“Congratulations,” she said coolly. “In a few days, I’ll be a goddess of death. I’ll be like you.”
Thanatos set down his sponge.
“Was this what you suspected?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said. “And what I was afraid of.”
He was doing it again, looking at her, and into her. Only now his curiosity was gone. He looked at Cassandra as if he wanted to remember every curve and color of her face.
“I didn’t think death was afraid of anything,” Cassandra said.
“Not many things. And not often.” Thanatos reached out, slowly, and touched her throat. He drew closer until both hands were on her and he was near enough that Cassandra could feel the cool of his skin. She wondered what his kiss would feel like. She wondered if he could still kill her that way. But before she could protest, he dropped his head to her shoulder and gently brushed his lips against her collarbone.
Her heart didn’t stop. He was cool but not cold, and when she shivered it wasn’t because of a chill.
“What are you doing?” she asked. It had been a long time since anyone had touched her like that. Her hands slid around Thanatos’ waist and grasped his back.
The Saturn and the Mustang pulled into the driveway.
“Something foolish,” he replied, and kissed her fingertips.
Lux got up and scratched at the door. It bounced back and forth. It wouldn’t close properly anymore. Athena had broken it.
When Andie and Henry came into the house, Thanatos tried to leave, but Cassandra took his hand. There was a lot to tell about her time on the road hunting gods, and Athena’s plans for the Moirae. About Calypso. She could use a shoulder to lean on.
*
Cassandra’s mom flinched whenever their hands touched. She didn’t even try to hide it. They needed time, Athena had said. But her parents glanced at each other like prisoners in a yard, plotting escape. Maybe not today, or this month, but eventually Cassandra would come home from school to find an empty house, and a note on the kitchen table if she was lucky.
She didn’t blame them. But she wouldn’t wait around for it, either. After she and Athena had dealt with Atropos, she would join the Moirae. Cassandra would disappear again, only this time, they wouldn’t worry or search. This time they’d be relieved.
Henry sat at the table eating bacon, half a strip for him, half a strip for Lux, in a slow, salty pattern. He hadn’t said much since she’d told him about the Moirae’s plan. And about Calypso. The truth about Calypso.
But she hadn’t told him everything. Her intent to join the Moirae she kept to herself. Because no matter how wrong she was, or how tainted, he and Andie would want her to stay.
There was still life here worth living. Cassandra looked down at the dishrag in her hand. If only her mess could wipe away clean.
“You guys are being jerks,” Henry said. Everyone in the kitchen turned, but he was only talking to their parents.
“Henry?” their mom asked. “Are you all right?”
“Am I still your kid, you mean?” He frowned. “Yeah. I still am. And so is she.”
Their parents looked down at their feet, ashamed as children caught teasing a dog.
“Of course she is,” their dad said. “It’s just strange knowing … all of this.”
“I know,” Henry said. “It was strange for me, too. But I didn’t act like a total dick.”
“I don’t know how you think we’re supposed to respond—”
“Better,” he said. “The world’s the same as it was yesterday. You just know about it now. I know you haven’t had much time to process, or whatever.” He stood up and put his backpack over his shoulder. “But both of your kids might be dead tomorrow. So you might want to speed it up.”
“Dead? What do you mean ‘dead’?!” Their mom chased him out the door, but he was in his car and out of the driveway before she made it down the front steps.
“Cassie,” her dad said. “What did he mean, ‘dead’? Tomorrow?” He took her by the shoulder and tucked her hair back. Her mom came back inside and grabbed her phone.