Page 215 of The Games Gods Play
“Be right back.” Jackie shoots back into the dustup.
Samuel and Dae are next through the gate, and we’re still waiting, positioned to close the gate quickly, flinching with every rattle of bones and blast of the kraken, the minotaur’s yells still trumpeting in the distance.
“There!” Rima points.
Above, Jackie shoots through the dust-laden skies, Zai behind her with the Harpe of Perseus drawn.
The second they’re through, the doors shut on their own, and the lock clicks again.
Two down.
One to go.
“What in the name of the Underworld?” Samuel mutters.
Collectively, we all turn.
Trinica narrows her eyes. “That can’t be good.”
105
All The Reasons Why
The darkness here is so thick, the stars and moon don’t penetrate. A few feet in front of me, it’s like a wall of shadow has been raised, obscuring everything.
Which means not only do we have to deal with whatever creature is next without seeing it coming, we have to find the gate, too.
Trinica pulls a strange pink stone out of a pocket and studies it. The prize she won from Athena’s Labor—the Stone of Imithacles, a relic none of us had heard of before but which will give one true answer a day. “Might as well put this to use,” she says, then closes her fingers tightly around it. “How do we pass through this last gate safely?” she asks.
She closes her eyes, but I don’t hear or see anything. I guess the others don’t, either, because we’re watching her and glancing at one another. All while the kraken and my remaining skeleton warriors battle on the other side of the gate.
Then she opens her eyes. “It said, don’t listen.”
“Don’t listen to what?” Rima asks.
“What does that mean?” Diego’s disembodied voice asks.
Which is when I hear it. I think we all do, because each of us slowly stiffens.
Singing.
Beautiful voices raised in song.
Don’t listen.
“Sirens,” Zai whispers beside me.
“You’re finally here,” a voice as beguiling as a lover’s sigh beckons from the dark. “Come play with us.”
The others immediately all move forward, their gazes dreamy. Diego must take his ring off, too, because out of nowhere, he appears, then is swallowed by the wall of shadows.
Everyone but me, Jackie…and Samuel.
Jackie grabs Rima’s arm, but she shakes her off hard and keeps going. Samuel reaches for Dae, but Dae’s too fast, sprinting away.
“Stop!” I try to pull Zai back, but he pushes me to the ground before disappearing into the dark like the others.
Confusion is a writhing knot in my stomach. Jackie’s blessing is to see through enchantments, so I guess she’s protected from the sirens. But Samuel…
