Arrows (16 page)

The piece of paper on the coffee table was blank. I wrote
Plan
across the top.

Pressed my fist against my skull.

Impulsively I scratched a series of stars on the page, connecting them with fast lines. Maybe Diorthosis could align the stars for me, and Danny and Karma would live happily ever after. I wrote
Aaryn Jones’s request
and drew an arrow to my constellation.

With a groan, I stalked over to the kitchen window and opened it. No breeze. I pushed them all wide, every window, and stood in front of the screen in my bedroom with both hands gripping the sill.

Then I felt him.

I turned. A guy stood behind me in black clothing, his dark hair a point in the center. He looked half ghost, half human, but he was neither.

“Tek,” I said. The ring of black around his eyes made his gaze that much sharper.

“Hey, Aaryn.” He nudged his chin toward me. “Nice place.” The floor creaked as he took a few steps around the room.

“You’re…here.”

“Yep.”

“How can I see you if I’m human?” I asked.

“Must be a special human.”

“Ha.”

He didn’t laugh back.

I crossed my arms over my chest and faced him, feeling cornered next to the window. “I know about the audit.”

He shrugged. “That wasn’t my fault, man. You can blame Zeus for finding out what you did.” He squinted his neon blue eyes. “Wouldn’t recommend that, though.”

He observed me as if I were an alien. “You don’t belong here,” he said. “Come home with me.”

“I can’t leave until I fix things.” My knees felt wobbly as I strode across the room and I sat on the couch. Did he know I’d tried to kiss her?

“I want us to work together,” Tek said. “Things are different now, you know. Your father and I have joined forces. Phoebe and Chaz? Everyone’s on board.”

“Is Phoebe okay?”

“Yes.” His form wavered. “She comes to High Tower with Chaz. They’re good at what they do.”

“What do you mean? What’s High Tower?”

“My headquarters. Eros and I have big things planned.”

“Dad’s working with you?” Tek nodded. Maybe Dad was the one observing the mess I’d made on Earth. Maybe he’d sent Tek himself. “He knows you’re here?”

“He knows the plan.”

“I have plenty of time to finish my mission.” I grabbed the paper with the stars that lay on the table and folded it in half. “Things are going well. I’m confident that I’ll be able to succeed in time.”

Tek studied me. “You’ll never go to Blackout. I promise. There will always be a place for you on Olympus. Forget about this mission, this game, and think about the future. You could lead us. See for yourself.” He stretched his hands into two L-shaped corners, and instantly a screen appeared before us. Images of a skyscraper began to flash, mirrors covering the building. Beyond them a labyrinth had been created, with thick white dividers. Gods and goddesses reclined in oversized chairs, their gazes fixed upon screens suspended in air. A glass-topped bar advertised free champagne.

“Phoebe…,” I said, and sank against the cushions.

She was there, laughing at something Chaz had said. Life had gone on at home, making it clear: I had to stay on Earth. Someone actually needed me here. Karma’s life wasn’t a game to me.

“I know a secret,” Tek said suddenly.

“Yeah, you and everyone else at home.”

He squinted. “You know the story about how your father left Psyche, didn’t want to be tied down, all that?”

I stared.

“Well,” Tek continued. “As you know, your mom has been living in the country outside Mount Olympus since the split. What you
don’t
know is that your dad forced her to hide there. With Aleth.”

“Forced her? And who’s Aleth?”

“Her lover. Now you know. Your mom left Eros for Aleth.”

I frowned. “That’s believable.”

“Aren’t you curious?” He stretched his hands, the video appearing for a second, leaving an orb of light in my eyesight. “Aren’t you wondering how on
earth
your own mother broke the arrow’s spell?”

A chill spread over my skin. He was radiating light, a smirk on his face. “There’s no way she broke the spell,” I said.

“Unless the lead arrows still exist.”

“Dad ordered Hephaestus to destroy that formula hundreds of years ago. They’re all gone.”

“Okay. If you say so. I just thought, given the fact that you’re still enjoying the luxuries of your little mission, you might like to know.”

“Why would Dad shoot my mother with a lead arrow? That makes no sense.”

“Maybe she used one on herself.”

“No. She wouldn’t.”

“Maybe love isn’t as sacred as you’ve been led to believe.” His presence had the faint odor of something burning, the scent thick in my lungs. “Forget the mission. You could leave tonight.”

“Yeah, good idea.” Fear was a machine that hummed in my ears. “You’re just full of good ideas and stories, aren’t you?” The thought of failing Karma paralyzed me. “What have I been thinking all this time? I’ll just leave.”

Tek reached into his pocket and held out a square item the size of a postage stamp. Light shimmered through it in waves. “Take it.”

“Not sure what that is, but no thanks.”

“It’s a chip. Dissolves instantly under your tongue.” He pressed it into my hand, where it felt twice as heavy as it looked. “Use it and you’ll be a god again. All you have to do is pop it in.”

“I think you better go.” I stood and took a step sideways. The corners of the chip dug into my palm when I squeezed. But then I hesitated. I was used to gods and goddesses trying to get close to me for the sake of their own power, and now the benefit could be mutual. “Are you sure the chip will work?” I asked slowly.

“Yes. As soon as you’re home I’ll know, and I’ll help you with everything.”

“Then why don’t you give Phoebe a chip? Save her from Blackout.”

Tek grinned. “Done. Phoebe’s already safe. Things don’t always have to be so complicated.”

I stared at Tek, a guy no older than me, who had somehow worked his way into all the gods’ secrets. He stood there, waiting, confidence licking through his skin and clothing like voltage.

Hope unwound inside me.

“Bring me a lead arrow.”

I couldn’t hide the storm from my face when I threw my dance bag into the cubby. Three days later and once again I’d come to rehearsal alone.

“Uh-oh.” Peyton strode toward the entry and peered over my shoulder as I rummaged around for my dance clothes. “Did Danny bail again? Oh jeez, he did, didn’t he?” She hugged me.

“He’s got a lot of homework,” I said, like I was some kind of robot reading Danny’s stupid text out loud.

Peyton scrunched her mouth. “We all have homework.” She sat before me in lotus pose as I changed. “But we’re here.”

“I know.” My clothes slammed into my bag. “I know, and I don’t know what I should do. I’m so mad, and I don’t even know how to tell him I’m mad. I’m…hopeless.”

“Aw, don’t say that. Just tell him he’s out. Aaryn would probably do it again. Tell Danny to go frick himself.” She pointed to my knee.

“How? He’s on some kind of power trip about Aaryn after the fight and everything. How do I tell him this isn’t okay without him thinking I just want to spend more time with Aaryn or something stupid like that?”

“He should have come to rehearsal if he cared so much.”

The spandex snapped into place. “I’m calling Aaryn. You’re right. This scholarship means everything to me.”

More than Danny? No…or maybe it did, just in a different way. A way he certainly didn’t understand. Peyton hugged me again. “He’ll get over it.”

“Come on, girls,” Juliette called. “Time to get to work.” She beckoned us forward.

“I’ll be right back.” I grabbed my phone and scraped the changing stall curtain closed. I punched the buttons to get rid of Danny’s text, which was still blazing when the screen came on.

Aaryn answered after the second ring.

“Of course I’ll still help,” he said, and it was the best thing and the worst thing, and all I could do was sit on the plank seat and say thanks.

“Hey,” Aaryn said.

“Yeah?”

“Things are going to get better, okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just trust me—everything will get better.”

I scooted into the corner of the changing stall. It was dark in there, with a thin line of light along the bottom of the curtain. “You’re acting weird,” I said.

“I know.”

—

I drove to Dmitri’s after rehearsal so Danny and I could talk, because of course he was there, “doing homework.” My muscles ached, my eyes, my voice, at the thought of arguing with him again.

“So.” I killed the car engine once Danny slid into the passenger seat. No point in wasting gas. He smelled faintly of cigarettes. “Um. Look. I need a
reliable
dance partner.” Little chills coursed through me, like I couldn’t believe I was being honest about how I felt. Then, through the window of the shack, I swear I saw Jen peek out. “Is…” I leaned toward the steering wheel. “Wait, is Jen here?”

“Uh, not that I know of.”

I kept my gaze glued to the square of light. Dmitri’s piece-of-crap couch was empty in the background. After many awkward seconds of silence, and a war going on in my head over what to do, I unbuckled.

“Okay. It’s fine if he does the dance,” Danny said. His voice seemed too loud. “I’m sorry, I should have been there for you. I understand that you need someone who has more time for something like that.”

He took my hand and drew me close for a kiss, a long kiss, but all I could think about was how I needed to go inside and prove that I wasn’t going crazy. Jen had been there. My heart pounded in my ears as he pulled me farther and farther from the door. I tore my mouth away. “I saw Jen. She’s here, isn’t she?”

“Babe. What?” He had a shocked expression, his eyes darting all round. “It’s just us guys in there. Bros before hoes, you know how we roll.”

“Bros before hoes?” My eyebrows couldn’t go down any farther.

Then my phone started buzzing. Great. Mom was calling, probably because she was having a hard time putting Nell down. Nell always slept better after she knew I was home.

“Why don’t we plan a date for the weekend?” Danny said. “That would be fun, right?” My phone stopped, then started again.

“Yes, okay. I could use a break.”

“Love ya, babe.” He jumped up, slammed the door, and took his time wandering back to the shack, little glances my way. Almost as if he was guarding something.

Two weeks later I loaded enough suitcases and baby gear into Juliette’s rented van to survive an apocalypse.

“I wish I could be there,” Mom said. The sun hadn’t even risen yet. Four in the morning and we were all up except Nell, who slept in her car seat.

“I know,” I said. “But Grandma needs you.” My grandmother, who lived two hours north, had taken a fall earlier that week, which meant Mom was the only daughter available to stay with her for a couple days after she was discharged. We hugged. She felt soft in her oversized sweatshirt. She felt like home.

“I’ll send pictures,” I said.

“I’m so proud of you.” Mom’s voice trembled in my ear. “You’re a good girl, Karma.”

“Mom. Stop it.”

“I’m serious! I know I don’t tell you enough.”

I lifted Nell’s carrier. “Make Leah help you.”

“She said she’s really busy this weekend,” Mom said.

“I know what she said.” I also knew a lot about what girls said when they were planning to party without their parent knowing. I trudged into the back of the van and Nell woke up immediately.

“Coffee,” Peyton yawned, one row up.

“Here, have a drink of mine.” I handed her my to-go mug and stuck my head out the van door. “Bye, Mom. I’m serious about making Leah go with you.”

“Good luck.” She was teary-eyed, and I had to admit my throat felt small. I ducked in to avoid a cry-fest. Really, though. It was a big moment for our family. We had survived a lot of hard times, maybe not gracefully, but we had. I had. This time Nell would be at my competition, both my joy and my burden. I sighed and wiggled a pacifier against her mouth.

Juliette headed for Aaryn’s apartment, our final stop before we got on the road. The van was a utility type, boxy with a door that didn’t close itself.