“See,” Gaia laughed. “You’re bound by it too, Ziggy. Petty revenge might work if you’re toying with a puny mortal, but not here, and not with the four reunited.”
“Cease,” Zeus roared, lightning burning a jagged line along the path toward Gaia.
The fire reached her feet and died as Vapors rose with the smoke and surrounded her.
“I,” Gaia laid emphasis on thick, “did nothing. But I seem to recollect you had a run in with our wispy peacekeepers.”
The Vapors flowed, surrounding each one of us in a fog formed armor, then more of them formed into the nebulous shape I’d seen in my living room. A long finger of mist tapped Zeus on the forehead.
In the silence, a single word reverberated. “Peace.”
Zeus rubbed his forehead, shaking his head as the Vapors milled throughout the corridor, twisting into symbols while the souls twinkled and gleamed in response.
“Incredible,” Glenna’s head swiveled, delighted.
“This ending came out way better than I expected,” Chelsea muttered, digging into her sack and passing Glenna some gold. “I should stop wagering with you.”
“Or improve your critical thinking,” Glenna laughed. “Besides, aren’t we supposed to learn from our mothers?”
“Today’s lesson was an expensive one,” Chelsea shrugged.
“Oh, my. Such a big bottom lip. Next time, I’ll buy the wine at The Boogey.”
“So on that vein, how do we get home?” Parker asked.
“Same way we came,” Waldo waved his pinky in a circle and Chelsea, Glenna, Parker, Ballard, and I lifted off the ground and spun. The Vapors and Eros came along for the ride.
I traced the symbol for ‘grateful’ in the air as we picked up momentum and the Vapors exploded in messages of joy and hope, mirroring the ones racing along my arms.
Ballard squeezed my hand. “Me too, Babe.”
Huh.
A hard bump in mid-twirl, and I turned to face a Cyclops, realizing that the whole kids and company were also headed, god knows how everyone would fit, to Waldo’s place.
“Mama, are you taking us to our new home?”
Um, yes?
I patted his enormous head and nodded, grinning over his shoulder at Chelsea’s eye roll.
Chapter 33
A heavy weight thumped onto my right shoulder and I glanced, surprised, at the dragonfly resting there.
Gaia?
“This is less confusing for my children, but I will approve of your plans for them.”
Great, I hope I have a Plan B, just in case.
The dragonfly rippled its wings in agreement.
“You realize that ALL my children came along for this love fest, Keeper? You have jobs for everyone?”
“There’s plenty to do, Mother. Waldo!”
“Yes, my dear?”
“Are we paused in time?”
“Indeed, we are.”
“Can you move us anywhere on Earth?”
“Just say the word, my darling!”
“I want to begin at the forests of Chernobyl.”
We dipped, then hovered above the wild landscape, free of humans and teeming with wolves and other creatures.
“Campe, come to me.”
The great dragon floated to the front, eyes feasting on the heavy woods below.
“Campe, humans ruined this place, but the radiation will not affect you. Here, you are free. If you encounter a human or magical, hide and cause no harm.”
“Freedom,” Campe whispered. “A creature of the Earth once more.”
With a mighty flap, he flew, circling until lost in the great treetops.
“Huh,” muttered the dragonfly.
“Waldo, move us to the Amazon Rainforest, please.”
We whirled into the jungle to the annoyance of a group of black howler monkeys, who pelted fruit and insults at top velocity and volume.
“Kottos, Briareos, and Gyges, OW!” I glared at a grinning monkey. “Stop that! You three, come to me.” The trio of hundred hands kiddos shuffled forward.
“This section of the rainforest is pristine, but it’s surrounded by areas where humans destroyed the trees and forced the animals to leave. Your sacred duty is to reforest the emptiness without harming the humans. They’ll join you in partnership eventually, but for now, do this important work and avoid being seen. This task gives air and life to the Earth. Do you accept?”
The three exchanged glances and nodded. On my shoulder, the dragonfly fluttered her transparent wings, hopefully in approval. It’s hard to tell with dragonflies.
“Waldo,” I began, as a dripping, half rotted fruit smashed into the back of my skull, to the delight of the shrieking monkeys. “Could we visit the upper atmosphere without ill effect?”
Waldo’s beard shot straight, and he grinned in delight. “We can now, Keeper.”
“Please take us to the hole in the ozone layer.”
The view, high above the Earth, sucked the wind out of my chest. Ballard, squeezing my hand, shook his head in awe.
“Un-freaking believable,” he murmured, gazing at the world in amazement.
“Brontes, Steropes, and Arges, come before me,” I called, rolling my pseudo-Gaia persona while fruit juice puddled in my collarbone.
“We’re here, Mama!” The cyclops tumbled in a slow heel over head cartwheel, pushing each other to reach me first.
Kinda rough around the edges, but at heart they’re a pack of mama’s boys.
I gestured above as we floated over the frozen Antarctic. “You crafted Zeus’s thunderbolt, and this part of the sky needs help. This hole didn’t exist in the time before Tartarus. If it can be repaired, your skills are our best option. Will you try?”
“Yes!”
“We’ll make this whole again.”
“We can save the sky, Mama.”
“I am proud of you all.” I patted each head and eyed Waldo as the Cyclops floated toward the breach.
“Let’s get wet.”
His giggle turned to bubbles as we splashed deep into the ocean.
“The oceans are vast and sick in places, so plenty of important work awaits. Phorkys, stand before me.”
I gestured to the curious marine life gazing around our bubble. “Your scope involves the life within the sea. Nurture it, protect it, and serve with Poseidon to make it healthy and balanced once more.”
“Keto, will you join your husband and act as the liaison to the mer, whose grievances are many? The task is complex, but as the mother of monsters, I imagine you can handle a few thousand irritated mer.”
“Oh yes,” Keto laughed. “With time to spare.”
“Then use your talents for healing and health. The seas are suffering, but retribution or punishment are not options. Vitality comes through teaching and understanding.”
“Perhaps. I intend to follow the rules, Mother.”
“Excellent. Eurybia and Thaumas, I have your tasks as well. Eurybia, direct your skills to hold soils in place, control beach erosion, and monitor hurricanes and other natural weather events. As we clean the Earth’s oceans and stabilize them, the condition of the shoreline’s health is critical.”
“Thaumas, you’ll liaison with the Vapors, who migrate between sky and sea, and manage the rains. Move with them to understand the issues the Earth faces, the needs of the myriad of ecosystems and creatures, and choose the path to greatest abundance of life.”
“I’ll toss in a rainbow occasionally,” he chuckled.
“And delight your daughter, Iris, goddess of those rainbows, in the process.”
Outside our bubble, Poseidon materialized and flowed through. Aegeus beamed, tucked under one arm and perched on his hip, waving as Phorkys, Keto, Eurybia, and Thaumas slid out to explore the ocean.
“You’re in my sea and stepping on my toes.”
“Not quite, but I have set up talent to help you. Nereus, come forward.”
Poseidon eyed the Old Man of the Sea, whose white beard moved with scam
pering crabs and tiny fish. After a long beat, Poseidon threw his head back and roared in laughter.
“Well, this might be fun.”
“Shall we discuss how to co-manage over drinks? I’ve built up a fair thirst.” Nereus cracked a crooked grin, weather-beaten face folding into deep set crinkles around aqua eyes.
“I know just the place,” Poseidon boomed. “Keeper, are you opening The Boogey?”
Don’t blow my cover, Big Red, but yeah, that’s the plan.
I turned back and signaled to Pontos and Ouranos. “In Tartarus, I promised we three would dwell, guarding the moving space where the sea and sky meet, and orchestrate the tides and time. Are you prepared for this journey?”
“After the darkness of the void, lingering in the passage, beholding the beauty of the sun’s rise and set, and tempering the change is a magnificent gift. I am ready,” Pontos replied.
“To dwell with you and the Earth’s movement surpasses any feast,” Ouranos boomed. “I am more than ready!”
I glanced at the dragonfly.
Well?
“Silence,” Gaia’s voice reverberated in my ear as she lifted off, landing on Poseidon’s shoulder, engaging him in a conversation. Based on his face, the lecture wasn’t a happy one. With a definitive buzz of her wings, Gaia rose and returned to me.
“Tartarus and Typhoeus wish to remain in the underworld, but as sovereign entities dwelling in peace,” I murmured.
The dragonfly raised its head in their direction. After a moment, Gaia looked at me.
“I see that as a truth, and will return them. While I didn’t think you had an actual plan, Keeper, I found the outcome instructional and beneficial to my creation.”
“A creation you built, but one that is sentient in its own way, for each creature upon it considers it theirs, Mother. Love of the Earth is why we can join forces to repair her.”
“Harrumph. We’ll see; the track record to date is unimpressive. You earned your shot, Keeper, unmolested.”
The dragonfly rose and Tartarus, Typhoeus, Pontos, and Ouranos swirled into her, to ride as one to the underworld and to the edge.
Whew. One last group to go.
“Titans, you swore peace. Are you bound by that promise?”
“We are.”
“You twelve act as liaisons between the Keeper and the human world, the Olympians, the magicals, and the Vapors. Choose three to engage with each group, learn their priorities and stand ready to advocate for their health and wellbeing, or with the Olympians, their adjusting roles. Do you agree?”
Twelve heads shifted, assessing one another, then Kronos stepped forward. “To craft a better future that includes us, has appeal. We will make the effort.”
It would have to do.
As the Titans dispersed, Poseidon lifted his head, listening, then crooked a finger at me. “You’ve got a big problem. Time to go. I suggest losing the Gaia makeover.”
I looked at Waldo, but he was chatting with Parker and didn’t meet my gaze. Deliberate? Probably.
“What’s the trouble?”
“Gaia’s parting shot. Unmolested my smokin’ hot immortal ass. She’s out of the picture, but she gave the mer legs.”
“What? Oh, shit.”
Fingers trembling, I rummaged in my waist sack for the antidote and poured in over my head, feeling an ache in my blood as skin, body, and hair returned to me.
The mer can leave the water! No more waiting for the full or new moon, plus they learned how easy humans are to kill. Dammit. So much for thinking I had this wrapped. Kumba fucking ya, Patra. Who do you think you are, a Vapor enhanced second coming? Crap.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, you did well,” Poseidon waved at Nereus to join us. “Chelsea isn’t the only one who lost gold. I left a pile with Hades.”
“Why do you all bet against me?” I groused, beckoning to Ballard, who blenched as he moved closer to Poseidon.
“Do you mind?” I asked, and he toned it down a notch with a lewd wink.
“Always wanting something, Cleopatra, but never the right ask.”
I turned from his suggestive leer and held Ballard’s eyes. “We have to go home. The mer, if they haven’t started, plan to attack the humans. Gaia gave them legs.”
“For a nurturer, she sucks.” Ballard cocked his head at Poseidon and shrugged.
Get used to it, Big Red. Humanity isn’t big on obsequiousness.
Poseidon grunted as Ballard shifted his gaze to me. “I’ll need a gun. Several.”
“What you want,” Chelsea interrupted, “is a witch. Maybe twelve.”
Chapter 34
I thought we’d hit the maximum capacity of Waldo’s living room when we started this adventure, but with Poseidon and Aegeus, we blew through into serious squish.
“Could you shrink, at least a bit?”
“I’m a god, so no.”
The teacup kitten mewed from the mantle and Waldo lifted her and set a ball of fluffy cuteness on my lap. “Here my dear, this kitterling is for your safekeeping.”
“Waldo, I can’t accept this, my life is chaos, er, well, you know.”
“Oh, you’ll be fine, darling.”
“Mama, I will keep her safe for you!” Aegeus’ eyes widened with delight. “What is this tiny creature? It is so soft!”
“It’s a kitty,” Ballard crouched and stroked the tiny furball between her ears. “She’ll need a name. Play with her and decide what name is best.”
Aegeus’ eyes traveled to Poseidon’s, and he nodded. “She can’t live with us in the sea, but you can keep her at Mommy’s house.”
“Ok!”
The kitterling curled up in Aegeus’ lap and flexed pink toe beans. Aegeus cooed with delight.
“Thank you, Waldo, I think.” The corners of his eyes crinkled with mirth at my eye roll.
“Are you ready to return?” Chelsea wormed toward the doorway.
“Take us to my balcony. Aegeus will be safest there. Once we have eyes on the situation and see how bad it is, we’ll determine an attack strategy.”
“Sensible plan,” Glenna said, clinking out the front door.
Parker eased his vertigo potion out of his pocket and followed. “Does this snapping thing get any easier?”
“No, but you grow more adept at getting a slug down your neck,” Glenna assured him.
The beach, a hellscape, greeted our landing feet. Poseidon tossed Aegeus and the protesting kitterling to Ballard and vanished.
“Inside!” An unnecessary scream, maybe, but I’m new to this mommy stuff.
Ballard caught her and spun, feet in motion, and hauled Aegeus, linebacker style, into the condo as Chelsea’s protective spells rained.
He’s got instincts. Crazy, but it’s sexy helpful, too.
“I need him with me!” Whatever else, I knew the power of love factored in ending this bloody bullshit.
“He can leave, she can’t. Are you new?” Chelsea stared at me, her expression confirming my idiocy was a road too far.
“Keeper, I will stay with the child to evidence normalcy to her,” Glenna said.
Magicals and their damn logic.
“Although I wouldn’t discount the kitterling.”
What? Oh, crap, Waldo. Well played.
“Try to keep up, Patra. Holy Selene, those mer are on fire.” Chelsea’s eyes flamed green fury. The High Priestess was about to unleash.
“Chelsea, can you call the walking stick?”
She nodded and crooked a finger as the wooden staff she gave me last October, carved and covered in runes and symbols, zoomed from my bedroom and smacked into my palm. The carvings undulated, and the stick emitted a low hum. Not magic powers for me, but a powerful weapon.
I gawked at the blood and still human bodies on the shore, and shuddered. Fire? The Avengers on crack, except this time for real. Yikes.
Asclepius, I have never called you, but today, I am asking.
A mountain of sexy healing materialized on my balcony.
Shit.
I looked at the dead on the beach, sand staining bloodier each moment, and slid my gaze to Ballard.
“No,” I said, surprising myself. “I petition, without strings, because I honor my love through the ages.”
“Excellent answer,” Clep chuckled. “You continue changing, Keeper, and I like that. Nothing in life’s motion and adaptability should be wholly predictable, because that’s a death sentence.”
Um, Ok? Pretty esoteric when what I’m doing is protecting my love.
“Is it?” Clep’s eyes met mine in a frank glance. “Are you confident the purpose isn’t to make stands, draw lines, and defend?”
Well, shit. Put that way, it’s the entire point.
My glance caught Ballard’s, and he smiled, making the symbol for peace in front of his chest.
OK, but what the actual fuck. He’s human, he can’t navigate magical thought or Vapor symbols, and here he is, getting everything in real time. Color me stumped.
“You’re welcome, Keeper,” Clep laughed. “You impressed a kaleidoscope-eyed goddess, and in the spirit of love, she intervened. Use it.”
“Aphrodite? Wow. OK, a boost for team love. Let’s show the mer they can’t bully the world.”
The stench washed across me as I hit the beach running, wide-eyed, past a dead, disemboweled human. Ahead, another man groaned in pain. Chelsea snapped a sealing spell to stop the blood loss, and we ran under The Boogie’s pier. A mer whirled, hissing, and Chelsea slashed the air, decapitating him as three covens of witches popped in, hands raised for battle.
“One witch to every mile,” Chelsea screeched, “no mercy. We must stop them.”
I reached out and touched the shoulder of one witch, and she turned her eyes, one green and one blue, to me.
“Go to the forest. Loboli waits with the shifters to fight with us!”
She nodded and vanished to the crack of Ballard’s gun, dropping a mer in a stank splat onto the sand.
“What can I do?” Parker asked, bewildered.
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