“Well Brighid, he bought this. There is no way he did this himself. It is none of his energy except a tag for the spell to direct her toward once it locked on her.” Brighid cocks her head to one side and growls her disapproval. “I know. I am going to destroy the thing, but I have to know what I am dealing with here. Knowledge is power puppy, and I am damn near powerless right now.”
Selena studies the doll a bit longer, “There! That is how it is put together! I figured it out Brighid! Whoever made this is pretty good… hmm, well they seem good to me. But I could be wrong, eh? Being half blind from the bindings all that time has me wondering how much I really know.” Brighid whines as if to say get on with it, “Ok, ok. Hmm, if I give it a little zap just here…”
She extends a finger intending to send a small energy burst toward the thing. What comes out of her finger does not look like energy. It is a slow, creeping, dense bit of smoke that moves toward the doll like a cat stalking its prey. As it covers the spell inside the spell dies and the smoke dissipates.
Selena’s jaw drops as she watches this happen. “What the fuck was that? Brighid, did you see that shit?”
Brighid, who has been watching intently, now relaxes as the last of the smoke disappears and she just lays down and closes her eyes. “Some help you are. How did I do that? Why was it not the energy I intended? I wish I knew what the fuck I can do. How can I be this old and this ignorant?”
I could talk to dad, but I am not real sure of him with recent events. Mom? Wow that sounds weird, even in my head. But I could maybe ask her about some of this? OH! Bath! I can definitely ask her. We are supposed to talk tomorrow anyway. Ok, that’s what I will do. I will talk to Bath tomorrow and I will call mom today and see if we can meet soon. I know I barely know her but she is my mom and I just have this feeling that I can trust her as crazy as that sounds. Especially considering that I don’t feel like I can trust dad entirely right now knowing what I know. And last night’s dinner was such a shit show, I am amazed that Dwayne is even willing to continue acting as buffer during the visits. But so very glad he is willing. I need to talk to them about that too. Maybe they have experience with this kind of thing?
The next day Selena and Kya pull into Bath and Zethes drive, relieved to see that Gabriel’s car is not there. They get out and go knock on the door which is immediately opened by Bath with her usual flowing muumuu garb swallowing her tiny frame. “Hello!” Bath enfolds Selena in a hug, reaching up to pull her close. Selena melts into the mom hug, enjoying what she has missed so much of growing up and breathing deeply of the cinnamon cookie scent that seems to always cling to Bath. Bath releases her and turns to Kya, kneeling down to hug her she asks, “Are you hungry? We made some fantastic treats for you that Grandpa Zethes has magicked so they fly.”
Kya’s eyes get round like saucers, “Flying treats? Yes please! Momma hasn’t fed me any lunch. She said I had to wait till I got here. I told her I would eat twice but she said that was not a good habit to start.”
Bath laughs, “Well, Momma knows how much I love feeding my favorite grandchild and she likes to indulge me.”
“Grandma! I’m your only grandchild!”
“Well so you are. Let’s go eat!”
After flying snacks and more land based foods Zethes stands up from the table and looking toward Kya asks, “Would you like to go out back and make things fly?” Knowing her answer will be yes he extends his hand toward her. “Yes! I love flying with you Grandpa!”
“You make sure the neighbors don’t see you Zethes! It is awful trying to convince the neighbors they didn’t really see you flying. Last time I had to threaten Bonita with telling her husband about the affair.”
Selena’s eyes get big, “What?” Zethes chuckles and walks off with Kya.
Bath turns back toward Selena, “Oh Zethes loves to fly but often forgets to make sure he is not seen. Sometimes I have to do damage control with the neighbors. Last time Bonita was being a royal pain and wanted to expose him to the whole neighborhood. You know I can see all the past and present, so I took a peek at hers and told her that if she didn’t pipe down I would be telling her husband about Reginald. It shut her up.” Bath shrugs, “I just really dislike having to do that to the neighbors when he could prevent it.”
“Oh, I see.,” Selena shakes her head, “So what did you want to talk about today? I mean, I have some things I want to talk to you about but I came over to hear what you wanted to tell me.”
“Hmm, yes. Yes, you would have some questions. How is your mother these days?”
“She seems fine and a lot more alive than I had been led to believe. Which was very surprising. And good.”
“I guess it would be, since your father spent all that time and effort on making sure she couldn’t be anywhere near you and that you believed she was dead these many years. And that is part of what I wanted to speak with you about. There is only so much I can tell you, and that will have to be enough because the futures in which I reveal all don’t end well.”
“Well, that puts a damper on things. You can’t tell me everything but you can tell me some things. I guess some information is better than no information. What can you tell me?”
“First, you are right to not trust your father. He is, as I mentioned, the one that has kept your mother from you these many years. Second, you are in danger and it is from at least two sources.”
“Whoa, wait. Two? Can you tell me who?”
“No, but I think you know or at least could figure it out if you put your mind to it. Now, I think you have some questions for me?”
“Yes, but first, have you seen what Gabriel did to the doll he wanted Kya to have?”
“Yes, sadly I did see what he had done. But I knew you would be on guard as you should be, so I left you to it.”
“Well, this morning I set to destroying the spell. I intended to shoot a little zap of energy at it but that was not what happened. This weird smoke came out of my finger and it just made the spell disintegrate. I have never had that happen before and I feel like I don’t know my own magics.”
“Ah, yes. Well I can talk about your magics. Your mother and I discussed them when you were born and she came to see your possibilities. You child, are capable of controlling life and death. Death is what you dispensed to that spell you thought was meant for Kya. That is why it simply disintegrated before your eyes. Your life giving abilities are why your remedies work so well. You can do other smaller magics but those are your big talents. Does that help?”
“Wow, yes. My mom brought me here when I was born? Why? And what did you tell her? Can you tell me that?”
“I can tell you some of what I told her. But, this will change your opinion of some things. People. What I told your mother had consequences for us all.”
“Oh… It was from dad wasn’t it? Dad was the cause of the consequences isn’t he?”
“Yes, yes he is. What I told your mother really messed up his plans. They would not have gone the way he thought they would anyway.” Bath makes a face and shrugs at her internal screen, “Your mother was always much smarter than he gave her credit for. His biggest mistake has always been his ego. You keep that in mind any time you face him, whatever strokes his ego will cause him to lose focus. That will save you if you keep it in mind and use it. I told your mother that he was using her and that he would be using you. He planned to syphon the energy from you both, along with any other children he could get from your mother.”
“What? It was him! He was the one that wrapped me with those binding ropes that kept me so much weaker! He was trying to blame Gabriel! Not that Gabriel is much better with what he tried to do yesterday.” Selena freezes, “Oh. OH. I see.”
Bath’s face reflects the sorrow she feels for Selena, “Yes, you do now. I am sorry. But you have family and you have people on your side. You will see this as events unfold. In fact, there will be a happy surprise for you soon that will help you get through some of the loss. As for Gabriel, well, he will redeem
himself eventually, in a manner. Maybe. Or maybe not. The future is so hard to read! It just won’t settle down into a path until it is the present.” Bath scowls in annoyance.
“I see. So dad is one of the two acting against me. I just want to have a family that loves me. I want both my parents. Oh Bath, why does it have to be so hard?” Selena covers her face with her hands as she cries and Bath moves over to hold her and make comforting noises.
“Don’t you worry. You have family and you won’t be losing your real family. You keep that in mind. This hurt will get easier and there is so much love moving in to take up the spaces left open. Just you wait and see. You have all the family you could want and then some. And, there is hope for your father. He does change in some of the possibilities. He isn’t even one of the two, so there is that.”
What Bath has said doesn’t all register in Selena’s state of mind. Selena’s tears eventually dry and Zethes brings Kya in just before Bath can call for him to bring Kya to go home with her mother.
13
Selena wipes the counter for the fifth time this morning. “Momma, I think the counter is clean now.”
“I know baby. Momma’s just nervous. I have only seen my mom the one time in the cafe and now I am having her at my house. I want her to like me.”
“Momma’s always like their kids Momma. And you are the best. She will like you.”
“I hope so baby. We were split up a long time ago.”
The doorbell chimes.
“There she is, how do I look?”
“Like the best.”
“What would I do without you sweetling?” She hugs Kya before going to answer the door and invite her mom into her home for the first time.
Selena opens the door for her mother with a big smile and finds Gabriel instead. Smile gone and eyes narrowed she demands, “What are you doing here? How did you get my address? Why do you have flowers?”
“I brought the flowers for you and I thought I would drop by to see you both. Try to make up for some lost time.” He smiles and takes a step forward.
Selena thrusts a hand out toward him palm out, “Hold it right there. I did not invite you in and I am not going to today. Most people call before they show up at someone's home. So they know whether or not they will be welcomed. This is not a good time for me or Kya, we are expecting other company. I have to ask you to leave and please, don’t come here unless you are invited.”
Gabriel’s face has been growing more red as she speaks. He growls at her, “Who are you expecting? Should I just wait here and see them for myself?”
Selena’s nostrils flare as she lifts her chin, “Excuse you? Who the fuck do you think you are? You and I are not together. You have no claim on me and if you regret that, you have no one but yourself to blame. You are not the boss of me and you do not pay ANY of my bills, not that it would make a damn difference if you did.” Gabriel has begun to pale, realizing the size of his mistake, “And another thing, you do not ever show up at my home without an invitation. INVITATION. If I personally have not invited you to visit my home you need not show up here. Now, if you want there to ever be a chance that you get invited to be here to visit Kya, you need to carry yourself away from here. You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here.”
Very pale now Gabriel’s shoulders slump as he says in a nasally tone, “I’m sorry. I just thought it would be nice to see you both without Dwayne around. Why is he always there? Have you two got something going on?”
Her eyes flash lightning, “Whatever is or isn’t between Dwayne and I is none of your business. Leave now or else.”
“Fine,” he puckers his lips in a childish pout, “I just wanted to spend time with you both.” Gabriel turns and stomps to his car throwing the flowers he brought on the ground as he goes before finally getting in and leaving.
Selena looks at her phone, mom isn’t actually due to arrive for another half hour, thank goodness. Now I need to burn some lavender through the place to dissipate all this garbage.
Selena turns around to find Kya standing behind her, “Oh baby, I didn’t hear you come in here.” She looks back at the closed door, “You heard all of that, didn’t you?”
“Yea, how did he find out where we live Momma? I don’t want him here. He isn’t very nice and he says mean things about Dwayne.”
“He does?” Selenas eyebrows shoot up and she kneels to be at eye level with Kya, “I didn’t know that, but we will set up some more rules for him. This is your choice though, you don’t have to keep seeing him if you can’t like him. I know it is supposed to be ideal for children to have contact with both parents, but if you aren’t comfortable around him, then that is not necessarily healthy for you. I want you to try seeing him a few more times, if you feel ok with that. He may get better, or not. I don’t know him anymore. I don’t want you to feel like you don’t have family. He is your father and maybe he is a good guy who is at loose ends right now.”
“I don’t know momma. He seems like a big jerk. Nathan doesn’t like him either. I like Dwayne though, could we visit him instead?”
“Um, well…” Selena’s cheeks redden as she sees Dwayne with no shirt in her mind, “I mean, yes. We will see him again. Are you saying you don’t want to see your father any more?”
“No, but can we not see him all the time? He is just so oogy.”
Selena chuckles, “Oogy, eh? Ok, we will slow down these visits. How about just twice a week?”
“Ok, but if he is a brat again can we do just once a week?”
“Do you want it to be just once a week baby?”
“Yes, momma, maybe he could be nicer if we don’t see him as much?”
“Then that is what we will do baby. Now momma needs to burn the lavender and calm the house down before my momma gets here. Want to help?” Kya nods her yes and Selena stands and goes off in search of the lavender with Kya trailing behind.
A little later they hear the doorbell again and Selena opens the door to her mom. They stand there in a little awkward silence before Selena asks her to come in and have some tea. In the kitchen Selena asks if she can have a hug before they sit and have tea.
Luna smiles a big, slow smile, “I would love that so much. I missed so many of your hugs while you were growing up.”
They hug and cry in joy just a little, when they release Luna notices Kya sitting at the table. “Oh, is this your daughter? My granddaughter? She looks so smart,” she kneels in front of Kya and offers her hand, “I think I am your grandmother, my name is Luna. You can call me whatever you feel comfortable with calling me. What is your name?”
Kya looks at her for a long moment before telling her, “You can hug me if you want to, my name is Kya. Is Grama Luna ok?”
They hug as Luna smiles really big and tells her “Yes, that would be wonderful.”
They talk for a bit while Selena readies the tea. Kya excuses herself to go play when her mother sits down at the table. Brighid gets up and follows her causing Luna to exclaim, “How did you get a Hel hound? And what did you do to disguise it? I recognize my sister’s dogs anywhere, but I didn’t expect to see one here and so well cloaked.”
“I’m sorry, what? She is just a regular pittie pup. I got her for protection and companionship.”
“Well, you got a lot more than you bargained for in that dog. That is a Hel hound, so named after my sister. She is the only source for them and she is loathe to share them. Where did you get this one?”
“I was looking for a puppy right before I moved here. I met this lady at a crossroads with a basket of puppies. She was selling them, I couldn’t believe my luck. I had the whole litter to pick from because no one had even glanced at one all day, or so she said. I bought one from her and she said the purchase price went to paying for the puppy’s training. So Brighid was being trained as we moved in. I went and participated in lessons and we made sure she was very familiar with Kya.”
“Hmm, sounds like my sister decided to interfere. You say that no one e
ven looked at the pups? Can you remember, did anyone look at her either? Or you while you interacted with her?”
“No, I wasn’t paying attention that day, sorry.”
“Would you call your Brighid out here please?”
“Sure, Brighiiiid, come.”
Brighid comes trotting back into the room and seeing the two women looking at her, she sits just inside the doorway.
“May I ask her some questions?”
“Yes, I don’t think you will get much in the way of answers, but sure.”
“For what purpose are you here?”
Brighid answers in a rusty, unused voice,”I am here to protect and observe.”
Selena’s jaw drops, “You could talk all this time and you never said anything? What the hell Brighid?”
Luna glances at Selena and then back to Brighid who answers, “I learned to speak as I got older and there never seemed to be a right time to reveal my speech or my true nature.”
Luna eyes Brighid, “Was it my sister that waited at the crossroads that day to give you to Selena?”
“Yes. Hecate said that Selena was ignorant of much about herself and needed someone to watch over her in a disguise that even her father could not penetrate. I requested the mission once I met her.”
“Have you been in contact with my sister all this time?”
“Infrequently but yes. She asks much about Selena and the bonds that held her until recently, about Kya, and Apophis. She instructs me each time to stay with Kya when he is near, because of this they have never been alone together, though he is not aware of this.”
Selena asks, “What do mean they have never been alone? You didn’t always go with us to his house. Unless you have you own way of arriving?”
Brighid nods, “I do have my own manner of travel and I always follow the commands of my mistresses.”
Luna commands, “Name all of your mistresses.”
“Hecate, Selena, and Kya.”
“Ah, I see.” Luna turns to look at Selena, “My sister may have been sneaky about this but she has done a good thing I believe. Has Apophis ever noticed that you are not a regular dog or seen you when you should not be there?”
Selena Rose: Daughter of the Moon Page 7
