Athena woke to her ankle screaming. Also her knee. Her ribs. The back of her skull where it had met that woman's incredibly hard knees.

  The pain was unreal. She discovered writhing.

  "You're awake."

  She opened her eyes. Merchant face, tired lines, wine-stained tunic. But the eyes...

  "Dad?"

  His expression didn't change. He sat on an overturned crate, studying her like she was the last thing he would see.

  "Try again."

  The warning in his voice woke her fully.

  "Philus." Her throat was raw. "You're Philus."

  "Better."

  She could feel him not touching her. The careful distance he maintained. Before the escape, he had carried her on his shoulders. His secret wisdom, his favorite daughter.

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  Now he sat three feet away, watching her. Gray acknowledged gray.

  It had become quiet. Footsteps approached. Even. Controlled. Each one had its place.

  Hera filled the doorway. Ilera's hollow face, but the posture was all Queen. She crossed the cellar without looking at Zeus.

  Death approached.

  Athena met her eyes. Gold, burning from within. The light that had terrified gods for millennia.

  It dimmed.

  Kept dimming.

  Went out.

  She knelt.

  Hera's face became marble. Nothing moved. Athena could hear her own pulse, rabbit-quick. Thirty seconds. Sixty.

  Hera's breathing caught. Once. She controlled it.

  Her hand came up to cover her mouth. Her shoulders betrayed her, shaking once before she turned her face to the wall. A sound escaped. Small. Immediately smothered.

  Zeus shifted forward. Stopped when Hera's other hand came up. Don't.

  She breathed. Through it. Through it. Through it.

  When she turned back, her face was composed. They beheld each other.

  "Hello, Athena."

  "Hello."

  The word came out small. Mortal-small. Athena hated how young she sounded.

  "I'm sorry," Athena tried to add, but Hera was already standing. Walking past Zeus like he was furniture. Up the stairs. Gone.

  The candle flame moved in the draft from the door. Zeus picked it up.

  "Can you walk?"

  Athena tried to stand. Her ankle folded immediately. She hit the floor hard, catching herself on her palms.

  "Learn."

  He took the light with him.

  The darkness was complete. She could hear the party outside. Cassandra laughing, then coughing.

  Athena started crawling.