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“There’s a recipe under the ingredients, but no instructions about where we can find them. If they even exist.” I sighed and placed the Book back down, feeling defeated already.
    “They exist,” Darius broke in. “They can be found in the Aegean Sea, on the Greek islands of old mythology that have been hidden from human eyes for centuries.”
    “You mean the islands that Odysseus visited in The Odyssey ?” Kate said.
    “Those places are real?” I asked.
    Darius raised a bushy eyebrow. “After everything you’ve learned this past month, this shouldn’t be surprising,” he said. “There are hundreds of islands in the Aegean Sea. Human scholars believe that the islands Odysseus visited in The Odyssey were imaginary, but they’re wrong. The islands where the old mythology reigns exist. They’re simply kept hidden from humans by illusions that make them appear deserted—but witches are able to see everything that’s truly there. And, according to the Book of Shadows, the five of you must journey there to collect the ingredients you’ll need to create this formula for your weapons.”
    “We can’t just leave Kinsley to go to Greece,” Kate said. “Our parents would never let us do that. And what about school? And how would we even get to Greece at all?”
    “February vacation starts on Friday,” Darius said. “That would be a perfect time for you to make the journey. I can use my powers to convince your parents that the five of you have been chosen for a school-sponsored trip to Washington DC. As for getting to Greece, I’m sure that the Head Elder of Greece will have no problem creating a portal so the five of you can get there. She—along with all of the Head Elders—knows all about your situation. I imagine she’ll be happy to help in any way she can.”
    “You can’t make the portal yourself?” I asked.
    “Oh, no.” Darius laughed, as if the thought were ridiculous. “Portal-making is some of the most advanced magic there is. It requires the power of a Head Elder. And it’s about time to introduce you to Hypatia. She’s heard all about the five of you, and is very eager to meet you.”
    “Back up for a moment,” Blake said, and all heads turned to him. “Getting the lotus seeds and the milk from Helios’s cattle sounds crazy, but feasible. But the blood of a slain hydra ? I know we’ve been practicing with our powers and weapons for a month—and we’ve gotten pretty good at it, too—but the hydra is one of the most dangerous creatures out there. Slaying it was one of Hercules’s twelve labors. What if one of us gets hurt? Or worse?”
    I didn’t know if I was imagining it or not, but I could have sworn that his gaze drifted to mine when he’d said that last part. It was like he was saying that he didn’t want me getting hurt. My cheeks heated at the thought, and I focused on my hands, unable to look at Blake without my feelings for him showing on my face for everyone else to see.
    “Hercules was one person,” Chris pointed out. “We’re five.”
    “Actually, Hercules didn’t slay the hydra on his own,” Kate said. “He needed help from his nephew.”
    “But neither of them had powers like ours.” Chris rubbed his hands together, his confidence not wavering. “We’ve got this.”
    “Oh, I know we can slay the hydra.” Blake crossed his arms, as if offended that anyone had thought he’d doubted our abilities. “We just need to make sure that we all get back here alive.”
    “First of all, I’m glad to hear that you all have been paying attention during our Greek mythology class,” Darius said. “Secondly, you must remember that your powers, and your ability to fight, are gifts from the gods. Your progress this past month has been astounding. Not only do I believe that you’re ready for this, but I believe that the Book wouldn’t send you on this mission if it didn’t think you could succeed. You must retrieve these ingredients. It’s the only way to make