Page 29 of Deadly Games
As soon as I saw Artemis, her intense eyes boring right through me, I knew my day wasn’t going to go as planned. I stood before she could reach the table, convinced she was going to blow it over at the rate she was walking.
“Kore,” she said, her tone low and urgent as she looked from Dionysus to me. “You’re needed in the Headmaster’s office. Now.”
“The Headmaster?” I raised an eyebrow, running back through all the things I’d done over the last few days. For once, I couldn’t think of a reason I’d be in trouble. I had been on model behavior ever since coming back from the Ether, not wanting to draw any more suspicion to myself than necessary.
Then again, maybe that in itself was cause for concern.
Dionysus gave me a nervous look and I shrugged to let him know I had no idea what was going on. Keeping Artemis waiting was never a good idea, so I followed her out of the dining hall and to Odin’s office.
When she dropped me off at the door with a sympathetic glance, I knew I was in for it.
I took a deep breath and steeled my nerves before going in. Odin was imposing enough, and I couldn’t help but fear he’d somehow uncovered our plan. Or maybe one of the others had betrayed me.
No… I didn’t want to believe that. Now, more than ever. Maybe my naïveté would be my downfall, but I refused to believe that what we shared in the Ether meant nothing.
When I came into the room and saw Kunzite sitting on the couch next to a sobbing Helle, I froze. Hadn’t she already gone home? She turned to me, her mascara streaked and running down her face.
“It was her,” she said, pointing directly at me. “She’s the one who killed my brother.”
For a second, I thought she was joking. When I realized she wasn’t, I started to wonder if this was how all those witches had felt being accused of occultic crimes by hysterical “witnesses” with no proof.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I blurted out.
Odin’s gaze flashed, as if my profanity was somehow more offensive than being a potential murderer. “That’s enough, Ms. Ademone. I suggest you choose your words carefully from this point on.”
“Mywords?” I challenged. “I’m not the one making false accusations with no basis.”
“Helle came to me after the Games to discuss the matter of young Phrixus’ death,” Odin said, his tone growing somber as Kunzite made an attempt at consoling Helle. Those had to be crocodile tears. That or she really had just finally snapped under the weight of her own assholery.
I couldn’t believe I’d actually felt bad for her. The fact that she was willing to use her own twin’s death to get at me just meant she was even more despicable than I’d thought.
“So?” I challenged. “What does that have to do with me?”
“During the final phase of the Games, Helle began to experience resurfaced memories,” Odin continued, ignoring my question. “She asked if I would provide an additional dosage of the serum, and I agreed, under Kunzite’s guidance.”
“She’s lying,” I said through gritted teeth. “And as far as I know, Phrixus and his killer were alone. How would she have seen even if it was me?”
“We’re twins,” Helle said bitterly. “We share a bond, even in death, and the serum let me strengthen it.”
“It’s still her word against mine,” I protested. I couldn’t believe this was actually happening. I’d been called a hell of a lot of things in my life, but this was the first time I’d ever been accused of murder. Unfortunately, my rap sheet wasn’t exactly working in my favor.
“I’m afraid it’s not that simple, Ms. Ademone,” Kunzite said, standing. Her unnatural eyes were still covered by sunglasses, but I could feel her watching me closely. “As you’re aware, the OSTF was given certain abilities to aid in our investigations, one of them being telepathy.”
“Okay,” I said, folding my arms. “Still not seeing how that makes me a murderer.”
“I am able to enter another’s mind for a short period of time and experience their cerebral visions,” Kunzite continued. “I was present when Helle was accessing her brother’s final memories, and I’m afraid the scene was quite clear. Whether it was intentional or not is a point of debate that will come up in your trial, but youwerethe one who pushed Phrixus down the stairs.”
My heart was racing so loud I could barely hear my own thoughts. “You’re kidding, right?” As I looked between them, it began to dawn on me that there wasn’t an ounce of humor between the three. “I didn’t do it! I’d never hurt someone.”
“Bullshit,” Helle seethed. “You’ve been violent since the day you got here. My brother’s probably just one of your victims.”
“You’re about to become my first if you don’t shut your fucking mouth and stop lying,” I shot back.
“Kore!” Odin bellowed, his voice gravelly enough to shake my bones. “That’s enough. You’re in no position to defend yourself.”
“I want a lawyer,” I said, refusing to be bullied. “I don’t have to defend anything.”
“I’m afraid that’s not true,” said Kunzite. “The OSTF is given direct authority in these matters. You will be taken into custody until it is time for your trial, but there are many things that must be addressed first.”
