Beckett shrugged. “How is that different than any other day? We’re always in danger, also threatened by death. Hell, three of us have already been knocking on death’s door. I say we go. You say this plant can kill him. Well, I hate to say this, but we all know he’s already dying.”
I didn’t want to hear it. I didn’t want to hear he was dying or that he would die. In my mind, I couldn’t think that way. Tuck had to live. If he didn’t…no, there was no if. He would live, because I needed him and he needed me. We were too young, had just barely started finding out what we could be. I can’t be without you.
“Niche, how can we get there? To get the flower, I mean.” I began pacing back and forth, then turned toward Beckett. “Can you portal us there?”
He shook his head. “I can only portal to places I’ve been or if someone shows me where I need to go. Like when Nova showed me a clear picture of Alaska. It’s not like I can look in a book or Google it either. That’s not how it works.” He glanced around at the rest of us. “Has anyone been to the Amazon?”
We all shook our heads. “There has to be some way to get us there.”
Niche leapt to her feet. “I think I have an idea. Meet me in the courtyard in half an hour.”
Chapter 5
Zinnia
“You want us to do what now?” I looked down at the black combat boots covering my feet, then back up to where Niche stood. Kumi was lying at my side with her legs stretched out. Her breaths were slow and even. Her tails swished in all different directions. Even as calm as she appeared, I knew she was on alert, could feel it in the back of my mind.
“If you want to get to the Amazon within record time, then this is our only option.” Niche motioned to the mysterious man standing beside her. If I passed him on the street, I wouldn’t have even looked twice. He was average height, about five-foot-ten, slender, with light ground hair parted down the middle of his head. The straight locks fell onto the sides of his face like a 90s boyband wannabe. When Niche motioned to him, he didn’t even look up from his cell phone. His thumbs flew across the screen in a blur of activity.
Grayson strolled up next to me. “I thought cell phones didn’t work within the walls of the school.”
The man paused for only a moment when he looked up at Gray. “Child’s play.”
“Who’s this?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Why can’t Professor Brown send us like she did when she sent Tuck and me to Alataris’ island?”
“Because, she’d been held prisoner there before. All she needed was his exact location. Professor Brown has never been to the part of Peru you all need to go,” Niche snapped back at me. She glanced down at the clipboard in her hand and bit down on her bottom lip.
I don’t like this. Kumi’s words breathed through my mind.
Me either. But what choice do I have?
She lifted one of her furry shoulders and let it drop. Let him die?
Kumi! He’s my soulmate. If he dies…
Fine, fine. Don’t let him die. If you go all sour, then I’ll have to live with it for life, and I’d rather not. She gave one of those puppy groans as she sat up a little straighter.
For life? What are you talking about?
When I gazed down at her, she met my eye, and her violet eyes swirled. Because I’m your familiar…till death do us part.
Okay then as my familiar I need you to help me out and go keep an eye on Tuck. Make sure no one gets to him.
With a huff, Kumi rose from her comfy position on the ground and trotted off in the direction of the infirmary. Once she was out of view, I turned back toward Niche. “Still doesn’t answer the question. Who is this?”
The man’s head snapped up once more. This time when he turned those chutney eyes on me, I took a small step back. They weren’t the eyes of a normal human or any other supernatural I’d seen. Within those chutney eyes was a swirling mass of silvery flecks that held untold secrets from the ages. “Who am I? Who the hell are you?”
Grayson cleared his throat and leaned in closer to me. “Hermes, love. That’s Hermes. To the human world, he’d be the Greek God of travelers and athletes.”
“You’re forgetting thieves and messenger to the other gods among other things. Though Matteaus and the other Fallen will tell you we aren’t gods.” He snickered. “Though we were once worshiped like we were.”
I groaned. The last thing I needed to do was insult one of the most powerful supernaturals to walk the earth. “I meant no offense.”
As I looked him up and down, I should’ve known he was powerful. Yes, he was slender, but there were muscles under that plaid button-down shirt. Though he wore only beige shorts, I should’ve noticed the thick black-winged tattoos that rose up from his ankles, covered his calves and stopped at the back of his knees. He wasn’t as dynamic as Poseidon or Hades, but there was a powerful undercurrent in the way he held himself.
He put his phone is his pocket and faced me fully. “Oh, I’m not offended. Just remember the next time you hit send when you’re texting your little friends it’s because of me they get the message. You think these,” he held his fingers up and made air quotes, “’wireless companies’ would have any service without me?”
I hesitated. “Um, no?”
“No, that’s right. And don’t even get me started on the whole Prime thing, packages delivered the next day. Whoever heard of such a thing? Me, that’s who. So, you are welcome.” He pulled his cell back out of his pocket and started typing once more.
“Thank you?” I didn’t know what I was supposed to say to him. Should I thank him for my cell service and overnight packages?
He didn’t look up. “You’re welcome. Now Niche, why am I here?”
Niche cleared her throat and pushed the thick glasses perched on her nose higher. “We need to get to Peru. The boiling river in the Amazon, to be exact.”
Beckett moved to my other side and leaned in close to me. “What’s he gonna do…mail us?”
I jabbed my elbow into his ribs. “Shh, let’s not piss off the Greek until we know what’s happening.”
“Yes, let’s not.” Hermes sucked in a deep breath, then rubbed his hands together. “This is what we’re going to do… Actually, everyone right this way.”
Hermes bent down and placed his palm on the ground, then slowly lifted it. A door began to form from the ground up. A large metal one with rounded corners and a porthole like a window stood before us. A long metal lever sat in the middle of it. Hermes wrapped his hand around the lever and pulled it to the side. Air hissed from beyond the door as he pulled it open. I peeked through the open doorway. “Is that a portal?”
“Does it look like a portal?” Hermes rolled his eyes. “It’s a door. Honestly, what are you teaching these kids?” He rolled his eyes at Niche.
Matteaus moved out from under the overhang around the courtyard. His large black wings were folded in close to his body, peeking out over the top of his shoulders. The sun reflected off the slick black feathers, giving them an oily effect. Though it was late October now and the temperature was crisp, he still wore his tight black tank top with black army pants and combat boots. “Hermes!”
Hermes’ eyes flashed wide for a split second before he turned toward Matteaus. “Yes, boss?”
“Don’t yes boss me. You know what I’m about to say.” Matteaus marched across the courtyard and stood before Hermes, looking every bit the warrior he was, with leather straps running across his body, each one holding different sized blades.
Hermes sucked in a deep breath, then blew it out. “Make sure they get there alive?”
Matteaus stepped in closer to him. If Hermes had been taller, they’d have been nose to nose. Instead, Matteaus was about five inches taller, with a good seventy-five pounds on Hermes. Matteaus spoke through thinned lips. “Make…sure…they…get…there…alive!”
Alive? What did that mean? A nervous ball turned in my stomach. “Has anyone not gotten where they needed to alive?”
Hermes lo
oked at me over his shoulder and waved his hand back and forth. “Eh, kind of.”
Matteaus lifted his hand and pointed a finger in his face. “No kind ofs. If anything happens to them on your watch, then you’ll be answering to me and I will end your immortal life.” He snapped his fingers. “Like that. We clear?”
“Crystal.” Hermes saluted him, then turned to the rest of us and waved us toward the door. “All aboard.”
Niche pulled an oversized backpack from off of her shoulder. Her body tilted forward with the lumbering weight as she handed it to Brax. “This has supplies in it for you all, in case anyone is injured or hungry or anything.”
Brax wrapped his hand around the strap of the backpack and tossed it over his shoulder as though it weighed nothing. “I got it.”
I moved toward the door and ducked my head as I passed through. The rest of the crew lined up behind me, ready to enter. Hermes slapped his hand across the entrance. “Wait a second. This isn’t a school bus, kids. There’s only enough room for five of you.”
I spun on my heels and shoved his arm out of the way. “Five? That’s all?”
“Unless you want this puddle jumper to go down, then by all means everyone pile on in.” He motioned for the rest of the crew to move through the doorway.
When I glanced around, I sucked in a shocked breath. How was this possible? I stood in the entryway of a luxury jet. Plush tan leather seats were set up like captain’s chairs, mahogany tables glinted in the sunlight and the carpet under my feet cushioned my every step. I ducked my head down and looked out the window, expecting to see the school. Instead I saw an open field filled with golden swaying grass. “We’re not in Kansas anymore…”
After all the time I’d spent in Evermore Academy, I should’ve been used to the magic of portals and travel. But to me I still didn’t understand it all. Hermes could use magic to get us into a plane but not directly to the Amazon?
Outside, Hermes’ voice boomed. “Choose your champions, we haven’t got all day.”
I turned on my heels and marched out of the plane. “We don’t have much time. Brax, Tabi, Nova, Beckett, let’s go.” I motioned for them to go through the door.
Grayson sped to my side. “You sure you don’t need me?”
I looked him dead in the eye. “Nope, we’re good. See you when we get back.”
Brax grabbed ahold of Grayson’s shirt and yanked him in close. He murmured so low in his ear I couldn’t make out the words.
Grayson leaned back on his heels and looked up at him. “You can’t be serious.”
Brax back away from him and pointed at his chest. “Make sure it happens.”
“Fine.” Gray rolled his eyes and walked away.
One by one, the others filed onto the plane. I stepped in front of Brax and pressed my hand to his chest. “What was that about?”
“Don’t worry about it.” He pushed past me, then dropped himself down into one of the plush leather seats.
Tabi, our Queen of Elements, sat down in the chair across from Brax. “Are you okay?”
“Da. I’m fine.” He shifted in his chair, looking out the window with a scowl on his face.
Tabi brushed her wild ebony curls away from her face. They made her hazel eyes look even brighter against her mocha skin. Though we were traveling to the Amazon, she wore skin-tight olive cargo pants, thick black work boots and a white tank top cover by a thin black mesh shirt. “You don’t look fine.”
Brax’s brows furrowed, and he slouched down in his chair. When he crossed his arms over his chest, his shirt pulled tight on his biceps. He pressed his lips together and didn’t answer. I could relate to his mood. I didn’t want to go either. Most of all, I didn’t want to leave Tucker behind. This would be the first mission without him, and it was the most important mission of all…to save my soulmate.
Hermes yanked the door shut and slid the handle to the side. The hiss of air that came afterward told me we were sealed inside. Hermes clapped his hands together as he walked down the center aisle of the plane. “Hold on to your asses.”
Was that a smirk? Before I could get a closer look, he shoved through the cockpit door and slammed it behind him. There was only a moment before his voice came over the loudspeaker. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for choosing Greek Airlines. This is your captain speaking, the undeniably adventurous Hermes. Lavatories will be in the back of the plane. Stick to number ones, folks.”
“Ugh, gross.” Tabi wrinkled her nose while she shook her head.
Hermes cleared his throat. “Our trip will be about four hours.”
“Four hours? I thought this was going to be at least a ten-hour flight.” I leaned over the table and caught Beckett’s eye. “How is that possible?”
Beckett gazed out of the window. “They’re some of the most powerful supernaturals in the world.” He shrugged. “Anything is possible.”
The engines whirred to life. A low hum filled the plane, and that momentary nervousness I always felt before flying overcame me. My mother and I traveled all over the country for what I thought was work. Only a few weeks ago I found out she was hiding me from a madman, my father. Now I’ve faced off against Alataris more times than I would like, but I always had Tuck by my side. This time, we would have to move forward without our leader. My heart sank to think about him lying in that bed fighting for every breath he took. I closed my hand into a tight fist and dug my nails into my palm. He wouldn’t want me to be sad or scared now. Not when he needed me the most.
The outside world sped by as we gathered speed. I sank deeper into my seat as we lifted off the ground.
Hermes come over the loudspeaker once more. “I don’t really care if your seats are in their upright and locked positions. If the seatbelt sign is on, do what you want. If you crack your skulls on the ceiling, not my problem.”
I fumbled for my seat belt and pulled it tight across my lap. The plane climbed higher, and I dug my fingers into the arms of the chair as my ears plugged up to an uncomfortable degree.
Nova dropped into the seat next to mine. “You okay?”
Am I okay? Not in the slightest. When it banked to the side, my stomach dropped to my toes.
This is going to be a long flight.
Chapter 6
Zinnia
I pressed both my hands to my temples, staring down at the book in front of me. I wanted to remember every inch of that flower. I needed to be able to identify it, grab it and get back to Tuck. But the more I stared at it, the worse I felt. Dizziness overcame me each time the plane changed directions. My stomach wanted to empty its contents, and my head was pounding. “Ugh, no wonder my mom always gave me pills before we left for a trip. Motion sickness is no joke.”
Nova reached across the table and pulled the book out from in front of me. “It’s worse if you keep focusing on a book. Sit back and try to relax. We’re almost there.”
She tossed the book to Brax. “Put that in the pack.”
Without a word, he slid the book into the backpack, zipped it up tight and shoved his arms back through the loopholes. When he leaned back in his seat, the lower half of his body stuck out a little from the bag behind him.
I tilted my head to the side. “Brax, why don’t you put it on your lap?”
“Must keep it at all times. Niche said.” He shrugged and leaned his head back against the chair and closed his eyes.
Not much for conversation. I turned away from him and glanced out the window. I could see we were getting closer. The landscape had changed, and lush green mountains were broken up by wide rivers. The water was a brownish-red color and flowed freely in multiple directions. In the distance, steam rose up from the ground as though a volcano were nearby. “So this boiling river, anyone know why it’s boiling? I was under the impression there weren’t any volcanos around here.”
“Oh, there aren’t.” Nova looked down at her phone. “Some locals believe there’s a river spirit there causing the water to boil; others believe there’s a two-heade
d serpent, one that spouts both cold water and scalding hot. If you fall into the river, the spirit instantly collects your soul.”
“How do you know all that?” I felt my eyes widen.
She held her phone up. “Google.”
I rolled my eyes. “I should’ve known. Note to self, avoid the river serpent.”
“Well, that and my cast taught me about it. I just wanted to see what the human legends were.” She shrugged and tucked it back into her pocket.
“What did the death cast say about it?” I swallowed around the nervous ball in my throat, wanting a distraction from my constant worrying over Tuck.
She slid deeper into the chair and sighed. “In truth, it’s both. There is a river serpent that lies at the mouth of the river spouting both cold and boiling water. It’s invisible to the human eye because it’s like a chameleon. Its skin blends in with its surroundings. They work together.”
Beckett groaned. “I hate river serpents, with all their teeth, and eyes, and how they like to swallow you whole.”
“You know this particular serpent?” There was so much about this world I had to learn about. I was always behind.
He met my eye. “No, but one encounter with one of them was enough. If it weren’t for Tuck…” A wistful smile played on his lips. “I would’ve died in the Trials to become a knight.”
Tuck. Even hearing his name sent me back into a panic. “Really? I had no idea.”
“Oh yeah. I knew after that we’d be friends. He didn’t let any of us get hurt. He was amazing.”
Wicked Hex (The Royals: Witch Court Book 3) Page 4