Prologue: A Sibling Exchange

The wind rattled the loose window frame as the storm gathered outside. The faint hum of cars on the street below echoed up to their Oakland house, but inside, it was calm—except for the conversation brewing between Hope and Aria Hailstorm.

“Would you ever fight a god?” Aria asked suddenly, sprawled across the couch like she didn’t have a care in the world.

Hope glanced up from her notebook, eyebrows raised. “What kind of question is that?”

“A serious one.” Aria twirled the end of her ponytail absently, her legs kicking over the armrest. “Like, imagine Zeus shows up and demands a fight. Would you take him on?”

Hope sighed and set her pen down. “Why are you like this?”

Aria grinned. “Because it’s fun to make you think about ridiculous things. C’mon, answer the question.”

“Fine.” Hope leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “No. I wouldn’t fight a god. I’d be too busy running in the opposite direction like a normal person.”

“Coward,” Aria teased. “Me? I’d challenge him to a duel. Make it all dramatic, like, ‘You’ve met your match, almighty Zeus!’ Then I’d figure out how to win on the fly.”

“Right, because that’s worked out so well for everyone who’s ever crossed him.” Hope’s voice was dry as dust. “Have you even read any myths? They don’t end well, Aria.”

“Maybe not for them, but I’m smarter than some ancient hero with a sword.” Aria sat up, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Think about it, though. What’s the point of playing it safe? If you’ve got a shot at something big—something that could make history—you take it.”

Hope’s gaze softened, though her expression remained calm. “And what happens when you don’t win?”

Aria shrugged, the grin fading slightly. “At least I’d go down swinging.”

Hope opened her mouth to respond but stopped. The storm outside had grown louder, the wind howling like a warning. A shiver ran down her spine, but she shook it off, glancing back at her sister.

“Well, you’d have to swing for both of us, then,” Hope said finally, her voice softer. “Because I’d be the one dragging you out of there before Zeus fried you to a crisp.”

Aria laughed. “I knew you’d have my back.”

“Always.”

The laughter faded as the storm outside cracked with a blinding flash of lightning. The power flickered, casting the room into momentary darkness.

From her seat near the window, Hope glanced outside, her heart lurching. Through the distorted pane of glass, she thought she saw a figure standing in the garden.

“Aria,” she whispered, her voice tight.

“What?”

Hope didn’t answer. She rose slowly, stepping closer to the window. Another flash of lightning illuminated the yard below.

A woman stood in the garden, her figure shadowy and indistinct except for her glowing blue, reptilian eyes.

“Is that...?” Aria stood now, moving beside her sister.

The woman didn’t move, her gaze fixed on the house. The storm howled again, rain lashing against the glass. When the next flash of lightning came, the figure was gone.

Hope’s breath hitched. “It was her, wasn’t it?”

Aria nodded, her usual confidence shaken. “Yeah. It was Mom.”