"Wait, can I help--." I never finished my sentence because I blinked out of existence and fell into a heap in nearly the exact place that I’d disappeared.
Chapter 22
"Mom!" Dylan threw himself at me and wrapped his small arms around my neck.
"Easy, buddy. She’s hurt." The steady tone of Drew’s voice reached my ears and I relaxed.
The sun was peeking over the horizon and the first rays of dawn crossed the sky, giving it a bloodied appearance. It's a beautiful sight. Especially when you've thought it wasn't something you'd ever set your eyes on again. Some people would laugh and joke that Colorado was out in the sticks - that only bumpkins lived here. They'd never seen the sun rise or set across the Colorado sky. It was simply breath-taking. I'd never been happier to be home.
"Call Rose and take me home," I croaked.
Drew disengaged Dylan from around my neck and cradled my battered body into his arms, carrying me to the car.
"What time is it?"
"You’ve only been gone a few hours, Grace," he replied.
"She’s gone, Drew. She saved us again and I don’t know how to get her back."
"You’re smart and you’re strong. You’ll figure it out. Where is my father?"
"I don’t know. He told me to go home and he would come to me when he was finished."
Drew seemed to understand what that meant and he nodded. "Dylan, get in and buckle up. We’re going home."
I could use a hundred year nap. Pushing the thoughts of Diana and my father down for now, I closed my eyes and tried to figure out how I was going to make my house livable again.
I was startled awake by the car pulling to a stop in my driveway. I stared at the front of the house in shock. The windows that had been blown out last night were perfectly set into their frames. New bushes and flower beds lined the walkway to a bright red door.
"What—what is this?"
"Looks like my father was busy."
Dylan scrambled out of the car and ran to the front door. "Wait!" I called. God only knows what could be lurking in my house now.
"No, you don’t have to worry. If Zachary was here to clean up, he really cleaned up. You should have all new wards set on the property now as well. I could feel them tingling as we crossed onto the driveway."
"Why?"
"I don’t know. Maybe he’s trying to make amends."
"Well, let’s see what he’s done." I groaned as I pushed myself out of the passenger seat. God, did someone get the license plate on that Mack truck?
Drew hopped over the hood and plucked me into his arms like I weighed nothing. He carried me to the front stoop and set me down gently before unlocking the door and swinging it open.
The smell of lemons rushed out to greet me. Dylan rushed into the house and went directly for the family room. I winced when I realized that he’d see that all of his presents had been destroyed.
I didn’t get the shout of horror that I expected. Instead he poked his head into the hallway and grinned at me. "Come here!"
"Okay, okay. Hold on a minute. I’m crippled and old."
The sight that I was met with brought tears to my eyes. Zachary had not only repaired all of the damage, but he’d replaced every gift and added a few of his own. The packages, wrapped in silver and blue metallic paper were laid out under the tree. A card lay in front and I groaned as I bent over to pick it up.
Grace,
Please accept my apologies. The house was easy. Repairing our relationship may not be. I can only hope that you enjoy as many years in this home as I will enjoy your presence in this world.
Z.
I did cry then. I dropped to my knees and sobbed like a baby. I didn’t know what was going to happen now. Bent over and hiccupping was how Rose found me a half hour later.
She checked my injuries and proclaimed me good, or as good as an immortal could get. Most of my scratches were well on their way to healing. Her only concern was any brain damage that may have occurred.
She prescribed a few days in bed and told me that she would be by to take Dylan back to Brandon’s in a day or two, so I could spend some time with him. I appreciated that and gave her a hug, telling her – honestly - that I didn’t know what I’d do without her.
Rest did help. I think I slept for a straight thirty-six hours. I woke to the smell of eggs and corned beef hash. Life was weird, but it was getting better. Even though Drew was no longer needed for protection, he said he was going to stay so he could help train me to best use my powers. Who was I to complain? When a hot demi-god wants to shack up with you (even if he does live and sleep in the basement), you don’t argue.
The next day I was up before everyone else. I got into the car and drove to my destination determined. I waited until she came out of the house. Her blonde hair pulled up in a cutesy ponytail that bounced as she walked. Her makeup was perfect and her clothes tailored. Oh, this was going to be so satisfying.
As I stepped out of the car, I drew upon my power and mud flowed up to her ankles mid-stride, causing her to trip and fall to her hands and knees.
She looked up as my shadow fell across her line of sight. "Gr-Grace, what are you doing here? Are you bringing Dylan back?"
"Actually, Clarissa, no I am not. I’m here to talk to you." I let the mud creep higher onto her calves and smiled into her eyes. "I know you think I’m some pushover romance writer who you were able to fleece out of her completely low-hanging fruit husband. But guess what?"
He eyes widened as I leaned closer to her. "I’m something that you couldn’t even imagine. If you ever say another word to my son about taking him from me - hell, if I even hear a hint of you upsetting him - I’m going to come back here and I'm going to bury you."
She laughed nervously and tried to defend herself. "I never would imagi--." Her words were cut off by a yelp of pain. I’d grabbed her ponytail and yanked her forward toward me. It probably wouldn’t have hurt if her feet weren’t still buried, but I had a point to make and her pain was satisfying.
"You don’t understand. I will bury you alive so that while you are struggling and choking down a mouthful of dirt, trying desperately to breathe, your last thoughts will be of how you didn’t listen to my warning. If you hurt my son or upset him again…you are dead."
"You crazy bitch," she cried. "I’ll call the police."
"And tell them what?" I leaned back and let the mud slide up quickly over her thighs and hips. "That I threatened you with dirt? Honey, you said it yourself. I’m a mousy little romance writer. Nobody is going to believe you."
I stood up, dusting off my hands and grinned. This had gone rather well, I thought. Looking down into her frightened eyes, I believed that she grasped my point. "Ta dear, have a good day!” I waved behind my head as I trotted back to my car, only releasing my hold on her when I’d driven across the street.
One problem down. Only a million more to go. At least I was armed with a loving family and some really great friends. I could get through this if they were around to lean on. I’d find my Mom. I’d figure out a way to get Dylan settled and I’d – well, I’d do whatever it was that Heroes were supposed to do.
My phone vibrated in my pocket and I hit the button on my dash. "Hello?"
"Grace, darling! I’m so glad I caught you. I have your edits. They’re marvelous. The publisher wants to know when you’re starting the next book. I believe that you only have two more in your contract darling and we don’t want them to cancel you before you’re ready."
Marisol. Of course I’d completely forgotten about her during this entire thing. "Mar, I’m going to have to get back to you on that. I think that I may need to take a short break."
"Wait, what? You’re on tap for a RITA this year. You can’t take a break. You have readers dying for more of your characters."
"Oh honey, if you only knew what my life was like right now - you’d get it. I’ll call you in a few weeks and we’ll talk about it."
I pushed the off button and turned up
the radio. I couldn’t wait to get home to the boys. Today was going to be a good day.
Epilogue:
So there you have it. I can't say that I was entirely sure that I had the moxie to be the Huntress in my mother's place, but I was doing the best I could.
In the months since my mother's disappearance, I'd been to Olympus to start my training for real and had learned to control many of my powers. New ones kept popping up all over the place. Drew thought it was because of the nanites that Zeus (I could no longer call him Zachary. That name was reserved for my mother - something too personal for my own use) had injected me with in the lab. We still didn't know the full extent of what I could do.
The one thing that continued to elude me was the creation of a Rift. There was no way to retrieve Diana if we couldn't get a firm grasp on what was holding me back. I still hadn’t seen Zeus and it had been three months. I wasn’t going to find my mother if he didn’t teach me how to open Rifts.
I shoved my kit into the back of the SUV so I could drive to the store. Milk and a video game. If only life were so damned easy. The clerks at Safeway would probably have a heart attack if I showed up looking like I'd just taken a blood bath. My glamour was sketchy at best but we'd been working on it and I was pretty sure I could trick the bag boy into not seeing the cuts, bruises and gore.
Drew had told me yesterday that he’d gotten a brief message from Zeus but was non-committal on the details. What a shock – Drew was keeping information from me. The only thing we were agreeing on these days was Dylan and how to deal with the surges of power and the mood trips. Puberty may very well kill us both.
I shouldn't grouse too much. He'd taught me the things I needed to know about my role as a Hunter that I hadn’t even considered before and hey, I'd even survived a few fights on my own. If I could just nail down Zeus we’d be happy schmappy.
I slowed down to make the turn when something darted in front of my car. Swerving to avoid a collision, I spun and braked hard too late. The body hit with a wet thud and rolled up and over my windshield. It looked like a large deer, but I couldn’t be certain.
Cautiously, I got out of the car and walked toward the spot where we’d collided. The deer lay on the road, taking in harsh panicked breaths. I leaned down to examine the animal for any injuries when it shifted into an exhausted, filthy woman with matted crimson hair.
She snarled at me and I gasped. "Mom?" I asked, reaching to smooth snarled hair away from her face. It wasn’t my mother, but it certainly looked like her.
I didn’t have time to defend myself when she launched herself at me and threw me down onto the ground, knocking the back of my head against the pavement. I saw stars - again. For an injured woman, she was brutally strong.
"Well – well. It looks as though Mother's been a little busy with the man who trapped me. Oh, I'm going to enjoy this." She materialized a long stiletto that gleamed in the waning light and stabbed down through my heart. I screamed in agony and was thankful to hear sirens in the distance. Someone must have reported the accident.
She turned jerkily toward the sound and growled with an inhuman voice. "We're not through," she snarled and opened a Rift – disappearing before I could catch my breath.
"Oh hell," I thought.
… To Be Continued in Rifts
Acknowledgements
I want to thank my friends and family who believed in me and knew that I could do this even when I did not. Thanks to Alex who ate more fast food than a kid should so I could write instead of cook dinner. Sorry kiddo. I know you're okay with it but sheesh I should be a better Mom.
Special thanks to my cover artist Gina Van Meurs and my first Beta Readers – SJ, Melody, Casee, Sue (who I still call Susie) and all of the others who trailed behind giving support and encouragement.
Also, thanks to my Dad who told me that he was proud. That means the world to me Dad. Thank you for raising me to be a strong woman who could follow her dreams.
Huntress (A Grace Murphy Novel) Page 21
