Wrath of Hades (15 page)

“I didn’t mean for this to happen. My powers keep going haywire,” said Raven. “It’s so frustrating.”

Pandora looked over at Leslie, Bree, and Ari. “Go on downstairs. Tell the others I’ll be down in a little bit. Raven and I need to talk.”

The girls looked at each other and nodded.

“Raven?” asked Leslie. The strain of the last four hours was obvious in her voice and on her face, just as it was on Bree and Ari’s faces.

“Go get something to eat and get some rest,” said Raven. She watched the girls leave, but as soon as they closed the door behind them, she turned her attention to the woman standing at the foot of her bed. “You’re not just a doctor. Who are you?”

Pandora sighed. She sat down on the edge of the bed. “I was the head geneticist at the Atlantis research station. I monitored your fetal growth and I delivered you.”

Raven slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position. She stared at the woman. ‘That’s not all, is it?”

“What do you mean?” Pandora’s face was expressionless.

“I’m not like the others, but you know that, don’t you?”

The woman just looked at Raven, as if she was studying her.

“Hell H
ound poison makes me sick, but it doesn’t kill me. I heal faster than most but slower than Poseidon or Zeus.” Raven paused and took a deep breath. “You did something to me before I was born, something on the genetic level.”

Pandora nodded her head.

“Whatever you did, you need to undo it!”

“I can’t. And even if I could, I wouldn’t,” she said quietly.

“But what you did is causing me—my powers to not work right. I can’t control them. This,” Raven pointed to her stomach, “is what happens when I can’t control my powers. I’m dangerous to myself and to other people.”

“But you will learn to control them.”

“You knew they wouldn’t work right?”

“I suspected.”

“You suspected?” Raven wasn’t sure if she wanted to strangle the woman or not, but she was definitely tired of vague answers. “I want answers. I want the truth.”

“I don’t have all the answers. But you will learn to control your powers once you’ve tapped into your full potential,” said Pandora. She sounded bored with the whole conversation and even yawned.

Raven crossed her arms and stared at the mirror. Medusa had been there and was willing to take on Hades because he had hurt her child. Poseidon brought her home, got her help and stayed with her. She looked over at Pandora who was studying her fingernails. The woman looked more like a girl in her late teens or early twenties, especially with her stripped hair style and black nail polish. But the woman had said she was the head genetics scientist and Atlantis was a research outpost.

“Was Atlantis the only research outpost on earth?” asked Raven.

“No, it wasn’t, but it was the only one doing the level of genetic research that we were.”

“There were others?”

“Yes, but Atlantis was the last one.”

“Because of the battle to take control of Atlantis.”

“When we first came to this planet, we took samples of the plants and animals, hoping to find genetic material capable of surviving on some of the planets we were trying to colonize. Originally, our mission was to alter the genetics of selected individuals so that they could survive and thrive in the harsh conditions of some of the worlds.”

“Basically you were pushing evolution forward.”

“It’s a simple way of putting it. We were scientists and Atlantis was a scientific outpost, until Cronos, a very ambitious and high ranking military commander took a huge interest in what we were doing. Before we knew it, our research was twisted and turned by Cronos, all for his personal military ambitions. He wanted control of the Great Council, and he planned to get it by any means necessary.”

“Great.
The original Hitler. At least he’s dead so I don’t have to worry about him too.” Raven closed her eyes.

“But he’s not dead. He’s just as trapped on this planet as we are, but he’s not dead.”

“What?” Raven jerked up. Pain rippled through her and she let out a loud groan.

“You can’t do that or you’ll tear apart all the new skin. It’s not ready for very much stress.”

Raven laid back and let the pain she had caused herself to ease. “Why me? Why am I the Guardian?” she asked.

“Because of a prophec
y—A child of all worlds but of none will bring balance to all.” Pandora smiled. “You will learn to control your growing powers just as you will learn to control the technology.”

Raven frowned. “What technology? What are you talking about?”

“You will understand in time.” She patted Raven’s leg and got up off the bed. “You are more than anyone can imagine. What I did was so minor in comparison to what you already are.” She picked up her bag and started walking toward the door.

Raven frowned. “If what you did was minor, then what was the purpose?” She looked down at the silver disc she was still wearing. Slowly she picked it up and inspected it closer. Raven looked at Pandora. “Is this the key to Atlantis?” She held up the disc.

“No, it isn’t.” A huge smile covered Pandora’s face.

“Then where is the key?”

“It’s right here.”

Raven slowly shook her head. Her eyes widened.

Pandora just nodded.

“The key is in me?”

“Not in the way you think. You, Raven Weir, are the key. Or rather, your unique DNA—a DNA no one on any world, in any galaxy has—only you, the child of all worlds.”

“Me?” Raven’s mouth went dry. “But everyone’s been after this necklace. I’ve fought and died to protect it and it’s—it’s nothing?”

“It’s not exactly nothing. It has its place in the grand scheme, but for now it’s the key everyone wants, and you must keep them believing that too.”

“You’re joking?”

“Only you can find Atlantis. Only you can re-open it. And only you can bring Atlantis back to life.” Pandora opened the door. “The next time we meet, I hope it’s under better circumstances. Until then, Raven Weir, Guardian of Atlantis.” She closed the door behind her when she left the room.

All the information swirled around Raven’s brain, making her sick at her stomach. The more she learned about herself, the deeper the pit got.

CHAPTER 14

Sometimes you really need to be careful what you wish for, because you’ll suddenly find yourself stuck with it.

And guess what?

It really, really sucks when you get it because you suddenly realize it’s not what you really wanted.

                            --Raven Weir’s journal

“You’re missing the winter dance too?” Bree picked up a pillow and tossed it aside. She plopped down on the bed in its place next to Raven. She picked up one of the magazines strewn across the bed.

“Yeah, you’re missing everything,” said Leslie, who was stretched out across the foot of the bed.

“It’s fine with me if I keep missing algebra and science. If I never go back to those classes, it’ll be too soon,” said Raven.

“At least you don’t have to worry about Meritus Myers or Marley for that matter.” Bree flipped through the glossy pages of the magazine.

“And there are a lot of people who are glad Meritus is gone. No one liked her,” Ari said. She tossed a magazine over her head. It landed in the middle of the bed.

Leslie closed the textbook in front of her as well as the spiral notebook and dropped them to the floor. She rolled onto her side until she was facing Raven. “Are you sure you can’t go to the dance?”

Raven nodded her head. “They’re worried.”

“Wor
ried about what? Your injuries have healed.” Leslie frowned.

“It’s not me or my injuries they’re worried about.” Raven shrugged her shoulders. “It’s no big deal. I wa
sn’t planning on going anyway, and now, it’s just not something I want to do.”

“What do you mean? They’re not worried about you? They should be.” Ari twisted just enough to look at Raven when she asked the question. Several magazines slid out of her lap, causing her to grumble as she grabbed at them.

“They’re worried about everyone else,” said Raven. She grabbed one of the magazines in the pile next to her and started flipping through it.

“They should be worried about you,” said Leslie.

Raven looked up from the magazine. “It’s the fact the zombies are targeting me. They’re worried innocent people will get hurt. You know, they’re right. I can’t take the chance of others getting hurt. Going to the dance is not worth it. Too many things could go wrong. Zombies with a gym full of teenagers—that’s the making of a really bad horror movie.” She was trying very hard not to let the girls know how much she was really upset about not going. It would have been her first dance. Raven even had the dress already hanging in her closet, and now, it was probably never going to see the light of day. She picked out the dress specifically for her date with Ethan—a date she would never get to go on, but there was no point in bringing down her friends’ excitement.

“By ‘they
’ I’m assuming you really mean a certain Mr. Ryder, our not so friendly principal, and also known as Hercules, the son of Zeus?” asked Bree.

“Is there anyone else?” Raven rolled her eyes. “It was bad enough when he was trying to teach me self-defense, but try having him attempt to teach you literature. I think I’d rather go back to the self-defense lessons.”

“At least you have a pretty view,” said Ari.

The others groaned.

“Hey! He is good looking. You can’t deny that.”

“But he’s really, really too old for us,” said Leslie.

“I didn’t mean date him. Besides, technically, Raven’s about his age if not older,” said Ari.

“Gee thanks! Just make me an old woman.” Raven tossed a pillow at her.

Ari dodged the pillow. “You may be physically just sixteen, but if you hadn’t been shoved into this time period, you’d be a lot older. You wouldn’t be a teenager.”

“I still don’t know how they did it,” said Raven.

“The whole time travel idea is so mind boggling.” Bree picked up another magazine.

“I’m still trying to grasp the whole alien idea.” Raven closed the magazine she had picked up and tossed it aside before she grabbed another one.

“Hercules doesn’t look like an alien,” said Ari. A dreamy look crossed her face.

“You’ve got a crush on him,” said Raven with a smile.

“Do not!” Ari denied.

Raven wrinkled her nose. “He may be pretty to look at but he’s got really bad coffee breath. Besides, he’s my cousin.” She rubbed her eye. “I miss art class though.” She sighed.

“Even though Elizabeth’s still in the class?” asked Leslie.

Raven frowned. “I miss art, but not that much.” She tossed her magazine at Leslie.

“Hey! Not funny!” Leslie caught the magazine and broke into laughter.

Bree tossed aside the magazine she had been looking at. “I really don’t see the point of looking at every magazine. It doesn’t change the style or color of my dress.”

“You’re supposed to be looking at the hair styles and the makeup,” said Ari.

Bree stuck out her tongue out at Ari.

Raven laughed.

“You didn’t just stick your tongue out at me, did you?” Ari raised an eyebrow as she turned and looked at her.

“And what if I did?” Bree smiled sweetly.

“Then I’m not going to help you with your hair and makeup.” Ari smiled back.

“Like I care about any of that stuff.” Bree rolled her eyes.

“How are you going to attract the guys if you don’t care about how you look?” asked Ari.

“I’ve got a date. Thank you very much.”

Ari sighed and shook her head. “Harvey Franks is not attracting a guy. That’s more like attract
ing a disease, an incurable disease.”

“You’re just jealous because I got a date before you did.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

“Guys! Knock it off!” Leslie shook her head. “What’s with you two?”

“Nothing.”

“Not a thing.”

Leslie shook her head. She looked at her watch. “We’ve got to get going, unless you want to go looking like that?”

Bree looked down at her sweater and jeans. “Fine with me. Saves a lot of time.”             

“Oh no, you’re not!” Ari jumped up and gathered all the magazines in less than one minute. “You are going to look nice and have all the guys swarming around you.”

“What about Harvey, my date?”

“By the end of the second dance tonight, y
ou’ll be wondering who Harvey is. He won’t even be able to get near you because you’ll be surrounded by all the hot guys. Well, all of them except for two—mine and Leslie’s dates.” Ari put the last magazine into a large blue reusable grocery bag.

“But I like Harvey.”

“Yeah and you like gumdrops, but what happens every time you eat one?” Ari propped her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows.

“But they’re so good,” said Bree. “You know I just can’t resist all those pretty colors.”

“So you enjoy swelling up like a beach ball?”

“No.” Bree turned several shades of pink then red. “I can’t stand the itching either.”

“Point made. Harvey is just like the gumdrops. He may look all pretty and shiny on the outside, but he’s not good for you. He’s not good for anyone. Something’s off about him.”

“Quit hating.” Bree rolled her eyes. “At least someone asked me to the dance.”

Ari picked up the bag and slipped her arm through the handle. “We’ve got a lot of work to do before the dance.” She turned to Raven. “Are you sure you can’t go?”

Raven shook her head and put on her biggest smile. She really did want to go to the dance, even if she wasn’t going with Ethan. But she was
n’t going to beg anyone, especially Mr. Lee Ryder. She suspected he really wanted to see her beg. But there was no way she was going to ask him for anything, let alone beg to go to the dance.

“It’s not fair. They’re singling you out for something you can’t control. It’s not your fault the zombies attacked you,” said Ari. “It’s like punishing someone for getting a cold.”

“It’s no big deal. There’ll be other dances.”  Raven reached for the silver disc hanging around her neck.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. Besides you need to get going so you can get dressed. Don’t worry. I’ve got stuff to do. I’ll be fine.” Raven scooted off the bed and gave the girls a shooing gesture with her hands. “Go!”

Almost reluctantly the girls gathered their stuff and headed out of the bedroom. Raven followed behind them wishing she was going to the dance too.

Loud voices drifted up from the kitchen. At the top of the stairs the girls stopped and looked at each other.

“Is that—
”

“It’s Ethan,” said Raven, interrupting Bree. She frowned.

“Is he supposed to be here?” asked Leslie.

“No.”

“Then why is he here?”

Raven shrugged her shoulders. “It’s not to take me to the winter dance, that’s for sure.”

“Raven!” said Leslie.

“Well, it’s the truth. He’s not here to take me anywhere.” Raven rolled her eyes. “Guess I should go down and find out why he’s here.” A half grin flickered across her lips before she turned and went down the stairs. The girls followed.

They found several teen Hell Hounds, including Chad, Billy, and Pauline in the kitchen doorway. Ethan was standing just inside the backdoor. The whole scene looked almost like an old fashioned stand-off from a western movie.

“Get her down here right now!” Ethan’s voice caused the windows to rattle.

“You need to leave. You’re not welcome here.” Chad crossed his arms over his huge chest.

“She’s sucked you into her madness. If you don’t get out now, she will end up killing you.” Ethan sneered. “At least I got out before that happened.”

“She saved us from death,” said Pauline. “If she wanted us dead, she could have left us with Cerberus.”

“Then tell me this. Why did she attack Cerberus last weekend?”

“Raven was attacked by zombies last weekend,” said Chad.

Ethan snorted. “Is that what she told you?
A convenient excuse with all the zombie attacks and sightings lately.”

“It wasn’t an excuse. We all saw the wounds she had, and Poseidon told us about the three zombies Raven fought by herself.” Pauline’s voice quivered slightly.

“Now she’s got you listening to Poseidon. What next? A little social time with Medusa? You know, some afternoon tea and cupcakes.” Sarcasm dripped from his words.

Raven pu
shed her way through the Hell Hounds. “If you’ve got such a problem with me or my parents, why don’t you just leave?”

“Raven, you shouldn’t be down here.” Chad put his hand on her shoulder.

“She just steps into the room and you’re already falling all over yourself to protect her. It’s so sweet, it’s making me sick at my stomach.” Ethan shook his head. “Don’t you see what she’s doing to you? She’s making you weak and pathetic.”

“That’s enough disrespecting the Guardian.” Chad growled and tried to pull Raven behind him.

“The great Guardian who is going to protect us all. You’re nothing but a big joke. Have you found Claire yet?” He paused and looked around. “I don’t see her. You got her hiding upstairs or maybe in the basement?”

“All I know is that the zombies had something to do with it. You’re right about one thing. I don’t have a clue where she is.”

“Exactly as I thought. You’re useless.” Ethan growled.

“So what do you want me to do about it?” Raven raised her eyebrows.

“Find Claire. I want you to find Claire and bring her home to me,” said Ethan.

“To you?”
Raven heard the shocked gasps around her. She closed her eyes and sighed. She really wanted the floor to open up and swallow her whole. It wasn’t that much to hope for.

“Yeah, I want you to bring Claire to me. I love her.”

“You love her?” The words out of Raven’s mouth were barely a whisper. She told herself repeatedly that it was over between her and Ethan, but she still cared, and she would be lying to herself if she said she didn’t.

“You are so jealous you can’t stand it. I’m in love with Claire and you’re jealous.” Ethan laughed.

Raven felt her cheeks heat up.

“Raven, you don’t need to listen to this garbage. He’s gone crazy,” said Pauline.

“Yeah, she does need to listen because obviously she’s not getting it. You don’t mean anything to me.” A weird look filled Ethan’s eyes as he gasped for breath.

Raven caught herself just before she stepped over to him. She bit her bottom lip hard to keep from asking Ethan if he was okay. She knew he really wasn’t and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it either.

“Raven?” Chad put his hand back on her shoulder.

“Ethan, go home.” Raven took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Tell you dad, the next time he attacks me, he won’t walk away like he did this time. And if you get between us, you will get hurt.” Raven turned and pushe
d her way back through the Hell Hounds, leaving them to deal with the Ethan problem.