Page 66 of Fallen Gods

A maelstrom churns beneath the surface. I can feel it: cold, ancient, bloodthirsty.

Hungry.

I stare at the broken tree and feel myself starting to smile. It should be terrifying to want to destroy, so why does it feel so good?

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

It’s probably Reeve.

I pull it out and stare at the screen.

Reeve:where are you? i’m about to leave the dorms for class. the games are tonight and we have to win this year or i’m disowning you

I almost tell him what happened with Rey, but already I feel the darkness leaving, along with my twisted thoughts. I can control this, whatever this is. I have to for now. I have no choice.

Me:Be right there.

Chapter Thirty

Rey

I’m still reeling from a stupid nightmare.

In it, I was drowning, of course, as a whirlpool dragged me into the inky-cold depths of the sea. My father, Rowen, Aric, Reeve, and even Laufey were standing on the shoreline, watching.

The downward spiral. The crushing weight of the water—clearly, a metaphor for my responsibilities. It’s like my brain threw the worst of my stress onto a giant TV screen and forced me to watch.

I drag myself toward the mirror over my dorm sink. My reflection looks like hell, but there’s no time to feel sorry for myself. Ponytail, black spandex shorts, oversize black hoodie that nearly swallows them whole, and tennis shoes. Good enough. It’s not my usual designer uniform, but it helps me blend in. And tennis shoes beat heels if I end up chasing—or being chased. Yay college and possible death traps.

I’m already sweating by the time I pass through the lobby. I make a face when I shove open the front door of the dorm. One day at a time. One asshole at a time, too: also known as one Erikson at a time. I’ll be fine.

I pull out my phone to look at the campus map and start walking.

Everything from the ginormous trees to the heavy air is so damn thick up here, it feels like I’m wading through soup. And whose brilliant idea was it to design the different buildings so far apart from each other? Must it be an actual nature walk to get from point A to point B?

Gods, forget my earlier resentment of Bellevue. I miss the city. My attitude doesn’t get better as the Everett humidity assaultsme like it has a personal vendetta against me or my kind.

Maybe the campus is cursed. Maybe it senses my blood and is already out to get me. I notice a few runes on the ground, spaced out like a sick version of hopscotch, and I sidestep them. Paranoid much? Yes. Absolutely.

Runes are used much like wards or a talisman. By themselves, they are powerful, but together, you’ve got yourself some serious waves of protection and a giant-ass warning sign for all to feel. I mean, most people won’t know what it is or why they feel like it’s hard to breathe, but ancient power is like that. It chokes you slowly.

By the time I stumble into the clearing beside the arts building, I’m fuming. And then I gasp—because it’s gorgeous.

An outdoor classroom is tucked among the trees, ringed with cement benches, sunlight scattering through the branches above. And right next to the classroom are the blessed double doors to the arts building. Advanced Ancient History. Can’t wait. I click through my schedule again on my phone. Room nine, Dr. Tyrson. I scowl at my phone screen, then try to take a deep breath. It’s fine. It’s just a job, a mission. I’ll have Laufey free from Odin’s clutches in no time and bouncing away from campus with Mjölnir in my hands, flipping off the Eriksons the entire way.

And if I learn some cool facts along the way, more power to me.

My vision suddenly blurs as the feeling of Aric’s hot mouth on mine takes over—seriously, why at the most inconvenient times? Nope. I’m burying that vision, it didn’t happen, will never happen, and it’s just a distraction. Can runes bring on visions?

I wouldn’t put it past Sigurd. If he can steal the most powerful weapon in the world, I’m sure visions are mere child’s play. It’s not like he isn’t powerful in his own right.

I need to remember that. Right now, it’s an even playing field, but I aim to change the odds to our favor.

The smell of cleaning solution fills my nose the minute I walk through the doors. I make my way through crowds of eager students, and it’s so normal that it’s almost unreal to me. Everyone’ s just existing, talking about their majors, about rushing, sports, life. They have no idea, and the more I listen, the more bitter I feel.

Lives are on the line.

And these clueless kids are on dating apps.