“You’re late. Is everything okay?”
I drop into the seat across from my sister and slump back against the chair. “Sorry, I got caught up in a report and lost track of time.” Apollo has me wading through reports from the lower city. Hades rules there and doesn’t take kindly to the rest of the Thirteen infringing on his territory, so information can be scarce, but ever since he married Persephone, there’s been slightly more communication allowed. Which means more information.
Truly, the lower city doesn’t sound half-bad. If I wasn’t so determined to get the fuck out of Olympus the first chance I get, I’d consider crossing the River Styx and seeing if the lower city embraces toxic culture and ruthless power plays the same way the upper city does.
My sister, Alexandra, smiles sweetly. Everything about her is sweet. No one can look at us and mistake us for anything but relatives—we have red hair, skin that the sun seems to have a personal vendetta against, and bodies that people callcurvywhen they’re trying to be oblique—but her lips naturally turn up at the corners instead of down. Our father used to joke that I came roaring into the world with a war cry and Alexandra arrived with a sunny giggle. She leans forward, dark eyes sparkling. “That seems to happen a lot since you started working for Apollo. I’m glad you like the job.”
“‘Like’ might be overstating things a bit.” My voice is too sharp, but I can feel a flush creeping across my skin. “It’s interesting. Apollo has nothing to do with it.”
“Sure he doesn’t.”
I open my mouth to snap, but I’ve worked hard to protect Alexandra from the worst Olympus has to offer. She’s seven years younger than me and was still a minor when my parents attempted their ill-fated coup. I worried that she’d see the same derision and suspicion that I did once our parents’ exile had been announced…so I made myself a target. It was easy enough to do. I’m already prone to spikes and snarls. It took very little effort to ensure they focused onmeinstead of Alexandra.
Mostly.
I take a quick sip of water. “Enough about me. How are classes going?”
“Cass, we never talk about you.”
“Because there’s nothing to talk about. I work and I go home. The most exciting thing about my week are these lunches with you.” It’s better that way. Most of the time, people forget I exist, which means they aren’t staring and whispering behind their hands about the liar Cassandra, who once loudly proclaimed that the Thirteen had murdered her parents.
It’s the truth.
Not that anyone believes me.
Alexandra smiles, oblivious to my dark thoughts. “Classes are going wonderfully. We’re just wrapping up the summer quarter in a couple weeks and gearing up for fall.”
With only a little prodding, she entertains me through lunch with tales of what her friend group is getting up to. I worried when she insisted on applying to the university instead of taking advantage of the free colleges Olympus offers. It put her directly in the paths of the scions of the legacy families, and I’m all too aware of whatthatcan be like.
But Alexandra isn’t like me. I’ve worked so fucking hard to ensure she doesn’t have to fight her way through life. Our parents were selfish beyond belief when they put their own ambitions and desires above their children’s safety.
I will never make the same mistake.
It’s nothing less than a miracle that Alexandra has managed to maintain her sweetness through the years. I worry that it won’t last past the reality of graduation. It doesn’t matter that she’s somehow managed to avoid the worst of the bullying and bullshit up to this point. As soon as she starts looking for her dream job, she’s going to run face-first into the fact that everyone with a drop of power in the upper city hates our family and would love to see us both torn apart.
I have to find a way to get us out of here before that happens.
The waitress brings the check and I glance at my phone. “I have to get going or I’m going to be late.” Apollo doesn’t usually care if I take slightly longer lunches with Alexandra once a week, but he’s been in a strange mood since that meeting with Zeus.
“I can pay this time.”
I smile even as I snag the check. “Save those pennies for school.”
“Youpay for my school.”
I pull out my credit card and tuck it next to the bill. “Here’s a wild thought. Why don’t you do something fun?”
My sister’s brows draw together. “I’m an adult now, Cass. You don’t have to keep mothering me. We’re equals.”
“Of course we’re equals.” But that doesn’t change the responsibility I feel for her. Twelve years ago, I was thrust into the role of her guardian, and I am still achingly aware that my sister needs protecting.
Whether she realizes it or not.
After the waiter returns with the bill, I sign the receipt and rise. “Same time next week?”
“You have a permanent spot in my calendar.” She pulls me into a tight hug. “Do something nice for yourself, Cass. Promise me.”
“I promise.” It’s even the truth, though I expect Alexandra wouldn’t consider an early evening with a book, a bubble bath, and a jumbo glass of winesomething nice. But then, my sister likes people. I don’t.