Muse Song, #1

by Sarah Biglow

  "About your father’s involvement and the truth of who you are?" The lines around her eyes became more pronounced as her smile turned sad.

  I nodded. "Yeah, but if I did she'd never forgive me when she found out that crazy bitch is my stepmother." I’d finally admitted the truth about my demigod status to Mum. She’d been very understanding, almost like she’d known all along.

  "Liam! Language." She leaned back enough for me to see she’d crossed her hands over her chest in a disapproving gesture.

  "Sorry, but she deserved it. I still can't believe Dad got out of everything. She's so scared of him she's taking the fall and I know that they were in it together."

  Mum shook her head. "I told you to be careful."

  I knew what that meant. I’d confided in her that my father had tested out whatever the plan was on me to keep me in line. "I'm fine, really. You think I'd be able to talk to you or see Abbie if I was still under his control?"

  "I'm coming to visit soon." She let out a breath.

  I settled back against my pillow. "You should move back here. I can't stand being in this house. I mean can't you go to court and question his parental fitness? It's no secret now that he's married to a psycho that kidnapped kids my age."

  "We've had this discussion. Your father would make it very difficult for me to do that."

  I threw my hands up in the air. "It's worth a try. He's not all powerful, not even for a god."

  "I'll see what I can do.” She disappeared from the screen for a few seconds. “I've got to run. I love you."

  "Love you too. Let me know when you are coming over." We ended the call and I closed down Skype. I had to hope that she would actually get up the courage to face my father over custody. Things would be so much better if I could live with her instead. I wouldn't be afraid of bringing Abbie home to meet the parents.

  The next day, I hopped on my bike and wound through backstreets until I reached the front lot of Williams Arts Academy, a squat, two-story building. The lot was mostly empty when I locked up my bike. Traipsing up the front steps, I made it as far as the lobby before I encountered my first adult with a familiar face, Hera. Unlike the last time we’d crossed paths, her hair was down in loose waves over her shoulders and she wore jean capris and a short-sleeved blouse. "Uh, I'm just waiting for Abbie Rollands." I kept my eyes down.

  "I see. I suppose you two have been seeing quite a bit of each other lately." She crossed her arms over her chest.

  I stood my ground. "Not that it's your business, but yes."

  "Liam, you know why I need to make it my business."

  "No, I don't.” I stepped closer. “I'm not them. And I'm not stupid enough to let him anywhere near her. I care about her too much."

  Hera’s face softened and her posture relaxed. "I'm sure you feel that way but you can't build a strong relationship on lies."

  I bit my lower lip. "I never lied to her."

  "But you are keeping things from her."

  I had no quick reply to that statement of truth. The way she looked at me with a slight disapproving quirk of her brow brought the guilt bubble to the surface. It churned my stomach to think that I couldn't be completely honest with Abbie. She'd been through so much and she deserved someone who was there for her completely. But I refused to let some goddess dictate how I lived my life, even if that goddess’s specialty was relationships. "I understand things are bigger than me and her, but we're just kids. We shouldn't have to carry the problems of the world on our shoulders. That's what you and the other gods are around for."

  Hera looked over her shoulder. "You are right, Liam. I wish it could be different. I truly do."

  Students began to trickle out of the hallway in groups of two and three. A few teachers milled among the exodus and I recognized one or two. Leaning against the wall out of the way, I waited until I spotted Abbie and her friends. She looked in my direction and smiled. I moved toward her and pulled her into a hug. Taking my hand in hers, she waved goodbye to Erin and Rosa.

  "Hope it was fun." I led her out of the building.

  "It was. I think this is going to be so much better than last year. Everyone is so nice."

  I squeezed her hand. "Well, I'll miss seeing you in class."

  "You could always apply." She nudged me in the ribs.

  "I'm not really creative." I shook my head as we walked to the bike rack and retrieved our rides. For now, things could be okay. We were happy and whatever was coming was someone else's problem.

  Also By Sarah Biglow

  Geeks and Things Cozy Mysteries

  Toil and Trouble

  Pains and Penalties

  Forgive and Forget

  Debts and Debtors

  Have and Hold

  Saints and Sinners

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  Standalone Titles

  Unplanned

  Archangel Rising: Volume 1

  About the Author

  Sarah lives in Massachusetts with her husband. She is a licensed attorney and spends her days combatting employment discrimination as an Investigator with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.

  She is a self-professed TV junkie and in her spare time (what’s that?), she runs a TV recap blog with her best friend, Jen.

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  You can connect with Sarah at her website: www.sarah-biglow.com and follow her on Twitter @SBiglowWrites.

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  For those TV-obsessed souls, you can head on over to the recap blog: www.more-tv-please.com. You can also follow the blog on Twitter @MoreTVPlease and check it out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoreTVPlease.

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