King of the Gods: King of the Gods, #1

1

Iwiped the sweat from my brow and glanced up at the blue sky overhead. It was only 9 AM, but I could already feel the Greek sun beat down on me as I worked to excavate the same object I’d been working on every day for the last month. Why? Because I’d joined the archeology club’s volunteer group and, as such, had spent most of my summer on the Greek island of Delos.

To be honest, spending the summer in Apollo’s birthplace getting college credit was really fun, but even still, I’d really started to miss my dad over the last month. I wouldn’t tell him that of course, especially because he would totally take the opportunity to tell me how I’d missed out on this summer’s adventures in Japan.

See, ever since he’d adopted me after my parents died when I was two years old, we’d spent every summer traveling from dojo to dojo learning from the world’s greatest martial arts masters. Trust me. It’s way more fun than it sounds, and it sounds pretty damned fun if I do say so myself.

That said, if I ever wanted to join a real archeology team, and prove to everyone my degree wasn’t worthless, I had to start somewhere. So, when this chance had presented itself, well, I’d jumped at it. And besides, the girls were really hot.

Luke, water? Gina, one of the girls from my class, called from a few feet away. She was dressed in jeans and a white t-shirt and had one tan, lean arm extended toward me with a plastic canteen full of water.

The rest of her features were muted by the sun at her back, making it so I couldn’t make out her movie star good looks complete with blonde hair and cornflower blue eyes. It was just as well. My dad would never approve of a girl like Gina, and even if he did, I wouldn’t want to date a girl I could snap over my knee with minimal effort. Still, it was fun to look. And imagine …

Yeah, please, I replied, reaching out and taking the offered canteen. I popped the top and took a long swig before wiping the water from my lips with the underside of my T-shirt.

Wow, she said, her eyes roamed over me hungrily as I dropped my T-shirt back into place. I had no idea you were packing that.

Packing what? I asked, offering the canteen back to her.

Nothing. Gina tossed her trademark starlet smile at me as her fingers brushed her long blonde hair behind her ear, her gaze flicking from me to the canteen and back again. Keep the canteen, Luke.

Are you sure? I asked as she knelt down next to me and gave the artifact I was carefully uncovering a cursory glance before looking at me.

Yep. She smiled at me again and leaned in to see what I was working on, which was a bit odd since she’d never shown much interest in me before. Just make sure you stay hydrated, okay?

She touched my arm then, her fingers lingering for a lot longer than absolutely necessary, and to be honest, I didn’t quite know what to do. Should I make a move on her?

Even if I wasn’t wearing my dirty, sweat-wicking cargo pants and a black tank top I hadn’t washed in two days, I wasn’t exactly a ladies’ man. Worse, what if I was reading the signs wrong? Would that cause problems for the rest of the trip? I mean, Gina was … I stopped as I continued that thought … She was the only one who was nice to me.

Any new discoveries into Isis’s history? she asked, leaning in close to me and examining the object I’d been working on for the last two days. And, Jesus, she smelled like raspberries. Somehow, someway, in the middle of a dig site on a barren Greek island, she smelled like raspberries.

Not yet, but soon. I gestured to the chunk of obsidian with an Egyptian Ankh carved into its surface. It wasn’t big, maybe the size of a softball, and now that I’d cleared away the dirt, faint flecks of gold glimmered in the etching. Maybe today, even. I smiled at her and found her smiling back. Would you like to help me?

Are you sure you want my help? You’re nearly done, and I’d hate to steal your thunder. That’s not fair at all, Gina replied, glancing at the ankh and frowning. And, even if that wasn’t the case, I’m not sure what help I could be either. She gestured at it. There’s not enough room for two of us to work, really.

I know, but I really like hanging out with you. I brushed my dark hair out of my face and tucked the strands escaping my ponytail behind my ear.

I like hanging out with you too, Luke. She grinned at me. Maybe when we get back to Mykonos, we can spend some more time together?

I would love that, I said as she started to rise. How about we catch the sunset in Little Venice? I know you’ve mentioned wanting to do that a few times.

So, you have been listening. She flushed a bit. And yes, Luke. It’s a date. She fiddled with her hands a bit as I got to my feet so I could walk her to the temple’s entrance. Um … you don’t have to get up.

Well, I want to walk you back. I smiled at her and held out my hand, and truth be told, I was as surprised as anyone when she took it. Man, did it feel nice.

That would be nice—

She stopped talking in mid-sentence, her eyes flicking past me as her eyes fell open.

What? I asked, whirling to look.

I stopped, my heart practically beating its way through my ribcage as the ankh I’d been working on flashed with purple light. It was only for a brief moment, enough for me to wonder if this was real or not.

Did it … strobe? I asked, taking a step toward it.

I think it did. Gina glanced from it to me. Maybe we just need some water and shade? As she spoke, the damned ankh began to glow with steady purple light like someone was filling the symbol with the ink from one of those glow in the dark bracelets. Or not. Gina gripped my arm. What do you think it is?

I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. That’s when I did the dumbest and bravest thing I could possibly imagine. I moved toward it, careful to shield her with my body.

Be careful, she said, letting go of my arm and hanging back as I took a few steps toward it.

I will, I said, turning to smile at her. Only I didn’t make it. As I shifted my weight, a lavender spark leaped from the surface of the ankh and hit me in the chest before zipping across my skin.

Strangely enough, it didn’t hurt. In fact, it was sort of pleasant feeling, leaving me with a strange sense of warmth. Purple light flared along my skin as the scenery around me grew hazy, and for a second, I could see wavy lines of energy drifting up from the stone all around me. It sort of reminded me of heat lines, but it wasn’t anywhere near that hot and those lines tended not to be purple. The smell of dust and plant life filled my nostrils as I sucked in a breath, and I swear, I could taste the life of the island itself.

Luke, are you okay? Gina cried, hands clutched together as lightning crackled in the sky above.

I think so. I mean, it doesn’t hurt. The purple light was slowly spreading up my arm, but I forced myself not to freak out for two reasons. The first was obvious. So far, it hadn’t hurt me. The second was because, well, I didn’t want to risk moving toward Gina and having her get infected too.

What should we do? Gina asked, glancing around the desolate temple as thunder rumbled above like I’d angered Zeus himself. For all I knew, I had. Here I was, in the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, and my dumbass had started digging at a temple dedicated to an Egyptian goddess.

Maybe you should go before something else happens. I tried to give her a reassuring smile. I don’t want you to get hurt.

I’m not going to leave you here alone. You’re glowing. She glanced heavenward. And someone up there seems seriously pissed. She put on a brave face. I’m going to come over there.

Gina, please. Just stay back. I held out my hand as I spoke, and oddly enough, the purple glow on my skin seems to flare just a touch brighter.

She stopped mid-step and just stared at me for a second. Then she nodded. Okay, Luke. I’ll stay right here. She swallowed hard. But I’m not leaving. She nodded emphatically. If you need something, tell me.

I will. I nodded to her before turning back to the glowing purple ankh. Part of me knew I was being dumb, but at the same time, something about it drew me forward. Crazier still, it didn’t feel malevolent. No. With each step toward it, I felt … powerful.

What’s going on? I asked when I’d reached the ankh, and as I spoke, the symbol flared, dousing me in purple light.

Can you help me?

The words were so faint, I don’t think I’d have heard them if I hadn’t been so close because, it seemed like the ankh was speaking to me. Only that seemed impossible.

Did you hear that? I asked, taking a huge breath as I glanced over my shoulder at Gina.

No. She shook her head. Maybe you should come back here. She smiled at me.

Yeah. I nodded to her. That’s a good idea. I turned on my heel, and as I took a step toward her, I heard the ankh speak again.

Can you hear me?

Yes? I replied, glancing back at the ankh. Admittedly, part of me was worried because Gina couldn’t hear the voice, but at the same time, well, it didn’t seem bad.

Thank the gods, the voice said, and this time, I could have sworn the ankh pulsed with every word I’d heard. You must help me.

How am I going to help you when I can’t even see you? I asked, taking a step toward the source of the voice, and as I did, I realized where I was. A temple built to worship Isis. The Egyptian Goddess of Kingship and Protection.

I swallowed hard. Was Isis, a five-thousand-year-old Egyptian goddess, speaking to me from her temple in Greece?

Luke, who are you talking to? Gina asked, moving a bit closer. Is everything okay?

I think I might be talking to Isis. I sighed and rubbed my face. I know it sounds crazy. I pointed at the ankh. But I swear that’s talking to me.

I’m not Isis, the voice replied, and before I could blink, the ethereal form of a woman manifested in front of the ankh. Merely her servant.

I could still see the pulsing purple ankh through her nearly transparent form, and near as I could tell, she was linked to it by a chain of burnished amethyst light rooted to where her heart would have been if she’d been corporeal. Which she wasn’t. Not even slightly. I could tell because, from the calf down, her legs disappeared into my backpack like she was Casper the friendly ghost.

Unlike Casper though, she was relatively normal colored and looked to be in her mid-twenties. Her hair was the color of black ink, and she was so damned hot, I nearly swallowed my tongue.

What the hell is that? Some kind of ghost? Gina screamed, one shaky hand pointing at the apparition, which was when I realized she could see it too.

Some kind, the ghost replied, shooting Gina a sarcastic smile before turning her attention to me. My name is Aziza. She held her hand out to me like there was some way in hell I’d shake it. High Priestess of Isis.

Don’t come any closer to him, Gina warned, rushing toward me even though I was the son of Chuck Peters, one of the most famous martial artists in the world. I’d trained in everything from Aikido to Iaijutsu. That said, it was a nice gesture, and I really appreciated it.

I don’t mean either of you any harm. She smiled at me and shook her head. I just need your help. She gestured at herself. That is why I am showing myself to you like this despite how much effort it takes.

Wait, you need help? Gina asked as she moved to my side. She took a long, hard look at the ghost. What if you try to eat us or something?

I wouldn’t do that. Aziza frowned. I’m the guardian of this place. She pointed toward the ground at our feet. That is why you need to help me. I need you to return me to my body.

You need us to return you to your body? I asked, completely confused by that turn of events. Why?

To stop the monsters. She was about to say more when a low, guttural howl unlike anything I’d ever heard before exploded across the horizon. The hair on the back of my neck stood straight up as a primal fear rose in me and strained at my self-control.

That was the howl of a predator, and judging by the sound of it, the thing was not only huge, but it was way closer than I’d like. How was that possible? I was on an island filled with tourists, guards, and other students. There was no way something like that should be here.

Oh no. Aziza’s face grew worried. Hurry! she cried, gesturing for me to move it along. Take the ankh before they get here and kill you and your lady friend!

Luke, what’s going on? Gina asked, clinging to me.

I don’t know, I said, right before another howl cut through the distance, low and hungry sounding. It was way closer. If the other one had come from down the block, this one was at my neighbor’s house. Aziza?

Instead of responding to me, Aziza dropped to her knees in the dirt and tried to pull something from the stone, but her fingers passed right through the rock. She glanced back at me, her fear replaced with something that was a cross between determination and anger.

Hurry. They will kill and eat both of you, but not necessarily in that order. I can help you stop them, but only if you get the object out of the box now! She flashed her teeth at me. Hurry!

Fine! I said as I shoved down my fear and scrambled toward Aziza, reaching toward the box even though she was some kind of ghost. I had no idea what was inside, but if it would keep Gina from being eaten by whatever was howling, I was all for it. I kept my fear conquered just like my father had taught me to do and grabbed hold of the stone with both hands.

As soon as I touched the ankh, the purple glow spread across my flesh, covering over my fingers and palms like gloves made from purple light. Aziza’s hands settled on top of mine which was a little weird because her touch was icy and made my skin prickle.

Her hands began to fly across the stone’s surface, directing me to press here and there as more howls ripped across the horizon and lightning began to crackle angrily through the sky. Zeus was definitely pissed.

The sound of claws moving across the stone behind me filled my ears as the amethyst stone began to glow violently before unfurling like a blooming flower. At first glance, the thing inside was about the size of a tennis ball and sort of resembled a heart made of pulsing black tissue. Red tendrils wriggled around it like a sea anemone. I couldn’t tell you why, but the moment I locked eyes on the object, everything inside me screamed that I had to have it, had to make it mine.

I reached in and grabbed it before I could even fully process what the object was. Tendrils wrapped around my flesh, latching onto me like octopus tentacles and filling me with nearly indescribable warmth.

Luke, are you okay? Gina asked, and as I turned to look at her, a freaking comet struck the other side of the temple.

2

The shockwave of magical energy that exploded outward from the comet in bursts of pinks and blues sent me flying sideways. I smashed into an outcropping of stone with bone-shuddering force before bouncing several feet like a rag doll. As I skidded to a stop, the pulsing heart remained melded to my flesh. My vision went blurry around the edges as a thing hewn from my nightmares stepped from the debris, one hand outstretched toward me. It was nearly ten feet tall, covered in mottled black and green fur, had enormous claws the color of rusty fishhooks, and eyes the color of melted gold.

Give me the heart, boy, it snarled in a voice that tore painfully at my eardrums. It took a step toward me on massive black-furred legs bigger than redwoods. If you do, I’ll kill you and your mate quickly. If not, well, I’m quite hungry. It grinned at me, revealing a mouth that reminded me of a great white shark only much less friendly. Then it gestured at Gina with its warhammer. She lay unconscious on the other side of the temple.

If you hurt her, I’ll rip you in half with my bare hands, I growled, taking a step toward it.

I would like to see you try. It held one paw out to me and gestured for me to come get some.

You can stop him if you concentrate, Aziza murmured so close to me I nearly jumped. I didn’t, but it was mostly because I was watching the dust cloud in front of me start to settle. You need to absorb the sacred heart and use its power to stop the wendigo. I felt Aziza’s hand on my shoulder. Concentrate on absorbing it, and it will listen.

As she spoke, a million questions pushed into my mind, but I ignored them. If this thing would give me the power to save Gina, well, I was going to take it.

Right, I said, recalling my training with the Chinese monks I’d done last summer. Then I willed myself to absorb the thing in my hand with all my might. Almost at once, the tentacles clutching my arm disappeared into my flesh, and the tennis ball vanished in a flash of lavender, leaving behind what resembled an ouroboros tattoo on the palm of my hand.

Good, Aziza replied as the wendigo raised its head to the sky and howled.

It’s been a long time since I’ve feasted on a human. The wendigo smiled, revealing a mouthful of shark-like teeth. His smile made one thing startlingly clear. It definitely wanted to eat me.

Well, that’s not going to happen. I dropped into a fighting stance as the creature attacked. It moved so fast I barely saw it.

As it lashed out with its hammer, I darted sideways. The rope coiled around its wrist snapped like a whip, sending the hammer in an arc that would have punched straight through my chest.

Use your power! Aziza cried, and even though I didn’t know what that meant, I knew what I had to do.

As I moved to the side, I reached out, grabbing the hammer from the air, and even though it should have pulled me from my feet, it, well, didn’t.

What are you doing? the wendigo cried right before I jerked hard on the hammer, sending the creature stumbling toward me.

Protecting Gina, I snarled as I whirled, bringing the hammer around in a sideways arc that caught the creature on the side of the head. Blood and skull fragments sprayed across my face as its headless corpse collapsed to the ground.

Only, I didn’t stand there and wait. I spun on my heel, intent to run toward Gina when I saw more wendigoes. I wasn’t sure where they had come from, but I didn’t care.

I turned, whipping the hammer around and letting it fly while holding onto the end of the rope with my other hand.

The weapon struck the closest monster in the chest right about where I judged its heart should be and punched straight through it. I jerked hard on the silver rope, and even though I was a six-foot-nothing guy, the several-hundred-pound monster hurtled toward me like I’d snagged it with an industrial-strength crane.

The monster hit the ground with a wet thwack, but after confirming it was