Athena was on Emily’s chair, legs tucked under her and neck bent over one of Emily’s course books. She was squinting at the text, which seemed almost comical with her large eyes.

Emily wasn’t sure what to think of Athena, really. The owl girl was complex. Clever, though, in her own way. Likely the smartest of Emily’s sisters, but with that came the impression Athena desperately wanted to be the smart one.

Emily shifted where she sat. Maybe she could spend a little more time with her middle sister. Athena had a good heart, too. She was, Emily realized, the sister closest to herself. Maybe not quite as anxious, but she had something similar to Emily’s own approach to things.

Then there was Emily’s newest sister, Trinity, currently with all three of herself huddled around Emily’s desk and staring at the toaster with an intensity that was downright terrifying.

Trinity felt younger than the other two: more energetic, more innocent, a little more naive; but kind and lovable, eager to please and make friends. She was hard to dislike, even if she had more energy than Emily was ready to deal with.

She smiled to herself and refocused on her homework. There was still a lot to be done.

Then someone knocked at her door.

Emily’s blood went cold, and she heard her chair creak as Athena looked up, and Teddy’s snores cut off midrumble.

She set her laptop to the side and bounced off the bed.

The toaster went off, and Trinity gasped. “Missed it,” all three of her muttered before two of her grabbed some toast.

Emily moved over to the door. Maybe it was Sam again? She desperately hoped it was Sam.

“Everyone, up,” she whispered. “We might have trouble.”

That got her sisters moving, with more noise than she wanted, but still, they were standing and at attention.

Emily cracked the door open and peeked out.

The person on the other side wasn’t Sam. It was a woman, a few inches shorter than Emily and a couple of decades older. A woman who bore more than a passing resemblance to Emily herself.

Emily slammed the door shut.

“Emily? Sweetie?” her mom asked from the other side. “Um . . . if you’re really busy, I can come back? Give you time to clean up or . . . sweetie, are you with a boy? I hope you’re using protection.”

“Who’s that?” Teddy asked.

Athena dropped the book in her hand onto the chair she’d been sitting in. “Should I get my jacket on and look tough?”

“Is it a friend?” All three of Trinity asked.

Her mom knocked again. “Sweetie? I’m sorry, but I did call. You haven’t been answering your phone.”