It terrified him to hear her telling his friends. But he also knew that this is what he had wanted to do. This is why he didn’t gate away from them. This is why he hadn’t left Parry McCluer High School. This is why he had carelessly let them realize his power, as he returned home far faster than his feet could have carried him. He wanted them to know; he wanted to be honest with them. But he couldn’t bring himself to answer their questions. Hermia was doing it for him.

When she finished her explanation, she said, “Now I’ve told you the answers to your questions. Do you believe me?”

“Yes,” said Pat and Wheeler and Sin and Hal.

“Why?” asked Hermia.

“Because I rode the rope,” said Hal.

“Because he cured my piercings,” said Sin.

“My face,” said Pat.

“Because it’s so cool,” said Wheeler.

“And the rest of you?”

“It’s pretty hard to swallow,” said Laurette. “How do you know all this stuff? I never heard of you.”

“I’m a gatemage too,” said Hermia. “A lesser one. I can’t make gates, but I can see them and I can lock them. And I can help Danny. But now you all have a choice to make.”

They waited.

“Are you with him or not?” asked Hermia. “That’s why he was afraid to tell you, because once he did, you’d have to make the choice.”

“What do you mean, ‘with him’?” asked Hal. “He’s got this incredible power. What does he need from us?”

“What the gods have always needed,” said Hermia. “Servants.”

Consternation. Outrage. “I thought we were his friends!” said Laurette.

“Are you his equals?” asked Hermia. “Are you? When the others come to kill him, what do you think you can do? When Danny’s mother electrocutes you or his father makes your car stop working, and any gun you point at them fails to work and a hawk comes to peck out your eyes, can you stand up to them?”

“Duh,” said Laurette.

“We’re useless,” said Hal. “So why would he need us?”

“That’s why I didn’t say that he needs soldiers. Or allies. He needs servants. He needs people he can send with messages. People to watch and notice things, and tell him about them.”

“Spies,” said Pat.

“And messengers,” said Hermia. “The Families will know you’re powerless. With any luck, they won’t kill you. But they could. If you piss them off. Do you understand? You’re powerless. But you can help Danny to put together some kind of peace treaty. Some way to unite the Families and share some of his power with them.”

“And why would we want to do that?” asked Xena. “If these gods actually, like, exist, why would we want Danny to give them more power?”