Mortal Gods

Cassandra lowered her eyes.

“The thing that happened in Pennsylvania,” she said, “when I grabbed her, I only meant to make her let go—”

Odysseus didn’t blink.

“You knew what you were doing,” he said.

The feathers in her shoulder. He’s right. It was easy. I barely thought. I just let it out.

“Cassandra? What’s that look for?”

“Just thinking,” she said. “A few months ago, I would’ve run miles to keep Athena safe for you, even though I hated her. Because you’re my friend.”

“And now?”

Now I kill gods.

“Now everything’s different.”

He lay back on the bed and patted the pillow beside him. A few hours’ sleep was a good idea. But she didn’t see how it was possible, when she was leaving for the underworld and Aidan when she woke. She lay down and closed her eyes. Reviving dead boyfriends was worse than waiting for Christmas morning. Her heart pounded, and blood raced through her limbs. In a few hours, she would see him. She would touch him. And she and Athena would pull him out of the underworld, or die trying.

“Thank the stars for Athena,” she said.

“Never thought I’d hear you say that.”

“Don’t get me wrong. I do basically despise her. But you have to admit she has a knack for getting things done.”

Odysseus switched her lamp off and lay with her in the dark.

“What will you say to him, when you see him?” he asked.

Maybe nothing. It could be like it was at his grave. No words. But it wouldn’t matter. She’d have him back, and whatever she had to say, she’d have all the time she needed to say it.

“Well?”

“I’ll tell him I love him,” she said finally. “And that I’m glad he’s dead. I’ll tell him I’m grateful he protected me, and that he deserved what he got.” She breathed out, and to her surprise, began to feel sleepy. “And then I’ll bring him home.”

23

TRIP TO THE UNDERWORLD

Some hours later, Odysseus woke her. It was still full dark, but she came awake immediately and grabbed her backpack. Together they put on their jackets and crept to the door. A folded note was taped to the other side.

“It’s from Andie and Henry,” Cassandra said.

“What’s it say?”

“It says, ‘We hope you find him. We miss him a lot. Good luck, and be careful.’”

“Real poets, those two,” Odysseus said, and looked at Henry’s closed door. “Do you think they’re in there?” He waggled his brows. “You know.”

“What? Gross. No.” Cassandra tiptoed down the hall and down the stairs, then slipped into her shoes in the entryway. It was lucky that Lux was no longer a stellar guard dog, or they’d have been busted for sure. After the wolf attack he’d become timid and a much deeper sleeper.

They closed the door quietly and jogged through yards to Athena’s.

“You’re so going to get packed off to boarding school for this,” said Odysseus.

“No way. I can distract them with my boyfriend, suddenly back from the dead,” said Cassandra, and realized she was smiling.

“Right. Maybe try the long-lost twin brother angle. That always works.”

“Hey!”

Henry, Andie, and Lux ran to catch up.

“What are you doing?” Cassandra asked. “Go back, or you’ll get us all caught.”

“You’re going to get us caught.” Henry scowled. “You didn’t even make up a story for Mom and Dad. I told you to before you went to bed.”

“If you wanted me to listen to you,” she said, “you should have bossed me around more when we were younger.”

“I tried,” said Henry. “You were a brat.”

“You’re covered staying at my house until Friday,” Andie said. “Assuming you’re back before then, Tom and Maureen will never know a thing.”

“Thanks, Andie.”

“Cassandra?” Andie asked. “If you … can’t bring him back. Would you tell him…” She paused. “That I miss his stupid face. And thanks for … you know. Dying for us.”

Cassandra steeled her jaw.

“We’ll be back soon.”

*   *   *

Athena met them at the door in boots, jeans, and a jacket. A burlap sack that looked mostly empty hung in her right hand. When she said pack light, she meant it. She poked Cassandra’s backpack.