Quaid scoffs. “We already went over this. The moment it went on, it sealed. There’s not even a buckle, Star. You’re the property of Apollo now.”
Those words hang in the air. Declan and I find each other’s gaze and lock eyes. He cocks his head. I cock mine back.
So that’s what he up to. I guess I’m not surprised. Looking back, it’s obvious.
“What does Apollo want with her?” Declan asks.
“Like he’d tell me,” Quaid scoffs.
“I think I understand,” I say. Everyone looks at me. “That’s why your glasses aren’t working. You put that collar on Star and her magic is interfering.”
“No fucking shit,” Quaid says.
“But it’s the collar,” I say. “This place belongs to Ares. Apollo has no magic here.” I look at Declan. “And neither does Hermes.”
“So we’re fucked?” Star says.
“No,” I say. “Not from what I’ve seen. Because somehow, your powers have merged with ours.”
“How?” Star asks. “I don’t have any power.”
“You have lots of powers,” Declan says. “You’re the Eighth Sister of the Pleiades. Youhaveto have powers. It’s just… a thing with those sisters. I think it’s got something to do with the walls and those glowing symbols.” He turns to look at me. “Did the walls always glow when you were here?”
I shake my head. “No. That’s new.”
“See,” Declan says. He’s smiling now. “I’m right. Her power is in those walls and the symbols written on them.”
“So what good is that?” Quaid asks. “Who cares? How do I fix my glasses? Because every time she gets excited, it gets worse, not better.”
“I think I know.” Everyone turns to look at me. “Think about it. This place is connected to me. When Declan was skipping us out of jail, I was thinking about this place and how I was a prisoner here because obviously, I was a prisoner back there in the jail. My thoughts got mixed up with his transport. Declan and I both brought us here. Then—” I point at Quaid. “Somehow those magic glasses of yours got mixed up with it too when you put the collar on Star.”
Star sighs. “That’s just great. So I’m stuck with him?”
“We’re all stuck with each other,” I say. “The four of us? We’ve been…merged.”
