“No,” he answered, and like every time he spoke, I believed him. “Pollux wouldn’t do that either. And Achilles would throw you off a train before he poisoned you. He prefers a full frontal attack.”
Was that a joke?
“Too soon,” I murmured.
His skin darkened even more, and he swallowed hard. “That wasn’t what I meant. But I’m glad that it hasn’t happened again. It’s awful.”
Studying him, I took in the way he stared at his lap, examining his hands like they were the most interesting thing he ever saw. “You sound as if you’re speaking from experience.”
Snorting, Achilles stood, arms over his head, stretching from side to side. He could touch the ceiling. Orestes’ face went hard and distant. Whatever he might have told me, it was obvious he wouldn’t now.
Achilles seemed unbothered by anything that had happened. He hadn’t once apologized. Not to his friends—if that’s what they were. Not to me.
I’d better be the first one to get an apology.
I snuggled deeper into Orestes’ coat again and faced the window. Water droplets chased each other over the glass, the beads horizontal because of the speed we were traveling. The fog seemed to be thicker the farther we went, and after an hour or so I could no longer make out the hills. There was just us, in this bullet-shaped metal tube, hurtling across the land.
It got darker and darker, and by the time the train stopped, it was evening. An automated voice announced the name of the town and I smiled to myself.Sherburn.Or something like that. There was a town of the same name not far from Boston. I’d driven through it once but couldn’t remember anything about it.
The men stood, and I did, too, before remembering. “My bag. I think I left it in my seat.”
Shit.It probably wasn’t there.
“I’ll get it.” The last person I wanted with access to my personal items took off down the aisle.
Orestes and Pollux led me to the doors that had slid open, but I glanced after Achilles. “Aren’t we going to wait?”
“He knows where to meet us,” Pollux replied.
We walked outside, and I shivered. Even with my sweater and Orestes’ jacket, it was significantly colder, and windier, here.
“It’s the moors.” Pollux must have seen me shiver. “Come on. Let’s get out of the cold.”
Glancing at the station, I tried to identify Achilles. It shouldn’t be hard. He was six and a half feet tall, at least. But I didn’t see him. “I’ll wait. He has my stuff.”
“He’ll meet us,” Pollux told me again, but I shook my head.
“At least it’s password protected,” I said, not really to them, but not caring that they heard me either. Despite sensing their gaze on me, I continued to stare in the direction I thought he’d come. “And it’s all backed up. So that’s good.” I was more than a little horrified at myself for having forgotten my bag, with my computer, for so long, and I tried not to panic. It wasn’t easy.
“There he is.” Orestes came to stand beside me and pointed.
Sure enough, I saw him, and my bag was over one shoulder. There weren’t many people lingering on the platform, but those who did, got out of his way fast.
I didn’t wait for him to get to us. I rushed to meet him, grabbed my bag, and tugged it to me without bothering to make sure he’d released the strap. My breath whooshed out of me. There it was. “Thank fuck.”
He slid the strap over my shoulder with gentle hands. Backing away, I sidled up to Orestes and Pollux. With them, I was safe.
Well, safer.
“Let’s go. I want answers, so don’t lie to me.” I stared at Achilles first, then moved on to Orestes and Pollux.
“Come on.” Pollux placed his arm around my shoulder, but it didn’t escape my notice that none of them answered my question.
Paris
Istared through the dirty pub window, trying to make out the features of the woman who would end the world.
Even through the grime, I could tell she was tired. Her skin was pale, but the old glass panes blurred her, so she appeared almost ghost-like. Her cheek rested on one hand as she stared at the pint in front of her.