Page 41 of Wild Hunt
“There,” I said, looking up ahead. “There’s a clearing in the trees. I think that’s how we get out.”
“Seems too easy,” Daphne said warily.
As if on cue, I heard the familiar sound of something whirling through the air and barely managed to push her out of the way of the flying silver projectile. The same type that had cut my vine, but whose power was that?
“Thanks,” Daphne said, looking up at me in dismay. I helped her to her feet and turned to face the group coming toward us.
The Valkyries, and it looked like Callie had joined them. Why was I surprised?
Callie was smirking at me, another silver blade in her hand. It looked like someone wanted to join their club. “Looks like you made it further than we thought,” she said, sauntering toward us.
“Were not allowed to have weapons,” Dionysus protested, getting in front of me. It was both sweet and irritating that he felt the need to protect me.
“Callie makes them,” Ingrid said, folding her arms. “Why don’t you give them a demonstration?”
She smirked and flung another blade in my direction. I managed to dodge it, but barely. I watched her form another in her hand and realized she was capable of materializing the objects just like I was capable of creating vines.
Daphne dove out of the way as the barrage of knives sailed past us, and the ground began to tremble as the Valkyries and their new recruit pulled out all the stops. I created a vine and managed to whip several of the knives out of the air, and Daphne created a shield of wind around us that kept the others at bay. I knew it wouldn’t be long before they found a way around it.
I had to do something, and fast. Hopefully the mini earthquake going on around us would provide a distraction from manipulating the intricate root system I could feel underground. The fact that I could sense it at all was proof that Thor was right and there was more to the simulation than just mechanics.
“This won’t hold out much longer,” Daphne warned, bracing against the onslaught as the wind swirled around her.
“I have a plan, but it’s going to take all of us,” I warned her. “If you can just hold out a little bit longer.”
Daphne nodded and I turned my focus to pulling the roots up from the earth. Dionysus touched my shoulder and said, “May I?”
I looked over at him, confused, but nodded. A wave of energy surged into me, empowering my own. There was definitely a euphoric tinge to it, but it wasn’t the debilitating bliss from before. Instead, I could feel him amplifying my power, giving me the push I needed to send the cluster of roots shooting up from the earth to wrap around each of the Valkyries, pulling them all together, back to back.
The indignant screams told me it was working and Daphne lowered her shield, since Callie’s arms were bound at her sides by the root system.
“Whoa,” Daphne breathed. “Nice work.”
“It’s not done yet,” I warned. “Ingrid and Drea can still use their powers. Dionysus?”
“On it!” he called, already rushing toward them. The earth started trembling violently and he lost his footing but managed to get over to them.
“Don’t you dare,” Drea seethed, her eyes glowing hot as the forest singed around her. If she was able to keep it up, we’d be trapped in a ring of fire. Good thing it took her some time to power up, or we’d be screwed.
Dionysus ignored her, reaching out to brush his fingers against her forehead, then Ingrid’s. I watched as the sleepy, stupefied looks came over their faces, rendering their powers useless, but only momentarily.
“Come on,” Daphne called, already running toward the clearing. “Before someone else shows up!”
I followed her, feeling Dionysus behind me. There was an archway created by trees and vines with only intense white light on the other side. I was somewhat reluctant to step through it, but once we reached the other side, we were back in the arena.
Everyone in the stands rose to their feet and the cheers were like a roar, almost deafening.
Odin stood from his throne of honor and raised a goblet in our direction. “We have our victors.”
I was still panting and overcome with disbelief as Artemis placed the gilded floral wreaths atop our heads. It all seemed surreal, but the look in the Headmaster’s eyes told me nothing had really changed. If anything, winning just made me more of a nuisance.
Chapter 22
Hades
The afterparty the first night of the Games was always more amusing than the first-year trials themselves. Or at least, that was how it had been the last couple of years.
I had stepped out to handle some business during the final trials, but word of Kore’s performance had found its way to me. Loki had texted me a video of part of it, and I couldn’t deny that her little stunt with the roots was fast thinking. Most first years fell into the trap of relying on their own powers to bulldoze through any challenge, but it was a rare person who could analyze her teammates’ gifts and use them to such great effect.
