Wrath of Hades (19 page)

Chapter
18

I think I’ve said it before, but be very, very careful what you wish for, because…you get the idea.

When mom and I moved around, I wished for a permanent home because I was sick to death of all the packing and moving, and I wanted a huge family so it wouldn’t be just mom and me.

You know how the F
ates are.

I got my home, but mom’s missing. I got more family than I could ever want, but I also got the most dysfunctional family any one person could have. At least I know what they want from me—kill me and take control of Atlantis.

It’s always the same song and dance, and I’m really tired of it.

             
              --Raven Weir’s journal

“I don’t like this,” said Billy as he got out of the truck. “There’s something really wrong here. Even the hair on the back of my neck is standing up.”

Chad got out and looked around. “There’s definitely something off here.” He looked over at Raven, who was still in the truck. “But then cemeteries give off bad vibes even during the day.”

Raven rolled her eyes. “If the cemetery bothers you that much, the two of you can stay here and guard the truck. I’ll go take care of the problem.”

“Being in a cemetery at night doesn’t bother you?” asked Billy.

“I can think of a lot of places I’d rather be, but it’s not because it’s a cemetery. It’s because there are just way too many bodies for Hades to turn into zombies. Personally, I’m sick of dealing with them, that’s why I’m going to put an end to all the experiments Hades has been performing.” Raven scooted toward the door. The light from the street lamp hit the silver disc hanging from the chain around her neck, making it suddenly glow.

“Wow!” Billy shielded his eyes with his hand. “If they didn’t know we’re here, they should now. That’s like having the sun shining on you.”

Raven wrapped her hand around the disc, effectively cutting off the glow. She slid out of the truck and out of the rays of light from the street lamp causing the disc to glow. “I’m sure Hades knows we’re here, and it wasn’t this letting him know.” She let the pendent go and patted it.

“Great. I really hate dealing with gods. There’s no way you can surprise them. They always know you’re coming and what you’re planning on doing.” Chad shook his head.

A movement caught Raven’s attention. She turned her head just in time to see a shadow moving in the shadows. “He definitely knew we were here as soon as we turned into the cemetery. The disc glowing was probably just the icing on the cake.”

Chad raised his eyebrows. “How do you know all of that?”

“I just saw a shade watching us from the shadows.”

“A what?”

“A shade.”

Chad shook his head. “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah, what the heck is a shade?” Billy stepped into a ray of light and glanced around the shadows behind him. “Are they bad?”

“Well, they’re not good and they’re definitely not on our side,” said Raven. She looked from Billy to Chad. “You really don’t know.” Raven shook her head. “It’s probably for the best.”

“Wait! It’s better that we don’t know? Why?” Chad’s frown grew.

“Trust me. You don’t want to know.”

“Why not?” asked Chad.

“Let’s just say they’re worse than the zombies,” said Raven.

“How can they be worse than the zombies?” asked Billy.

“With zombies, if you stop the body from coming after you, you effectively stop the zombie.
Right?”

Chad and Billy nodded.

Raven sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “When it comes to shades, I have no clue how to stop them. They don’t have a body. It’s more like a thin shell. They’re more of a spirit or soul that’s gone really bad—really dark and twisted.”

Chad shook his head. “This is just getting better by the minute.”

“I hear that,” said Billy.

“Maybe it would be better if you stayed here.” Raven looked from one guy to the other.

“What? And forget about all the fun we’re fixing to have?” asked Chad.

“We’re not on a picnic,” Raven said a little meaner than she meant to.

“I know we’re not.” Chad came around the truck, stopping directly in front of Raven. “But you’re not going in alone, and we’re not going to wait here while you’re fighting Hades and anything else he’s throwing at you.”

“You would be safer here.”

“We’re going with you.”

Raven shook her head. “Just don’t take any unnecessary risks. Do I make myself clear?”

“Don’t tell us not to take risks when you’re the one constantly doing something that gets you hurt.”

“Whatever!”

“Raven?”

“What?”

Chad lifted Raven’s chin so she had to look up at him. “You need to promise not to do anything stupid—like oh, get yourself killed.”

Raven smiled. “I’m just going in, grabbing Ethan and Claire and getting out as fast as I can.” She crossed her fingers behind her back, knowing she had to stop Hades too.

Chad stared at her for several seconds before he let go of her chin. “As long as we’re on the same page.”

Raven nodded. “But if you see Ethan, you have to stop him.”

Billy nodded. “We will.”

“So lead the way,” said Chad.

Raven nodded. She knew his giving her the lead was one of the most difficult things he could have done as the new Alpha. She had learned very quickly, Alpha males didn’t like giving up control for any reason. She bit her bottom lip to keep from saying anything that could make the situation any worse than it already was.

It was bad enough t
hey had Ethan running around somewhere, half-crazy over a girl he had never met, plenty of bodies just waiting for Hades to turn them into zombies, shades wandering in the shadows, and Hades hiding somewhere orchestrating all of this.

She definitely didn’t need to say anything to make it worse.

She glanced around. All the other teen Hell Hounds were there.

Without a word, Raven turned and walked toward the rows of mausoleums. With each step, the hair on the back of her neck stood up. The knots in her stomach felt more like boulders, and she really wished she had come by
herself. There were too many people she knew who could get hurt.

“Are you okay?”

Raven glanced to her left side. “Not really, but I don’t have a choice do it?” She gave Pauline a half smile. “Stay back and don’t get hurt.”

Pauline started to say something, but Raven put her hand over Pauline’s mouth. Raven then brought her finger up to her own lips. She looked around, listening carefully as she did.

“Claire? Where are you?”

Raven groaned. “We’ve got to stop him.” She
took off running with the Hell Hounds close on her heels. Leading the way, Raven took a path going between the mausoleums to get ahead of Ethan and stop him.

As soon as she was clear of the stone structures, Raven turned to her left and ran. Cold chills swept through her. She knew exactly where she was—the same place where she had heard the strange voice.

“Claire? Claire, answer me!” Ethan came into the clearing and headed for the largest of the mausoleums.

Billy shot past Raven. Two seconds later, he tackled Ethan.

The two went rolling.

Arms and legs flew in all directions.

“Get off of me, I have to get to Claire,” growled Ethan.

“No way!”
Billy’s eyes glowed red.

“Would you two stop
it?” Raven yelled.

Chad pushed past her and grabbed one of Ethan’s arms.

Ethan growled. His eyes glowed, and his teeth were lengthening.

“Ethan, you have to get control. This isn’t helping Claire. All it’s going to do is
get her hurt or killed.” Raven got as close as she dared.

“Claire?” Ethan’s voice was deeper than normal.

“Yeah, I’m talking about Claire. If you keep this up, you won’t be helping Claire. You’ll just make it worse. You will get her killed. Do you want to be responsible for Claire’s death?” Raven hoped her words were getting through to him. He was really close to fully changing and if he did, there was no stopping the Hell Hound.

“Raven, do you hear that?” Pauline’s voice quivered.

Raven turned her back on Ethan, Chad and Billy. She scanned the area, but didn’t see anything. “I don’t hear—”

“
RRRaaaveeennn!”

Raven’s heart leaped into her throat.

The sound of something being dragged through the gravel filled the night air.

“It’s a trap. You’ve got to get out of here now!” Raven yelled.

“Raven?”

Raven wasn’t sure who said her name, and at that moment it wasn’t really important. She had led them straight into a trap, and now it was up to her to get them out.

“RRaaavvveeeeeennn!”

“
RRRRaaaaaavvveeeeeennnn!”

The voices drifted from all directions.

“Chad, get the Hell Hounds out of here!” Raven yelled. She moved to put herself between the Hell Hounds and the zombies.

“We’re going to have to fight our way out.” Chad suddenly appeared at Raven’s side.

“I’ll try to clear a path for you.”

“And how are you going to do that?” he asked Raven.

She looked up at him. “Anyway I can.”

Chad grabbed her arm. “Sacrificing yourself won’t help anything.”

“If it keeps you and the others safe, it’s worth it.” Raven tried pulling her arm out of his grasp. “Let go of me! We don’t have a choice. It’s you or me, and I’ve already made my decision.”

“
RRRaavveeeeennnnn!”

The first of several zombies stumbled into the dimly lit clearing. They were followed by others, which were followed by even more.

“We’re in deep trouble,” said Chad. He tried pushing Raven behind him.

“This isn’t the time for that al
pha Hell Hound macho thing.” Raven yanked her arm free and stepped in front of Chad. She did a shoving motion with her hands. Several of the nearest zombies went flying backwards through the air, knocking down several more as they landed.

“Deep trouble doesn’t even start to describe it,” said Billy. He had Ethan’s arms pinned behind him.

“I have to get to Claire,” growled Ethan.

“I’m so sick of hearing that name,” Raven muttered through clenched teeth.

“Ignore him. We’ve got bigger problems.” Chad pointed down the alley way created by the two rows of mausoleums. The entire area was a sea of stumbling, feet dragging zombies.

“Claire. I have to save Claire.”

Raven spun around and slapped Ethan as hard as she could.

His head snapped back under the force.

“Claire’s not here. It was a trap! So shut up about Claire and focus! We’ve got bigger problems than your obsession.”

“Raven?”
Ethan stared at her. For an instant, he seemed to recognize her.

“Yeah, it’s me. I’ll find Claire, but right now we’ve got a little zombie problem and I need you to focus on them.” She pointed to the moving swarm of zombies.

Ethan looked in the direction she pointed. “We have to get out of here,” he said.

“My thoughts exactly.”

“I have to get to Claire. I’ve got to get her to safety.”

Raven groaned. “Talk about single-minded obsessions. You’re just as bad as those zombies.”

“Raven.”

Before she could respond, Chad grabbed her shoulders and spun her around to face him.

“What are you—”

Chad’s mouth came down hard on hers. The kiss was
anything but tender and sweet, and it was over almost as quick as it had happened.

Raven stared at Chad.

“We will keep you safe.” He caressed her cheek. “I will keep you safe.”

Suddenly, Raven realized what he was going to do. “Don’t you
dare! It’s suicide.”

“Hell H
ounds shift!” The command rippled through the air, a powerful, Alpha mojo command no Hell Hound in hearing distance could ignore, even if they wanted to.

Every hair on Raven’s body stood straight up. Suddenly she found herself surrounded by
a pack of huge, ferocious Hell Hounds. It was a sea of long black talons gleaming in the street lamp lights and row after row of wicked looking teeth.

“Fighting is not the answer. I need you to get out of here. Get to safety.” Raven’s words were lost in the growls filling the night air.

The Hell Hounds charged in every direction. They ripped through the decaying bodies with their razor-sharp talons, sending body parts flying. The zombies didn’t have a chance and it looked like the Hell Hounds were winning.

But then the second wave of zombies entered the battle.