Part 45 (2/2)

”I thought you didn't believe in having a choice in any of this.” She stares back at me, her jaw set. My heart aches at the sight. She has just witnessed the brutal deaths of Simon and Sarah, had been nearly killed herself by a three-headed beast, had lightning hurled at her for close to one hundred sixty miles, and has been told she's public enemy number one for the G.o.ds, and yet she's willing to run into battle with me.

”And I think I might have an idea of where it is anyway,” she says.

”You do?” Dax asks.

”Where?” I say, unable to hide my skepticism-and hope.

”Back where we came from. We need to go back to Olympus Hills.”

”Seriously?” says Lexie. ”You think some ancient G.o.d's Key is just lying around in some random, master-planned community in California?”

”First of all, I don't think anyone here still believes Olympus Hills is some random, master-planned community anymore. Secondly, Orpheus supposedly used Persephone's Gate to escape the underworld, which means he came out in the grove, doesn't it? Before Olympus Hills even existed.

The gate has always opened there, right? He couldn't have gotten far with the Keres on his tail. Not while carrying his baby and the Kronolithe. I'd bet anything that he hid it somewhere in or near where Olympus Hills stands now.”

”That actually makes a lot of sense,” Dax says. ”The Oracle implied that no one but Daphne would be able to retrieve it. Maybe it's hidden somewhere only she can see.” I consider Dax and Daphne's hypothesis. It seems unlikely that the Kronolithe is under our noses this whole time, but then again, one of the things I had learned in my training is that the best hiding place is often in plain sight. Either way, it is the best lead we have. ”Fine. Daphne and I will return to Olympus Hills to seek the Kronolithe. Dax, you watch over everyone here until we return.”

”That could take months!” Lexie says.

”Like Tartarus I'm going to let you two go off alone,” Dax snarls. ”We are in this together. I told you I will follow you anywhere, and I meant it.”

”I'm coming, too,” Tobin says, standing. ”My sister is still out there and she and my mom are involved in all of this. If I'm going to find Abbie, my best chance is to stick with you guys.” He looks at me and shrugs. ”Besides, I kind of think you're not such an a.s.s hat after all. I mean, after what you did for Daphne, you might make a halfway decent human being someday. Count me in.”

”Me, too,” Lexie says. We all turn and stare at her in surprise. ”What?” she says, like she has no idea why we're so incredulous. ”If something is going down in Olympus Hills, you'd better believe I'm going to be a part of it. And there's no way I waiting here.”

”I want to help, too,” Joe says. ”I got Daphne into this situation, and I want to help get her out of it.” He looks at her for her approval.

She nods ever so slightly.

Garrick clears his throat. Everyone looks to him, waiting to see what he has to say. ”I think you are all a bunch of lunatics,” he says. ”But I also don't like the idea of sitting around in the middle of the desert, letting you guys have all the fun. . . . Count me in-as long as somebody lets me drive on the way home.”

I laugh uneasily. The sound ripples through the group.

”We should leave under the cover of night,” I say. ”Midnight. Skylords don't see as well at night, and the roads will be emptier.”

They all nod like they're taking an order from their captain.

”It's settled, then,” Daphne says. ”We'll follow you into the dark.” After a few minutes, the others scatter. Garrick takes the rest of his dinner out into the yard, and Dax and Tobin wash the dishes so Daphne's mother won't find our mess when she gets home. Joe fills a couple of water bottles while Daphne and Lexie gather road-trip snacks from the cupboards. Brim picks at the dinner I've left abandoned on the railing.

I stand on the deck, watching the storm that awaits us. Hoping for a break that doesn't come.

I don't hear Daphne approach. I don't know she's there until she slips her hand into mine. I wrap my fingers around hers.

I don't know what the future holds. I don't know how or if we'll get through this. But for the first time in my life, my destiny is in my own hands.

end.

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