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jumped
and smiled. “I guess the sooner I tell her I’m not going back to college, the
better.”
    “Are you certain you want to do this,
Toby?”
    “I’ve never been more certain of
anything in my life! The moment I arrived on the island I knew I’d found my
home. Maybe the Three Fates did bring me here.”
    “I believe they did. You are a
descendent of Hera . Maybe pledging yourself to me is
a way of making amends for her actions.”
    “Oh, wow! I hadn’t thought of that!
It can’t be real; to be descended from someone I’ve read about in mythology
books!”
    “But it is! Gregory traced his
lineage back thousands of years, mainly because this temple held records etched
in stone. I helped him.”
    “It’s odd he didn’t reveal that to
the media. Most people would jump at the chance to let the world know they’re
the offspring of the gods!”
    “He wasn’t like that. No one in these
families is. They know they must keep the secrets of the sorcerers. If they
fell into the wrong hands the secrets could destroy the world!”
    “Was Gregory a sorcerer?”
    “He could work his powers, yes, but
he only used them to make wealth for his family, and to keep the island safe,
for me.”
    “Could I learn to work these powers?”
    “I think you could. He didn’t know
very much when he started. He was young then, and had gotten into trouble with
the law. After he came home he promised me he would do what he could to help
me. He said being locked up in jail gave him an idea of what my existence was
like.”
    “A fraction of it, maybe. But I’m glad he straightened out his
life. I only wish he could have come for me and my mother. Then I could’ve
grown up here, near you.”
    “It wasn’t meant to be. But you’re
here now. And I will help you learn to control your powers. I was thinking
maybe we should tell Aella and Kosmas about us, too.
Then you could live here in my room; unless you prefer your bedroom in the
house. Aella said it was beautiful.”
    “I prefer to be here, in your bed;
it’s much cozier.”
    He smiled, grabbed her for a kiss.
    Toby washed up in Dio’s small blue-tiled bath then reluctantly left him. The morning air was crisp and
bright as she hiked through the olive grove, passed the hungry goats and inched
her way up the stairs to her bedroom. She thought to call her mother but the
time difference meant Lauren would still be asleep. She busied herself by
packing her clothes then she decided to leave most of them there for
appearances’ sake. If anyone should suspect she was living in the temple they
might discover Dio .
    The phone rang.
    “Could you answer that, Toby?” Aella shouted. “I’m up to my elbows in pastry!”
    “Sure!” She picked up the receiver.
“Hello?”
    “Toby, it’s me, Stephan. I want to
make up to you for what I did. Please let me come there this morning. I couldn’t
sleep. I could only think about what a fool I am.”
    “I don’t see what coming here will
do. I said it was okay.”
    “I know but I must make things right.
Please.”
    “No, I don’t want you here. I can’t
make it any plainer that that. Goodbye, Stephan.”
    She hung up. Fear rose up in her
chest, made breathing difficult. Maybe she should have let him come over but
she was so weary of the man. And she didn’t trust him. He knew more about Dio than he was letting on. What if he decided to use that
knowledge to make the money he desperately wanted?
    “Kosmas, I need to tell you
something,” she muttered at breakfast.
    “What is it, child? You sound much
too serious.”
    “It is serious. Last night I couldn’t
sleep so I went for a walk very late. Stephan showed up. He said he’s been
coming to the island at night, looking for artifacts to sell. But I’m afraid
there’s more to it.”
    Aella and Kosmas both gasped.
    “Did he hurt you, child?”
    “No, Dio fought with him, and he left.”
    “Why didn’t you call the police?”
Kosmas asked.
    “He seemed … I’m not sure how