Another nod.
“Then prove you’re on our side, be the giver of life, and undo the damage you’ve done.”
The devourer’s eyes were black and sunken. “The water…” she said. “I am an earth goddess. I don’t like the water—it weakens me. I…I need my powers….”
“To do what?” Marco said. “Devour all of us?” His eyes drilled into mine. “What if this is a trick?”
The devourer sucked in a sharp breath and collapsed to her knees. Adrik reached out and broke her fall. “Dude, is she going to die on us?”
Terror filled every inch of me, and for some reason, Ixtab popped into my head. I hoped Rosie had taken off to find her. It wouldn’t matter what the goddess looked like, either—my hellhound would know her in any form. Yeah, Rosie needed to track down the goddess and wake her up, because if anyone is awesome in the-world-is-ending mode, it’s Ixtab.
“We can’t just stand around here,” Brooks cried. “I’ll fly down there and find some of the more useful gods—”
“What if they’re like these guys?” Adrik cut in, gesturing to the sleepers. “And what if they won’t wake up?”
“What if you get caught?” Marco paced the deck, teetering too close to the edge of the hole.
Ren nodded. “I can use shadows to keep us hidden, Brooks.”
“Hang on,” I said. “I’m going, too.”
“Me four,” Marco added.
Brooks said to Marco, “I’ll be faster if I’m only carrying Ren.” Then to me, “You need to stay with Hondo.”
A terrible battle raged inside me. Deep down, I knew I shouldn’t leave Hondo alone when he was in such bad shape. But I also knew I needed to help find the gods.
“Zane,” Brooks said, grabbing my arm, “Ren and I can do this.”
“Just get Hondo back into fighting shape,” Ren said, clearing her throat like that might hide the catch in her voice.
They were right. I couldn’t leave my uncle. Not now.
“Just don’t take any chances,” I said. “Ixkik’ and Zotz will know who freed the gods—they’ll be waiting.”
“We got this,” Ren said, creating a shadow around her and Brooks. The sombra was so thick I couldn’t see either of them, only a dark form that departed with a rush of air.
We hurried past the devourer to Hondo, who was still on the couch. His breaths were raspy and short. I felt like I had walked into the worst day of my life complete with dead ends, wasted chances, and lives hanging in the balance.
“Let me help,” the devourer said, shuffling over. “I believe I can restore him.”
“You just told us you’re too weak,” I argued.
“We can all do it together. The blood of the gods runs through your veins,” she said to Adrik, Marco, and me. “That blood is power.”
“You’re not getting any of my blood,” Adrik said, shaking his head and stepping away. “Nope.”
“Not blood,” she corrected. “Power.”
Marco backed up, too. “Nuh-uh. No way. Not falling for it.”
I glanced at my uncle. He was still—too still. “Hondo’s going to die,” I growled at Marco. “So unless you have a better idea…”
Adrik looked around nervously, wringing his hands like he wasn’t sure what to do. “As long as it doesn’t involve actual bleeding, I’ll help,” he finally said. “But maybe you should point Fuego at her throat just in case.”
“I like the way you think,” Marco said to Adrik. “Okay, I’ll pitch in, too,” he told me. “And if I do end up dying, at least I’ll die a kick-butt hero, right?”
Unless Jordan and Bird tell your story, I thought, remembering their lies about Ah-Puch and Sipacna.