“He’s doing something and I’m not sure if it’s threatening or not.” Jayden’s grip tightens on the steering wheel.
“Is that a rock or a weapon?” Raven asks.
“A rock is a weapon,” I yell.
“He just threw it. Fuck.” Jayden swerves. The tires screech as we dodge the huge boulder Argus threw at us.
“What are we going to do?” I ask as the scent of burning rubber hits my nose.
“We need to back off and leave the SUV somewhere out of the line of fire. We’re fucked if we lose this vehicle,” Raven says.
“Where can we stash it? We’re in an open field.” I grip the lightning bolt charm but don’t call my whip to me yet.
We need to regroup and think of a plan. This monster is intelligent, unlike most of the monsters we’ve faced in the past. He also has one hundred eyes and will anticipate any attack.
Jayden throws the SUV into reverse. “Duck down so I can see out the back window.”
“I thought we decided to never do this again.” I hold on with everything I have to the back of my seat as we speed the wrong way down the street.
“Baby, I need you to keep eyes on Argos. Turn back around,” Jayden commands.
It takes all my willpower to unlock my fingers from the leather headrest and turn back to the giant staring at us in confusion. He bends over, picking up another boulder that appears so small in his huge hand.
“He has another boulder, Jayden.” I lean forward in my seat.
I get a glimpse of the giant’s arm which is also covered in eyes. It’s deeply unsettling. They don’t even blink all at the same time, probably so he can always be watching.
“We need a place to hide like right now,” I warn.
“Everyone, hold on,” Jayden shouts.
I grab on to the dashboard as Jayden backs the SUV through a wooden fence that separates the road from the abandoned farmland. There’s a grove of peach trees about a hundred yards behind us. A gravel path leads into the orchard and Jayden swerves to reach it and reverses into the trees.
“Are there dryads in this grove?” Raven grumbles.
“Probably but we have bigger problems than your beef with tree spirits.” I roll my eyes. “Is there any information we have on how far this crazy giant can throw a boulder?”
“No, why?” Draven says.
“Because he just launched a big motherfucker at us.” I brace for impact.
“Fuck,” Jayden slams his foot down on the gas and we shoot farther between the peach trees.
“I think we’re safe to get out and see if we can sneak up on him somehow. Draven, any ideas?” I ask.
“Give me a second.” Draven furrows his brow.
“Why did you ask Draven?” Raven asks.
“His father is the god of mischief and thieves. If anyone can come up with a way to trick a one-hundred-eyed giant, then it’s Hermes.” I shrug.
“But in history, he couldn’t, so why would Draven be able to now?” Raven asks.
“Rude,” Draven says.
“But not untrue,” Kira says, poking him in the ribs.
“No, darling, not untrue. I just need to focus. I’m not gods touched like the rest of you.”
