Crimson Frost Part 8

"Why not?"

Logan sighed. "Because of what happened to my mom and sister. My dad was off on Protectorate business, some special meeting he was called to at the last minute. Nickamedes blames him for not being home when the Reapers attacked. He thinks if my dad had been there, then my mom and my sister might still be alive." He drew in a breath. "And my dad blames me for not protecting them from the Reapers, for not standing and fighting with them. So when we're all together, my dad and Nickamedes argue about every little thing. I get called in to referee, and they eventually make me take sides and choose between them. Then, my dad tells me how disappointed he is in me, how I'm not living up to my full potential as a Spartan, and I end up getting p.i.s.sed at him. Soon, we're all yelling at each other. Some happy family, huh?"

"I'm sorry," I said. "So sorry that you have to go through that with your dad and Nickamedes. They shouldn't put you in the middle like that. But surely, your dad must realize that you couldn't have done anything to save your mom and sister. That they sacrificed their lives to save yours. Besides, you were only five when it happened. There was nothing you could have done to stop the Reapers."

The images flashed through my mind. Logan's mom screaming at him to run while she and his older sister stepped up to fight the Reapers. Him hiding in a closet, clutching a small sword, as screams and shouts tore through the air. And finally, Logan standing over the b.l.o.o.d.y bodies of his mom and older sister, crying because he hadn't been able to protect them, because he hadn't been able to save them. And I felt all the Spartan's emotions from that terrible day-all his fear and anger and shame and hatred of himself.

The Spartan thought he'd been a coward because he'd hidden from the Reapers like his mom had told him to. It was a secret he'd kept to himself for years, one that he'd finally shown me a few weeks ago. Logan might not like it, but I knew his actions that day made him the person he was-that they'd driven him to be the best warrior at the academy.

Logan shook his head. "According to my dad, a real Spartan warrior would have stood his ground and fought that day-no matter if he knew that he was going to die."

For months, Logan had told me that I wouldn't like him if I knew the truth about who he really was, and his feelings about what had happened to his family were what had kept us apart. Of course, that wasn't true. I couldn't have been prouder of him-or loved him more. But suddenly, his fears made sense. Because all these years, his dad had made him feel like he should have died that day too, instead of being grateful that his son was still alive.

"I'm so sorry," I said again. "Your dad shouldn't have said that to you. He shouldn't have made you feel like that-ever. He should have been happy you survived."

Logan shrugged. We sat there in silence for a few minutes.

"What about Agrona?" I asked. "What's your stepmom like?"

He brightened a little. "That's something else that's complicated. She's actually really nice, and my dad obviously loves her. She's the only one who makes him seem close to human-or happy."

"But . . ."

"But Nickamedes has never liked her, and he won't tell me why," Logan said. "I think it has something to do with the fact that Agrona and my dad got married just a year after my mom and sister were murdered. I think Nickamedes feels it was too soon for my dad to have gotten over their deaths-or at least remarried."

"Well, you can't blame Nickamedes for feeling that way, can you?" I asked. "Your mom was his sister. He lost her too that day. And his niece."

"I know, and that's what makes it all so frustrating. n.o.body's completely right, and n.o.body's completely wrong. Everybody has their own side, and none of us are on the same one. Sometimes I wish I had a different family," he muttered.

"Just be glad you have the family you do," I said. "That they're here with you and not gone."

Logan looked at me, and I knew he could see the pain in my face. I would have traded just about anything for one more day with my mom or the chance to spend time with my dad, Tyr. He'd died when I was two, so I didn't even remember him. Grandma Frost loved me, and I loved her, but that didn't keep me from missing my mom or wis.h.i.+ng that I'd known my dad at least a little bit.

He let out a breath. "You're right, Gypsy girl. It's just-they make me crazy, you know? Especially my dad. He always thinks he's right about everything."

"I know, but that's what family is for, right? To make you crazy?"

Logan laughed, and some of the tension drained out of his body. He got to his feet, then held out his hands. I grabbed them, and he pulled me up.

"Do you know what I love about you, Gypsy girl?"

My breath caught in my throat, but I made my voice light and teasing. "Hmm. That's a tough one. My daring fas.h.i.+on sense? My sparkling personality? My witty one-liners?"

"No," he said, staring into my eyes. "The way you can always make me laugh, no matter how bad things get."

Before I could respond, the Spartan's arms tightened around me, and he lowered his lips to mine.

For a moment, I was lost-completely, utterly lost. The feel of Logan's lips on mine, the strong circle of his arms around me, the way he smelled, his long, lean body pressing against my own, the warmth of his feelings for me streaming into my own body. Everything about the Spartan overloaded my senses, forming a soft, dizzying rush that made me feel like I could float away, like I could soar through the air, like I could do absolutely anything, even touch the stars- The sharp, deliberate scuffle of shoes on the floor made me realize that we had an audience.

"Logan!" I hissed, pulling back. "Alexei is staring at us!"

The Spartan glanced over his shoulder at the other warrior, who was pretending he hadn't just seen the two of us totally make out. Logan grinned.

"Let him look," he whispered and kissed me again.

Chapter 11.

Logan and I spent a few very enjoyable minutes in the stacks before Alexei started clearing his throat. The Spartan pulled back and dropped his arms from around my waist, although his blue eyes flashed with laughter.

"I think Alexei's getting impatient," Logan said. "That, or he's just jealous that he's not back here with someone."

I thought of how Alexei had looked at Oliver in the gym this morning. "Maybe. Either way, I have to get back to work, remember?"

"Did anyone ever tell you that playing hooky is more fun than working?"

This time, I laughed. "Never. But that's what I have you for, Spartan. To tell me these things."

I stood on my tiptoes, leaned forward, and kissed Logan on the nose. He let out a playful growl, but I slipped away before he could wrap his arms around me again.

By this point, it was after eight, and most of the kids had left the library. I guess since I hadn't been at the checkout counter for them to glare at, they'd decided to go back to their dorms for the night. Well, that was one small favor, although I knew things would be just as bad tomorrow. Maybe even worse, as more and more kids found the courage to mess with me, with Helena Paxton no doubt leading the charge. But there was nothing I could do about any of that tonight, so I tried to put it out of my mind.

I'd thought Logan would leave as well, but the Spartan wandered out of the stacks and planted himself on a stool behind the checkout counter. I gave him a questioning look.

"I'm staying here, and I'm walking you back to your dorm tonight." His face darkened. "Just in case some more jerks decide they want to take matters into their own hands where you're concerned. I called in reinforcements too. They should be here any minute."

"Reinforcements?" I asked. "What reinforcements-"

The sound of shoes smacking against the marble floor caught my attention. A second later, Daphne strode into the library, followed by Oliver. Daphne marched down the center aisle, her enormous Dooney & Bourke purse in one hand and her cell phone held up to her ear. Both the purse and the phone were pink and matched the rest of her clothes. The Valkyrie was the only person I knew who could wear one color from head to toe and totally pull it off. I would have looked like a wad of cotton candy if I'd tried to wear so much pink at once.

"Yeah . . . yeah . . . uh-huh. Glad you're having a good practice. Okay, we're at the library now, so I have to go. Talk to you later. Bye, babe." Daphne hung up and slid her phone into her purse. "Sorry about that. Carson's stuck at band practice and can't make it."

"You and Oliver are Logan's reinforcements? You guys came all the way over here just to walk me back to my dorm?" I asked. "You didn't have to do that."

Daphne gave me a sharp look. "Are you kidding? After the way Helena and her flunkies surrounded you in the dining hall this morning? One of us is going to be with you everywhere you go from now on, Gwen. I only wish I'd been there this morning to b.i.t.c.h-slap Helena back down to size."

I hadn't mentioned the incident at breakfast to Daphne, not wanting her to worry, but Logan must have told her, along with the rest of our friends.

"You don't have to do that," I protested, not wanting to drag her and everyone else into the middle of my problems with the other kids. "Besides, isn't that what Alexei is for? Guard duty?"

The Valkyrie crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Alexei, who was standing behind me in his usual position once more. "Apparently, he's not up to the job, since he almost let you get lynched this morning. No offense, Bogatyr."

"None taken," Alexei replied in a mild voice.

"Anyway," Daphne said. "We've all agreed, so there's no point in arguing with us, Gwen. No point at all."

The Valkryie sat down at the study table closest to the checkout counter. Pink sparks of magic hissed and cracked in the air around her, telling me just how riled up she was on my behalf. I glanced at Logan and Oliver, who had the same sort of determined looks on their faces, and I could tell that nothing I could say was going to change their minds. I loved them for their concern, but it made me feel guilty that they even had to defend me in the first place. Being my friend shouldn't be so hard-or dangerous.

"Thank you, guys," I said, blinking back tears yet again. "I appreciate your standing by me. I know that being my friend isn't always easy. Especially not right now."

Oliver shrugged. "We wouldn't really be friends if we bailed at the first sign of trouble, now, would we?"

I smiled at him and then busied myself lining up the carts behind the checkout counter so he and the others wouldn't notice me wiping the tears out of the corners of my eyes.

Logan moved over to talk to Daphne about the band concert. Carson wasn't the only one involved in the event. The Spartan, along with Oliver and Kenzie, was in an honor guard that had been a.s.signed to watch over the band members, since the concert was taking place at the Aoide Auditorium and not here on campus. Apparently, staging the concert at the auditorium was an annual Mythos tradition, one that the Powers That Were were determined to uphold, despite the fact that Loki was free. I guess they and the Protectorate wanted to send a message to everyone-students and Reapers alike-that the Pantheon wasn't afraid and that they weren't going to hunker down and hide from the war that was coming.

Oliver drifted over to me. Alexei watched us both from his spot against the wall of the office complex.

"Logan told us what happened this morning," Oliver said in a low voice only I could hear. "I'm sorry that Alexei didn't help you. He seemed so cool when I met him over winter break. But now that I know he just stood by while you were facing down those other kids . . ."

Sad longing made his shoulders droop, and the same miserable expression was on Alexei's face as well. I knew that if I asked him to, Oliver would ignore Alexei and pretend they'd never met. But Oliver had been there for me when I'd needed him, and I wanted my friend to be happy, even if it was with Alexei.

"Go," I said, giving the Spartan a little push. "Go talk to him. This trouble that I'm in doesn't have anything to do with the two of you. If you like him, that's good enough for me. I just hope he's good enough for you. Because if he hurts you, Protectorate or not, I will totally kick his a.s.s."

I paused. "Or maybe get Daphne and Logan to help me kick his a.s.s. Not sure I could do it by myself. Either way, his a.s.s will definitely be kicked."

Oliver flashed me a grin. "Did I ever tell you what a good friend you are?"

I grinned back at him. "Well, this good friend thing doesn't last very long. So you'd better get over there and talk to him before I change my mind."

Oliver's grin widened. He straightened his shoulders and walked over to Alexei. The two of them started talking in low voices, and it was like Alexei suddenly changed into a completely different person. He was so serious when he was watching me, so remote, so reserved, but with Oliver, warmth filled his face, his eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, and his whole body was totally relaxed. It made my spirits lift a little to see the two of them together.

While I'd been back in the stacks, Nickamedes had set out one more cart of books that needed to be shelved. Since everyone else was busy talking, I grabbed the cart. I'd just started to roll it around the counter when a loud yawn caught my ear. I looked down and noticed Vic staring up at me out of the top of my messenger bag.

"Finally waking up from your latest nap?" I asked.

The sword blinked. "Well, it's not like I have anything else to do, you know. Not until you find us some more Reapers to kill. I was just dreaming about Lucretia and how I plan to cleave her in two the next time we meet."

Lucretia was Vivian's sword, which talked just like Vic did. From what I'd gathered, Vic and Lucretia were old enemies, since Lucretia had been pa.s.sed down through Loki's Champions over the years, just like Vic had been handed from one of my Frost ancestors to the next. The swords were just another way in which Vivian and I were eerily similar, along with the fact that we were both Gypsies gifted with magic from our respective G.o.ds. While I'd been given psychometry, or touch magic, Vivian had what she called chaos magic, although really it was more like telepathy. Either way, the Reaper girl's power let her make people see and hear things that weren't actually there. Sometimes, I thought that Vivian and I were like the opposite sides of the same coin-so alike in some ways and so very different in others.

"I don't have any idea where Vivian or Lucretia are," I told the sword. "You know if I had the slightest clue where they were hiding, I'd be out there leading the charge against them."

"I know, I know," Vic grumbled. "And more's the pity that you don't know. Because I would be happy to cut them to pieces for you."

His half of a mouth turned down into a sullen pout, as if he'd just lost out on his favorite treat. I sighed. I knew if I didn't do something to cheer him up, Vic would be in one of his moods for the rest of the night. And people thought teenagers were temperamental. Please. They should spend some time with Vic.

"Wanna go for a ride?" I asked.

Vic rolled his eye. "Well, it would certainly beat staring at the bottom of the b.l.o.o.d.y counter for another hour or taking yet another nap. Even I can only sleep for so long."

I grabbed the sword, pulled the blade out of his scabbard, and propped Vic up on top of the metal cart so he could see where we were going. Then, I pushed the cart back into the stacks and started shelving the rest of the books.

Vic kept up a steady stream of conversation while I worked, going on and on and on about all the horrible things he was going to do to Lucretia the next time the two swords met in battle. Every once in a while, I chimed in with an uh-huh or an of course you will or even a really? But Vic didn't need me to keep the conversation going. Sometimes, I thought the sword would have talked forever-whether or not he had an audience.

Finally, I shelved the last book, turned the cart around, and headed toward the checkout counter. The library was closing in ten minutes, and I was more than ready to grab my bag and go back to my room for the night.

I steered the cart down an aisle until I came to a crossway in the stacks. A movement caught my eye, and I turned my head just in time to see someone duck behind a bookcase several feet away.

I froze, wondering if I'd only imagined the movement, if perhaps my eyes were playing tricks on me. I squinted and looked through a gap in the bookshelves. Sure enough, a second later, I saw someone moving through the stacks up ahead and to my right. The figure had its back to me, so I couldn't make out who it might be through the shadows that cloaked this part of the library.

I sighed. One of the reasons the library was so popular was because kids loved to sneak into the stacks and hook up with their latest crush-and we weren't talking about just a little kissing, like Logan and I had done. Oh no. Lots of the Mythos students thought that going All the Way in the library was a supercool thing to do. Whatever. I always hated it whenever Nickamedes made me clean back here because I'd always find lots of disgusting things, including used condoms. Yucko.

No doubt the mystery figure was one of the warrior whiz kids who'd just made out with his current honey. Or maybe one of my cla.s.smates just wanted to mess with me a final time tonight. Stacking up books so they'd eventually tip over and scare me when I was working late was another game some students loved to play. And given what had happened in the dining hall, I wouldn't put it past Helena or someone else to be lurking around, waiting to jump me and beat the stuffing out of me like they'd wanted to this morning-or worse.

Wary now, I pushed the cart forward, moving parallel to the shadowy figure. Apparently, for once I'd eased all the squeak-squeak-squeaks out of the wheels because they barely made a sound as I rolled the cart across the floor.

I'd just stepped into another crossway, trying to catch up to the figure, when the edge of a black robe whipped around a bookcase twenty feet ahead of me.

I froze again, my knuckles cracking as my hands tightened around the cart's handle. Because hookups or not, pranks or not, Mythos students did not wear black robes-Reapers of Chaos did.

Heart pounding, I grabbed Vic off the top of the cart and hurried after the figure.

"What are you doing?" the sword asked in a slightly m.u.f.fled voice, since his mouth was underneath my hand. "Why are you leaving the cart behind? You've got to take it back to the counter too."

"Shut up, Vic," I murmured. "I think there's someone else in the library."

But the sword didn't listen to me. "Of course there's someone in the library. Your friends are here, remember?"

"Yeah," I replied. "But none of them is wearing a black robe."

Vic's purplish eye widened, and I felt his mouth curve into a smile beneath my palm. "b.l.o.o.d.y Reapers," he said with obvious relish. "Let's kill them all!"

I resisted the urge to tell him to shut up again and raced forward. We were on the back side of the library, behind the gla.s.s office complex, and once again voices murmured up ahead. I eased up to the edge of one of the bookcases and peered around the corner.

Oliver and Alexei stood about thirty feet away from me, almost in the same spot where Nickamedes and Linus had argued earlier tonight. I'd thought perhaps the two of them had slipped back here to hook up, but then I noticed that they were glaring at each other. Had something gone wrong between them already?

"You should distance yourself from Gwen," Alexei said. "From what I hear, things are not going to go well for her tomorrow. At the very least, she'll be expelled from the academy. I don't have to tell you what the maximum punishment is for those convicted of being Reapers."

Oliver chewed on his lip. Apparently, he knew that the Protectorate could execute me if I was found guilty. I wondered if the others knew too. Probably. My friends had grown up in the mythological world. They knew the rules-and the consequences of breaking them-a lot better than I did.

"Please," Alexei said, holding out his hand. "Can't we just go back to the way things were over the holidays?"

For a moment, Oliver's face softened with memories. Longing filled his eyes, and he stared at Alexei's hand, obviously wanting to take it. But he slowly shook his head.

"Gwen's my friend," Oliver said. "And I'm not going to abandon her just because she's in trouble, especially since she didn't do the things the Protectorate said she did. She almost died trying to find the Helheim Dagger and keep it safe from the Reapers. You should have seen her that night we found her in the forest by that Garm gate. She was devastated by everything that had happened."

Alexei sighed and slowly dropped his hand to his side. "Maybe she was, but that won't be enough to save her. Not from the Protectorate. She'll be found guilty, and so will anyone who aligns themselves with her."

The two guys stood there, s.h.i.+fting on their feet and not quite looking at each other. Guilt twisted my heart. Oliver finally had a chance at happiness, and he was pus.h.i.+ng it aside because of me. I don't know that I would have done the same, if our positions had been reversed, if Logan had been standing in front of me, pleading with me with like that. Oliver was a far better friend than I was- Once again, I spotted a flicker of movement in the stacks. My head snapped in that direction, and I tightened my grip on Vic.

"Come on," I whispered. "Show yourself."

A second later, a Reaper stepped into view.