By the time Thalia had left Clio, her sister had been smiling again, widely and warmly enough that Thalia was almost able to ignore the tight kernel of worry that had taken root in her heart. Things had been bad, and she got the distinct impression Clio had only told her the half of it, and since that half had included Lucifer and public torture, Thalia was quietly dreading hearing the rest of it.
And yet— I'm happy, Thal, Clio had said, with her hand curling around Will Stutely's. So happy. And her face had lit up when she'd recounted how they'd met and how Ella had fallen for him, and if Clio could still smile so brightly after what she'd been through, that had to be reason for hope. They would figure out a way through this. Six of Nine in town now, and they were always stronger together, and they had so many friends on their side. They'd find a way.
Thalia's bubble of optimism lasted right up until she next checked her phone and saw the new message from Melpomene. I was right, Aphrodite wants my baby. And just like that, the anxious kernel speared its roots in deeper.
What do you need? she had asked. Food and my sisters, had been the reply.
The bakery where Thalia had bought Clio's cake was just preparing to close up when she burst through the door for the second time that afternoon. This time, she chose a chocolate mousse tart, bittersweet, with a rich layer of spiced date caramel. This time, she didn't get any message frosted on top.
Soon after, she stood on Melpomene's doorstep, subdued and worried. She knocked.