1304 The Harbinger (The 13th Floor) by Christine Rains Page A

avoid the least amount of torment from the gods. She’d be one of Ares’ soldiers and forced to do his will. No choice but to share his bed if he so desired.
    A child of peace or war.
    War.
    By Hades, Ares knew about the prophecy. That’s what he wanted.
    Algaea wasn’t being toyed with. It was likely Ares didn’t know which harpy, or even which one of the sisters was the right one, but he had Algaea in his bed and Zenaida and Hespera with his mark. Meira wouldn’t doubt that he’d shagged them at some point or another.
    Her eyes darted back and forth between the gods. Zeus helped the oracle up and led her behind the thrones to be handed off to some servant. What Georgia had told Sam hadn’t surprised any of them, but what Georgia had said to Meira had half of them on their feet. A child of great influence affected all the gods, and even Dionysus looked sane as he contemplated the situation.
    Thunder rumbled in the distance. Zeus returned and glared at the God of War. If he hadn’t publicly said he was giving up Meira’s mark, Zeus would not let her free of his service. Ever. She had no doubt that he was already plotting how to regain her.
    “Let us begin!” The Thunder God bellowed. Ten cream colored eggs with gray speckles appeared in a circle around Meira’s feet. “All you must do, hero, is stand where you are and do nothing until all the eggs have hatched.”
    Meira gritted her teeth. She should know what sort of eggs these were, but she couldn’t place them. Not bird eggs of any sort. They were warm, but not hot. Not dragon eggs.
    She glanced at Zeus for any hint, but he had taken his place on his throne and stroked his beard. Dark clouds rolled in from the west.
    A couple of the eggs shuddered, and one to her right began to crack. It seemed to take forever for the first one to open with a little gap. Her heartbeat thudded in her ears. She didn’t dare bend over and try to peer into the egg.
    A weird little chirping sound came from the broken egg and the others called back. Not like a bird sound. More like a frog? Still, that wasn’t right.
    With one last whack from whatever was in the egg, it shattered and a small honey colored lizard shook itself free. Its long tail unfurled as it wobbled on its legs and took a few uncertain steps. It chirped again and blinked its unusual multi-colored eyes. They gleamed as though they were made of crystal.
    Meira jerked her gaze away from the lizard. “No.”
    Her wings tensed, ready to fly her away. She willed herself to stay still. Even if she could manage not to move, it wouldn’t matter. Standing in a nest of newly hatched basilisks guaranteed a slow and painful death.
    Was this what Zeus originally intended? Did he want her dead from the start? Or was this his new plan after learning Ares wanted her for something more than just a soldier?
    The first basilisk cheeped and crawled over her foot. Its tail wound around her ankle. Her toes twitched, and she almost cried at the involuntary movement.
    It bit her shortest toe. It didn’t matter the basilisk had no fangs, or even if it did, they wouldn’t be able to penetrate the tough flesh of her feet. Its venom soaked through like acid, and she bit her bottom lip to keep from screaming.
    What cells were alive were now dead. Turned to stone. Just that one toe. But the baby was hungry, and she was the closest piece of meat. Nine more had yet to hatch.

CHAPTER 13
     
    “Meira?” Sam kept himself in one spot, but one heel lifted off the ground.
    Meira shook her head. “No. Don’t move. Don’t do anything.”
    The basilisk’s chirping increased, hungry and excited. A second one broke from its shell and fell on its side as it tried to shake off the pieces. It looked up at its noisy brother and crawled to Meira’s foot. It bit at her stone toe and gurgled before moving onto another one, biting it with zeal.
    Meira’s cry escaped her before she could hold it in. When the basilisks looked up at her, she diverted her