Part 25 (2/2)

Finally, I spotted a bronze plaque that read RAN'S FIs.h.i.+NG NET, and I stepped over to that case.

A net made out of something that looked like light gray seaweed lay underneath the gla.s.s. Truth be told, it wasn't all that impressive. The seaweed was gnarled and knotted and looked so thin, threadbare, and brittle in places that it would probably crumble to dust if you so much as breathed on it. But I'd learned the hard way that looks were often deceiving, especially in the mythological world, so I scanned the rest of the information on the plaque.

This net is thought to have belonged to Ran, the Norse G.o.ddess of storms, and was rumored to be among her favorite fis.h.i.+ng gear. Despite its fragile appearance, the net is quite strong and can hold much more than it should be able to, given its relatively small size. The braided seaweed itself is thought to have the unusual property of making whatever is inside it seem much lighter than its actual weight . . .

The plaque went on to talk about some of the mythological creatures that Ran had supposedly caught and tamed with the net, but I skimmed over the rest of the words. Instead, I leaned even closer to the gla.s.s, studying the net.

Thanks to my psychometry, I never forgot anything I saw, so I was able to pull up my memories of the drawing I'd done a few weeks ago-the one that featured all the artifacts I was supposed to find for Nike. I compared the net before me to the one in the drawing. It was a perfect match.

”Here it is!” I called out.

Daphne and Alexei moved over to stand beside me. They both looked down at the net.

”What do you think it does?” Daphne asked, her black eyes narrowed in thought.

I shrugged. ”I have no idea, other than what the plaque says about it being stronger than it looks. But Nike showed it to me, so it must be important.”

”Now what?” Alexei asked.

I shrugged again. ”The usual. I'll call Metis, and she and Nickamedes can come and get the net-”

A flash of silver caught my eye, and I instinctively jumped back.

A Reaper's sword missed my head by an inch.

One second, Alexei, Daphne, and I were alone in the exhibit room. The next, six Reapers had appeared, all wearing black robes and twisted rubber Loki masks and all carrying curved swords.

”Reapers!” I screamed, even though my friends had already spotted them.

The Reaper next to me raised his sword again, and I pivoted and lashed out with my foot, kicking him in the stomach. The Reaper stumbled back, giving me the chance to grab my own weapon-the sword in the black leather scabbard that was belted around my waist.

I raised the blade into an attack position, and a purplish eye on the hilt snapped open. Instead of being plain metal, half a man's face was inlaid into the hilt of my sword, complete with a nose, an ear, and a mouth that I could feel curving into a smile under my palm at the prospect of the battle to come.

”Reapers!” Vic, my talking sword, said with dark relish. ”Let's kill them all!”

Beside me, Daphne slung an onyx bow off her shoulder and quickly notched a golden arrow in the thin strings, while Alexei pulled two matching swords out of the gray leather scabbard strapped to his back. Like all the Mythos kids, we took our weapons almost everywhere we went, especially now that Loki was on the loose.

I tightened my grip on Vic and charged into battle.

Clash-clash-clang!

I swung my sword at the Reaper over and over again, mercilessly hacking and slas.h.i.+ng my way through his defenses until I was able to bury my weapon in his chest.

”That's my girl!” Vic crowed as I pulled him free of the Reaper's crumpled body. ”On to the next one!”

I turned to face the next Reaper coming at me- Thwack!

A golden arrow zoomed past me and buried itself in the Reaper's chest, and he too fell to the marble floor. My head snapped around.

”You're welcome!” Daphne shouted.

I raised Vic and saluted her with the sword. The Valkyrie grinned before bringing up her bow and using it as a sort of s.h.i.+eld to fend off another Reaper. Daphne stepped forward and punched the Reaper in the face, her Valkyrie strength throwing him all the way back against the wall. I knew she'd be okay so I charged over to where Alexei was fighting two Reapers. The Bogatyr's swords flashed through the air like streaks of silver fire as he danced back and forth, attacking first one Reaper, then the other.

”Get the net!” one of the Reapers screamed.

The last Reaper smashed his sword into the case, reached through the broken gla.s.s, and grabbed the gray net. He threw the seaweed over his shoulder and raced toward the open doorway.

”Go!” Alexei said, slicing his sword across first one Reaper's chest, then the other's, making them both scream with pain. ”I can handle these two!”

I hurried after the last Reaper. He turned to see how close I was to him and slammed into another artifact case. The Reaper tripped and hit the floor hard, sliding to a stop just inside the doorway.

”Get him, Gwen!” Vic shouted.

I leaped over the smashed case and brought the sword up, ready to bring it down on the Reaper.

And that's when he threw the net at me.

ISBN: 978-0-7582-8148-7.

Other Mythos Academy t.i.tles by Jennifer Estep.

First Frost.

Touch of Frost.

Kiss of Frost.

Dark Frost.

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