Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

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