"I hate the charm," Cassandra said bluntly. She didn't feel like it was anything he didn't already know. "I hate it when you try to be cute or seductive or whatever you want to call it. I hate, hate, hate it." Apollo was smart. Cassandra didn't question his ability to comprehend what she was saying, but just so that everything was out in the open, she continued. "I like to believe that that's not the real you. That I've seen the real you. And that person, I can like. That person I can care about." She shrugged. "The other you just reminds me of all the bad things."

She didn't want to talk about Othryoneus. Not right now. Not for a long time, really. He was something special that she wanted to have for herself, as if discussing him with Apollo was, in some way, dishonoring his memory. In truth, Cassandra had found it difficult to discuss Othryoneus with anyone else, even Bret. That was just a hurt that would never really go away.