When she looked at him, her eyes burned.
“What should we do, after it’s over?” she asked. “Where should we go? Rome? Firenze? Amsterdam? Anywhere. You name it, and we’ll go. We’ll drink it dry. Throw money in the air. Roll around in satin.”
He laughed softly. “Someone’s been watching too many music videos. Not that it doesn’t sound nice.” He stole a bite of crust. “First things first. We have the weapons. What now?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “Train them. Get them ready. It won’t be long before Hera comes for Achilles. Her pride won’t let me have him, too.”
“Was that your plan all along?” he asked.
“No. My plan was that she’d come for us once she knew I’d killed him. But one is just as good as the other.”
There was a knock, and Odysseus poked his head in.
“Am I interrupting?” he asked.
“Only if you have bad news.”
“Just looking for blankets and an extra pillow.” He walked in and opened the door to Athena’s closet. Several quilts and a comforter still in the plastic sat on the top shelf, but there were no extra pillows. He grabbed a quilt and the comforter.
“For Achilles?” Athena asked.
“For me. I gave up my room to Achilles, and Calypso’s already in the extra room. I’m riding the comfy couch.”
“The couch?” Hermes asked, and made a face. “Why the couch? Athena’s bed’s more than big enough for two.”
She shoved the plate of pizza into her brother’s stomach. “So’s yours,” she said. “Get out.”
Hermes rolled off the bed and paused at the door. “Alas, Odysseus and I already tried that in the rain forest.” Odysseus laughed, and Hermes ducked out before Athena could throw a pillow.
“Here.” She tossed it at Odysseus instead. “Take one of mine. I only have the one head anyway.”
“Thanks.” He headed for the door then stopped. “Fancy some company? I’m not really that tired.”
“That’s because you passed out cold most of the way from Sydney.” She jerked her head toward the other side of the bed.
“Plane sleep isn’t good sleep,” he said, and got in beside her. After fluffing the pillows, he leaned back and yawned. So much for not being tired. “What’s on the docket for tomorrow?” he asked.
“I want to see what Achilles can do. He broke my bone easy as looking at it. That impresses me. And he was so fast.…”
Odysseus narrowed his eyes. “Right. He’s a real wunderkind. Oughtn’t you better pay attention to the norms instead? You know, the ones who might actually get their heads cracked?”
“You and Andie and Henry will be ready,” she said.
“I wasn’t talking about me. I’m no weapon of fate, but I know how to handle myself.”
“Fine. Andie and Henry, then. I think they’ll be all right. Between me, Achilles, Hermes, and Calypso, we should be able to keep them covered. Maybe I’ll put them on Ares’ mutts and let them get a little payback.”
“You’re not the slightest bit worried?”
“What good does it do?” she asked. “Mostly I’m looking forward to setting Cassandra on Hera. Helping her drown Aphrodite for good measure. I wish Hermes had brought me something to drink with that pizza.”
“Want me to go get something?”
“No. It’s all right. It’s not like I need it. Godly constitution and all.” She laced her fingers behind her head. Underneath them, the house felt full to bursting with power. Gods and heroes, stuffed inside. And she lay atop it, ready to wield them.
“Did you know there’s a desert mouse that produces its own water internally?” she asked. “Never has to drink a drop.”
“Fascinating,” Odysseus said. “Do they call it the God Mouse?”
“I don’t think so. But they should.” They sat quietly for a few moments. “I thought you were going to stay with Calypso.”