The Pantheon Saga | Book 4 | Gods of Wrath

by Ekeke, C. C.

  She spotted Hugo and waved. He nodded, looking her up and down.

  Taylor blushed, heartbeat quickening. Hugo smirked. Someone’s still got feelings.

  From another direction, he spotted Brent with Lionel Wagner, Cody Banks, and other basketball pricks. Their punishment after the Brie video had been slaps on the wrist, suspensions for the first three games next season. No sign of Baz Martinez, awesomely. Brent high-fived Hugo while Lionel fist-bumped him. They were off to the beach to pick up girls, calling themselves the Conquistadors. Jesus…

  Hugo frowned after them. He’d have to talk to Brent about his douchebag relapse, if his friend would listen.

  Speaking of throwbacks, Hugo realized he stood in the same spot as when ninth grade had ended.

  He chuckled at how small his world had been—idolizing superheroes and pining for Brie. Some tiny part of him missed that teenage normalcy around him.

  Then Hugo remembered criminals like Rainmaker, out causing chaos. A week ago, he’d raced across San Miguel carrying a half-dead Longshadow, after nearly getting killed himself by Paxton-Brandt. Hugo couldn’t return to normalcy, even if this greater purpose kept isolating him from schoolmates and friends. The realization was sobering and depressing.

  “Bogota!”

  Hugo turned. Jordana Buchanan came bouncing toward him. So distracting was said bouncing that Hugo almost forgot to relax his highly durable body before she leaped into his arms.

  Hugo caught her waist with one arm and kissed her, drawing all kinds of catcalls. When he let Jordana slide down to her feet, both were rather breathless.

  He liked Jodie’s braids, loved how she filled out her suspenders and white tank top with those curves.

  “Sayonara sophomore year!” Jodie’s smile was like sunlight.

  “Damn straight,” Hugo said, hands on Jodie’s hips, dwarfing her by over a foot. The heat in his chest wasn’t weather-related. It was easy to forget superhero duties around a girl like Jordana.

  She drummed his stomach with both hands. “Beach Bum Burger?”

  “Read my mind.” Hugo laughed. “Just waiting for Grace and Simon.”

  “Those two are so cute it’s disgusting,” Jodie scoffed, fishing through her bag. “J-Tom’s meeting us. She and Spencer are fighting again, so I need to be supportive.”

  Hugo’s smile dimmed. Spencer was still treating J-Tom like a chew toy. Another reason not to go exclusive with her. Meanwhile, Jordana was everything a guy could want. Beautiful, smart, and spicy. Granted, she’d cut him off from sex due to his dating around.

  “Hey!” Simon advanced aggressively. “Who else did you share my video with?”

  Grace followed him, trying not to laugh, her hair in three ponytails and her crop top exposing a flat belly.

  Simon’s anger surprised Hugo. “Jackson. Freeway Flow Jackson,” he clarified to Jodie, who’d met him once.

  Simon shoved his phone in Hugo’s face. “Explain this!”

  Blood drained from Hugo’s face. The video had over eight million views and hundreds of comments. “Oh.”

  “Yeah,” Simon growled. “Your buddy showed a lot of someones.”

  “So effin’ what?” Grace jabbed Simon’s cellphone. “Look at all the likes and comments?”

  The Korean boy yanked his phone back. “It’s unfinished. I thought an artiste like you would understand!”

  Jodie scanned the cell, and then him in confusion. “Most of these comments are positive.”

  “That’s what I told wannabe Michelangelo here,” Grace stated.

  Hugo scratched his chin. Thinking back, Jackson had warned of another friend watching with him. Scanning through countless comments, Hugo spotted a familiar referral and laughed. “I know who Jackson told.” He pointed at three different comments.

  Simon turned bone-white. “Oh God! Her?”

  Hugo laughed harder. “He’s touring with L.U.N.A as a backup dancer.” He pulled out his own phone and searched Instagram for the K-popstar’s account. “L.U.N.A tweeted the video to her seventy-five million followers.” Hugo showed his friends.

  “It says, ‘These dancers are lit AF!’” Jodie clapped. “That’s so bomb, Simon!” Her happiness for his friends made Hugo smile. A lot.

  Simon looked torn between the praise and his L.U.N.A hatred. “I don’t know how to feel about this.”

  “Korean on Korean love,” Grace teased. “I used to like L.U.N.A. After this, I’m a complete LUNA-tic!”

  “Shaddup,” Simon growled.

  The quartet trekked for downtown Paso Robles as Simon explained his video to Jordana. Hugo loved how engaged she was, asking lots of questions. Beach Bum Burger was half-full, so finding a table for five after ordering lunch was easy.

  Then Spencer sashayed over, perfectly tanned, wearing a satin corset and plaid designer biker shorts with a slim diamond choker. Her hair, styled in Dutch braids, flattered that exquisite face. “Hey, Jodie!”

  “Hey, Spence!” Jordana greeted with fake joy.

  “Congrats on almost making the softball playoffs,” Spencer went on, an obvious sneer in her voice.

  “Congrats on getting the fourth highest GPA in the sophomore class.”

  “Thanks, sweetie!” Spencer replied, equally fake. “Hear about my internship?”

  “Yes,” Jodie gushed saccharinely. “Soooo happy for you!”

  “Lunch soon to celebrate?” Spencer encouraged.

  “Obviously!”

  Hugo might have found the passive-aggressive undercurrent between the two hilarious. But he was too irked just hearing about this internship.

  Spencer bid Jodie farewell, giving Hugo a mock-unfriendly stare. “Malalou. I keep forgetting you exist.”

  Hugo scowled for show. “Michelman. I’d say it’s a pleasure, but it never is.”

  She sneered in silence, then returned to a booth filled with her medium-pretty minions.

  Hugo ignored Simon and Grace’s scolding looks.

  Jordana stopped smiling. “What…a bitch.”

  Across the restaurant, Spencer grumbled, “I loathe that girl!”

  “No honor among frenemies,” Hugo joked. “Where’s she interning?”

  “Her dad’s genetics company.” Jordana brushed back her braids. “Spence can be so rude.” She snuggled closer to Hugo. “Then she’s eyeing you like she wanted to eat you. Like, really?”

  Hugo masked his disquiet by nuzzling Jodie’s scalp. Yeah, casually dating two frenemies was stupid. “Can you blame her?” he quipped.

  Jordana smacked his chest and laughed. “You’re corny as fuck.” She turned serious. “Spence was fun to hang with. But she loves tossing bombs into crowds just to laugh at the chaos.” Jodie glanced across the diner. “She and Brie spread that STD rumor about you.”

  He gulped. “I heard.” Spencer had apologized, but that rumor almost ruined things with Jordana.

  “And I know you hate talking about Brie…”

  Hugo bristled. “Ruh-roh…” Briseis again.

  “But when the ‘Sensational Six’ used to hang out …” Jordana had a guilty face. “Spence brought out our worst selves. Brie especially.”

  “Briseis made her own choices,” Hugo retorted, unmoved.

  Jodie nodded. “You don’t know how conniving”—she shivered—“and evil Spencer can be.”

  Hugo kept telling himself that Spencer being spoiled, manipulative, and devoid of anything likeable was an act. Or maybe he’d never truly defanged her darker impulses. Could Hugo be with someone like that?

  Jordana detached herself from him and slid out of her seat. “I’m hitting the restroom.”

  “Me, too!” Grace popped up, since teen girls couldn’t use restrooms alone. As they headed for the back, Grace stuck her tongue at Hugo.

  Keep quiet, he mouthed. With what Grace knew, her proximity to Jodie rattled his nerves.

  Simon grinned obnoxiously. “I’m not gonna say I told you so, because I already did!”

  “Worry about your video
, Han-atello,” Hugo grumbled, glancing at Spencer texting someone. His device soon buzzed.

  Marshmallow: Break up with your girlfriends…Yeah, yeah, cause I'm bored

  Hugo chortled at the song lyrics.

  ME: Quoting Ariana Grande?

  Marshmallow: Ari’s my mood today, since the weekend’s gonna suck.

  Hugo’s heart sank.

  ME: I know…

  The anniversary of Titan’s death was in three days. It would be rough for everyone.

  Marshmallow: Also. I’m attending Sentinel and Seraph’s wedding w/ Daddy. Be my plus one?

  Hugo reread the text. Sentinel and Seraph’s Tuscany wedding next month had a who’s-who guestlist of global heroes and celebrities. As December’s daughter, of course Spencer had been invited. Was she trolling him?

  Marshmallow: I’m serious. Be my date.

  Hugo looked up. Spencer batted her eyelashes, sipping her soda. This was legit.

  Right then, Hugo heard J-Tom entering Beach Bum Burger. He waved her over. The lanky girl’s pale freckled skin was lightly tanned, her wavy ginger hair unbound. After greeting Simon, she sat heavily across from Hugo.

  “Spencer’s an emotional terrorist,” J-Tom griped.

  “What happened?” Hugo asked, despite not wanting to know.

  J-Tom displayed her cellphone texts.

  Spencer: You can hit it in the mornin'… Yeah, yeah, like it's yours.

  Hugo felt massively stupid. “Same here.” He glared at Spencer, who curled her tongue at him lewdly.

  J-Tom wasn’t surprised. She’d known about him and Spencer for weeks. J-Tom tilted her chin up, undeterred. “I’m not giving up on her.”

  Hugo sighed in understanding. “Because you love her.”

  J-Tom deflated under his gaze. “I know how she is. But I can’t help it.” Sorrow laced her words. “I just wish she wasn’t interning with Paxton-Brandt.”

  Hugo sat bolt upright. Simon turned sharply. “Paxton-Brandt?” they both said.

  Their reactions alarmed J-Tom. “Her dad works there—”

  Hugo’s cell buzzed—his work cell. He raised a pausing finger and answered. “Hello?”

  “We found Rainmaker,” Lady Liberty replied without preamble. It sounded like she was flying. “He ambushed an OSA transport with three high value prisoners on the I-99 Freeway. Justice and I are heading over. We need you.”

  Hugo’s breath caught. “Be right there.” He hung up and lurched to his feet, almost upending the table. One look at Simon, and his best friend understood. “Gotta go!” Hugo rounded his table.

  J-Tom jerked back in confusion. “Is something wrong?”

  “Forgot something at school.” Not a lie. Hugo’s nearest gear stash was in Paso High. He marched for the back of the restaurant.

  “Right!” Simon chimed in, pointing. “That thing you need!”

  Hugo felt Spencer watching. “Tell Jodie I’ll call her later.”

  He headed for a supply closet, past the bathrooms where Jodie and Grace were chatting away. Hugo yanked the door open, breaking the lock unintentionally before entering. Then he rocketed out of the closet and the restaurant exit. Hugo zoomed past clusters of students still loitering around campus, reaching a secluded basement room. Once inside, he changed into his costume at whirlwind-like speeds, sliding his backpack into the ceiling spot made for his suit. All in six-point-eight seconds, a new record.

  Hugo zoomed toward Bakersfield. Lush green vineyards bled into stinky cow pastures. Hugo just hoped he reached there in time.

  In minutes, he heard the battle before seeing it, echoing booms from blows and zapping energy attacks.

  Columns of black smoke curled up into blue skies from crushed armored cars. The OSA transports had been taking a service road through California's bread basket.

  Now Hugo saw the massive battle around the toppled vehicles. Justice Jones moved around the burning vehicles with his usual viciousness. Dressed in leather vest and jeans, the Outlaw Superhero traded shivering punches with the Bashem Brothers. Even at six-foot-seven and heavily muscled, Justice Jones looked small facing these twin towers.

  Lady Liberty flew over the carnage, raining crimson optic beams on two other figures.

  Hugo recognized Deathquake, a seismic-generating super in skimpy green attire. He didn’t tag the burly black man beside her until seeing red-hot spikes protruding from his torso to stab up at Lady Liberty. The mercenary Severus.

  Meanwhile, Lady Liberty weaved around energy blasts of another flying figure with skin blacker than night. Rainmaker. Hugo’s eyes widened at the large portions of grass scorched away from the duel.

  With Jones and Libby battling their foes, he spoke into his earpiece. “I’m here. Where do you want me?”

  “Aegis!” Lady Liberty called out, barely dodging one of Severus’s energy spikes. “Go for Rainmaker!”

  Hugo wasn’t expecting that but didn’t protest. “Done!” He rocketed across the pastures until Rainmaker was within a few feet. Hugo blasted upward, burying a shoulder into Rainmaker’s stomach. The supervillain grunted as the tangled pair tumbled to the ground with a thud.

  Deathquake paused, crying out for her leader. The distraction was costly. A red-and-gold blur pasted her across the face. She went flying, landing on the back of her neck.

  “Keep him down, Aegis,” Lady Liberty ordered. “Another horror in those transports cannot get loose!” She wheeled around to face a foaming Severus. Justice Jones headbutted one of the Bashems, dropping him. He now grappled around with the other brother.

  Rainmaker thrust out both glowing hands, eyes ablaze. “Who??”

  Hugo leaped aside. The blast scorched a track through more grasslands. “Your worst nightmare…” He felt all kinds of nerves. That didn’t keep him from charging in again.

  Rainmaker’s scornful laugh echoed across the plains. “Doubtful!” He swung a blistering whip of energy, smacking Hugo in the cheek.

  That knocked him back several feet, leaving the teen dazed but not seriously hurt. “Nice try, Painbreaker!”

  “It’s Rainmaker!” the supervillain seethed, firing off volleys of blistering blasts.

  Hugo danced around each one. “I don’t see storm clouds. And my nickname’s better.” He lunged forward, seizing Rainmaker’s collar.

  “Then I’ll burn my name into your skull!” The villain was ready this time, Judo-tossing Hugo over. “These prisoners of war will fight humanity’s oppression of supers.” He rammed a glowing fist into Hugo’s face. The blow stung, snapping his head sideways. The second hurt more.

  Hugo caught the third punch. “Cry me a river, Nametaker.” He squeezed.

  Rainmaker grimaced as his knuckles creaked. “RAINMAKER, you CLOWN!” The enraged villain clutched Hugo’s face with his free hand. His body temperature immediately spiked, buckling his knees. Might’ve pushed that too far.

  Rainmaker straddled him, his triumphant sneer showing white teeth. “Say my name!”

  Hugo clutched at Rainmaker’s wrist but couldn’t muster the strength to pry the hand off. The pain dwarfed him, his own blood beginning to boil.

  “SAY MY NAME!”

  Consciousness fading, Hugo tried one last option. “NO!” The sonic shout caught Rainmaker in the face, knocking him off. Hugo rolled onto all fours, gasping. Within seconds, his body temperature dropped, and his strength returned. Thank God.

  Yards away, Rainmaker struggled to rise. “Nighty night, Planeshaker!” Hugo ran, slamming Rainmaker into an overturned armored truck. The metal crumpled behind the supervillain, breath fleeing his lungs. Then Hugo peppered Rainmaker like a speedbag, landing fast and furious punches.

  After a lightning-quick barrage, Rainmaker’s legs buckled.

  Hugo cocked a fist to finish him…

  …until Rainmaker backhanded out another red energy whip. Hugo was blinded one moment, then stunned and on his back the next.

  The rest of the battle came back into loud focus, several things happening simultan
eously.

  Justice Jones was down, looking cross-eyed. Deathquake and Severus lay motionless nearby. The Bashem Brothers had vanished, replaced by a bellowing fifteen-foot giant with legs thicker than sequoias. Lady Liberty was airborne, clutching her skull.

  Then she dropped like a stone.

  Hugo freaked. “No!”

  She landed hard. Justice Jones crawled toward her, until the giant aimed swift punt that sent him skidding across the pastures. Now the roaring behemoth raised one foot over a defenseless Lady Liberty.

  “Dammit!” Forgetting Rainmaker, Hugo launched himself at the giant.

  The creature whipped his ugly, boulder-shaped head around as Hugo rocketed off the ground. He cracked the giant’s jaw with both fists.

  Head snapping back, it stayed upright.

  Hugo landed in a crouch, staring up in disbelief. “Really?” He rose with a sustained sonic scream to the giant’s torso. That had his foe staggering and clutching both ears in agony.

  Hugo leaped forward again, dropkicking the giant's gut. It toppled over, redwood-sized arms flailing. The earth shook for miles in each direction when he fell. Cows and other animals in the distance made distressed noises.

  Hugo dropped to a knee. Stay down.

  The giant quivered, bursting apart into two unconscious Bashem Brothers.

  Hugo sighed in relief before returning to the battle.

  Rainmaker was gone. Justice Jones was cuffing Deathquake in restraints.

  Lady Liberty dragged herself across the earth toward the armored trucks. “Rainmaker’s escaping.” She looked and sounded exhausted.

  Hugo reached Lady Liberty, helping his mentor up. “You’re more important.”

  Wailing sirens closing in grabbed his hypersensitive ears. He had to leave.

  Hugo turned to Justice Jones. “You alright?”

  “Yea.” The biker watched Lady Liberty with clear concern. “I’ll handle the escapees. Get Libby outta here!”

  Hugo tossed his mentor over his shoulder and raced away.

  Halfway back to SLO County, Lady Liberty clutched his sides, signaling him to stop. Hugo slowed somewhere remote, patchy grass clumps jutting from crimson earth. He laid Lady Liberty down and crouched beside her. “What happened back there?” Hugo demanded.