But it was more than just a kiss. For the first time, Logan completely opened himself up to me. I saw and felt so many things, so many memories, so many emotions. All of Logan’s doubts and fears, all of his insecurities, all of the worries that he worked so hard to hide from everyone else. I felt his strength, too—his determination to fight against the Reapers no matter what.
And most important of all, I realized just how much he cared about
me
.
I just felt—
everything
. The warm, fizzy, dizzying rush Logan got in his chest every time I smiled at him. The sly satisfaction whenever I laughed at one of his jokes. The lightness whenever we were teasing each other. Even the pride he had at how far I’d come as a warrior.
It all made me happier than I’d ever thought I could be.
When the kiss finally ended, the Spartan opened his eyes.
“Wow,” he breathed out. “I know that I’m a great kisser, but you gave me a run for my money there, Gypsy girl.”
I rolled my eyes, stepped back, and punched him in the shoulder. The Spartan just laughed. I started to hit him again, but Logan grabbed my hands, pulled me close, and kissed me again. The rest of the world just fell away—
“Woo!” someone whooped, interrupting us.
Surprised, we both drew back, breathless, and turned to see Oliver and Kenzie standing in the door to the gym, along with Daphne and Carson. Our friends all had smiles on their faces, and Daphne let out another loud whoop and started clapping, pink sparks dancing in the air around her.
“I guess the secret’s out,” Logan said.
“I guess so,” I replied.
“Well, it’s about bloody time,” Vic muttered from his spot on the bleachers. “I was wondering if you two were ever going to wise up about each other.”
Nyx barked, agreeing with the sword.
“Shut up, Vic,” I said with a smile.
Logan put his hands on my waist and leaned down so that his forehead was touching mine. I marveled at the feel of his skin, at the strong circle of his arms, and especially at the fact that there were no more secrets between us.
Yeah, things were all kinds of messed up right now. Loki was out there somewhere, plotting against the Pantheon, along with Vivian, and the Reapers of Chaos were getting ready to rise once more. But right now, I was at the academy, safe, with Logan and my friends.
There would be time enough to worry tomorrow. About the Reapers, about Loki, and most especially about how I was supposed to kill the evil god. But today—today was about me and Logan and our feelings for each other.
“C’mon, Logan!” Carson called out from across the gym. “You can do better than that! Or do I need to come over there and show you how it’s done?”
Logan turned around and glared at Carson, who just laughed. Then, the Spartan faced me again.
“What do you say we give them something to really cheer about, Gypsy girl?” Logan whispered.
I arched my eyebrow. “Bring it on, Spartan.”
“Kids,” Vic muttered in a fond voice.
And that was the last thing I heard before Logan lowered his lips to mine once more.
BEYOND THE STORY
Gwen’s Report on the Artifacts Exhibit at the Crius Coliseum for Professor Metis’s Myth-History Class
Given the Reaper attack at the coliseum, Metis didn’t quiz us on the exhibit, but she did mention that we could write a paper on some of the artifacts we saw for extra credit. So here goes:
An Andvari coin:
This gold coin is rumored to be from the stash of treasure collected by Andvari, a dwarf. Supposedly, Loki trapped the dwarf and took all of his gold. Seems like Loki was always doing sneaky things like that, even back before he was the ultimate evil.
Ariadne’s ball of thread:
It’s a ball of silver thread. Sure, I imagine that Theseus found it useful when he was trying to find his way in and out of the labyrinth where the Minotaur was. But still, it’s a ball of thread. I am not overly impressed.
Bastet’s gloves:
These gloves were supposedly worn by Bastet, the Egyptian cat goddess. They look like regular gloves, although they’re made of a delicate gold mesh and the fingertips are tipped with curved onyx talons, like a cat’s claws—except much, much sharper.
Coyote images:
There were lots of drawings, carvings, and figurines of Coyote, the Native American god. All of the images were different, though, showing Coyote’s trickster nature and supposed ability to change his shape.
Sigyn’s onyx bow:
It looks cool, and it’s certainly shiny since it’s made out of onyx. But I have to say that I’d prefer to fight with Vic, even if he is a little mouthy from time to time. Okay, okay, a whole lot mouthy pretty much all the time.
The Horn of Roland:
I can’t really play any musical instruments, so Carson was way more interested in this than I was. To me, it just looks like a miniature tuba. Supposedly, Roland was some great warrior who died in battle blowing this horn. Not sure what makes it so special if Roland didn’t actually live through the fight though... .
Weapons, weapons, weapons:
If I tried to list every single sword, bow, dagger, and staff that I saw at the museum, this report would go on ... and on ... and on. So I’ll just say that there were lots of weapons on display and leave it at that. Sometimes, I wonder if all the professors and warrior whiz kids at Mythos care about anything else besides weapons.
Final thoughts:
Many of the artifacts were destroyed during the battle with the Reapers, including much of the pottery, jewelry, and clothing that was in the main part of the coliseum. And, of course, my friends and I used some of the weapons and other artifacts to defend ourselves.
That’s when Daphne picked up Sigyn’s onyx bow and Carson got the Horn of Roland—things that it seems like my friends are stuck with, since the artifacts keep returning to them, no matter how many times they give them back to Professor Metis.
Kind of freaky, if you ask me, having something that you just can’t get rid of. I suppose the bow and the horn have some sort of magic mumbo jumbo attached to them. I have a feeling that I’ll find out before it’s all said and done—and that maybe Daphne and Carson have their own roles to play in the war against the Reapers... .
Mythos Academy Warriors and Their Magic
The students at Mythos Academy are the descendants of ancient warriors, and they are at the academy to learn how to fight and use weapons, along with whatever magic or other skills that they might have. Here’s a little more about the warrior whiz kids, as Gwen calls them:
Amazons and Valkyries:
Most of the girls at Mythos are either Amazons or Valkyries. Amazons are gifted with supernatural quickness. In gym class during mock fights, they look like blurs more than anything else. Valkyries are incredibly strong. Also, bright, colorful sparks of magic can often be seen shooting out of Valkyries’ fingertips.
Romans and Vikings:
Most of the guys at Mythos Academy are either Romans or Vikings. Romans are superquick, just like Amazons, while Vikings are superstrong, just like Valkyries.
Siblings:
Brothers and sisters born to the same parents will have similar abilities and magic, but they’re sometimes classified as different types of warriors. For example, if the girls in a family are Amazons, then the boys will be Romans. If the girls in a family are Valkyries, then the boys will be Vikings.
However, in other families, brothers and sisters are considered to be the same kind of warriors, like those born to Spartan, Samurai, or Ninja parents. The boys and girls are both called Spartans, Samurais, or Ninjas.
More Magic:
As if being superstrong or superquick wasn’t good enough, the students at Mythos Academy also have other types of magic. They can do everything from heal injuries to control the weather to form fireballs with their bare hands. Many of the students have enhanced senses as well. The powers vary from student to student, but as a general rule, everyone is dangerous and deadly in their own special way.
Spartans:
Spartans are among the rarest of the warrior whiz kids, and there are only a few at Mythos Academy. But Spartans are the most dangerous and deadliest of all the warriors because they have the ability to pick up any weapon—or any
thing
—and automatically know how to use and even kill someone with it. Even Reapers of Chaos are afraid to battle Spartans in a fair fight. But then again, Reapers rarely fight fair... .
Gypsies:
Gypsies are just as rare as Spartans. Gypsies are those who have been gifted with magic by the gods. But not all Gypsies are good. Some are just as evil as the gods they serve. Gwen is a Gypsy who is gifted with psychometry magic, or the ability to know, see, and feel an object’s history just by touching it. Gwen’s magic comes from Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.
Want to know more about Mythos Academy? Read on and take a tour of the campus.
The heart of Mythos Academy is made up of five buildings that are clustered together like the loose points of a star on the upper quad. They are the Library of Antiquities, the gym, the dining hall, the English-history building, and the math-science building.
The Library of Antiquities:
The library is the largest building on campus. In addition to books, the library also houses artifacts—weapons, jewelry, clothes, armor, and more—that were once used by ancient warriors, gods, goddesses, and mythological creatures. Some of the artifacts have a lot of power, and the Reapers of Chaos would love to get their hands on this stuff to use it for Bad, Bad Things.
The Gym:
The gym is the second largest building at Mythos. In addition to a pool, basketball court, and training areas, the gym also features racks of weapons, including swords, staffs, and more, that the students use during mock fights. At Mythos, gym class is really weapons training, and students are graded on how well they can fight—something that Gwen thinks she’s not very good at.
The Dining Hall:
The dining hall is the third largest building at Mythos. With its white linens, fancy china, and open-air indoor garden, the dining hall looks more like a five-star restaurant than a student cafeteria. The dining hall is famous for all the fancy, froufrou foods that it serves on a daily basis, like liver, veal, and escargot. Yucko, as Gwen would say.
The English-History Building:
Students attend English, myth-history, geography, art, and other classes in this building. Professor Metis’s office is also in this building.
The Math-Science Building:
Students attend math, science, and other classes in this building. But there are more than just classrooms here. This building also features a morgue and a prison deep underground. Creepy, huh?
The Student Dorms:
The student dorms are located down the hill from the upper quad, along with several other smaller outbuildings. Guys and girls live in separate dorms, although that doesn’t keep them from hooking up on a regular basis.
The Statues:
Statues of mythological creatures—like gryphons and gargoyles—can be found on all the academy buildings, although the library has the most statues. Gwen thinks that the statues are all super creepy, especially since they always seem to be watching her... .
Who’s Who at Mythos Academy—The Students
Gwen (Gwendolyn) Frost:
Gwen is a Gypsy girl with the gift of psychometry magic, or the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. Gwen’s a little dark and twisted in that she likes her magic and the fact that it lets her know other people’s secrets—no matter how hard they try to hide them. She also has a major sweet tooth, loves to read comic books, and wears jeans, T-shirts, hoodies, and sneakers almost everywhere she goes.
Daphne Cruz:
Daphne is a Valkyrie and a renowned archer. She also has some wicked computer skills and loves designer clothes and expensive purses. Daphne is rather obsessed with the color pink. She wears it more often than not, and her entire dorm room is done in various shades of pink.
Logan Quinn:
This seriously cute and seriously deadly Spartan is the best fighter at Mythos Academy—and someone who Gwen just can’t stop thinking about. But Logan has a secret that he doesn’t want anyone to know—especially not Gwen.
Carson Callahan:
Carson is the head of the Mythos Academy Marching Band. He’s a Celt and rumored to have come from a long line of warrior bards. He’s quiet, shy, and one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, but Carson can be as tough as nails when he needs to be.
Oliver Hector:
Oliver is a Spartan who is friends with Logan and Kenzie and helps with Gwen’s weapons training. He’s also one of Gwen’s friends now too, because of what happened during the Winter Carnival.
Kenzie Tanaka:
Kenzie is a Spartan who is friends with Logan and Oliver. He also helps with Gwen’s weapons training and is currently dating Talia.
Savannah Warren:
Savannah is an Amazon who was dating Logan—at least before the Winter Carnival. Now, the two of them have broken up, something Savannah isn’t very happy about—and something that she blames Gwen for.
Talia Pizarro:
Talia is an Amazon and one of Savannah’s best friends. Talia has gym class with Gwen, and the two of them often spar during the mock fights. She is currently dating Kenzie.
Helena Paxton:
Helena is an Amazon who seems to be positioning herself as the new mean girl queen of the academy, or at least of Gwen’s second-year class.
Morgan McDougall:
Morgan is a Valkyrie. She used to be one of the most popular girls at the academy—before her best friend, Jasmine Ashton, tried to sacrifice her to Loki one night in the Library of Antiquities. These days, though, Morgan tends to keep to herself, although it seems she’s becoming friends with Savannah and Talia.
Jasmine Ashton:
Jasmine was a Valkyrie and the most popular girl in the second-year class at Mythos Academy—until she tried to sacrifice Morgan to Loki. Gwen battled Jasmine in the Library of Antiquities and managed to keep her from sacrificing Morgan, although Logan was the one who actually killed Jasmine. But before she died, Jasmine told Gwen that her whole family are Reapers—and that there are many Reapers at Mythos Academy... .
Preston Ashton:
Preston is Jasmine’s older brother, who blamed Gwen for his sister’s death. Preston tried to kill Gwen during the Winter Carnival weekend at the Powder ski resort, although Gwen, Logan, and Vic eventually got the best of the Reaper. After that, Preston was locked up in the academy’s prison.
Who’s Who at Mythos Academy and Beyond—The Adults
Coach Ajax:
Ajax is the head of the athletic department at the academy and is responsible for training all the kids at Mythos and turning them into fighters. Logan Quinn and his Spartan friends are among Ajax’s prize students.
Geraldine (Grandma) Frost:
Geraldine is Gwen’s grandma and a Gypsy with the power to see the future. Grandma Frost makes her living as a fortuneteller in a town not too far away from Cypress Mountain. A couple of times a week, Gwen sneaks off the Mythos Academy campus to see her grandma and enjoy the sweet treats that Grandma Frost is always baking.
Grace Frost:
Grace was Gwen’s mom and a Gypsy who had the power to know if people were telling the truth or not just by listening to their words. At first, Gwen thought her mom had been killed in a car accident by a drunk driver. But thanks to Preston Ashton, Gwen knows that Grace was actually murdered by the Reaper girl who is Loki’s Champion. Gwen’s determined to find the Reaper girl and get her revenge—no matter what.
Nickamedes:
Nickamedes is the head librarian at the Library of Antiquities. Nickamedes loves the books and the artifacts in the library more than anything else, and he doesn’t seem to like Gwen at all. In fact, he often goes out of his way to make more work for her whenever Gwen is working after school in the library. Nickamedes is also Logan’s uncle, although the uptight librarian is nothing like his easygoing nephew. At least, Gwen doesn’t think so.
Professor Aurora Metis:
Metis is a myth-history professor who teaches students all about the Reapers of Chaos, Loki, and the ancient Chaos War. She was also best friends with Gwen’s mom, Grace, back when the two of them went to Mythos. Metis is the Champion of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, and she’s become Gwen’s mentor at the academy.
Raven:
Raven is the old woman who mans the coffee cart in the Library of Antiquities. Gwen’s also seen her in the academy prison, which seems to be another one of Raven’s odd jobs around campus. There’s definitely more to Raven than meets the eye... .
The Powers That Were:
A board made up of various members of the Pantheon who oversee all aspects of Mythos Academy, from approving the dining hall menus to disciplining students. Gwen’s never met any of the board members that she’s aware of, and she doesn’t know exactly who they are, but that could change—sooner than she thinks.
Vic:
Vic is the talking sword that Nike gave to Gwen to use as her personal weapon. Instead of a regular hilt, a man’s face is inlaid into Vic’s hilt. Gwen doesn’t know too much about Vic, except that he’s really, really bloodthirsty and wants to kill Reapers more than anything else.