Radiant Sin(61)

Someone likely in this room.

Eurydice opens her mouth, expression still distraught, but before she can say anything, Aphrodite storms through the door. She takes in the scene with a single sweep. “Why does everyone look like their favorite dog got kicked?”

“Pan—”

The door opens again behind Aphrodite, cutting Eurydice off a second time, and in walks Theseus with his arm slung around Adonis’s shoulders. Adonis has his smile firmly in place, and not even I can tell if it’s fake or not. Ah. That explains the fury in Aphrodite’s eyes.

Theseus doesn’t immediately release him. “Adonis won.”

“Wonderful. Let’s take a quick break to, ah, deal with a few things.” Minos looks around the room. “We’ll rejoin for dinner.”

“Rejoin for dinner,” Eurydice repeats. She takes a step forward, ignoring the light touch Charon places on her arm. “You can’t honestly expect us to ignore what happened to Pan. I thought he was dead.”

“He’s not dead,” Minos says mildly. “He was drinking with Dionysus during lunch. He obviously tripped over the rug and injured himself.”

I blink. Surely they’re not going to buy that? It doesn’t make the slightest bit of sense.

Dionysus chooses that moment to hiccup. “He was putting it away. Chap can drink me under the table.”

I glare at Hermes, but she’s got a small smile on her face and, for once, apparently has nothing to say. Aphrodite props her hands on her hips. “Someone explain what happened.”

“I just did, my dear.” Minos moves to the door, stepping easily over the bloodstain. “Shall we?” He walks out without another word.

Theseus tightens his grip on Adonis’s shoulders and steers him after his foster father. It’s at that moment that I realize no one else in Minos’s household is in the room.

One of them was responsible.

Except we have no way to prove it. It can’t be Ariadne. There’s no way she got downstairs in time to attack Pan…but she’s the only one I can safely mark off the list of suspects. I step back and take Apollo’s hand. “We should call Ares. That wasn’t an accident; it was attempted murder.”

Charon shakes his head slowly. “No way to prove it.”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

“There’s no way to prove it,” he repeats patiently. “They will come in and the first thing they’ll do is sweep for prints. Do you know whose prints are on that tortoise?”

Eurydice’s.

Apollo sighs. “There might be others.”

“It will muddy the water.” He turns to Eurydice. “We can leave if you want. I don’t think we’re going to find the answers we’re looking for here.”

Her lower lip quivers, but she makes an obvious effort to still it. “I’m fine. There’s no reason to leave. Not until you’ve accomplished what you set out to.”

That all but confirms my suspicions that Charon is here on a fact-finding mission for Hades, the same way we are for Zeus. It’s a small blessing that Hades, at least, isn’t looking to ally himself with Minos. I can’t say the same for the others, except Aphrodite.

“Eurydice—”

“Would you leave if I wasn’t here?” His silence is answer enough. She turns to the rest of us. “Are you leaving?”

“Nope.” Hermes laughs. “This is just getting interesting.”

Dionysus shrugs. “He’s got good wine.” His normal good cheer is nowhere in evidence, though. If anything, he looks far sicker than alcohol can explain.

I cannot believe what I’m hearing. They should all be heading for the front door. Instead, they’re…staying. “You’re serious. Someone just tried to kill Pan and you’re just going to stick around and wait to give them another shot? And what about Atalanta and Tyche? That’s three people.”

“Pan will be transported to the hospital in the city.” Dionysus hiccups. “I’m sure he’ll be okay.”

“Atalanta texted me. She’s fine.” Artemis examines her fingernails. “Sometimes parties get wild, Cassandra. You’d know that if you were invited to more of them.” Behind her, Hephaestus makes a choked laughing sound.

“As if someone couldn’t take her phone and use it to text you.” I’m sorely tempted to pick up that fucking tortoise and fling it at her, but aside from that thing looking heavy, assault never solved any problems. If they won’t see reason, trying to beat some sense into them isn’t going to work. “You’re fools. One of you will be next.”

Hephaestus snorts. “Please. We’re the Thirteen. We’ll be fine.”

“Of all the—”

“Collar your girlfriend, Apollo. Before one of us has to.” Artemis turns away.

Her exit starts a cascade. One by one they follow her, even Eurydice and Charon. Hermes is the last one standing and she shakes her head slowly. “I told you to leave, Cass. It’s not too late to go, but no one is going to believe your warnings.” She leaves before I can come up with a response.

What is there to say? She’s right.

I turn to Apollo. He looks troubled, but even knowing him as well as I do, I can’t say if it’s what just happened that’s bothering him or thoughts of the future. He finally meets my gaze and squeezes my hand. “I hate to say it, but she’s right. You should leave.”