“But couldn’t they have mortals watching us?”
“Unlikely. The more mortals they have involved in their affairs, the more their plans are at risk. Humans are too unpredictable. They’ll settle for listening to you, but even then, that’s most likely only when they have reason to suspect you. And if they suspect you, they will probably just interrogate you instead.”
“Wait, you said that the storeroom had hundreds of other automatons. What if they are using them to watch us?”
“Yes. I would assume they are using them to do that. And you would have no idea either.”
The idea that anyone around her could be watching her at any given time sent a chill up Aida’s spine. She had been lucky then, when she had talked about MODA in public, even with the precautions they had taken with the MODA phones.
“What about Effie? Don’t we need to find her too?” Yumi asked.
Vulcan grunted. “Worry about Pandora. We’ll look for Euphrosyne.”
Aida sighed. “Well, it seems I need to make up a good excuse for why I want to go to London, of all places, for my vacation, particularly when I was just there.”
Yumi raised her hand. “I’m your excuse. Let’s go.”
Aggie walked Aida and Yumi to the entrance of the forge, her expression both concerned and hopeful. As they prepared to leave, she looked into their eyes and offered a sincere smile. “In bocca allupo,” she said, invoking the Italian phrase that means “into the mouth of the wolf” and serves as a good-luck wish.
“Crepiillupo.” Aida gave the traditional response.May the wolf die.
They stepped through the doorway of the Umbilicus Urbis Romae, and back into the Roman Forum, leaving Aida hoping that she wouldn’t turn out to be the wolf.
19
December 2019
Aida knocked on the door that separated her office in the palazzo from her aide’s. “Trista?”
“Enter.” Trista’s voice wafted through the closed door. When she saw Yumi standing behind Aida, the woman drew herself up and cleared her throat. “Miss Tanaka. I had heard you were in Rome.”
Yumi reached out her hand. “It’s good to meet you in person finally, Miss Acheron. Aida has told me how much she loves working with you.”
Aida smiled, hoping she didn’t appear on the verge of laughing at Yumi’s bald-faced lie.
Trista seemed flustered at the idea, hesitating for just a fraction of a second before shaking Yumi’s hand. That slight pause—was it surprise? Or calculation? Aida had never thought twice about Trista’s measured responses before, but now, with what she’d learned about the gods’ use of automatons, the thought slithered in uninvited.What if Trista wasn’t even human?
“Well, that’s nice to hear,” Trista said. She sounded sincere.
Aida shoved the idea aside. She was letting paranoia get the better of her.
“The palazzo is beautiful,” Yumi went on. “You must love living here.”
Trista shrugged, but it seemed Yumi had cracked her hard veneer. “Tell me what I can do for the two of you,” she said, her voice warmer.
“I’ve told Yumi a lot about London, and how much I love the city, and we thought it would be nice to spend some time there. I wanted to find out what mode of travel you recommend if I’m flying with a friend.”
“The jet is fine,” Trista said. “And I’ll book you both rooms at the hotel right away.” She turned to go toward her desk.
“Are you sure, Miss Acheron?” Yumi asked, stopping Trista in her tracks. “I have a friend with a B and B we can stay in.” Aida doubted this was true, but Yumi was great at making a good impression, and appearing unassuming was one way to do so with Trista.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Trista said. “Why on earth would you stay somewhere like that? I’ll book you both now.”
They opted for an evening flight, and just three hours later, they were being whisked north across the dark European countryside.
“I still can’t believe this,” Yumi said as she leaned back in the white leather seat. She sipped at her champagne. “This is how you travel all the time?”
“I’m lucky. And now, so are you.” But Aida also knew this luck was running out. How many more of these luxurious flights would she be able to take?
