by Raye Wagner
And then two weeks ago, Caidyn moved from Atlanta. Attractive, athletic, and friendly, he persisted in talking to her, even when she put her foot in her mouth.
They walked out of the classroom together and toward her locker.
“So, I was just thinking,” he started.
Her cheeks tinged with warmth.
“You’re pretty smart, and I’m pretty smart. Maybe we could get together and study sometime?”
“Um, I’m not allowed to have study groups.” The warmth in her cheeks turned to fire. “I mean, I’m not allowed to go to study groups.”
“Why not? Is your mom the Wicked Witch or something?”
“No.” Maybe.
“Whatever. Tell her it’s a class assignment. I’ll be on my bestest behavior, a real prince.” He waggled his brows.
She blushed and stuttered. “I . . . I don’t think that would help any.”
He stepped closer and whispered, “What if you told her you were studying with a demigod? We could sort through the monsters and devise the best way to destroy each one.”
Her heart stopped. A lump of terror exploded in her chest. “Are you . . . are you kidding me?” The words tripped out of her mouth.
“Will it convince your mom to let us hang out?” He smiled, and a glint of amusement shone from his dark eyes. “If I told you my dad was Hedylogos, would it make any difference?”
Zeus Almighty! “Is he really your dad?” Her voice dropped to a whisper.
Caidyn shrugged. “Would it matter?” He leaned toward her. “You know who Hedylogos is?”
She nodded. “God of flattery.” Of course she knew. She knew them all.
Caidyn’s fingers brushed her hair away from her face.
She flinched. Her heart beat a rhythm of fear.
His eyes went from her lips to her eyes. “And sweet talk.” He straightened back up. “Maybe you shouldn’t tell her that part, though.” He took a step back. “I can come over to your house; that way your mom can supervise. Do you think that will work?”
She shook her head. “Um, I better check with her first.” Her cold, clammy hands were shaking. She gripped her backpack to make them stop.
The bell rang.
“I’ll . . . I’ll let you know tomorrow.”
Caidyn winked at her. “Perfect. Hey, why don’t you come eat lunch with me today?” He started walking backward.
She shrugged.
“I’ll find you!” Caidyn waved, then turned and sprinted down the hall.
She stood alone in the hall, panic racing through her veins. Caidyn was a demigod? Could that even be? Gods! Caidyn was a demigod! She needed to tell her mom. She needed to tell her mom right now.
Sixty-two days since the last move
HOPE SLAMMED THE door and stood in the entryway. Her backpack slid from her shoulder as she surveyed the apartment. All around her were moving boxes. Stacks and stacks of them.
“Oh. I’m so glad you’re here.” Her mom came out of the kitchen and pulled her into a hug. “I was just hunting for my keys so I could come get you.”
“But I ride the bus.” As soon as it left her mouth, she knew this wasn’t about the bus.
Only two months ago, they’d left Kent and moved to Mount Vernon. Two months! It seemed like a blink and—
“I know you do. But we need to get going. It’s time.”
“What happened?” Her voice shrunk as she faced her mom.
“Baby, we’ve gone over this a million times.”
“But you said a year—”
“No. I said a year, at most. We agreed when I told you it was time to go, we would go. No arguments.”
“Please, Mom?” Hope weaved her way through the boxes to the couch and collapsed into the overstuffed cushions, her wet coat dripping onto the leather. “It just . . . I . . .” She dropped her head into her hands.
She could feel the couch dip next to her. Her mom’s arm circled her shoulders. “I thought you’d be ready for a change.”
She met her mother’s eyes. “I just want a friend. I just want—”
A knock at the door interrupted them. As Leto got up to answer it, the knock became a pounding.
“Skata! Open this door!”
The voice of her aunt Priska cut through the air, and seconds later the petite woman came through the door.
Hope stood to greet her aunt.
Priska Metcalf wasn’t really her aunt, but she was the closest thing to extended family they had. She looked the same age as her mom, perhaps even a few years younger, but Hope knew she’d helped raise her grandmother, the first Sphinx, thousands of years ago.
Where Hope and her mom were gold and honey, Priska was onyx and ivory, not only in physical appearance but emotionally as well. She was calculated, decisive, and fearless. She didn’t mince words, or blow smoke.
“Are you almost ready to go?” Her aunt’s angular features were pulled into a scowl. “I followed him to Pine Square, but all those shadows around Demeter’s temple—”
“Stop!” Leto’s eyes darted to Hope.
The dark-haired woman looked at her, then back to her mother. “What? You haven’t told her?”
The silence that settled between them was thick with tension.
“Are you still trying to protect her?” Priska’s eyes narrowed. “You can’t hide her from the world. She needs to know.”
The pressure in the room rose. Hope’s eyes went back and forth from her mother to her aunt. “What’s going on?”
Priska shook her head and turned to face Hope. “Skia.”
The word was like a bomb. “Skia?” Her heart stuttered with fear. “Here?”
“Maybe. I think . . . I went shopping this morning . . .” Leto paused.
“Just tell her.” Priska’s angular features accentuated the harshness of her words.
Leto’s shoulders slumped. “This morning. I don’t think he saw me, but we can’t take any chances. We need to move.”
Skia. Shadow monsters. Her mother incessantly worried about them—demigods and Skia, the two immortal races that could kill them.
Hope was stunned. “Are you sure?”
Priska nodded. “I chased him off, made sure he saw me. I promise, he won’t be looking for you two.” She sat down on the couch and patted the cushion next to her. “You’ll be fine.”
“So we’re safe?” Hope looked back and forth between the two women.
Leto shook her head. “I’m going to go finish packing the kitchen. We’ll leave in an hour.”
Hope’s aunt produced a wan smile. “Safe is a relative term.” She pulled a pillow into her lap. “How was school today?”
Fear and confusion made it impossible to focus. She sat on the edge of the couch and stumbled over the words, the classes she was taking, what they were studying.
“Have you made any friends?”
Priska’s stare settled on Hope’s shoulders, and she shrugged as if to dislodge the weight. “It’s hard to make friends when you move all the time.”
“Yes. That’s a challenge. But not impossible. Maybe you should put some effort into it.”
Really? She rolled her eyes. “Hades in—”
“Speaking of Hades,” Priska cut her off and changed the subject. “How much do you know about Skia?”
“Don’t you do it!” Leto appeared in the doorway.
Hope drew back into the couch, her mother’s words stinging the very air.
Priska’s face was granite. “If you will not tell her, I will. Her life is in danger, too. You’ve shared only the barest of information with her. It is not enough to keep her safe.”
Safe. It was like a mantra in their home—elusive, and yet the prize they constantly searched for. Is it safe? Are we safe? Trying to keep us safe. All the effort, and it was never, ever enough.
“Tell me.” Hope sat up. “I want to know. I… I need to know.”
Priska appraised her, then turned back to Leto. “It’s your choice. You can tell her, or I will.�
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Her mother shook her head. “Fine.” She looked at her watch. “Twenty minutes.”
Priska nodded, her focus shifting back to Hope. “What do you know about Skia?”
“They’re Hades’s minions, shadow monsters that kill immortals.”
“Well, that’s a start.” Priska took a deep breath. “When the elements were divided, Zeus and his offspring got the earth and sky and all living things therein. Poseidon received the water with its creatures and inhabitants. Hades got the underworld, and the dead became his domain.”
Hope nodded. This was basic mythology.
Priska continued, “The gods could produce, with those beings of their realms, half breeds, and these half mortal-half god beings are invincible. Only another immortal, or an immortal weapon, can kill those of . . . mixed blood.”
Her mother had explained this, too. “Immortal” didn’t mean they would live forever, a common misconception of the human realm. Only the gods were eternal and everlasting.
“So if a god and human . . . hooked up, their offspring would be a demigod. The water gods have their creatures: merfolk, water nymphs, and sirens. And Hades . . .” There was a sudden weight to the words. “In bitter jealousy, Hades found that he could fuse a part of his spirit with those in his dominion and create immortal beings, too. These creatures are Skia.”
“So they are human?” In her mind, a monster meant a creature like her.
“Skia are human in appearance. Sort of.” She paused, as if weighing her words. “More of a shadow of their previous human form.”
Hope grimaced, her mind trying to put together the puzzle.
Priska explained, “It’s like the color of life has been leached from their bodies. They can only be seen by other immortals, and their only purpose is death. Usually they go after demigods, but . . . they will kill any immortal.”
Hope understood the implication.
Priska grabbed her phone and pulled up a photo of a man. Using an app, she washed out the color of his skin, making him appear sickly, she darkened his eyes until the entire orbs were black, his cheeks sunken . . .
“They look like this.”
Hope looked at the morphed image. He didn’t look scary, just ill.
Priska held the phone back and looked at her artwork. “If you ever see black eyes like that, run.”
Hope nodded. “So how does Hecate keep us safe?” She pointed at the three sided statue of the goddess. One figure held knives, another torches, and the third a set of keys.
“The primordial goddess holds power over the crossroads of life and death. That sacred shrine was given to my mother from Hecate herself.” She pointed to the marble figurine, “It’s what keeps Skia from entering your home, from crossing through your doorways.”
“It’s time to go.” Leto came out of the kitchen with her purse. “The movers are on their way; they’ll put the stuff in storage. Go grab your suitcase, Hope.”
She exhaled as she stood up. “It’s not fair. I just want to be normal.”
Priska laughed. “You’ll never be normal. You’d better get used to change.” She scooted to the edge of the couch, stood, and turned to Leto. “Do you have the Book of the Fates?”
Leto nodded, wisps of blond hair brushing her cheeks. “It’s in my bag.” She held up a worn leather messenger bag.
“Good.” Her aunt turned back to Hope. “Make sure you have everything, and don’t forget to grab Hecate. We’ll meet you at the car.”
Hope discovered her bedroom empty except for her bag and the statue. The closet, bathroom cabinets, shower stall, dresser drawers—all empty. Just like her life. She shoved the marble statue into her backpack and grabbed her worn canvas suitcase. With a sigh, she closed the door to the apartment and trudged down the concrete stairs to where her mother waited.
“I’m sorry. Maybe we can stay longer at the next place.” Leto’s eyes pleaded for understanding.
“Okay, Mom.” Her lips pressed tight, and her heart shrank from the acknowledgment.
As they pulled away from the curb, Hope noticed a tall man in black sprinting up the stairs toward their apartment.
“I’M HOME!” SHE dropped her bag on the floor.
“Oh good.” Leto’s voice floated down the short hall of the apartment. “How was school?”
Hope shrugged. It was late July, and she was taking two classes at the community college out of desperation. She had two weeks’ worth of work to catch up on. It was a relief to have something to do before her junior year started.
The trust fund from Hope’s grandparents was substantial, but her mom kept them in quiet obscurity, just one more attempt to keep them from drawing attention.
Her mom poked her head around the corner of a small bedroom. “I said, ‘How was school?’”
“Fine.” It was always fine. Fine. Fine. Fine.
“Good.” Leto came out of her bedroom. “Can I get you a snack?”
Hope rolled her eyes. “I’m not five. I can get my own snack.”
A muscle in her mom’s jaw clenched. “Priska said she’s coming by tonight.”
“Does this mean we’re going to move again?”
The moving boxes were still stacked around the apartment. It would be another day before they would be unpacked. Maybe two.
“Ha, ha!” Leto went back into her room. “Go get your homework done. Maybe we can talk Priska into staying for games.”
At least that was something. With all the moving, it had been close to a year since they’d played any board games. It just wasn’t fun to play with two; all her favorites needed at least three players.
They hadn’t stayed in Vancouver much longer than they’d stayed in Mount Vernon or Kent. Same for Pasco, Bellingham, and Aberdeen. And now they were in Bellevue—but for how long?
The two-bedroom apartment they rented was on the second floor of an old complex, the last remaining complex in Bellevue with only two floors. The older buildings had been torn down in the last few years, rebuilt more in sync with the very modern, high-rise city. For whatever reason, this one had been spared. It meant cheaper rent, but transient occupants. Which was perfect.
“All right.” Hope picked up the gray backpack and headed to her room. Her bed was pushed up against the wall, and the cream comforter promised to make everything better. She pushed the empty boxes to the side and fell onto her bed.
The edge of something heavy dug into her ribs, and she rolled to the side. Her hand grasped a thick book, and she tugged the leather-bound volume out and let it drop to the floor with a thud. She lifted her head just enough to verify that it was the Book of the Fates. Her mom had given it to her the day before, and she’d thumbed through the story of her grandmother, Phaidra, but slammed it shut after only minutes of reading. She didn’t want to know any more of her depressing history, even if it was the only accurate record. She buried her face into the soft bedding.
“I put away most of your clothes, but you’ll need to finish your toiletries.” Leto’s voice came from the doorway.
“Mfft.”
“Are the kids at school nice? How are your teachers?”
She rolled over. “They’re fine.”
“I’m so glad. I think we’re going to like it here.”
“I’m sure we will. For at least a week.”
Leto said nothing.
Bellevue was just across the lake from Seattle. It boasted a large mall, several movie theaters, and restaurants on almost every corner. It was a nondenominational city, one with temples for most of the Olympians and several Titans. Not that any of this mattered. She would be going exactly nowhere without her mom or, if she was lucky, Priska.
“Priska will be here in an hour.”
Hope rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. “Okey-dokey.” She heard her mom’s forced exhalation, followed by her retreat down the hall.
When Priska came, Hope vented to her for what felt like hours, until Leto finally tapped on the door. “Sorry to interrupt, b
ut it’s time for bed.”
Priska stood up. “Sorry you’re having a rough go, sweet girl. I’m sure it will get better.” She stooped and retrieved the leather-bound book on the floor. “Have you started reading this?”
“Not yet.” Guilt nagged at her conscience, and Hope pushed it down.
“Hmm. Maybe you should.”
The door closed, but didn’t latch. Hope could hear them speaking in the hall. She slid from the bed and crept across the floor, then eased the door open.
“I think this is important for her.” Her aunt made the statement as if it were fact. “She’s never had any friends—”
There was a snort.
“All I’m saying is I think it’s important for her to have friends, and that’s impossible if you move every few months and keep her under lockdown.”
Leto sighed. “You know it is only for her safety.”
“Hey.” Priska placated. “I’m on your side. On all of this, okay? I’m all about keeping you safe. I just think maybe it’s time to do something different. For her.”
“You’re right,” her mom whispered. “You’re right.”
Wait! Was that agreement? Hope could hardly believe it. She sat back and the door hit the wall with a thud. Crap!
“Hope? I know you’re listening. Why don’t you come out here?”
Busted. She slunk into the living room and looked at her mom and aunt.
“What’s going to be different?” Her teeth worried her lower lip. She was afraid to hope, and just as terrified not to.
Leto frowned. “Priska and I are going to finish our talk without you eavesdropping.” She sucked air through clenched teeth. “That will be different.”
Her mother pointed down the hallway, and Hope stomped off to her room, slamming the door behind her.
Nineteen days since last move
TAP TAP.
“Do you want to go into Seattle for the day?” Leto stood just outside her room, her hand hovering at the door.
Hope’s plans to spend the day in bed came to a screeching halt. Her book slipped from her fingers, and she turned to her mom. “What?” She couldn’t have heard that right.