"Where do you think it goes?" I asked Runt. Obviously, I wasn't expecting an answer, but as the day had progressed, I'd found myself talking out loud to the puppy more and more. Runt gave a sharp bark, then sat down on her haunches and stared at me.

"You think I should touch it? See if it'll open?"

She gave me another bark and wagged her tail, kicking up the sand behind her.

"Okay. Here goes nothing."

I walked up to where the shimmering seemed to be the most intense, my fingers wrapped securely around Runt's leash-I didn't want her to get left behind-and reached out my hand. I heard a sharp crack crack, then a wave of light exploded out of the doorway, enveloping Runt and me and beckoning us inside.

The doorway wasn't like a wormhole. It didn't suck you in, shake you around, and make you want to throw up. For which I was grateful because I really hated the feeling of nausea that traveling by wormhole always engendered in me.

Instead, the doorway overwhelmed me with a feeling of lightness and warmth. It was a little bit like stepping into Heaven. I could only imagine b.u.t.terflies felt something like it when they were released from their coc.o.o.ns for their maiden voyages, their newly born wings unfurling for the first time to capture the sunlight and wind and take flight.

The other thing about the doorway was that it made me feel, well . . . happy happy. I don't know how else to describe it. My thoughts were all mushy, full of b.u.t.terflies, babies, and ice cream cakes. Intellectually, I understood that this had to be some kind of illusion because I never never felt like this in real life, but no matter what I did, I just couldn't shake all the giddiness I was experiencing. felt like this in real life, but no matter what I did, I just couldn't shake all the giddiness I was experiencing.

And then it was gone, a big, gaping hole left in its wake. And if that wasn't bad enough, all the emptiness was immediately replaced with misery. It was like having a whole week of PMS crammed inside you in one whack.

Yuck!

Finally, after the misery subsided, I opened my eyes and looked around at my surroundings. With my heart hammering a staccato beat inside my rib cage, I looked over at Runt, whose leash was still gripped tightly in my hand, and gave a quick whoop whoop of joy. of joy.

I couldn't believe it. It had to be a miracle. For some unfathomable reason, I was back at Sea Verge . . . safe in my old bedroom. I immediately registered that the room looked exactly as I had left it: deep rose comforter tucked neatly into the corners of the double bed, white wicker desk, nightstand, and dresser, all neatly arranged. The dusty rose carpet was newly vacuumed, and the cream-colored walls looked like they had recently been repainted. It was like stepping back into my adolescence, only a lot tidier.

It was the first good thing that had happened since Jarvis had been taken into custody. In fact, being back home, safely tucked into my old room and completely disconnected from my adult reality-Dirty Harry PBI detectives, three-headed dogs, and missing-in-action family members-made me so happy that I wanted to cry. PBI detectives, three-headed dogs, and missing-in-action family members-made me so happy that I wanted to cry.

So I did.

That was how Clio found me, standing in the middle of my old room, holding one of the throw pillows I'd pulled off the bed tight to my chest, tears running down my face, giddy with happiness. Maybe the doorway's magic hadn't completely left me after all, I decided.

"What're you doing?" Clio whispered as she eased open the door and stepped inside. "You're gonna get caught if you don't shut up, and I mean, like, right now. right now." Her tone made me stop burbling like a baby.

"Huh?" was the best I could manage, but Clio just put a finger to her lips, indicating silence. I nodded, so she would know that I'd understood her.

She mouthed the words "nice dog," her head tilting in Runt's direction, then she gestured for me to follow her across the room, where she stopped in front of my old closet door. She quietly turned the k.n.o.b, eased open the door, and stepped inside, silently motioning for me to follow her.

Once we were inside the closet, which was totally bare since I'd taken every piece of clothing with me when I'd made my escape to New York, Clio clapped her hands twice and smiled. Instantly, the closet was draped in silence. It was like we'd stepped inside a soundproofed recording studio or something.

"How'd you do that?" I demanded. I didn't know Clio could do any magic at all.

Clio shrugged.

"You really think I listen when Dad tells me no magic in the house?"

"I did," I said, which only made Clio snort.

"Exactly my point. And now see what's happened to you?"

She looked so cute and young with her adorable pixie face and serious expression that it made me want to grab her up in a big bear hug and never let go.

"Stop it," she said as she fended me off like I was a bear bent on mauling her.

"Just one hug," I whined. "I really need one. It's been a terrible day . . ."

She rolled her eyes, then stood still so I could give her one of my patented bear hugs. When I was done squeezing her almost to unconsciousness, she laughed and stepped away. Things must've been pretty bad if my rebellious teenage sister was willing to placate me like that.

"Sorry," I said. "But this has truly been a c.r.a.ppy day."

She gave me a serious look.

"I believe you," she said finally. "Because it's been pretty crazy around here, too. The r.e.t.a.r.ded detective from the Psychical Bureau of Investigations told Mom and Father McGee that you and Jarvis kidnapped Dad and Thalia."

"Did they believe him?" I asked, fear crawling up my neck like a hungry boa constrictor. Clio didn't say anything for a long moment. That said it all as far as I was concerned.

"d.a.m.n," I wailed. I couldn't believe my own mother would think something so terrible about one of her daughters. Clio tentatively reached out and patted my shoulder.

"He got Jarvis," I said miserably, leaning against the closet door for support.

"Poor Jarvis," Clio said. "They've probably got him locked up in Purgatory by now. I heard it's like the worst thing ever."

"Poor Jarvis" is right. d.a.m.n, this day is only getting worse again.

Sensing I was close to my breaking point, Clio changed the subject.

"Who's the dog?" she asked as she squatted down beside Runt to pet her. The puppy instantly warmed to my little sister, lying down on her back and exposing her tiny puppy belly for more scratching.

"What a cutie," Clio said, obliging Runt's scratching request.

"She's one of Cerberus's puppies. I call her Runt, but I think her real name is Giselda-" I began.

"No way!" Clio said, her eyes wide with intense curiosity. "No offense, but how in the h.e.l.l did you you get one of Cerberus's puppies?" get one of Cerberus's puppies?"

I shrugged nonchalantly.

"It was pretty easy, I guess."

Clio narrowed her eyes at me.

"You're such a liar, Calliope Reaper-Jones. Right, Runt?"

Runt gave a quick bark, like she was concurring with my sister.

"You both suck," I said, not at all liking this little alliance Runt was making with Clio. Ignoring Clio's knowing gaze, I decided that now was the time-if there was ever ever going to be a time-to ask for her help. going to be a time-to ask for her help.

"Sorry to change the subject back to the problem at hand-and away from my status as a liar-but you don't happen to know Greek, do you?" I asked.

"I can read a little, but I don't speak it or anything," she answered.

"That's good enough for me," I said, pulling the handkerchief-wrapped parchment out of my back pocket, where I'd stuck it earlier for safekeeping. I offered it to her, and she took it eagerly.

"What is is this?" she said as she unwrapped it and held it up to the light. I went to stand beside her, hoping some of her intelligence would rub off on me for once in my life. this?" she said as she unwrapped it and held it up to the light. I went to stand beside her, hoping some of her intelligence would rub off on me for once in my life.

"It's from the Board. Supposedly, it contains three tasks I have to complete before I can be appointed to Father's job."

"Why do you always call him 'Father'?" Clio asked suddenly. Her eyes held a strange light that I'd never seen in them before.

"I don't know." I shrugged. "Old habit?"

"It's weird," she said. "You should just call him 'Dad.' That's what I do."

"Okay, Dad's job, then. Does that make you happy?"

She nodded.

"I guess so. Kind of."

She went back to the parchment, her eyes scanning the rows of Greek characters. She mouthed a couple of the words, feeling for the right p.r.o.nunciation, then gave her head one decisive shake before turning to meet my gaze.

"Okay, you've completed the first task. Your next task is to find Indra and get him to give you the Sea Foam he used to kill the demon Vritra. Then the third task is something about collecting the Cup of Jamshid-"

"Forget the Cup of Jam, or whatever," I said in disbelief. "Did you, or did you not, just say the words 'Sea Foam'?"

"I think think that's what they're saying, Callie," Clio said defensively. "G.o.d, you don't have to be such a mega-b.i.t.c.h about it. I mean, do you want my help or not?" that's what they're saying, Callie," Clio said defensively. "G.o.d, you don't have to be such a mega-b.i.t.c.h about it. I mean, do you want my help or not?"

I sighed. "Yes, I definitely want your help, but I don't even know who this Indra guy is, and Sea Foam Sea Foam? C'mon, that's totally silly!"

"I don't know," Clio said. "It's your parchment, not mine."

I plucked the parchment from Clio's fingers and held it up to the light.

"What do you want from me?" I yelled at it. The parchment didn't reply-not that I really expected it to.

I handed the thing back to Clio, who stared at me like I needed to be hospitalized for a case of fast-growing insanity.

"I'm not crazy. I mean it," I said to her. "At least, not yet."

"Look, Cal, I don't know anything about Sea Foam, but I do know who Indra is."

"Well, who is he, then?"

"Aside from being a pretty powerful Hindu G.o.d . . . ?" she asked.

"Aside from that," I echoed.

"G.o.d, Cal, you're so out of the loop."

Runt barked in agreement.

"Okay, I'm out of the loop. So, fill me in already."

Clio gave me a knowing knowing look. look.

"He was voted People People's s.e.xiest bachelor last year, Cal. Do the words 'Mr. s.e.x on a Stick' ring any bells?"

My mind drew a blank. I had no idea what the heck she was talking about. Then Clio smiled, and it was the element of unbridled l.u.s.t behind that smile-which was not not the kind of thing any parent the kind of thing any parent ever ever wanted to see on the face of their teenage daughter-that knocked the answer into my brain. wanted to see on the face of their teenage daughter-that knocked the answer into my brain.

"Oh my G.o.d, that's that's the Indra you are talking about? The incredibly hot- the Indra you are talking about? The incredibly hot-like mouth-burningly hot-Bollywood superstar?"

Clio looked like she was about to drool.

"The one and only."

I closed my eyes. The whole thing was so absurd that I started to laugh.

"You mean, I gotta go get Sea Foam Sea Foam from from Mr. s.e.x on a Stick Mr. s.e.x on a Stick?"

Clio's smile only widened.

"Can I come with you?"

"No," I said immediately. "Not after the look I just saw on your your face, kiddo." face, kiddo."

"Please!" she begged. "Pretty please with sugar on top, and I won't rat you out to Mom."

"You wouldn't dare," I said, sensing the danger behind her words.

"Oh, I wouldn't?" she answered coyly. My baby sister knew she had me cornered, and she was enjoying it.

"If I take you, and that's a I take you, and that's a very very big if, you gotta be quiet, do what I say, and watch Runt." big if, you gotta be quiet, do what I say, and watch Runt."

"Okay."

Nothing else, no whining about being quiet or doing what I said-she knew I was at her mercy.

"All right, then," I said, acting like the whole thing had been my idea in the first place. "So, how the h.e.l.l do we get to Bollywood?"

Clio rolled her eyes as she picked up Runt's leash.

"Duh, through the TV, dummy."

It had taken us only a few minutes to get from my old room to Clio's, but when you had to play the silent game while you tiptoed down the hallway of a rickety old mansion that had, like, twenty zillion squeaky floor-boards, it was a little intense.

I had wanted Clio to put another silencing spell on us, but she seemed to think the less magic done in the house, the better. I didn't agree with her, but since she was the one in charge of my safe pa.s.sage through the house, I didn't argue.

When we reached her room, she closed the door behind us, checking to make sure that Runt hadn't gotten left in the hallway in our haste. Then, while I stood there watching, she threw three dead bolts and a chain lock into place.

I stared at all the locks on her door. I hadn't noticed them before-probably because I'd been too busy feeling sorry for myself.

"What's with all the locks?" I asked nonchalantly. I didn't want to put her on the defensive, but all the security definitely caught my interest. She shrugged and sat down on the floor next to Runt, who happily sidled up to her for an ear scratch.