Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
She sighs. “This is not going at all how I wanted this conversation to go.”
I give a choked little laugh. “Yeah, well, our conversations never quite go how I picture them either.” It’s a testament to our history and our friendship that she even tried to warn me. I try for a smile. “I appreciate the concern, but I have things under control.” I hope.
For a second, it looks like she’ll continue arguing. But she finally gives another of those world-weary sighs, her customary joy nowhere in evidence. “Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
It’s an easy promise to make for all my bargain with Zeus. I have no intention of putting myself in danger. Money and a way out of Olympus are great in theory, but I can’t get my sister to safety if I’m dead. I’m certainly not going to sacrifice my life for this city. The very thought is absurd. Hermes would know that if she were thinking clearly. The fact that she’s apparently not worries me.
I nod slowly. “I promise that I won’t put myself in any unnecessary danger.” The promise is small and leaves much to be desired. If she’s right, I’m already in danger simply by being here.
She shakes her head one last time. “If you get killed because of Apollo and Zeus’s scheme, I’ll murder them both myself.” Again, her customary cheeriness is nowhere in evidence. This is the Hermes that I lost my heart to all those years ago. I loved her mischievousness and her ability to talk her way both into and out of trouble, but like calls to like.
Her inner core is just as dark and haunted as mine.
We’ve always had different aims, though. It’s the reason why we were never going to work. I always wanted to leave Olympus behind, and Hermes wants… Well, she’s never trusted me enough to tell me exactly what she wants.
Her motives might be akin to Apollo’s aim to bring about what’s best for Olympus, but I’m not so sure. Hermes has always played on a different level from anyone else in the city. Not one of the Thirteen is aware of how deep she goes. They all see the flighty, mischievous thief, the one who shows up where she’s not invited and steals things for shits and giggles. They don’t see this look in her eye that I see now.
This Hermes will kill to accomplish her goals.
I’m nearly certain she has, although we never spoke of it.
My glasses are not rose-tinted enough to think that she’ll kill for me, ex or no, current friend or no. Or at least I didn’t think so. Maybe I should let it go, but if there’s even the tiniest chance she’ll drop some useful information, I have to try. “Why are you here, Hermes? If it’s so dangerous, and there’s things going on that I’m not privy to. If people might get hurt. Why are you here at this party?” I cross my arms over my chest. “I know it’s not because you plan to let Minos set you up with one of his children.” Another stab in the dark. It’s all I have at this point.
She bursts out laughing, that joyful tinge returning to her tone. “Marry one of his children?” She laughs again. “Have you seen them? Ariadne isn’t so bad, but the sons? Absolutely not. I’d break those poor boys.”
She’s probably right about Icarus, but the others? Both Theseus and the Minotaur top her by a foot and a half and are more than willing to do violence in pursuit of their goals. Though I’m not entirely certain that she could take them. At least not in a fair fight. I’m not sure Hermes has been in a fair fight even once in her life. So actually, if I were those men, I’d be watching my back when she’s around.
Still… “That wasn’t an answer.”
Her smile goes a little sad. “You know better than most that no matter what questions you ask, there are answers I can’t give you.”
I should have known better than to waste my breath asking. She keeps her secrets close. Even from those she cares about the most. I had to try, though.. “I’ve always tried to respect your privacy. Now I need you to respect mine.”
Another of those joyful laughs. “Oh, Cass, you know I don’t respect anyone’s privacy.” Her smile falls away. “But I’ll try. Just this once.”
Apollo might technically be the Keeper of Lore, but Hermes is the keeper of more secrets than I could begin to guess. And yet our history has words springing to my lips that I know better than to speak. She might already know that I’ve made a deal, but I can’t help telling her why. “I’m getting out. Me and Alexandra. We’re both leaving, for real this time, to start a new life somewhere no one knows our history.”