Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Hecate’s eyes are luminous with unshed tears. “You know at least part of the story from here. While she was in the city, she had the grave misfortune of drawing Zeus’s attention. He was in want of a wife, and she didn’t have the power to tell him no.” She shakes her head. “No one in Olympus has the power to tell Zeus no. Not the legacy families. Not even the Thirteen.”
Atalanta squeezes my hand again, a silent comfort. I hadn’t realized I’d started rubbing my chest, for all that my discomfort isn’t physical. I’ve told this story, but it’s different now. Hecate isn’t using this tragic tale as leverage the same way I did. She’s laying herself bare.
“She was too fierce, too wild, and he killed her for it.” A single tear slides down her cheek. “Or at least we all thought he did, but that’s not part of this story yet.” She wipes the evidence of her grief away hastily. “I was distraught. I fell into a pit I didn’t think I’d ever get out of again, one I only survived with the help of a friend.”
Now it’s my turn to rub my thumb over Atalanta’s knuckles, giving comfort as she joins the path through ugly memories.
Hecate leans forward to prop her elbows on her knees and laces her fingers together loosely. “I looked around and so many things became clear. We live in a world where one powerful man can take a spouse against their will. Where he can kill them without fear of consequences. Except it wasn’t just one powerful man. It was thirteen people and the legacy families that feed their positions. The entire system is corrupt down to its very bones. We are allowed to vote for one of those positions, and that election is flawed because only the rich and powerful have the resources to run a proper campaign. It has to end.”
Now she straightens, blazing with her truth. “I became Hermes to dismantle the system from within. While things haven’t gone according to plan by any stretch of the imagination, we now find ourselves at a place where we have a chance, as a city, to make a different choice.” She takes a deep breath and launches into the invitation—and threat—giving the details she’s already relayed to the lead figures of the various factions of Olympus. Just as we planned.
And then it’s over, and it feels like she’s sucked every bit of air from the room. I huff out a pained laugh. “There’s no way they won’t listen after that.”
Atalanta wraps an arm around my shoulders and tucks me against her side. “Come with us to the university. Hades won’t bring the barrier down in the next two days—and maybe not even then, depending on which way the wind blows. You and the rest of your people need to stay out of sight.”
She’s right. This new role I’ve unexpectedly come to occupy isn’t comfortable in the least. I don’t like relying on other people—even these two women—but I don’t have much choice. Too many people I’ve cared about have died because of my mistakes. I won’t allow any more of them to. “I’ll do whatever it takes. In the meantime, I’ll organize a strategic retreat to somewhere far from here.”
It’s strange to think about the potential for after. I always intended to take Olympus as my own, to create new memories for the places where my trauma still lingers. To make it mine in a way it never could be under the current ruling class.
There’s a whole wide world out there. One that I could explore…that we could explore. Together.
32
Atalanta
As we wait in the university to see if the leaders and potential delegates are actually coming, tension is a live thing inside me. I know this is the turning point for all our plans, the moment when we might actually see all our hard work and sacrifices come to fruition… But at what cost?
If they demand Hecate’s head, I’ll cut through every single of one of them, damn this new world order.
“It will be fine,” she says softly. “You’ll see.”
It’s strange to realize that, at her core, Hecate is the optimist of our little threesome. Circe and I have plenty of fears about what happens next. Hers are worse because she’s not able to stand at Hecate’s side while we find out if it was all for nothing.
The door creaks open and people begin to stream into the room in ones and twos. I can’t help holding my breath as I take in these strangers. From their clothing—mundane and serviceable and showing signs of repair—I suspect they’re from the countryside. My suspicions prove true when a white man with gray hair steps forward. “We’re willing to listen. We won’t promise more than that.”