"I'm fine," Leander murmured, but his hands clutched white-knuckled at his lap blanket.
"Oh, of course," Ares said on a hollow laugh. "I see how it is."
"What?" Dio turned toward him, blood already pounding in his ears. Don't lose it now. Not in front of Leander. Not now. "You see how what is?"
"Not so big a jump from fucking goats to fucking a big, lumbering ox, is it, little brother?"
The words were stupid. Dio should have laughed, but the sneering condescension worked its way into his pores, his anger expanding from a hot, black ball to an amorphous, grasping monster. "Fauns aren't goats, dickweed, and Leander isn't some stupid ox."
Dio knew it was too late, the room around him draining to iron-gray, the terrible, blinding white already closing in—
A hand closed on his arm, warm and gentle. The advance of his rage halted, abruptly, completely. Simply stopped. He could see again. Hear again. The anger still shivered through him, but he was aware and in control. Leander's hand lay on his forearm. Ares had backed across the room, his face pale under his military-short blond hair. Dio took all this in. Aware. Awake. In control.
"Huh. That was weird."
"Ares, I think you better go," Hermes said softly. He waited until their older brother had left the room before he turned to Dio. "All right there?"
Dio patted the hand on his arm and got a smile together for Leander. "Yeah. You know what? I am. I'm pissed off, but I'm fine."
"Interesting." Hermes was watching him with narrowed eyes, that clever brain obviously going at a thousand miles an hour.
"What's the look and the being vague for?"
"You've just never been able to pull back before."
"Meaning?"
Whatever Hermes meant became lost in Uncle Hades's return with Grace and Athena's return with an oddly faceted green-glass ball that she placed in the center of the table. Uncle Hades raised a silver brow at that, but didn't question her while he seated Grace at the central table.
"Lord Hades, I don't see how this can help." Her tone managed to be respectful and annoyed at the same time, something Dio felt only older humans could pull off. "I've told you everything I can."
"Please indulge me, Mrs. Hopkins. Could you tell us where you began your day in the library?"
Grace ran through it, from accompanying Auntie Hestia through the doorway with Anthony and Ava, to searching through the books they had gathered previously, to Dio's visit and the three humans agreeing to split up the search for additional books. Everyone watched Grace while she spoke except Athena, whose gaze flickered over her glass ball.
"And when you and Darcy were searching the stacks, did you see anyone else at any time?"
"No, Lord Hades, as I've already said."
"Were there any unusual noises at any time during your search?"
Grace's eyebrows scrunched, and she regarded Uncle Hades over the tops of her glasses. "Lord Hades, my hearing isn't what it used to be. If a brass band was playing two hallways over, I'm not likely to have heard it."
"Thank you, Grace. You've been most helpful." Uncle Hades pulled her chair out and helped her up, though no one said anything until she was gone.
Then Uncle Hades fixed Athena with a stern look. "Well?"
"Lying, Uncle."
"At what point?"
"She was truthful until the point where she describes leaving the room to search with Darcy."
"But that makes no sense, my lord," Leander said. "Darcy confirms she was with him."
Uncle Hades nodded. "Yes. So we have no way to determine what the lie concerns. It could be what she heard."
"Or who she saw," Hermes said pointedly.
"Perhaps. She may be shielding someone." Uncle Hades stalked off again and returned with Anthony, who gazed around the room uncertainly and finally perched on the edge of the indicated chair.
"No need to be nervous, Mr. Pugh," Uncle Hades rumbled in that voice that made almost everyone nervous. "We just want to clarify a few things."
"Of course, Lord Hades." A little twitch at his dress-shirt cuffs, straightening his blazer, fixing his tie, Anthony's hands seemed unable to stay in one place.
"Thank you. Before Dionysus came to visit with his aunt, had you left this room?"
"No. I was here with Grace and Ava." Twitch.
"And when you did leave the room, could you describe the path you took, please?"
"Of course, sir. I went past the Circulation Desk—"
"Though no one at Circulation saw you."
Twitch. "Not past the desk itself, sir, but that portion of the library so I could reach Lord Orunmila's section."
Uncle Hades looked down at his notes, though Dio knew he remembered most things word for word. "But yesterday you told me you had been searching in Apollo's section of the first floor."
Twitch. "Yes. Yes, of course, sir. I misspoke. Lord Apollo's section where I was searching for a particular Corinthian transcription."
"Very good. And can you tell me precisely where you were looking?"
The twitches continued with each question, though Anthony managed to pull out of his nosedive and answer more like a smooth professional.
"And in this time did you see anyone else, anyone at all, or hear anything that seemed out of place?"
"I didn't speak to anyone, sir, but Lord Apollo was in his room briefly."
"Did he see you?"
"I don't think so, sir."
Uncle Hades dismissed Anthony politely and waited until he had crossed the glowing doorway before he scrubbed both hands over his face in obvious frustration. "I don't need your orb to tell me he was lying, Athena. But when does he begin to lie?"
"It's the same, Uncle. Once he describes separating from his colleagues, his lies begin."
"So." Uncle Hades crossed his arms over his chest as he frowned at the floor. "I know full well he didn't see Apollo. I've spoken to everyone I could contact. Apollo was not in his reading room at all that day."
"But Anthony?" Hermes shook his head. "I can't see him killing anyone. It's the why that bothers me more than anything."
"If we knew what was in that accursed missing scroll, we might be able to ascertain that."
The last of Hestia's folks came through the door then. Ava made her way through the room, murmuring greetings without looking up. Some days, she walked at nearly a normal pace. Other days, it seemed to take all of her concentration to keep walking with the help of her forearm crutches.
Not one of her better days. Dio wanted to tell his uncle off for dragging her in here like this, but Ava plopped down in the offered chair and smiled for everyone.
"I won't keep you long, Ava." Uncle Hades nearly managed to smile, and he began the same line of questions he'd asked the others. When he got to the one where he asked where she had gone to look for books, things got interesting.
"Well, I went past the center of the library to Lord Orunmila's section."
"Ava," Hermes broke in. "Why in the world did your coworkers make you walk to the farthest point from this room?"
Her laugh was a low, throaty chuckle, maybe a smidge bitter. "They didn't make me, Lord Hermes. I get tired of everyone making exceptions and concessions for me. Sometimes I want to be the one who has the longest walk."
"Of course. I apologize," Hermes said with a little seated bow.
"It's all right, sir. I'm used to it by now."
Uncle Hades went back to his questions. "On your way there, you stated that you saw no one. Are you certain of this? No glimpse or anyone through all those hallways?"
Now Ava's smile slipped and she shifted in her chair. "I—I'd really rather not say."
"Nothing you say will condemn anyone," Uncle Hades said gently. "These are merely factual observances which I will do my best to piece together in a considered and objective manner."
"I did hear Grace and the panda assistant a few shelves over."
Uncle Hades nodded. "You did mention that. What else did you hear or see?"
"I— Someone turned a corner in front of me. I can't say for sure who it was. I just got a glimpse of a dress shoe."
"And where was this?"
"As I was getting close to the section I needed. The person was in front of me, moving fast."
"Was there anyone else?"
Ava hesitated again, her brow furrowing. "Lord Set…"
"You saw Set after you saw this other person?"
"That's just it, sir. I'm not sure I did. I was standing at the bookshelf I wanted, looking for the right book, and I thought I saw Lord Set out of the corner of my eye. But when I turned my head, he'd vanished."
"All right. Thank you, Ava. That's all I have for now."
Athena gathered her orb up when Ava had made her slow way back to the human world. "This is why I don't work with humans. They all lie."
"Ava was as well?" Uncle Hades asked.
"Please." Hermes snorted and waved a hand. "I don't need a truth orb to tell me that. It was all over her body language. She's not even a particularly good liar."
"You think she saw more than she did?"
"Hell, yes. I'm thinking she's covering for Anthony big time. Or Set. Or both."
"Wait… wait." Dio held up both hands, though his head hurt so badly now he wanted to bang it on the table to see if it would feel better that way. "Why is her lying covering up when nobody can account for her?"
Hermes came to stand behind him, kneading his shoulders. "Um, baby brother, how in the world would Ava get up all those steps in time to steal the scroll and the spear and commit murder?"
"She could've rode the shelf up."
"In theory, yes." Uncle Hades heaved a long breath. "But that would require her to reach the third floor, remove the books, return to the first, and then ride the shelf to the third. Not the least bit plausible."
"Oh." Why do I even open my mouth? "Sorry. Right."
"However, she's either trying not to implicate someone directly, which from the spare description of clothing would be Anthony, or she has been threatened by either Set or Anthony and is fearful of implicating one or the other directly."
"Yeah. All possible. But we don't need possible." Hermes sighed and gave Dio a pat. "Too many possibles. Not enough hard evidence."
"I'm sorry to keep you all." Uncle Hades waved a hand in frustration. "Please don't let me delay you any longer. Leander, my apologies for keeping you from your rest."
Dio sprang up to make certain Leander was steady on his feet when he rose. A little wobble, and the librarian managed to fold the blanket and return it to the back of the sofa without his hands shaking. Too much. Good. We'll get him to his rooms, and I'll, I dunno, do stuff so he doesn't have to.
They said good-night, Dio lingered to offer hugs all 'round, which Athena barely tolerated, then he hurried after Leander, who was already plodding through the corridors. The horned head was down, broad shoulders hunched, so Dio thought it was best just to keep his trap shut. Still feeling his way through Leander's reactions, it took him three corridor turns before he eased closer to sneak his hand into the crook of Leander's elbow. Fireflies on caffeinated crack zipped through his stomach when Leander jerked in surprise but didn't pull away.
Careful, careful, don't push. Dio pressed his lips together hard to trap the barrage of words that wanted out, instead settling for leaning his head against Leander's arm. His impressively hard, massive arm.
"They seemed shocked that you controlled your rage," Leander finally murmured as they headed up the stairs.
"Yeah, well, there's reasons. I never have before."
"Have you always suffered from them?"
Dio risked a glance up and, yes, Leander was looking at him sidelong through his hair. "Are we playing the question game?"
"We could. If you like, I su—"
He cut off on a gasp as a figure loomed above them on the stairs, black and faceless, backlit from the lamp on the third-floor landing. The figure advanced, silent, menacing, until the head turned slightly, and Dio caught an outline of nose.
"Set?"
"Well, hello loveliness." Set's white teeth gleamed as he smiled. "Are you taking employment here?"
"Um, no." Dio caught his confused whirl of thoughts and his breath all up in a rush. "Where the hell have you been? Look, Uncle Hades is looking for you, and it's probably better if you go talk to him and junk. Instead of him hunting you down."
"Oh dear. That sounds like a threat." Set reached out and traced a claw along Dio's jaw. "Was it? I'll be so displeased."
"No, damn it, Set, for once don't play games, okay? My Meghan… Someone murdered her. Here."
Set's eyes widened a fraction. "On the stairs?"
"No. In the library. You need to go talk to Uncle Hades, 'cause you were here that day. He needs to know where you were."
"Dear little godling." Set leaned closer, not a shred of friendly left in his smile. "I don't need to do anything. If it pleases me, I might speak to your uncle because he's beautiful and his seriousness amuses me. But need? Oh, no. Not in your wildest nightmares."
Of all the times for Set to go all I'm the god of storms and do as I please. "They think you killed Meggie. I know that's what they're thinking."
"What if I did?" Set whispered in his ear. "What would you do, then?"
Holy shit, He's not denying it. He's not. And he's fucking pleased about it. He killed her! "You camel-nosed, misshapen piece of shit!"
Dio lunged, rage flooding him so hard and fast it squeezed his heart almost to the point of displacing it, the pain in his chest so sharp and agonizing that he cried out even as he swung. Set danced back up to the landing, out of reach, laughing as Dio surged after him. In a moment, it wouldn't matter. The rage would take him and no one would be able to get to him fast enough to hold him back, not Uncle Hades, not Hermes. Set would be in more pieces than his brother Osiris had ever been.
Strong arms closed around him. A soft voice murmured in his ear, "No, my lord… Dio, stop. Stop. Please. This will only cause regret."
The anger didn't vanish—the burning, blackening hot ball of molten crazy in his chest—but the veil of white threatening his vision pulled back. Leander held him in a protective circle, not one designed to hold him back, and in that warmth and attempt at comfort, Dio stopped lunging, stopped struggling, still aware of his surroundings, still able to speak.
"You motherfucker."
"Pity." Set stood on the landing, unruffled, flicking a bit of lint off his suit jacket. "I looked forward to one of your rages. Haven't seen one in years. Fascinating viewing. Did you know your eyes go white when you lose yourself? Does it happen in sex trances too?"
"How could you do that? For all fuck's sakes, why?"
"Why is never anyone's business but mine." Set started down again, one slow step at a time. "On those rare occasions I choose to kill with my own hands, it is for my own reasons. My little friend, your conclusion jumping is appalling. You should, as the young humans say, check yourself."
He passed them with a mock salute and sauntered casually down the stairs, fading into invisibility before he hit the next landing.
"That fucking fuck fucker," Dio grated out through clenched teeth. "I have to go tell Uncle Hades."
"What would you tell him?" Leander asked softly, a hand still on Dio's shoulder.
"That he killed Meggie! He admitted it!"
"No." The word was so definite, so final, Dio turned to stare at him. Leander started up the stairs, still speaking. "He did no such thing. He taunted you. He led you into belief, but he never admitted to anything."
Dio shook his head in disbelief. "You're taking up for him?"
"No. He may have, or he may not have. But a confession? That he did not give you. Nor any information useful to your uncle. You did, indeed, jump to conclusions, and he found it all too entertaining to watch."
"Are you… scolding me?" Dio took the steps two at a time to catch up. "You are. Holy freaking stars."
Leander frowned. "It… I
didn't intend to. Simply stating fact."
Dio breathed out a huff. "Yeah. The fact that I'm an idiot that everyone can get one over on. I guess going to Uncle Hades and just saying, yeah, I saw Set, but he was being cagey and he went invisible again wouldn't be a big help, huh?"
"Perhaps not."
Dio let the sprinting thoughts collide in his head a moment before he said, "So I think it's you."
"Pardon?" Leander reared away from him. "You still think I killed Meghan?"
"What? No! Why would… Oh, no. I mean, I think you're the reason I haven't been going over the edge. That's twice in an hour, and both times, it stopped when you touched me."
"It's one possibility. Though you could simply be learning to control it."
"After all this time? Doesn't sound right to me." His head was pounding. The near-rages didn't seem to be as bad as the full-out ones, but he was still exhausted, and the world smelled like old varnish. "I'm not sane, you know. Might have been once. Can't remember. But I came to the library looking for a charm or a talis thingy or something that could help with the control stuff."
Leander's ears twitched forward. "Did you find it?"
"No, um, we'd just started looking."
"Oh, yes. Forgive me. Of course. Searching for resources… I get a bit excited."
"Hey, you're the librarian. That's what you do, right?" Dio stopped at the top of the stairs, rubbing at his forehead. "Oh, I feel like crap, damn it. Hate being like this."
"Could I ask how it happened? Your… being like this?"
Dio managed a smile for him as they started through the fourth-floor corridors. "You just did ask. That's okay. I don't mind. The histories kinda screw up the stories, anyway. Stepmom Hera hated me so, so bad way back when. She wanted my mom and me dead, and she was pissed as hell that my dad and Herm did an emergency C and saved me. Sewed me into Dad's thigh until I was full term. Funny that. Dad was mpreg twice before it was even a thing."
"Empreg?"
"Male pregnancy. Shows up in fanfic a lot. Um… I'll explain that later. Anyway, Stepmom was so mad when I was born, the family had to hide me. First with Grandma Rhea for a bit, then with my Aunt Ino, my mom's sis. She was a queen, and they dressed me like a girl to throw Stepmom off. That was kinda fun. Then Herm took me to live with the rain nymphs of Nysa, up in the mountains."
Brandywine Investigations Page 12