?First of all, Lucas can never have Helen,? Daphne said darkly.
?And second, you know there are easier ways to see if I?m telling
the truth about who killed Ajax than kidnapping me. Have you ever
asked Tantalus why he?s still in hiding??
?Probably because he knows you can look or sound like anyone!?
Pandora shouted back, furious. ?The only thing you can?t do is fake
someone?s handwriting. That?s why he?s only communicated
through letters?to protect himself because he knows you want him
dead!?
?And why would I want him dead?? Daphne?s own temper rose.
?If it?s a Triumph I wanted, why wouldn?t I have killed any one of
you Theban rats as soon as I saw you? Why would I want Tantalus,
and Tantalus alone, unless he stole something precious from me??
she asked, her voice breaking at last.
Pandora watched Daphne as she settled back into the sand, turning
her back on the ocean she dreaded, to stare slack-jawed at her
own feet. Pandora moved away from her and crossed her arms, tilting
her face into the wind. She was breathing hard and her eyes
darted from left to right as if she was reading the dark horizon.
Suddenly, she snapped back to attention.
?You snake,? she said, turning to stare at Daphne with awed rage.
?Creon said you were cunning, but this is something else entirely.
You actually believe what you?re saying! That?s why Lucas couldn?t
find anything false in what you said. All those years of hiding behind
other people?s faces and now all you are is one big lie. This is
why I have to keep you away from Castor and Pallas?from everyone
I love. I know in my heart that you used the cestus to trick my
brother. You never loved him, and he could never have loved you.?
Her words were harsh, but doubt was beginning to creep into her
tone. ?Ajax was too good, he was too pure. . . .?