Chapter Twelve
I almost groaned, but opted not to since that would probably just upset the god.
"I believe that you four will go straight to Atlantis after leaving here, am I right?" Boreas assumed.
When Andromeda nodded, he continued. "I shall send my sons with you. They shall observe what is happening there and report back to me. I shall make my decision then."
It was hardly satisfactory, but we knew we wouldn't get any other answer from him. We simply bowed respectfully, thanked him for his hospitality, and gathered our things.
Calais and Zethes joined us at the gateway that led back to the North Shore. They had dressed in less conspicuous jeans and t-shirts. Their normally bare feet had been covered with skater shoes, and they stayed earth-bound rather than flying, as was normal for them.
Tobi was the first one to leap back through the doorway. The rest of us soon followed. From there, we clambered back down the cliff side to the van.
Another day of endless driving.
I was not looking forward to this.
After yet another boring day of travel, we settled down in our usual deserted field to sleep.
More sleeping bags and mosquitoes. Oh boy!
Regardless, I dropped off to sleep pretty quickly.
A strange noise awoke me in the middle of the night. My eyes snapped open, as I thought I heard my name being called.
I sat upright and listened more closely. The noise seemed to be coming from the woods.
Recalling the Leucrocuta's knack for imitating voices, I leaned over and shook Tobi awake.
"Wha-at?" he groaned, swatting half-heartedly at my hand.
"Tobi!" I hissed in his ear. "Wake up!"
He did.
"Listen!" I commanded. The strange sound was a little louder this time.
Tobi's brows lowered in confusion. "What was that?" he whispered.
"I don't know." I stood and picked up Antigone from her spot beside my sleeping bag.
Tobi stood as well and grabbed his sword.
We cautiously tiptoed to the edge of the forest, being careful not to wake the others.
Yet.
Nothing jumped out at us right away. Surprising, I know.
The pair of us strolled warily through the shadowy trees, on guard for any attacks.
There was nothing. We didn't hear anything either.
"Strange," I breathed.
Tobi glanced at me. "Back to sleep?" he suggested.
I nodded and turned to go back to camp.
Haha. Nothing ever works out right for me.
Two forms swooped down on us, knocking me off my feet.
Tobi unsheathed his sword in an instant and swung as the form came back at him.
The other one charged me, and I rolled out of the way, then scrambled awkwardly to my feet. I blocked a blow with Antigone, but doubled over as something clipped my side.
Something swooshed past my face and left a warm, stinging, oozing cut on my cheek.
I heard clanging from nearby as Tobi fought off the other person.
My eyes had adjusted to the darkness by now, just in time to see skeletal beings erupting from the ground.
Oh great….
As I was distracted, the person disarmed me with a flick of his weapon that sent Antigone skittering across the forest floor.
I dove to the side as he swung at me.
I scooped my sword up and rolled to my feet. I turned to face my attacker and caught a clear glimpse of who it was.
"Calais," I growled.
He grinned and turned away. He joined his sibling in trying to disarm Tobi, who was fighting them off valiantly.
His disinterest in me was confusing, until clammy hands clamped down on my arms.
Or, clammy not hands….. More like bones.
The skeletal figures that had been springing up from all around clustered about me. One snatched Antigone from me as I swung at a skeleton. I tried to yank away from them, but when I broke free from one grasp, three more took its place.
I was knocked in the side of the head, and my vision went blurry. It came back into focus momentarily, enough for me to see Tobi running after me. Calais and Zethes disarmed him easily, and punched him in the stomach. Tobi doubled over in pain and dropped to his knees.
Each of the brothers gripped Tobi's arms as he tried to get back up. He struggled, still watching me getting dragged away.
"Cassi!" he yelled.
He kicked at Calais's shin, but Zethes whacked him in the back of the head. Tobi slumped forward, unconscious.
The skeletons dragged me back towards the holes they had made when they popped up. I thrashed back and forth and screamed.
One of the skeletal hands came up and thumped me in the side of the head.
I slumped into blackness and knew no more.
