Mortal Gods

“I thought we were packing light,” said Odysseus. Hermes’ black duffel bag was filled to the brim, stuffed with the odd shapes of boxes and cans.

“We were, until the grocery Nazi got back.”

Athena gave in. “You’re right. Lighter is better.” She upended the bag and let half the contents spill out, along with several of Hermes’ meticulously folded shirts and boxer shorts. He threw up his hands and made a “pth” sound with his tongue, even as she stuffed the clothes back in. “Just remember to buy plenty of food when you get there.”

“You do know that we know how to hunt, right?” Odysseus asked.

Cassandra looked appalled. “You’ll be in a rain forest. Most of those animals are endangered.”

“We’re endangered,” Hermes said, and zipped up his bag before Athena could do any more damage.

The flight to Kuala Lumpur was booked, and Hermes had set up a guide for when they arrived. A car would take them as far as Kuala Tembeling, and then they’d plunge into Taman Negara on their own.

The room fell quiet. Athena hadn’t said much to Odysseus since they’d spoken about Achilles. Odysseus said it wasn’t fair. That it wasn’t Achilles’ fault. And it wasn’t. Achilles didn’t ask to be Achilles. But he was too dangerous to be allowed to run free. Some things were like that. The atom bomb. Ebola. And Achilles, son of Peleus.

In the drawn-out silence, Athena and Cassandra finally looked at each other.

“How was your trip?” Cassandra asked.

“No word on Aphrodite,” Athena replied.

“No surprise there,” said Cassandra.

“I’m sorry.” For the thousandth time, Athena wished her weapon weren’t a small, mortal girl. It would have been so much easier, so much simpler, if the primary weapon had been a god.

“You told them where to go? Exactly where to go?” Athena asked.

Cassandra shrugged. “There isn’t really an ‘exactly’ in a rain forest. I gave them as good a starting point as I could. There’s a lot of ground to cover.” She glanced at Odysseus. “Maybe they’ll get lucky.”

“How did you know? Could you see it? Could you see Artemis?”

“No. I didn’t even think it would work. But then they put the maps out, and I just knew.”

“Have you seen anything else?”

“If I had, I would have told you.”

“What about your other power? Have you felt anything?”

Cassandra rubbed her hands along her legs. “Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Do you want me to demonstrate?” Cassandra snapped, but if it was a threat, Athena didn’t take it as one.

“Maybe. I think that’s what we should do while Hermes and Odysseus are gone.”

“No,” said Odysseus, and moved between them. “Cassandra, don’t.”

Athena picked up Hermes’ duffel and strode from the room. If they kept yakking for much longer they’d miss their flight.

“She can’t go up against Aphrodite untested. She’s got to learn sometime.”

“Not on you.” Odysseus walked as close to her shoulder as possible in the narrow hallway. “She’s not ready.”

“I shouldn’t have said anything. Now you’ll worry.”

Odysseus gritted his teeth. “Don’t make it sound like I’m worrying over nothing.”

“I’m not.” Athena knew what could happen. That one misplaced or careless touch from Cassandra could make feathers bloom in an instant, filling her heart and slicing through her blood vessels.

“If something goes wrong…” he said. “They need you.”

Athena stopped. He meant that he needed her. But that wasn’t true. He’d always been more than fine on his own.

“She won’t hurt me. Will you, Cassandra?”

Cassandra looked at Odysseus. “I won’t. If I can help it.”

“You’re both really pissing me off,” Odysseus said.

“Would you rather I use her map trick to find Achilles, then?” Athena asked, and he scowled. She would, if it came to that. If he wouldn’t tell her.

“Hermes, did you call the cab?”

He nodded. “Should be here—” An impatient honk sounded in the driveway. “Right now. So, table whatever argument this is, and let’s go. I’ve got a goddess to find.”

They stopped in the living room. Hermes took his bag from Athena and grasped the back of her head, pulling her forehead quickly to his.