Waking the Goddess

by Clara Hartley

  My hair was a mess from riding the carpet for too long. I pulled my fingers through my locks. They caught on tangled split ends. I winced before tugging harder.

  Devon glanced at me. “You look decent enough.”

  “Decent enough?” I asked, appalled by the backhanded compliment. I wasn’t anything to boast about, but Devon had been looking at me with so much lust that I assumed that I qualified for slightly more than a “decent enough.” I rolled my eyes. “For what? Is this some sort of special event that I have to be dressed extra pretty for?”

  Devon thumbed the bottom of his lip. I wasn’t sure if he intended to be sexy, but whatever he did worked well for him. He was hot enough that he could make a clown suit looked like male lingerie. Heat travelled to my cheeks at his suggestive gesture, and I probably stared too hard.

  “No. The Cierro family merely has very high standards, and we expect our guests to respect the household when entering. They should have acceptable attire when visiting the place. Luckily, Hansel ensures that your fashion sense is always exquisite.”

  I glanced down at my outfit. Hansel had dressed me in a checkered long-sleeved shirt and a pair of loose pants that emphasized my waistline. I’d gotten so used to letting him doll me up that I hadn’t thought twice about it. “I think I look better than decent, actually.” I twirled a finger around a perfectly straightened lock of hair. I was pretty sure my makeup was on point, too, even though I hadn’t taken a look in the mirror since returning from my classes. Hansel always ensured my makeup lasted.

  A brightling that was trimming a hedge spun around and waved at Devon. Right after, a human-looking female servant came running from the entrance. Devon wasn’t kidding about the Cierro family taking their outfits seriously. The girl was dressed in a French maid costume, and a big, delicate bow decorated the top of her head. “Master Devon,” she said, folding her hands over each other. She bowed. “We weren’t expecting your return today.”

  “Where is Father?” Devon asked.

  “He’s not in at the moment. He has a meeting with the council.”

  Devon cursed so softly that I couldn’t make out his words. So much for our trip being fruitful. I’d suffered trauma over sitting on that carpet for no reason at all.

  “When will he be back?” Devon asked.

  “Not too long from now,” the servant replied. “Twenty minutes. He called through birdsong and asked us to have his supper ready.”

  “Birdsong?” I asked.

  Devon didn’t shed his half-annoyed, half-bored expression when he explained, “It’s how we communicate over long distances. There are special birds around here we call canetis birds. They pair for life, and once they do, they can communicate telepathically with their partners. We teach them to echo the words of a particular person from one bird to another.”

  “So, like, magic telephones. Just way more of a hassle?” I missed my phone. I wondered how the people back on Earth were doing. Had they solved global warming yet? If they hadn’t, then they shouldn’t have to worry about too much. Judging by what was happening with the Chiasma, things were going to shit whether they solved it or not.

  “Oh, we have telephones,” Devon said. “Internet, too. But my father and the goddesses like doing things traditionally. Canetis birds are creatures of the past.”

  “The old farts here are just as stubborn and resistant as the ones back home,” I muttered to myself.

  “It’s nice to have you back,” the servant said before bowing again. “Would you like me to alert your mother about your arrival? I’m certain she’s missed you greatly.”

  I didn’t think I’d ever seen Devon’s face pale this much. Fenrir, the great mythical wolf, hadn’t scared him at all, yet he shrank back immediately at the mention of his mother. “That’s not needed.”

  “But you’re her favorite child.”

  “She’s not going to let me hear the—”

  “Devon, my darling!”

  I jolted at the greeting. It verged on a squeal. I looked behind me. Heading toward us was a woman with a large belly and the most fanciful dress I’d ever seen. At first, I thought she might be pregnant, and I almost muttered a congratulations before I realized that she was just a little chubby around the edges. She carried her weight well and with confidence, flaunting it proudly. She had red-tinted cheeks that gave her a hearty, healthy look. Her arms were spread open as she raced toward us. She swept Devon into an embrace and kissed him on both cheeks. She reached up to his head and ruffled his hair. “It’s been far too long.”

  “Mother, I visited a month ago.”

  “Still too long! You have a phone, don’t you? I asked you to call me every day. Twice if you have the time. Can’t you care for a mother’s heart? I’ve raised you since you were a tiny baby. And look at how fast you’ve grown.”

  “You always say the same thing.”

  I laughed.

  Devon glared at me.

  “And who is this?” his mother asked, smiling.

  Devon sniffed. “Nobody importa—”

  “Cara Valencia,” I replied, reaching a hand out and returning my politest grin. I wanted to make a good impression. “The half-blood that Devon’s serving under.” His disapproving expression deepened at my condescending tone. Call me childish, but pissing Devon off felt like a win, and winning sent a fluttery sensation through my chest. “How may I address you?”

  “Natalia,” Devon’s mother said. “I’m sure you’re familiar with the Cierro name? Or is that not mentioned on Earth a lot?”

  “Devon’s made it clear to me that he comes from an important and amazing family.” I twined my fingers together.

  Natalia crinkled her brow. “Why are you here? Don’t get me wrong, Devon. I love, love, love you very much, but don’t you have many duties as a vassal? And you”—she grabbed my wrist, looking concerned—“aren’t you supposed to be training for your role as a half-blood? I’ve heard that failure isn’t treated well in the Sanctuary.” Again with the reminder of failure. I didn’t appreciate hearing it so many times.

  I scratched the back of my head. “It’s about that…”

  As I trailed off, Devon added to my thoughts: “That’s why we’re here to see Father.”

  “Maxwell is out,” Natalia said.

  “The servant told me. We’ll just wait for him—”

  “Come spend more time with your mother, then. Have you been eating well? Sleeping well? Do you do morning exercises like I always remind you to?”

  Devon sighed. “The Sanctuary ensures that we’re in top physical condition. It’s tradition to be warriors to our goddesses.”

  Natalia’s shook her head. “The curriculum that the Sanctuary give you is one thing, but I’m talking about the exercises that improve your blood circulation. Come, do it with me so you remember.” She took a step back before spreading her legs apart. Looking ridiculous, Natalia put her hands out and began clenching and unclenching her fists. She began an exercise that I’d never seen before, but struck me as cute. “Alpha. Omega. Beta. Alpha. Omega. Beta.” She continued like this for a good minute, and when Devon didn’t join in, she gave him a reprimanding look. “Devon, you can’t let your mother do this alone. Follow me. Alpha—”

  Devon winced. “No, Mother—”

  “Do it!”

  He jolted, then put his hands out in front of him halfheartedly. I covered my mouth to hide my wide grin.

  Watching Devon reminded me of one of those internet cats who accepted their fate too soon. It took everything inside me to keep from keeling over laughing.

  “Good, good,” Natalia said, smiling to herself when Devon finished the exercise with her. “You know why blood circulation is beneficial, yes?”

  Devon’s dead expression gave me life. “It keeps you awake and healthy. Helps your digestion.” He swished his hand back and forth. “Yada, yada, yada.”

  “It’s also good for your sex life. Keeps your erection up longer.”

  I balked.
<
br />   Natalia pointed at me. “And wouldn’t dear Cara like that?”

  “Um…” I attempted to smile, but I thought I projected disgust instead. I wasn’t keen on discussing my sex life with Devon’s mother.

  “Mom,” Devon said in an almost whiny tone. “Ew. Please don’t bring up things like that.”

  Natalia pinched his cheeks. “A good mother is concerned about every aspect of her child’s life. That includes his sex life.”

  “I’ve never heard that before,” Devon said. “You have to let go eventually. I’ve grown up.”

  “You’ll always be my little baby boy. Kids like you won’t understand. Not until you get children of your own.”

  “You’re lucky,” I said, although I did think the whole sex life thing was a bit much. “I never got to feel it properly.”

  “Feel what?” Devon asked.

  I started feeling sorry for myself for no good reason. “A mother’s love.” Lydia had called herself my mother, but she never gave me the care and attention other kids had. She took me under her wing when I was fourteen, and most of the time, she talked to me like I was an adult. It was funny watching Devon get babied like that, but the sight also made me somewhat jealous.

  Natalia gave me a sympathetic look. “Poor child.”

  I took a step back and raised my hands. “Oh, don’t say that. I had a lot of fun growing up. I played punk a bit too much but having to deal with shit on my own also helped me grow to be independent. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I looked at Devon. “I’m just asking you to be a little more thankful. That’s all. Some people long for what you have.”

  Devon squinted an eye. “Oh, so you’re a nag, too.”

  I gave him a blank look. “Ungrateful prick.”

  “I like you, Cara,” Natalia said, clasping my hands. Was she this physical with everyone? “Devon should listen to you more. Does he do it a lot? It’s his job, after all.”

  “Not at all.”

  Natalia spun around to smack her son. “Why must you be this disobedient?”

  Devon made another complaint, and their conversation disintegrated into a friendly squabble. They might have been quarreling, but I sensed the love emanating from them.

  I wished I’d had the chance to squabble like that with my mother, but she was apparently some dead god whom Agness hated very much. I didn’t have a parental figure to accompany me during my younger years. Only the strange, angry thoughts that showed up every now and then.

  Chapter Five

  “Welcome,” Natalia said, walking into the offensively pink room that she called hers. We’d entered the mansion under her invitation, and since I’d gotten into her good graces, she’d decided to show me around the place. “It’s not much, but I hope you don’t mind waiting here for my dear Maxwell to arrive.”

  “Not much?” I asked, uncertain whether she was joking. “It’s… it’s definitely something.” Her room was overbearing. Perfume clung to every corner of it and made me nauseated. Silks and patterns of too many kinds were draped around her furniture, many of them glittery and almost tasteless. Walking into this room nearly gave me vertigo.

  A toddler peeked out from behind the drapes that covered her bed. “Mama!” he shouted.

  Natalia led me to a couch as she called over her shoulder, “I’ll be right there, darling! You can sit here.”

  As my bottom sank into the couch, I couldn’t help but voice a soft moan. Devon looked at me weirdly. “What?” I asked. “Don’t you think that this is, like, the most comfortable couch ever? It’s like heaven for an ass. You don’t feel the same way?”

  “It’s a couch. Just like any other.”

  “Your buns must be made of steel, because they’re too damn insensitive.” They definitely looked like they were hard. Right, so I spent an awful long time staring at my vassals’ asses. Why not? They were nice to look at, and I enjoyed indulging. Just like I was fully appreciating how comfortable these cushions felt on my butt. I shook my hips back and forth and hummed happily.

  Devon cleared his throat. “Can you please stop doing that?”

  “Do what?”

  “Move back and forth.”

  “I’m making the most of life.”

  “Can you do it some other way, then?”

  “Like?”

  “Something less suggestive.”

  My eyes widened. Was my simple gesture actually turning Devon on? I knew it. He was attracted to me but didn’t want to admit it. I wasn’t going to bring that up in front of his mother, of course. That’d only make everything more awkward.

  Natalia was caring for her toddler. She fed him some milk from a golden bottle, then scooped her up into her arms.

  As she was busy with her son, I asked Devon, “Is that your brother?”

  “One of many.” Devon sighed and raked his hand through his hair.

  “How many do you have?”

  “Ten,” Devon replied, shrugging. “If you include me, there’s eleven of us.”

  My jaw fell open. “Ten? Do you even remember all their names?”

  “Rilac, Krillin, Nataschia, Hellaria, Saria, Rhianne, Anylle, Lenara, Hevon, and that over there is the youngest, Tyrielle. He’s the brattiest out of all of us, too.”

  The golden bottle shot across the room, proving Devon’s point right. A servant picked the bottle up and scampered back to Natalia to pass it to her.

  “Big family,” I said. “Must be fun.”

  “That’s one way to put it.” Devon leaned into the couch, and despite his refusal to admit that he liked the comfy cushions, I watched it noticeably calm him. “It’s mostly chaotic. And because Mother likes to baby us, she stresses often. We’ve grown up, but when we were kids…” Devon whistled. “You should have seen her when she got angry.”

  “I can’t imagine.”

  “Most people can’t. Except for maybe Theo. There’s fifteen children in his family. And he’s the oldest. I’m the seventh born. It’s a lucky number, Mom says. I’m not sure if that’s why I’m her favorite, or maybe it’s because I give her the least trouble.”

  “Theo has fifteen siblings?” I gaped at Devon.

  “They were poor and he’s the oldest.” Devon winced. “And that’s why he’s so damn grateful.”

  “That’s why he has the patience of a saint. And why he likes to spoil me like Hansel, too.”

  “Don’t take advantage of that too much.”

  “Do I?”

  Devon folded his arms across his chest. “I don’t see it. Not yet. But I’m concerned for the big guy. I think he’s too nice sometimes. He and Hansel both are. They don’t mind being used and so they are used. Here in the Cierro family, however, we’re taught to lead and make the right choices. Kind of why I don’t like dealing with bullshit so much.”

  “You’re so apathetic that you don’t care enough. There needs to be a balance.”

  “I realize it’s easier to avoid squabbles between siblings by ignoring them.”

  “Wish I had that problem.”

  “You shouldn’t wish for it. Not really.”

  Natalia succeeded in calming her son down. She passed the little boy, Tyrielle, over to a maidservant and redirected her attention to us. She sat on the couch across us, which looked equally comfortable. Devon’s conversation with me ended at her intrusion.

  “How old is he?” I asked, making an attempt at small talk. I wasn’t good at it, though I thought I’d started this conversation well. Most times, I ended up blurting out something that put me in the bad books of many people.

  “Tyrielle?” Natalia asked, beaming at me. Her motherliness made me certain that any conversation about her kids would brighten her up. “Five years old. It’s that thing about being immortal. You have all the time in the world to have children. Here in Haven, children are harder to conceive than on Earth due to the influence of the chiasma, but if you have all the time in the world…” She pulled her shoulders up, then grinned. “It’s great.”

  I was
n’t sure if I’d describe having this much responsibility as great, but I let the matter rest.

  Natalia leaned toward a teapot and poured us some tea. “Want some?” she asked.

  I couldn’t decline. She’d gone ahead and poured the tea without giving us an opportunity to say no.

  “You should drink it,” she said. “Fireflower tea. It’s good for you. Helps keep you energetic and alert. Aids in blood circulation.”

  I accepted the cup from her with a thanks and brought it to my lips. I took a tentative sip of it. The tea had a sweet aftertaste that soothed my taste buds. “It’s delicious.”

  “It also aids in blood circulation,” Natalia repeated.

  Devon sniffed. “Again with the blood circulation.”

  “We want to keep your penis working. How am I supposed to get grandkids if you can’t get it up?”

  I almost spat the tea out.

  Was it right for a mother to be speaking about her son’s penis this openly? I wanted to shut my mind from the conversation that followed.

  “Mom,” Devon said, “can you not?”

  “You’re my son. I’m concerned about your vigor.”

  Devon set his teacup down. “We don’t have to discuss this in front of Cara.”

  “She’s the person you like, isn’t she?”

  “Not at all.”

  Natalia cocked her head. She gave Devon a knowing look, which caused me to question what exactly she knew. “She’s definitely a better fit for you than that Abigail.”

  I shouldn’t be prying into Devon’s past, but, curious, I straightened my posture and paid more attention to the conversation. I loved gossip and wasn’t ashamed of it, even though I ought to be.

  “Let’s not bring her up,” Devon said, folding one leg over another. He shifted his eyes to the side, obviously uncomfortable.

  Natalia wasn’t one to take no from her son, however. “Abigail never treated you well. You did all her errands for her. Her homework, too. And she was rude. Always ignored me when I tried to talk to her. You never should have liked her in the first place. Cara, here, however—she’s as sweet as a doll. I’d hold her close if I were you.”