“What do you mean, more?” Alana asked.
“Zotz knew that if he killed Akan,” Brooks said, “the gods would call an emergency meeting.”
“Yes,” Itzamna said matter-of-factly. “That is protocol.”
“And Zotz was waiting,” Ren added with a shudder.
“Surprise attack,” Hondo said.
“It was an ambush,” Adrik said.
“Plot twist!” Itzamna said as he stood and swept his robe behind him. “How did I not see this coming?” His brows creased together tightly, pushing his glasses down his nose. “I let myself get distracted with SHIHOM, with you godborns, that’s how.”
A sudden hush fell over the room. Brooks’s eyes glazed over as she whispered, “The time rope.”
“No one can take it from Pacific,” Itzamna said. “Even while she’s in a deep slumber, her rope would go with her.”
Rosie let out a small whimper, like she was just as relieved as the rest of us that the time rope was safely away from Zotz and Ixkik’.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
Itzamna nodded, but it was Ren who spoke first. “My mom told me that when the gods exiled her, they tried to take the rope, but it was impossible. No one, not even a god, can take what is a part of the time goddess. Not unless she gives it away.”
Ren’s umbrella shadow loomed even bigger as Itzamna began to pace. I was thankful that she had more control over her shadows than she used to.
“I do believe you all are beginning to give shape to this tale,” the god said.
I heard Itzamna’s words, but my brain could barely process them. How had we been so easily duped? How could not one stinking god have seen this?
“Ixkik’ is trying to get into Xib’alb’a,” Itzamna added, “to claim it for herself, which could give her access to the Tree’s roots.” He shook his head woefully. “Thankfully, she cannot penetrate the Tree’s powerful magic.”
We all shot glances at each other. “Unless she has an entry stone,” I said.
The god’s face collapsed inch by inch as we filled him in.
A terrifying idea bloomed in my head. “Are they planning to come back here to finish the job? Kill all the lights?”
“‘Killing the lights,’ as you put it, wouldn’t kill the gods,” Itzamna said. “They want in for another reason.”
“We have to help the gods!” Ren cried.
“Including me,” Itzamna moaned.
“We can call on the giants and other sobrenaturals,” I said, trying to remain cool-headed.
“I tried that,” Itzamna said. “But no one has answered. It’s as if they’re ignoring me. Or maybe I’m just not strong enough.” His eyes flicked to the Tree.
Brooks gasped. “My sister would never ignore…They must be in danger, too.”
“This is seriously messed up.” Hondo’s hands curled into tight fists.
My brain was definitely going to implode. “Or maybe no one heard Itzamna’s calls,” I argued. “We have to stay calm—”
“And deal only in facts,” Ren said, turning to the god. “You can see everything from the top of your Tree. So where are the gods?”
“Where are Zotz and Ixkik’?” I pressed.
/> “What are they going to do next?” Alana asked.