by M. W. Muse
“Yes. They didn’t have a choice.” And from the sound of his voice, she knew he was right. He wasn’t going to let anyone keep him from her when she asked for him.
“What all was said when I was unconscious?” she asked as she finished her muffin.
Adin sighed. “Um, I asked River what happened, and he said you were mopping when you got electrocuted.”
She knew this already. “What did you two say about me?”
Adin exhaled heavily and looked up at the ceiling. “I told him you no longer work at the store.” He paused and looked at her. “You don’t.”
She nodded. She heard the order when he originally gave it. “I meant what was said after I woke up and they gave me the medicine.” When she was asleep and didn’t actually hear the conversations going on.
“We talked about a lot of things. After you woke up on that first day and they sedated you,” Adin hesitated and then whispered, “I could tell River wasn’t going to leave. I was too distraught to force him out of there. He just wanted you to be well, so I let him stay.”
“Thank you for not asking him to leave,” she mumbled.
“I didn’t want him there. I didn’t want him holding your hand and touching you. But I knew it wasn’t about me. It was about you and doing whatever was necessary for you to feel comforted.”
“What else was said?”
Adin sighed and took her plate from her to set it on the table. When he sat back down, he gently rubbed her feet while he spoke.
“We talked about my feelings for you, his feelings for you, and his mother.”
She could tell Adin didn’t want to go into the specifics, so she just nodded. She knew she needed to come clean.
“Adin, did River tell you anything else besides the fact that I was mopping when I got hurt?”
“No. Why?” Adin looked concerned, not suspicious.
“Because I remember everything up until the doctors knocked me out.”
“What do you mean?”
“I could hear voices and feel touches, but my body didn’t recognize any pain until I woke up in the hospital. I remember hearing River freak out. He’d said I wasn’t breathing. He performed CPR and called for an ambulance. I remember him sitting with me, crying,” she whispered. “I heard Lissa come in, then Calli, then you. I heard what you whispered in my ear. I felt your head on my head and heard you ask what happened to me. Then the doctors came in and asked everyone to leave, but I didn’t want you to go,” she mumbled. “So I was finally able to break through that state I was in and squeeze your fingers.”
“Legacy!” Adin looked shocked. “Do you remember anything else?”
“Yes. My mom came to me and talked to me.” She told Adin everything her mother had said, even the stuff about River.
“Wow. I don’t know what to say.”
“I understand if you don’t believe me.”
“It’s not that I don’t believe you, Legacy. This is just a lot to take in.”
“Yeah, I’m going to have to be careful like you told me.”
“So your mom thinks you’re bonded to River too?” Adin asked softly.
“I am bonded to him,” she murmured, looking down. “He once told me that the three of us were bonded together, and he thought you were that link since the prophecy is dependent on your life. But I think he’s wrong. I think I’m the link that bonds us all together. When I was in the hospital bed with the two of you holding my hands, I could feel how much pain you two were in. I wanted to comfort you both.”
“He’s in love with you.”
“I know. He’s just a friend to me, but I can’t deny the fact we’re connected.”
Adin’s eyes looked sad, and she hated being the reason for that. Then he looked puzzled. “Why did you ask me if River told me anything else about your electrocution?”
Uh-oh. “I’ll tell you if you promise me you’ll try to stay calm.”
“What did he do?” Adin asked, saying each word distinctly.
“We were fighting when I got hurt.”
“That’s why he kept apologizing. After he confessed about his mom, I assumed he was apologizing for her. What were you two fighting about?”
“You.”
“What about me?”
“Well, River was angry when I got to work, and I thought it was because the roof was leaking again. He was short with me up until he called a roofer. Then he asked me about our double date. He didn’t like seeing us together.”
“He doesn’t have to like it,” Adin spat.
“I know, and I told him something to that effect. He said you had some nerve telling him to respect me when you treat me like a conquest.”
“Hmph! Our relationship is none of his business.”
“I agree. We were yelling about all this when it was storming, and then he said something about the weather wasn’t good for hiking anyway. I knew I hadn’t said anything to him about our plans, so I asked him how he knew about that. He said he knew everything. I screamed at him, asking if he’d called me in to ruin my plans with you, and that was when lightning hit the building.”
“He told me about bringing up our hiking plans with you. He said he’d heard about it from his mother. He was worried she would try to attack you in the woods, so he got away and called Yale to give her the day off. But after your accident, I think he feels like that was his mother’s plan all along…that she purposely fed him that information to get you to the store.”
“Oh.” Knowing he did it to protect her made her feel better than thinking he did it to keep her away from Adin. Even if River’s plan had backfired.
“But he did not tell me you two were fighting when this came up. Nor did he tell her he was angry with you because of our relationship.”
“Don’t be mad at him. You saw him at the hospital. He has suffered enough.”
“Legacy, I’m not tolerating him. It’s one thing if he’s a friend of yours who’s looking out for your best interest. It’s a completely different thing if he’s a guy trying to befriend you so that he can be with you.”
“I know. I understand how you feel, and I’ll agree to not working at the store and to taking other steps you feel are necessary for my safety. But River isn’t out to hurt me, and I don’t want to treat him like he is.”
“You may think he’s not out to hurt you, but he is out to hurt me. That’s what’ll happen if he succeeds in taking you away. You letting him stay in your life is just inviting that possibility.”
“Adin, I want to be with you. I don’t have any romantic feelings for him at all.”
“Not yet,” he whispered.
“I need him in my life.”
Adin sighed and shut his eyes. “You know I really don’t like this.”
“I know, and I know my friendship with him hurts you. I’m sorry about that. I wish it didn’t. I wish you understood my connection with him just like I wished he understood my connection with you. You are my love; he is my friend. But I need you both.”
“I’ll do this. For you. I’m not going to like it, and I’m not going to pretend that I do. I don’t want him to be a constant focus of our lives. If he steps over the line, then I’m going to put him in his place.”
“I can live with that.” She smiled.
The doorbell rang, and Adin got up to go get it. It was Calli and River. They both came in and sat in the living room across from her and Adin. They all talked, but Adin and River’s conversations were strained. Neither one liked the other being there. She’d have to get used to this. But first, she needed to clear the air with River.
“Adin, can you and Calli excuse us for a minute? I’d like to have a word alone with River.”
Adin flashed narrowed eyes at River and looked quickly at her. “Of course,” he murmured. Then he got up and kissed her forehead. River started to get up, and Adin shot him a look.
“You’re fine over there,” Adin said brusquely.
River glared at him but sat back down. Once she and
River were alone, his eyes softened. “I’ve been so worried about you.”
“I know, and I know you feel guilty for what happened to me, but it wasn’t your fault. I don’t want you carrying the blame for this.”
“That’s easier said than done,” he whispered.
“River, I talked to Adin. I told him what happened at the store. Of course he doesn’t want us to be friends. Last I heard from you on the topic of friendship was that you didn’t want to be my friend anymore either.”
“Legacy…”
“No, let me finish. I know you’ve been hurting because of my relationship with Adin, and I am sorry about that. But I am in love with him. You have to understand that. If you can understand that and respect my decision, then I’d really like it if we could be friends again.” She looked down at her hands. “I’m not going to deny that we’re bonded together. If you weren’t my friend, that’d be very painful for me,” she whispered.
River’s breath caught. “I-I can try. That’s all I can promise.”
“That’s all I can ask for,” she said, hesitating. “Adin understands the need I have to be your friend, and he’s not going to interfere with my choice. But he’s also not going to stand by and watch you try to take me away from him. You have to understand that too.”
“I do. I would feel the same way.”
“If you understand the boundaries, then I think he’ll play nice. But you have to show him you can play nice first. You haven’t done a good job of that so far.”
“I know. I’ll try. It’s just very hard because—”
“You don’t have to say it,” she interrupted. “I know how you feel,” she murmured.
River took a deep breath. “Okay.”
They sat quietly for awhile, staring at each other from across the room. River looked like he wanted to say something, but she couldn’t be sure. He shifted in his seat and ran his hand through his unkempt hair before clasping his hands together in front of him.
“Legacy, I am so sorry,” he said, gazing into her eyes.
“I told you it wasn’t your fault. I don’t want you carrying around the blame for what happened to me.”
“But I am sorry. I’m sorry about my mom. I’ve tried to explain to her, but she doesn’t understand. And I’m so very sorry about fighting with you.”
“River, what did you tell Adin about your mom?”
“The truth. I told him everything I’ve told you.”
“But you haven’t told me everything. You never mentioned she’s Medusa.”
River’s mouth opened wide, and he gasped while he shook his head. “How did you find out?”
“I heard you cursing her to the fiery pits of hell when calling the paramedics.”
“What do you mean you heard me calling the paramedics?”
“I was able to hear and feel touches, but I couldn’t feel the pain until I woke up at the hospital. I’m not sure why, but I heard everything you said to me at the store and in the hospital up until that point.” She paused, and he stared at her. She didn’t want to go into the details, so she finished her previous thought. “Anyway, besides the colorful words you’d used, I remembered you saying something about monsters in your family, and you warned me that your mother was evil.”
“I didn’t want you to know who she was,” he said sheepishly.
“Well, next time, make sure I’m unconscious.” He gave her an incredulous look, and she smirked. “But is she really Medusa or a likeness of her?”
“She’s Medusa, but not the original one. She has most of the Medusa’s original qualities with some added abilities, but since she was the first new god to be so close to the original, she was bequeathed the original name. The first Medusa was beheaded and had two children with Poseidon. Pegasus and Chrysaor.”
“Chrysaor?” That sounded just like his last name.
“Yes. I’m of his likeness. My mom created me with Poseidon, like the original Medusa did to create Chrysaor because Poseidon shares power over the world with Zeus and Hades. Zeus rules the sky and air. Hades rules the underworld. Poseidon rules the waters.”
“I had a dream you turned into a hurricane,” she mumbled. At least that part now made sense.
River became somber. “I guess now you know everything about me,” he said sadly. He obviously didn’t want her to know his mother was a real monster. He looked depressed, ashamed, and she wanted to console her friend.
“Can you do one thing for me?”
“What is it?” he asked, looking down.
“Can you give me a hug?”
“I’d love to,” he whispered. Then he walked over to her, dropped to his knees, and wrapped his arms around her.
She held him for a few seconds before she spoke.
“I don’t think you’re a monster,” she whispered.
“I can’t be so sure. I feel like I’m turning into one, and I don’t know how to stop it,” he breathed into her hair.
“I’ll help you. We have to help each other.”
River squeezed her tightly. “I love you,” he whispered.
“I know,” she said as she rubbed his back. Then she recalled part of her conversation with her mother that she should tell him about. “I have to tell you something about Hades,” she whispered.
River pulled away. “What about him?” His tone was fierce.
“He knows. My mom came to me while I was in the hospital…when she was unconscious. She told me Hades knew about me, and he has a plan.”
“I will not let him get to you!”
“I know you won’t.” And in that moment, she honestly believed she had both River and Adin to watch over and protect her.
But as she looked into River’s eyes, she had a feeling Hades and Medusa weren’t the only things she was going to need protection from.
Chapter Twenty-One
After a week of house rest, Legacy was back to her old self. Well, she would never be the same after her hospital stay, but at least now she could get around without hands being all over her. And that was a good thing. Adin’s orientation was coming up, and he was using her as his excuse not to go. This discussion was the cause of their first argument since she’d gotten home from the hospital.
“I can skip it,” he insisted.
She didn’t want him to go, but she knew he needed to. At least he couldn’t use her condition as an excuse to stay. “You can’t. You have to go. I’ll be fine.”
“No. I’m not leaving you!”
“Adin, you have to get ready for your classes. You need to go.” She’d have to try a different angle since this one wasn’t working. “Calli and I will be shopping most of the time anyway. You know she wants to get the latest fashion for the start of her senior year.” She chuckled, but he didn’t laugh.
“Legacy, please don’t argue with me on this.”
“Adin, I know you’re scared to leave me. But you’re going to have to get ready for college. I’m going to be worried about you, too, so if you don’t go and get prepared, I’ll just be more worried than I’ll already be.”
He groaned, shaking his head in irritation. “Fine. I’ll go, but I’m only participating in what I have to. I’ll try to come back some of the evenings, but even if I can’t, I’ll get to come back early since I don’t have to go to the freshmen banquet.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to go to that. You might meet some new friends.” She looked down. “You could always take your girlfriend with you.”
Adin put his finger under her chin and lifted her head until she met his gaze. His eyes were bright. “Do you want to go?”
“Yes. We haven’t gone out since before I got hurt. It’d be nice to get dressed up for you again.”
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. It was settled.
After Adin left for orientation, Calli’s attention went into overdrive. She was with her practically every day and every night. She’d stayed over with her since Adin didn’t want her by River’s house. He used the excu
se of River’s mom, but she knew that wasn’t the only reason.
Since it was raining most of the week, they stayed inside most of the time. If they went out, it was to go shopping, so they were still technically indoors.
She and Calli had talked about a lot of things. Legacy had brought her up to speed on the conversation with her mother, and Calli had been supportive. They’d also talked about Zach. Calli felt as if their relationship had stalled, but she still enjoyed hanging out with him.
Calli had even talked her into going to the Summer Set Festival. Their town had a celebration every year at the end of summer. Legacy didn’t really feel like going because Adin wouldn’t be back in time, but she reluctantly agreed.
During the few times Calli hadn’t monopolized her time, River had come over to visit. He tried to be the friend he was in the beginning. He wasn’t letting his feelings for her overpower him like he had been doing before her accident. It was nice to be able to talk to him again without worrying about her playing defense to his offensive maneuvers.
On Thursday, River came over and they watched a movie.
“Calli wants me to go to the festival tomorrow,” she said with a shrug.
“That’s a good idea. You need to get out of the house.”
“Yeah. If you’re not doing anything, you should come too.”
His eyes sparkled. “I’m not doing anything.”
“Good.” She smiled.
They went back to watching the movie and chatting during the boring parts. River stayed until Calli came over. It was beginning to feel like Legacy was being babysat, but she did enjoy the company.
Calli spent the night again, but this night was different than the ones she’d had over the last couple of weeks.
Ever since she’d gotten hurt, she hadn’t had another dream. Not even an inkling of one that she just couldn’t remember. But tonight, she dreamed the same dreams she’d had the night of her double date. All her old dreams were merged into one. The tornado was coming. She yelled at it, but wasn’t scared. The girl was there…that was her. She stood in the triangle of holes, and then she and Adin were on the beach, standing in front of Medusa holding a red herring. Finally, River came charging for her as a hurricane. Nothing new. All the elements were exactly the same as that night.