“We can’t stay here, can we,” he said sadly. It wasn’t a question.
“No,” I said.
Zeus squeezed me tighter. I fought the urge to pry myself loose.
“Can I ask you something?” he murmured.
I didn’t bother answering. I’d never been one to conceal my thoughts or feelings, and he knew it.
“Do you . . . love me?” Zeus asked.
Silence.
Zeus tensed under me, bracing himself. In any other circumstance, I would’ve given him exactly what he expected. What he deserved. As it was, I forced myself to bite my tongue. No small miracle.
It wasn’t like I hadn’t asked myself the very same question countless times, each time with a different answer.
“Sometimes,” I finally admitted.
Zeus relaxed. Apparently, that wasn’t as bad as he’d thought. I hoped that’d be the end of it. But, of course, it wasn’t.
“I love you,” he offered.
“Sometimes?” I suggested.
“No,” he replied. “All the time.”
His response surprised and touched me at first--and then it really pissed me off.
We have very different ideas of love, I thought bitterly. I’d never been unfaithful to Zeus. Not once. But Zeus did what he wanted, with whomever he wanted, when he wanted, and as much as he wanted. And I knew about every single one. So did everybody else. Zeus knew all that, too. He knew he’d made me into a celestial joke. The perfect, pathetic wife who couldn’t even keep her husband off of every half-attractive mortal he laid eyes on.
If that was love to him, he could keep it.
“Are you ready to go?” I demanded.
Zeus heaved another great, shuddering sigh. “As you wish.”
And then, before I realized what was happening, we were back in our borrowed bodies. Blinking, I fell to my side. My legs were completely numb. Zeus rose from the bed slowly, joints cracking and popping. He reached down to help me up.
I ignored his hand and got to my feet.
“Are you ready?” I asked again.
I couldn’t afford having him fall apart in front of the others again. They needed leadership, not fragility.
Zeus nodded. I led him from the bedroom, like I had for the past two weeks. But this time, before we went into the kitchen, he let my hand drop.
They gaped at the sight of him. He was a bit disheveled, but he was walking tall again, and more importantly, without me.
Zeus sat at the kitchen table. I didn’t join him. He didn’t need me. The others needed to see that.
“Before we decide what to do, there’s something I have to do,” I announced. “Alone.”
“Absolutely not,” Zeus replied.
“I don’t have time to argue about this,” I said.
“And you absolutely have to be alone?” Demeter asked. Always trying to keep the peace, even when it was futile. It was almost always futile.
“Yes,” I said.
Zeus looked at me, and though I could see his strength was recovering, he wasn’t a match for me yet. It was just a matter of forcing him to realize that.
“I’ll be quick,” I promised. “And when I’m back, with any luck, I’ll have some answers.”
Zeus took a deep breath, swelling his already enormous size, but when he let it out again, his shoulders slumped. “Fine,” he said.
And that was how I went back to school.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Zeus sent Hermes after me, of course. So predictable.
Unlike me, Zeus wasn’t averse to being economical with the truth. Millennia of adultery had given him plenty of practice.
Zeus had no intention of letting me go anywhere alone. I didn’t know if it was out of genuine concern for my welfare or some secret need to control me. He probably didn’t know either. Whatever the reason, he’d lie to me, just like always, and then do whatever he wanted. Just like always.
It never ceased to amaze me how little he understood me after all our time together. I didn’t need protection. What I needed, what I wanted, was respect. But Zeus and I tended to give each other what we wanted to give, not what the other wanted to get.
As I left the hotel suite, I caught Hermes’s eye for a fraction of a second, so quick the others didn’t even notice. And that was that.
The walk to school was quick. I kept my hood up, concealing my face. It was probably unnecessary, but I had no intention of running into whoever was responsible for killing Athena. At least not before I had my full powers. Then it’d be a different story. I’d start with evisceration. Slow, of course. Exquisitely slow. Then I’d resurrect them and start all over again. Yes, I had plans for whoever was behind this. Detailed plans.
But the real danger was bumping into someone who recognized this body. I didn’t need anybody slowing me down, and friends had an annoying way of always being--
“Brittany!”
Here.
I kept walking.
“Wait up! You’re back from France already? How was it? When did you get back?”
The same voice. Only closer. Damn.
I lowered my hood. One good look in the eyes.
A short brunette girl was crossing the street. I remember her being practically omnipresent when I was at school, until I used my powers to convince her that she felt sick and needed a week off.
But my powers weren’t going to get me out of this one--the girl, whose name I couldn’t remember, was sporting a pair of sunglasses. Of course she was. Double damn.
“You won’t believe what you missed,” she gushed as she fell into step beside me. “I have so much to tell you! But you go first. A semester in France! That’s amazing! Apparently too amazing for you to even text me goodbye, but whatever. I forgive you. So, you’re back obviously. Are you on spring break or something? I feel like you just left. God, do they not even have to go to school there? Is that why you picked it? God, you’re so lucky. I’m so jealous! I could just die!”
Don’t let me stop you.
“Look, I’m kind of in a rush, so . . .” I started.
“We can talk as we walk,” she assured me. “Come on. Would it kill you to throw me a freakin’ bone here? I’ve been stuck in this lame town while you’ve been in France! France! Where apparently you can just leave and travel whenever you feel like it.”
I didn’t say anything. I just kept walking. But so did she.
“You’re acting weird,” she observed. “God, you didn’t go to France and become a total stuck-up bitch, did you? I mean, you didn’t even tell me you were back. Did something happen there? Is that why you’re back? Oh, my god, did you get kicked out? That’s it, isn’t it? You totally got expelled! That’s why you didn’t tell anybody you were back! You’re embarrassed! So, what did you do? A teacher?”
“Nothing happened,” I said. “I just . . . have something important to do. We can talk later.”
“We can talk now,” she said. “What the hell is the matter with you? It’s like you’re not even happy to see me!”
She grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop. For a brief instant, I thought about punching her in the face, but we’d reached the school, and she was already attracting too much attention.
“No, we really can’t,” I said. “Now, why don’t you just . . .”
“Hera?”
There was only one person here who knew me by that name.
Justin was walking up to us. Maybe he could get rid of her for me.
“What?” the girl beside me demanded.
Justin ignored her. “Everything okay?” he asked me. “Did something happen? Is everyone okay?”
“Everything’s fine,” the girl said. “And this is a private conversation, so . . . off you go! Buh-bye now!”
“Beth, I need to talk to, uh, Brittany,” Justin replied.
“That’s so interesting,” Beth said. “I’d love to hear more. But unfortunately, we’re talking. Like I said. So she’ll text you when she’s free. Probably right around ne
ver. God, some people.”
“I think it’s Brittany’s decision who should stay and who should go,” Justin replied evenly.
“Are you still here?” Beth demanded. “Fine. Brit, can you please tell him to go away? Far, far, far away? And never come back?”
“I need to talk to Justin,” I told her flatly.
She blinked.
“That’s not funny,” she said.
I gave her a steady look.
“Whatever,” she said, crossing her arms. “If it’s so important, go ahead. Talk. But I’m not going anywhere. I’m your best friend, and whatever you have to say to him that’s so important, you can say in front of me.”
“Beth--” Justin started.
“In what world would I be talking to you? God, how are you still permitted to roam these halls?” she demanded. “With a snap of my fingers, I could have you stuffed in a locker of my choice.”
Justin took a step toward her. They were inches apart. He towered over her small body, but she had a fierceness that transcended size. She reminded me of . . . well, me. I couldn’t help but smile. A little.
“Go ahead,” he dared her.
I left. With any luck, they’d keep each other busy while I took care of business. As it turns out, I was wrong. They were both at my side moments later.
“I’m so sorry about that,” Beth said. “You know how these freaks get on my nerves.”
“Yeah. Me. I’m the annoying one,” Justin said.
I stopped. They stopped. I turned to face them. I let the silence hang between us. They shifted under my scalding gaze. Mortals didn’t like silence. It made them uncomfortable. I, however, was too angry to be uncomfortable. I was too angry to be anything, other than angry.
“I do not have time for this,” I told them icily, “so shut up or leave. Preferably both.”
I whirled and continued on my way, massaging my forehead. My brain hurt. Stupid brain. All it ever seemed to do was throb.
“Sorry,” they both said from somewhere behind me.
“If you two are going to keep following me, then at least make yourselves useful,” I replied. “Where are the witches?”
“Sorry, could you repeat that?” Beth asked. “I think I briefly lost my mind.”
“Witches?” Justin echoed.
I made what I hoped looked like a magickal gesture.
“Is that slang from France?” Beth asked.
“Do you mean goths?” Justin ventured.
“Dress all in black,” I answered. “Travel together. Wear sigils.”
“Sij . . . what?” Beth looked from me to Justin and then back again. “Is this a joke? Are you punking me? Oh, my god. Are you high right now? Did you become a junkie in France?”
Justin rolled his eyes. “People don’t become junkies in France.”
“Shut up, Justin,” Beth snapped.
“I can take you to them,” Justin told me. “But I think--”
“Don’t think. Just take me,” I interrupted.
Justin’s jaw worked. He wasn’t used to being talked to that way, and Beth had already worn his temper thin. But I didn’t have the time or the energy to babysit anyone’s ego. And to his credit, Justin knew that. So he swallowed his anger and led me to a secluded corner of the school near the parking lot, where the building made a sort of alcove out of view from most angles. A serious oversight on the part of the school architect. Bewildered, Beth trailed after us.
There were a dozen or so kids in the alcove. Androgynous. Pale. Dressed in black. Elaborate dresses on the women, and equally intricate suits on the men.
“Can we help you?” one of guys asked, getting to his feet.
He didn’t sound like he wanted to help me. That was alright. What he wanted didn’t matter to me in the slightest. If I wanted his help, I’d get it.
A few of the others stood with him. We were outnumbered, but there were no sunglasses in this alcove. I smiled.
“Excellent question,” Justin admitted. He looked at me expectantly.
“Witches,” I said simply.
“Right,” one of them said. “Take a good, long look at the freakshow, and then get the hell out of here, tourist.”
“Silence!” I couldn’t quite thunder like Zeus, but then again, no one could.
Still, everyone froze.
“Witches,” I repeated. “I just want to talk. And then you all can get back to . . . whatever it is that you’re doing.”
But no one spoke. They just stared at me like I was crazy. I folded my arms. I wasn’t going anywhere until I got what I wanted. I searched the faces and finally spotted her toward the back. The one I’d seen when I still bothered going to school. Correction. The one I’d felt.
She was small, like Beth, but plumper. Her black hair was styled in coils, some piled on top of her head, some hanging off the side. She didn’t look at me. In fact, unlike the others, she looked everywhere else except me. But as the silence dragged on and on, she risked a sidelong glance at me. Then she closed her eyes in defeat. She knew.
“You.” I pointed at her.
“She’s not going anywhere with you.” It was another girl who spoke. Tall and skinny with short black hair spiked in all directions and deathly pale skin. She was sitting next to the witch.
I looked from her to the witch and then back again. “She is coming with me,” I said bluntly. “You can come, too, if you have to. Now let’s go. We’re wasting time. My time.”
The girl with spiked hair opened her mouth to argue, but the short girl took her hand. They looked at each other. Finally, the girl with spiked hair sighed. She had lost. Reluctantly, they stood and followed me.
I didn’t have to take them far--just far enough that we wouldn’t be overheard. Unfortunately, Beth and Justin followed.
“Your names?” I asked.
It wasn’t that I particularly cared. But names had power. And power was something I could use.
“Sarah,” the short girl finally said.
“Stella,” the girl with spiked hair said.
“Well, Sarah, Stella, I need to speak with Hecate,” I informed them. “It’s urgent.”
Stella laughed.
“Neat,” she said. “I think we’re done here.”
She tugged on Sarah’s hand, but Sarah didn’t move.
I gave Stella a cold look. She swallowed nervously. If she weren’t packed with pounds of makeup, the colour would’ve drained from her face.
“Don’t talk,” I told her.
I focused on Sarah. “You know who I am, don’t you? Who I really am. You can feel it.”
Sarah didn’t say anything. She just stared. Petrified. Like a mouse staring at a snake. I could work with that.
“Then you know I can take what I want,” I continued. “But I’m trying to do this the civil way. But I’m out of time and out of patience. No more games.”
Stella forced herself between Sarah and me. I had to admit that, under different circumstances, I would’ve been impressed. No one stood up to me. For good reason.
But she did. For someone she loved. Touching. Then again, it could’ve just been plain stupidity. Regardless, I had no time for it.
So when she met my eyes defiantly, I smiled.
“Stella, don’t look!” Sarah cried.
But it was too late. Stella fell into the inky, swirling pools of my endless eyes.
“Now--Sarah, is it?” I continued. “I won’t hurt you or Stella. That’s not why I’m here. But you have to do what I ask. We don’t have a lot of time. Understand?”
Sarah nodded desperately. “I’ll do it. Whatever it is. I swear. Please.”
“What’s going on?” Beth looked at me and then at Stella. Stella drooled. “Gross!”
I smiled. Without humour. Or mercy. Those were luxuries I couldn’t afford at the moment. Not with existence at stake.
“What’s going on,” I told her, “is that I need to have a little chat with my sister.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
/> “We need blood,” Sarah said, as she rummaged around in her dresser. Her home was a small, two-bedroom apartment within walking distance from school. This time of day, no one else was home. Or maybe she just lived alone.
“Blood?” Beth burst out, horrified. “This is insane! Brit, what’s going on? Let’s get out of here!”
“You should go,” I said.
She looked like I’d just stabbed her with a knife, but she didn’t leave. Much to my disappointment.
“What do you need blood for?” Stella asked. I’d released her from my power, but the unspoken threat still hung in the air. She wouldn’t challenge me again.
Sarah didn’t answer.
“Where are we going to get blood?” Justin asked.
Somehow, he’d adapted to his newfound knowledge of gods and monsters and magick. Mortals could be remarkably resilient when they had to be. I’d forgotten that. Justin was all business now. I liked that. I could relate to it. I was the same way.
“There’s a butcher shop across the street,” Sarah replied. She scribbled something on a sheet of paper, and handed it to him. “But you’ll need money.”
I pulled out a wad of bills and handed them to Justin. Hermes had picked them up someplace and given them to me. Money just had a way of finding him.
Justin gave me a surprised look, but said nothing and left. He was learning quickly. Do first, ask later. And I strongly discouraged the second part.
“What are you doing?” Stella asked Sarah.
“What she asks,” Sarah replied simply, as she shrugged out of her clothes and into a black robe she’d taken from the closet.
“She doesn’t need us to invoke the Goddess for her,” Stella protested. “If she wants it so bad, let her do it herself.”
Sarah cocked her head suddenly. Her eyes clouded briefly for a second, and I got the impression that she was looking at something very far away.
“We must do it for her,” Sarah said in a strange voice I’d never heard before. She sounded different. Older. More powerful. “Rules must be obeyed.”
In that moment, I knew Sarah had changed. She was no longer a weird, mortal girl. She was a priestess. And that commanded some respect. Even from a god.
Hera, Queen of Gods (Goddess Unbound) Page 8
