by Raye Wagner
She looked at him again and couldn’t help but feel like he was laughing at her. Even his dimple mocked her. Disgusted, she eyed the monitor. They were on the seventeenth floor. Someone must have pushed the call button and gone back to their apartment.
She backed into the elevator. “Umm, thanks.”
“Right.” He smirked.
The door slid shut, and they started climbing again.
An unsettling feeling gnawed at her stomach. Hope fixed her gaze on the climbing numbers. It was only another moment before the elevator stopped on the twenty-first floor.
“Um, thanks for uh . . . you know, making sure I didn’t get off on the wrong floor, and uh . . . yeah.” She forced her lips into something she hoped resembled gratitude and glanced at the keypad, making sure she was on the twenty-first floor. She also saw that Xan was staying on the top floor. Penthouse.
“You’re quite welcome.” He met her gaze, and his lip curled. “Have a nice day, Hope.”
“Um, yeah. You too.” The doors slid shut and she stood frozen, seeing only her reflection in the polished metal. Could she have sounded any more stupid? What in the name of Hermes . . . Her train of thought skidded to a halt.
Hermes, god of linguistics. Athan’s dad.
Athan. She shook her head.
She needed to get over him. Because it was over. She’d probably never see him again. And even if she did, it wouldn’t matter. She’d never put him at risk.
What Hermes had said about Apollo was true. He’d killed her mom because she’d married someone else. Apollo would never let her be with anyone but him. Ugh. And he was like a million years old.
No. She needed to focus on breaking the curse. Because that was the only way for her to be free. Free to make her own decisions about life and love. She swallowed her emotions and locked her memories of Athan away in the darkest corner of her mind.
She opened the door to the scent of chocolate chip cookies.
“HOW ABOUT I GO PICK up dinner tonight?” Priska set down her book and stood up from the couch.
The weekend was drawing to a close. Hope had spent the bulk of it studying her Book of the Fates. Priska insisted that she read the whole thing and was taking it to the extreme by supervising.
Their small two-bedroom apartment was sparsely furnished with a sofa and love seat in the living room and a dinette set with two chairs just off the kitchen. The worn suede couch faced a gas fireplace where orange, yellow, and blue flames danced in the grate, and three cinnamon candles glowed on the mantle next to the statue of Hecate. Hope stretched out her legs to the now empty side of the couch.
“Does steak sound good?” Priska asked as she walked to the kitchen and grabbed her purse.
Hope rolled her eyes.
“Steak always sounds good. What are we celebrating?” She pulled the pillow out from under her knees and set it on top of the book.
“Nothing,” Priska answered. “You look like you could use a little pick-me-up.”
True. “And we should leave our shrine a little offering.” The effigy of Hecate, goddess of the crossroads between life and death, kept the Skia from being able to come into their apartment. Hope had no idea how it worked, only that it did. “Our plan isn’t exactly going well.” She fiddled with the fringe of the chenille pillow. “Do you think the demigods will ever find us?”
Priska flinched. “Have some patience, Hope. I’m very good at hiding, as are you. We’ve had heaps of practice. Perhaps we’re not good at being found.”
Hope was about to agree, but the words wouldn’t come. It wasn’t true. Shortly after Athan had come to Goldendale, he’d suspected her. And they weren’t exactly being subtle now. Besides, Priska was good at everything she did. “We’re both on the same page about this, right? You agreed to help.”
The older woman bit her lip, and something in her eyes remained wary. “I’ll always act in your best interest, no matter what. My very purpose is to keep you safe.”
Hope frowned at the non-answer. Demigods, the offspring children of gods and humans, were everywhere in Goldendale. Now, mere minutes from a conservatory, there are none to be found? “I don’t get it. Where are they?”
Priska grabbed her car keys and phone. “Maybe we can come up with some ideas to help you get discovered after we eat.”
“Will it put us in danger? Of Skia?” Despite wanting to be found by demigods, nightmares of the leering creatures from the Underworld still woke her from her troubled sleep.
“Don’t worry about Skia,” Priska answered. “When we catch the demigods’ attention, they’ll protect you. And until then, we’ll manage.” She went to the door. “I’ll be back in an hour with dinner. Stay put and get your thinking cap on.”
Right. Because if Hope thought hard enough, it would change something. She blew out a breath of disappointment and stood to get a drink of water.
Hope sat curled up in her green chair, reading, when the buzzer drew her back to the present. That would be Priska with dinner. Hope jumped up and buzzed the building door open. She grabbed silverware and plates and filled two glasses, one with water, the other with wine.
A few minutes later, a knock announced her arrival. Her stomach gave a growl, and Hope hurried to open the door. Her jaw dropped, and she took an involuntary step back. Xan stood outside her door in shorts and a tank top, glaring at her. His skin glistened with sweat, and she could smell the musk from his deodorant. Or maybe that was cologne.
“I forgot my key, so thanks for buzzing me in.” Despite the expression of gratitude, his muscles were corded and tight and his eyes cold. He tapped on the door jamb. “Just a reminder; check to see who you’re letting into the building. Preferably before you let them in.” He pressed his lips into a white line.
She gaped at him, speechless.
“I would hate for you to let a monster in.” He clenched his jaw, and balled his hands into fists.
Hope nodded. “No monsters in the building.” Was he talking about monstrous people or monsters? Her anxiety spiked with the thought. She should’ve checked who it was. Why hadn’t she?
“And no bad guys. I’d hate for you to get hurt.” He took a step back and punctured the air between them with his finger. “Right?”
“Right.” She glared. More than anything she wanted to hurt him.
Without any departing words, he strolled back toward the elevator.
“Next time, remember your key,” she mumbled. “Idiot.”
Without glancing back, he raised his hand and waved. “Touché.”
Hope slammed the door and stomped back to her chair. But the still voice of her conscience nagged. He was right. And she hated him for it.
The security bell chimed again. This time she picked up the phone to confirm it was Priska before buzzing the building open. Priska came through the door, carrying a bag from The Met in one hand and a shopping bag from a trendy boutique in the other. She’d changed from her contemporary suit and now wore fitted jeans, an orange tank top, and a chunky cardigan that slid off her thin shoulders.
Hope’s stomach gave another involuntary growl.
“Are you ready for dinner? I’m starving.” Priska pushed past Hope into the apartment, and went into the kitchen. “Close the door and come into the dining room so we can eat.”
Hope closed the door and walked into the kitchen.
“What happened? Why did you change again?” She fell into her chair with a thunk.
“Let’s eat first and then we can talk, okay?”
Hope studied her aunt. “Okay, but you’ll tell me?”
“I promise. It’s all part of my plan.”
When the containers were empty, Hope gathered the last few bits of plastic, put them in the now empty bag, and crammed the bag in the garbage. “What’s going on? Why did you change your appearance?”
Priska cleared her still-full plate and dumped the contents in the sink. “Have you met anyone you think is a demigod?”
Hope thought about Xan. He
was gorgeous, certainly, and he’d mentioned monsters . . . or had it been bad guys? Either way, there was something about him. “There’s a new guy in the building, and he’s kinda . . .”
Priska drilled Hope with a hard look. “He’s kinda what?”
She crossed her arms, and her gaze darted around the small apartment. “He’s really . . . attractive.” She couldn’t help the blush that flamed her face. “And he’s really arrogant.”
Priska pursed her lips. “An arrogant, attractive boy, so you think he’s a demigod? Did you catch his name?”
“Xan. I didn’t get his last name. He was in the elevator after school.” Hope didn’t mention their interaction before dinner. It was bad enough she’d let him in and he’d chewed her out. She didn’t need another lecture from Priska.
“Xan.” Priska tugged on her ear and stared up at the ceiling. “I’ll see what I can find out.” She bit the inside of her mouth and was silent.
The quiet stretched, and Hope became uncomfortable. “Are you going to tell me why you’re a teenager?”
Priska’s head jerked as if being startled from deep thought. “Oh, sure.” She pulled on her long raven locks. “Hopefully I appear young enough that I can say I’m your cousin and it will be believable. I’m going to start school with you.”
She did not just say that. “Why?”
“Obviously what we’re doing isn’t working. If we want the demigods to find you, two of us will double the beacon.”
“Double the beacon?”
“Yes. Brighter light.” She flashed her fingers in and out. “I’m tired of trying to protect you and remaining invisible.” She made air quotes as she said the last word. “There are a lot of Skia here, and watching you is practically a full-time job, so I may as well make it such.”
“I don’t want to be a burden.”
Priska waved her hand as if the words were nonsense. “We’re a team, and I think we both want this to move along a bit faster.”
“NO, CHARLIE. I TOLD YOU it will be at least another month before I can be back in the office.” Priska held her phone to her ear, a frown creasing her face. She was silent for a moment before continuing, “She can’t be that bad.” Another pause. “Fine. I’ll come in. Give me a half hour.”
Hope sat on the couch, watching her aunt pace in the kitchen. No matter what Priska said, her job with Mr. Davenport was important, and not because of the money. Hope knew Priska was rich, so why did she work? Priska said it was something to do, but then why was she insistent that it be this job?
Priska disconnected the call and came over to sit on the arm of the couch. The frown still marred her flawless features. “I’m sorry. The temp agency sent another Melody or Melanie.” She waved her hand, dismissing the past temporary assistants. “I’ll only be gone for an hour or two.”
This wasn’t the first time Priska had taken time off from her job to help. Not even a year ago, Priska had searched for answers regarding Leto’s death and ended up getting kidnapped and beaten by sons of Apollo, barely escaping alive. Months of time away from her job and only a few days back before Hope had begged for help again. And for whatever reason, Priska wouldn’t just let the job go. Maybe there was something more with Mr. Davenport. Regardless, it wasn’t fair that Priska was giving up her life.
“If you need to go, it’s okay. I’ll be fine here.” Hope shifted and dropped her feet to the floor to make room for her aunt.
But Priska didn’t sit. “Of course you will.” She pulled her hair up in a twist to hide the length and went to her room. She came back tying a cashmere wrap sweater around her tiny waist. “Make sure you lock the doors. I’ll be back in time for dinner.”
“No problem.” Hope tried to reign in her frustration. She felt bad for Priska, but she was tired of this.
The door closed, and Hope let her face fall. Nothing was going the way it was supposed to. Priska was always insisting that Hope stay indoors for her safety, but how was she going to ever get into the conservatory when she was practically hiding in her apartment? And there was something wrong with Priska. She seemed paranoid now. And way more bossy. Hope’s heart hurt. For her mom, for Priska, for Athan, and for herself. None of it was fair. None of it, and the load was far too heavy for her broken heart.
She picked up her phone and dialed the number from memory.
The number you’ve dialed is no longer in service. Please check the number and try again.
She knew he’d changed his phone number. Was it wrong that she still held out hope? Or was it stupidity?
She tapped End and then dialed the only other friend she had.
“Hello?”
Something deep within Hope burst with warmth and sunshine. “Haley?”
Hope’s eyes welled with tears.
“HOPE? OH MY GODS! Where have you been? Are you okay? You just disappeared, and then Athan flipped out and disappeared too. And all the texts but no calls?” Hope’s best friend took a deep breath. “What happened to you?”
Hope cleared her throat. “My aunt came back.”
Silence.
“I moved back to Seattle to live with her.”
“What the Hades?” Haley let out a long breath. “Did you have to disappear? I mean, you didn’t come back, and . . . I mean, you said you had to go . . . I don’t even remember what you were going to do, because that was like three months ago.” Another breath. “Three months ago!” Another breath. “Okay, I’m done. And I’m glad you’re okay. And that you called.”
“I miss you.” Hope’s emotions bubbled. “I mean, I don’t have friends here like you . . .” And Athan.
Haley laughed. “Of course not. You should come for a visit. You wouldn’t believe how crazy it’s been. Krista is such a Gorgon. Do you remember that guy, Tre, that moved in? Was he here before you took off?”
“Was he tall and blond?” Hope vaguely remembered a new boy at school before the year had ended. “Didn’t he have a couple of brothers?” The memory of him and his brothers at the Red Apple surfaced. Mostly she remembered the warning from Mr. Stanley, Haley’s dad, to stay away from them.
“Yeah, well, rumor is that he and his brothers are demigods.” She snorted. “Anyway, they’re majorly rude. Tre asked all kinds of questions about you and Athan, as if the two of you were demigods, I mean.”
A twinge of guilt nagged at Hope. She’d continued to maintain her status as a mortal teenager, even with her best friend.
“But Krista set that record straight. She really hates you.” There was muffled yelling on the other end of the phone. “Crap. Sorry, Hope. My dad just got home. I’ll call you later, ’kay?”
Hope said goodbye and hung up the phone. She should’ve felt better after talking to her friend. Better than the heaviness pressing on her chest or the gloom seeping its way to her heart.
The walls of the small apartment seemed to contract. Almost like the space was shrinking. She had exactly no one she could talk to. Her emotions ballooned, and she knew she’d go crazy if she obeyed Priska. It took less than a breath to decide and only a few seconds for Hope to grab her wallet and keys. At the very least, she could go shopping.
Forty minutes later, she was trudging back along the cobblestone of Pike Place. It wasn’t that the bags were heavy, but she’d bought too much, and it was an awkward balancing act. In retrospect, she shouldn’t have bought the bouquet of daisies and lilies, but the scent had reminded her of her mother, and she wanted something nice for Priska. After all, she was doing so much.
Hope had spoken to the vendor without considering the extra bulk, and now she was carrying her food and trying not to crush the flowers as she avoided puddles and potholes in the street.
A mirthful chuckle carried on the breeze, and Hope turned toward the sound. Xan stood on the street corner, by the cheese store, staring at her. His dimple mocked her, and when their eyes met, he strode toward her.
“You look like you could use some help, young lady.”
“I’m fine,” s
he replied stiffly, still irritated by their last encounter.
He reached toward the bags in her left hand, taking the large honeydew melon that was throwing off her balance.
“I’m sure you are, but I’m walking to the same location, and my hands are empty. Let me be a gentleman.”
“Ha!” As if. But Hope let him take a couple bags. Shifting the remainder, her stride became smooth again. “Thank you, Xan.” The gratitude was uncomfortable and bitter on her lips, and she studied the ground as she extended the proverbial olive branch. She took several strides before realizing he was no longer next to her. Instead, he stood rooted to the spot where she’d thanked him.
His lips pulled up into a half smile, and his dimple made another appearance. “You’re welcome.”
Yeah. She pretty much hated him.
Hope said nothing more the remainder of the walk to their building. Wanting to be rid of him, she kept a brisk pace, but Xan easily kept up. When they were both in the lobby, she extended her hands for the bags.
“Thanks again.” They were just as bitter as the first time she’d said them.
“Always happy to help, lass.” He took a deep breath. “Hey, sorry I was rude the other day. I know there is no excuse for rudeness.”
“No. There’s not.” She set down her stuff and extended empty hands.
Still, he kept the bags. “Which is why I apologized.”
“Fine. Right.” She dropped her hands. Maybe she wouldn’t hate him completely. “Why did you jump all over me like that?”
His eyebrows went up as she spoke. “Jump on you?”
She narrowed her eyes. “You know what I mean. There was no reason to—”
A ding announced the arrival of the elevator. The doors slid open, and a floral scent spilled into the lobby. Hope glanced at the elevator, and her words evaporated.
The young woman exiting was stunning. Not pretty. Not even beautiful. But striking in a way that Made. You. Stop. Her dark, almost black, hair cascaded down her back in soft curls. Her warm russet skin was flawless. She was tall and thin, but in a way that spoke of athleticism, not starvation. She had rich brown eyes and full, pouty lips. Hope had never seen anyone so gorgeous.
