All That Lives Must Die - Eric Nylund [110]
He was certain Cee or Audrey hadn’t unpacked it for him. That would be cleaning up his mess for him (which never happened in this household).
Eliot moved toward it, drawn to the mysteries between its covers . . . remembering the hand-scrawled note on the first page: “mostly lies.”
Well, that’s all either side of his family seemed capable of.
Eliot had work to do. He had his Paxington homework, learning about the mortal magical families, and the immortals that were his family.
He grabbed Mythica Improbiba and flipped through the pages until he found that medieval woodcut of the Great Satan.
He also had to learn everything he could about the other side of his family because the game was on . . . and he’d lost the first move.
29. Italian for “almost a fantasy” aka the Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor by Ludwig van Beethoven, more commonly known as the “Moonlight Sonata.” The piece is said to be inspired by moonlight on the Lucerna River, or perhaps Beethoven’s unrequited love for the Countess Giulietta Gucciardi, or some claim that it is closer in mood to a solemn funeral hymn, which had been inspired by the death of a close friend of Beethoven’s. Speculation of the meaning of this music continues—given the importance of this egg upon the Post family history (and indeed the subsequent history of the entire world). Mythohistorians believe it was not only a love token from Louis Piper to Audrey Post, but also a direct warning of the coming trouble for their family. Gods of the First and Twenty-first Century, Volume 11, The Post Family Mythology. Zypheron Press Ltd., Eighth Edition.
30
CAPTAIN
Fiona waited alone on the field and studied the jungle gym. She was aghast.
The last two weeks in gym, they’d drilled: going up ropes, sliding down poles, balancing on narrow beams, and scrambling over cargo nets like monkeys. She had memorized five different ways to the top.
All useless now.
Mr. Ma had changed everything: ladders and spirals and chain-link climbing walls had been jumbled—some gone altogether and replaced with new features; there were spinning tubes; a chasm with a rope dangling in the middle (with an impossible reach from either side); and ramps too steep to climb without rappel lines.
Like they needed to make it harder for Team Scarab after their first loss.
Fiona hadn’t had a lot of time to dwell upon their failure. She’d been busy. Miss Westin had piled on the homework. And with gym practice three times a week, she was mentally and physically exhausted.
She’d also been by herself. Amanda and Mitch had been just as busy.
Eliot had become a recluse as well. He went over to Robert’s every day after school. He said to help him study . . . which could have been true, but Fiona sensed it wasn’t all of the truth. When he came home, he locked himself in his room.
Maybe that rebuke from Audrey over the stolen phone had pushed him away. Fiona should’ve said something, but it had been stupid to talk to their father alone.
She took in a deep breath.
Her thoughts focused back upon the imposing six-story structure, and the fact that Team Scarab had its second match today. Mr. Ma hadn’t told them against whom, just to “be ready.”
They needed a win. Two losses would drop them to the last quarter of the standings . . . well on their way to flunking out.
She checked the tension of the rubber band on her wrist. Taut.
She’d removed the bracelet her father had given her because she wasn’t sure if Mr. Ma would classify it as a weapon, and she didn’t trust anything from Louis anymore.
Fiona was as ready as she’d ever be. It was the rest of her team, how’d they work together (or not), that had her worried.
Amanda, Sarah, and Jezebel marched out from the girls’ locker room.
Sarah looked ultra-confident as usual. Was that just an act? Fiona doubted it; Sarah seemed to be good at everything.
Jezebel limped onto the field. She hadn’t been injured in that fight in the alley,