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"I don’t know," I reply honestly "There’s so funny about this--"

As I answer, a metallic sound clinks in the sink Our wide eyes meet before I juainst the sea of black unk-covered object--a big lu the pipe, and hand tightening the connectors back in place, I grab the object by the chain and turn on the water I hold it under the icy strea as the blackness sloirls down the drain When it’s clean enough to see clearly, I hold it up

"It’s a necklace," I say, disappointed

I’n, maybe, or a clue Or a key Not … jewelry

"That’s not a necklace," Nick says, stepping into the tiny space and lifting my arm so he can study the object at eye level "It’s a pendant of Apollo"

"What’s that?"

Toold necklace A little tacky, with bright gold links, soem in the center Amber, maybe, or topaz It’s not very well cut, either It looks emstone

"Apollo, the god of prophecy," Nick explains, "gives one to each of his oracles It creates athe him to keep track of his priestesses" Nick’s sad, dark eyes look into mine "It is also the source of their power"

"That means--" No, I can’t say it

And I don’t have to Nick finishes for htens around the gold chain This can’t be good If things were so dire that the oracle had to discard her pendant, discard her powers, then she htened

"You know," Nick says, interrupting hts, "there is another possibility"

"What?"

"She ht have shed her powers intentionally"

"Why would she do that?"

He shrugs "Maybe to prevent herself fro you further"

"No," I ansithout hesitation The woman who first told me about my destiny, who helped me find Sthenno and who promised that I could save Ursula … that woman is not my enemy "I don’t believe that"

"Then maybe she ditched the pendant so she couldn’t be tracked," he suggests "It’s as accurate as a GPS signal for anyone with access to Apollo’s powers"