BLOOD OF OLYMPUS

‘Yeah.’ Nico stood. ‘I think we can reach Spain this time if we’re lucky. Just let me –’
The mob of ghosts vanished, like a mass of birthday candles blown out in a single breath.
Reyna’s hand went to her dagger. ‘Where did they go?’
Nico’s eyes flitted across the ruins. His expression was not reassuring. ‘I – I’m not sure, but I don’t
think it’s a good sign. Keep a lookout. I’ll get harnessed up. Should only take a few seconds.’
Gleeson Hedge rose to his hooves. ‘A few seconds you do not have.’
Reyna’s stomach curled into a tiny ball.
Hedge spoke with a woman’s voice – the same one Reyna had heard in her nightmare.
She drew her knife.
Hedge turned towards her, his face expressionless. His eyes were solid black. ‘Be glad, Reyna
Ramírez-Arellano. You will die as a Roman. You will join the ghosts of Pompeii.’
The ground rumbled. All around the courtyard, spirals of ash swirled into the air. They solidified
into crude human figures – earthen shells like the ones in the museum. They stared at Reyna, their eyes
ragged holes in faces of rock.
‘The earth will swallow you,’ Hedge said in the voice of Gaia. ‘Just as it swallowed them.’