The Storm Runner (The Storm Runner 1)

Pacific slipped off the railing and onto the water’s still-frozen surface. “Yes.”

“But I can’t run! How am I supposed to become the Storm Runner if…” I thought about Hurakan, about the Empty he had created, and anger shook my bones. “Why can’t he ever tell me anything himself? Why does Hurakan always have to send messengers? He’s a coward!”

“Shhh,” Pacific warned, looking around.

“We’ve got to get a move on,” said Mat, putting his cap back on. “We’ve done our favor.”

“One more thing….” I fished the jaguar jade from my pocket. “Other than letting me talk to my dad, what exactly does this oldest magic do?” I asked. “The twins said whoever gives it away can fill it with any power…?”

Pacific tugged on a dreadlock and looked at me expectantly.

“So who am I supposed to give it to?”

“That’s up to you,” Pacific said.

“Chatting time is over, kid,” Mat said. “It’s too dangerous for us to linger.” As he stepped into the rowboat along with Pacific, he ran his hand across the icy sea. In a blink, it turned back to liquid and dropped to its normal level. I heard him mutter, “If they knew I found you and didn’t…”

He didn’t have to finish his sentence. He was expected to kill me on sight. If he failed to do so, he’d be killed himself. I got it. Zane Obispo: the gods’ Public Enemy Number One.

A curtain of fog rose from the ocean and I watched as they floated into it. The sea began to churn again, glossy ripples under the moonlight.

It was weird to live with death breathing down your neck. It changes your mind and your heart and your choices. Did Brooks feel the same way, I wondered, knowing Ixtab might come for her anytime?

“Zane?” I turned as Brooks sat up sleepily, rubbing her eyes. “I had the strangest dream. There was thunder and…”

“I met Kukuulkaan,” I cut in.

She rocketed to her feet. “Where? Here? Why didn’t you wake me up?! Did you get his autograph?”

“He’s going to help us,” I said, feeling pretty cool, because Brooks was looking at me with something like admiration. “Speed up the currents, give us some wind.”

Her look of admiration vanished. “You didn’t get an autograph.”

“Uh—sorry. Had more pressing things on my mind, fangirl,” I teased.

“Mm-hmm… Why would he help you?”

“He and my dad go way back.”

Her eyes widened. “Of course!” She reached into her backpack and pulled out her socks and boots. “They worked together to create and destroy—”

“Right.” Why couldn’t I have been born to the god of leaving everything alone?

I looked down at death’s mark on my wrist. The eyelids shifted like before, and I had a creepy feeling they were going to open very soon.

31

Brooks and I lay on opposite ends of the bench with only our feet touching. I gave her most of the blanket as the winds kicked up, speeding the

currents. I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep, where I dreamed of the strange metal forest like before, but this time there was no Rosie. Only Ms. Cab as a chicken the size of a rhinoceros hollering, “Find his blind spot!”

“Ah-Puch doesn’t have a blind spot!” I yelled. Then I felt relieved to see her. She was my link to home. “How’s my mom?”

“Your mom? You’re worried about her, when every day I’m becoming more of a chicken? Today I craved birdseed, Zane. Birdseed! You must hurry.”

“I get it! But I need to know… is she okay?”

With an annoyed cluck, Ms. Cab said, “If you must know, that fool Ortiz has us under constant surveillance. And when I’m no longer a chicken, I swear I’ll…” She let her pending threat die on her chicken lips.