38_No Escape

“ My baby! ” Artemis leaped toward the dog. “ He’s been poisoned! ” “ Poisoned?” several voices murmured. All around the room, gods snatched the goblets out of their champions’ hands. " Whew ” Julia let out a long breath. That had been a close call! Then she noticed Hera glaring at her and stalking closer. Did Hera recognize Julia in her disguise? Julia hoped not. She looked around for an escape route, but she was surrounded by gods and people. She couldn’t even see the door.

Artemis was muttering over her dog and waving her hand in circles over its head. After a moment the animal’s tail twitched, and a few seconds later it sat up and whimpered. “ Poor baby, ” Artemis said, rubbing its sleek head. She shot an angry look at Hera. “ You’re lucky I was able to revive him! I’m sure I’m not the only one who is growing weary of your ridiculous tricks and magical poisons. ” Hera ignored her. Her steely gaze was still on Julia. Julia gulped. “ I’ve got to get out of here, ” she whispered to Brody and the others.

Brody looked too stunned to respond, and Julia thought that Markos and Iphicles had not yet figured out her identity. But Heracles nodded. “ I’ll distract Hera, ” he whispered. “ You go that way. ” He pointed, and Julia finally spotted a doorway nearby. She barely had time to nod before Heracles leaped forward to intercept Hera. “ Beloved queen of the gods, ” he exclaimed loudly. “ I cannot imagine who dared to tamper with the drinks at your gathering! ”

“ You can’t?” Ares called out with a snort. “ Because I can! ” Hera whirled around to glare at Ares. “ Silence! ” she snapped. Meanwhile Julia darted toward the door that Heracles had indicated. It led into a storage room. A few servants glanced at Julia as she raced across the storage room and finally out the back door. Once she was safely outside, Julia collapsed against the back wall of the house, shaking with relief. “ Wow, that really was close, ” she murmured.

She still could hardly believe her plan had succeeded. When the guard had commented again about her water jar, she’d had the idea to bribe him. She’d lured him away from his post, and then offered to trade the jar for his clothes. After trading her girl’s chiton for the guard’s chiton, she’d asked to borrow his knife. She’d paused only for a second before chopping off a lot of her hair. The guard loved his new water jar so much, he agreed to keep quiet while Julia sneaked into the house with a group of servants carrying in more food. Once she was inside, Julia had followed the party sounds to the right room, only to find Brody with the cup already to his lips . . .

Julia shuddered, remembering that awful moment. She’d arrived in the nick of time. “ What would I do if something happened to Brody?” she thought suddenly. “ I’d probably never get home. ” But that wasn’t the only reason she was glad Brody was okay. It wasn’t even the most important reason. Brody was actually starting to feel like . . . a friend. It was a weird thought. But Julia didn’t have much time to ponder it.