“Triton didn’t leave me, Thena. I asked him to stay away.”
“You did what?” Thena couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Why would you keep me from my father?”
Margaret looked down at her hands. Thena realized her mother had them fisted in her lap, and that she fought for serenity to explain decisions she had made so long ago. She gave Gramma a quick glance and then looked up at Thena. Her eyes were moist.
“At the time I thought it was best for you. You needed to learn how to be a witch before you could master being a goddess.”
Priapus waved his hand over the counter and four good-sized mugs appeared. Any other time, Thena would be shocked at his display of powers. Under the circumstances, they somehow seemed fitting, as if he were silently adding to the conversation by showing how a god, or goddess, was so much more powerful than any witch would ever be.
“But I never even knew that you knew who my father was,” Thena whined, realizing she sounded like a child, but unable to restrain the sudden wave of emotions that leapt forth. “How could you keep that from me?”
Margaret stood, approaching her daughter while a tear slowly drifted down her cheek. Thena realized her own eyes grew moist and she blinked furiously, willing her emotions not to get out of control. Slowly, her mother touched her arm, the gentle brushing of flesh comforting even though Thena wanted to be angry with her mother. She saw how the topic tore at her mother and didn’t want her mother in pain.
“If I’d told you that I knew him then you would’ve wanted to meet him. He agreed with me shortly after you were born that he would allow you to grow up and develop naturally. I called for him when I knew it was time.” Margaret accepted one of the mugs when Priapus handed it to her.
He offered the same brew to Gramma, and then finally gave a steaming cup to Thena.
“Drink,” he ordered quietly.
Thena looked up at him, and he nodded silently to the cup. She blew at the hot drink before sipping, and then immediately felt the power of the tea when she swallowed. A soothing brew, created with simple, old-fashioned magic, so appropriate for the moment. Priapus had a compassionate side that continued to surprise her every time he showed it. He had realized the intense emotional scene about to play out, and helped everyone to remain calm with the specially prepared tea.
“I’m starting to think that you and Gramma know a lot more about these demons than you wanted me to think. You brought me here, knowing I had the power to call them out.” Thena realized the tea helped her to think more clearly.
“We aren’t strong enough to rid the town of the evil. And it was time.” Gramma sounded as calm as she always did, as if she knew the future as clearly as she knew the past.
Usually that trait in her Gramma reassured Thena. But now it frustrated her. She took a larger sip of the sweet tea, and then put her mug on the counter.
“You two both know what crime took place here in this town. You know what spawned this evil. You couldn’t stop it so you sent for me.” Thena put her hands on her hips and glared at her mother and then her Gramma.
“Thena Lotus Cooke,” Gramma hissed, using a tone that would have sent her running if Thena had still been a child. “How dare you accuse your mother and me of such a thing.”
Margaret turned a harsh look at Priapus. “If you are indeed the god Priapus then why don’t you eliminate the evil from our town?”
Priapus offered a gallant nod. “I’d be honored to help. So far, your daughter hasn’t wanted my assistance.”
“Kind of like her mother when it came to raising her precious daughter.” Gramma spoke into her cup of tea.
Thena turned and looked at her Gramma, and then at her mother. She let out a loud sigh, the soothing effects of the tea making it hard to remain angry with the only family she had. Not to mention she loved the two women very much.
She put her hand on her mother’s arm, capturing her mother’s attention. “I’m glad you finally told me of my father. It will take time to get accustomed to the idea. But right now what confuses me is how you two don’t know of this heinous crime when Maxine Poller obviously did.”
Both Gramma and Margaret showed their immediate surprise.
“Maxine knew what happened to that poor girl?” Gramma asked, stunned.
Chapter Sixteen
She’d been here the other night with her Gramma and mother, but little had happened that night. Now Thena felt a new resolve. Parking her mother’s car on the paved road that circled the small Barren cemetery, she turned off the headlights, and the engine. Gathering the items she’d brought with her, she got out, the warm night air soothing her as she entered the graveyard.
Coming here wasn’t something she’d been able to contemplate. Once the evening had drawn to a close, it had come to her what she must do. Standing still for just a moment, she stared at the tall and regal yellow poplars that bordered the ground. Well cared-for bluegrass combed the ground, hallowed ground that would aid her in her mission.
She was still full from the supper Priapus had insisted on making for all of them earlier. He’d claimed it was an old tradition, assuring his fair welcome into a household by fixing a meal for everyone. Thena had never heard of such a tradition, even in the ancient societies. Gramma had voiced the same thought, accusing Priapus of making the whole thing up.
He’d grinned roguishly, impressing Gramma so that she almost acted like a schoolgirl around him. Thena rolled her eyes, although couldn’t deny the pull he had on her as well. Priapus had the gift to charm, and he’d succeeded wonderfully with her mother and Gramma, having both of them laughing easily at his anecdotes.
Moving among the graves, Thena took a moment to enjoy how the night breeze made the silk fabric of her long black gown brush against her skin. Wearing nothing other than the ceremonial gown, it had been impossible to get out of the house after her mother and grandmother went to sleep without Priapus noticing her.
“You are going out in public dressed like this?” he’d asked when she’d come downstairs after making sure her mother and grandmother slept.
Thena had looked down at her ceremonial gown, the black shiny material swaying enticingly over her body. In the right light it was almost transparent, which was why she liked it. Her magic worked best when she performed it in her natural state, naked, uninhibited by anything of this world. It was the easiest way to become one with the elements around her.
But walking outside without any clothes on wouldn’t help her achieve what she needed to do tonight. So she’d donned her ceremonial gown.
“I’m going to the graveyard,” she’d told him.
Priapus caressed her breasts, the material torturing her skin as he moved it over her nipples.
“Do you believe this young woman who cursed this town is really buried there?” The way he worded the question let her know he already knew that she wasn’t.
And Thena had guessed as much already. Someone dying such a terrible death more than likely would have been buried very privately.
“Come with me if you like. And no, I don’t believe that she is. But I do think the guilty parties will come forth if they see me out digging for information.”
Priapus had pulled her into his arms, kissing her savagely. “You have a day to figure this out, and then I will step in. This town has suffered enough. Go see what you can learn and know that I’ll be watching.”
Her lips still tingled from his kiss.
Priapus distracted her thoughts though, and she knew that her magic wouldn’t work as well if she couldn’t get him off of her mind. Lately though, that had become a terrible chore to master. She was always thinking about him.
Thena sighed, looking around at the quiet, well-kept meadow where their dead had been laid to rest for over a hundred years since the founding of Barren. These were her people, the last names on many of the markers familiar. And she had her mother to thank for that. She’d been given roots, a home to grow up in, people to call her own. Although she’d
often felt different from everyone else, those feelings would have intensified if she’d grown up knowing her father was a god.
Her mother had done the right thing. The knowledge burned through her, making her sad, and loving her mother all the more with the acceptance of it.
Knowing what her mother had done brought her to a pivotal point in her life. What was she to do about Priapus? Her mother had chosen a normal life over living with a god. Albeit, witches weren’t what many considered normal, but that was their misconception and one she’d learned to live with. Thena had grown up just like everyone else, and had wonderful memories thanks to her mom.
But if she were to settle down with Priapus, have children, how would her family be raised?
Thena shook off the unsettling emotions that sidetracked her from her purpose. She’d come to the cemetery to help her community, not to dwell on her personal feelings and love life.
Night bloomers filled the air with their fresh scent. Potted flowers surrounding well-tended graves added to the aroma. Recently tilled earth added a rich scent that mingled with the other smells. It was a peaceful combination, and she took her time inhaling, focusing on becoming one with her surroundings.
The damp grass soaked through Thena’s shoes, and she knew it would make her gown wet as well. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to float several inches off the ground, working to untie the small pouch she’d brought with her while moving across the sacred ground.
“Wind to the north, spread my charm.” She reached into the pouch, filling her hand with the specially mixed faerie dust she needed for her protection spell.
The dust warmed in her hand, its powers seeping through her skin before she cast it to the air around her.
She scattered the powder over the graves as she floated past them. “Moonlight shine the fire from the sun. Warm the hearts of my people. United we are one.”
The dust drifted through her fingers, coming to life and shining like hundreds of small streaks of light as it fell over the roots of all of the families in Barren.
“Mother Earth absorb my spell, protect the children of these families and keep them from the evil of hell.”
It had occurred to her earlier this evening that this was what she needed to do. After coming to the graveyard the other night with her mother and Gramma, it had occurred to her that almost every family was connected to this sacred ground through their dead loved ones. Her town needed her, and she had the power to save them. By casting her protection spell over the cemetery, focusing on every family who had family here, she would be able to protect anyone else from being possessed by the evil creatures.
She focused on her task, flying from one corner of the graveyard to the next, scattering the powerful faerie dust while whispering words of protection.
“You will be safe, protected from harm.” The magical dust scattered over the tombstones.
Slowly the area began glowing from the strength of her magic. Rocks, blades of grass, the graves and their markers, warmed to her power, radiating from her strength.
Her mind was focused, the intensity of her magic rippling through her like waves encouraged by a crisp strong wind. Once done here she would move into the town, making an effort to protect every family, even if they didn’t have loved ones in the cemetery.
So intent was she on her spell, on putting an end to the hell that this town had endured, that she didn’t sense the man approaching. And when he raised his gun and fired, she was an easy target, struck down in midair.
Priapus could have clobbered Triton for showing up at the most inopportune moment. If he hadn’t been distracted into conversation with the god, he would have been able to stop the bullet before it punctured through Thena’s flesh.
“No!” he screamed at the same moment that Thena’s cries ruptured through the serene setting of the graveyard, scattering her magic across the meadow.
He flew to her faster than any human eye could have followed, grabbing her before she collapsed fully to the ground.
“Hold on, sweetheart.” His heart bled at the pained and shocked look in her eyes.
She’d been knocked out of the trance of her spell, which had distracted her too much to prevent her from seeing or stopping her aggressor.
“God. It hurts like hell. Holy shit.” She grabbed a hold of Priapus, the sight of him filling her vision, which blurred with the intensity of the pain.
And never had she experienced such intense pain, shooting through her, distracting her too much to figure out where she hurt, or why. All she could see was Priapus, and it didn’t make sense to her why he was here, or what he was doing. All she could do was hold on, grab him with all the strength she could muster, while her mind was grossly distracted by stabbing sensations impaling her body.
“It’s okay. One second and the pain will be gone.” Priapus couldn’t stand the confusion that mixed through her.
Thena didn’t hate anyone. She would never hurt a soul. And yet she endured the extreme torture of bitter hatred even though she didn’t understand it. She had no idea what had just happened to her.
He situated her so that he could get to the bullet hole, a direct hit to her heart. The demon had aimed to kill, and with any other person, his mission would be successful. But Thena wouldn’t die, not tonight, not for a long, long time.
He pressed his fingers against the puncture wound, hating how her brow wrinkled from the pain. Her mouth opened, a scream on her lips, but he moved quickly.
Pushing his fingers into her flesh, reaching into her body, he wrapped his fingers around the bullet and then pulled it out, sealing her wound with a caress of his finger.
“What just happened?” she asked, her face twisting into a sharp grimace as she tried to ease out of the hold he had on her.
“Someone shot you.” Priapus pulled her into his arms, silently cursing himself for taking his attention from her for even a moment.
He knew the demons had waited patiently for that small window of opportunity to try and take Thena out.
A scream sounded in the darkness looming beyond the cemetery and Priapus knew that Triton had just destroyed the demon that tried to kill his daughter. In the next moment he returned to join them, floating above the ground next to Priapus who still kept Thena wrapped protectively in his arms.
“You are okay?” Triton looked like he wanted to take her in his own arms, assure himself that his daughter was fine, but he held his ground, making no move to be any closer than he was.
“Yes. I’m fine now.” Thena stared into her father’s face, seeing his worry and anger crease lines into his forehead and around his eyes. “Someone tried to shoot me.”
And it occurred to her that they’d succeeded. Both men nodded silently, giving her the moment she needed to understand what had just happened. She moved just a bit in Priapus’ arms, looking down at her bloodstained gown, and knew there was no bullet wound on her body.
“You just saved my life,” she said, feeling silly, but immediately having her emotions sated when she looked up into his solemn expression.
Priapus cuddled her into him without answering, and she looked over at her father, hovering very close and looking more than concerned.
He was an attractive man, reminding her of an old sailor. Triton was a sea god so she guessed that made sense. The compassion in his eyes grabbed her though, allowing her to see how terribly much he did care about her. In fact, her father cared enough about her that he’d stayed away so she could grow up normally.
“Thank you,” she added, her voice cracking.
She didn’t want to be out of Priapus’ arms, and now wasn’t the time to get chummy with her father. Too much work lay ahead of her, magic best done in the light of the moon.
“The spell is broken though, I’m afraid,” she said, looking up at Priapus. “I tried to protect the town, seal it with magic so that no more demons could work their way into the people here.”
“Your magic holds fast, my dear,” Priapus told her,
wiping a bit of faerie dust from her forehead, the strength of the powder making her skin glow. “Your will to protect the families of Barren is all that was needed. I’ve told you before that your props aren’t necessary.”
“They are for me.” She didn’t know if either of them would understand. “No matter what blood courses through my veins, I have to believe to make my magic work. And that belief is stemmed through my rituals. You have to allow me to continue with my work.”
“Then allow us to help you,” Triton suggested. “Show us how you wish the magic performed and we will honor your ways, assisting in eliminating the demons.”
Thena took a moment to understand what her father offered. These two men, these two gods, could wipe out every demon with a mere thought. She was sure of it. Yet Triton offered to do it her way, performing the magic through ritual, through actions.
And the ceremonial actions of eliminating the evil from Barren would help the community too. Thena knew these people. They would see the act, hear about it, talk in hushed whispers with others about what took place on that moonlit night, and it would bond them, adding to the strength of the magic and keep the evil away. Hopefully Priapus and Triton would understand that when dealing with humans, it was best to offer help in a way that they would understand, so they would accept it.
If history was correct at all, Priapus and Triton already knew that this evening would put a barrier between her and her town. Just as it had always done. Something this huge couldn’t be ignored. The Barren community would know what she’d done, that her witchcraft, her powers as a goddess, whatever term they wanted to use, had saved their lives. They would be nice to her, and then stay away, until the next time she was needed. And then there would be a silent tap on her back door, as they quietly snuck over to see her, without anyone else knowing they were approaching the village witch.
Fallen Gods: Lotus Blooming Page 16
