But when the three women start to fade away, I realize it shouldn’t have been a joke. It really would be nice to learn how to use this power they just gave me. And it really would be nice to see them again. They might not be my parents, but they are my mothers. I want to know them—I want to know more about them.

You shall, the voice of the middle-aged one says in my mind.

Then they’re gone and I’m left alone in the past.

No point dwelling here.

I reach into my pocket and my fingers have barely closed around the gold coin from Chronos before the room around me melts away and I’m back in the pantheon temple.

13

I take a moment to process everything. It’s been an overwhelming few days and the realization that I actually succeeded is . . . I’m just not sure how to believe that. It’s too surreal.

After a few minutes—and a few deep breaths—I head for the temple doors. I can’t stay in here forever. Besides, my best friend is waiting for me.

When I push the big gold doors aside, Troy isn’t the only one waiting for me on the steps. The whole gang is here—Phoebe, Griffin, Stella, and Xander are clustered at the bottom. I stop on the top step, expecting them to pelt me with questions like they did the last two times I came out of the temple. Instead, they’re silent.

“I—”

Where do I begin?

“Did Troy fill you in on what Petrolas told me?”

They all nod. Troy turns red, like I’m going to be mad about that. But I’m too happy right now to be mad about anything.

“I called them,” I say. “I called the Fates. And they came.”

It’s like a floodgate opens. Once I start saying the words, everything comes out. I tell them about screaming at my mothers, about going back and not being able to do anything. About the second meeting with the Fates when they came back in time, too.

I don’t tell them about the new power, though. Those words stay stuck in my mind, still not real enough to say out loud.

Finally, I say, “My parents are unbanished. They’re free. Or at least they soon will be.”

“Omigosh,” Phoebe squeals, wrapping me in a big hug. “That’s amazing! You did it.”

I hug her back, and I wish I could share her unbridled excitement.

Griffin stands off to the side a little while everyone else cheers. I can feel the tension radiating off him from several feet away. He knows me better than most people—better than probably anyone but Troy—and I’m sure he can see that my smile doesn’t quite reach my eyes. I’m sure he noticed that I only said my parents, not our parents.