to hurt you,” Vic said. “It’ll take the boy some time before he trusts himself again, not just with you, but with everyone else he cares about. It’s not necessarily a bad thing that he’s gone for a while. Rituals are nasty business, and the transformation process is one of the most brutal things anyone can experience.”
There was an odd note in Vic’s voice, and I looked over at the sword. “You sound like you have some sort of personal experience with transformations.”
To my surprise, the sword actually blushed. At least, I thought he did. His cheek seemed to burn bright silver for a moment before he dropped his gaze from mine.
“Well, I have seen a lot of things over the years, Gwen,” the sword mumbled. He paused a moment before clearing his throat. “But back to my original point. Logan needs some time to recover from what the Reapers did to him.”
“I know, but it hurts all the same.”
Vic kept talking, trying to cheer me up by telling me how well I’d fought in the auditorium and how we were going to find Vivian, Lucretia, and Agrona and slice them to ribbons as soon as possible. I let his violent, cheerful words wash over me and made the appropriate noises when necessary, but my heart wasn’t in it.
When he finally wound down, I took a shower and put on my pajamas. By the time I finished, Vic and Nyx were both asleep, curled up in the middle of my bed. In between snores, the sword mumbled about killing Reapers, while Nyx let out contented little sighs, as though she was sharing his dreams.
I stood in front of the mirror, brushing out my wet hair. The motion made my pajama top slip to one side, revealing a thin white line on my chest underneath the edge of my camisole.
I had another scar now, one that slashed over my heart and the scar I had from where Preston Ashton had stabbed me. Metis and Daphne had healed the wound with their magic, but it had still left a mark, probably because Logan had been connected to Loki at the time. I also had another thin line on my right palm.
I touched the scar on my chest, and I thought of Logan. I wondered where he was and what he was doing right now. How he was feeling. I hoped he was okay, that he was getting better, that he was already thinking about returning to the academy—to me.
I finished with my hair, so I put the brush down on my desk, right next to my snowflake necklace. My fingers touched the silver strands, and my memories of the fight in the auditorium filled my mind. I’d had on the necklace during the battle, and once again, it had soaked up all of my emotions—all of my pain.
It seemed that was all I had left now that Logan gone, that pain was all I felt. But I’d meant what I’d said at the amphitheater today—about moving on and fighting until the end.
That’s why I’d started the map.
I thought of it as a sort of treasure map—although the
X
s marked artifacts instead of pirate booty. I sat down in my chair and looked at several pieces of paper I’d taped together and spread out across my desk. Despite my love of comic books and graphic novels, I had zero talent when it came to art. Couldn’t paint, couldn’t sketch, couldn’t sculpt. Still, I’d grabbed a pencil out of one of my desk drawers, and I’d started drawing the fresco on the ceiling of the Library of Antiquities—the one that featured me, my friends, and the artifacts I was supposed to find.
X
s marked artifacts instead of pirate booty. I sat down in my chair and looked at several pieces of paper I’d taped together and spread out across my desk. Despite my love of comic books and graphic novels, I had zero talent when it came to art. Couldn’t paint, couldn’t sketch, couldn’t sculpt. Still, I’d grabbed a pencil out of one of my desk drawers, and I’d started drawing the fresco on the ceiling of the Library of Antiquities—the one that featured me, my friends, and the artifacts I was supposed to find.
Logan might be gone, but there were still Reapers to fight. I was a Champion, and Nike had given me a mission, one that I was determined to complete, no matter how long it took or how dangerous it turned out to be. Besides, I had to do
something
besides sit in my room and brood.
something
besides sit in my room and brood.
The only problem was that it wasn’t much of a map. Oh, I could see the fresco clearly in my mind, thanks to my psychometry. I just didn’t have the skills to draw it all that well. Still, I did my best, and the map was slowly coming along. Maybe I’d get Oliver to help me with it. He had some mad art mojo.
I looked at the small replica statue of Nike on my desk. “I hope you’re not grading me on my drawing skills, because I would definitely flunk.”
The statue didn’t do anything, but I hadn’t really expected it to.
My gaze went back to the drawing. I’d just started it tonight, so I’d only filled in the center of the fresco so far. Okay, okay, so I’d only sketched one person—Logan. I’d been thinking so much about the Spartan that it had only seemed natural to start with him.
My drawing was little better than a stick figure, but I’d tried to capture Logan’s ferocity, his bravery. Not too hard to do, when he was in the middle of the fight. I wished he was here so I could show him the drawing. I could just picture him looking at it and saying something like,
Gypsy girl, don’t you know I’m so much more handsome than that?
Gypsy girl, don’t you know I’m so much more handsome than that?
Then, he’d grin at me, his icy eyes glittering in his face, and we’d both laugh.
But Logan wasn’t here, and it didn’t look like he was coming back anytime soon. I sighed. Not only did I miss the Spartan terribly, but the fact was that I could have used his help with this. Maybe he would have recognized the items he was holding. Maybe he would have known which ones the others were holding were artifacts and which were just regular weapons. Maybe he would have been able to tell me about the object I had in the drawing—that slender silver arrow, or spear, or whatever it was—the one that just might be able to kill Loki.
“How am I supposed to give these things to Logan or the rest of my friends when I don’t even know where the artifacts or he is?” I muttered and looked at Nike.
This time, the statue’s eyes snapped open.
I froze, and my breath caught in my throat. I’d said the words out of hurt and frustration, never thinking she would respond, but the goddess peered at me, then at the drawing, with her twilight-colored eyes. She dipped her head once before her eyes slid shut, and the statue was just a statue once more.
I let out a breath and sat back in my chair. I looked at the statue for a few minutes, but Nike didn’t reappear. Still, the goddess’s nod of approval made me feel better, like I was at least on the right track. Nike had told me to find the artifacts and give them to the right people—including Logan. That meant I’d see the Spartan again. And when I saw him, I wouldn’t let him go. I’d make him come back to the academy with me, no matter what it took.
The more I looked at the drawing, the more certain I felt about things. Somehow, I knew that when I found these mysterious artifacts, I’d find Logan too. After that, well, I didn’t know what would happen, only that I wanted to see him again as soon as possible.
“Get ready, Spartan,” I whispered. “Because I’ll be seeing you soon.”
I picked up my pencil and started drawing again.
BEYOND THE STORY
Gwen’s letter to Logan
Dear Spartan,
You have nothing to apologize for—nothing at all.
It wasn’t your fault that the Reapers performed all that evil magic mumbo jumbo on you. That they’d secretly been targeting you for years. And most of all, it wasn’t your fault that the Reapers killed your mom and sister to try and get to you.
I know you, Spartan. I know you think that if only you’d been braver or stronger or smarter, none of this would have happened. That your mom and sister would still be alive.That things wouldn’t have been so bad with your dad all these years.
That you wouldn’t have hurt me.
But don’t you dare blame yourself for any of it—
not one thing
.
not one thing
.
What the Reapers did to you was horrible—so horrible it makes my heart hurt just to think about it. I saw it all as soon as I touched the letter you sent me. I know how you fought against the magic. How you fought against Loki. How you even tried to turn your sword on yourself to keep from hurting me.
No one could have been braver or stronger or fought harder than you did—
no one
.
no one
.
I understand why you left, but it hurts all the same. I miss you, Spartan. I miss your laugh, your smile, even you teasing me. But most of all, I miss how you give me hope that we’ll actually win this terrible war after all.
I was afraid of what I could do to you with my touch magic. Now, you’re afraid of what you could do to me with your fighting skills—especially if you’re still somehow connected to Loki.
Well, I say it’s time that we both quit being afraid.
The Reapers are always going to be plotting against us. They’re always going to try to hurt us, kill us. But as long as we stick together, we can handle anything they throw at us. But if we let them keep us apart now, then they’ve already won half the battle.
You are Logan freaking Quinn.
The best fighter at Mythos Academy.
The guy who can take my breath away just by smiling.
So quit feeling sorry for yourself and get back in the fight. Spartans never give up. I learned that from the best of them because I learned that from
you.
you.
You promised me that you would always be there for me. I’m going to hold you to that, Spartan. Come back to Mythos. Come back to me.
Please—because I can’t do this without you.
Love,
Gwen
Gwen
Mythos Academy Warriors and Their Magic
The students at Mythos Academy are the descendants of ancient warriors, and they are at the academy to learn how to fight and use weapons, along with whatever magic or other skills that they might have. Here’s a little more about the warrior whiz kids, as Gwen calls them:
Amazons and Valkyries:
Most of the girls at Mythos are either Amazons or Valkyries. Amazons are gifted with supernatural quickness. In gym class during mock fights, they look like blurs more than anything else. Valkyries are incredibly strong. Also, bright, colorful sparks of magic can often be seen shooting out of Valkyries’ fingertips.
Most of the girls at Mythos are either Amazons or Valkyries. Amazons are gifted with supernatural quickness. In gym class during mock fights, they look like blurs more than anything else. Valkyries are incredibly strong. Also, bright, colorful sparks of magic can often be seen shooting out of Valkyries’ fingertips.
Romans and Vikings:
Most of the guys at Mythos Academy are either Romans or Vikings. Romans are superquick, just like Amazons, while Vikings are superstrong, just like Valkyries.
Most of the guys at Mythos Academy are either Romans or Vikings. Romans are superquick, just like Amazons, while Vikings are superstrong, just like Valkyries.
Siblings:
Brothers and sisters born to the same parents will have similar abilities and magic, but they’re sometimes classified as different types of warriors. For example, if the girls in a family are Amazons, then the boys will be Romans. If the girls in a family are Valkyries, then the boys will be Vikings.
Brothers and sisters born to the same parents will have similar abilities and magic, but they’re sometimes classified as different types of warriors. For example, if the girls in a family are Amazons, then the boys will be Romans. If the girls in a family are Valkyries, then the boys will be Vikings.
However, in other families, brothers and sisters are considered to be the same kind of warriors, like those born to Spartan, Samurai, or Ninja parents. The boys and girls are both called Spartans, Samurais, or Ninjas.
More Magic:
As if being superstrong or superquick wasn’t good enough, the students at Mythos Academy also have other types of magic. They can do everything from heal injuries to control the weather to form fireballs with their bare hands. Many of the students have enhanced senses as well. The powers vary from student to student, but as a general rule, everyone is dangerous and deadly in their own special way.
As if being superstrong or superquick wasn’t good enough, the students at Mythos Academy also have other types of magic. They can do everything from heal injuries to control the weather to form fireballs with their bare hands. Many of the students have enhanced senses as well. The powers vary from student to student, but as a general rule, everyone is dangerous and deadly in their own special way.
Spartans:
Spartans are among the rarest of the warrior whiz kids, and there are only a few at Mythos Academy. But Spartans are the most dangerous and deadliest of all the warriors because they have the ability to pick up any weapon—or any
thing
—and automatically know how to use and even kill someone with it. Even Reapers of Chaos are afraid to battle Spartans in a fair fight. But then again, Reapers rarely fight fair. . . .
Spartans are among the rarest of the warrior whiz kids, and there are only a few at Mythos Academy. But Spartans are the most dangerous and deadliest of all the warriors because they have the ability to pick up any weapon—or any
thing
—and automatically know how to use and even kill someone with it. Even Reapers of Chaos are afraid to battle Spartans in a fair fight. But then again, Reapers rarely fight fair. . . .
Gypsies:
Gypsies are just as rare as Spartans. Gypsies are those who have been gifted with magic by the gods. But not all Gypsies are good. Some are just as evil as the gods they serve. Gwen is a Gypsy who is gifted with psychometry magic, or the ability to know, see, and feel an object’s history just by touching it. Gwen’s magic comes from Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.
Gypsies are just as rare as Spartans. Gypsies are those who have been gifted with magic by the gods. But not all Gypsies are good. Some are just as evil as the gods they serve. Gwen is a Gypsy who is gifted with psychometry magic, or the ability to know, see, and feel an object’s history just by touching it. Gwen’s magic comes from Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.
Bogatyrs:
Bogatyrs are Russian warriors. They are exceptionally fast, and most of them use two weapons at once, one in either hand. Bogatyrs train themselves to always keep moving, to always keep fighting, which gives them great endurance. The longer a fight goes, the more likely they are to win, because they will still be going strong as their enemies slowly weaken.
Bogatyrs are Russian warriors. They are exceptionally fast, and most of them use two weapons at once, one in either hand. Bogatyrs train themselves to always keep moving, to always keep fighting, which gives them great endurance. The longer a fight goes, the more likely they are to win, because they will still be going strong as their enemies slowly weaken.
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