Page 144 of Gates of Tartarus

“It’s Kailani.”

“What’s wrong?” There’s something fearful in the way she’s said those two words, something bleak.

“Drop in on Elizabeth right now.”

“But…” I don’t understand: why is she asking me to view Elizabeth?

“Now!There’snotime!”

“Right! Right.”

Seef stalks up, looking half-annoyed, half-amused, and pokes me in the side. I almost drop the phone. “Stop! I’ve got to… Kailani, I’m going now!”

At that Seef stills, looking sharply at me. I hand him the phone and sink down cross-legged on the floor, feeling bewildered. What on earth is going on? Is Elizabeth in some kind of trouble? Does she need help? At that worrying thought, I close my eyes, trying to find my calm center, to tune myself into the vibrations and send my mind’s eye out searching, searching.

It’s almost a shock to connect with her so quickly. She’s in her Seattle office, at her desk, and she doesn’t appear to be in distress. In fact, she looks, I peer curiously at her, almost gleeful. There’s a touch of smug satisfaction, even; I’ve never seen that expression on her face before and feel oddly discomfited.

Elizabeth taps something on her keyboard then reaches into her desk for some papers. I glance over; the top one looks like a seating arrangement. For one of the benefits? The screen on the wall chimes a few times before there’s a short pause, signaling a connection. We look up together.

It’s Magda. Oh my God, it’s Magda again. She smiles, like the cat that got the cream.

“Have you taken care of it?” My head whips round. What? What is Elizabeth saying?

Magda shrugs. “Of course. As of,” she checks the watch on one slim, tanned, elegant wrist, “forty-five minutes ago, Artemis is no longer a problem, and the others have received a salutary lesson on the price of failure.” Magda stretches, working out a kink in her neck. “Ah, that’s better. She put up more of a fight than I expected.”

My eyes widen as Magda lounges back on the sofa, tucking her bare feet under her. I note, inanely, that her nails are filed and painted a deep burgundy.

“And I trust there won’t be any repercussions?” Elizabeth’s voice is cool, and slowly, as if there’s been a diversion, and the words are only now arriving at the intended synapses, a horrible suspicion is forming.

Magda sneers. “Unlike Artemis, I know what I’m doing. I told you she wasn’t up to the job.”

Elizabeth’s eyes narrow. “Careful. None of you are irreplaceable.”

Magda shrugs. “Noted. Now that I’m back, what is my next task?”

“For you? To lie low. You’d still be in the Caribbean if Artemis hadn’t let me down.” Elizabeth’s eyes flash with anger. “She nearly wrecked everything.”

Magda doesn’t look much happier. “Lie low?” she practically spits. “You’re not worried about Apollo being high profile.”

“He’s so high profile he’s practically untouchable,” Elizabeth explains impatiently. “You’re not quite there.”

“I could be,” Magda purrs. “Robert likes me well enough.”

“A junior finance minister? He’s useful, but really, Aphrodite, I do think you’ve had too much sun.”

“That junior finance minister is tipped as an up-and-coming member of the party, if you can believe it. He’s also on the appropriations committee and has already pledged a sizable amount to our organization. Because we do such good work,” she sniggers. “But you’re right: even if I could bring myself to fuck him on a regular basis, he’s already married.”

“Your time will come. Until then, you’ll have to keep your head down.” Elizabeth smirks: “And I’ve already set a few things in motion that I think are finally starting to bear fruit.”

“Oh? Do tell, Rhea.” Magda uncurls and cocks her head.

If I weren’t already sitting down, my legs would fall out from under me. I can feel my blood congeal and can’t move, can’t think, can only listen, the words almost so much babble.

“Let’s just say,” Elizabeth says coyly, “that we may soon have some new recruits.”

Magda’s gaze sharpens. “Do you mean–?”

“Yes, those two. We’re becoming the best of friends, and I finally made a little progress today.” Elizabeth leans back in her chair. “It’s only a matter of time before they come round to our way of thinking.”