Cassandra?s head righted itself. The wrinkles smoothed and her
eyes cleared, but the eerie extra presences were still in her. Daphne
pulled herself away from Castor and approached the Oracle with
her arms crossed and her palms pressed flat against her chest in
reverence.
?The House of Atreus owes you a debt, Sibyl,? Daphne said with a
deep bow, completing her part of the ritual.
?And the House of Atreus will pay it when asked,? the Oracle said
before the glow died completely and Cassandra returned fully to
herself with a series of blinks and an exhalation. Everyone stared
at Daphne with shock and anger.
?I?m sorry, but I had to,? she said barely above a whisper.
?You could have killed her,? Lucas said, clenching his fists. ?She?s
still too young.?
?If the vengeance cycle isn?t broken, she has no future, anyway.
None of us do,? Daphne mumbled, unable to look at him. Several
people raised their voices to argue.
?She?s right,? Cassandra said, cutting everyone off. ?Things will
change, Prophecy has been made, and like it or not, I am the
Oracle. I can?t hide anymore.?
?Maybe not,? Castor said somberly. ?But next time, we decide together
what questions to ask and when to ask them.? He turned
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and pointed a finger at Daphne. ?Another trick like that and I?ll
make sure you don?t live long enough to hear Sibyl?s answer.?
Daphne nodded once with a passive face that placated Castor, but
not Lucas. He?d seen Helen make that face before, and he knew it
was bogus. Lucas glanced at Helen, who had noticed the same
thing he did, and they shared an anxious look.
Cassandra said that she was tired, and Pandora took her upstairs