Another pause, longer this time. “That Hephaestus was killed because of some legal loophole that no one’s ever heard of. That there’s a new Hephaestus being put in place, though no one knows it’s Theseus Vitalis yet. The speculation is running wild, and they’re focusing heavily on the clause itself. Someone somehow knew exactly where to look to dig up the specific law and it’s all anyone is talking about.”
They know.
The entire city knows about the secret the Thirteen have worked for generations to keep under wraps.
Ironic that Apollo was worried about Minos as a threat. He’s only one man. The threat of the very city itself turning against the Thirteen? It’s incomprehensible. They won’t be able to walk down the street without worrying about every single person around them having a knife ready to sink into their ribs.
Some of them will take the threat more seriously than others. I’m sure Ares, Aphrodite, and Zeus will be fine. Hermes is too savvy to be caught flat-footed. Artemis won’t be surprised again.
But Apollo?
Who will watch Apollo’s back? His family is worthless when it comes to that sort of thing. He might be mostly allied with Ares and Athena, but they will have their hands full trying to ensure there isn’t an uprising.
Not to mention there’s nothing saying that Minos won’t try again.
I swallow hard. “I’m sorry that I was high-handed.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. I know you were doing what you thought was best. It’s all you’ve ever done.” Rustling in the background as she shifts the phone against her ear. “Please respect my wishes on this. And put yourself first for once, Cass. You deserve it.”
“I will. Stay safe.”
“You too, Cass.”
I hang up and sink onto the edge of the bed. Too much information in too short of a time. I don’t know how I didn’t see that Alexandra was happy in Olympus. I chalked it up to her naturally sunny personality and projected my own issues onto her. I’m so used to taking care of her that it’s strange to have the shoe on the other foot. Maybe she’s right. Maybe it’s time to take a leap of faith and learn to fly on the way down. To do it for those I care about.
Alexandra. Apollo.
I can pretend they’re the only two people in Olympus who I would spirit away to safety if I could, but now, in this moment, I can admit it’s not entirely the truth. No matter what she’s done, I still care about Hermes. Not to mention Dionysus and Helen—Ares—have been nothing but kind to me. Even Eris—Aphrodite—mean viper that she is, has been a friend in her own way.
Am I really ready to leave the people I care about in a city gone murderous? Am I ready to let them face the potential threat coming from outside the failing boundary, too?
Chaos won’t happen right away. The shock of the information will ensure that a large number of people disbelieve it. But eventually someone will try their luck. The gossip sites will report on it in a frenzy, which will only encourage others to try, too.
If I were an enemy waiting at the gates, I’d give the city enough time to fall into violence. Then I’d sweep through and ensure my win, staging a coup all but guaranteed to succeed with the Thirteen fractured and under attack.
I don’t know what I can do to stop it. I’m not sure there is something to be done. But if I leave now, the city my sister loves will go up in flames.
If I leave now, the man I love will become a bastion alone without a single person to lean on.
I…have to stay.
I have to learn to swim in the depths.
35
Apollo
I find Cassandra sitting on the edge of the bed, looking lost. I hate that I’m about to add to her stress. I drop my phone on the dresser and sigh. “I would love nothing more than to give you a night of rest, but Zeus has called us in. The tribunal to officially deal with Theseus happens tonight.”
She blinks at me. “Deal with Theseus.”
“Yes.” Zeus didn’t yell when we spoke, but his fury practically iced over my phone. Up to this point, I could usually guess the direction of his thoughts, but I honestly don’t know what he’ll do. Murder—outside that damn outdated clause—might technically be a crime, but if he shoots Theseus in a room full of other members of the Thirteen, who will speak out against him? “I’m not entirely certain what he means to do.”
She glances down at her phone. “It’s too late. The gossip sites have ahold of this information and are running with it. Even if he tosses Theseus off a building, the secret the Thirteen have been fighting for so long to hide is out. None of you are safe.”
I pick up my phone and pull up MuseWatch. They’ve been a boon and a curse in equal turns during my time as Apollo, and the flashy report on their landing page puts them firmly in curse territory this time.
Theseus Vitalis murders his way into the heart of the Thirteen!
“Fuck,” I breathe.
“It’s bad.”
It took everything the last Apollo had to keep the information about what Cassandra’s parents attempted to do locked down, but the timing of this news breaking is highly suspect. “Minos is behind this information leak.”
“Without a doubt.” She pushes to her feet and picks up her discarded dress. “Do we have time to stop by my house so I can change?”
I almost tell her yes, but then my mind catches up. “I can drop you off there if you’d like, but with this information public, the tribunal is all but unnecessary. There’s no reason for you to go through the whole process if you don’t have to. If Theseus disappears, Minos will ensure the public turns against Zeus. We have to instate him as Hephaestus. We no longer have a choice.”
“Why not kill Theseus and the rest of his family? Name them traitors. Act like the assassination clause doesn’t exist.” She says it so hesitantly, I cross to hug her.
“Even if we’re willing to do that—and I’m not—it’s too late, love. The law exists, no matter how deep we tried to bury it. If people know to look for it, they’ll find it. The information is out there and there’s no taking it back.”
“I figured as much. It was worth asking, at least.” Her shoulders slump. “I’m not happy that this situation is so fucked. I’m not happy that you’re in danger now because of what they’ve done.” She lifts her head and meets my gaze. “But I don’t think Ariadne had much to do with the whole scheme. And she tried to help us.”
She did, but we could have avoided this whole nightmare if she’d just spoken frankly. She said nothing, which makes her guilty by association.
Or at least it will in the Thirteen’s point of view.
I smooth back Cassandra’s hair. “After the meeting, I’ll ensure Zeus holds up his end of the bargain. The money will be in your account tomorrow. The passage out of the city will be ready whenever you are.” It hurts to say it. Each word feels like I’m ripping out pieces of myself with my bare hands. “You’ll get everything you wanted, Cassandra. I’ll make sure of it.”
She opens her mouth like she might argue, but my phone starts ringing again. I press a kiss to her forehead and release her. “Get dressed. We need to move.” I scoop up my phone as I head for my closet. “What?”