It was Nero who stepped forward, who stood in silence and stared down the corridor a moment before turning to us. "Or," he said, "Isis simply took advantage of something that was already in motion."

I didn't like the sound of that. It took me back to the old blame Eve days. "This isn't my fault," I said, hating the sullen sound of my voice while Chaos grumbled her own denial.

Nero blanched visibly, regret rippling over his aura. "I didn't mean that, Eve. I ...