Ancient (#5 Destroyers Series)

by Holly Hook

  A giant hole bore into the ground, easily over a hundred feet across, lined with stone and filled with water so deep she could only guess how far down the bottom was. A rope fence surrounded it on all sides to prevent tourists from falling in. Tourists. How could anyone come near this place?

  They stopped.

  I do not think it's wise to get closer. Not in our current form, anyway.

  Sophia, for the first time since their fight with Andrina, agreed with her.

  The electric feeling around this place was enough to bring back that memory in full. Andrina's glare as her hand wrapped around Sophia's throat, cutting off her air. The lightning bolt, coming through the door and striking her in the chest. And the tornado, ripping up the roof of that factory and slowly advancing on her…

  So is this where Huracan is?

  It seems likely. If he is here, he is resting at the bottom of this pit. This is a sacred place. Or was, I should say.

  Sophia strained her neck--did she have a neck in this state?--to look closer at the giant hole. The water it held was dark, calm and reflecting the stars above like a planetarium screen. If there was a storm god resting at the bottom of this thing, it certainly didn't look like it, but the tingling grew stronger by the second, washing over her like waves of rage and threatening to pull her down into the water itself--

  We must go. Hyrokkin was firm, commanding, and just a touch scared. Something is stirring, and it isn't good.

  Agreed. Go.

  A low growl like that of distant thunder sounded through the air. The sound hadn't even died down yet when they were flying again, past the pyramid and stone platforms, past the army of forgotten columns, and back up into the night as trees whipped past under them and the angry tingling of the storm god slowly died.

  Sophia couldn't be sure, but she thought she'd seen a glint of sickly green light in the water right before Hyrokkin and turned them both away.

  Chapter Five

  Sophia didn't barf when she opened her eyes in the freezer, but only barely. Boxes did somersaults around her as she leaned over and faced the floor, focusing on a grease spot on the floor. It swayed back and forth as her stomach protested.

  The nausea and the spinning slowly died and the room settled. "I never want to do that again," she said. Maybe, if she actually liked going on wild roller coasters like Callie did, she would. "Is this how Paul and Leslie feel when they have Outbreaks?"

  Hyrokkin did her best hag laugh. Well, I'm sure they don't get sick like you did. Other than that, it's very similar.

  Sophia sighed and rose from the box, bracing on it as the room spun again. But it was gone in a second. Janelle would be standing guard outside the door. In a minute she would probably come barging in to see if she was okay. That was provided she hadn't gotten caught.

  Sophia slowly pushed open the door. "Janelle?"

  Someone spoke just outside the door, an accented male one that she'd never heard before.

  Oh, no.

  Someone had found Janelle.

  Sophia's stomach lurched again--this time with nerves--as she pushed open the door all the way. It didn't matter if she got caught now.

  Janelle had her back to her, talking to a guy decked out in an apron. Grease covered it like he'd spent a long time cleaning the kitchen. He seemed to be in his forties, maybe, with a pitted scar on his cheek that looked as if something had once burned him there a long time ago.

  And he didn't seem angry. Instead, he stuttered something--a hybrid of English and Spanish--and clumsily shook Janelle's hand.

  He had a gray spiral on his upper arm. The man was a Tempest. He'd recognized his leader. No wonder he looked so nervous shaking Janelle's hand.

  Sophia let out her breath and pushed open the door. It was pretty clear that they weren't about to be destroyed. "Janelle?"

  She turned. "Oh," she said, releasing the man's hand. "Sorry," she said to him. "Sophia, this is Manuel. He's one of my people." The relief on Janelle's face was as obvious as a sign that read Phew! She looked like an actress in a silent film. "Manuel, this is Sophia. She's a friend of mine. We're sorry that we had to use your freezer. It was an emergency."

  "That's okay," he said, holding up a hand. His mustache twitched as he spoke. "I'm sure it is important."

  Manuel looked like he was going to collapse with nerves at any second. She went to ask Hyrokkin what might be the matter, but the demon had already faded away in the heat of the kitchen.

  It didn't matter. He got to it. "Is…Andrina in the area?"

  "Oh, no. She isn't," Janelle said quickly, glancing at the kitchen door behind him. "We last saw her in Arizona. I don't think she knows where we've gone. It's a long story."

  Manuel let out a breath. "That's good. I hear rumors sometimes. Things are bad." He shook his head and winced. "No one even knows where you are, Tempest High Leader. Everything is confusing now."

  Janelle sighed. She wasn't even making an effort to look professional now, not like she had when Sophia first met her. It was as if she was slowly casting off her leadership role altogether, willing it to go away. "I know."

  "Would you like to come over for dinner tomorrow?" he asked. "You can tell us your story. My family would love to have you."

  * * * * *

  "So where do you think this pyramid place is?" Paul scratched his head the next afternoon as they waited in the lobby for the cab that would take them to Manuel's house for dinner. He pulled Leslie closer to him. "I don't know anything about Mexico. You know, with my dad keeping me so insulated all those years. We didn't even buy any newspapers." He felt stupid, like a hatchling just starting to make its way out into the world. It was a feeling he'd have for quite a while still. But his father had only been trying to protect him, he reminded himself. The truth about being an Outbreaker would have torn him up as a child.

  His father had gone to jail to protect him. He and his uncle both. It wasn't right to stay angry at either one of them.

  Leslie snuggled closer, pulling him into the sun streaming in through the glass door. "I'm not sure. There are a lot of old Mayan ruins around the area. It could be any of them. And the pit thing I've never even heard of."

  He wasn't sure what to expect from this dinner, but hopefully this Manuel guy would know something about whatever Sophia and Hyrokkin had seen last night. It was mostly the reason that Janelle had agreed to go to dinner at his house. But Sophia hadn't seemed too enthused about going back to whatever she'd seen. She hung over by the window by herself. The presence of Huracan--if it was even him down in that pit--had shaken her up pretty bad. It didn't make Paul feel any better about the situation, but they had no other options.

  It was better than Leslie having to give Janelle her breath and make her a goddess, right?

  And if there was even a hair's chance of getting Huracan to make them all human, it was worth it.

  Paul stroked Leslie's hair. It grew warm in the sun.

  Definitely worth it, even if only Leslie could be saved from this.

  "You seem pretty lost," Leslie said as they climbed into the cab. Manuel had sent them two, one for each couple. Sophia stuck with them but crawled into the front. That was odd since there was easily another space in the back.

  "Sophia, you can--" Paul remembered with a flush to his cheeks. It was Leslie she didn't want to sit with. He'd forgotten for a second.

  Leslie had nearly killed Sophia during her first Outbreak. It hadn't been on purpose, of course, but nothing could change that fact. Leslie looked everywhere but the front seat, trying to avoid catching Sophia in her vision. It was mutual, then.

  Paul really missed some things sometimes. It made him feel even more stupid.

  * * * * *

  Manuel's house was relatively modest, with a one-car garage and a small palm tree in the front yard. It didn't look much different from the houses Janelle had seen in Florida during the two weeks she and her father had lived there. That was right before she'd learned her real identity and right before s
he'd left her old life forever.

  "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Gary asked. "We don't know who Andrina has ordered around. If she's already gotten to this guy, he won't be able to tell you. Remember Thomas Curt?"

  "I don't think it's that way," she told him. It felt good to know he was probably wrong for once. "He was pretty shocked to see me. And there are a lot of Tempests here in Mexico. I'm sure some of them are descended from the Mayans that used to worship Huracan. I can only assume he went after them first when he was turning people."

  It did make sense. Janelle had to keep reminding herself that. Andrina couldn't know they were heading here specifically. But she had known that they'd be passing through Arizona. Maybe Gary was right after all...

  "Oh, I'm sure he did," Gary said, scooting closer to her as the cab came to a complete stop. At least he wasn't arguing with her. "We just need to be on our guard."

  "I'm here just in case anything happens," Kenna said, reminding Janelle that she was there. The irritation was back in her voice. "You know, since I'm the only one who can fight Andrina. Sophia might be able to help, but I'm not sure she's up to that here."

  "And I’m glad that you are," Janelle said quickly, though she wasn't sure. Lately she'd been thinking of ways to get away from Kenna for a while, but at the same time she knew that her growing temper wasn't really her fault. Kenna likely wasn't thrilled about the whole situation, either. It was something she could understand. There were some things you just couldn't control.

  Gary got out of the car almost as fast as Janelle did, and not in Kenna's direction. It seemed like his near-death by lava was still hurting his pride. That scar would probably never go away. "Nice place," he said, facing the house, but Janelle knew it was only a distraction from his thoughts.

  Manuel opened the door even as they all slowly moved up the sidewalk. Janelle wasn't sure how he planned to fit everyone inside, but he'd insisted on letting everyone come to dinner. He'd replaced his tank top with a nice work shirt that belonged in an office. Janelle glanced down at her souvenir T-shirt that she'd bought that morning at the hotel. It looked cheap and tacky compared to the way he was dressed. If the Elder Council were here, they'd lecture her up and down for days about this. Why weren't you in your suit? Did you at least remember to wear makeup? She could hear their condescending voices right now.

  But Manuel didn't seem to care. He beamed as he opened the door all the way. "Tempest High Leader," he breathed in his accent. "So pleased to have you."

  "You can just call me Janelle." It was better that way. In a week, she might not even be a high leader and there might not even be Tempests. Whether it was from Andrina's doing or Huracan's, she didn't know. That was the scary part.

  The house smelled like food, she noticed, kind of like that little Mexican restaurant she and her father used to frequent when she was a kid. Good memories. She missed him all of a sudden. Where was he now? The question squeezed at her chest.

  Janelle tried to ignore it as she introduced everyone. Gary reluctantly shook Manuel's hand, but everyone else seemed more at ease, even Sophia.

  "We eat on the patio," he said, waving everyone through the living room and out the back sliding door.

  He had already set up the area. Placemats--eight of them, to be exact--waited on the table with glasses and silverware. Janelle felt her face flush. She felt funny that ordinary people were doing this for her, like she didn't deserve to be treated like this. Maybe she didn't, after all. She was planning on ditching her post--but only if it meant that every other Tempest in the world could become human. Only if it meant Huracan could take over for them and keep the world's weather from going out of whack.

  It wouldn't be right any other way.

  Nobody said much at the table while they waited. Sophia was the last one to sit, on the opposite side of the table as Leslie. Neither one of them said much to each other anymore. It was a major hurdle that they probably were never going to overcome.

  Andrina had ruined that, too.

  "It was nice of Manuel to invite all of us," she said to break the silence. "Just so everyone knows, I do want to fill him in on everything in exchange for him feeding us like this. He deserves to know and he might be able to help us with what Sophia and Hyrokkin saw." She ignored the look Gary gave her.

  Just in case, she checked the sky again. Puffy clouds drifted overhead like they had nothing better to do. All clear. But it had been that way in the desert, too. Andrina would find ways around trifles like sunny days.

  Manuel burst out of the sliding door ten minutes later with a huge platter that had several plates balanced on it precariously. Behind him came a black-haired woman around the same age who wore a tank top and jeans, bringing a second platter. His wife, it must be.

  Her upper arms were both bare. No gray spiral anywhere. Manuel's wife was human.

  A distinct seafood smell hit Janelle. She almost didn't notice it. She was still reeling. She had met plenty of Tempests and knew that some of them married humans, but never had she seen it like this. A lot of the marriages broke up when the human spouses learned the truth. Gary's parents had split up six years ago for that reason. And Andrina's human mother had literally murdered her Tempest father in his sleep.

  And yet these people were together.

  Happy, from the looks of it.

  Manuel seemed to read her mind. "She knows," he said as he put the first plate down in front of her. "It's safe to talk around her."

  "Hello," Janelle managed.

  The woman smiled and returned her greeting. "Maria," she said.

  "She doesn't speak much English," Manuel told her.

  Janelle nodded her understanding and looked down at her plate. It was a fish filet, all right, fried and doused in some kind of red sauce. Manuel had also set down a bowl of sweet-smelling salsa and tortilla chips. The fish couldn't have been cheap to buy for all of these people. "Manuel, you didn't have to--"

  "It was no problem," he said quickly. "My brother is in the fishing business. My family has done that for years and years."

  "Tempest fishermen," Gary muttered under his breath. "Hope the boat doesn't ever capsize."

  Janelle nodded, hoping that Manuel didn't hear. It wasn't a career she'd choose.

  The fish was actually quite good and the salsa both spicy and sweet at the same time. The only person not touching hers was Kenna, but Janelle was sure that the fact that her meal had come from the ocean had something to do with that. She did, however, dig into the salsa and finish it all off pretty quickly. Sophia, on the other hand, struggled with the spicy meal, taking huge gulps of fruit juice with every bite.

  "I'm thrilled to have you here, Tempest High Leader," Manuel said as he put down his napkin. "My wife and I are both honored that you'd eat with us. Andrina never would have come here. She did not like it when Tempests and humans were together."

  Janelle felt the familiar heat rise to her cheeks. She hated talking about her, but the time had come. "It has to do with her parents."

  "We all know the story," Manuel continued. "But it's not that way all the time. My wife and I have been together for over twenty years. She knows about Tempests. We have a Tempest daughter in college right now. I know she would like to meet you."

  "And I'd like to meet her." Janelle studied Gary from the corner of her eye. He slouched down in his chair, burning with jealousy at the sight of this happy family. She could tell. His father's leaving had never stopped hurting.

  Manuel took one last bite of his fish. After a long pause, he spoke again. "I am proud that you are our leader, Janelle. You understand our true purpose in the world."

  The heat returned in an instant. Janelle felt everyone's gazes landing on her. It was a strange feeling, like she had a huge spotlight shining down on her. She wasn't much of a leader. She did stupid, reckless things and could never satisfy the Elder Council. In a day or two, she was about to pull what was probably her dumbest move yet.

  "Thank you," she managed. Her dinne
r was starting to settle funny. "I should tell you why we're here."

  Backs stiffened around the table. Manuel practically leaned forward with anticipation and fear. "Please. I don't mean to intrude, but I'm sure it's important."

  "You might be able to help us with something," she said. "We're looking for Huracan."

  Manuel stiffened. "The Huracan? No one has seen him for hundreds of years."

  She nodded. "Now that Andrina's a storm goddess, he might be the only one who can take care of her. None of the Tempests and Outbreakers can. Kenna here can't even get rid of her, and she's a volcano goddess. Believe me, she's tried."

  Kenna withered at the words. "The sky and the water are not my elements," she added, picking at her fish. "Especially water. I can't even touch it. Andrina has too much of it at her disposal." Kenna picked at the fish again and took a small bite. "I didn't mean to sound rude. The fish is good."

  Manuel's gaze darted side to side across the table. "So you want to wake him up."

  "Yes. I don't see any other choice. If we don't act now, Andrina will rip all of us out of our bodies." And make me just like her. She didn't need to say that out loud.

  Leslie shifted next to her. If Andrina did catch up to them, Leslie was going to be the one to turn her.

  "Do you know where he might be resting?" Gary asked.

  The man was silent for a long time. Maria asked him something in Spanish, and he answered likewise. She grimaced.

  "I don't know," he said. "Tempests have looked in the past, those who wanted to give back their power and be human. Some of the earliest ones searched the old Mayan temples for him, but with no luck. All of the known pyramids have been searched. So have all the other ruins that we know of. No one has ever found him."