Danae’s frown deepened. “But Alea came back. I don’t understand, why would the shade return Alea to the temple, and why would it—” she couldn’t bring herself to say the word “—do that to her?”
Ariadne tilted her head. The pity in the Maenad’s eyes shuddered through her like a stone striking metal.
“I do not know. There are creatures in this world that delight in the pain and suffering of others. Be thankful your sister is alive.”
“Will it come back?” Danae whispered.
Ariadne did not answer immediately. “I would be wary. There is a reason your sister did not join the Missing. The shade may have unfinished business with her.”
The child. A wave of nausea washed through her.
Ariadne placed a hand on her arm and said gently, “You should go home—your family will be worried.”
Danae nodded, and let the Maenad guide her toward the grove.
“You and your sister are always welcome here. We do not judge any woman on the hardships life has weighed upon her. Do not give up hope.” Ariadne pulled her into one last embrace. “Take care of yourself, Danae.”
She took a step toward the forest, then turned back. “Is it true...do the Maenads really kill babies?”
Ariadne shook her head sadly. “We are liberated women, not monsters.”
Danae swallowed. “Thank you for telling me about the shade.”
As she turned once more toward the trees, Adriane called out, “Remember, my Lord Dionysus protects his flock. It would be unwise for you to speak of where you found us.”
She glanced back, then set off at a run through the grove. The last thing she wanted was to incur the wrath of a god.
Danae sprinted all the way home, but the sun had already melted into the sea by the time she reached the yard. She’d been gone for most of the day.
She crashed through the gate, doubled over to catch her breath, then pushed through the hut door. She barely had time to take in the room before her mother crossed the space and grabbed her by the shoulders.
“Where have you been!? Are you hurt? What did they do to you?”
“I’m fine.”
Eleni stared at her for a heartbeat, then slapped her. Stunned from the pain, Danae stayed rooted to the ground.
Her sister let out a small sob. “Oh, Danae, we were so worried.”
“How could you?” Her mother was trembling.
“I’m sorry, I—”
“Your father is out there now, searching for you.”
In addition to the throbbing in her skull, a sickening weight settled in Danae’s stomach.
“I cannot believe, after everything we’ve been through with your sister, you would run off with thosewomen.” Her mother spoke quietly. It pierced Danae deeper than if Eleni had shouted.
“I’m sorry, I truly am, but I learned something important.” She turned to her sister. “The Maenads are nothing like we’ve been told, they were kind, and they told me there’s an unseen creature with red eyes who’s been taking the Missing—they called it a shade—and—” she gulped in a breath “—that’s what took you from the festival, and Ariadne said it might have unfinished business—” she looked at her sister’s stomach “—so we need to be careful—”
“Enough of this nonsense!” Her mother grabbed Danae’s arm. “You want to keep the company of animals? Then you can sleep outside with the goats.”
“Ma, please,” Alea protested, but Eleni ignored her.
She picked up her husband’s old fishing rope and tied it in a knot around Danae’s wrists, then pushed her out into the goat enclosure and secured the other end to the fence.
Danae was too stunned to fight back. Rage had distilled into diamond-hard resolve in her mother’s eyes. Eleni disappeared back into the hut, then emerged with a blanket, which she threw at Danae’s feet. Without another word, she bustled Alea back inside and slammed the door.
