Reyna felt her mind clear, just like it had when she first woke up on that bus.
The battle within her mind about missing memories evaporated, now focusing on one goal. Survival. She got to her feet and followed the coach off the skywalk. The winds churned with power, the clouds transformed into funnel shaped turnados. Reyna cursed to herself at her long hair getting in the way, having to push it back every half second. She looked back to see the clouds collecting on the skywalk like tendrils. The teenagers screamed, most lost any headwear they had. The popular girls looked like patients from an insane asylum with how messed up their make up was.
Reyna watched Leo rush towards her with a surprising display of athleticism. He managed to avoid all the tripping teenagers, leaping over them. Then the bridge swayed to one side violently. Reyna barely managed to catch herself, but Leo almost toppled over the bridge, grabbing onto the rails to stop himself from falling to his death.
"Leo!" Reyna yelled. She felt panic swell in her throat like a bad burp. She didn't like that she was worried for his safety. She then chided herself for thinking that way. He didn't deserve to die just because she found him mildly annoying.
"Keep going!" Leo yelled with courage in his voice. "I'll be fine! Get off the bridge!" His scrawny arms somehow managed to pull him back onto the bridge. He continued his escape. Reyna ran until she was off the bridge with Leo close behind her.
"GO, GO!" Coach roared, leading everyone off the bridge and onto the rocky earth. Up ahead, Reyna saw Piper and Dylan keeping the glass doors open for the rest of the class, herding them into safety. Piper found herself in a similar predicament as Reyna. Her brown hair was all in her face. She used one hand to keep the door open, the other in a fruitless attempt to get her hair out of the way. She looked calm and confident, not how Reyna assumed she would react to a situation like this.
Reyna, along with Leo and Hedge tried their best to get inside the museum. But the wind became too powerful. It was like walking in quicksand. The more they struggled against the wind, the more they were pushed back near the edge of the Canyon. One last student managed to get inside the museum before the glass doors slammed shut. Piper gripped the handles to force them open, but they didn't budge.
"Help me get it open again Dylan!" Piper yelled, barely audible through the roars of the winds. Dylan just stood there, unfazed by the strong gusts of wind. A stupid grin curved his lips. Reyna immediately thought 'monster'. She wasn't sure why. But the way he stood effortlessly in the storm, smiling evilly made her positive he was not what he seemed to be.
"Sorry Piper." Dylan said. "I'm done helping." Dylan flicked his wrist at Piper, causing her to be flung in the air. She screamed as she became airborne, flying closer towards the pit of the Canyon.
Reyna reacted faster than she thought possible. She ran to intercept Piper, grabbing her arm with one hand while reaching back to grab a support pole from the skywalk with the other.
"GUYS!" Leo yelled as he rushed towards the two. Reyna gripped the support pole like her life depended on it. Which it did. She hadn't realized how fast Piper had been sent flying. Both of them were now hanging over the Grand Canyon. One slip up, and they'd both be dead. Reyna felt someone grab her wrist, almost painfully. She looked up to see it was Leo looking down at her frantically. "I'll pull you up!" He exclaimed. Reyna didn't have trust in Leo's strength. But without his help, she and Piper would fall to their deaths.
"Help them up Valdez!" Hedge's muffled voice could barely be heard from the whistling of the winds. "I'll distract the storm spirit!"
"I'd like to see you try, you old goat." Dylan said with a cackle of a laugh.
Storm spirits? Reyna thought. A venti? Her head once again throbbed with pain.
"Reyna c'mon! Don't freeze on me now!" Leo cried.
Reyna's mind focused on his voice. If only I could lend him my strength, She thought. Suddenly a burning pain surged from her left bicep. Reyna gritted her teeth to stop herself from screaming. A rush of emotions coursed through her. Except they weren't hers. They were Leo's. Reyna could feel his insecurities, his fears. Under all his teasing and jokes, Leo drowned himself in self depreciation.
Then Leo lifted them up with a single pull. Both Piper and Reyna landed on the sandy ground with a thud. It would've been painful if the relief of being on solid ground wasn't so potent. Reyna quickly got to her feet and rolled up her sleeve to see her burning bicep. There, she saw a hidden tattoo underneath. It had four black lines, the letters SPQR on the top. Below the black lines, was the image of a torch and sword crossing each other.
"Sorry, I don't know what came over me!" Leo exclaimed before helping Piper to her feet. "Reyna, what was-"
"I don't know." Reyna said. She lowered her sleeve before anyone could see her tattoo. "But we don't have time to find out. I have a venti to deal with."
"A what?" Leo asked.
"Venti?" Piper said breathlessly. "Reyna, you know what's going on?"
"Not really." Reyna admitted. She then reached into her pocket for the gold coin. She held it in her palm until it became hot like fire. She resisted the pain until the gold coin glowed and transformed into a golden 3 foot long double edged sword. Her gladius.
"Dios mio! That's a sword!" Leo exclaimed. His ADHD looked like it was working in overdrive. "Your gold coin turned into a freaking sword!"
"Focus, Leo." Reyna grunted.
"R-right. We got Dylan to worry about." Leo said before helping Piper to her feet. "What's the plan?" Reyna thought about it while the roaring winds whistled in her ears. She watched Coach Hedge keep Dylan at bay by swinging a makeshift club he found. The venti in disguise easily out maneuvered him. It was only a matter of time before he got bored of toying with his prey.
Venti are capable of summoning more than just the winds. Reyna thought, though she wasn't sure how she knew that. She ignored the throbbing pain and turned to Leo."Can you make a lightning rod?" Reyna asked.
Leo gave her a look like; Do you know who you're talking to? "Of course I can!" Leo said confidently. Reyna was surprised. Leo carried himself as if he'd been in this kind of situation before. He rummaged through the pockets of his military jacket. "Leave it to me."
"What do I do?" Piper asked. She held Hedge's wooden baseball bat in her hands, gripping it tightly. Piper looked scared, but she managed a brave determined look. Reyna respected that.
"You're with me." Reyna said. "We're taking the fight to Dylan."
"Is that all you got, cupcake!?" Coach roared, sending a folly of swings at Dylan's smug face. He dodged and weaved all of the attacks with ease.
"No wonder the cloven council retired you." Dylan sneered. "You're an old goat. I've been on the football team this whole season and you didn't even notice. Face the facts, your fighting days are over."
"No one tells me when to retire!" The coach exclaimed, his face red with anger.
"Then how about I take you to an early grave?" Dylan hissed. He lifted his hand, as if ready to unleash a whirlwind on Hedge.
"Dylan! You coward!" Reyna exclaimed as she along with Piper approached. Dylan stopped before he could send the coach flying into the Canyon. "You hide behind your powers, too scared to face an opponent in an even fight. I bet even the coach could take you on if you didn't hide behind your wind powers."
"Hey! I can take him with or without his powers!" The coach yelled angrily as he gripped his club tighter. The strong winds blew his hat off, revealing two stumps on his head. No. Not stumps. Reyna realized. Horns. He's a faun. Her head throbbed in pain again. Reyna forced her mind to clear and to focus on the task at hand.
"Ha! I could take you with one arm tied behind my back. But doing so is such a waste of time. I'd rather just get rid of you." Dylan exclaimed, ignoring the coach's comment.
"Then prove it. Face me in an even duel. If I win, you'll leave and not bother us again. If you win, well I guess you can toss us off the edge and brag about it for the end of time." Dylan actually seemed to consider the idea.
"I do enjoy bragging rights…."He said, before he grinned smugly at her. "Very well, Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano." Reyna's eyes narrowed. Was that her full name? "I accept. But don't be asking for mercy after I wipe the floor with you."
"I doubt it." Reyna said with confidence she did not feel. Her heart thumped under her chest. She took a breath and focused. She knew the venti wouldn't uphold his promise if she did somehow get the upper hand. She just needed to stall for time and hope this supposed extraction group showed up.
"Reyna. what're you doing?" Piper asked next to her. Reyna gave her a quick look, nodding to one side. Flank him, wait for an opening, and strike when he least expects it. She tried to say with a simple look. Piper seemed to understand. She nodded and took a step back, gripping the bat in her hand. Reyna returned to look at Dylan. In his palm he formed a blade made completely of clouds and wind. When he did, roaring winds stopped, becoming nothing more than a winter breeze.
"Let's dance," Dylan said with a sadistic smirk. Reyna probably surprised everyone by rushing the venti, her sword ready to slash at his throat. The venti proved to be nimble and simply ducked under her swipe. Reyna tried again. She sent a folly of slashes at her opponent. None of them left a scratch on him.
"C'mon girl, land a hit already." Dylan taunted. "I'm getting bored." Reyna felt herself becoming impatient. Her face grew hot in embarrassment of not landing a single blow. Again, her mind cleared. Her emotions reeled in and she looked at her situation logically. Dylan was so focused on making a fool out of her, he didn't notice Piper sneaking behind him, her bat ready to strike.
"I'm just getting started!" Reyna exclaimed. She engaged Dylan once again. She sent another folly of attacks at him, once again met with the same result. "If this is the best you can do, I'm just going to end this–" Dylan said with a mock yawn. He's distracted. Perfect.
"NOW!" Reyna yelled.
"What the hell are you–?"
CRACK!
Piper rushed behind Dylan and swung her bat, hitting him on the side of his stupidly perfect face. Dylan staggered, and fell to the ground. A golden liquid began to seep from the side of his head. Reyna thought it should've been blood. Instead it was gold, glistening in the little sunlight that seeped through the storm clouds.
Ichor. Reyna thought.
"I…I did it!" Piper exclaimed happily, sending a triumphant glare at Dylan. "That's for shamelessly hitting on me for weeks!" Reyna did not share her joy. She knew this battle was far from over.
Dylan slowly rose to his feet, laughing maniacally. "Nice try girl…" He growled, holding the side of his head. He turned back to look at Piper, who staggered for a moment. Her eyes narrowed, and she swung her bat again at Dylan. This time, Dylan caught the swing in his palm, gripping the bat so hard it cracked, before breaking it into splinters. "You'll have to try harder than that." He said, glaring evilly at Piper. Reyna watched in horror as his body began to fizz out of existence. His Dallas cowboy jersey and blue jeans flew away as his molecules became black smoky vapor. At the center, she could see a vague version of Dylan's face and bright white teeth. His blue eyes now glowered with lightning, surging with power. He sprouted black vapor wings, looming over Piper as if he were a fallen angel.
"You surprised me, Reyna." Dylan said in a mocking voice. "I expected such tricks from the Greeks, but never a Roman. No wonder you are so far from home, without your memories. Perhaps they banished you for being too much like a Graecus!"
Reyna felt her mouth become as dry as the desert around her. "What the hell are you talking about?" She exclaimed.
Dylan laughed, "Your petty gods play a dangerous game indeed, Reyna! They use you as their pawn! Join me and my mistress! We can put an end to the gods' rule, together!"
As confused as Reyna was in her predicament, she didn't even ponder the idea. "As if I'd ever join you." She snarled.
"If you won't come willingly." Dylan said, "Then I'll bring you to my mistress in chains!" The winds picked up once again. Reyna almost fell over at the intensity of the wind. Her black hair once again flapped in her face, much to her annoyance.
"He has reinforcements!" Piper yelled next to Reyna. Sure enough, two storm clouds with humanoid faces began to form, flanking Dylan. The venti lifted a smoky hand, which jolted with sparks of lightning, and aimed it at Piper.
"Oh, but before I do any of that." Dylan said with an evil smirk, "I'll repay Piper's kindness with my own!" He blasted lightning from his fingers, which darted straight towards Piper. The girl looked like a deer stuck in headlights, frozen in place.
"Piper–!" Reyna began to say.
"HEADS UP!" Leo yelled from behind them. He shoved Piper out of the way and extended his left hand.
"LEO NO!"
BANG!
Reyna was knocked back by the explosion. Gray smoke blurred her vision as she frantically looked for her friends in a daze.
"Leo? LEO!" Reyna heard Piper's voice like she was in a tunnel, echoing and distant.
"It was about time that runt did something useful." Dylan said with a sneer. Reyna ignored him. She rushed towards Piper's voice. She was horrified by what she saw. Piper crouched next to a fallen Leo, her hands covering her mouth as tears threatened to stream down her face. Leo looked unresponsive. His eyes were shut tight, his curly hair stood straight and frazzled. His military jacket was burnt and in tatters, his black shirt torn. Reyna noticed he held something in his left hand. It was a crude metal rod with copper wires, held in a thick brown glove. The device was now charred black and bent from the explosion.
The lightning rod. Reyna thought. He didn't have time to ground it. But he still...
"Leo…he took the hit for me." Piper said between sobs. "I froze like an idiot. Now he's…" She didn't finish her sentence. She didn't need to. Reyna clenched her fists tightly. Something wet dripped from her palms, but she paid it no mind. Reyna rose to her feet and glared at Dylan. Her vision was blood red and tunnel visioned to see only her adversaries.
"Capture them." Dylan said with a wave of his hand. The two smaller venti charged at Reyna, their hands sparking with electricity. Reyna's mind went blank, and she gave into her instincts. She rushed towards the first Venti, swinging her gladius at his smoky form. His body exploded into golden dust around her. The other venti looked stunned, as if struck by his own lightning.
"Don't just stand there!" Dylan yelled, "Get her!" The venti didn't stand a chance. Reyna charged at the humanoid cloud, thrusting her gladius between its electric eyes. It immediately exploded into gold dust, covering her in more dead monster particles. "She—She's gone feral!" Dylan exclaimed, his voice squeaking like a hamster. "Anemoi, to me!" Reyna watched with emotionless eyes as dozens of venti appeared before her. She readied her gladius.
"No one hurts my students and gets away with it!" The coach bellowed, glaring at the enemy with fearless beady eyes. "You take out the smaller Anemoi, I'll take the big bad." Hedge said before charging straight through the line of venti. He dodged bolts of lightning and rushed through gusts of wind before he reached Dylan's ghastly form.
"C'mon cupcake, show me what you got!" Hedge yelled as he fought within Dylan's storm cloud.
"GET OUT OF ME! YOU SMELL LIKE RAW MUTTON!" Dylan screeched. Reyna's eyes narrowed as the other venti surrounded her. They sent jolts of electricity at her, none were as fast or powerful as Dylan's. Reyna slashed at the group of venti relentlessly, slaying all that crossed her path. Some managed to shock her with their lightning, causing her muscles to spasm and her skin to tingle.
Reyna pressed on. She endured the pain, not stopping until there was no venti left, leaving her completely covered in golden dust. Reyna set her eyes on Dylan. She didn't think of a plan. A way to capture him or even subdue him. Reyna's vision darkened, her mind still blank. She was driven solely on her instincts to destroy her adversaries.
"Get that monster away from me!" Dylan squeaked. His smoky form began to ascend into the sky, taking Hedge with him.
"I'm not done with you, cupcake!" The coach bellowed, sending kicks and punches to Dylan's smoky form. Reyna rushed forward and jumped. She reeled her gladius back, fully intending to cut Dylan in half.
"Stupid roman!" Dylan cackled, "You left yourself open!" Reyna didn't register what he meant, until the venti swiped an arm at her. Reyna was slapped in the face with a freezing gust of wind. She went spiraling back.
"You bastard Why I outta-" Coach's voice cut off. As Reyna fell, she saw Dylan's form rise higher into the air, until he spiraled into the clouds, and disappeared.
"REYNA!" She heard Piper yell.
Reyna blinked, her vision returned to normal now that there weren't any enemies. She looked down, and her face turned pale. She had missed the skywalk by a wide margin. Now, she was falling towards the bottom of the Grand Canyon at terminal speed.
