The screen was on some flashy site, with a few images of people in strange costumes. They were mostly bright and colorful and very high-tech. “All right,” Athena said. “Does it have anything to do with that conversation with Melanie?”

Emily nodded, then paused. “Um, do you know who Melanie is?”

“A woman who paid for our food and tried to get you drunk?” Athena asked. It was a good thing Big Sister hadn’t drunk that drink, or else Athena would have had to do something rude to the Melanie woman.

“She’s a Hero. An actual Hero. From some company. Her name’s Melaton. She can make people fall asleep.”

Athena flinched back. “A Hero? Why would we want to be near one of those?”

“Um, because she helped us with Homie?”

“Does she know that we’re Villains?” Athena asked. She made sure to enunciate the word with all the gravitas it deserved.

Emily shook her head really quickly. “No, no, she doesn’t. She thinks that we’re Heroes too. Or, at worst, Gray?”

Athena understood. Big Sister was being very clever, as expected of her, and was beguiling her way closer to the Heroes. She’d no doubt spring some sort of trap on them and murder them all in a frenzy of violence and destruction. Athena only hoped she could grow strong enough by then that she would be helpful.

“I see what you’re doing,” Athena said. “It’s very impressive.”

“Thank you?” Big Sister Emily said. “I’m just looking at the profiles for these new Heroes before we meet them. I think we could maybe push back some suspicion by being close to them.”

Athena agreed. “Of course.”

“Um. I . . . don’t know if you can be present for that? They don’t know you, and you don’t have any sort of costume. You’d stand out.”

Ah, so Big Sister wanted Athena not to stand out. “With my power, that’s probably for the best. Teddy is much better at that kind of thing.”

Emily nodded. “Good, good.”

So when Athena did go to this . . . event thing, it would be out of costume, to help in her own way. Her sister was really turning out to be a top-notch strategist.

Athena adjusted her glasses so that they flashed, and she held back a bout of manic laughter.

Teddy trampled her way out of the bathroom looking all bedraggled and wet, then she flopped onto the mattress. “I’m sleeping now,” she said.

“Ah, okay,” Emily replied. “My turn in the shower, then. Good night . . . in case you fall asleep.”

“Yup! Good night,” Teddy said.

“Mm-hmm,” Athena agreed as she too went over to the mattress and lay down tummy-first. She slid her glasses off and carefully set them under the nightstand so no one would step on them.