Crimson Frost

I looked at the small replica statue of Nike on my desk. "I hope you're not grading me on my drawing skills, because I would definitely flunk."

The statue didn't do anything, but I hadn't really expected it to.

My gaze went back to the drawing. I'd just started it tonight, so I'd only filled in the center of the fresco so far. Okay, okay, so I'd only sketched one person-Logan. I'd been thinking so much about the Spartan that it had only seemed natural to start with him.

My drawing was little better than a stick figure, but I'd tried to capture Logan's ferocity, his bravery. Not too hard to do, when he was in the middle of the fight. I wished he was here so I could show him the drawing. I could just picture him looking at it and saying something like, Gypsy girl, don't you know I'm so much more handsome than that?

Then, he'd grin at me, his icy eyes glittering in his face, and we'd both laugh.

But Logan wasn't here, and it didn't look like he was coming back anytime soon. I sighed. Not only did I miss the Spartan terribly, but the fact was that I could have used his help with this. Maybe he would have recognized the items he was holding. Maybe he would have known which ones the others were holding were artifacts and which were just regular weapons. Maybe he would have been able to tell me about the object I had in the drawing-that slender silver arrow, or spear, or whatever it was-the one that just might be able to kill Loki.

"How am I supposed to give these things to Logan or the rest of my friends when I don't even know where the artifacts or he is?" I muttered and looked at Nike.

This time, the statue's eyes snapped open.

I froze, and my breath caught in my throat. I'd said the words out of hurt and frustration, never thinking she would respond, but the goddess peered at me, then at the drawing, with her twilight-colored eyes. She dipped her head once before her eyes slid shut, and the statue was just a statue once more.

I let out a breath and sat back in my chair. I looked at the statue for a few minutes, but Nike didn't reappear. Still, the goddess's nod of approval made me feel better, like I was at least on the right track. Nike had told me to find the artifacts and give them to the right people-including Logan. That meant I'd see the Spartan again. And when I saw him, I wouldn't let him go. I'd make him come back to the academy with me, no matter what it took.

The more I looked at the drawing, the more certain I felt about things. Somehow, I knew that when I found these mysterious artifacts, I'd find Logan too. After that, well, I didn't know what would happen, only that I wanted to see him again as soon as possible.

"Get ready, Spartan," I whispered. "Because I'll be seeing you soon."

I picked up my pencil and started drawing again.