“Demigods?” Avery repeated. “As in, half human and half god?”

Hermes had gone back to looking through his messenger bag. “Yup. Unless Lori Knight isn’t human, you and your brother are definitely demigods.”

“Wait.” Shane was shaking his head. “So, my mother is literally love and beauty?”

“Where did you think you got your looks from, kid?” Hermes grimaced. “I’ve seen your dad. He did not age well.”

“Hey.” Shane raised a fist.

Avery quickly reached across the picnic table and covered Shane’s hand. “Let’s not get into a fight with a god.”

“You believe him?”

Avery paused. If she was being honest, yes, she did believe that the man across the table was the real deal. The appearing out of nowhere kind of helped with that. He definitely wasn’t human.

As for Noah and her dad being a god? Avery didn’t know enough about gods to know if there were signs, but Hermes had said their dad was the god of prophecies. That might explain how Noah had known what the Chimera and Empousa were.

But what about her?

“Third shelf from the right.” Noah broke into her thoughts. He leaned against her again.

Hermes stopped and looked up at Noah. He scowled. “Tell your dad I know exactly where everything is.” He turned back to his bag and swore.

From the bag he pulled three brown paper packages. “Third shelf from the right.” He placed one package in front of each of them.

Avery looked at the package before her. It was a medium sized rectangular box. The only marking on it was her name.

“What are these?” Shane asked, picking up his own package. It was about as long as Avery’s, but narrower.

“Gifts.” Hermes said, like it should be obvious. “From your parents. Should make the journey ahead of you much easier.”

Avery got a sinking feeling in her stomach. “What journey?”

Hermes’s somber expression didn’t make her feel any better. “There are many more monsters out there. They’re drawn to the godly blood you posses. I’d say you’re lucky to have only encountered two so far.” He glanced at Noah.

“But what journey?” Shane prompted.

“Get somewhere safe.” Hermes instructed. “You’ll have to find a place protected from the monsters.”

Avery gripped Noah’s hand. “Where should we go?” The idea of more monsters showing up terrified her. She had to keep her brother safe, but how could she keep him out of harm’s way if they were attacked again? She had barely escaped the Chimera, and they both only survived the Empousa because of Shane.

Hermes’s expression was one that only belonged on an old man who was about to die. He looked too wise for his mortal form. “I can’t tell you where. You have to find it on your own.”

“What?” Avery couldn’t keep the panic out of her voice.

“Don’t worry.” Hermes cracked a mischievous smile. “One of you already knows where to go.”

“How--”

But Hermes was gone.

Avery stared at the spot where he had been. She had more questions for him. She wanted to know what to expect. What monsters were they going to face? How could they defeat them?

Had she inherited anything from her dad?

Shane was turning his package over in his hands. He looked up at her and gave her a half-smile. “Should we open them?”

Avery looked at her own package and sighed. “Might as well.” She carefully pulled at the paper.

Inside was an archer’s bow and a quiver of arrows. Avery didn’t know how the package had appeared like a box, but that wasn’t the most important thing right now. She was more concerned with the fact that she had never shot a bow before. She didn’t know if she’d be able to use it to keep them safe.

“Whoa.” Shane’s gasp made Avery look up. He was holding a bronze sword. He held it away from himself, like he was afraid of it.

“What is it?” Noah asked.

“A swo--” Avery turned to Noah and her answer got stuck in her throat.

Noah wasn’t asking about Shane’s sword. He had opened his own, much smaller package. On the table in front of him sat a sheathed dagger.

Avery didn’t like the idea of Noah desperately swinging a dagger at an attacking monster.

“It’s a dagger.” Shane answered the question.

“Oh.” Avery was glad that Noah also appeared uncomfortable with the weapon.

“It’s fine if you--”

Noah suddenly spun around to face the trees. “We have to get out of here.” He muttered ominously.