Athena stepped away from the edge. She regretted tearing the railing down; her hands itched for something to lean on.
“I do love you, Odysseus.”
“I know,” he said. “But I thought that you and I were real. Not just a dream that I was having.”
* * *
Ares knocked on her door sometime later.
“Is it Hermes?” she asked.
“No. It’s Cassandra. She’s here. She’s had the vision.”
“But is Hermes?”
“Still sleeping.”
They went downstairs to find Cassandra, Henry, her parents, and even their dog standing in the living room.
“Is Andie on her way?” Athena asked.
“I sent Thanatos to go get her.” Cassandra motioned for her parents to sit, and they did, clutching each other at the elbow, eyes big and round as wall clocks. Athena crossed and uncrossed her arms. The notion that she should offer Cassandra’s parents something to drink popped into her head. Ridiculous.
Cassandra began, recounting what little there was. Headlights flashed through the window and signaled Andie’s arrival just as she was wrapping up.
Athena bit the inside of her cheek, her teeth worrying at the quill of a feather. Twisting it back and forth sent shock waves of pain through her gums and down her neck. No matter. The feathers would be gone forever in a few hours.
“What’s going on?” Andie asked as she came in. When no one replied, she took her place behind the sofa.
“No one has to go who doesn’t want to,” Cassandra said. “Only me and Athena.”
“You can’t take Atropos alone,” Ares said, though he sounded impressed that she wanted to try.
“And you can’t face Achilles,” said Henry. “Only I can do that.”
“Only Hector can do that,” Odysseus corrected. “And you’re not him. Unless…?”
“No,” Andie shouted.
The room dissolved to bickering, until Cassandra shouted over the top.
“Athena,” she said. “What do you think we should do?”
Athena blinked. “I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do,” said Odysseus.
Athena studied them. They were all staring at her. Even Cassandra’s parents. Even Ares. Her throat went dry.
Andie gave her a nod.
“We were all there,” Andie said. “On Olympus. And we’re still asking, anyway. We still trust you.”
Something tightened Athena’s chest. Gratitude. Sentimentality. She looked at Odysseus, who seemed proud, and finally at Cassandra.
“I never trusted you,” Cassandra said. “But I’m still asking.”
Athena held her breath. Odysseus was right. She was afraid.
“Look,” Cassandra said. “We’ve all decided to go anyway.”
Athena dug her fingernails deep into her palms.
Caves. The Moirae burrowed into the ground like moles, and wanted them to stick their hands in blindly after. No thanks.
“I don’t think we should go to the caves,” Athena said. “No holes or wells or mazes. We ought to take the high ground, with open space and cover.”
“I didn’t think they were giving us a choice about location,” Cassandra said.
“I didn’t, either. But aren’t you tired of following other people’s plans?”
From behind the couch, Andie smiled. “I’ll get food, water, and supplies,” she said. “The first-aid packs from the basement.” She slapped Henry on the arm. “Let’s go get your shield.”
“What are you doing?” Odysseus asked Athena from across the room of mobilizing bodies.
Athena wasn’t quite sure. But whatever they did, they would do it on their own terms.
* * *
“I need to ask you to do something for me,” Athena said. She sat before Cassandra’s parents, her weight making the coffee table creak.
“You mean we’re not coming?” Tom asked. “It feels like we should. I want to go.”
Athena nodded. He did want to go. To be a dad and protect his kids. But his eyes were wide and bewildered. He wouldn’t know what to do if she agreed.
“I know you want to. But I was hoping you would do something for me here.”
“What is it?” Maureen asked.
“Hermes is upstairs in his room. We can’t move him. And we can’t wait for him to…” She paused and let the tightness in her throat pass. “He’s not going to last much longer. And I don’t want him to be alone.”