Athena opened her eyes and watched the clouds roll back.

“I should have told my brother I loved him.”

Cassandra swallowed hard. “I should have too. I guess I thought he’d be around to hear it later.”

Athena stepped to the coffin and ran her fingers along the shining edge of black. “He was proud to die like this. Like a human. Like one of you. He died a hero.”

Cassandra’s breath hitched. She felt Andie and Henry’s hands on each of her shoulders. Odysseus and Hermes put theirs on Athena’s.

“Good-bye, Aidan,” Athena whispered.

Cassandra stared with wide eyes into the clearing sky, as the clouds dissolved and drew back like a curtain. It took a long time, but finally, a small smile started to curl at the corners of her mouth.

They left the cemetery together. Behind them, the black of Aidan’s coffin blazed like fire beneath the bright light.

And thus was their burial of Apollo, god of the sun.