Who Let the Gods Out? by Maz Evans

Author:Maz Evans
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Zeus was barely halfway through his explanation of Thanatos’s escape when Aphrodite had pulled the keys to her sports car out of her handbag.

“I’m in,” she squealed. “Sounds like fun!”

But Athene was going to take more persuading.

Zeus, Elliot, and Aphrodite were in Athene’s office at St. Brainiac College at Oxford University, where Athene was an esteemed professor of politics, philosophy, economics, English, French, Spanish, classics, natural sciences, and basket-weaving. It was a delicate negotiation.

“YOU ARE SUCH A BORING-BRAINED, LIBRARY-LAME-O NERD-BUTT!” Aphrodite shouted at her sister across the grand mahogany desk.

“I see you’ve been studying the Big Book of Intelligent Insults,” Athene shot back over the top of her tortoiseshell glasses.

Zeus looked at Elliot with raised eyebrows. See what I mean? Elliot could hear him say.

“I can’t believe you’d rather sit here with your big pointy nose stuck in a book than be out finding the Chaos Stones,” Aphrodite pouted. “Just because you look like a pensioner doesn’t mean that you have to act like one.”

Painful as it was to disagree with Aphrodite, Elliot could see that she was being very hard on her sister. Athene would normally be the most beautiful woman in the room: she was slender, with ebony hair piled into an elegant knot, her deep brown eyes radiating intelligence and grace over the rims of her glasses. But Elliot was convinced that all other girls looked like snotty warthogs next to Aphrodite.

“I am a highly regarded academic,” said Athene grandly. “Some of us aren’t fortunate enough to play boyfriends-and-girlfriends. Some of us improve mortalkind with brilliant thought.”

“I’ve given mortals beauty and joy,” replied Aphrodite. “You’ve given them some boring books for the downstairs bathroom. Besides, you’re not so grand when you’re cheating on those TV game shows … ”

“I do not cheat!” said Athene defensively. “I win those competitions fair and square.”

“Sure you do,” said Aphrodite with a naughty grin. “Although with a few extra millennia to study, any idiot could beat those poor mortals.”

“Not any idiot,” said Athene, looking directly at her sister.

“Come now, girlies, this is no time for squabbling,” Zeus chided. “We need to get those Chaos Stones and put Thanatos back in prison where he belongs. We’re a team. I need you.”

“Yes, Father. Your pact with Hypnos—surely you can’t think that was wise?” said Athene, her dark eyes full of disapproval.

“Whatever,” yawned Aphrodite. “Prissy-pants, are you in or out?”

“Out,” said Athene stubbornly.

Aphrodite opened her mouth to launch another barrage at her sister, but was hushed by her father’s hand on her shoulder.

“We could really use your fabulous noggin, sweetie,” said Zeus. “But no is no.”

With Aphrodite chewing her tongue, Zeus started to usher her out of the door. Elliot didn’t have siblings, but he’d seen enough of other people’s to know how they worked. Besides, if Athene could help him find the Earth Stone, he needed her on the team.

“I’m sorry you’re not coming, Athene,” he said.

“I’m sorry too, Elliot, but I wish you well,” she said grumpily.

“That’s really kind,” he said. “Besides, it’s probably for the best.

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