Guardian of Atlantis (The Children of Atlantis) (27 page)

Zeus laughed but his eyes turned black with rage. “If you think you will succeed, then by all means, hit me with your best shot, but make sure you hit your target the first time. I won’t give you a second one.”

Raven sneered right back at him. “One shot’s all I need, but if you give me back my necklace, I’ll let you live, for now.” Could she really do it? Could she kill her uncle? Co
uld she kill Zeus? The seeds of doubt
flickered through her mind.

“Come take it,” challenged Zeus. “Prove you’re really the Guardian of Atlantis. Because I think you’re nothing but an abomination that needs to be eliminated.”

“Raven, I forbid you.” Poseidon slowly stood up. “You can’t kill Zeus, even if he deserves it. He is your blood.”

“Excuse me?” Raven glanced at Poseidon. “And who do you think you are?”

“We’ve already answered that question. I’m your father.”

“Oh, yeah.
The one who’s
not been a part of my life for all these years.
The one who thinks he can suddenly drop in and order me around.” Raven’s head bobbed back and forth. “Well, guess what? You are not on my radar of people I listen to. And he deserves whatever he gets.”

“You need to listen to me now. You can’t fight him and win,” said Poseidon. “If you do, you’ll die.”

“Uh, NEWS
FLASH
!
Been there.
Done that.”

“I know. I don’t want it happening again.”

Raven rolled her eyes. “Give me a break. The only reason you’re interested in me is because of the whole Guardian of Atlantis thing.”  Raven looked long and hard at Poseidon for the first
time. “How long has Medusa been your captive?”

Zeus roared with laughter. “She has you there, brother.”

“Stay out of this Zeus,” warned Poseidon.

“The only way to ensure what we both want is to eliminate her now, before she becomes a much bigger problem.”

“I can’t do it,” said Poseidon. “I won’t harm my daughter.”

“Then I’ll do it myself, like I always do.” Zeus suddenly created and threw a thunder bolt direct at Raven.

Raven threw up her left
hand,
palm out, to shield herself. The lightning bolt hit her hand. Raven winced. With every ounce of power she could muster, Raven threw the lightning bolt back at Zeus. Raven leaned heavily against the trident, breathing hard as if she had just finished running a marathon.

The lightning bolt caught Zeus by surprise, knocking him to the ground when it hit his chest.

Poseidon looked at Zeus who was starting to get back on his feet. He looked at his daughter. Poseidon raised both his arms and moved them in a quick sweeping motion. The rain drops came together forming a ribbon about three feet wide. The water ribbon swept towards Zeus. It twisted and curled around him like a vise, lifting him off the ground.

Raven’s mouth flew open. “No!” she screamed. Raven pointed her hand
at
Zeus. The air crackled with energy. A thin stream of water shot out of the water ribbon surrounding Zeus. It sped toward Raven, landing in her open hand. The stream of water finally flowed away, and in Raven’s hand was the necklace. She slid to the ground.

The water ribbon disappeared taking Zeus with it.

Poseidon stared at Raven for a long time. Finally he limped over to her. He reached out and took the trident away from her.

“You know I’ll have to take it one day,” whispered Raven. “Just like I’ll have to take Zeus’s lightning.”

“I know. But it won’t be today.” Poseidon turned and took a couple of steps away from her. He stopped and turned back to Raven. “I truly hope you’re stronger than we were.” He turned and disappeared.

Raven took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She put the necklace back around her neck, holding the pendant for a few seconds before she let it drop.

“Raven.”

She turned her head and saw Ethan coming around the jeep toward her. The other Hellhounds hung back.

“I’m so tired,” she whispered, but she knew Ethan heard her. She closed her eyes and fell backwards.

Ethan caught Raven before she hit the ground. The smell of blood was strong on her in spite of the rain. He gently touched
her chee
k. Ethan smiled.

Raven was sound asleep.

19

Sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to, like standing up against tyrants and bullies. But in the end we become better people for doing it.

   
             
--Raven Weir’s journal

Raven pushed the covers off and raised her arms above her head, stretching her entire body. With a great big yawn, she rubbed her eyes and looked around.

The blue curtains were partially open, letting sunlight stream across the foot of her bed. A vase full of brightly colored f
lowers sat on her night stand. In fact, e
very possible space in the room had a vase of colorful flowers. Raven frowned and wondered how anyone had found so many colorful flowers in the middle of fall.

Raven shook her head. She stared at her bedroom.

Something wasn’t right.

Suddenly, it dawned
on her. All the piles of stuff
were gone.

“You’re awake!”

Raven jumped at the high pitched squeal.

A small, thin girl with long brown hair stood just in the doorway. “I’ll tell the others.” She turned and flew out of the room.

“Wait! Who are you?” Raven called, but the girl disappeared leaving the door slightly open. Raven shook her head slightly. Pushing the covers off, Raven sat up. She looked down at the gray sweatpants and yellow tank top. “These aren’t mine.”

“They are now.” Professor Snyder said as he entered the room. “When Diana, my wife, saw the condition of the clothing you had she got rid of the s
tuff and bought you some new clothes
just to get you by until you feel like going shopping. I must warn you though, Diana loves shopping.”

Raven raised her eyebrows. “Okay,” she said slowly. “I’m warned.”

“By the time Diana gets through, you’ll have more clothes than you’ll know what to do with.” Professor Snyder laughed.
“You’ll be able to open your own store.”

“Why are you here—at my house?” She blurted out the question before she could stop herself.

Professor Snyder turned the desk chair around and sat down. “I know Suzanne Weir is missing. I don’t know who took her, nor do I know why.”

Raven started to shake her head, but turned to stare at the blue curtains. “Someone
who knows
what I really am. And she’s a pawn to get Atlantis.” A tear leaked out of the corner of her eye and ran down her cheek. “It’s because of me. If they hadn’t adopted me, Dad would be alive and Mom would be here instead of missing.”

“Yes, it’s because of who you are
these things have happened, but you can’t blame yourself.
Douglas and Suzanne knew the risks that came with raising you.” Professor Snyder’s voice was stern but soft. “Suzanne even tried running away with you to keep you safe because she loved you so much. And yes, she feared you.
Feared what you were to become.
”

Raven wiped away the tear as she turned her head to look at him. “How can I not blame myself?”

Professor Snyder sighed. “The moment Suzanne held you in her arms and looked into your face for the first time, she fell in love with you as if she had given birth to you herself.
And Douglas?
I’ve never seen a man more proud of his child than he was of you. In her and Douglas’s eyes, you were their daughter. Never, ever blame yourself.”

Raven nodded, but she couldn’t shake the blame. She turned away from Professor Snyder. She went back to staring at the curtain. Her shoulders slumped.

“Raven?”

“Yes, Professor?”
Raven closed her eyes.

“We’re looking for Suzanne and for the person responsible.”

“We?”

“People who believe in you.
Who want to help
you.
”

Raven didn’t say anything, she just nodded. “So why are you here?”

“Obviously you can’t stay here alone.”

“Obviously,” snapped Raven.

Professor Snyder ignored her. “Diana and I volunteered. Oh, we weren’t the only ones. But we are the best choice, especially since Douglas and I weren’t just colleagues.” He paused. “Douglas was my son.
My foster son to be accurate.
Diana and I were never blessed with children of our own. But
it
doesn’t make Douglas any less our child.”

Raven’s eyes widened with a shocked look on her face. “You’re my grandfather?” A little disbelief filtered into her voice. “Why wasn’t I told?”

“It wasn’t safe to tell you. We couldn’t let it slip out. Just in case of something, something
like
this.” Professor Snyder suddenly looked really old. “I so enjoyed when Douglas brought you to school with him.”

Silence filled the room.

“Where did all these come from?” Raven asked, changing the subject and breaking the silence as she gestured to the flowers.

“Your friends, Bree and Ari.
They thought you would like something bright and cheery when you woke up. Couldn’t convince them otherwise either.” Professor Snyder leaned back in the chair. “Just between you and me, they tend to go a little overboard.” He laughed. “But they have good intentions.”

“How long was I asleep?” asked Raven.

“Five days, but with—”

“Five days!”

“But with everything you went through. The power you exerted. It’s understandable. I’m more surprised you’re not still sleeping.”

“I can’t believe it. Five days?”

The professor nodded his head. “Stories of how you defeated Zeus are spreading faster a wild fire through a field of dry hay.”

“But I didn’t defeat him. Honestly, I barely survived.”

“But you survived. You stood up against Zeus and you got that back.” He pointed to the necklace Raven was wearing. “I wis
h I could’ve seen you crush the
lightning bolt. I bet that shook Zeus up something good.” He laughed.

“Professor, does this contain, you know, the key codes to Atlantis?”

“Honestly, I don’t know if it is or if it’s not. I know a lot of people believe it is.” He pointed his finger at her. “Only you know if it is or not. After all, as the Guardian, you’re the key keeper.”

“Ryan Snyder, will you leave the
poor girl alone. Have you even asked her if she’s hungry?” A tall woman wearing a thick red sweater that went down to her knees, black leggings and knee boots stood in the door way, tapping one foot. Her strawberry blonde hair was pulled back into a pony tail.

A sheepish look came over Professor Snyder.

“I thought not. Now out of here with you.” The woman gestured with her hands for him to get out.

“Isn’t she beautiful when she’s being bossy?” The professor winked at Raven as he got up from the chair. “We’ll talk more
later
.”

The woman rolled her eyes. “You’re so incorrigible.”

“But that’s why you love me so much.” The professor gave the woman a kiss before he left the room.

The woman shook her head. “I love him dearly, but he’s enough to drive a woman crazy. He ran up here like a little kid as soon as he heard you were awake.”

“Mrs. Snyder?”

“Just call me Diana. Take a shower and then come downstairs. We’ll get you something to eat. You’re bound to be starving.” The woman’s smile was warm and friendly.

Raven’s stomach grumbled. She turned red with embarrassment.

The woman’s eyes twinkled. “Just don’t take too long. There’s a certain Hellhound downstairs I’m ready to turn into a rug for the living room. He’s anxious to see that you are re
ally okay. I think he’s afraid
we’re all lying to him.”

The corners of Raven’s lips turned up. Ethan was downstairs waiting for her.

Diana winked as she closed the door behind her.

Raven sighed as she got off the bed. There were still so many unanswered questions. She looked at the necklace. If it didn’t contain the key codes, then where were they? And what was the purpose of the necklace?

In the bathroom, she turned on the shower. Waiting for it to get hot, she turned to look in the mirror. She stared at her reflection, wondering if she really looked that young, or if it was just that she felt so old.

Twenty minutes later, Raven, dressed in new blue jeans,
a
thick, soft blue sweater, and black boots that stopped just under her knees, stepped out of her bedroom. Voices floated up to her from downstairs. “Well, I might as well go down and see what needs to be done to fix the mess.” She went downstairs and stopped.

The huge hole where the front door was supposed to be was gone. It looked like no one had even been thrown through the wall. Raven wondered who had fixed it, thinking maybe she could hire them to fix the kitchen wall.
If they weren’t too expensive.
And if she could find a job.
  Raven groaned and covered her face with her hands. “How much do I already owe them?”

“Nothing.”

Raven peeked through her fingers at the voice.

“Everything’s fixed. And you don’t owe anyone anything.” Ethan stepped up to Raven and moved her hands away from her face. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Do not scare me like that
ever
again,” he told her when he broke the kiss.

“I can’t make any promises.”

“I know.”

Raven licked her lips. “How is it I don’t owe
for the repairs?”

“Seems you’re pretty popular right now.”

“I’m not what they think. I don’t know what they even want.” The words rushed out of Raven’s mouth. “I’m not special.”

“But you’re what they need. You give them hope,” said Ethan. “That makes you special.”

“How am I’m going to repay them?” Panic filled Raven’s voice.

“You don’t. The nymphs enjoy working with wood, and they wanted to do something to help—besides all the flowers. It was just a pain watching them to make sure they didn’t change t
he design like they wanted to
. But it was worth it if it makes you happy.”

“Well, look who finally got up.”

Raven rolled her eyes. It took her a minute to realize Ethan still held her hand. “It’s good to see you too, Elizabeth. What are you doing here?”

Elizabeth walked over to where they were standing. “Mom asked me to bring over some more plants for the kitchen.
Herbs and such.”
She looked at Raven. “Poseidon’s really your dad? And here I was thinking your father was probably Hades.”

“And why would you think Hades is my dad?”

“Because of that black mop you call hair.”

Raven rolled her eyes. “Is that all?
My hair.”
She shook her head. “Don’t you know anything about Hades?”

“Like you know anything.”
Elizabeth put her hands on her hips.

“Actually I know he’s cruel and sadistic. And he’s keeping Persephone a prisoner.”

“And how do you know all that?” asked Elizabeth.

“Persephone told me when she returned my soul.
A rather painful experience.
I don’t recommend you try it anytime soon.”

“So you really were dead.” Ethan phrased it as a statement rather than a question.

Raven took a deep breath. “I bled out and died after Morrison stabbed me in the heart with t
he butcher knife
. Persephone brought my soul back. She took a big personal risk doing it.”

Ethan didn’t say anything
, he just squeezed Raven’s hand tighter
, but Elizabeth sucked in a sharp breath.

“Besides Elizabeth, it’s not my dad you’ve got to worr
y about. My biological mother’s really
the one to worry about.” Raven smiled.

“Like I’m worried about some lowly female human,” sneered Elizabeth.

Raven leaned
closer to Elizabeth. “Medusa might not be too happy
about
being called a lowly human.”

Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open.
“M—Me—Medusa?”

Raven grinned. “The whole snakes for hair thing is true. Would you like to see?”

Elizabeth gave Raven a look of horror before she ran back to the kitchen. A few seconds later, the sound of a slamming door drifted back to Raven and Ethan.

“That wasn’t exactly a nice thing to do,” said Ethan.

“She deserved it.”

“Maybe so, but still, it wasn’t a very nice thing to do.”

Raven looked at Ethan and winked. “It’s all good. Anyway, I think there’s some food in the kitchen with my name on it. I’m starving.”

Ethan laughed and led the way to the kitchen.

The room
was teaming with activity. Prof
essor Snyder sat at the
table, talking to Billy. Diana Snyder stood at the stove, plating food. Pauline and Sheena stood over in the corner carrying on what looked like a very animated conversation from the way their hands were flying.