The Storm Runner (The Storm Runner 1)

Ms. Cab blinked as if that was the stupidest question she’d ever heard. “Yes, and it will deliver me to the sixth layer of the Ceiba Tree, also known as the World Tree. From there I’ll reach out to some contacts. It’s been a long time since I’ve traveled in this way. So I’m a bit rusty.”

I’d read about the Ceiba Tree. It starts in the underworld, grows through the middle of the world (that would be Earth), and reaches all the way up to paradise. But I’d never imagined it was a real thing.

I started to say something else when she held up her hand. “No more questions tonight. Your head is likely to explode. Now, you must repeat your promise to me.”

I never liked the sound of promises I might not be able to keep.

“Repeat after me. I, Zane Obispo,” she began, “promise not to leave my house for any reason until Ms. Cab returns tomorrow.”

Good thing tomorrow was Saturday and I didn’t have to go to school. “What if a demon runner comes to my house? Can I leave then?”

She tapped her foot impatiently. “Those dim-witted monsters are too busy duplicating like cockroaches, probably crawling all over Ah-Puch’s resting place. Trust me, they’re waiting for you to come to them.”

So that was a totally gross image. They could wait until the end of time. No way was I going near that volcano before Rosie was back, prophecy or no prophecy.

“Speaking of those monsters,” I said, “how come my mom couldn’t see the demon runner the other night and I could?”

“It’s a demon thing. No human can see them unless those monsters want to be seen. It’s the same way with gods—they too are camouflage kings. You were able to see the demon runner because you’re a—”

“Supernatural. Right.” No way was I ever going to get used to that idea.

“Now”—Ms. Cab clapped once—“I’ve put a bit of magical protection around your house so no other supernaturals can get in, which is why it’s the only place you’ll be safe. Do you hear me?”

I said the words she wanted to me to say.

Ms. Cab walked me to my doorstep and made sure I went inside. As I started to close the door, I jerked it back open and said, “Hey, Ms. Cab?”

“Yes?”

“Buena suerte.”

With a huff, she said, “Seers don’t need luck. Just remember your promise.”

10

The house was quiet.

It took me a few seconds to remember it was Friday night, and that meant Mom was helping Hondo at the bank. Eight o’clock. They wouldn’t be home for another hour or so.

I had a million questions for her, starting with: Who the heck is my dad? I was hoping he wasn’t a demon, because that would mean my life was officially over. Ms. Cab had told me that supernaturals come in many different forms. Some could be normal-looking, even handsome like Hollywood actors or NFL quarterbacks.

Question number two: How come you never told me I’m only part human? Just thinking those words made me want to jump out of my own skin. And the third question: Were you ever going to tell me?

I went to my bedroom and stood in front of my closet, trying to get up the nerve to open the door and retrieve my Maya book. What if one of those demon illustrations came to life and jumped off the page? “Get ahold of yourself,” I muttered. “It’s only a book.”

After I fished it out of the dirty clothes pile, I sat on the edge of my bed and opened the book slowly. I started reading from the beginning. Some pretty treacherous stuff was described in there, but nothing as bad as Xib’alb’a, the underworld, aka the Place of Fear, aka Where Rosie Was. My stomach turned.

The book confirmed everything Ms. Cab had told me, including that Ah-Puch was the jefe of all of hell’s lords. I took some notes to help me keep them all straight, though I hated to write their creepy names down. Let’s see what I can remember….

Flying Scab and Blood Gatherer—sicken people’s blood. (Gross!)

Pus Demon and Jaundice Demon—make people’s bodies swell up. (Seriously, who named these guys?)

Bone Staff and Skull Staff—turn humans into skeletons.

Sweeping Demon and Stabbing Demon—stab you to death.

Wing and Packstrap—make people die by coughing up blood until they drown in it. (Definitely a worse way to die than Hondo’s suggestion of being thrown into a vat of acid!)