A hedge maze.
I can’t help glancing at Theseus and the Minotaur. The second Ares trial was a maze, and it was the trial that eliminated Theseus—and was responsible for his current limp. Surely it’s left bad memories? Especially with Atalanta here, another competitor in that tournament. I can’t tell from his expression. He seems to permanently glower at everyone except the woman with the boisterous laugh at this side, and even she only gets a small curve of his lips in response.
Another look around the table shows that we’re missing Ariadne and Icarus, who must have slipped out at some point. I frown. It makes sense that Minos’s children wouldn’t participate, but he seems the type to care about appearances and so he’ll want to keep his family and people close.
Everyone starts standing, and Apollo is quick to pull out my chair. He presses his hand to the small of my back and guides me along with the stream of people out of the room and down the hall to the French doors leading to the backyard.
Dionysus huffs out a laugh as we follow a winding path through carefully curated trees to the entrance of a tall hedge maze. “Really, Hermes?”
Hermes shrugs. “It seemed romantic at the time. Turns out it’s just creepy.”
“Imagine that,” he says drily. “You came out here at night, didn’t you?”
“Of course I did. What’s the point of a hedge maze if you can’t explore it at night and look for ghosts?”
Aphrodite laughs. “Don’t tell me you believe in ghosts.”
“Everyone should believe in ghosts.”
I lean harder against Apollo. “We’re playing?” With everyone occupied, it might be a good idea to use this opportunity to continue exploring without worrying about running into someone who’s going to ask questions.
He nods. “Minos isn’t really giving us an option.” He smiles suddenly, making me rock back on my high heels. “Besides, I think we have a solid shot at winning.”
I eye the tall hedges. “I hope you’re not expecting me to pull a Helen and climb these.” It was how she passed the second trial, in a feat of athleticism that had even me cheering at my television. Not that I’ll admit as much to anyone. Ever.
“No.” Amusement warms his voice. “I’ll keep you by my side.”
Minos finally reaches the backyard, a basket in his hands. Where did he pick up that? “There are several entrances around the edge of the maze, all with equal chance to reach the center. You will pick your partners from this.” He shakes the basket. “The first pair to reach the center gets the prize contained there. My household will, of course, not be playing. Hermes has also agreed to sit out, seeing as how she’d have an unfair advantage.”
This whole thing is so weird. Maybe weeklong parties and group games were the norm a few centuries ago, but they hardly are now. Even in Olympus. It’s also strange that he said household instead of children. Not that it matters, but this entire situation is like a puzzle I don’t have a map for. I can’t even see the edges properly. It bothers me.
It’s not until we start stepping forward to pick names that I realize the new pitfall. I won’t be paired with Apollo. It’s so statistically unlikely as to be laughable.
Apollo dips his hand into the basket and comes out with a piece of card stock. “Eurydice.”
That horrible jealous feeling surges. I can feel eyes on me as I fight to keep any evidence from my face. Why would I be bothered that my fake boyfriend is pairing with the lovely youngest Dimitriou daughter?
I bet Demeter would fall all over herself to approve a marriage between them.
I shake my head, trying to focus. It doesn’t matter. I will keep repeating that to myself as many times as I have to in order to make it stick. Apollo being paired with Eurydice is honestly a great move for him because it will give him a chance to figure out what she’s doing here. It stands to reason that Hades wouldn’t trust the rest of the Thirteen to sniff out Minos’s plans, but that only explains Charon’s presence. Not Eurydice. No matter what I considered earlier, I don’t believe for a second that Demeter actually sent this daughter as her representative.
“Cassandra.”
I jolt at the sound of my name in a familiar voice.
Dionysus smiles at me faintly. “You’re my partner, love.”
Of all the options, he’s probably the least offensive. Only a fool would underestimate him, but it’s not a bad way to pass the time.
Everyone else picks their partners up quickly. I get a dark sliver of amusement when Aphrodite steps forward, forcing Minos to look up at her. She pairs with Pan. Artemis is with Adonis. Atalanta is with Charon. And Hephaestus is left as the odd man out, given the choice to compete on his own or sit this one out.
He surveys the group and shakes his head. “I’ll pass.”
“Very well.” Minos turns to the rest of us. “Let’s begin.”
It takes about fifteen minutes to actually begin. As Minos said, there are several entrances—I’d bet six—around the perimeter of the maze. Dionysus and I end up near the rear, far away from the lights of the house. There are cleverly lit lanterns periodically placed, but the shadows reign supreme in this area.
He twirls his mustache contemplatively as he looks around. He’s wearing a remarkably simple suit for once, a plaid that’s so low-contrast it looks black in the darkness. “Maybe Hermes wasn’t far off with the talk of ghosts.”
I fight down a shiver. I don’t believe in ghosts, but there’s something truly eerie about this place. Like we’ve somehow stepped out of time. Or maybe we’ll reach the center of the maze to discover the body of one of the guests. “Ghosts aren’t real.”
“That’s what ghosts want you to believe.” With that confounding statement, a bell chimes in the distance. Our signal to start. He offers his arm with a flourish. “Can’t be easy walking in the grass and gravel with those.” Dionysus peers down at my feet. “You look absolutely devastating, by the way. A stone-cold fox.”
If he were anyone else, I’d bristle at the compliment and start looking for the barbs hiding beneath. But Dionysus is as free with compliments as he is with affection—at least to those he enjoys. If he doesn’t like a person, that charming wit turns downright lethal.
I try for a smile. “Thanks.” I will absolutely not admit that my feet are killing me. I’m truly not used to spike heels, no matter what I told Apollo.
The hedge walls close in on us as soon as we step through. I can hear low voices in the distance, but the maze distorts them, giving them an alien quality. I shiver. “Hermes would have a damned hedge maze in her backyard.”
“She’s fond of the dramatic, yes.” We take a turn and then another, coming up against a dead end.
I should be asking about what he knows of Minos, but that isn’t the first question that springs from my lips. “Everyone has a plus-one except Hermes and Hephaestus.”
“Oh, he does. He’s sharing Atalanta with Artemis. Kinky.”
I give him the look that comment deserves. “Now you’re just being preposterous. Everyone knows Atalanta is too smart to get caught up in some family drama with those two.”