Dark Frost (Mythos Academy #3)(55)
Author: Jennifer Estep

"So it was just a distraction. But you had to know I would touch the ring and flash on it, if only to make sure that Savannah had really stolen it," I said. "How did you twist the memories around to make it look like she was the Reaper instead of you?"

Vivian shrugged. "Chaos magic, remember? Confusion and illusions. In some ways, my magic is the exact opposite of yours, Gwen. You touch objects and see things. If I focus hard and long enough, I can actually imprint emotions and memories on certain objects. So it was easy for me to take an image of myself wearing the ring and make it look like Savannah."

"But-"

A series of low chimes sounded, cutting me off. My eyes flicked to the source of the sound-an ebony grandfather clock shaped like a roc that stood against one wall.

"At last, midnight," Vivian murmured. "Do you know what that means, Gwen?"

"What?"

Vivian smiled. "It means it’s finally time for you to do what I brought you here for."

I had to force myself to ask the question. "And what would that be?"

Her smile widened. "Die."

Chapter 22

Another Reaper came into the living room-the man I’d seen when I’d first touched the fake map. He cut through the ropes that tied me to the chair, then he and Preston hauled me through the balcony doors and outside.

I started to fight back, but Preston held a sword against my ribs and told me that he would shove it through my heart if I so much as breathed wrong. So I decided not to breathe wrong.

Vivian led the way, while Preston and the man forced me down a set of stone steps and then out into the forest that lay beyond the mansion. I couldn’t see much of the landscape in the darkness, but I got the sense that we were still in the mountains, still in North Carolina, still close to the academy. I don’t know why that comforted me, but it did. If I was going to die, well, at least it would be close to home. Maybe the members of the Pantheon would at least find my body and bury it.

We trudged deeper and deeper into the woods, the frosted leaves crunching like brittle bones under our feet. The lights from the mansion behind us slowly disappeared, but they were replaced with new ones up ahead. The lights flickered and danced in the darkness, and I realized they were torches burning in the night.

We stepped through the trees and into a large clearing. An enormous circle made out of black marble had been set into the middle of the forest, with the trees rising up on all sides like the pillars of a great coliseum. Tall, skinny torches had been placed into small holes cut into the stone, and their crackling red flames leaped up into the air, like they were straining to set fire to the trees around them.

We hadn’t passed anyone in the forest, but thirteen people had already gathered inside the stone circle, one standing by each torch-and every single one of them wore a Reaper mask and a black robe.

I stared out into the circle of people, my eyes going from one twisted Loki face to the next. I couldn’t see who was behind the masks, but I thought I probably knew some of them, that they were kids or professors at Mythos. A sense of familiarity radiated off them, along with hate-so much hate. Every single Reaper in the circle would have been more than happy to step forward and kill me. I bit my lip and tried not to show just how terrified I was of them and what they were about to do to me.

"What is this place?" I asked.

"This," Vivian said in a satisfied voice, "is a Garm gate, one of hundreds located all over the world. It serves as a portal to other gates and even other realms-including Helheim."

"Helheim?" I whispered.

From researching the dagger, I knew that the weapon was named for Helheim, which was the Norse world of the dead-and the prison realm where Loki was trapped. Supposedly, it was a place that no one-god or mortal alike-could ever escape, but I had a sick, sick feeling that wasn’t going to be true tonight.

Vivian looked at me, a mocking expression on her face. "Just putting it together now, are you, Gwen? Although I have to say I love that dawning look of horror on your face."

I wanted to ask her more questions, but I didn’t get the chance as Preston and the man dragged me to the center of the stone circle. Something had been carved into the marble under my feet, and it took me a few seconds to realize what it was-a hand holding a set of balanced scales. The exact same hand and the exact same scales that adorned the roof of the academy prison.

Vivian strode into the middle of the circle as well. She stopped and looked out at the other Reapers who had gathered around.

"We’ve all waited a very, very long time for this moment," she said. "For centuries, our ancestors have served Loki faithfully, preparing for the day when we could finally free our god from the prison he’s been trapped in for so long. Well, that time has finally come."

Yeah, I knew I was about to die, but I still couldn’t help rolling my eyes at her formal, grandiose words. Practice in front of the mirror much, Viv?

"You all know what to do," Vivian said. "So let’s get started."

Softly at first, very, very softly, the Reapers began to chant. I didn’t know what magic mumbo jumbo they were spouting, but the sound of their low, guttural words sent chills up my spine. Slowly, their words grew sharper and sharper, until the air felt like it was full of cold knives that were pressing against my skin, ready to cut me open if I dared do more than breathe.

Vivian turned her attention back to me, twirling the Helheim Dagger in her hand like it was a cheerleader’s baton instead of the powerful, dangerous artifact it was.

"I know you’re wondering why I didn’t just kill you in the academy prison when I had the chance or even when you first came to Mythos back in the fall," Vivian said. "The answer is simple-we needed you to find the dagger for us, and we needed your blood. Fresh blood and not what had already been spilt. Of course, Jasmine almost ruined that and so did her big brother Preston."

Beside me, Preston stiffened at her words, but he didn’t say anything. I’d thought he couldn’t despise anyone more than he did me, but even standing here among all the other Reapers, I could feel the special, jealous hate Preston had for Vivian.

Preston and the man held me still while Vivian approached me, the dagger glinting in her hand. My stomach twisted, and suddenly, I realized what she was going to do-Vivian was going to sacrifice me to free Loki from his prison.

Grandma Frost had said being a Champion made you a target for the Reapers. Nike had said the same thing, except she’d added that a Champion’s blood had power-enormous power-since that person had been chosen by a god. It made sense, I supposed. Nike had helped imprison Loki in the first place, and now, Vivian was going to use my bloody death to free the evil god.