Midnight Frost

“Don’t you know it.”
    Across the room, Alexei crouched over one of the Reapers’ bodies and used his cell phone to take a photo of the dead man’s face. He did the same with all the Reapers, then put the phone to his ear. He was probably calling Professor Metis and the rest of the academy’s security council to let them know about the attack. This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened in the last few weeks, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last, as long as I kept searching for artifacts.
    “You did well, Gwen,” Vic said. “I’m proud of you.”
    I raised the sword up so I could look him in his one eye. “Thanks, Vic.”
    He stared back at me. “Although you really should have killed more Reapers. And you especially shouldn’t have let that last one get away . . .”
    And he was off on one of his rants, talking about exactly what we should do to track down the Reaper and how much Vic was looking forward to cutting him to ribbons. The sword was totally bloodthirsty that way. I rolled my eyes at his violent chatter, but I let the sword talk. It was just easier.
    While Vic muttered to himself about all the Reapers he wanted to kill, I looked out over the exhibit room. Blood and bodies covered the floor like dolls that a child had thrown down in a tantrum. Several of the artifact cases had been destroyed, and bits of glass glittered like diamond shards among the Reapers’ black robes. Déjà vu. This was the third time now that I’d seen such a scene at the coliseum. At least the Reapers were the only ones who were dead this time, and not kids from my school like before.
    Screams echoed in my head, and all the shadows in the room took on a bright, glossy sheen, like they were puddles of blood tainting everything with their horrid, coppery stench—
    I shook my head, banishing the thoughts back to the bottom of my brain.
    “What’s wrong?” Daphne asked, noticing my weary expression.
    I shook my head again. “I was just thinking that I’m really starting to hate this place.”

Mythos Academy Warriors and Their Magic
    The students at Mythos Academy are the descendants of ancient warriors, and they are at the academy to learn how to fight and use weapons, along with whatever magic or other skills that they might have. Here’s a little more about the warrior whiz kids, as Gwen calls them:
     
    Amazons and Valkyries: Most of the girls at Mythos are either Amazons or Valkyries. Amazons are gifted with supernatural quickness. In gym class during mock fights, they look like blurs more than anything else. Valkyries are incredibly strong. Also, bright, colorful sparks of magic can often be seen shooting out of Valkyries’ fingertips.
     
    Romans and Vikings: Most of the guys at Mythos Academy are either Romans or Vikings. Romans are superquick, just like Amazons, while Vikings are superstrong, just like Valkyries.
     
    Siblings: Brothers and sisters born to the same parents will have similar abilities and magic, but they’re sometimes classified as different types of warriors. For example, if the girls in a family are Amazons, then the boys will be Romans. If the girls in a family are Valkyries, then the boys will be Vikings.
    However, in other families, brothers and sisters are considered to be the same kind of warriors, like those born to Spartan, Samurai, or Ninja parents. The boys and girls are both called Spartans, Samurais, or Ninjas.
     
    More Magic: As if being superstrong or superquick wasn’t good enough, the students at Mythos Academy also have other types of magic. They can do everything from heal injuries to control the weather to form fireballs with their bare hands. Many of the students have enhanced senses as well. The powers vary from student to student, but as a general rule, everyone is dangerous and deadly in their own special way.
     
    Spartans: Spartans are among the rarest of the warrior whiz kids, and there are only a few at Mythos Academy. But Spartans are the most dangerous and deadliest of all the warriors because they have the ability to pick up any weapon—or any thing —and automatically know how to use and even kill someone with it. Even Reapers of Chaos are afraid to battle Spartans in a fair fight. But then again, Reapers rarely fight fair. . . .
     
    Gypsies: Gypsies are just as rare as Spartans. Gypsies are those who have been gifted with magic by the gods. But not all Gypsies are good. Some are just as evil as the gods they serve. Gwen is a