The Storm Runner: Chapters 9–16

A mother's love is the most illogical of all types of love. If she knew, she'd do anything to protect you, and that could end up backfiring—on her, you, and the world.

But if you want details about your father, you'll have to ask her. I'm certainly not privy to the contents of her heart.

"This isn't exactly where I wanted to be, out here in the middle of the desert with old Ortiz fawning all over me, but a seer understands duty above all else."

"Because it's too big a risk. They don't exactly throw out the welcome mat for the living, and if you did show up, well, the underworld would suck you in and never let you go. The inhabitants simply adore flesh…. It's quite a delicacy, you know."

"Those humans were smart and could understand too much, so the gods sent a great fog to obscure some of their knowledge."

Yeah, the "hero" part of the twins' story had seemed a little overblown.

Pus Demon and Jaundice Demon—make people's bodies swell up. (Seriously, who named these guys?)

Apparently, the mangy black owl was Puke's evil pet, Muwan, which acted as his messenger and spy.

The smell of fresh-roasted green chile wafted from inside.

I lumbered to the glass doors and peered inside.

I looked back and the thing was gone. Mr. O was nodding off, oblivious.

Up close, I could see the bulbous nose and the gray sharp teeth. Its skin was pitted and puffy and it had a lazy eye that roamed too far to the left.

It kicked and screamed, clawing at her with its gnarled hands.

Mom looked up, mouth agape.

Brooks looked at me warily, but she didn't need to worry. I wasn't going to spill.

Brooks fabricated some big story about how her dad traded antiques around the world and the alux's owner had accused him of selling her a fake Maya death mask.

The poison! It pulsed and stung. My skin began to puff up with big purple welts.

"The poison's had time to ferment since yesterday," she said. "It's more toxic now."

Had I been more coherent I might've screamed N to the NO!, but my hand must've ignored my brain, because it started to squeeze.

"They're smart, even devious, but also very loyal and..."

Stalactites clung to the ceiling overhead, dripping water into the pond with a hollow echo that made my blood run cold.

Pale rock columns, about two or three feet tall, grew out of the sloping ground and surrounded a taller stalagmite with a flat surface.

Then I saw that the translucent husks were pulsing and stretching.

The walls looked porous, like stone sponges.

Her gauzy black skirt swept across the rock.

Then she handed Ah-Puch a creature with two goat heads and a body like a yellow snake. It squirmed and bleated, trying to wriggle its way free.

He waved his hand, and the ledge I was standing on shimmered. A second later, Brooks materialized, in comatose hawk form.

He waved his hand, and the ledge I was standing on shimmered. A second later, Brooks materialized, in comatose hawk form.

I felt myself flush with anger but tamped it down.

"I see now," he said, looking at me with a wry smile. "You're more than a mere human, Zane Obispo."

Muwan sauntered to the roof's edge, laughing lightly.

"Holy K! I heard your thoughts."
"Whoa!" I jumped back. This had happened before, when we were in the pool, but I thought that had been a fluke.

Did you hear that, gods? You got duped!

"What's an innocent?" I asked.
"I didn't understand before, but now I get it. It's someone who has no knowledge of his lineage. As in you're not ruined by your power yet."

"It's rabid," Hondo said. "Like in those scary movies when the animals kill everyone? You ever see Cujo or The Birds?"