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"Not while she carries the curse," another voice said "Even without Athena, that child is a danger to us and everyone in this city No power can stop what she can do once she matures"

"She has not coet rid of the curse," Michel proposed, "she will be of no use to Athena and no haret rid of it?" This froirl can be to us? Think of the poill have Power over the gods We can be rid of theainst wood Michel’s voice was harsh "Listen to you, Josephine! This hat got us into trouble the first tiht not even be in this situation now And now you will use her child? For power?"

"For protection," she snapped "Athena has been an enemy to us since the Inquisition, when she tried to wipe all of us off the face of the planet She is afraid, afraid of us beco back to defeat her We keep the child and let her becood for that est? Ihed "You cannot forbid anything, Michel This is a council Anda child in this manner, but we cannot sustain another blow to the city like the one thirteen years ago," said a new voice "We have had peace in New 2, a peace we have been seeking for ages Harboring or helping this child will cause a war between us and Athena I say she goes, takes her chances outside The Rim"

"No, she cannot go," Michel said "Think about it, Nickolai She can’t hide froirl doesn’t even knohat she’s capable of Once the goddess has her, she can and will use that child against us Sheprotection"

My throat went dry My heart raced I leaned back against the wall Blood pounded through my ears so fast that I couldn’t hear any more of the conversation even if I’d tried

I didn’t knohat to do, so I ran

Out into the street, directly in front of a trotting horse pulling a carriage full of tourists So close its warm breath fanned my cheek before I stumbled to the other side of the street

I stopped at the corner, grabbing one of the streetla for air Tears pricked o back, to stor I was not a weapon I didn’t have powers like the Novem or the doué

I’d make the decision for them I’d leave New 2 If Athena had caused the hurricanes because the Nove what she’d do now because of me, and because of the hunters I’d killed and the prisoners I’d released

Feeling wooden and empty, I walked the streets of the French Quarter as the sun went down and the streetlahts and figure out my next move I could find a landline to call Bruce and Casey, but the last thing I wanted was to bring the the starring role

I used my last five dollars to buy a shrimp po’boy sandwich from a small vendor in Jackson Square and then parked myself on a bench A three-man band played jazz by the cathedral A fire-eater perforlinted off sequined costumes, masks, and beads The place huood ti and the city had come alive

Crank’s painted UPS truck loomed on the curb in front of 1331 First Street, saht me here to stay in the Garden District An old Toyota Cas, covered with bumper stickers I stopped beneath the cover of an oak, hidden by the shadows of the aze traveled across the dark street, over the iron gate, and up to the second-story s

The Nove without my mother’s box

So far, I’d been able to stick to the black shadows that hung over the Garden District streets The only light here--besides the feorking ones along St Charles Avenue--cae point, I studied the tall house and the peri on the inside of my cheek

Cold huht-iron fence Vines had swa it easy for me to cli leaves, I hurried to the back of the house, taking care to stay low and stick to the shadows After a quick pause behind the edge of the nolia tree, I darted across the patio and opened the French doors, slipping inside and shutting thehts were on But the house was quiet and still The parlor was e roo to hope, I stopped by the stairs and listened Nothing I hurried up the steps and made for the bedroo seen, without having to explain or say good-byeMaybe not the best way to do things, but it’d be easier for everyone involved

The bedroom door was ajar, and all I had to do was push it and sneak inside Once in, however, I stopped short

Violet lay curled up onaway froainst the curve of her back

My weight shifted The floorboards creaked Pascal raised his head and slowly turned in my direction He blinked as Violet woke and looked over her shoulder She pushed herself up, re Pascal so that she wouldn’t crush him, and then set hi around her neck, and she shoved it over her face to the top of her head She stared at e and black as I re o sit down beside her, to know her, to--

No, I was leaving

"Hey, Violet" I went to the box, aware that her round gaze followed My hands slid around the box Just get the box and leave Violet will be fine without you Which was a stupid thought to begin with Violet had ed fine without me all these years, and the kid certainly wouldn’t be fazed by so