24 - ATHENA
“It can’t have any traceable association to me or the Titans,” I mused while Zet wrote on the holo-board. We were plotting. Had been at it for hours.
“It also has to revolve around an activity she openly loves… like weaving.”
Zet’s sienna face fell into a frown. “Weaving? Do you mean sewing?”
“She does that, too. But she weaves her threads into objects, not just fabric,” I mused aloud. “There were patterned wall hangings in her office that I know she had to have created herself. It’s sturdier than you’re thinking, almost wire-like. Here. I’m sure it's in her clothes.”
Grabbing my phone, I started projecting her recent designs in search of evidence. Pointing when I found the holographic quality that had to come straight from the source. “See how those stitches are glittering? That’s it. Those threads could be woven to create anything probably.”
My friend was grimacing. “It comes from her fingertip,” I explained, assuming they were associating her with an actual spider. Our forms shared a few genetic traits with the lesser animalia, sure, but our natures differentiated us.
“Still,” Zet replied, clinging to their disgust. It irked me, but a perverse part was also glad we weren’t in competition for Arachne’s favor.
Competition…
Huh.
“Zet,” I started, eyes wide, “she would never back down from a challenge. We’re alike in that.
” Stepping toward the board, I wiped it clean.
“This needs to be a competition… One that she wouldn’t assume I was behind.
So nothing with clothing or fashion… Perhaps a tapestry weaving contest of some sort. Do those exist?”
Zet shrugged before tapping on their phone in search of the answer. “Yes. However, the last was held two thousand years ago.”
“Semantics,” I replied, waving them off. “So, we’ll host a weaving competition for charity. Perhaps the tapestries could be auctioned off. Although, I would encourage the buyers to donate them.”
“You can’t have any involvement, remember?”
“Right.” I nodded. “Which is why you’re going to host it on behalf of your parents.”
Zet shook their head. “No way.”
“Yes way,” I replied with a grin. “You have to. Remember that favor?—”
They groaned, their draconic dramatics echoing through my apartment. “Fine. However, I also can’t be directly tied to this beyond gaining my parent’s blessing.”
Hmmm. That was true.
“Where do they even display tapestries these days?”
“Museums,” Zet replied with a frown. Which didn’t help. “Wait, also art galleries. Right?”
Artemis runs a gallery beside the Council Chambers!
The device I’d left on the dining table began to ring and I did a double take as Blossom’s face appeared on top of Arachne’s still projecting gown.
“Well, this just got interesting,” Zet said before I answered.