“Orion. He’s solid,” Hector said with a serious nod. Helen gave him a surprised look, and he continued, “I’ve never met him in person, of course. The Furies. But Daphne put the two of us in touch right after I had to leave here. We text each other occasionally, and he’s really been there for me. He’s had a rough life, and he knows what I’m going through. I feel like I can talk to him.”
“Orion is really easy to talk to,” Helen agreed thoughtfully. She wondered if Hector knew more about Orion’s childhood than she did. The thought bothered her. She wanted to be the one to listen to Orion’s secrets, and she had no idea what that meant.
“And he’s reliable. He helped me find Daphne when she was lost at sea. He’s a powerful Scion, Helen. But I think he’s an even better friend.”
“Wow. You’re gushing,” Helen said, flustered by all the high praise coming from Hector, of all people. “What’s going on? Have you got a little man-crush on Orion?”
“Whatever.” Hector brushed off Helen’s teasing. “Look, I’m just saying I like him. That’s it.”
“Well, so do I,” Helen said softly, not certain what else Hector wanted her to say.
“And I don’t see a reason why you wouldn’t. In fact, I don’t see a reason why you wouldn’t do more than just like him. And that’s fine,” Hector said. “But he’s Heir to both Athens and Rome, and you are the Heir to the House of Atreus. You know what that means?”
“The two of us together unite three of the four Houses,” Helen said, frowning.
She had secretly hoped it was jealousy that had turned Lucas against Orion, but now that she considered it, she wasn’t so sure. Maybe he didn’t care if Helen was with another guy or not. Maybe all he cared about was keeping the Houses separate.
“Not that the two of you couldn’t get cozy for a while,” Hector said quickly, misinterpreting Helen’s pained look. “But you couldn’t really . . .”
“Really what, exactly?” Helen looked at Hector sharply and crossed her arms. “No, go on. I’m dying to hear what the Scion rule book says I can and can’t do with Orion.”
“You can have fun—you can have a lot of fun if you want. Not for nothing, but I hear that Scions from the House of Rome are particularly good at that. But don’t get too close to him emotionally, Helen,” he said seriously. “No children, no long-term commitment, and for gods’ sake don’t fall in love with him. The Houses must stay separate.”
It was almost too weird to talk about this with Hector, but at the same time it wasn’t. Helen knew he wasn’t judging her or giving her an empty lecture; he only wanted what was best for everyone.
“We’re just friends,” Helen replied with a certainly she didn’t entirely feel. “Neither of us wants anything else.”
Hector studied her for a moment, almost like he pitied her.
“The whole world could be in love with you and you wouldn’t even notice, would you? Like that weird kid, sitting here so he can stare at you for hours on end.”
“You mean Zach?” Helen shook her head. “Maybe two years ago I would have agreed with you, but not anymore. Zach hates me.”
“Then why was he camping out here on a Saturday night?” Hector asked dubiously.
A thought occurred to him and his eyes started scanning around until they finally landed on the counter. His face froze.
“He knows,” Hector whispered.
“That’s impossible. I never told him anything.”
“You always leave your phone out like that?”
Hector gestured to the countertop, and sure enough, Helen’s phone was sitting next to the rag she had been using. She never left her phone laying out at work, especially not since Orion had started texting her.
Helen stormed over and snatched it up, scrolling through the first screen that lit up. It was the entire thread of texts with Orion, including their plan to meet in the Underworld.
Zach must have stolen her phone out of her bag and gone through her messages. Helen stared at the screen, her mind frozen with disbelief. How could Zach betray her like that?
“He was at that track meet, too, wasn’t he?” Hector’s face was grim and his eyes were two shrewd slits. “I saw him on the edge of the forest, following you and Claire. Right before the Hundred ‘mysteriously’ appeared out of the trees.”
“Yeah, he was there,” she mumbled, still dumbstruck. “I trusted him! Not enough to tell him about my powers, but I never thought he’d do anything to hurt me.”
“Well, he knows, and he’s got to be giving information to the Hundred. That’s the only way they could have found me.” Hector looked over the text thread and sighed heavily. “And now the Hundred will know about Orion as well.”
The thought hadn’t occurred to Helen, but now that Hector brought it up, she felt a surge of panic. As a Rogue, Orion had spent his whole life hiding his existence from the House of Thebes, and Helen had unwittingly led them right to him. She started typing a frantic text.
“Make sure you tell him to ditch his phone,” Hector added as he began moving around the News Store, checking for any sign of an impending attack. Helen explained the situation to Orion as quickly as her thumbs would allow.
Orion didn’t seem at all surprised.
Before I ever even got in touch with you I knew they’d find out about me eventually. Don’t panic. I’ve prepared for this.
Helen couldn’t believe he was so calm. She relayed the compromised text thread to him, but he responded that everything that they had texted was indecipherable to others. He pointed out that there was no way for anyone to trace the phone number he was using back to his location and told her several times that he was safe.
They’re fanatics. They’ll kill you, she typed, unable to believe that he wasn’t already packing a bag.
Look, I don’t have 4 last names (that you know of) for nothing. Trust me, K? C u 2nite as planned.
Helen smiled at her phone, relieved that he was still willing to help her. Then she got angry. Orion had barely even flinched when she told him that he had been discovered. Didn’t he know how dangerous the Hundred Cousins were?
“What’s the matter?” Hector asked when he returned from checking the back alley and saw her stormy expression.
“He says he has it all taken care of.”
“Then don’t worry about him. Orion’s been outmaneuvering murder plots since he was old enough to walk. If he says he took the proper precautions, then he did.” Hector spoke with such perfect faith in Orion’s abilities to protect himself that Helen was left speechless. “You just focus on what you need to do,” he said over his shoulder as he glanced up and down the empty street. “I have to get back to Daphne and tell her about this.”
“You’re going out there?” Helen shouted in disbelief, jumping up to stop him. “But they could be hiding! There’s a new Shadowmaster, you know.”
“Think strategically, Helen. If the Hundred didn’t make their move minutes ago when I was unaware and vulnerable, that means they won’t strike tonight. The real question a good general would ask herself is, why aren’t they coming for me when they know I’m right here?” He eyed her thoughtfully.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, pointing a finger at Hector and narrowing her eyes suspiciously. “What do you know that I don’t?”
Hector smiled and shook his head, like Helen had entirely missed his point.
“I know that there are a lot of people counting on your success. It’s so important, they’re willing to let me go without a fight to make sure your descent tonight isn’t disrupted.” He opened the back alley door and kissed her on the forehead. “Just don’t forget that the people who really love you need you much more than they need your success. Whatever you and Orion are planning for tonight, be careful in the Underworld, Princess.”
“Damn it!” Helen yelled.
“Was something supposed to happen?” Orion asked expectantly.
She had just tried to picture Persephone’s face and t
eleport herself and Orion into the queen’s presence. They hadn’t moved a millimeter. Helen paced around in a circle, kicking at little twigs until she realized they were actually tiny, yellowed bones.
“Why can’t it just work?” she moaned. “Just once I want to come up with a plan and have it work. Is that too much to ask?”
Orion opened his mouth, about to say something to calm Helen down.
“Of course it isn’t!” Helen interrupted, her rant picking up steam. “But nothing works down here! Not our talents, not even the geography works. That lake over there is tilted on a slope! It should become a river, but oh, no, not down here! That would make too much sense!”
“Okay, okay! You win! It’s ridiculous,” Orion said, chuckling. He put his hands on her upper arms, making her hold still and face him. “Don’t worry. We’ll think of something else.”
“It’s just that everyone’s counting on me. And I really thought we had a plan, you know?” Helen sighed, her anger spent. She let her head fall forward and thud against Orion’s chest. She was so tired. Orion let her lean against him while he stroked her back comfortingly.
“Tell you the truth? I never thought it was going to work,” Orion said cautiously.
“Really?” Helen looked at him, deflated. “Why not?”
“Well, you haven’t seen Persephone’s face, just a picture of it.”
“But that first time I appeared near you I never saw your whole face, either. All I pictured was your voice and your hands and your . . . mouth.” Helen stumbled over that last bit, her eyes dropping down to admire his lips involuntarily.
“Well, those are still real pieces of me—not just pictures,” Orion said quietly, looking away. “Anyway, you don’t even know for sure if that picture you saw of Persephone is accurate.”
“And you were going to mention this . . . when?” Helen said, punching his shoulder to dispel the tension with some humor. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because what the hell do I know?” he said, like it was obvious. “Look, until we find what works, I say no ideas should be taken off the table. We’ll figure this out, but only if we don’t get narrow-minded.”
Helen felt her heart grow a little lighter. Orion knew exactly how to handle her sleep-deprived mood swings. Somehow, it was okay for her to be herself with him no matter how cranky she felt.
“Thanks.” She smiled up at him gratefully.
Helen could feel his heart under her hand, beating hard. His breathing sped up, each breath staying high and tight in his lungs. Helen was suddenly very conscious of the fact that he was holding her, and the small of her back tightened with sensitivity under the weight of his hands. An intense moment passed. Helen had the feeling that Orion was waiting for her in some way. She laughed nervously to cover the fact that she was breathing just as fast as he was and eased out of his arms.
“You’re right. We should stay open to all ideas,” she said as she moved a step away.
What the hell am I doing? she thought, clenching her fists until her nails dug into the palms of her hand.
What she was doing was trying not to think too much about what Hector had said about how she could have “a lot of fun” with a Scion from the House of Rome. What did that mean, exactly? It was the House of Aphrodite, after all. . . .
“You wouldn’t happen to have any, would you? Ideas, I mean,” she continued, pushing aside her thoughts about just how much fun she was allowed to have with Orion.
“Actually, I think I might,” he said, switching gears so fast Helen wondered if she had interpreted the situation correctly. Orion was staring intently at the slanted lake, biting his lower lip.
“I’m listening,” she said, just to remind him that she was still there.
Had he been thinking about kissing her, or was she just flattering herself? Helen watched him gently tug his lower lip through his teeth and didn’t know which of those two options she hoped was true.
Why did Orion have to be an Heir? Why couldn’t he be some amazing guy she’d just met, preferably a full mortal so he was completely removed from this Truce nonsense? It would be so much easier if Orion were just a normal guy.
“You know, in all my reading about the Underworld there have only been a few things that get mentioned over and over,” he continued, oblivious to Helen’s swirling thoughts. “It’s like they’re the only things that the historians agree are really down here one hundred percent of the time.”
Helen stated to tick off the list on her fingers, taking an inventory of all the different things that could fit Orion’s description.
“Well, we’re in Erebus right now—this bland nowheres-ville. Then there are the Fields of Asphodel: creepy. And Tartarus: yuck.”
“Only been to Tartarus once—when we first, ah, met,” Orion said, referring to the time he had pulled her out of the quicksand. “And that was enough.”
“It’s where all the Titans are imprisoned, too. Definitely not a pleasant place to spend eternity,” she said grimly. “So, there’s Tartarus, Erebus, the Asphodels, the Elysian Fields—aka heaven. I’m sure I haven’t found them yet. What am I missing? Oh, yeah, there are the five rivers. The rivers!” Helen exclaimed, catching on at the last second. “Everything down here is about the rivers, isn’t it?”
Like something recalled from a fever dream—more emotion than image—Helen had an uneasy feeling about a river, but she wasn’t sure which one. As soon as she tried to turn her mind’s eye directly on it, the memory swam away like a pale fish.
“The Styx, the Acheron, all of them. They sort of define the space down here, don’t they?” Orion mused as he processed this new line of thought. “They could lead us, like paths.”
“And just how did you come up with this little slice of genius?” Helen asked with admiration, her former thought lost as if it had never existed.
“From what you said about your favorite lake over there,” he said with a wry smile. “It should be a river, but it isn’t. That got me thinking that the rivers must be different. The rest of the landscapes down here are always switching around like they’re interchangeable. But the rivers stay put. They’re always here. I mean, even most full mortals know about the River Styx, right? The rivers are in every reliable account of the Underworld I’ve ever read, and most of the books say that at some point or another all the rivers meet.”
“So, we find any river and follow it, and eventually it will meet up with the one we need,” Helen said, staring unblinkingly into Orion’s eyes, as if moving would ruin the new hope she felt. “Persephone’s Garden is next to the Palace of Hades, and the palace is supposed to be near a river. We find that river, and we might find Persephone.”
“Yeah, but that’s a whole different kind of headache. The river around the Palace of Hades is Phlegethon, the River of Eternal Fire. Not pleasant to stroll along its banks, I’m sure.” Orion’s brow furrowed in thought. “And then we still need to convince Persephone to help us get rid of the Furies.”
Orion suddenly broke eye contact and started looking around in a tense way, as if he heard something.
“What?” Helen asked. She glanced over her shoulder but she didn’t see anything.
“Nothing. Come on,” he said uneasily. Orion tugged on Helen’s arm, urging her onward.
“Hey, what’s the rush? Did you see something?” Helen asked as she trotted alongside Orion, but he stayed silent. “Look, just tell me if it’s got fangs, okay?”
“Did you hear about a robbery at the Getty?” he asked out of the blue.
“Ah, yeah,” Helen said, surprised by his sudden change in topic. “Do you think that has something to do with what you just saw?”
“I don’t know what I saw, but regardless, we’ve been standing in one place for too long,” he said, sounding annoyed. “I shouldn’t have let that happen. I can’t believe I . . .”
Helen waited for him to finish his sentence, but he didn’t. Instead he kept frowning, like something was off, as he walked bes
ide her. Helen kept looking around, but she didn’t see or hear any kind of threat.
The tiny bones that littered the ground, the ones Helen had so carelessly kicked earlier, were getting bigger with every few paces. As she and Orion walked a few yards, the skeletons grew from mouse- to cat- to elephant-sized. Soon they were wandering amidst skeletons that were many times larger than any dinosaur’s. Looking up at the massive calcified structures sticking up out of the ground, Helen felt as if they were walking through a forest of bones.
Arching ribs soared overhead like the pillars of a Gothic cathedral. Lumpy joints, covered in branching colonies of dead and dusty lichens, lay like massive boulders in their path. Helen noticed that many different types of anatomies were jumbled up, as if hundreds of beings the size of skyscrapers had died heaped on top of each other. The scale was increased to such an extent that it was as if Helen were looking through a microscope. From her perspective, each pore inside the sequoia-sized bones was so large it appeared as though they were made out of layers of lace. She ran her hand over one of the latticed surfaces and looked over at Orion.
“Do you know what these creatures were?” she whispered. Orion dropped his eyes and swallowed.
“The Ice Giants. I’ve read stories about this but never believed it was real. This is a cursed place, Helen.”
“What happened here?” she whispered, as awed by what she was looking at as she was by Orion’s emotional reaction.
“It’s an entire battlefield brought directly to the Underworld. That can only happen when every last soldier fights to the death. The Ice Giants are extinct now,” he said in a hopeless monotone that was so unlike him. “I’ve had nightmares about another field like this, transported to the Underworld. Except instead of Ice Giants, all the bones belong to Scions.”
His usually smiling mouth was pinched and forbidding, and Helen was reminded of what Hector had said. Orion had lived a rough life. She could sense it in him now, like a sad note in what was otherwise meant to be a joyful song.
She tilted her face under his until she caught his eye. Pulling him closer to her, she shook his arm gently as if to wake him.