Tuhudda opened the front door of her family's shack to a simmering Friday noon, filled with dust and the scent of bougainvilleas. The June sun was too high for her taste, but it couldn't be helped. Ada had to handle a premature birth at the Colville family and they had to wait for her to come back.

Still, they also needed to get moving; Arcadia Bay was at least two days' drive from their reservation, stops included. No more waiting—they had to go today.

She pulled on her reed shoes, wincing as her joints protested, before tottering out of her home. Lulu was waiting for her at the end of the short gravel path, playing a handheld game while perched on the carved fence post that marked their garden's edge. Despite their efforts, many of her plants were wilting from the heat. Few things grew well out here in the arid lands—least of all children.

As she gazed at the lustrous black of Lulu's hair, for a moment, she envied her granddaughter's youth—envied it immensely. It was Lulu who'd pushed them to get involved. It was she who believed in an Incarnate who would protect everyone, Numu or not. And if they'd hesitated, Lulu who would have left for Arcadia Bay, with or without them.

Lulu's actions not-so-gently reminded her that, some forgotten time ago, she too had possessed this fiery resolve. For that, Tuhudda wished she could be a bit more like her. Perhaps if they had found a way to stay in Arcadia, Lulu could have been the Incarnate instead of Rachel Amber.

But to hell with that. She's better off with us, as just Lulu.

"Your mother done yet?" Tuhudda asked when she got closer.

Her granddaughter glanced up from her phone. She was playing one of those time-wasting brick games again. "Yeah, she's on her way back now. Jenny's driving her."

"And did you put our bags in the van? Also the food? The water?"

"Did all that last night."

Movement across the street caught Tuhudda's eye—a tall, lean man with long gray hair approached, limping slightly as he did. Chief Tommy Blackcrow. And by the looks of him, he was aiming to have another one of their tedious talks.

Without turning her head, she told Lulu, "Go check again."

The girl scowled up from her game. "But—"

"Don't make me repeat myself. We're not buying food on the way, so if we forget some, we go hungry. And spirits know you're unbearable when you're hungry. Now go."

Sighing, Lulu hopped off the fence and flounced to the roadside where their van was parked. Tuhudda faced her visitor, who pulled off his hat to reveal a face that was as dark and lined as her own, despite being twenty years her junior.

"You should change your mind," he intoned.

"And you should change your gambling habits, Tommy," she replied. "But spirits help us if we don't learn to keep ourselves to ourselves."

"You're our shaman. You got responsibilities here. With your tribe."

"I have a responsibility to the land as well. Did you forget? I go where I'm needed."

"The puhadiipi asked you come?"

Every night since they spoke to the Incarnate, Tuhudda had stayed in her room, staring into a bowl of icy water or lightly dozing in her bed, waiting for a vision, a portent. But her dreams had remained stubbornly dark. Not that Tommy needed to know that.

"The Incarnate spoke to me herself. She asked for help, so I will give it."

"The Incarnate." Tommy spat the word out like a mouthful of rotten fruit. "A white girl. Not Numu. We didn't have an Incarnate from our people for two generations now."

"The Land chooses whom it chooses. It's not our place to question it."

"The puhadiipi left us to fend for ourselves. Why go to it? Why answer its call?"

Tuhudda narrowed her eyes. "And what would you have me do? Work in that casino you're so proud of? Use my sight to ensure the house always wins? No, Tommy Blackcrow. Your loss of faith is your business. I go where I'm needed, and right now, a young girl needs my guidance. I'll give it, and I will witness this new crime Prescott has committed."

She turned to leave, but he demanded, "What about us? Your people? What if we need your guidance?"

She looked back at him curiously. "You didn't need my guidance when you signed over the last of our land to Prescott," she said. "You took his money without question. Like your father before you."

He stiffened. "And what would you have me do? Let our children starve? Let the government tax our families to death? I did what I did for the benefit of our tribe. And you yourself said I would be a good leader."

"I said you'd be harmless. A harmless man isn't the same as a good man." She turned and started walking to the van. "Me? I haven't forgotten what I'm good for. If you ever need my advice, there's this thing called a cellphone. Use it. Take care, Tommy Blackcrow."

It was a short walk to the side of the road where their dust-covered van was parked. Ada was already waiting for her, leaning against the car door and whispering to Lulu, who was in the driver's seat.

Tuhudda kissed her daughter's cheek. "The birth went well?"

Ada's face brimmed with pride. "The Colvilles have another healthy baby boy. Their fifth."

"Good work." Next, she looked sternly at her granddaughter. "What do you think you're doing?"

"You mean apart from listening to you tell off Chief Blackcrow?" Lulu said, grinning.

Tuhudda clucked her tongue. "You weren't meant to hear that. That was for your elders only."

"Like no one with ears on the street could hear you tell the chieftain to go fu—"

"Lulu!" her mother admonished her.

"What I meant was," Tuhudda went on, "what are you doing in the driver's seat?"

"I thought maybe I could drive us part way. It's a long trip and Mama needs some rest." She honked twice.

"As if I'll let you drive after you failed your license exam. Again."

Laughing, Ada said, "Why not let her drive us out of the reservation? I can take over when we reach the highway."

Tuhudda merely grunted as she opened the van's side door and made herself comfortable in her seat.

She closed her eyes, and for a moment, Rachel Amber's face floated before her. This was it—in a handful of days, she was going to stand before the Incarnate herself. And if she could help her, what good could be brought back to Arcadia Bay? Would Rachel make Prescott answer for his crimes? Would their people finally have justice?

She could not foresee what would happen, had no way of knowing what good or harm their presence would bring. But as Lulu liked to say, do something or do nothing, there were consequences either way.

She had to entrust her fate to the Incarnate. And whatever happens, happens.

"Let's go, Lulu."

Since the death of his father, Sean Prescott considered people as problems to be solved. Each person had a particular solution. Some could be cowed by threats. Others could be swayed by money. Quite a few could be manipulated with lies or half-truths, and fewer still, moved by reason.

At the moment, he had no solution for the two problems coming down his driveway in their black SUV.

It was nearly nine in the evening. They came at night to keep themselves from prying eyes—not that they ever had to worry about being questioned by the police. Still, Dionysus made a policy of discretion, a sign of respect for him and his house.

But that was the extent of their regard. The Sheriff's squad car was in the lead, its twin headlights illuminating the topiary of the estate's circular driveway. Skinner had been AWOL for more than 24 hours now; he had completely missed yesterday's presscon and couldn't be reached by phone. He was clearly under the woman's control. That woman. He couldn't suppress a shudder. This was clearly a show of force on the Twins' part, a way to intimidate him by taking away his right-hand man.

Sean had first seen the Twins during a party at a prestigious Indonesian hotel. He understood that these lavish balls typically followed a successful Bacchanalia. While Sean was still a new member and could not yet attend a Bacchanalia, he had been granted the privilege to attend this party as part of his welcome.

He had been sitting and drinking with Henrik Morten when the grey-haired man gestured with his wine glass to the balcony above the ballroom. "Do you see those two?"

Sean lifted his eyes to the pair of suits lounging against the oakwood railing: a towering man with long white hair and a woman who wore coal-black shades, both watching the guests like owls on a roost. "Bodyguards of yours?"

"On occasion, but they would be wasted as such. Those two, Mr. Prescott, are my greatest creations—weapons against all who would thwart Dionysus."

"Even an Incarnate?"

There was a glint in Morten's eyes as he drained his glass. "Especially an Incarnate."

As Morten regaled him with stories about his Twins, Sean realized the true reason why he'd been invited: to impress upon him that Dionysus wielded far more power than any government. That for as long as he had the Twins, Morten was invincible.

The cars stopped in front of his mansion. Skinner left his car door open as he stumbled out of his squad vehicle, hurrying to knock on the front door. The tall man alighted next. He was dressed in the same dark suit he wore when Sean first saw him. Alrik Volden. Dionysus members called him Jötunn—or in private, Morten's Ogre.

The woman, also silvery-haired and similarly attired to her twin, was last to get out. The members of Dionysus had codenamed her Balor—or, out of earshot, Morten's Basilisk.

As if sensing him, the woman looked up and met his eyes, grinning sharply. Gasping, Sean backed away from the window. Calm yourself, man! Dionysus made their rules very clear—without special orders, no member of the organization could be put under the Balor's gaze.

By now, their maidservant was letting them in. Sean turned away from the window of his study and forced himself to breathe deeply. He needed to be composed for this meeting.

His life might depend on it.

The Twins were waiting for him when entered the living room. Alrik, who was sitting on the sofa facing the door, stood up as he came in. His long pale hair hung freely behind him, and a silver watch peeked out from the sleeve of his enormous business suit. He looked taller and broader than Sean made him out to be; if he jumped, he would make a hole in the wooden ceiling.

Maja, who was examining the paintings behind the sofa, spun around and flashed another smile. Her long platinum hair was dyed black at the tips. She also wore a business suit but with a white shirt beneath her coat.

"Mr. Prescott, so good to finally meet you!" The woman all but pounced over the sofa to grab his hand, pumping it fiercely. "Maja Volden, at your service. And this is my brother—Alrik! Come and greet our friend!"

The giant strode forward and took Sean's hand—despite his gentle attempt, his grasp was iron. Sean wondered at the discipline and training he needed to hold back his monstrous strength.

"Please excuse my brother," Maja said. "He can't speak, you see. A side effect of the Echidna Project, which gave us our abilities. It left him without a voice and me with an...altered appearance. As Father would say, there are no fish without bones."

"I see." Sean nodded as Alrik let go of his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'll have the maid bring us refreshments."

"Oh, please don't trouble yourself," Maja replied. "We won't stay long enough to enjoy it." They remained standing until Sean sat down on the couch opposite him.

"First of all," Maja said as she took her seat, "let me say—" She flung her arms out. "I LOVE AMERICA! I've visited only once as a child, but I've always longed to come back. And this town of yours is to die for! I apologize that it took us so long to announce ourselves, but there were simply too many places to see!"

"Indeed?"

"Oh yes! The good Sheriff escorted us to the lighthouse, the pier, the nature park, your school—everywhere! We even got merchandise, see?" She opened up her coat, revealing her Had a Great Stay in Arcadia Bay t-shirt. "Alrik, show him what you got from the shop!"

Her brother reached a meaty hand into his pocket and pulled out a cap with the logo of the Two Whales diner. He had to undo its strap first, as it wouldn't fit on his massive head. He gazed at Sean impassively for a moment before Sean realized he was silently asking for his opinion.

"It's very nice," Sean offered.

"Isn't it?" Maja said, beaming. "Once we're done here in Arcadia Bay, we'll head east for some sightseeing. Alrik wants to see the Smithsonian. I want to go to Lollapalooza! Yes, Alrik, you're coming with. I'll need to sit on your shoulders."

"Is that right?" Sean said. "Then I'll arrange for your tickets. Free of charge."

Maja's eyebrows shot up. "That's very thoughtful of you," she said in a serious tone. "We would very much appreciate saving us the trouble, Mr. Prescott. Truly."

"Think nothing of it. Well, now, shall we discuss your business here?"

"Of course! Let's get to it, then." Maja pulled out a pen and a small notebook from her inner pocket. "We can start with all the information you currently have on this Incarnate. Her name, for instance."

Sean cleared his throat. "I fear we haven't ascertained her identity at this point in time."

"No?"

"There has been a complication. My agent who was handling the matter was compromised while I was preoccupied with the Theater."

"Mark Jefferson?" At Sean's nod, she continued, "Where is he now?"

"Vanished, I fear. Fled after he was exposed by a local reporter."

"What a pity. I had looked forward to meeting him." Maja's mouth turned down as she tapped her notebook with her pen. "If you don't mind my saying, you don't seem to have a lot of information on your chief adversary, do you?"

Sean flushed. "I have data on her height and build, culled from her footprints. And I have information on her abilities."

"Ah, we got her physical attributes from our friend the Sheriff. But her abilities—" Beside her, Alrik leaned forward. "Please tell us, then. This should be interesting."

Sean nodded. "From the first, we knew she can call down lightning from the sky."

"Ah, electro-manipulation? How formidable! I like a good challenge—"

"There's more," Sean went on. "I also have video evidence she can create tornadoes, and likely all manner of weather patterns."

"Meteorokinesis?" The woman arched an eyebrow as she scribbled in her notebook. "That's quite a broad range. You're certain of this?"

"As I said, I have video evidence. I'll send it to your secure email. Also, I have reason to believe that a vast forest fire that happened three years ago was her doing."

"What makes you say that?"

"The fire burned unnaturally hot, defeating all attempts at containment and nearly consuming the entire forest north of here. Then, two days later, it simply put itself out." He cleared his throat. "Last month, a tidal wave upended several boats near our marina. Eyewitnesses reported that it was concentrated at a single cliff south of town. Given the circumstances, I believe all this was her testing her abilities."

The Twins exchanged a look. Alrik's face was pinched with concern; Maja was no longer smiling.

"Two weeks ago, during the break-in at the construction site, the thief managed to escape due to the sudden appearance of a thick blanket of mist, which blinded my security personnel. Finally, last week, the fire department responded to a call for help from a local bar. A biker gang had some wild stories of a freak tornado, and lightning that set their bikes on fire. The entire bar nearly burned down."

Maja shut her notebook, gazing at Sean. "Mr. Prescott. You're telling me that our adversary is capable of controlling fire, water, wind, clouds, lightning—perhaps the entirety of the natural world?"

Sean gave a single nod. "It's exactly as I described."

"That—is—utterly—" She threw up her arms. "MARVELOUS!"

Maja leaped up and did a single lap around the sofa, laughing the whole time. "Did you hear that, Alrik?" she giggled at her stoic brother. "We're up against an Incarnate with a fully diverse power set! Perhaps even the whole list! Faen! We must tell Father!"

Sean couldn't help scowling at her. "Miss Volden, I hardly think this is a cause for celebration—"

"Oh, Mr. Prescott, it very much is." She whirled on her tiptoes to face him. "We finally have a whale! A real Moby Dick, you know?" She plopped back down on her seat, but her leg kept jigging. "Oh, I feel like I have blood on my tooth! If you could only grasp what this means for the Bacchanalia, Mr. Prescott!"

"You'll have to enlighten me," Sean replied drily. "You're saying that an Incarnate this powerful is good for Dionysus?"

"Absolutely!" Maja leaned closer. "Do you realize, Mr. Prescott, how many Incarnates our organization has encountered throughout history? Seventeen, all told. What's common is that each had exactly one power—pyrokinesis, electrokinesis, hydrokinesis, animal communication, and so on. But this one, the eighteenth, exhibits so much more. We've never seen anything remotely close." Maja crammed her fingertips together. "Mr. Prescott, I think we're facing the last Incarnate there is."

That caught Sean's attention. "Is that so?"

Maja nodded vigorously. "Father's theory is that its source of power senses it's being hunted—that most of its kind have vanished from this world. So what does it do? It imbues its current host with tremendous power—or powers, in this case—to protect itself. Our quarry is castling." She clasped her hands together. "It is scared."

"So if we win here—"

"It will be the final victory of Dionysus!"

"I see." He turned his gaze from one Twin to the other. "One thing I'm not clear on—you don't seem concerned. Doesn't a more powerful Incarnate pose a bigger problem?"

Maja's leg ceased its jumping. Her grin was a hunting cat's snarl. "My good Mr. Prescott," she said, "We don't have problems. As we say in Norway, 'a good anvil does not fear the hammer.' We shall deal with your witch—and her allies too."

"Your confidence is admirable," he said, forcing himself to breathe slow. "Did past Incarnates have many allies?"

"Why yes, Mr. Prescott. All Incarnates have ties—friends, family, even worshippers. Inevitably, they will come to defend her, and her them. So if we find them…"

"We find her."

Still grinning, Maja held her arms akimbo. "And once we've finished here, then we can have our final Bacchanalia—the grandest, most important one of all. And you, Mr. Prescott, shall join us as a full-fledged member of Dionysus. Your rise will be assured."

There was absolutely no reason for her to emphasize that last part, which tipped Sean off that she was lying to his face. As soon as they capture the Incarnate, they would no longer need me.

Still, he nodded, his smile gleaming like silver coins. "I look forward to it. So now all that remains is determining our enemy's identity."

"Well..." She inclined her head. "There's the matter of recovering Dionysus's asset."

"My men are still searching for the laptop."

"If we find the hacker, we find the laptop." She reached over to pat her brother's knee. "Alrik here has a score to settle with them."

Sean blinked. "Your brother?"

"He is the chief security officer at our data center and designer of its defense system. He's quite put out someone penetrated it so quickly. You were so proud of that system, weren't you, little brother?"

There was the tiniest quirk in Alrik's stony jaw.

"Well then," Maja said, standing up and rubbing her hands in glee. "We've taken up enough of your time, Mr. Prescott. Shall we get some rest? The work awaits tomorrow."

Sean stood up as well. "If I may ask, what's your next course of action?"

"Why, narrowing down our suspects for the Incarnate, of course. For that, we need to get our hands on Mark Jefferson."

"I suspect he won't be easy to find."

"They all like to think that. But the Sheriff has informants everywhere in the county. If he gets a tug on the line, we'll know."

Sean nodded. "About that—Sheriff Skinner is under my authority. When may I have him back in my employ?"

Again that savage grin of hers. "I apologize, Mr. Prescott. The Sheriff has proven very useful to us. I'd like to keep him a little longer. That wouldn't be a problem, would it?"

Her words haunted him: We don't have problems.

"No," said Sean, "no, of course not." While Dionysus members were off-limits from Maja's gaze, underlings were fair game.

"Then you'll hear from us again once we have results. Good night, Mr. Prescott." She offered her hand, which he shook. Alrik followed suit. "From one cup we drink."

"Hail Dionysus."

There's no way I can win this, Sean said to himself as he watched them file out of his living room. He had to play for time, stave off defeat till he could determine the path to victory. He had endured far too much to stop now.

If you only knew the lengths I'd go, he seethed, you'd see I'm as much a monster as you.