The Kadmides no longer own the property where Lore hid the aegis. Castor helps Lore break open the sewer grate out back, and Lore goes down, where she finds the aegis exactly where she left it. She brings it up to Castor, and they look at the poem inscribed on its back. Neither knows what the different ending means, but Castor wonders if the Agon “was meant to be more than punishment” (401). They speculate on how Castor seems to be more than just Apollo reborn but make no headway on that puzzle either. Before they head back to the safehouse, Lore punches the aegis and slices her knife across Medusa’s face, letting Athena know she’s alive and has the shield.

Back at the safe house, Iro arrives. She apologizes for turning on Lore and promises she’s now firmly on their side. Van arrives, relieved to see Lore, and Lore realizes these people are the family that were waiting for her to notice them “the whole time she‘d been chasing the past” (407). Van also notices Athena is missing, and Lore tells the entire story—about how Gil was Hermes and Athena tricked her.