She let out a deep sigh and said, “I don’t know for sure. Nobody does. It’s not like Nix is open about his plans.” Just as I started to feel disappointment, she went on, “But there have been rumors. The gods are back in play. They’ve returned to Olympus and now they’re all gunning for Zeus’ spot.”
“This isn’t anything I don’t know. But why are the gods back at Olympus and why do they think they can take over?”
“Zeus is missing,” she whispered. “With Zeus gone, the throne is up for grabs. Nix has always wanted it. Ares and Hades too. They have fought wars for it before and I know they would again in a second if they thought they could win it. There is a rumor though that Nix has a secret weapon so strong and powerful that Ares and Hades have stepped back. They are working for him now instead of with him or against him. Whatever this weapon is must have serious power to cull those two.”
New nerves skittered over my skin. I remembered all of those times Nix took me to socialize with Hades and Ares. I shuddered just thinking about how repugnant they were.
“So what happens if Nix gets the throne? He rules Olympus? That doesn’t mean that much these days.”
She shrugged again. “I don’t know. The gods haven’t had true power in thousands of years. But then, they’re gods. What’s a few thousand years to them? The rumors flying around range from world domination to ancient vengeance. Nobody really knows.”
“They had world domination once and lost it,” I reminded her. “What makes them think they could keep it this time?”
“Ivy, I don’t know. I’ve told you everything I’ve heard, but I’m low on the ladder. Most of this information has come from bits and pieces I’ve picked up from your mother.”
That floored me. My mother? She had known all of this? And never said a word?
“Where is she?” I knew, thanks to Hermes, but I wanted to hear what Thalia could tell me.
I caught the hint of something painful flash across Thalia’s face before she looked away. “The Fates. Nix gave her to the Fates.”
“I don’t understand what they could want with her? What can she do for them?”
“Only they know. But whatever it is… it’s vile. You must understand that.”
I shivered in the warm air. “I have no doubt.” We stood there silently for another moment, both of us lost in our thoughts. I finally asked her the one question I needed to know more than any other and the one I knew she had been avoiding. “Thalia, why does Nix want me so badly? What am I to him? I know I’m missing something. If I’m going to get Sloane back, I have to know what it is.”
“Using my child against me,” she scolded. “I suppose you think that’s going to work.”
“I do. It will.”
“I know you want an exact answer from me, but I can’t give it to you. All I can tell you is that you have something to do with his weapon.”
“The weapon he’s going to use to wipe out the Pantheon and potentially invade the world?”
“The very one,” she smiled grimly at me. “I don’t know why or how or in what way, but I do know that. Evaleen overheard a conversation between Hades and Ares. They were discussing you, saying how they believed Nix now, how they had no choice but to get in line or go back into hiding.”
The streetlights flickered on behind me and made me jump. I hadn’t realized how dark it had gotten. I didn’t have any plans for the night and I needed to find a safe place to stay or get back on a plane and get the hell out of here.
“Come inside, Ivy,” Thalia coaxed. “I’ll find you something to eat. Do you have a place to stay? You can stay here if you need to. It would be nice to have some company for a change.”
Her sudden hospitality sent alarm bells ringing through my head. “No, thank you. I, uh, I have some other things to look into.”
Anger turned her expression from friendly to sour in a split second. I jumped back, surprised by how frightening she looked. She cleared her throat and smoothed down her black pencil skirt, seeming to get a better hold of herself.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’ve been a mess for months now.”
I took a few steps back, “I understand.”
“I want you to find Sloane,” she told me sincerely.
“I’m going to.” There was no hint of confusion or doubt in my voice. I would find Sloane. And Exie. I would find them and bring them back home.
No, scratch that. I would find them and take them somewhere safer than home… somewhere this ugly world would never touch us again.
“Ivy?” she called to me. “I’m going to call him.”
“What?” The word grated against my raw throat.
