"How do you feel now?" Athena asked as she leaned forward, the sunlight pooling across her shoulders, and handed Susan a tall glass of orange juice.
They were outside in the north wing of the Thorne mansion, where the lawns stretched wide, green and immaculate, and two swimming pools lay side by side in the shape of the letter L.
The larger one was deep, tiled in dark blue stone so that the water shimmered like glassy sapphire under the fading afternoon sun. The smaller was shallower, built for leisure, its surface broken by the occasional lazy ripple of the breeze. Together, they seemed like mirror-lakes carved into the estate, bordered by white stone decks, cushioned lounge chairs, and umbrellas that tilted to follow the day's arc.
