“No,” said Cassandra’s mother. “He couldn’t be. I saw you cut through his stomach. He was holding his … his…”
“Yeah, well. He’ll have stuffed all those back in by now. Just a little nick for him. Won’t even leave a scar.”
Cassandra watched her parents. They were surrounded by familiar faces, but each became more foreign and confusing with every passing moment. She knew how they felt. It had been the same for her, when Aidan had suddenly become something different.
“We’re going to have to get you all to hospitals,” Odysseus said. “Andie, come let me look at your arm.”
“Henry should go, too. He was hit on the head. He might have a concussion,” Andie said while Odysseus and Athena studied the deep gash on her shoulder. It looked as though someone had taken a hatchet to her.
Cassandra felt like vomiting. Achilles had come into her home and defiled it. Everywhere she looked there was blood. Splashed across her family’s den. Sinking into the carpet. The people she loved stood afraid inside their own walls. Achilles was forever an invader. A sacker of cities. He snuck in quietly and brought red death with him. Only this time her family hadn’t died.
Ares and his wolves had saved them all.
Cassandra chanced a look at Ares, half-expecting the same old hate to flare into her hands. It didn’t.
“We can stitch Ares up,” Odysseus said. “But Andie and Tom should go to the clinic.”
Athena turned to Cassandra’s mother.
“Maureen,” she asked. “Are you okay?”
Cassandra watched her mom sputter.
“And it feels strange to say this in such a crowd,” Odysseus said, “but I think we’re shorthanded. Cassandra, do you know how to get in touch with Thanatos?”
“Um, no, I—” She didn’t know where he was. And had no phone number to contact him. They should have thought of that, it seemed. But every time she’d needed him, he’d just been there.
“Never mind,” Athena said. “He’s right behind you.”
Cassandra looked over her shoulder and, true enough, Thanatos walked in through the broken doorway.
“The Moirae?” he asked.
“Gone,” Athena replied.
“I’ll take Andie to the hospital,” Odysseus said. “She’s got to go now.”
“What are we going to say?” Andie asked.
“I don’t know. That you fell on something sharp. I’m a great liar. Don’t sweat it.” He took the keys to her Saturn and nodded to Athena before they ducked out the door.
“What is going on here?” Cassandra’s dad asked after they went. “Why do they have to make up a story? And why isn’t anyone calling the police?”
Athena looked at Cassandra. This wasn’t something to cover up. They’d seen too much.
But could she use her god’s tricks and lie it away? Would that be easier? Could we go back to before? The family we were before.
“We’ve got butterfly bandages in the first-aid kit,” Cassandra said. “I’ll go. You start talking. And don’t leave anything out.”
* * *
Cassandra bandaged her father’s cheek together as best she could. Athena might have done a better job, but it felt like she should do it. He was her father.
For the next hour, Athena talked to Cassandra’s parents in a low, reasonable voice about mad, unreasonable things. They scoffed at first, and then their eyes bugged out of their heads. Ares showed his wounds. Athena showed her feathers. At one point, Oblivion rose up on its hind legs and spoke. They told them everything. What they were. Who their children were. When Athena told them about strangling Cassandra to death in the woods, her mother put her fingers to her mouth and wept. Slowly, the gods’ tricks reversed from lies to truth.
“We should go now, to the clinic.” Athena stood. “You can go yourselves, if you think you can handle it.”
“Yes,” her dad said. “We’ll tell them I was working in the garage and my hand slipped.” His eyes were tired, and mostly vacant. They passed over the mess and carnage in his house. He pulled Cassandra’s mom to her feet and clamped his arm around her shoulders.
When they walked past Cassandra it was as if they’d never seen her before.
Her mom stopped.
“But—Henry is still our Henry, isn’t he?”
Athena frowned. “Cassandra is still your Cassandra. Don’t misunderstand.”
“Of course,” her mom said. They walked out and got into the car.
“Will they come back, do you think?” Cassandra asked.
“They just need time,” Athena said. “Like you did with Aidan. They’re your parents.”
“Your father abandoned you,” Cassandra said.
“Yes. But he was a god. So, sort of a shit to begin with.”
Cassandra felt the goddess’ hand on her shoulder. Past them in the den, Thanatos moved through the room righting chairs and collecting bandage wrappers for the trash. So much had been broken. So much to repair. And Cassandra wouldn’t be there for any of it.
“I heard what you said to the Moirae.” She turned out of Athena’s grip and looked at her dead-on. “I was there. I could hear, even though I didn’t care.” She remembered the euphoric, blurry feeling of having them in her mind, of being on the inside of her own face as if inside a mask.
“You don’t need to worry,” Athena said. “They agreed to the deal. I’ll take your place.”
“That’s not what I was going to say.”
“Listen, it doesn’t matter. This is our mess. And besides, I made a promise to Aidan.”
25
BLOOD STAINS
When Athena returned to her house, Hermes greeted her from the couch.
“Where’ve you been? What’s all the excitement?”
The shock of hearing his voice made her knees buckle, but she got her legs underneath her fast enough when he looked ready to jump from the couch and help.
“Stay!” She pointed. “Stay there. I’m fine. None of the blood is mine. Most of it is Ares’.”
“Most of it?”
She went to the couch and pressed her hand to his forehead.
The fever was gone. He’d kicked all of the ice packs onto the floor like a child.
“You’re so difficult,” she said, smiling. “You wake at the worst times. I wanted to be here. I didn’t want you to wake up alone.”
“I knew I wasn’t alone. Packed into all these blankets? And my mouth still tastes like broth.”
“You must want real food. And maybe a hot bath? Or a warm bath?”
He put his hand on hers.
“I want to know what’s happening.”
“No. You don’t want to know that,” she said, trying to spare him. But he made a stern face, so she told him anyway.
“I’ve slept through my part,” he said when she was through. “I wasn’t here to keep you from making false promises.”
She squeezed his thin hand. He wouldn’t be there to stop her from keeping them, either.
“Where’s Ares?” he asked.
“Hanging around outside Cassandra’s house. He’s convinced that her parents are going to return with the National Guard. And he’s worried about Panic.”
She hoped the wolf made it. They owed it now, and Ares and Oblivion, too. Even Cassandra knew it.
“Isn’t he injured?” Hermes asked.
“Yeah, but he stitched it up himself. It was pretty disgusting.”
Hermes pushed himself into an upright position and reached for a cup of water.
“What’s there to eat?” he asked. “Or should we order out?”
“There’s a ham in the refrigerator. And a few dozen sandwich rolls. What do you think you could eat?”
“At least a few dozen ham sandwiches. Be a peach?”
“There’s no need to bat your eyes.” Athena hauled herself up. But before she let go of his hand, she leaned down and kissed his forehead. He tasted of sweat and sickness. Hermes was awake. But he was not well. He was not better.
Athena pulled the ham out of the refrigerator and grabbed two knives: one for the bread and ham, and another for mayo. As she assembled sandwich after sandwich, she stole glances back into the living room to make sure his eyes were still open.
Headlights flashed in the driveway. Andie, dropping Odysseus off at home.
“It can’t be,” Odysseus exclaimed when he came through the door. “You’re awake!”
Athena smiled at their reunion, full of laughter and fond insults and manly embraces.
“Where’s your sister?”
“In the kitchen.”
Odysseus rounded the corner and grasped her around the waist, lifting her half a foot off the ground.
“A bad night turns good,” he whispered.
“A good night all around.” She looked into his eyes. “Hermes is awake, and nobody died. Except maybe Panic.”
“Panic’s set to make a full recovery. Andie heard from Henry while we were at the hospital. The mutt’ll be out in a day.”
“How’s Andie?”
“Stitches. Another scar to add to her collection. But you’re right. It could’ve been worse.” He nodded toward the plate of ham buns. “Any of those for me?”
“Maybe one.” She held it up and walked around him to take the rest to Hermes. Odysseus caught her by the elbow.
“I won’t say anything tonight,” he said. “About your mad plan. Because your brother is well. But tomorrow…”
Odysseus. His eyes were still bright from their kiss upstairs. He wasn’t afraid. He didn’t think she’d be able to leave him. Athena’s heart hammered in her chest.
“Tomorrow,” she agreed. “For now, let’s just enjoy a night of small favors.”
* * *
Cassandra had been on her hands and knees for forty minutes with hot water and sponges and carpet spray, but the blood wasn’t coming out. Still, she kept scrubbing, wiping sweat from her brow and pretending that the minutes weren’t crawling by as she waited for someone, anyone, to come home.
She raised her head at a set of headlights. They didn’t slow. Maybe none would. Maybe her parents would go to the emergency vet and grab Henry and drive away without looking back. They’d check into a hotel and send the police for her. The girl who was no longer their daughter.
No. She glanced toward the entryway, where Lux lay with his nose on his paws. They’ll have to come back for him, at least.
“Should we not have told them?” Thanatos asked from where he knelt, scrubbing at another stain.
“There was no choice,” Cassandra said.
“That doesn’t mean you can’t resent the fact that you had to.”
“I know. And I do.” She sat back and blew a few wet strands of hair out of her face.
“We’ve got a steam cleaner around here somewhere,” she said, and got up. “How did you know to come anyway? Did you feel them? The Moirae?”
“Yes,” Thanatos said. “But I didn’t come fast enough. I was worried for you.”
“Were you? Or were you curious? Thought they might have solved the puzzle of what I am?” She wiped at her hands with a pink-stained towel. “They did, you know,” she said. “They crawled into my head and solved the mystery. Told me straight up.”
Thanatos’ eyes were somber. His fingers were stained red as the towel, and he’d stayed with her after the rest had gone. He’d stood beside her when her parents had walked past without a second glance.
“Congratulations,” she said coolly. “In a few days, I’ll be a goddess of death. I’ll be like you.”
Thanatos set down his sponge.
“Was this what you suspected?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said. “And what I was afraid of.”
He was doing it again, looking at her, and into her. Only now his curiosity was gone. He looked at Cassandra as if he wanted to remember every curve and color of her face.
“I didn’t think death was afraid of anything,” Cassandra said.
“Not many things. And not often.” Thanatos reached out, slowly, and touched her throat. He drew closer until both hands were on her and he was near enough that Cassandra could feel the cool of his skin. She wondered what his kiss would feel like. She wondered if he could still kill her that way. But before she could protest, he dropped his head to her shoulder and gently brushed his lips against her collarbone.
Her heart didn’t stop. He was cool but not cold, and when she shivered it wasn’t because of a chill.
“What are you doing?” she asked. It had been a long time since anyone had touched her like that. Her hands slid around Thanatos’ waist and grasped his back.
The Saturn and the Mustang pulled into the driveway.
“Something foolish,” he replied, and kissed her fingertips.
Lux got up and scratched at the door. It bounced back and forth. It wouldn’t close properly anymore. Athena had broken it.
When Andie and Henry came into the house, Thanatos tried to leave, but Cassandra took his hand. There was a lot to tell about her time on the road hunting gods, and Athena’s plans for the Moirae. About Calypso. She could use a shoulder to lean on.
* * *
Cassandra’s mom flinched whenever their hands touched. She didn’t even try to hide it. They needed time, Athena had said. But her parents glanced at each other like prisoners in a yard, plotting escape. Maybe not today, or this month, but eventually Cassandra would come home from school to find an empty house, and a note on the kitchen table if she was lucky.
She didn’t blame them. But she wouldn’t wait around for it, either. After she and Athena had dealt with Atropos, she would join the Moirae. Cassandra would disappear again, only this time, they wouldn’t worry or search. This time they’d be relieved.
Henry sat at the table eating bacon, half a strip for him, half a strip for Lux, in a slow, salty pattern. He hadn’t said much since she’d told him about the Moirae’s plan. And about Calypso. The truth about Calypso.
But she hadn’t told him everything. Her intent to join the Moirae she kept to herself. Because no matter how wrong she was, or how tainted, he and Andie would want her to stay.
There was still life here worth living. Cassandra looked down at the dishrag in her hand. If only her mess could wipe away clean.
“You guys are being jerks,” Henry said. Everyone in the kitchen turned, but he was only talking to their parents.
“Henry?” their mom asked. “Are you all right?”
“Am I still your kid, you mean?” He frowned. “Yeah. I still am. And so is she.”
Their parents looked down at their feet, ashamed as children caught teasing a dog.
“Of course she is,” their dad said. “It’s just strange knowing … all of this.”
“I know,” Henry said. “It was strange for me, too. But I didn’t act like a total dick.”
“I don’t know how you think we’re supposed to respond—”
“Better,” he said. “The world’s the same as it was yesterday. You just know about it now. I know you haven’t had much time to process, or whatever.” He stood up and put his backpack over his shoulder. “But both of your kids might be dead tomorrow. So you might want to speed it up.”
“Dead? What do you mean ‘dead’?!” Their mom chased him out the door, but he was in his car and out of the driveway before she made it down the front steps.
“Cassie,” her dad said. “What did he mean, ‘dead’? Tomorrow?” He took her by the shoulder and tucked her hair back. Her mom came back inside and grabbed her phone.
“What are you doing?” Cassandra asked.
“Calling the police.”
“Mom. You don’t want to do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because we know a lot of the police. And they’ll all get killed.”
Her mom hesitated with the phone halfway to her ear.
“This isn’t real,” she said, and hung up.
“It is,” Cassandra said softly. “But it’s almost over.”
<
br /> Her dad squeezed her shoulder.
“I need you to tell us everything,” he said, and she nodded. There was fear in her mom’s eyes, but not fear of her. It would be all right. Cassandra looked into the driveway, where the Mustang usually sat.
Henry. Always the peacemaker.
26
NEW VS. OLD
Hermes texted Henry before he got to school, so Henry headed for McDonald’s and looped back around toward Athena’s house. He hadn’t figured on going to many classes anyway.
“Henry.” Odysseus sat up when he walked in. “What’re you doing here?”
He held up a greasy paper bag. “Egg McMuffins.” He held up another bag. “Pancakes and hash browns. Hermes texted. When did he wake up?”
“Last night.”
“Where is he?”
Odysseus’ face darkened. “We moved him to his room so he’d be more comfortable. And less underfoot.” He smiled sadly. “You’ve never seen a worse patient. He’s lobbying for one of those little bells.”
“I thought he might be … up and around.”
Odysseus shook his head. Hermes would never be up and around again.
“Can I go in?” Henry asked. “Or is Athena there?”
“Athena’s out back, waiting for Ares to get home with the mutt.” Odysseus cocked his head. “You surprised me last night, when you helped him. I mean, I know you’ve got a soft spot for four-legs, but that same four-leg put you and your dog in the hospital this winter.”
“I guess saving my parents’ lives goes a long way.”
Odysseus nodded. “Guess so.”
Henry walked down the hall, trying to decide what face to wear when he saw Hermes. How happy was too happy, and too hopeful of recovery? How sad was too sad, and insulting about the way he looked?
“Don’t bother knocking, just get those bags in here,” Hermes called. “I’ve been smelling that greasy wonderful crap since the minute you walked through the front door.”
Henry walked in, holding up the bags like Santa’s sacks, and Hermes held his arms out eagerly, all bones. The god in the bed was a skeleton with stretched-out skin. He looked so weak. It made Henry second-guess the favor he’d come to ask.
“You’re a godsend,” Hermes said, and tore into the first McMuffin. He’d asked for a variety pack of sausage and egg, and Henry had taken the liberty of sneaking in a few bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits. “Are you hungry? Do you want half a hash brown?”
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