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“A messenger.”
“Deliver your message, then.”
“I didn’t say I had a message foryou. But I do have a job for you.”
I waited, hating the mirth that danced in his gaze. The other man rolled his eyes and leaned against the wall. Why couldn’t this man have the same disinterest?
“I need you to steal something for me.”
“No.”
He shrugged, the shoulder of his exomis shuffling along his skin. “Then we go to the sentries. Even better, I’ll parade you around the agora, returning your spoils to those who’ve lost them. I’m sure they’ll be charitable in their response.”
My teeth clenched so hard I feared they would break. Thieves weren’t merely punished—we were killed. “Who am I stealing from?”
“A ferryman.”
“What does this ferryman have that you desire?”
“A sack of coin.”
I narrowed my eyes. It was never that easy. It’s why I never took jobs for someone else. They were messy, fueled by others’ emotions and motives. They almost always led to disaster.
I opened my mouth to reply, but his friend groaned. “Hurry up, Hermes. I have duties to attend to.”
Hermes?
“A man named for the god of thieves dares to corner one? Do you not fear his wrath?”
It was the other man’s turn to laugh. His entire body shook with the booming sound until he was wiping tears from his eyes.
Hermes scoffed and glared at him. “We both know your duties can wait, Dionysus.”
I snorted. “Both named for the gods?”
“Will you take the job or face your fate?”
I sighed, shaking my head. It wasn’t as if I had a choice.
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
“Perfect.” Hermes slapped his hand back onto my shoulder. A lurching sensation pulled from my navel and rolled through my body. A balmy chill seeped deep into my bones as the world around me went dark.
“Here we are.” Hermes released my shoulder, sending me stumbling forward. The sound of water lapping against a shore filled my ears alongside my ragged breathing as I tried to get my bearings.
Turning, I could see ghostly figures wandering along a marshy shore. Right past them, water sprawled for ages in a dark and cavernous space, all save for one lone boat with one lone being.
“Welcome to the Underworld,” Dionysus muttered.
My eyes, wide with panic, bounced between him and Hermes, then to the hooded figure leaning against the push pole of the boat.
“We’re not named for the gods, Moira. We are the gods.” That terrible smirk was back on Hermes’ face.
“A ferryman?” I growed under my breath. “You want me to steal fromCharon?”
“You will steal his obols or you will return to the mortal realm to face punishment for your crimes.”
“You’re supposed to be the god of thieves. Is this not betrayal?”
